I haven’t been to Boulder Colorado in years. Ten years ago or so, I used to come here on business when I had a client in Boulder at the time via my former agency life. I’d stay at the historical Hotel Boulderado (it’s still here, and still charming) and typically meet with clients for drinks and dinner along the busy and active Pearl Street, which is lined with funky, trendy and gluten-free cafes and restaurants. There are also loads of shops and galleries but among them all in the summer is an active street life scene, where entertainers, musicians and performers show off their talents for tourists and locals alike.
On my earlier trips, I recalled an incredible demonstration by someone who refers to himself as Zip Code Man aka David Rossteicher. Some of us may know that that a code starting with 101 something is somewhere in NYC, 941 something could be San Francisco or 024 something could be the greater Boston area.
Any idea where 12095 or 76705 is however? This man’s memory is phenomenal and he’s still lurking in Boulder’s streets performing. Having memorized between 35,000 and 40,000 zip codes out of the 70,000 or so in the states, when I got called on, he managed to get the codes of two small towns where I had lived in southern Africa, a suburb of London and my home town, which is pretty small.
This 80301 man is also known by others around the country now. Imagine being able to get small towns in Texas, Montana, Maine, Arkansas and Georgia all correct on the first go? His act is also charming and funny and he always leaves a crowd begging for more.
This time, I saw a number of high school and college aged kids performing in the streets, which is a great way to build confidence as well as get practice in front of small and large crowds. From violin and guitar to saxophone and trumpet, they could be found.
I love street acts because they feel so genuinely passionate and pure.
I came across a contortionist on my most recent trip, who has apparently been performing in the Boulder area for about 30 years. A regular on the Boulder busking scene circuit, he’s known as “Ibash-i” and is originally from St. Kitts, a tiny Caribbean island nation.
I can’t imagine how many times this man has been photographed. Counter this with the youthful contributions of those playing instruments along the streets who are much newer to the outdoor performance scene.
They even have a piano on the main drag for anyone who wants to come up and play…
As always, I loved the summer outdoor performers which are such an integral part of Boulder’s culture. While I love diversity and change, it’s good to know that the things that are this great and ‘work’ for a culture don’t.
For more blog posts on the Boulder/Denver area, go here.
Renee Blodgett is the Founder and Managing Editor of We Blog the World, a global travel, culture and lifestyle publication exploring the world through the lens of meaningful experiences, human connection and cultural depth. Having lived in 10 countries and traveled to 95, Renee has spent much of her life immersed in the people, traditions, landscapes and ideas that shape how we experience the world.
Since launching We Blog the World in 2007, she has written and produced extensive editorial coverage spanning boutique and luxury travel, culinary experiences, arts and culture, wellness, adventure, technology, spiritual traditions and transformative travel. Her work is rooted in the belief that travel is about more than where we go—it is also about what a place, culture or encounter awakens within us.
Renee brings more than three decades of experience across journalism, photography, media, brand strategy, technology, wellness and global storytelling. She has worked with companies and organizations around the world on brand positioning, communications, product launches, media strategy, speaker positioning and storytelling. Through Blue Soul Media, she works with authors, entrepreneurs, thought leaders and purpose-driven brands to clarify their message and expand their impact, which includes speaker coaching/training for high-profile stages such as TED and bringing authors’ work to market while retaining authors rights.
She is also the co-founder of Blue Soul Earth, an educational platform exploring consciousness, ancient wisdom, spirituality, healing and the intersection between science and the nature of reality. Renee is the producer and host of the award-winning Blue Soul CHATS, a conversational series bringing together leading voices in science, technology, consciousness, wellness and spirituality.
Her growing body of work also includes Blue Soul Living, which extends her interest in consciousness and well-being into the spaces we inhabit, exploring how intentional design, energy and environment can support greater harmony and connection.
Renee is the award-winning co-author of the bestselling Magdalene’s Journey and founder of the Magdalene Collection, inspired by women’s voices, stories and wisdom across cultures and generations.
A longtime photographer and storyteller, Renee has documented people, places and cultures around the world and produced photographic collections focused on destinations including the Galápagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome and Ecuador. She also co-founded Traveling Geeks, an international initiative that brought entrepreneurs, journalists, creators and technology leaders together with their counterparts in other countries to exchange ideas and explore innovation across cultures.
Renee’s work has been recognized by Forbes, the United Nations and others for her influence in media and social storytelling. Across her work in travel, media, consciousness and culture, a common thread remains: curiosity about the world, the stories that connect us and the ways meaningful experiences can change how we see ourselves and one another.
