• Subject Specialist

The Trust Project

Subject Specialist The journalist and/or newsroom have/has a deep knowledge of the topic, location or community group covered in this article.

Before moving to Colorado I spent time in Boulder, to assess the vibe. One morning, early, I sat down outside a coffee shop for meditation and caffeine. My latte curdled when a half dozen tech bros invaded the terrace, blotting out the bird song with loud disputes over VC pitches and scalable assets.

We moved to Fort Collins, instead.

So I felt some trepidation when I learned that Boulder had outbid Atlanta, Cincinnati, Louisville and Santa Fe for the $36 million honor of hosting the Sundance Film Festival. Does Boulder really need to become more celeb obsessed? Does it need more fat cats scratching in the municipal litter trays?

Here’s what to expect as Boulder goes Hollyweird:

You think the AirBnb takeover is bad now? Wait until 72,000 film industry movers and shakers move and shake into your neighbor’s garage!

A cartoon drawing of the Boulder Theater with the marquee reading "Welcome Sundance Film Festival" on one side and "Now go stay someplace else" on the other.
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)

The promotional possibilities are endless. And worrisome.

A cartoon drawing of the Flatirons in Boulder, with a sign in the style of the "Hollywood" sign in Los Angeles at the top reading "Boulderwood." There are caricatures of stars projected on the flatirons.
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)

There will be adjustments to Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks.

A cartoon drawing of Boulder trail system, with the hikes renamed and covered in red carpets
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)

Pearl Street Mall will adapt. Out with patchouli, in with eau de toilette.

A cartoon of the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder with all of the retail spots filled by luxury brands. There is a trashcan filled with signs from Patagonia, The North Face, Illegal Pete's and the Boulder Bookstore
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)

What will the sandhill cranes think?

A cartoon drawing of sandhill cranes flying through the beams shining from klieg lights and saying they have lost their sense of direction as a result
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)

Shop loco: There will be even more opportunities for out-of-state franchises.

A cartoon drawing of the Flatirons in silhouette with an Buc-EES at the base and an In-N-Out at the top
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)

Peter Moore is an editor, writer, illustrator, ghostwriter, co-author, radio host, TV guest, speaker, editorial consultant, and journalism lecturer. In his most recent gig he was interim editor-in-chief of BACKPACKER magazine. Peter...