Sage Burnham’s Colorado Favorites: Three places to explore throughout two Colorado cities

Aug. 8, 2024

Note: Direct quotes were edited for typos, to observe AP style guidelines and to fit the listicle structure.

Boulder and Fort Collins are home to many cultural experiences and are also places Sage Burnham has called home.

In a recent interview, Burnham, who works at Avogadro’s Number in Fort Collins, shared three of her favorite places to spend time in both cities.

1.     The Lyric

The Lyric, an independent movie theater and event venue in Fort Collins, made an impression on Burnham through its lobby that doubles as an art exhibit, its viewing selections, and its support for local artists and creatives. According to its website, the theater offers new releases, shows independent films and hosts community events.

“I would say probably one of my favorite places in town is The Lyric. They’re like the small movie theater up on the north side of town, and they're just crazy. The inside, it kind of feels like you're in Meow Wolf, like this is a wild, eclectic aesthetic. And they do a lot of makers markets, and they have a little place in the middle where local artists can sell their stuff, and they play weird indie movies that you just don't find at an AMC [theater] and they do a lot of live music. I just think they're a really cool establishment.”

Burnham said that The Lyric is her favorite place in Fort Collins.

“I had a membership for a long time because I used to go see a movie every Tuesday night. Like, just look at whatever was on the marquee and pick one, and I loved it. I was going there for years and then I moved to the other side of town, but I kept my membership for probably a lot longer than I should have just because I wanted to help support them and make sure that they stayed open.”

2.     The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse

Burnham said she enjoys the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse, which according to their website, hosts traditional tea services and offers meals.

“I would say probably my favorite place in Boulder, the one that I always do anytime people come to visit me, is the Dushanbe Teahouse.”

According to their website and Burnham, when Dushanbe, Tajikistan became Boulder’s sister city, their mayor established this teahouse to acknowledge and celebrate this new connection.

“They donated a traditional teahouse, and they built everything and painted everything over there, and sent each piece, and [rebuilt] it in Boulder and it's gorgeous. Like, it is just… it's architecture that puts American architecture to shame, so pretty, and it has all of the little mosaic pieces and I just think it's a really cool spot.”

3.     Cache La Poudre River

Burnham said she appreciates Colorado’s free natural resources, especially the Cache La Poudre River. She said it reminds her of a place she thinks had a significant presence in her childhood.

“Growing up in Boulder, I spent a lot of time at Boulder Creek, so once I moved to Fort Collins, I spent a lot of time on the Poudre River, and I think being around that kind of water source made a huge impact on me personally. I used to live two blocks off the river, so I would spend every spare second there with my dog, and go tubing and just kind of hang out, bring a nice book.”