2014-12 Style by Style Media & Design, Inc.

THE VOICE OF NORTHERN COLORADO FOR

30 YEARS.

s t y le me d ia a n d d e s i g n , i n c .

| 970.226.6400 |

w w w. s t y l e m a g a z i n e c o l o r a d o . c o m w w w. m e d i c a l a n d w e l l n e s s . c o m PUBLISHER Lydia Dody | lydia@stylemedia.com MANAGING EDITOR Angeline Grenz angie@stylemedia.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Scott Prosser SENIOR DESIGNER Lisa Gould DIGITAL DIRECTOR / BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Austin Lamb | austin@stylemedia.com ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVES Jon Ainslie (970) 219-9226 Debra Davis (917) 334-6912 Lydia Dody (970) 227-6400 David Knight (970) 619-9846 Elaine Ryan (970) 541-4915 OFFICE MANAGER/ABOUT TOWN EDITOR Ina Szwec | ina@stylemedia.com ACCOUNTING MANAGER Karla Vigil CIRCULATION MANAGER Trisha Milton COPY EDITOR Michelle Venus PHOTOGRAPHER Marcus Edwards Photography CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Bridget Eldridge CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Malini Bartels, Kyle Eustice, Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer, Michelle Venus AFFILIATIONS Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce Greeley Chamber of Commerce Loveland Chamber of Commerce 2014 STYLE MAGAZINES January-Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness February-Style March-Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness April-Style May-Style June-Style July-Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness August-Style September-Women’s Health & Breast Cancer Style October-Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness November-Holiday Style December-Best Of & Winter Activities Style Style Media and Design, Inc. magazines are free monthly publications direct-mailed to homes and businesses in Northern Colorado. Elsewhere, a one year subscription is $25/year and a two year subscription is $45/year. Free magazines are available at nearly 300 locations throughout Northern Colorado. For ad rates, subscription information, change of address, or correspondence, contact: Style Media and Design Inc., 211 W. Myrtle St., Suite 200, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521. Phone (970) 2266400, ext. 208. Fax (970) 226-6427. E-Mail: ina@StyleMedia.com ©2014 Style Media and Design Inc. All rights reserved. The entire contents of Style Magazine are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Style Media and Design Inc. is not responsible for unsolicited material. All manuscripts, artwork, and photography must be accompanied by a SASE. The views and opinions of any contributing writers are not necessarily those of Style Media & Design Inc.

Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

HONORING SURVIVORS

Just wanted to let you know what a tremendous response I have received from the Hope Lives issue of Style Magazine (September 2014). I have had numerous family, friends and community members all tell me how beautiful each of the models are. Without a doubt, you have given us such a glamorous experience! Having our makeup and hair done, coupled with special outfits for each of us to wear, made this experience extra special. What has touched me the most is how many members of our community have read all of the stories, been touched by everyone's experience and commented on how positive all of the models were! I truly feel you have given breast cancer survivors a voice and we are able to share with our community how hope lives after cancer. Thank you for the honor of being a part of this amazing experience, but more importantly, thank you for continuing to honor each breast cancer survivor in such an uplifting way! Hope definitely Lives! Thank you, Lydia, Hope Lives committee and liaisons, and a special thanks to all of the amazing women I met during this experience. I am truly blessed by each of you! Most sincerely, Monique Osterfelt Thank you so much for the opportunity to participate as a Hope Lives model this year. I had a great time and I grew as a person. You have certainly started something good.

We look forward to participating as we can in the future. God bless you! Teri Olson, Loveland THANK YOUS

I wanted to thank you for the lovely job you did on my business article (“Craft Your Ceremony,” November 2014, Lydia’s Style Magazine). I was so thrilled to see it, as well as my picture at the top of it. I am sure it will really increase interest! Thanks again! Marsanne Howard, Winding Road Ceremonies We are so honored to be the featured wedding in the issue! (“Elegance at Ellis Ranch,” November 2014, Lydia’s Style Magazine) Thank you so much. The entire magazine is amazing and we love the cover, too! Roxie Ellis, Ellis Ranch Event Center & Wedding Park Love the magazine!! I have customers and friends tell me all the time they saw me in your magazine! Kindest regards, Kelli Couch, CRS, GRI, CDPE, CNE The Group, Inc. Real Estate

As the only truly locally owned and operated regional publication, we are proud to be celebrating our 30th year of publishing high quality magazines about and for the residents and businesses of the Colorado Front Range. We continue our commitment to celebrate and support our Northern Colorado communities: the people, places, businesses and events that make this an extraordinary place to live, work and raise a family. Visit us at 211 W. Myrtle or visit us on the web at www.stylemagazinecolorado.com.

WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM READERS. SEND YOUR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS TO:

angie@stylemedia.com Phone: 970.226.6400, ext.215 Fax: 970.226.6427 www.stylemagazinecolorado.com

Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

on the cover We asked and you answered! Find out who is the Best Of Style on pages 25-55 of this magazine!

feature

BEST OF STYLE . . . . . . . . . . . 22 FOOD & DINING . . . . . . . . .

BEAUTY & WELLNESS . . . .

SERVICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

RETAIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

about town

A PHOTO TOUR OF NONPROFIT EVENTS . . . . . . . . 60 MS Dinner of Champions Superhero Run Western States Burn Center Golf Classic

OTHER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Polo Championship

THE REST OF THE LIST . . . .54

Think Pink Night

departments

Top Cat & Tails

FROM OUR READERS . . . . . . . 12

Love

PUBLISHER’S LETTER . . . . . . .16

TEDxCSU 2014

STYLE FILES: WHAT STYLE IS RAVING ABOUT THIS MONTH . . . . . . . . 18

38 36

From London and Broadway with

Time Travelers Ball Coffee for a Cure Phantom 5K

BUSINESS PROFILE: JOHN ATENCIO . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Hope Lives! Gala

BUSINESS PROFILE: VERN’S TOFFEE . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Whatever Blows Your Skirt Up

TRAVEL: A DELICIOUS WEEKEND IN BOULDER . . . . . . 56

Give One Pint and Get One Pint

McKee Presents Fall Into Jewels

Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

I can’t think of a better way to close the year and celebrate Style’s 30th anniversary then with this new first-ever December “Best Of” issue! We are truly excited to reveal to you the results of months of vote gathering in a broad variety of categories. It was spring when Style gathered to give input on the categories we thought our community would like to read about. Vote gathering online, at festivals and fairs, and wherever we could gather groups of readers commenced. On October 15 we cut off voting and tallied the results. The outcomes were kept confidential until we began designing this issue. In fact, I didn’t even know the results until a few days ago! It is such fun celebrating our communities and their successful businesses, and we are planning to continue this Best Of annually with expanded categories and an even longer

timeframe to submit votes next year. Enjoy reading about our winners, first through third places, and when you patronize these businesses be sure you mention that you saw them in Style’s “Best Of!” With this issue, we celebrate our 30th year of publishing. It has been a distinct pleasure working with and celebrating the many interesting people and places in Northern Colorado all these years. We have shared with our communities, growing while they have grown and thrived, and suffering with them through hard economic times. We have partnered with businesses through the good and bad times sharing with them their success stories and, sometimes, their sad endings. Each person we’ve had the honor of including in any way has enriched us and helped us grow as people and as a small company. Our sincerest “Thank you” to all those who have shared with us a peek into their lives over the years. We hope we have done a good job and been a positive reflection of our amazing communities. As the communities have evolved over the years, we have been sensitive to evolve our magazines to reflect our changing demographic and readers’ areas of interest. We hope we have continued to keep you interested and loyal to Style publications. Even though costs have multiplied over the years, we have continued to deliver our publications by direct mail at no charge. This has been challenging but we are committed to continuing this free distribution. We are committed to Northern Colorado! None of this would be possible without the talent and support of a committed creative staff and partners who share the

same goals of excellence. Thank you to our talented writers, creative and patient photographers and our printers throughout the years. A huge “Thank you” to our Style staff who have continued to improve the magazines over the years. I am deeply appreciative of the amazingly talented staff at Style today; it is their combined efforts that bring you this magazine every month. Our smart managing editor, Angie Grenz, finds interesting and relevant topics to cover; our creative director, Scott Prosser, is the creative spirit behind our beautiful design; and Lisa Gould keeps our advertisers happy with her impressive ad creation from concept to completion. Austin Lamb, our digital director, keeps our online presence lively and creative; Ina Szwec manages About Town (our most popular department); Karla Vigil keeps the books in order; Tricia Milton keeps our distribution growing; and the account executive team of Jon Ainslie, David Knight, Elaine Ryan and Debra Davis work with our advertisers to give them visibility in Northern Colorado. Thank you to each and every one of the team for their genuine commitment to producing an excellent magazine each month. Finally and most importantly, a most sincere thank you to all the advertisers who have believed in our magazine as a medium to communicate their messages to our readership. We exist because you made it possible! I am still in love with Northern Colorado and look forward to our next anniversary of publishing. It has been a wonderful 30 years, though at times challenging, and I look forward to continuing this tradition of excellence. Congratulations to all our Best Of winners this year! We look forward to an even bigger Best Of next year! Wishing all of you a blessed and safe holiday season. lydia@stylemedia.com

Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

Files In the News

N e w E x e c ut i v e Dir e ctor The Fort Collins Museum of Art welcomes Lisa Hatchadoorian as their new executive director. Hatchadoorian’s most recent post was as the public arts coordinator for the City of Urbana, Illinois. Prior to this position, she worked as curator for the Nicolaysen Art Museum, a contemporary arts museum in Casper, Wyoming. “We are elated at the prospect of Lisa Hatchadoorian joining not only FCMOA but the Northern Colorado arts community,” said David Prosser, board chairman. “As we conducted our search for an executive director, it was gratifying to see the quality of talent interested in coming to our community. Lisa stood out head and shoulders above other candidates for her extensive general arts experience over a 14-year career as a curator and director in corporate, nonprofit, academic and municipal organizations.” “I am deeply honored to have been selected as executive director of the Fort Collins Museum of Art,” says Hatchadoorian. “It will be very exciting to be part of the thriving arts scene in Northern Colorado. I see FCMOA as being integral to the artistic life and health of Fort Collins as well as the Front Range. I would like the museum to be a must-see stop as people move through Northern Colorado or for tourists coming to the west to explore."

Don't Miss N e w Y e ar ’s E v e Pl anning Gu ide Want to celebrate New Year’s Eve with the family? Or enjoy an adultoriented evening out? Whatever your ideal celebration entails, Northern Colorado has plenty of fun planned. First Night Fort Collins celebrates 19 years with the theme “Follow the Magic.” This Downtown Fort Collins event is family friendly and non-alcoholic, and includes art, music and dance performances—over 75 performances are planned. Visit www.downtownfortcollins.com for more details and to purchase tickets to all the performances. For a little more adult evening and a ton of fun, consider An Evening at The Embassy, Bootlegger’s Ball. This New Year’s Eve event is held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Loveland in conjunction with My Big Day Events. The evening begins on December 31 at 7:30 p.m. with a 1920’s themed underground dance hall. The event includes a DJ, dancing, hors d’oeuvers, moonshine, signature cocktails and more. Dress in your best Prohibition Era costumes and dance the night away. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Food Bank for Larimer County. For more information, visit www.mybigdaycompany.com.

Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

Explore

Win te r C ycling Want to continue your summer resolution to stick to two wheels? The City of Fort Collins has got you covered. From year-round cycling safety classes to guided winter rides, don’t let snow and rain prevent you from braving the elements on your commuter or fat tire. Winter Cycling 101 classes are available through February in Fort Collins and are geared to bolster your confidence and help you to ride safely during the winter. Guided Winter Rides are also available. These two-hour leisure rides are a great way to get exposed to winter riding in a group setting. And Light Up the Night events will help educate riders on cycling laws and make sure they are well lit when riding at night. For a complete listing with links to register, and additional winter cycling resources, visit www.fcgov.com/bikewinter. And don’t miss the 8th Annual Fort Collins Winter Bike to Work Day on Wednesday, December 10, from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Visit the city’s website for a complete list of where you can score free breakfast and coffee around town and enjoy a morning of camaraderie with your fellow cyclists!

Style 2014

Lydiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s STYLE Magazine

business profile

The Atencio team: Vice President of Operations, David Atencio; Owner, John Atencio; Lex Atencio, John’s son, who managed the Fort Collins flagship store project.

John Atencio: Designing a Brand By Michelle Venus

All that glitters isn't just gold. It's also diamonds and platinum and gemstones like garnet, citrine, amethyst and fire opal. John Atencio, the world-renowned jewelry designer, knows this well. Known for creating exquisite engagement rings and wedding bands for both men and women, the different Atencio collections include pendants, bracelets and earrings as well. And he's been at it for more than 40 years—creating bold geometric jewelry that commands attention. It all started when John was a student at Colorado State University, where he studied both art and business. "The art was something I knew I could be passionate about," he remembers. "But I knew in order to be successful—which is what I wanted—and to develop a recognized and well known brand, I needed to understand the business side of

art. I think of myself first and foremost as an artist because you have to have something to be passionate about. But the business side is what sells the product." John engaged both sides of his brain and learned everything he could in order to follow his passion and build a thriving business. About that time, John wanted to give his girlfriend a ring; but not just any ring. This ring had to be special. It had to be unique. Just going to a jewelry store and choosing one from the case wasn't going to suffice. So the art student snuck into CSU's art studio at night and made a silver ring, which he presented to his girlfriend. They're not together anymore,

though John recently saw her, "It's been about 20 years since we last ran into each other," he says. "She still looks pretty much the same." That ring changed John's life: maybe not romantically, but certainly in ways that were beyond the young jewelry designer's imagination over 40 years ago. "I couldn't have dreamt it. I could not have dreamt where this business would take me; how it would grow," says the self-taught jeweler with a laugh. "It's quite a story." John left CSU before graduating and took a job at Round-The-Corner, a popular hamburger chain, where customers placed their orders via a red telephone stationed at each table. While Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

business profile working there as a manager, John worked on his design and production skills during his free time, creating his signature look and developing an inventory. He saved about $7,000 over the next five to six years, and when the time was right to make the jump, John opened a store in Campus West. The business took off and soon the store moved into the post office building at Oak Street Plaza. After Old Town Square was renovated 30 years ago, the store moved again and became an anchor in the newly pedestrian-oriented town center. That's where it's been until early November, when John Atencio Jewelry moved once again. The store is now located at 164 North College Avenue. Why the move? "We outgrew the Old Town Square store. We grew in other markets, but in Fort Collins [we] stayed pretty much the same—small and intimate." John explains. "Over the years, as we've added more collections to the line we found we couldn't present them properly in such a small space. The new store is about four times larger. "For the past few years," he continues, "we asked ourselves why we didn't make the Fort Collins location a flagship store. This is where it all started, after all. The local market has changed; there is more competition and different opportunities. So we decided to step up and extend our hand out to the community and rebuild the store and relationships in the market we started in." John is mentoring his son, Lex, in the jewelry business. Lex managed the new store project, but spends much of his time traveling the world and building relationships with designers and vendors, and developing the skill set and knowledge base needed to oversee an international, multimillion dollar firm. "Lex is going through an apprenticeship, learning how to design, learning how to buy and deal with customers, and learning how to sell. Part of that process was building the new Fort Collins store and enhancing the brand to reflect where the company is now." John still designs the jewelry collections that have become his company's trademark. He oversees a global development team that takes the designs and works with artisans to turn them into the final beautiful pieces. "It's taken a long time and a lot of hard work," he says. "The 'John Atencio look' has been very consciously developed to be unique, to stand out and to fulfill the promises we make to our customers that each piece will be carefully thought out and constructed." In addition to the Fort Collins store, there are five more John Atencio stores in Denver—the first opened in the early 1980's—and collections are sold in more than 35 stores nationwide. John maintains an office at the Cherry Creek store. But his heart will always be in Fort Collins.

Michelle Venus is the development director at KRFC 88.9 FM and a Fort Collins-based freelance writer and editor. Style 2014

Stefanie and Patrick O’Neill

Vern's Toffee: Just Like

Grandpa Used to Make By Kyle Eustice Tucked away in Link Lane Plaza on the northeast side of Fort Collins, Vern’s Toffee House is buzzing with activity. Several employees are feverishly chopping up pieces of toffee then gently packaging them in little white boxes. In the middle of the madness, owner Stefanie O’Neill stands at the helm; answering phones, juggling toffee boxes and overlooking the entire operation. Husband Patrick can be seen wrestling a 10 lb. chunk of chocolate in the back of the store. As proud third generation owners of the popular toffee company, the O’Neills have continued a tradition that started with Stefanie’s grandfather, Vern Hackbarth, 38 years ago. At the time, Hackbarth could have never predicted one day people as far away as Mongolia, Fiji and Egypt would enjoy his original butter almond toffee. “His expectation was he would sell candy to friends and it would stay a local entity, but those folks started sending the toffee to friends and family all over the country and soon it was a mail order company. It grew really out of hand. He was having to ship so far across the country and make the candy that it became too physically demanding for a 60-year-old man.” Stefanie lights up as she continues to talk about her “Grandpop” and the time she spent

with him at the store. Although she grew up in Dallas, Texas, the young Stefanie would spend part of her summers in Fort Collins. In 1984, Stefanie’s parents, Mary and Ron Hert, stepped in so Hackbarth could finally retire. “My parents nurtured this business for 28 years,” she says. “Sometimes I joke that my dad didn’t start Vern’s Toffee, but he perfected it. It is what it is today because of what my mom and dad built.” The growth Vern’s has experienced over the past nearly four decades has been incredible. Today Vern’s toffee is shipped all over the world and because of the wonders of the Internet, it can be ordered around the clock. In 2011, the O’Neills decided to take over the business and have been fortunate to see some growth every year. “When I would spend the days with my grandfather at the shop, we were open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.,” she recalls. “We would go for days when the phone wouldn’t ring and we wouldn’t see anybody. It’s totally different now. It’s a bigger operation and we have tourists who come see us during the summer months. It’s not simply a Christmas business, although it really picks up during that time.” Stefanie’s parents were forward thinking enough that in 1992, they had someone create a computer database for all of their customers. They were always focused on growth and searching for new ways for customers to reach them. As Vern’s Toffee House approaches its 39th Christmas, the crew is spending around eight hours a day in full production. Not only have their delicious products kept their business going, but their strong sense of family and ironclad business philosophy make it an unequivocal success. They also do a lot of charity, including donations to Hope Lives! The Lydia Dody Breast Cancer Foundation, Teaching Tree, Foothills Gateway and BookTrust. “My grandfather absolutely insisted on quality ingredients and a quality process,” she says. “We hold true to our values, which are a quality product and quality process. We keep things simple. We treat customers like they’re part of the family. They trust us to get it right. We’re not going to let them down.”

Kyle Eustice relocated to Fort Collins from her hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. After spending four years living in Santa Fe, New Mexico, she was anxious to return to the mountain region. She is a regular contributor to Thrasher Skateboarding Magazine, Wax Poetics, Bandwagon Magazine, Ghettoblaster, and many others.

Our Readers Have Spoken We received thousands of votes from our readers and the community, nominating and voting for their go-to local businesses and services. From pizza to daycare to day hikes, the community favorites are featured in this inaugural December issue. We hope that this issue will become an annual favorite in our community and will celebrate the local businesses and hard working employees that make them stand out.

Did your favorites make the list?

Take a lookâ&#x20AC;Ś.

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Best Breakfast Snooze, An A.M. Eatery

Fort Collins (970) 482-9253 www.snoozeatery.com Snooze cracked its first egg, mixed its first Bloody Mary and topped its first pancake eight years ago in the Denver Ballpark neighborhood. Since that day in April 2006, owners and brothers Adam and Jon Schlegel have seen five more Snoozes open in Colorado, two in San Diego and one in Phoenix. Our local Snooze is on Mountain Avenue, right across the street from the Rio. With a distinctly atomic vibe (think 1950's retro chic), selfdescribed as "part Jetsons, part Happy Days, part Flintstones," Snooze is friendly, funky and fun. The long lines stretching out the door for weekend brunch attest to the restaurant's appeal. The menu features a host of Benedicts with a twist on the traditional hollandaise sauce. One is blended with poblano peppers, another with smoked cheddar and still another with green chili. Hey, this is Colorado. We like our green chili. The pancakes—light, fluffy heaven on a fork—are turned upside down with pineapple, spiced with pears or stuffed with lemony cream cheese filling and topped with blueberry coulis. The OMG! French Toast is fresh brioche stuffed with mascarpone and vanilla crème, salted caramel, fresh strawberries and toasted coconut slathered on top. O. M. G. Indeed. 2nd Place: 2nd Place: Silver Grill Café Fort Collins (970) 484-4656 www.silvergrill.com 3rd Place: Lucile’s Creole Fort Collins (970) 224-5464 www.luciles.com

Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

Best Happy Hour Jax Fish House

Fort Collins | (970) 682-2275 | www.jaxfortcollins.com There are not many happy hours that are much happier than the one at Jax Fish House. From 4 to 6 p.m. every afternoon (and all day on Monday!), Jax's Happy Hour features specialty cocktails, draft beers and carefully chosen wines that complement an extensive happy hour food menu. Don't forget the Oyster Shooters, crafted from spicy infused vodka made in-house, house Bloody mix and an Emersun oyster. Yum. But what makes this happy hour especially happy is the kitchen menu. Diners can choose from a wide variety of dishes including the smoked frog leg gumbo with a side of pork fat cornbread (yes, please), house made kimchi topped with a fried farm egg (some of that, please), ahi poke, pork belly with collard greens and tomatoes, shrimp and grits, and oysters on the half shell (yes, yes, yes and yes). 2nd Place: Jayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bistro Fort Collins (970) 482-1876 | www.jaysbistro.net 3rd Place: Austinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s American Grill Fort Collins www.austinsamericangrill.com Style 2014

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Best Pizza Beau Jo's Pizza

Fort Collins | (970) 498-8898 | www.beaujos.com

Style Pick: Celestino’s Pizza

Fort Collins | (970) 472-6969 This popular pizza joint may have moved from the historic Avery Bank building to it's new location on the corner of College and Laporte, but regardless of where you eat it, the pizza is truly worthy of vault protection. Yes, it is that good. Known for their Colorado-style pizza, most notably for the size of the cornicione—or the puffy part of the crust, for those without an extensive pizza vocabulary—the Mountain Pie is just that: a mountain of a pizza pie. And don't expect to order a small, medium or large pie. These puppies are sold by the pound. Prairie Pies are the Mountain Pie's thin-crust cousin, for those who just don’t want a fourteener for dinner. With a variety of crusts and sauces from their standard pizza sauce to queso, and boundless selections of meats, cheeses and veggies, along with gluten- and dairy-free options, there is a pie for every palate. 2nd Place: Pizza Casbah, Fort Collins | (970) 221-9144 | www.pizzacasbah.net 3rd Place: Cozzola’s Pizza, Fort Collins | (970) 482-3557 | www.cozzolaspizza.com

No workweek at Style Media & Design is complete without a walk to Celestino’s New York Pizza. Open since January 2011 and tucked into the bottom floor of student housing on Laurel and Howes Streets, it is the best-kept secret in a town loaded with pizza establishments. The crust has that fantastic bit of chew you want from a New York-style pizza and the toppings are generous. If you are still looking for a pizza that will really blow your skirt up, try out Celestino’s. Just avoid the lunchtime rowdiness caused by hungry Style staffers. Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

Best Burger Five Guys Burger and Fries Fort Collins | www.fiveguys.com Over the lips, And past the gums, Look out stomach, Here it comes! Could there be a better way to greet a Five Guys burger? Probably not. Started in 1986 in the Washington D.C. area by the brothers Murrell and their dad, Jerry, more than 1,000 Five Guys restaurants are now in 47 states and six Canadian provinces. With two locations in Fort Collins—one at Campus West and the other in Front Range Village—Five Guys is a destination for those looking for a really,

Style 2014

really good burger that can be customized with any variety of free toppings. According to their website, there are over 250,000 different ways to fancy-up your burger. And then there are the fries. Cooked in peanut oil with the skins still on, they are crunchy on the outside, fluffy on the inside. Always made from fresh-never-frozen potatoes, as evidenced by the bags stacked throughout the restaurant, Five Guys fries have a cult following. The biggest problem patrons may face is choosing between Five Guys style seasoned with salt or the Cajun style.

2nd Place: Stuft A Burger Bar various locations www.stuftburgerbar.com 3rd Place: Big Al’s Burgers & Dogs Fort Collins | (970) 232-9815 www.bigalsburgersanddogs.com

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Best Fine Dining Restaurant Jay's Bistro

Fort Collins | (970) 482-1876 www.jaysbistro.net For special dinners and events, Jays Bistro & Jazz Lounge pops up on every radar in Northern Colorado. It's the place to go to see and be seen, especially when local musician Mark Sloniker is tickling the ivories with his signature jazz sound in one of Fort Collins' best-loved bars. Here, the bartenders greet patrons by name and remember their favorite drinks. After 35 years of preparing what is considered by many to be the best fare in the region, in August Jay and Jacki Witlen handed over the wooden spoon to new owners Wednesday and Norm Vogel. The Vogels owned and managed a restaurant

Best Mexican Food Pueblo Viejo

Fort Collins & Windsor | (970) 221-1170, (970) 204-9860 Looking for big, bold Mexican flavors? They're found at Pueblo Viejo, on the corner of College and LaPorte in Fort Collins or at the Hwy. 392/I-25 interchange in Windsor. The traditional Mexican decor and music set the tone for authentic south of the border cuisine. Start out with warm chips, spicy salsa and beans. But beware, the chips and dips are bottomless, which could leave little room for your entree if you're not careful. The choice of entrees is almost overwhelming. Trying to decide between burritos, enchiladas, tacos, carnitas and chile rellenos, or house specials like the Steak Mexicano (a sliced tenderloin sautĂŠed with onions, tomatoes and green pepper, covered with Spanish Sauce) has the potential to make your head spin. Which only means one thing: you must come back to Pueblo Viejo. And then come back again. 2nd Place: El Monte Grill & Lounge | Fort Collins | (970) 372-1869 | www.elmontegrill.com 3rd Place: CafĂŠ Mexicali, Fort Collins | (970) 266-9292 | www.cafemexicali.com

in Key West for 10 years before relocating to Fort Collins in 2013. With a menu featuring starters like bison carpaccio and the Vogel's own shrimp and crab cakes, meals start off on the right note. Tapas are served every evening until 6 p.m. (and all night on Wednesdays). Entree choices include signature dishes like New Zealand red deer loin, Colorado lamb chops and Bouillabaisse. Diners are advised to save room for dessert. The crĂ¨me brulee is to die for. 2nd Place: Canyon Chop House Fort Collins (970) 493-9588 www.canyonchophouse.com 3rd Place: Sonny Lubick Steakhouse Fort Collins (970) 484-9200 www.sonnylubicksteakhouse.com

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Best Ethnic Cuisine Taj Mahal Restaurant Fort Collins | (970) 493-1105 www.tajmahalfortcollins.com

If you love Indian food, you are already familiar with the Taj Mahal Restaurant in Fort Collins. In 1996, Balu opened the eatery on Oak Street with years of prior food service experience. His cousin Didar joined him in 2003 and hails from the same village in India. The pair has created a favorite destination for those wanting a taste of Northern Indian cuisine. “We have had the same cook for a long time,” says Didar. “Our customers know what to expect. It’s also a family-run business and that makes a difference.” The fantastic service, flavorful food and

Best Patio Dining Austin's American Grill

Downtown Fort Collins | (970) 224-9691 | www.austinsamericangrill.com You can't beat the people watching from the patio at Austin's American Grill. Sitting on the corner of Mountain and College Avenues provides diners with a bird's eye view of the downtown Fort Collins scene. Couple that with one of the best menus in town and you've just set yourself up for a wonderful experience. Whether it's Austin's famous coconut shrimp or the grilled buffalo meat loaf, key lime pie or apple cheddar bacon tarts, diners enjoy mouth-thrilling meals with every bite. Opened by Steve Taylor and Scott McCarthy in 1997, Austin's is a member of the Hot Corner Concepts family, which includes Moot House, Enzio's and Big Al's. Good food. Good people watching. Good times. Lucky us. 2nd Place: The Mainline, An Ale House, Fort Collins | (970) 449-5601 | www.mainlinefoco.com 3rd Place: The Moot House, Fort Collins | (970) 226-2121 | www.themoothouse.com

exquisite atmosphere are the result of a staff that knows how to work together and get involved with all aspects of the business. Adventurous little tykes will enjoy their childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s menu, large selections of naans and well-rounded buffet! 2nd Place: Star of India, Fort Collins (970) 225-1740 | www.starofindiafortcollins. com 3rd Place: Nyala Ethiopian Cuisine, Fort Collins (970) 223-6734 | www.nyalafortcollins.com

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Best Sushi Suehiro Japanese Restaurant

Two Fort Collins locations www.suehirofc.com Sushi lovers know how lucky we are to have affordable and fresh Japanese restaurants in NoCo. Both Suehiro locations offer the largest selection of sushi in town while having very different atmospheres. The Old Town Suehiro on Linden Street has an authentic Asian feel with traditional tearoom seating, while the south location on Corbett Drive boasts more of a city feel, where you can enjoy sake flights in upscale ambience. The restaurant offers beginner sushi classes where you can learn how to make your own sushi creations and you even take home your own roller! Local resident Clint Eccher loves taking his daughter to Suehiro and having a wasabi eating

Best BBQ Nordy’s Bar-B-Que & Grill

Loveland | (970) 461-9227 | www.nordysbbq.com Locally owned and operated by the Nordhagen family, Nordy’s has everything BBQ lovers crave. For 25 years, this family of carnivores has been slow cooking and pit smoking mouth-watering meat that rivals anything from the South. Nordy’s has one location in Northern Colorado since 2008, right off Crossroads Boulevard in Loveland. It’s so close to the Budweiser Event Center and the Centerra shopping center, you can easily get your BBQ fix before or after a show or movie. The all-you-can-eat weekday lunch buffet is the most reasonably priced barbeque feast in the region and don’t forget to try all the fantastic sides (seriously the best fired okra this side of the Mississippi). Nordy’s is sensitive to those on a gluten-free diet; they have a fantastic catering menu and are a wonderful alternative for your next meeting. Ask for a “sauce tour” the next time you’re in and find out why they’re such a local favorite. If you “like” them on Facebook, you can get the inside scoop on specials! 2nd Place: Serious Texas Bar-B-Q, various locations | www.serioustexasbbq.com 3rd Place: Moe's Original Bar-B-Q, Fort Collins | (970) 482-7675 | www.moesoriginalbbq.com

challenge. “We love that place,” says Eccher. “It’s a relaxed place to bring your family and eat great food.” They also have genuinely fabulous service to go along with unique daily specials, making this a favorite everyone must experience, whether you like wasabi or not. 2nd Place: JeJu Sushi and Japanese Restaurant Fort Collins | (970) 416-7733 www.sushijeju.com 3rd Place: Mt. Fuji Japanese Restaurant Fort Collins | (970) 223-5228 www.mtfujifortcollins.com

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Best Coffee Shop Mugs Coffee Lounge Two Fort Collins locations www.mugscoffeelounge.com

There are so many coffee options in NoCo and Mugs is out on top. The convenient locations, right next to the Armstrong Hotel and near the CSU Oval, are key and the vibe is great: comfy couches, secluded tables and even desktop computers for customer access. Their local drip and community-acquired pastries have made them a favorite among locals for quite some time. Entrepreneur Lori Radcliff frequents the coffee shop. "I think Mugs (on College) is a great local spot when you want to meet someone for coffee right in the heart of Old Town,” mentions Radcliff. “It's cozy, tasty and a nice alternative to

Best Brewery New Belgium Brewing

Fort Collins | (970) 221-0524 | www.newbelgium.com No surprise here, because New Belgium brews unbelievable Belgian style beer, with classic year-round staples, seasonal varieties and uncommon collaborations. This 100 percent employee-owned company is a favorite for many other reasons as well. For starters, the folks at New Belgium live their values every day. They care about life, our planet and our community. The company strives to divert 99.9 percent of their waste normally sent to landfills and is on a constant mission to reduce their carbon footprint. By using only clean water to make great beer, they focus efforts on water efficiency, conservation and taste. Don’t forget New Belgium put Fort Collins on the map with Tour de Fat, the country’s biggest and most radical bike parade. Now in 10 cities, the tour has a massive following of bike and beer enthusiasts who don their crazy costumes each year before Halloween. “Do what you love—follow your folly.” It’s a slogan that rings true for this happy company and tourist destination. The taproom and tour spots fill quickly on weekends. Get there early and ask to try one of their unique sour beers. 2nd Place: Odell Brewing Company, Fort Collins | (970) 498-9070 | www.odellbrewing.com 3rd Place: The Fort Collins Brewery, Fort Collins | (970) 472-1499 | www.fortcollinsbrewery.com

Starbucks, especially if you're lucky enough to go on a day when they have bacon-cheddar scones." Businesses have rotated in and out of their basement, but the coffee and relaxed vibe have remained the same over the years, making it an exemplary hangout for those “meeting Joe” and those drinking joe-on-the-go. 2nd Place: Starry Night Espresso Café, Fort Collins (970) 493-3039 | www.cafestarrynight.com 3rd Place: Café Vino, Fort Collins | (970) 212-3399 www.cafevino.com

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Best Hair Salon Studio Be

Two Fort Collins locations | (970) 416-0400 | www.studiobesalon.com There's never a bad hair day at Studio Be. Owner Beth Weber leads a team of highly trained stylists in precision haircutting and multi-dimensional coloring. Customers can choose a stylist from one of five different skill levels—called the 5 Elements—that meet their budget parameters and expertise expectations. But don't be fooled into thinking that newer stylists won't deliver an outstanding haircut and color. Everyone leaves Studio Be looking beautiful. There are two convenient locations; one in Old Town on Walnut Street and the other in Front Range Village. Both salons offer a wide range of services including haircuts and color (of course), highlights, lowlights, hair extensions and blowouts. Eyebrow shaping, upper lip and chin clean-up services are also available. And guys, don't think Studio Be is just for the ladies. It's not. In addition to haircuts and coloring geared for the masculine set, eyebrow and neckline detailing is also available. For a special event, come in for Black Tie Style and leave looking like the most interesting man in the world. Or at least the party. 2nd Place: Gallipott Fort Collins | (970) 682-2261 www.gallipott.com Note: Gallipott had the most write-ins of any local business during our Best Of survey. Pretty fantastic for a newer salon, opened in 2013! 3rd Place: Europa Colour Salon & Spa Fort Collins | (970) 407-8223 www.europafc.com

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Best Health Club/Gym Miramont Lifestyle Fitness Various locations www.miramontlifestyle.com

What's in a name? For Miramont Lifestyle Fitness, the health club's mission is clearly stated in its name. Since 1979, this family-owned and operated business has been helping Fort Collins residents make fitness a part of their lifestyle. Owner Cliff Buchholz says, “At Miramont, total health is truly our passion. We believe that everyone deserves a happy and healthy quality of life. It’s our goal to contribute to building a stronger community through comprehensive fitness and wellness programs that inspire our members from the inside out.” Each of Miramont's four locations offers cardio theaters, weight training and a full roster of classes and each has unique features. The South location has indoor

Best Spa Allura Skin, Laser & Wellness Clinic

Various locations | (970) 223-0193 | www.alluraclinic.com At Allura Skin, Laser and Wellness Clinic, beauty is more than skin deep. From the start, it has always been founder Dr. Rebecca de la Torre's goal to pair inner health and outward beauty. Since 2008, Allura has been helping men and women in Northern Colorado boost their confidence by providing medically-focused services that rejuvenate the skin (wrinkle reducers, dermal fillers, skin tighteners and body contouring), improve health through diet and balance hormones. Dr. de la Torre leads a staff of physicians, registered nurses and physician's assistants, each of whom have received advanced training in aesthetic lasers, injectables, dietary consultation and Bio-Identical hormone replacement. As the medical director and clinical instructor at the College of International Esthetics in Arvada, Dr. de la Torre's expertise is highly regarded. She introduced the hCG weight loss program to the services menu and two years later, started providing Bio-Identical hormone replacement for both men and women. This unique combination of services allows Dr. del la Torre and her staff to help their patients achieve a beauty that goes far more than skin deep. 2nd Place: Barcelona Clinical Spa & Salon, Fort Collins | (970) 226-2596 | www.barcelonasalon-spa.com 3rd Place: Santosha Spa, Fort Collins | (970) 295-4547 | www.santoshaspa.com

and outdoor pools as well as tennis courts. North has a huge climbing wall. Members can take advantage of group fitness classes from yoga and Pilates to SPINNING, Barre Fitness and Boxmaster, among others. The club's app helps members access schedules with one click. The North, Central and South clubs have drop-in childcare on site for an additional fee. 2nd Place: Raintree Athletic Club Fort Collins | (970) 490-1300 www.raintreeathleticclub.com 3rd Place: Fort Collins Club Fort Collins | (970) 224-2582 www.fortcollinsclub.net

As the only truly local regional publication, we are proud to be celebrating our 30th year of publishing high quality magazines about and for the residents and businesses of the Colorado Front Range. We continue our commitment to celebrate and support our Northern Colorado communities: the people, places, businesses and events that make this an extraordinary place to live, work and raise a family.

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Best Car Wash/Detailer Casey’s Car Wash & Detail Center

Fort Collins | (970) 226-2222 www.caseyscarwash.com For 25 years, Casey’s dedicated service and attention to detail has kept Northern Colorado vehicles spotless. Conveniently located on South Mason Street, the full service car wash and detail center is open seven days a week and offers a variety of services. Tons of waxing, washing and detailing options makes Casey’s a local favorite among drivers. Their popular express services can do wonders for your auto at great prices and in a fraction of the time of an extensive detail. They even have headlight restoration to clear up hazy headlights for our dark winter nights! Hint: The best values are with a pre-paid card. They make great stocking stuffers and hostess gifts. Keep it in your car so you don’t forget or lose it the next time you need a wash! 2nd Place: Firehouse Xpress Car Wash Fort Collins (970) 223-2155 | www.firehousexpress.com 3rd Place: Kool Rides Custom Detailing Fort Collins (970) 482-5668 | www.koolridesdetailing.com

Best Oil Change Service Jiffy Lube

Various locations | www.jiffylube.com We've got three, count 'em, three Jiffy Lube automotive service centers in Fort Collins. Owned by Pete Myers, they are under the umbrella of his parent company, Enitor Enterprises, with additional stores in Boulder, Longmont, Littleton and Aurora. Enitor is a Latin word meaning “bring forth, bear, give birth to, struggle upwards, mount, climb and strive," chosen because of what it represents to Pete. Enitor is more than a company name. It's a culture that fosters and appreciates hard work, ingenuity and customer satisfaction. Known for its signature service oil change, the Jiffy Lube franchise offers much, much more. Skilled technicians service air conditioners, engines, transmissions, drivetrain and electrical systems as well as provide emissions testing and windshield repair. And while there are Jiffy Lube stores across the country, the three in Fort Collins are locally owned and managed. That's a good thing. 2nd Place: Houska Automotive, Fort Collins (970) 482-0156 | www.houskaautomotive.com 3rd Place: Grease Monkey various locations in Fort Collins and Windsor

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Best Bank Wells Fargo Bank

Various locations | www.wellsfargo.com It’s the bank that greets you with a smile as soon as you walk in the door! With eight convenient locations in Fort Collins (including one on campus) and a centralized home mortgage office, all your banking needs are easily taken care of. For the personal banking customer, it’s reassuring to know that Wells Fargo is a well established company that can assist with banking, loans/credit, wealth management, investments, retirement accounts and even insurance. Needing help opening a small business? Their bankers have sound advice and helpful insights. Some of the local branches have safe deposit boxes for rent as well. It’s a one-stop bank. Even their website is amazing with online banking access for virtually all transactions. Friendly, professional service and convenience keep Wells Fargo as our favorite bank! Bonus: They have fantastic coffee that’s always fresh. 2nd Place: Home State Bank, various locations (970) 203-6100 | www.homestatebank.com 3rd Place (It's A Tie!): 1st Bank, www.efirstbank.com 1st National Bank, www.1stnationalbank.com

Style looks back: “Although I have and continue to bank at several local banks, I will always have a soft spot in my heart for my first banking experience in Fort Collins. “It was 1965, and I was a 19-year old entrepreneur just starting out. I wanted to buy a clothing store that was for sale and naively thought I shouldn’t have any trouble borrowing money with no collateral. Little did I know how business worked! “The owner of the store happened to have banking ties to Fort Collins, having just completed building a commercial building on College Ave., and suggested I start my own retail store since I couldn’t get financing to buy one. He promised to introduce me to his banker. That idea sounded good to me and within days I had an appointment with Tom Gleason, then vice president of First National Bank. “As Tom says, ‘It just took a few minutes before I was convinced that this young woman would make a success of her business.’ He agreed to take the risk and loaned me the $3,000 I needed to start my first store, Gifts Unusual. Throughout the years, I have leaned often on my banking relationships to grow my stores and later the magazine. But it’s because he believed in me from the beginning and was willing to take a risk that I’ve been in business in Fort Collins since then. I’m so grateful to him for giving that young entrepreneur a chance.” — Lydia Dody, Publisher.

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Best Plumbing Service Allen Services

Fort Collins | (970) 460-1912 www.allenservice.com Brothers Jeff and Mike Allen are third generation plumbers. Allen Services is one of the few remaining family-owned plumbing, heating and air conditioning service contractors. It was founded in Fort Collins in 1962 and now serves residential and commercial property owners in communities throughout the northern Front Range. The company's motto, "The name you know and trust," is one they take to heart every single day. Each of Allen Service's technicians is fully licensed, bonded and insured, and most of them have highly specialized certifications and training. They are supported by a crackerjack team of customer service professionals whose primary goal is to ensure each and every customer receives prompt and efficient service. For the folks at Allen Services, a happy customer is the best customer. 2nd Place: Rams Plumbing Inc., Fort Collins | (970) 690-8997 | www.ramplumbing-inc.com 3rd Place (It's A Tie!): Ridgeline Plumbing various Fort Collins | (970) 515-8292 | www.ridgelineplumbing.net Snyder Plumbing Fort Collins | (970) 227-1749

Best Day Care Spring Creek Country Day School

Fort Collins | (970) 224-4240 | www.springcreekschool.com Tucked away in midtown Fort Collins is a Core Knowledge Curriculum school known as Spring Creek Country Day School. Founded in 1991 by Rhonda Barlow, along with Joan and Lee Fetters, from the beginning the focus of the school’s curriculum has been quality care and education of young children. Parents looking for Toddler day care, Preschool, Prekindergarten and Kindergarten love the certified staff and wide variety of enrichment activities the school has to offer. The toddler program is designed for the 2½ year old who is potty trained and ready for more “preschool type activities.” All age levels follow the Core Knowledge curriculum developed by E.D. Hirsch for a solid early foundation of learning. Another reason Spring Creek School is a favorite in the Fort is the low staff to child ratio of 1 to 12. The school also offers before and after school programs with transportation to and from many elementary schools. 2nd Place: Bright Horizons Various Fort Collins locations | www.brighthorizons.com 3rd Place: KinderCare Various locations | www.kindercare.com

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Best Nursery Gulley Greenhouse

Fort Collins | (970) 223-4769 | www.gulleygreenhouse.com Gulley by the numbers: 1975 - The year Jan and Jim Gulley started their business. In their backyard. Growing columbine and blue spruce. 80-100 - Year-round employees 2 - How many greenhouses they started with 82,470 - Square feet of heated greenhouses 25,000 - Number of rose bushes sold annually More than 200,000 - Gallon-sized perennials sold each year 1000, 100, 650 - The numbers of perennial, herb and annual varieties (respectively) purchased by customers each growing season 365 - The number of days plants are growing at Gulley Greenhouse Good Gulley! These numbers tell only a small part of the Gulley Greenhouse story. The company is dedicated to improving the environment and the community. They accomplish this by growing and selling healthy, region-appropriate plants, backed by stellar customer service and providing local organizations opportunities for fundraising. 2nd Place: Bath Garden Center & Nursery Fort Collins | (970) 484-5022 | www.bathgardencenter.com 3rd Place: Fort Collins Nursery Fort Collins | (970) 482-1984 | www.fortcollinsnursery.com

Best Natural Grocers Sprout’s Farmers Market

Various locations | www.sprouts.com Why do people love Sprout’s in Fort Collins so much? Well, for starters, they have the finest bulk foods selection in Northern Colorado. Unique grains, beans and delectable candies are literally a scoop away and customers absolutely love it! The helpful staff is constantly stocking fresh produce and the vitamin and beauty selection is as impressive as the easy flow parking lots at both locations. Wednesdays are the best day to visit the store in order to maximize incoming and outgoing weekly sales. Grind your own reasonably priced fair trade coffee while you’re there. Their website is phenomenal as well with specials, online coupons, recipes, tips and much more! It’s everything you ever wanted in a grocery store with a strong focus on gluten free, organic and local products. 2nd Place: Whole Foods Market Fort Collins | (970) 267-9200 | www.wholefoodsmarket.com 3rd Place: Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Fort Collins & Greeley | www.naturalgrocers.com

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Best Liquor Store Wilbur’s Total Beverage

Fort Collins | (970) 226-8662 www.wilburstotalbeverage.com Who doesn’t think they’re in beverage heaven when they walk into Wilbur’s? With the largest selection of wine and spirits in Fort Collins, what could be intimidating is made delectably simple with the knowledgeable and friendly staff. The have a fantastically convenient location, on College between Drake and Prospect and their outstanding product line doesn’t forget those that choose non-alcoholic beverages. Family owned by father and son, Dennis and Mat Dinsmore, the pair is dedicated to offering unique products, listening to the customers’ wants and needs, and staying active within their community. “They have the best selection and service for all my beverage needs,” says loyal patron Ryan Lennartson. Once you whet your palate at Wilbur’s you’ll keep coming back for more. It’s no wonder they are a favorite total beverage experience. 2nd Place: Pringle’s Fine Wine & Spirits Fort Collins | (970) 221-1717 www.pringleswine.com 3rd Place: RJ’s Wine & Spirits Fort Collins | (970) 204-6792 www.rjswineandspirits.com

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Best Music Venue The Mishawaka

Bellvue | (970) 482-4420 | www.themishawaka.com The Mish is quite possibly the best-kept secret along the Poudre River and the most memorable outdoor concert venue in Northern Colorado. Those familiar with the amphitheater know how lifechanging the concerts can be…the views are spectacular! The natural setting in the Poudre Canyon creates superb acoustics for world famous acts and local musical favorites. This musical playground in our own backyard is nothing short of a world-class destination for the arts, events and Colorado memories. Yes, they have undergone ownership changes in the past few years. This has only made the concert experience undeniably well rounded with fine food, favorable amenities and a stellar lineup. This is a local favorite music venue for all the right reasons. If you haven’t been, you’re missing out. Parking can be tricky and if you plan on enjoying yourself at the bar during the show, it is recommended that you take the super convenient shuttle to and from the canyon. 2nd Place: Avogadro’s Number Fort Collins | (970) 493-5555 | www.avogadros.com 3rd Place: Thunder Mountain Amphitheater Loveland | (970) 292-0400 | www.thundermountainharley.com

Best Live Theatre Candlelight Dinner Playhouse

Johnstown | (970) 744-3747 | www.coloradocandlelight.com You don’t need to drive to Denver for all the drama and excitement of live theatre. Since 2008, the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, right off I-25 near Johnson’s Corner, has entertained folks with fine food and fabulous entertainment. The region’s top musical theatre talents bring America’s favorite musicals to you for a thrilling evening out! Built by Dave Clark of Loveland’s Clark Construction at a time when dinner theatre seemed to be going out of style, Candlelight has defeated the odds and become a popular entertainment destination for all of Colorado. “It’s Broadway quality without the Broadway price,” says a regular season ticket holder. Professional actors, singers and dancers serve chef-created food before showtime. It’s the area’s favorite dinner theatre; a perfect date night and family night out. It’s obvious the performers enjoy the shows just as much as the audiences. That’s just one of the things that keep people coming back. 2nd Place: Bas Bleu Theatre Company Fort Collins | (970) 498-8949 | www.basbleu.org 3rd Place: Rialto Theater Center Loveland | (970) 962-2120 | www.cityofloveland.org

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Best Yoga Studio Best Margarita 1- Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant, Fort Collins

www.riograndemexican.com/fort-collins 2- Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, two Fort Collins locations

www.fuzzystacoshop.com 3- El Monte Grill & Lounge, Fort Collins

www.elmontegrill.com

Best Vegetarian Restaurant 1- Tasty Harmony, Fort Collins

www.tastyharmony.com 2- The Rainbow Restaurant, Fort Collins

www.rainbowfortcollins.com 3- Avogadro’s Number, Fort Collins

www.avogadros.com

Best Chiropractor 1- Chiropractic Wellness Center, Fort Collins

www.myfortcollinschiropractor.com 2- Peak Performance Chiropractic, Fort Collins

www.peakperformancefortcollins.com 3- Inner Balance Chiropractic, Fort Collins

www.inner-balance-chiro.com

Best Dentist 1- Front Range Dental Center, Fort Collins

www.frontrangedentalcenter.com 2- Bighorn Family Dental, Fort Collins

www.bighornfamilydental.com 3- Alpine Dental Center, Fort Collins

www.alpinedentalhealth.com

Best Optical 1- Eye Center of Northern Colorado, various locations

www.eyecenternoco.com 2- The Eyes Have It, Fort Collins

www.theeyeshaveitfc.com 3- Edge Optics, Fort Collins

www.edgeopticseyewear.com

Best Massage 1- Massage Envy, Fort Collins

www.massageenvy.com 2- A tie! Amara Massage Therapy Center, Fort Collins

www.amaramassage.com 2- A tie! Deep Blue Massage, Fort Collins

1- CorePower Yoga, Fort Collins

www.corepoweryoga.com 2- Old Town Yoga, Fort Collins

www.oldtownyoga.com 3- Mindstream Yoga, Fort Collins

www.mindstreamyoga.com

Best Nail Salon 1- She She Nail & Wax Salon, Fort Collins

www.sheshelounge.com 2- La Nails, Fort Collins

www.lanailsfortcollins.com 3- Europa Colour Salon & Spa, Fort Collins

www.europafc.com

Best Sporting Goods Store 1- Jax Outdoor Gear, various locations

www.embassysuites3.hilton.com 2- Armstrong Hotel, Fort Collins

www.thearmstronghotel.com 3- A tie! Hilton Fort Collins

www3.hilton.com 3- A tie! Marriott Fort Collins

www.marriott.com

Best Lawn Care Service 1- Lawn Doctor, Fort Collins

www.lawndoctor-fortcollins.com 2- Zak George Landscaping, Fort Collins

www.zakgeorgelandscaping.com 3- Swingle Lawn, Fort Collins

www.myswingle.com

Best Handyman Service 1- A-1 Handyman, Fort Collins

www.rei.com/stores/fort-collins

Note: Ross has recently retired and closed his business. Congrats, Ross, on taking first place for your years of past service to the community.

3- Sports Authority Sporting Goods, various locations

2- Don’s Handyman Service, Fort Collins

www.jaxmercantile.com 2- REI, Fort Collins

www.sportsauthority.com

Best Bicycle Shop 1- Lee’s Cyclery, various locations

www.leescyclery.com 2- Peloton Cycles, two Fort Collins locations

www.peloton-cycles.com 3- Road 34 Bike Shop, Fort Collins

www.road34.com

(970) 222-8802 3- Handyman Connection, Windsor

www.handymanconnection.com Of Note: Several of our readers did write in “My husband.” Proof that the sometimes the best help (and the cheapest) is right under your own roof.

Best Dry Cleaning Service 1- Burke Cleaners, various locations

Best Hardware Store

www.burkecleaners.com

1- Ace Hardware, two Fort Collins locations

2- Foothills Cleaners, various locations

www.acehardware.com

www.foothillscleaners.com

2- The Home Depot, various locations

3- Amy’s Green Dry Cleaning, various locations

www.homedepot.com

www.amysgreendrycleaning.com

3- Lowe’s, various locations

Best Clothing Alterations

www.lowes.com

1- The Sewing Room, Fort Collins

Best Realtor

www.thesewingroomfc.com

1- The Group Inc., various locations

2- The Alteration Boutique, Fort Collins

www.thegroupinc.com

www.thealterationshop.net

2- RE/MAX, various locations

3- Express Tailoring & Alteration, Fort Collins

www.remax.com

(970) 490-1717

3- C3 Real Estate, various locations

Best Pet Boarding

www.c3realestatesolutions.com

1- Camp Bow Wow, Fort Collins

www.deepblueftcollins.com

Best Hotel

www.campbowwow.com/us/co/fortcollins

3- Fusion Massage, Fort Collins

1- Embassy Suites Hotel, Spa & Conference Center, Loveland

2- Lazy Dog Ranch & Dapper Dog Salon, Fort Collins

www.fusionmassage.org

www.lazydogranch.com

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3- Happy Trails Pet Spa & Resort, Loveland

www.happytrailspetspa.com

Best Pet Grooming 1- Camp Bow Wow, Fort Collins

www.campbowwow.com/us/co/fortcollins 2- Lazy Dog Ranch & Dapper Dog Salon, Fort Collins

www.lazydogranch.com 3- Tail Waggin’, Fort Collins

www.tail-waggin.com

Best Golf Course 1- Mariana Butte Golf Course, Loveland

www.cityofloveland.org 2- Collindale Golf Course, Fort Collins

www.fcgov.com/golf 3- Pelican Lakes Golf Course, Windsor

www.homesfortcollins.net

Best Country Club 1- Fort Collins Country Club, Fort Collins

www.fortcollinscc.com 2- Pelican Lakes Golf & Country Club, Windsor

www.homesfortcollins.net 3- Ptarmigan Country Club, Fort Collins

www.ptarmigancc.com

Best Outdoor Park 1- Spring Canyon Park, Fort Collins 2- A tie! Boardwalk Community Park, Loveland 2- A tie! Fairground Park Pavilions, Loveland 3- Fossil Creek Park, Fort Collins

Best Dog Park 1- Spring Canyon Dog Park, Fort Collins 2- Horsetooth Dog Park, Fort Collins 3- Fossil Creek Dog Park, Fort Collins

Best Hike/Walk 1- Horsetooth Rock/Horsetooth Falls 2- Poudre River Trail 3- Devil’s Backbone Nature Trail

Best Outdoor Festival 1- Bohemian Nights at NewWestFest, Fort Collins 2- Colorado Brewers’ Festival, Fort Collins 3- Corn Roast Festival, Loveland

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travel

A delicious weekend in

By Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer

BOULDER

So you think you know Boulder? Think again.

You likely know Boulder for its famous university, the Pearl Street Mall and its active tech start-up community. And then there’s Boulder at the fringes. Lately, Boulder has been growing north and east, and for visitors this means brand new adventures await them. I started my Boulder weekend with a morning hike, because that seemed like the perfect way to justify all the good food I was about to eat. The drive from Lyons to Boulder, along Hwy 36, has sweeping views and several easy hiking areas. You may see hawks and perhaps some deer, and you’ll definitely see prairie dogs. After communing with the prairie dogs on the Lefthand Trail, I arrived at my first destination, a collection of wineries located in a nondescript warehouse strip mall on Lee Hill Drive, in North

Boulder. Three wineries have made this area their home and often collaborate on events. After all, why visit one winery when you can visit three? Bookcliff Vineyards, Settembre Cellars and What You Love Winery are located just doors apart, but despite all being owned by married couples, the differences between the three are great. Bookcliff is one of only two Colorado wineries with its own vineyard. Owners John Garlich and Ulla Merz have a 37-acre vineyard on the Western Slope. They make approachable and affordable award-winning wines ranging from $12.99 to $24.99 a bottle. Tracy and Blake Eliasson started Settembre

Cellars in their garage seven years ago and moved into the Lee Hill location this past May. The two fell in love over Italian food and wine and honeymooned in Italy. The young couple’s affinity for Old World wine is evident in their sangiovese, an elegant wine with a balance and depth that seems well beyond the Eliasson’s years. Michael Haslor owns What We Love Winery with his wife, Carolee Corey. Haslor is a winemaker and inventor. The Australian, with 28 years in the wine business, opened What We Love in June 2013. He’s a wealth of knowledge about wine and an imaginative individual who is always creating something new to love, like

Boulder offers much more than beer: tour Settembre Cellars, Bookcliff Vineyards and What You Love Winery. The three wineries are located in the same industrial area of Boulder and offer award-winning wines to sample and for purchase. Photos courtesy of Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer.

Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

Try the fried chicken at your next visit to BRU Handmade Ales & Eats. Photo courtesy of BRU. The restaurant’s owner, Ian Clark, built most everything in the restaurant with his own hands—in addition to brewing the award-winning ales. Photo courtesy of Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer.

his new wine pouches, a brilliant idea for wine on the go. All three wineries work together during events like First Fridays, making that an ideal time to visit. Having sipped my way through many delicious and very different wines, I made my way to The Mediterranean Restaurant in downtown Boulder. I discovered “The Med” not long after moving to Denver in 2000. It’s been a Boulder tradition for more than 20 years, and for good reason. No one does tapas like The Med and it makes for a delightful and affordable lunch. Sun shone in the windows as I happily worked my way through olives, falafel and grilled hanger steak with sliced tomatoes and gorgonzola. Stuffed, I walked the short distance to the St. Julien Hotel & Spa, the place at which I would rest my weary head that night. The St. Julien blends seamlessly into the Boulder downtown architecture, and for years I didn’t know that there was a hotel on Walnut. From my fourth story window I could look down on the courtyard and out towards Chautauqua and the flatirons. It was an awe-inspiring view, but I couldn’t just sit around, I was off to visit the new Blackbelly Restaurant in east Boulder. East Boulder is another city fringe that is developing into a magnet for food and beer lovers. Blackbelly Market Restaurant was bustling when I arrived as their opening date was a week away. Executive Chef Hosea Rosenburg won season five of Bravo’s Top Chef, putting him and his farm-to-table Boulder catering business on the map. The restaurant has been a labor of love and will serve up locally grown food and inspired cocktails featuring Colorado spirits. Butchering is Rosenburg’s specialty and his hand-made sausages and cured meats will be the centerpiece of the restaurant, literally. A windowed room featuring hanging meat, called a salumi case, will be the central art piece at

Style 2014

Blackbelly. My husband joined me for dinner that evening at another east Boulder establishment, BRU Handmade Ales & Eats. It’s one of many breweries that have opened in the area in the last several years. If you’d like to tour the breweries via bicycle, BoulderColoradoUSA.com has a “Bike to Breweries in Boulder” map and instructions on their website. Ian Clark, owner and chef at BRU, is more than just an award-winning brewer and more than just a chef. He’s an all-around Renaissance man having built nearly everything in the restaurant with his own hands, including the pizza oven. He’s even a beekeeper, but despite wearing all these hats he was busy cooking and plating handcrafted meals in the open kitchen while we were visiting. I was, perhaps, a little overly excited to see fried chicken on the menu. The fact is that it’s hard to find good fried chicken in Colorado. BRU, like many Boulder restaurants, tries to keep their food as locally sourced as possible, so it’s likely that my tasty chicken had been clucking happily at a nearby farm only days earlier. It’s worth mentioning the daily happy hour at BRU. The Bahn Mi crispy pork sandwich with lime aioli for just $4 is worth the drive to Boulder. After dinner we walked from the St. Julien to the Bramble & Hare for a cocktail. This hole in the wall is the sister restaurant to Boulder’s famed Black Cat, one of only a handful of authentic farm-to-table restaurants on the Front Range. The small plate food items at Bramble & Hare are sourced from same organic 130-acre farm as the Black Cat’s menu. I ordered the Amaro Abano grapefruit and tonic cocktail while Ryan went with a sophisticated tequila concoction. The rebirth of fancy cocktails is a trend that I fully endorse and you can find a number of highly trained, highly

creative mixologists in Boulder. The next morning sunlight streamed into our room at the St. Julien and the flatirons beckoned. For the past day we’d experienced Boulder’s shiny new offerings, but this morning we were taking a trip back in time. Chautauqua is a national historic landmark located just minutes from downtown Boulder. Founded in 1898 as part of the Chautauqua Movement, the park provides lodging, a dining hall and acres and acres of land to explore. It merits an entire article all by itself, but we were just there for breakfast and a short hike. Breakfast is served in the historic dining hall, a building that immediately made me nostalgic for summer camp. The food, however, was better than anything I’d ever eaten at camp. It may seem over the top to call a breakfast burrito sublime, but the one at the dining hall really was. Fresh ingredients, including a killer green chili, made it a breakfast burrito to remember. Behind the dining hall and the Chautauqua auditorium is a collection of popular trails and after our divine breakfast we went on a short hike. Despite the many humans who utilize these trails, we spotted a herd of deer and plenty of birds flitting from pine to pine as we ascended towards the flatirons. As I hiked, it occurred to me why Bouderites are such an active bunch. I, too, would have to hike to the top of a mountain every day if I spent my life indulging at the wonderful eateries Boulder has to offer. Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer is a freelance writer and longtime Colorado resident. She’s also the founder of HeidiTown.com, the place for entertaining stories about Colorado festivals and travel.

21ST ANNUAL MS DINNER OF CHAMPIONS September 12 :: Embassy Suites :: Loveland More than 300 community and business leaders joined the Colorado-Wyoming Chapter of the National MS Society to honor and pay tribute to 2014 Hope Award honorees, Conrad T. and Cheryl Swanson, and Curt and Nancy Richardson, for their exceptional commitment to philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Also recognized was Brooke Raymond, recipient of the 2014 MS Champion, for her extraordinary volunteerism, courage and commitment in the fight of MS. Nearly

Curt & Nancy Richardson (2014 Hope Award honorees) received their award from last year’s winner, Connie Hanrahan.

Cheryl & Conrad T. Swanson (2014 Hope Award honorees) received their award from last year’s winner, Connie Hanrahan.

Robin Flockhart, Carrie Nolan, Sophi Conti

$110,000 was raised to support local programs and medical research. The Colorado-Wyoming Chapter serves over 100,000 people living with MS and their families. Photos courtesy of zebrajellyfish.com.

Calie & Mike Pierce, Cliff & Mary Buchholz

Steve Nichols, Susan Barstad

Christy & Kim Dittmar

Brooke Raymond (2014 MS Champion honoree), Chad Nielsen

S U P E R H E R O R U N & FA M I LY C A R N I VA L September 13 :: St. Michael’s Town Square :: Greeley St. Michael’s Town Square swarmed with caped crusaders of all sizes and ages at the 2nd annual Superhero 5K/1K/Kids Run and Family Carnival. More than 300 runners and walkers participated, with many dressing up as their favorite superheroes. The unique and colorful event included prizes for top finishers, a costume contest, family carnival and a special “Catch the Villain” free Kids Fun Run, complete with 80 cans of decompostable silly string. Nearly $9,000 was raised and will benefit A Kid’s Place and their programs to provide advocacy and support for abused and neglected children in Weld County.

Aishlyn Saenz, Chelsea Seanz, Shiava Seanz, Brandi Lynn Niento, Tony Perea

Jacob Glover, Jillian Harmon, Caitlin Locke, Cydni Locke

Jake Barrett, Rachel Carnes, Andrew Morse, Lindsay Haines, Jacob Bear, Kelsi Ouellette

Nitosha Torgison, Jenae Nequetteis, Krista Sack, Sami Smith, Elizabeth Paden

Alan Hun, Asher Hunt, Caleb Hunt, Susan Hunt with Ethan Hunt

Chris Sarlo-Bergmann, Officer Dave Arpin

Rachel KondaSundheim

Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

W E S T E R N S TAT E S B U R N C E N T E R G O L F C L A S S I C September 18 :: Boomerang Golf Links :: Greeley A beautiful fall day provided the backdrop for more than 300 golfers, sponsors and volunteers who participated in the 24th annual Western States Burn Center (WSBC) Golf Classic, sponsored by NCMC Foundation. In what has become one of the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most popular golf outings, the event was sold out again, weeks in advance. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event garnered much excitement with Bud Noffsinger as the Hole-in-One winner on hole #7. Bud became the first hole-in-one winner in the 24-year WSBC Golf Classic history and the 32-year North Colorado Med Evac Golf Tournament history. More than $80,000 was raised in net proceeds and will benefit Western States Burn Center. Photos courtesy of Juan Leal.

Mike Springfield, Grayson Cook, Nick Umholtz, Mark Cook Team Spradley Barr Ford Lincoln of Greeley

Gary Wright, Scott Jacoby, Doug Dowden, Jeff Wright A&W Water Services Team 1

Bud Noffsinger - Hole-in-One winner on hole #7. First hole-in-one winner in the 24-year WSBC Golf Classic history and the 32-year North Colorado Med Evac Golf Tournament history.

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T H E G R O U P R E A L E S TAT E I N A U G U R A L P O L O C H A M P I O N S H I P September 27 :: The Ranch/Larimer County Fairgrounds :: Loveland Polo, the oldest team sport known, arrived to Northern Colorado for the first time on a stellar evening and before a crowd of 200 guests dressed in derby attire, complete with hats. Polo players from the region swung their mallets while skillfully riding their ponies and vying for the bragging rights and a trophy in this right-handed sport. Guests enjoyed champagne, silent and live auctions, a hat contest and Divot Stomping at half time. The inaugural event netted more than $10,000 and will benefit Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N) and their programs to provide stable housing for Larimer County families.

Jennifer Carpenter, Linda Hopkins, Deanna McCrery, Angela Walsh, Tami Spaulding, Jo Carney, Leone Coryell, Meredith Vaught, Katie Moon

Kelly Evans, Emma Brink Glee White, Joseph Coors, Christian Moon— Coors Polo Team claims victory

Angie & Zach Penland, Heather & Bill Coleman

Abby Charpentier, Richard Ballard, Karen Petersen, Scott & Shawn Charpentier

Steve Kuehneman, Sara Dudek

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October 2 :: Berthoud High School :: Berthoud October, being Breast Cancer Awareness month, provided the backdrop for this good, old-fashioned bake sale and was at the heart of this Think Pink Night fundraiser created by the Berthoud High School volleyball teams and parents, and supported by hundreds from the community. The evening included drawings for specialty baskets and “Save-ARack” t-shirts as well as C Team, Jr. Varsity and Varsity volleyball matches. Players and coaches also honored persons in their lives who had been touched by breast cancer with a pink rose. The event raised $568 and was donated to Hope Lives! The Lydia Dody Breast Cancer Support Center and their mission to offer complementary care services at no cost to women battling breast cancer.

Top Row: Hannah Atkinson, Emily Trujillo, Julie Ward, Madi White, Shaylee Pierick, Haley Hummel, Jessa Megenhardt, Alyssa Peacock. Fourth Row: Megan Schmad, Sarah Howard, Brooke Thonhoff, Savannah Supernor, Abi Lutz, Ellisa Emerson, Abby Nash, Shelby Braesch. Third Row: Maddie Decker, Izzi Quire, Meghan Lucero, Elana TerAvest, Jordan Harrison. Second Row: Sophie Visger, Maycee White, Jordan Hull, Hannah Godfrey, Ashlee Burdette, Skye Kearney. First Row: Melissa Venable, Morgan O’Keefe, Daisha Agho Melissa Venable, Hope Lives Executive Director, accepts a check from C Team Coach Morgan O’Keefe and Varsity Coach Daisha Agho and the BHS volleyball teams. Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

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T O P C AT & TA I L S : A R O U N D T H E W O R L D F O R E I G H T Y S T R AY S October 4:: Embassy Suites :: Loveland The 2014 Top Cat & Tails Gala, the 16th annual fundraiser was a tail-wagging success that raised more than $120,000 for Larimer Humane Society and the nearly 8,000 animals in their care! Close to 400 guests, 10 adoptable animals, committee members and event volunteers enjoyed a fun evening featuring silent and live auctions, dinner and entertainment. Highlights included a Paw Studded Adoptable Pet Parade featuring five cats and five dogs, a spirited live auction resulting in three Ultimate Pet Package winners, and all 10 adoptable animals found their forever homes. Photos in part courtesy of Dot Wehrly.

Jennifer Metcalf, Amy McCarthy, Sean McCarthy, Vi Wickam, Christina Gressianu , John Metcalf.

Matt Sorensen, cat handler Deb Eastberg with Victoria, Annette Vizena

Ultimate Pet Package winner, Karen Horak, with “Jules”.

Ultimate Pet Package Back: Janel Robison, Collin Bellisario, winners, Nicky Galbrath Ken Robison. Front: Gabby Bellisario,one of 3 winners and Mike Keller, happily of the Ultimate Pet Package, holding her hug “Inspector Fix,” their newly won pet, who is 12. Bekah holds Bombay chosen dog “Calcutta”

Camille Susemihi, Tom Gorell, Christine Susemihi

Michael Loughlin, Lili Francuz

Robin Downing, Sharon DeNayer

Donna & Raoul Reiser

Steve & Angie Pardue

F R O M L O N D O N A N D B R O A D WAY W I T H L O V E October 4 :: Rialto Theater: :: Loveland More than 200 audience members pleaded for more from “Vail’s Piano Man,” Micky Poage, and Loveland Opera Theatre’s Colorado soloists and chorus as Loveland Opera Theater (LOT) celebrated its 10th anniversary. The evening of music showcased a Beatles’ medley, and selections from “Phantom of the Opera,” “Les Miserables” and more. A silent auction provided attendees a chance to mingle and bid on great items. Proceeds from the event will help with LOT’s February 2015 production of Kismet and will further LOT’s mission to offer outstanding operatic performances and educational opportunities in our community.

Aaron Carlson, Rachel Carlson

Standing: Rob Hoch, Juliana Bishop Hoch. Seated: Micky Poage (Vail’s Paino Man)

Pat Nanto, Kayla Nanto

Tim Webb, Dan Carey, Rob Hoch

Ron Walling, JoEllen Walling, Dave Hazen, Christina Hazen

Bill Beierwaltes, Lynda Beierwaltes, Jill Wichlens, Tracy Ashmore, Rich Gabriel, Kate Brasch Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

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T E D xC S U 2 0 1 4 : K N O W B E T T E R D O B E T T E R October 11 :: CSU Lory Student Center Theater :: Fort Collins Eleven unique speakers from Northern Colorado captivated a full house of CSU students, local community members, individuals from across the state, and organizing staff and volunteers at the 3rd annual branded TEDx program. Taking from TED’s mission, this local, independently organized event brought a diverse group of mavericks together with the theme, “Know Better Do Better,” to present their ideas, pose questions and challenge the way we think. The day of TEDx presentations also included “innovation alley,” featuring local food, music, art and interactive exhibits from Colorado.

Cindy Sweatt, Mary Murphy, Jean Kirshner

Kris Jordan, Thomas Solatka, Andrea Faudel

Speakers at TEDxCSU 2014 Standing: Michael Kirkpatrick, Panama Soweto, Jesse Wilson, Amy Lewis, Sarah Payne, Bill Becker, Michael Gavin. Kneeling: Jessica Davis, Jamie Folsom, Beth Conrey, Peter Bouckaert

Photos in part courtesy of TEDxCSU.

Joyce Chitechi, Willy Salinas, Brooke Malone

Caleb Schroder, Meg Parkinson

Lance Wright, Leslie Taylor, Joseph Akmakjian, Tess Jackson, Megan Concannon

T I M E T R AV E L E R S B A L L October 18 :: Masonic Lodge :: Old Town Fort Collins A blast from the past rang true for all those that attended this event celebrating the 150th Anniversary of Fort Collins and hosted by Poudre Landmarks Foundation. Guests dressed in a mix of Victorian, Flapper, Steampunk and other vintage attire, enjoyed dance lessons and demonstrations, displays of fads and fashions from the past and dancing to music from the past 150 years. Proceeds from the event benefit Poudre Landmarks Foundation and their mission to preserve, restore, protect and interpret the architectural and cultural heritage of Fort Collins. Photos courtesy of Kimball Nelson.

Chris McCullough, Peggy Lyle

Theresa & Francisco Cordova

Marissa Beccard, Jennifer Beccard

Kathleen & Bill Whitley

Bridget & Thom Tisthammer Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

Style 2014

COFFEE FOR A CURE October 24 :: The Human Bean locations :: Northern Colorado Coffee drinkers united on a single day in support of The Human Bean’s Coffee for a Cure annual fundraiser. The all-day event had Human Bean’s coffee baristas very busy as the two Fort Collins locations raised $14,000 and the four Weld County locations raised $22,000 for a record-breaking total of $36,000. The money raised from 100 percent of the day’s sales will help local women fighting breast cancer in Larimer and Weld County communities. Owner Frank Sherman, celebrating the overwhelming support and generosity of Northern Colorado community members, wore a pink tutu to present a check to PVH/MCR Foundation for the money raised at Fort Collins locations during the CSU Rams game. Mike Sanders, Jenae Nequette, Frank Sherman, Jamie Porter, JoAnn Lovins, John Morris

PHANTOM 5K October 25 :: Embassy Suites :: Loveland Blue skies, innovative costumes, lots of dogs, and a delicious bountiful buffet were the standouts at this fundraising event to help raise money for Animal Rescues in Northern Colorado. More than 550 runners and walkers from across the Front Range came to support the 5th annual Phantom 5K, founded and hosted by the Embassy Suites. The family event sported spooky Halloween music, a Kids Fun Run, costume contests and the famous Bone Chilling Breakfast. Proceeds from the event to benefit Animal House Rescue & Grooming, Denaki Animal Sanctuary and Larimer Humane Society.

Nicole Siskey with dogs Ruger and Dobby, Jamie Eschete with daughter Kaleigh

Jennifer Martinez with dogs Hayden and Canney, James Dockery with dogs Gracie and Zig

Tracy Thompson, Olivea Walsh, Matt Walsh

Joanna Fetherolf with Thorin, Tom Dwyer, Rhonda Shroba with Maggie her rescue dog.

Michael Chavez, 1st overall finisher with time of 16:15

Pete Stevenson with Otto, Animal House adoptee & 1st overall dog finisher

Justin Liddle (3rd overall finisher), Ruth Waller (1st woman finisher)

Rachel Betz, Jacquie Holt with Mojo

Cathy Fischer, Megan Fischer, Nina Roudebush

Jen Mommer, Christine Cortney with Tilley Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

1 4 T H A N N U A L C E L E B R AT E L I F E I N T H E P I N K - H O P E L I V E S ! G A L A October 25 :: Embassy Suites :: Loveland Over 600 guests experienced an inspiring evening when 18 beautiful women, all breast cancer survivors, graced the stage along with their escorts to celebrate life at this signature Hope Lives! Gala event. This 14th annual event also honored four individuals and businesses with a Champions of Hope Award for their unrelenting commitment and outstanding professional service to women diagnosed with breast cancer. More than $190,000 was raised to benefit Hope Lives! The Lydia Dody Breast Cancer Support Center and their programs and services to support, strengthen and empower those touched by breast cancer in Northern Colorado. To date, Hope Lives! Support Center has provided more than 18,000 free complementary care services. Photos courtesy of

Nancy & Curt Richardson

Dave & Melissa Venable

Jeri & Jeff Newton

Melissa Brannen, Jan Schroeder

Governor John Hickenlooper, Marci Guay, Larry Lacert

Hallie & Yuval Wasserman

Sugar Mill Productions and Gabriel Chartier Photography.

Laura Bundy, Aili Bundy

Standing: Pat Baum, Larry Taylor, Ursla Mallard, Jennifer Reeve, Gaylene Pegg, Tom Blomquist. Seated: Karin Schmidova, Marilyn Heth, Shannon Pisano Colleen Milan, Debra Milan, Kelly Milan

Paul Wozniak, before

Lydia Dody, Rebecca de la Torre, Yvonne Hampson

Paul Wozniak, after Bald is Beautiful Paddle Raise

Lydia Dody, Julie Sather-Browne, Sid Sather

Standing: Shawn & Scott Charpentier, Ron & Kim Redmond, Derrik Pearce, Taylor Charpentier, Abby Charpentier. Seated: Colton Charpentier, Richard & Cora Charpentier, Sabra Charpentier

Rosalie & Dennis Sinnett, Jennifer & John Sinnett. Seated: Lydia Dody

Timothy Gonzales had his head shaved by Beth Murray in love and support for Suzanne Fries

Heather Coleman

Monique Osterfelt, Pete Osterfelt

Echo Strong

Karen Weitkunat

James Lopez,Carol Lopez

Suzanne Fries, Timothy Gonzales

Lydiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s STYLE Magazine

Style 2014

HALLOWEEN GIVE ONE PINT AND GET ONE PINT! October 31 :: Garth Englund Blood Center :: Fort Collins Laughter was plentiful as witches, pirates and even a Poudre River Tuber showed up to the 13th annual Houska Halloween Blood Drive. The ‘give one pint and get one pint’ Halloween Day event collected a record breaking 73 pints with costumed and noncostumed community members of all ages helping to support the cause. Donors also had an opportunity to easily sign up for the Bone Marrow Registry program. Since its inception in 2001, the Houska Halloween Blood Drive, has collected more than 450 pints and, with each pint helping three individuals, more than 1,350 lives have been saved.

Dennis Sovick

Steven Rivera, Noreen & Dennis Houska, Christine Digiallonardo, Alyssa Sweazy

Karen Allen, Annie Houska, Jen Houska

W H AT E V E R B L O W S Y O U R S K I R T U P October 31 :: Fort Collins Museum of Art (FCMOA) :: Fort Collins Hollywood glamour was defined at FCMOA’s opening night of Marilyn: Celebrating an American Icon. The retro Hollywood halloween party saw a crowd of captivated bystanders watch as ‘Marilyn Monroe’ arrived in style in a classic Cadillac donated by Houska Automotive to join other Marilyns at the museum’s opening, as well as some influential characters from Marilyn's life. This 1950’s FCMOA glamour costume party, the first one in Fort Collins, celebrated the life of this sultry, iconic blonde bombshell for a night to remember. Photos courtesy of

Marilyn Monroe arrives in style in this classic Cadillac. Donna Stroh as Marilyn Monroe, Bev Donnelley in back as Marilyn’s makeup artist and David Prosser as Joe DiMaggio, driving

Dean Bratz as Joe DiMaggio, Bev Donnelley as Marilyn’s makeup artist, David Sutton as Arthur Miller, David Prosser as Joe DiMaggio, Donna Stroh as Marilyn Monroe

zebrajellyfish.com and Tim O’Hara Photography.

Donna Stroh

Todd McIntyre Todd dressed as the Tony Curtis character Josephine in "Some Like it Hot."

David Sutton, Sharon Downing

Stacie & James Ivey

Jane Sullivan, Pam McCombs

Ashley Perry

Arla Squires, Carole Egger Arla dressed as Cary Grant.

Marie Livingston

Alli Marti poses with Marilyn Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

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MCKEE PRESENTS November 1:: Embassy Suites :: Loveland A spectacular Broadway performance entertained more than 350 business owners, physicians, community leaders and McKee Foundation supporters at this year’s gala presented by The Friends of the Hospital. Guests enjoyed hit performances from “Cats,” “Chicago” and “The Lion King,” casino gaming, a silent auction and music into the evening. The 2014 McKee Foundation Philanthropy Award was presented to Doreen MacDonald for her commitment to serving the underserved and homeless in Loveland and beyond through the Community Kitchen and Mountain View Presbyterian. More than $125,000 was raised to benefit the Heart Safe Community initiative to improve survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest by increasing the availability of automated external defibrillators (AED’S) and educating community members on how to administer CPR. Photos courtesy of Juan Leal.

Rick & Bonnie Sutton

Steve & Laura Rains

Shirley & Ron Hogan

Karen Katrina, Julie Johnson Haffner, Lauren Denton, Ashley Kazprzak

Doreen & Alistair MacDonald Doreen MacDonald -2014 Philanthropy Award recipient

George & Coleen Ligotke

David Aldrich, Becky Burton Aldrich, Charlie Johnson, Don Johnson, Dave Feedback, Kate Feedback

FA L L I N T O J E W E L S November 6 :: Fountains of Loveland Ballroom :: Loveland Girlfriends, mothers and daughters, neighbors and bling lovers came to shop the more than 25 tables with thousands of precious, semi precious and designer jewGlorie Magrum, Christine Dildine, Rebecca Burton Aldrich, elry pieces on display, as well as LuAnn Ball, Cindy Corbett, Sandy Nicholson Cindy Guldy scarves, purses and belts, all donated by the community throughout the past year. Wine, hors ‘d oeuvres and live music added to the exciting girls’ night out. Proceeds raised from this 8th annual signature event benefit House of Neighborly Service and their many programs servicing the community since 1961. Audrey Ketchum, Linda Gibson, Tracy Houghe, Jaclyn Wilmot Judy Chapman, Marsha Glanz Moofie Miller

Jeanne Lynch, Janice Greeno, Judy Chapman

Hannah Brace, Rebecca Brace Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

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