Baseline Sub - Boulder, CO

Arapaho tribes occupied the Boulder area for thousands of years before prospectors arrived in 1858. The original settlers served miners on the way to the Rocky Mountains with the supplies and services they needed, and they also made money by claiming the land and dividing it into lots to sell to new arrivals.

The Baseline Sub neighborhood takes its name from Baseline Road. Oriented along the 40th parallel, this road sits on the original baseline used by early surveyors.

In 1876, the University of Colorado opened its doors, and its presence has formed the backbone of the community ever since. The University hosts the CU Art Museum and the CU Heritage Center. Its students also put on plays and concerts throughout the year. Boulder attracts many people annually with its long list of varied festivals and events, including the Bolder Boulder Run and the Conference on World Affairs.

Restaurants in the Baseline Sub area sit primarily along Arapahoe Avenue or Baseline Road. Menus tend to sport local, organic fare with an emphasis on items made in-house, and beer menus - full of Colorado microbrews - also stick with the local theme.

Il Pastaio maintains popularity among locals and thrives in spite of it being closed on weekends. At this Italian restaurant, diners enjoy homemade pasta and sauces with fresh ingredients, but don't just show up as you typically need a reservation to snag a dinner table during the week. Even gluten-free diners can dine here as it serves gluten-free gnocchi. For something special, try the black pasta with mussels and shrimp or the rack of lamb.

For Argentine fare, check out Rincon Argentino. With a menu full of empanadas, breaded steak sandwiches and the like, Rincon brings you the true taste of Argentina. To ensure this authentic taste the restaurant only uses beef from cattle locally raised in the sustainable, traditional Argentine way for their beef dishes. Come by during the afternoon for mate, a traditional tea served in a gourd designed to share.

In the evening, locals love their brew houses such as Fate Brewing Company. With over 30 craft beers on tap, this restaurant has something for every taste, and its menu features locally grown, organic ingredients made into tasty meals. Hang out on the patio and augment your beer with one of Fate's tasty snacks, such as fried pickles, pastrami egg rolls or artichoke pie in puff pastry.

Live music plays around the area in venues such as the Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery. For strobe lights, DJs and hectic dancing, plan to drive to Denver to bust a move at one of the clubs there, such as Charlie's Denver, the Beta Nightclub or The Church.

From the Baseline Sub neighborhood, residents can reach downtown Denver in 33 minutes with ideal traffic conditions on Highway-36, the Boulder-Denver Turnpike. An RTD bus also transports Boulderites into Denver along the same road, and these buses also provide services within Boulder city limits.

The Baseline Sub neighborhood connects to the rest of Boulder via hundreds of miles worth of bicycle trails, and ambitious riders can even take the 31-mile journey into Denver using bike paths and lanes running through Boulder, Louisville, Broomfield and Denver.

Walking in Baseline Sub feels safe, and if you opt for a home near the commercial areas, you can navigate this neighborhood just as a walker. If you need a lift, cabs and Uber cars serve the area. Rather than trying to hail one in the street, use an app or call in advance.

Aurora 7 Park, a neighborhood park in Baseline Sub, hosts picnic areas, ball fields, jogging paths and more. For children, the park has playground equipment and open natural spaces for free play. Dogs must be leashed at this park, but they can roam freely in the off-leash area at nearby Valmont Dog Park.

For outdoor entertainment, check out Central Park, a small grassy area in the center of Boulder. Located near the farmer's market, this park invites locals to its grassy creekside areas for picnics during the summer. In the evening, musicians often play in the bandstand as children play near the creek. At the beginning of summer, the park hosts the Boulder Creek Festival, a large festival featuring vendors, musicians and activities.

Living in the Baseline Sub neighborhood of Boulder costs less than the average cost of living in the Denver metro area, and most of the savings come from the relatively lower rents in the area. In the Baseline Sub neighborhood, landlords charge an average of $963 a month for a one-bedroom apartment.

Taking public transit into central Denver requires just a $5 ticket. At home, Baseline Sub locals pay between $4 and $6 for a pint of beer, and they save on gas as well as area gas stations price their gas at 3 percent less than the national average.

Residents of the Baseline Sub neighborhood live just two miles away from Pearl Street, the commercial hub of the area. This street features small independently owned boutiques as well as a couple of chain stores. Pearl Street is home to popular stores like Cured, Earthwood Gallery, Crocs, Chelsea, Endurance Conspiracy, and Farfel's Farm.

One boutique locals like to check out on Pearl Street due to its constantly changing inventory is Two Sole Sisters. Focused on shoes, as the business name implies, this shop also sells clothing, accessories and gifts, and the two sister/owners enjoy helping shoppers find the right fashion fit.

Also on Pearl Street, Common Era stocks accessories for women, making it a great place to shop when you need to find a last-minute, unique gift. The shop carries enough clothing that you can craft an entire outfit there, but its accessories are the real draw. Shopper find items ranging from steampunk-reminiscent pendants to jewelry made by Boulder artists.

The fashion scene of Boulder bleeds into the thrift store scene, and you can find great brands and top fashions at the Goodwill on Baseline and at the Greenwood Wildlife Thrift Shop & Consignment Gallery on Arapahoe Avenue. Check out Ares Thrift Store on Spruce Street.

For groceries, locals shop at natural chains such as Whole Foods and Sprouts Farmers Market, but they also have access to conventional grocery stores such as King Soopers. For fresh, local produce, check out the Boulder Farmers' Market.