Wellness

"Manning" Up

Exploring and Managing Your Internal World Article by Mike Ensley, LPC, Comeback Story Counseling | Photography by Mike Ensley Everybody wants their man to be a grounding, comforting, path-clearing presence. But what if we’re tapped out? It’s beyond frustrating to deplete ourselves trying to provide for others only to receive disapproving looks and criticism in return. To get out of this exhausting cycle, the first and most important thing to do is to take your energy and stop focusing on...

Food + Beverage

Refreshing, Cool Mocktails

No booze? No problem! Summer sobriety never tasted so good!  Article by Hän Cassera, Owner of The Love Shack - Craft Mocktails | Photography by Hän Cassera, Grayson Reed The Love Shack is northern Colorado’s first sober bar, which has been a pop-up mocktail bar since 2023 until the end of this past April when it started operating out of a shared space in downtown Loveland. Lyssa Nightclub offered The Love Shack the opportunity to conduct business on their closed days: Sundays, Mondays, and...

Arts + Culture

Sculpting Legacy

Local Artist Jane DeDecker Explores and Honors Stories of Women  Article by Adriana Karagozian | Photography by Monica Jean Photography In a quiet studio in Loveland, Colorado, among the hum of memory and the hush of clay, sculptor Jane DeDecker is shaping more than bronze—she is shaping history. With every curve of metal, every delicate gesture immortalized in form, she tells the untold stories of women.  “I am a sculptor. I’ve been an artist my whole life,” she says, her voice steady with...

Education

Centerra

A Case Study in Sustainable Placemaking Article by Kyle Harris, Senior Vice President of Master Planned Communities at McWhinney | Photography by Centerra, High Plains Environmental Center The vision for the Centerra community began nearly 30 years ago with a piece of land that had been in the McWhinney family for generations; land that would ultimately demonstrate the opportunity for a deeper connection between development and nature.   In the last three decades, Loveland’s population has...

Food + Beverage

Smoked Prime Briskets

Tasty Cuts of Meat with a Flavorful Kick to Enjoy on Summer Days Article by Michael and Veronica Turner, Owners of Turner's Pit Barbeque | Photography by Turner's Pit Barbeque Turner’s Pit Barbeque in Berthoud has nothing but exceptional pride for its mouthwatering prime briskets. Each brisket is delivered looking like a school bus and then hand trimmed into a sports car and seasoned according to Turner’s Pit Barbeque’s Pit Master and Owner Michael Turner’s homemade recipe. With the help of...

Life + Culture

Gentlemen of Impact and Character

Men Who Strive to Better Our Communities Article by Shen Wu Tan | Photography by Monica Jean Photography, E.T.C. Photography There are innumerable ways to contribute positively to our surrounding communities, no matter your profession.  Your gift to society could be elevating small businesses through video storytelling. Or your talent could be helping families find their next homes. Then again, perhaps it could be teaching customers how to quilt, so they can handcraft presents for loved...

Life + Culture

From the Garage to the Community

The Relentless Drive of Matt Estrin Article by Adriana Karagozian | Photography by Monica Jean Photography, E.T.C. Photography Matt Estrin jokes that his goal is to make enough money to buy a private jet. It gets a laugh—and then it gets real. Because behind that lighthearted dream is a man who understands exactly what it takes to build something from nothing, and who’s not afraid to go all in. His story doesn’t start in a boardroom or a business school. "It was a dream that was born in my...

Arts + Culture

The Craftsmen of Loveland CreatorSpace

Inside the Creative Minds of Local Artists and Makers Article by Shen Wu Tan | Photography by Monica Jean Photography, Kerri Sewolt, Teresa Funke, Gigi Woods, and Cleo Buchanan Jacquin Buchanan, profile on Thingiverse Jacquin Buchanan creates open-source, 3D printable prosthetics to help people worldwide access affordable arms and hands. He and his volunteers share functional, easy-to-produce designs online to help support clinics in low-resource areas. Bobby Deal, Real Deal Guitar Repair...

Food + Beverage

Beet Goddess Salad

Makes 4 servings Article by Victoria Bittner, Owner of Taste Local, and Head Chef Simon Esparza | Photography by Desiree Gustafson Green Goddess Dressing 1 bunch cilantro 1 c lime ¼ c nutritional yeast ½ c olive oil ½ c white vinegar 1 avocado 4 green onion 5 clove garlic 2 jalapeños  ¼ c honey 1 T salt, pepper Process all ingredients in food processor. Adjust seasoning to taste. Salad 4 oz mixed lettuce 1 fennel bulb, thinly sliced 3 oranges, zested...

Arts + Culture

Ladies of Influence

Inspiring Women Who Serve as Pillars in Our Community Article by Shen Wu Tan | Photography by E.T.C. Photography, Monica Jean Photography, Stillwater Ranch, and AB Counsulting Amna Rafiq, Founder/CEO/Licensed Esthetician of The Skin Lounge  Amna’s passion for skincare began at an early age.  Originally from Lahore, Pakistan, she grew up in an Eastern culture and was introduced to holistic beauty rituals as a young child, watching her mother whip up masks and treatments from natural...