Issuu

MOTHER

COOKIE CAKE Shelby Boolay is just getting started

FO O D + DRI N K ISSU E O C TO B E R 2 02 6

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LIFESTYLE LETTER

Come Hungry, Stay Awhile I come from an Italian family, so food has never really been just food. It's how we celebrate, how we take care of people. How we say, "I'm glad you're here" without ever having to say the words. For me, some of the strongest memories are tied to my mother's recipes and the traditions that came with them. Certain dishes can take me right back, not just to what was on the table, but to who was sitting around it, the conversations, the laughter, and that unmistakable feeling of home. Sometimes a recipe becomes part of your family story. And in my family, there's always enough. More food. More conversation. More room at the table. Maybe that's why Shelby's story behind Mother Cookie Cake resonated with me so much. What started in her kitchen has become part of so many meaningful moments for others. Birthdays, celebrations, milestones, difficult days, and those times when someone needs to know they're loved. It reminded me that what we make and share can carry so much more than what's on the plate. Maybe that's what I love about fall, too. It reminds us to slow down long enough to enjoy the people right in front of us. Cooler evenings. Football in the background. Something cooking in the kitchen. Friends staying for one more glass of wine and one more story before heading home. Those are the moments I love most. So, as you make your way through this month's Food + Drink issue, I hope you discover somewhere new to eat, something delicious to try, or simply a reason to call your people, pull up another chair, and stay around the table a little longer. Between Us In our family, feeding people is a love language. If you come over, there's a very good chance you're leaving with food. And honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. Now I want to hear what that looks like in your family. Your Turn: Is there a recipe or food tradition that instantly takes you home? DM Fort Collins City Lifestyle on Instagram and share yours with me. I'll be featuring some of our community favorites on social this month.

C A R L I TAY L O R - D R A K E , P U B L I S H E R @FORTCOLLINSCITYLIFESTYLE

October 2026 PUBLISHER

Carli Taylor-Drake | carli.taylor-drake@citylifestyle.com E D I TO R I AL C O O R D I N ATO R

Luke Purvis | luke.purvis@citylifestyle.com CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Carli Taylor-Drake C O N T R I B U T I N G P H OTO G R AP H E R S

Bob Younger Images, Ashley Redding, owner of Coleman & Co. Photography

Corporate Team CEO Steven Schowengerdt President Matthew Perry CRO Jamie Pentz CoS Janeane Thompson AD DESIGNER Rachel Otto LAYOUT DESIGNER Lillian Gibbs QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Anna Minnick

Learn how to start your own publication at citylifestyle.com//franchise. Proverbs 3:5-6 Fort Collins City Lifestyle® is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Fort Collins area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle

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Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Fort Collins City Lifestyle® is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

SO MUCH M O R E THAN A LIQUOR STORE

G R E AT PR I C E S • E XC E PT I O N A L S E R VI C E • K N OWL E D G E A B L E STA F F

O PE N : M O N -S AT 9A M -1 0 P M | S U N 9A M 7 P M 2 2 0 1 S Co l l e g e Ave n u e , Fo r t Co l l i n s | 9 70 -2 2 6 - 8 6 6 2 | Wi l b u r s To t a l B eve r a g e .c o m

inside the issue OC TOB E R 2 02 6 | FOOD & D R I N K

16 Featured

24 30

Print Prestige Meets Digital Power.

WHY CHOOSE BETWEEN PRESTIGE AND PLACEMENT?

Departments

Sweet Chaos

How Mother Cookie Cake turned viral laughs into community impact

Blue Agave, Made From Scratch

Richard and Brenda Lucio bring decades of experience, Southwestern flavor and hospitality to Fort Collins.

Lifestyle Letter

City Scene

Business Monthly

Must See FOOD + BEVERAGE

Hot Spot LIFE + CULTURE

Happy Hour FOOD + BEVERAGE

House Call PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Events

Beneath the Surface

Social’s underground setting draws you in, but its hospitality, creativity and connection keep you returning

On the Cover THE SWEETEST STORY IN TOWN How Shelby Boolay turned cookies, cake and a whole lot of heart into Mother Cookie Cake. Photography: Bob Younger Images

With City Lifestyle’s co-branded print + digital packages, your business captures attention wherever our community is looking. Build unmatched local credibility on the page, and drive immediate action online. Ready to double your local reach? Contact your local publisher by scanning below.

STILL SETTING THE STANDARD.

Before it was considered best practice, it was our practice. Before wellness was a buzzword, we built PrimeFit. Before dining became an experience, we made it one. Before travel felt possible, we showed you the world. For 50 years, Leisure Care has reimagined what senior living can be again and again. With long-tenured team members across every level, we’ve created consistency that residents and families can count on. Experience the difference that our experience makes at MacKenzie Place – Fort Collins – an award-winning senior living community where our people are still setting the standard. Visit MacKenziePlaceFortCollins.com to schedule your visit today! 4750 Pleasant Oak Drive Fort Collins, CO 80525 970-528-8755 MacKenziePlaceFortCollins.com

OCTOBER 2026

city scene WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN

LUKE PURVIS

1: CAM the Ram joins excitement as CSU takes on Wyoming in the annual Border War. 2: Ram fans bring energy, spirit and plenty of green and gold to the Border War. 3: Jana Dean Burns, Greg Burns, Bart and Renae Furrow, enjoy the CSU Border War. 4: Linda, Patrick and Payton Humpal celebrate a CSU victory and a day of Rams football. 5: Kari Sanders and Ava Nelson share a sweet game-day moment while cheering on the Rams. 6: 4Ever Young Anti-Aging Solutions owners Annmarie Satriano & Derek Fessler enjoy a Broncos preseason game. 7: Shelby Boolay, Bob Younger and Carli Taylor-Drake behind the scenes at Mother Cookie Cake’s photoshoot.

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8: NOCO Unify members brought island vibes to the Suitcase Party. Incredible event for our community! 9: Ty Montgomery, Kim Alexander, Michele Bolkovatz, and Shane Redman at the NOCO Unify Suitcase Party. 10: Misty Dockins, Mandy Mullen, Tina Martinez, Candice Redman. 11: YSL purse winner Kearston Zerzanek celebrates with girlfriends from the Socialites Club and the Majorettes. 12: Cy Mascarenas, Sarah Dick, Ben Hulsey, Taylor Hulsey, Elise Rigney. 13: Celebrating Fort Collins Hotworx Open House with Gabby, Mandy Mullen, McKay Christ, and Naomi. 14: Dr. Vincent “Skip” Ross, 2026 Cheyenne Frontier Days™ Hall of Fame inductee, with his family.

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OCTOBER 2026

business monthly A ROUNDUP OF NEWS F R O M LO C A L B U S I N E S S E S

Join Forma Furniture’s 22nd Anniversary Party on October 10 Forma Furniture is celebrating 22 years with its 22nd Anniversary Sale, October 10–26, featuring special savings and manufacturer promotions at all three Colorado showrooms in Fort Collins, Boulder, and Northglenn. The celebration kicks off October 10 at the Fort Collins showroom, where Forma’s story began in 2004. Today, the Colorado-born retailer has furnished more than 15,000 homes while building a reputation for modern design, exceptional comfort, quality craftsmanship, and personalized service.

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Hear Better. ACNC Cares Hosts a Fall Community Celebration ACNC, or Audiology Center of Northern Colorado, will be holding a community event in partnership with its 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, ACNC Cares. Stop by to learn how to get involved and bring the family for fall festivities! Enjoy a car show, with Houska Automotive on hand to teach you about cars. There will also be pumpkin painting, face painting, trunk-or-treating, food, and a raffle with great prizes, including technology, automotive care gift certificates, and more!

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Connect to Life Porsche Fort Collins Opens at New Location Porsche Fort Collins is entering an exciting new chapter from its new location at 2849 S. College Avenue. The dealership is now welcoming clients in the space while continuing to elevate the Porsche experience in Northern Colorado. With a beautiful showroom, factory-certified service center, parts department, finance team, detail department, and Porsche accessories boutique, Porsche Fort Collins’ new home reflects its continued commitment to exceptional service, luxury, and the local community for years to come.

We are dedicated to provide solutions to help you connect to your life and your loved ones. This starts with being able to hear and communicate better. At the Audiology Center of Northern Colorado, we provide the most comprehensive care while providing a one-stop solution for all your audiology needs. We help newborns to elderly and are the opposite of corporate healthcare. We are a local, independent, women-owned certified business. audiologycenternoco.com (970) 893-7621 2001 South Shields Street, Bldg H102, Fort Collins, CO 80526 VBF

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In her Fort Collins kitchen, Shelby Boolay embraces the joyful chaos behind Mother Cookie Cake. Photography by Bob Younger Images

M UST SE E | FO O D + BEVE RAGE

HOW MOTHER COOKIE CAKE TURNED VIRAL LAUGHS INTO COMMUNITY IMPACT

ARTICLE BY CARLI TAYLOR-DRAKE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BOB YOUNGER IMAGES

SWEET

CHAOS “Shut up and sit down. I need to tell you about this cake.” At 2 a.m., nine months pregnant and sleep-deprived, Fort Collins mom Shelby Boolay recorded a SpongeBob cookie cake voiceover. Laughing uncontrollably, she blurted out the phrase, and her unexpected signature was born. CONTINUED >

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The video gathered 30 million views. Hundreds of thousands know her as Mother Cookie Cake, whose creations are unhinged and always entertaining. Boolay was laid off the day after telling her employer she was pregnant with her second child. Her husband was a stay-at-home dad, and the life they had built suddenly felt uncertain. “We went from a one-income household to a zero-income household with another baby coming,” she says. “It was a sad winter.” Her husband returned to software engineering while Boolay applied for dozens of jobs. Interviews were scarce. Her cravings for chocolate chip cookies were not. On TikTok, she found a creator decorating cookie cakes. Boolay had never baked or decorated one, or shown evidence that this was a reasonable career move. Naturally, she decided she could do it. “I have this condition where I think I can do anything,” she says. Her first order was a Bluey cake for a two-yearold. Boolay accepted, then raced home to practice. “I pretended I was a real bakery,” she says. “She did not know she was my first customer.” Fort Collins gave her momentum. Hoping to attract one graduation order, Boolay made a CSU cake and

Shelby Boolay joins Flavor Flav at SHE Weekend, celebrating elite women athletes in Las Vegas

M UST SE E | FO O D + BEVE RAGE

“I WOULD BE NOWHERE WITHOUT F OR T COL L INS,” SHE SAYS. Flavor Flav commissioned Boolay to create this cake for a local Taylor Swift fan

posted it the day the Rams played during March Madness. Local fans discovered her, orders poured in, and soon she was booked daily for six months. “I would be nowhere without Fort Collins,” she says. As the cakes spread, so did Mother’s unpredictable commentary. Boolay does not sketch, practice piping, or write scripts. Facing a blank cake, she picks up the buttercream and lets confidence, questionable decisions, and chaos take over. Her greatest hits include “quirky log-shaped bookshelves,” a memorial design mistaken for a tombstone, and a Sweetheart Festival border the internet decided took on a very unintended shape. The festival team embraced it, publicly thanking Boolay for its laughable cake. “I think everyone is ready for some levity,” she says. “Everything is a little too serious.” Then a two-word comment sent her story in an unexpected direction: “Just brands?” The person behind it was Flavor Flav. A co-founder of the influential hiphop group Public Enemy, Flavor Flav is a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee who later became a reality television star. His oversized clocks and unmistakable “Yeah, boyeee!” have made him a pop-culture icon across generations. Boolay had invited brands to hire her, but Flav wondered why the invitation stopped there. She assured “Mr. Flavor,” as she calls him, that he could order a cake, too. He messaged her from Europe before taking the stage and promised to reconnect afterward. “I was like, ‘Okay, man. I’ll be here. I’m just changing diapers,’” she recalls. He followed through, commissioning a cake for a Taylor Swift fan and becoming Boolay’s champion. A supporter of women athletes and entrepreneurs, Flav promised to find another way to help her business. Months later, he invited her to bring cookie cakes to a women’s sports celebration in Las Vegas. They remain in touch, though her invitation to bake together remains unanswered. CONTINUED >

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Photography by Bob Younger Images

“He didn’t say it was off the table,” she says. Flavor Flav became the first of Boolay’s celebrity “side quests.” Next came electronic dance music group Laszewo and a cookie cake delivery in San Francisco. The idea for these celebrity deliveries began backstage at Flav’s event, when someone claimed Boolay made cakes for Taylor Swift. Asked if it was true, she confidently said yes. It was not. But “baking it until I make it” is part of the fun. Behind Mother’s swagger is a wife and mother of two toddlers building a business after bedtime. She calls it her third child, born alongside her youngest. She kisses her husband goodbye and begins working, often until midnight. Before Bake It Forward had a name, Boolay used her platform to help home bakers. She created a state-by-state directory connecting followers with

M UST SE E | FO O D + BEVE RAGE

Boolay completes another celebrity “side quest” with electronic dance music group Laszewo

small baking businesses, many run by mothers supporting their families, just as she had. Then a woman celebrating the halfway point of chemotherapy bid in one of Boolay’s cake auctions. When she was outbid, Boolay offered the cake for free. With the woman’s permission, she shared her story, donated the video earnings, and helped generate thousands of dollars toward treatment. That experience inspired Bake It Forward, a series that shares stories of people facing cancer, infertility, and other hardships. It let Boolay turn her attention to someone else.

Boolay celebrates Fort Collins City Lifestyle with a cake depicting herself holding the magazine cover

“THAT’S WHEN I REALIZED I DO HAVE INF L UENCE,” SHE S AYS. “I’M NO T I N F L U E N C I N G P E O P L E T O B U Y S T U F F. I C A N I N F L U E N C E P E O P L E T O H E L P. ” Her community rallied after she posted about an adopt-a-family tree at a coffee shop. A follower offered money for Boolay to shop for another family. Within 36 hours, others had contributed $7,000. Boolay recruited local baristas, and together they spent every dollar on children in Northern Colorado. “That’s when I realized I do have influence,” she says. “I’m not influencing people to buy stuff. I can influence people to help.”

To Boolay, the community surrounding Mother Cookie Cake includes the mother starting a bakery, the family navigating a diagnosis, and the stranger willing to help someone they may never meet. Perhaps that is her greatest creation, not frosting, celebrity deliveries, or viral punchlines, but a community willing to show up. Her life became messier, louder, and more meaningful than planned. So, shut up and sit down. Mother Cookie Cake proves imperfect beginnings can create something that matters. OCTOB ER 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/FO RTC O L L I N S

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BLUE AGAVE,

Made From Scratch Richard and Brenda Lucio bring decades of experience, Southwestern f lavor and hospitalit y to Fort Collins.

Richard and Brenda Lucio, Owners of Blue Agave

ARTICLE BY CARLI TAYLOR-DRAKE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY COLEMAN & CO. AND PROVIDED

H OT SP OT | L I FE + C ULTURE

For Richard and Brenda Lucio, Blue Agave Grill is more than one restaurant. It is the Fort Collins restaurant Richard had imagined for years, a place shaped by decades of experience, a love of Southwestern flavor, a commitment to cooking from scratch, and a belief that hospitality should make people feel at home. Their story began long before Blue Agave. Richard and Brenda met at 16 at Greeley West High School, then entered the restaurant business as teenagers. By their early 20s, both were general managers for a restaurant group, learning every side of the industry. From the beginning, Richard and Brenda have built the business side by side, bringing different strengths to a shared vision. Richard gravitates toward concepts, menus, and flavors, while Brenda brings a strong instinct for hospitality and operations. Together, they’ve shaped restaurants where the food, service, and guest experience all work hand in hand. In 1999, they opened their first restaurant, Coyotes Southwestern Grill in Greeley. Palomino Mexican Restaurant followed in 2004, with another Palomino in Loveland in 2012. Then came Blue Agave in Fort Collins in 2014. The concept Richard says he had wanted to create from the beginning. “Blue Agave was the concept I always wanted,” he says. Unlike a traditional Mexican restaurant, Richard envisioned something contemporary and Southwestern, with the freedom to borrow inspiration from Asian, Italian, and other cuisines while layering in flavors from the Southwest and south of the border. Richard and Brenda lived and worked here as young adults, then built a home. Richard had long hoped to open his own restaurant in Fort Collins. When the opportunity finally appeared, they jumped at it. “It’s always been a big restaurant town,” Richard says. “We knew we were bringing something a little different to the table.” That difference is at the heart of Blue Agave today. Travel throughout the Southwest still influences Richard’s cooking. A meal in Santa Fe helped crystallize the idea years ago. He loved the creativity of higher-end Southwestern cuisine but wanted to make that experience more accessible, something guests could afford to enjoy regularly, not just for a special occasion. That philosophy shows up across the menu. The Tuna Rita and Black & White Nachos offers standout starters, while the signature asada and lobster-and-shrimp enchilada with chipotle cream reflect the restaurant’s contemporary approach.

Richard and Brenda with their grandson

CONTINUED >

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Hailey White, Richard and Brenda Lucio, and Anna Pettus

The Lucio Family

Just as important is what happens behind the scenes. Blue Agave is a true scratch kitchen, part of a standard Richard and Brenda maintain across their restaurants. They handle and prepare fresh product in-house rather than relying on pre-made or partially cooked items. In fact, Richard says one of their restaurants is used as a training ground for health department inspectors because they can observe raw, fresh product being handled. Maintaining that approach is harder operationally, he says, but it is central to the quality and consistency their restaurants were built on. The bar is just as much a part of the experience. Blue Agave offers margarita flights, tequila flights and 90 tequilas, along with its house-made Sangria Swirl, a signature combination of homemade sangria and frozen margarita. Weekend brunch, bottomless mimosas and daily happy hour give Fort Collins guests more reasons to make Blue Agave part of their regular rotation. But for Brenda, food is only half of what makes a restaurant memorable. “Food’s going to bring people in, but the hospitality is going to complement that and hopefully bring them back,” she says. That belief runs through every concept the Lucios have built. Managers are encouraged to visit tables, listen to guests, and make things right when something falls short. Brenda says the goal is simple: guests should feel welcomed, appreciated, and comfortable enough to feel at home. Over the years, the Lucios’ restaurant family continued to grow. They opened a second Blue Agave in Denver, then Richard

BRU NCH, M A RGA R I TA S & MOR E

Brenda Lucio and Marston Garceau

H OT SP OT | L I FE + C ULTURE

Make any day worth celebrating at Blue Agave Grill. Enjoy weekend brunch with bottomless mimosas, or stop in for weekday happy hour featuring handcrafted margaritas and crave-worthy bites. From afternoons on the Old Town patio to date nights and gatherings with friends, bold Southwestern flavor is always on the menu.

“Blue Agave was the concept I always wanted t o c re a t e — a p l a c e w h e re bold f lavors and genuine hospitality could bring p e o p l e t o g e t h e r.” — Ri ch a rd Lu c i o created Vatos Tacos + Tequila, beginning in Fort Collins before expanding to Loveland and Denver. Today, their company includes seven restaurants, with Lucinda’s Mexican Grill in Greeley, named for Richard’s mother, on the horizon. Some employees have been with the company for decades, including a corporate chef who has worked alongside the Lucios for Brenda, Blake, Savannah, roughly 25 years. Their son Blake and Richard Lucio joined the business after college, while their daughter Savannah took a different path but also spent time working in the restaurants. For Richard and Brenda, that sense of family, both at home and within their company, is one of the things they are proudest to have built. Fort Collins remains a part of the journey. “We feel very loved and embraced here,” Richard says. That may be why Blue Agave feels less like another stop in their restaurant history and more like the concept that brought so many pieces together. Scratch-made food, creative Southwestern flavor, years of experience, and hospitality designed to keep people coming back. After all these years, Richard sums up the journey best: “Wow. What a ride.”

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BENEATH the Surface, SOCIAL IS MORE Than Cocktails Social’s underground setting draws you in, but its hospitality, creativity and connection keep you returning

A quiet moment at the bar beneath Old Town

ARTICLE BY CARLI TAYLOR-DRAKE PHOTOGRAPHY BY BOB YOUNGER IMAGES Walk down the stairs beneath Old Town Square and something shifts. The streets disappear. The pace slows. And for a little while, it becomes surprisingly easy to forget what time it is, or what was waiting for you upstairs. That feeling has been part of Social since its owner, Ty Fulcher, opened the underground cocktail bar in 2013. More than a decade later, it remains part of what has made Social such a beloved Fort Collins destination. “We’re not trying to make people feel like they’re in New York or Chicago,” Fulcher says. “But if it gets you into a different place than where you were when you were outside, that’s the idea.” Fulcher came to Fort Collins for college and graduated from Colorado State University in 2006. While working in downtown restaurants, he fell in love with the community and knew he wanted to build something of his own. Then came the basement beneath Old Town Square. For decades, the space had served largely as storage. When Fulcher and his team transformed it, they brought natural light into the room for the first time in years and turned an overlooked corner of Old Town into a destination. Its pie-shaped footprint also set it apart from the long, rectangular spaces common throughout downtown, making the room feel unexpected from the start. Its underground setting and tucked-away entrance gave Social its own identity. At a time when Fort Collins’ beverage culture was largely centered around craft beer, Fulcher, whose background was in wine, saw an opportunity to introduce more people to spirits and thoughtfully crafted cocktails. “We got a bunch of friends and a bunch of geeks into a basement and let them loose,” he says.

H AP PY H OU R | FO O D + BE VE RAGE

Precision and creativity come together in every pour with Adam McGovern

Assistant General Manager Lecsi Bergstrom brings warmth and personality to Social

What started there soon attracted attention far beyond Fort Collins. National recognition followed, including being named Yelp’s No. 1 speakeasy in America two years running and, most recently, one of USA TODAY’s Bars of the Year for 2026. Social was the only Colorado bar selected for the national list. For Assistant General Manager Lecsi Bergstrom, those honors are about more than a title. Bergstrom moved to Fort Collins from Oklahoma City in late 2022, the same year Social earned its first No. 1 Yelp ranking. She

Every cocktail is crafted with intention Hayden Miltersen

Hayden Miltersen, Adam McGovern, Lecsi Bergstrom Photography by Bob Younger Images

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had researched the bar before moving and already hoped to work there. “I knew Social was where I wanted to work,” she says. Bergstrom says the accolades have added to the team’s sense of pride in what they create together. But awards aren’t what define Social. People do. “Hospitality is something that we can never and will never compromise on,” Bergstrom says. “We go above and beyond for our guests every single time.” That philosophy may be the real reason people continue walking down those stairs year after year. Some come to celebrate. Others arrive after a difficult day. There are first dates and anniversaries, promotions and heartbreaks, nights out with old friends and ordinary evenings that unexpectedly become memories. Fulcher says they never really know what someone is carrying when they walk through the door. Whatever brought them in, the goal is simple: they should leave feeling better than when they arrived. The cocktails become part of those stories. Social’s bartenders collaborate on the menu, bringing their own ideas, experiences, and creativity to what ultimately ends up in the glass. Guests can also ask the team to create something specifically for them, beginning with a conversation: sweet or bitter? Tart? A favorite spirit? It’s personal by design, built by a team that takes pride in creating an experience, not simply making a drink. Perhaps that is what Social has been quietly creating in the heart of Old Town all along. People may first find it because of the hidden entrance, beautifully crafted cocktails, or national accolades. But they return for something harder to put on a menu: the feeling that, for a few hours beneath the city, they’re exactly where they want to be.

H AP PY H OU R | FO O D + BE VE RAGE

Owner Ty Fulcher, the vision behind Social’s underground experience

The Story in the Glass Ty Fulcher’s path to cocktails actually began with wine. It’s still what he drinks most often, though he jokes tequila is the other choice because “you never know where it takes you.” That curiosity carries into Social’s menu. Bartenders collaborate on new drinks, often pulling inspiration from memories and personal experiences. One recent idea paired corn whiskey and corn spirit, inspired by childhood trips through corn mazes with grandparents. Guests can influence the process, too. Custom requests sometimes spark ideas bartenders keep refining long after the night ends. For Fulcher, that creativity is part of what keeps Social personal, playful and always evolving.

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OCTOB ER 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/FO RTC O L L I N S

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Simple ways to keep your home safe, comfortable and powered through unexpected outages

Q: Why think about backup power before winter?

A: Outages can happen during wind, snow, extreme temperatures, or utility safety shutoffs. When the power goes out, homeowners may lose heat, refrigeration, internet, security systems, sump or well pumps, and the ability to charge devices.

Q: What is a whole-home generator?

A: A standby generator is permanently installed outside and connected to the electrical system. When utility power fails, it automatically turns on within seconds. Most systems run on natural gas or propane and can be sized to power essential circuits or the entire home.

Q: Who benefits most from a standby generator?

A: It can be valuable for homeowners who face frequent outages, work from

H OU SE CA LL | P RO FESS ION AL SE RVICE S

ARTICLE BY FORT COLLINS HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING

Ready When Power Fails

As Northern Colorado heads into colder weather, power outages can become more than an inconvenience. We asked Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning what homeowners should know about backup power and surge protection before the next storm hits.

home, travel often, rely on medical equipment, or want to keep their home functional during severe weather.

Q: Is a battery backup a good alternative?

A: For shorter outages, yes. Portable battery systems are quiet, require little maintenance, and can power essentials such as phones, laptops, Wi-Fi routers, lamps, CPAP machines, and small appliances. Their limitation is how long they can provide power and the equipment they support.

Q: Why does surge protection matter?

A: Damage can happen when electricity comes back on. Sudden voltage spikes can affect HVAC equipment, refrigerators, televisions, computers, and smart-home devices. A whole-home surge protector can add another layer of protection.

Q: What’s the best first step?

A: Think about what your household cannot go without during an outage. A professional can help determine whether a generator, battery backup, surge protection, or a combination makes the most sense.

OCTOBER 2026

The Northern Colorado Range Ring™

events A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LO C A L E V E N T S

OCTOBER 1ST - 4 TH

CSU Homecoming & Family Weekend Colorado State University, Fort Collins | 3:00 PM Terra Tomah Mountain Mummy Mountain Horsetooth Mountain

Celebrate Ram pride during CSU Homecoming & Family Weekend, October 1–4. Festivities include Festival on the Oval, Friday Night Lights, the bonfire and lighting of the “A,” Homecoming 5K, tailgating, family activities, and more. The weekend brings students, alumni, families, and the Fort Collins community together, culminating in CSU taking on Oregon State at Canvas Stadium on Saturday, October 3. OCTOBER 1ST - 3 1ST

Taste of Timnath Month Participating locations throughout Timnath, Colorado | 5:00 PM Palisade Mountain

McHenry's Peak

Mount Meeker

Estes Park Longs Peak

Exclusively at:

Since 1944

131 S. College Ave. | (970) 482-2205 GarwoodsJewelers.com

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Eat and drink your way through Timnath during Taste of Timnath Month, October 1–31. A $25 digital Taste Passport unlocks a special offer at each participating restaurant, brewery, coffee shop, bakery, and market. Check in as you explore local favorites, support Timnath businesses, and give back, with 50% of net passport proceeds benefiting the Food Bank for Larimer County.

YOUR DOG CA N R O C K W R I N K LES . Y OU ? TO TA LLY O PTI O NA L.

$10 IT UN X

PER BOTO U F O RE U V E A E & J ST-TIM T R N FI IE PAT

OC TOBE R 9 T H - 1 1TH

FoCo Fall Fest Old Town Square, 19 Old Town Square, Fort Collins | 4:00 PM Celebrate fall in the heart of Old Town at FoCo Fall Fest, October 9–11. Kick off the weekend Friday evening with live music and drinks, then return Saturday and Sunday for local shopping, food trucks, live entertainment and fall-themed activities. This free, family-friendly festival brings together local makers, restaurants and the Fort Collins community. OC TOBE R 1 0 T H

Colorado Wiener Fest The Loveland Yards 5825 McWhinney Blvd, Loveland | 10:00 AM Little legs. Big personalities. A whole lotta wiener. Colorado Wiener Fest is taking over Loveland October 10 with dachshund races, costumes, puppuccinos, local vendors, food, drinks and hundreds of our favorite ridiculously long little dogs. Grab your tickets, enter your wiener and come be part of Colorado’s Baddest Little Dog Festival, supporting 5280 Dachshund Rescue.

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FORT COLLINS LOC ATION

2720 COUNCIL TREE AVE., SUITE #112 FORT COLLINS, CO 80525

LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED ANNMARIE SATRIANO & DEREK FESSLER

(970) 825-1374 4everyoungantiaging.com/fort-collins info@4everyoungfortcollinsnoco.com

OCTOB ER 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/FO RTC O L L I N S

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OCTOBER 22ND - 25TH

PUMPKINS ON PARADE The Gardens on Spring Creek, Fort Collins | 5:00 PM Celebrate Halloween and the harvest at Pumpkins on Parade, October 22–25 at The Gardens on Spring Creek. Wander through whimsical themed zones filled with larger-than-life pumpkin and skeleton displays, seasonal games, giant pumpkins, and live entertainment. Enjoy festive food and drinks along the way, and come dressed in costume for this colorful, family-friendly Fort Collins fall tradition. OCTOBER 23 R D - 25TH

Treatsylvania The Farm at Lee Martinez Park, 600 N. Sherwood St., Fort Collins | 5:00 PM Celebrate Halloween at Treatsylvania, October 23–25 at The Farm at Lee Martinez Park. Little ghosts and goblins can stroll Trick-or-Treat Street, collect candy, enjoy a family hayride, and take home a treat bag filled with goodies. This festive, non-spooky Fort Collins tradition is designed especially for ages 10 and younger, with costumes encouraged for even more Halloween fun.

Want to be featured? G E T I N T O U C H AT CIT YLIFEST YLE .COM/ FORTCOLLI NS

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