Tacos Al Molcajete

Where: 926 Main St
Hours: 7am-11pm (closed Tuesday)

There are plenty of good places to get your taco fix in Longmont, but our current favorite is Tacos Al Molcajete, located on Main Street just above 9th Ave. This unassuming spot has seen several Mexican restaurants come and go in the past decade or so, but we are hoping Al Molcajete is in it for the long haul -- we're not sure if we could live without their absolutely delicious Tacos al Pastor. Something about the sweet-n-savory flavors here adds up to absolute perfection. Those have been highlights each time we've visited, but truth be told, we haven't had a bad dish yet, whether it's crispy flautas or whipped-cream-topped churros. The fresh salsa bar is a treat too -- though be forewarned: those neon orange varieties are positively nuclear. With an extremely friendly staff, low prices and food that's always on point, Tacos Al Molcajete is a very welcome addition to Longmont's culinary scene.

CyclHOPS Bike Cantina

Where: 600 S. Airport Rd 

Web: http://eat.oskarblues.com/cyclhops/

Hours: 11am-midnight, seven days a week

The geniuses at Oskar Blues Brewing continue their takeover of Longmont with this inspired blend of a taco joint and bike shop. And I for one, welcome our new craft beer overlords. After all, they haven't let us down yet, from CHUBurger to the Tasty Weasel, from Homemade Liquids and Solids to the Bonewagon. CyclHOPS, located in the western part of town, doesn't break OB's streak. The tacos are extremely fresh and flavorful (the carnitas option with pickled onions was the clear winner the first time around), there's a wide array of tequilas to choose from and the Dia de los Muertos-inspired decor is fun and unique. And perhaps it goes without saying, but there are great beers on tap, too (both from Oskar Blues' arsenal and elsewhere).

The interior is spacious and family friendly with plenty of natural light pouring in. And it'll be even more appealing in the warmer months, thanks to its very inviting patio. Then you've got the bike part of the equation -- CyclHOPS is the official retail location for Oskar Blues' line of very cool, very customized REEB mountain bikes and offers a full-service bike shop to boot. Tacos, tequila, craft beer, and bikes? It's about as Colorado as it gets. 

Downtown Summer Concert Series

Where: Corner of 4th Ave and Kimbark Street
When: Fridays at 6 p.m.: June 7, June 14, June 21, June 28, July 5, July 26, 2013
Web: www.downtownlongmont.org

The streets of downtown Longmont are filled with the sound of music on several Friday nights over the summer, as locals gather for these very fun and very free concerts. We caught the first show last week and it was a blast, with Chris Daniels and the Kings providing the swinging soundtrack, beer from Longmont's own Left Hand Brewing and Oskar Blues, BBQ from the great Georgia Boys and a festive street party atmosphere. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy some tunes on a hot summer night.

 

 2013 Lineup

June 7 -  Chris Daniels and the Kings
June 14 - Retro Sonics
June 21 - Something Underground
June 28 - Chris Thompson & Coral Creek
July 5 - Quemando
July 26 - Girls On Top

CHUBurger Menu

We still have a few more days before the hotly anticipated CHUBurger opens its doors (it is slated to open on Friday, April 5th), but if you want to know just what Oskar Blues will be serving up at their new "craft casual" joint, you can check out their menu. Everything looks mighty good to us, and knowing that they will have an extensive beer menu has us counting down the days.

Update: CHUBurger now has a vegetarian option! It is the Gonzo Garbanzo, and it is basically a falafel masquerading as a burger. For you non-veggie types, they also have a hot dog option: the impressively topped Hawg Dawg.

The Tasty Weasel Tap Room / Oskar Blues Brewery

Where: 1800 Pike Road

Web: www.oskarblues.com/restaurant/tasty-weasel-tap-room

When: 12-8pm daily

Deep in the heart of south Longmont's nondescript warehouse/office park district, you'll find the place many craft beer lovers consider paradise: the Oskar Blues Brewery. Oskar Blues is known nationwide for making cans cool again -- but who cares what container they use, the brewery's beers are phenomenal, from the flagship Dale's Pale Ale to the malt-tastic Old Chub Scottish Ale. Those two examples are just the beginning of beer nirvana at OB's tap room, The Tasty Weasel, which serves as the testing ground for the brewers' latest creations. Any time you visit, there will be beers that are available nowhere else on the planet -- nitro taps, firkins, oak-aged selections, weird/wild experiments, you name it. We recommend visiting. Often. The Tasty Weasel's patio, with picnic benches and plenty of sunshine, became one of our favorite afternoon weekend spots this summer. For a brewery, it's extremely kid-friendly -- get the kids a B. Stiff & Sons Root Beer, fix them up with quarters for skeeball and some free peanuts and they'll be happy for hours. There's also usually some folky/rootsy live music happening in the late afternoon, along with a friendly crowd of locals and beer tourists. The Tasty Weasel doesn't serve food, but oftentimes Oskar Blues' food truck, the Bonewagon, is parked right out front. Their cheeseburger may just be the best cheeseburger in the universe.

Tip: Go behind the scenes and see where the magic is made -- Oskar Blues offers free tours of its brewery Friday, Saturday & Sunday at 2, 3, 4 & 5pm and every day at 4pm.

Prospect Eats / Sound Bites

When: every Monday from May 11th thru September 7th, 5:30pm

Where: 100 Year Party Court

Web: https://www.facebook.com/events/1632630200299448/

(Prospect Eats changed its name to "Prospect Trucks and Tunes" last year and has again changed its name to "Sound Bites")

The gourmet food truck trend is nothing new, but it's finally hit Longmont with a resounding bang, thanks to Prospect Eats. Prospect, if you're not familiar, is a "new urbanist" community located on the south end of town, which is slowly-but-surely becoming a must-visit dining destination. Last year's inaugural Prospect Eats was pretty mellow, with a handful of trucks serving pizza, Mexican food and burgers. In 2012, however, things have blasted off, with close to two-dozen mobile eateries offering everything from Venezuelan sandwiches to smokin' BBQ. 

At the last few events we've attended, the lawn has been packed with picnickers, so word is getting around. We suggest getting there early, since those lines were starting to get extremely long as the evening wore on. But even if you're stuck waiting, it's not a bad place to wait, with adorable kids running around, a live band jamming and the trees gently swaying in the summer breeze. Here's to a new summer tradition in Prospect!

Vance Brand Airport / Flight Deck Grill

Where: 229 Airport Road

More info: http://www.ci.longmont.co.us/airport/index.htm

Most weekends, the air in Longmont is filled with the distant (or sometimes not so distant) buzz of private airplanes emanating from the Vance Brand Municipal Airport. While piloting is not a hobby we see ourselves taking up anytime in this lifetime, we strongly suggest heading out to the airport on the weekend. The views are spectacular, naturally, with the twin peaks of Longs Peak and Mt. Meeker looming in the distance, almost completely unobstructed.

The airport is also home to one of our favorite Longmont hidden gems, the Flight Deck Grill (find their Facebook page here). Open Wednesday through Sunday in the spring and summer, this homespun operation offers excellent (and cheap) breakfast and lunch items, including pancakes, breakfast sandwiches and hot dogs. They've got a very nice patio right next to the runway, where you can watch planes taking off and landing -- and get an occasionally dizzying glimpse of scores of skydivers plummeting towards the earth. Bike out in the morning (they open bright and early at 7:30am) and enjoy a cup of coffee and some delicious crumb cake while gazing into the wild blue yonder.