Life + Culture

Blue Agave, Made From Scratch

Richard and Brenda Lucio bring decades of experience, Southwestern flavor and hospitality to Fort Collins. Article by Carli Taylor-Drake | Photography by Coleman & Co. and Provided For Richard and Brenda Lucio, Blue Agave Grill is more than one restaurant. It is the Fort Collins restaurant Richard had imagined for years, a place shaped by decades of experience, a love of Southwestern flavor, a commitment to cooking from scratch, and a belief that hospitality should make people feel at home. ...

Life + Culture

Sweet Chaos

How Mother Cookie Cake turned viral laughs into community impact Article by Carli Taylor-Drake | Photography by Bob Younger Images “Shut up and sit down. I need to tell you about this cake.” At 2 a.m., nine months pregnant and sleep-deprived, Fort Collins mom Shelby Boolay recorded a SpongeBob cookie cake voiceover. Laughing uncontrollably, she blurted out the phrase, and her unexpected signature was born. The video gathered 30 million views. Hundreds of thousands know her as Mother Cookie...

Professional Services

Ready When Power Fails

Simple ways to keep your home safe, comfortable and powered through unexpected outages Article by Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning | Photography by Provided As Northern Colorado heads into colder weather, power outages can become more than an inconvenience. We asked Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning what homeowners should know about backup power and surge protection before the next storm hits. Q: Why think about backup power before winter? A: Outages can happen during wind...

Life + Culture

Beneath the Surface, Social Is More Than Cocktails

Social’s underground setting draws you in, but its hospitality, creativity and connection keep you returning Article by Carli Taylor-Drake | Photography by Bob Younger Images Walk down the stairs beneath Old Town Square and something shifts. The streets disappear. The pace slows. And for a little while, it becomes surprisingly easy to forget what time it is, or what was waiting for you upstairs. That feeling has been part of Social since its owner, Ty Fulcher, opened the underground cocktail...

Life + Culture

Style Worth Checking Into

At The Buxton, Ashley Stiles blends bold design, family memories and heartfelt hospitality into a colorful, memorable Fort Collins experience. Article by Carli Taylor-Drake | Photography by Boxwood Photos Before The Buxton was a hotel, it was a feeling: a pink house in Oklahoma, supper around the table, peonies in the garden and evenings watching Hee Haw and Dallas,  a feeling of being expected, included and cared for. For Ashley Stiles, that feeling lived at her grandparents’ home in...

Home + Design

Is Your AC Struggling?

Six warning signs your cooling system may need immediate professional attention Article by Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning | Photography by Provided Is Your Air Conditioner Trying to Tell You Something? Your air conditioner will often warn you before it stops working completely. Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning answers common questions about the signs you shouldn’t ignore. Q: My AC is making a strange noise. Should I be concerned? A: Yes. Banging, clanking, screeching...

Arts + Culture

Style Beyond the Closet

Finding beauty in the laughter, relationships and meaningful moments that reveal who we truly are. Article by Carli Taylor-Drake | Photography by Bob Younger Images Style has never been limited to what we wear. It appears in the spaces we create, the way we welcome others and the confidence we bring into a room. Its most beautiful expressions come from within. As owner and publisher, I find joy in sharing others’ stories. This issue invited me to step forward, and I’ll admit, I was hesitant...

Arts + Culture

Feathers, Fashion and Living Colorfully

Kari Sanders carries generations of Fort Collins history while inspiring women to embrace color, confidence and freedom to stand out. Article by Carli Taylor-Drake | Photography by Kathie Peden, Sydney Olsen, Clayton Jenkins Some know Kari Sanders as the woman who always arrives dressed for the occasion. The dramatic coats. The vintage treasures. The feathers. The pink. The unmistakable confidence. Others affectionately call her the “Carrie Bradshaw of Fort Collins.” “She’s my spirit...

Life + Culture

Ask Jenna: Confidence Curated

​​​​​​​Style Curated’s founder shares honest advice for building confidence, dressing intentionally and shopping more personally. Article by Carli Taylor-Drake | Photography by Client Provided For Jenna Hepp McEnaney, personal style is less about following fashion rules and more about helping women feel like themselves. She began as a personal stylist before opening her first boutique in Berthoud and eventually bringing Style Curated to Old Town Square. Today, the boutique combines...

Health + Wellness

Breathe Easier at Home

Discover how Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning helps improve healthier indoor air quality year-round. Article and Photography by Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning What's Really in the Air You Breathe? Most homeowners think about water quality, energy efficiency and home comfort, but often overlook indoor air quality. Since we spend nearly 90% of our time indoors, the air inside our homes can significantly impact our health, comfort and daily well-being. Even the cleanest homes...