Loveland & South, CO February 2023

E N TE R TA I N M E NT

51 YE ARS O F ST Y X LI F E + C U LTU R E

M EET M ISS VALENTIN E LOVEL AN D' S SWEETH E ART, DIXIE DALY

Loveland Loves Wendy Woo

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February 2023 PUBLISHER S

Jahna Eichel | jahna.eichel@citylifestyle.com Jason Eichel | jason.eichel@citylifestyle.com EDITOR IAL COOR DINATOR

LIFESTYLE LETTER

Cassie Suppes | cassie.suppes@citylifestyle.com

Prioritizing Local Love

PUBLISHER ASSISTANT

Morgan Henderson morgan@fortcollinscreativeagency.com ACCOUNT MANAGER

Our family has called Northern Colorado home for the past decade, and in that time, we've built several businesses and supported hundreds of others in their growth journey.

Even though we are not originally from this area, we have fully embraced the local community and culture, and our children have grown up to be proud Colorado natives. We believe in supporting and investing in our community, and as a result, we prioritize local above all with our actions. Hiring local staff and keeping our dollars within the region are important to us.

We are grateful for the opportunities that Northern Colorado has provided for us and are excited to continue contributing to the growth and success of this wonderful community. We are proud to be a part of a place that values and supports local businesses, organizations and truly loves local.

Matthew Hart matthew@fortcollinscreativeagency.com

JAHNA & JASON EICHEL, PUBLISHERS @LOVEL ANDANDSOUTHLIFEST YLE

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

SOCIAL MEDIA COOR DINATOR

The Creative Agency hello@fortcollinscreativeagency.com CONTR IBUTING WR ITER S

Jason Eichel, Allie Bellows, Cassie Suppes CONTR IBUTING PHOTOGR APHER S

Cassie Suppes, Todd Gallopo, Styx, Jason Powell, Rick Diamond

Corporate Team CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell AD DESIGNER Josh Govero LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsey Ragain

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Proverbs 3:5-6 Loveland & South Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Loveland & South area’s most affluent neighborhoods.

Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle 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 Loveland & South Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered

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to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

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inside the issue The Local Love Issue

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26

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16

F E ATU R E D

D E PA RTM E NTS

10 STYX

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Lifestyle Letter

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City Scene

10

Back Stage

16

Culinary Creations

18

Must See

22

Local Limelight

26

Travel Journal

30

Events

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Home Update

STYX loves local, too

16 Permission to be Cheesy Valentine's Day Cheesecake

22 Loveland Loves Wendy Woo The Song Bird

26 The Town of Sweethearts Dixie's View

O N T H E C OV E R

Photography: Cassie Suppes Wendy Woo in the soon to be refurbished Elk's Lodge

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ENT ERTA I NMENT FO O D + B E V E R AG E

LI FE + C U LT U R E ENT ERTA I NM E N T

LI FE + C U LT U R E

HO ME + DES I GN

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city scene

Where neighbors can see and be seen.

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1-7: Lindsey Stirling put on an amazing Christmas Concert recently at the Budweiser Event Center. The performance captivated the audience with aerial acrobatics, dancing, singing, and her world-known violin. Photography by Cassie Suppes

Want to be seen in the magazine?

Tag your Instagram photos with @lovelandandsouthlifestyle

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C I T Y SC E N E

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ARTICLE BY JASON & JAHNA EICHEL PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON POWELL, RICK DIAMOND, TODD GALLOPO, STYX

51 Years OF

Styx Styx is an American rock band that was formed in Chicago in 1972. The band is best known for their hit songs "Come Sail Away," "Mr. Roboto," and "Renegade," all of which have become rock radio staples.

Styx's early music was a mix of hard rock and progressive rock, and they gained a following through constant touring and the release of several successful albums, including "The Grand Illusion" and "Pieces of Eight."

Styx has sold over 30 million records worldwide and has been recognized with several awards and accolades for their contributions to rock music. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019, and continue to inspire and entertain fans with their enduring sound and passionate performances. We were elated to find they were coming to Northern Colorado during this tour with a show scheduled at the Budweiser Events Center on February 23rd. We were honored to be able to sit down with Lawrence Gowan and talk about the band's love of Colorado, the Colorado Avalanche Hockey Team, the love of local communities in general and the band's 51 years of making awe-inspiring music. Read on...

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LS: WE’VE BEEN TELLING SOME OF OUR READERS AND PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE AN UPCOMING INTERVIEW WITH STYX AND YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT OF FANS OUT HERE IN COLORADO. WHICH IS PROBABLY WHY YOU GUYS ARE PLAYING AT 4 DIFFERENT VENUES IN COLORADO INCLUDING BUDWEISER EVENTS CENTER IN LOVELAND ON THURSDAY, FEB. 23. ARE THERE ANY MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES ABOUT COLORADO FROM PAST VISITS? LG: The shows that stand out for us are the 20 years of shows at Red Rocks. It’s so unique on planet earth that such a venue exists and it feels like a very exclusive experience and seals the Colorado experience in our minds. Another great memory we recall is playing with the Colorado Symphony orchestra there!

LS: TELL US ABOUT THE BAND’S ROCK TO THE RESCUE CHARITY AND WHAT IT DOES TO HELP COMMUNITIES ACROSS AMERICA. HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO THE MONEY GOES TO? LG: Rock to the Rescue is something that came about in early 2002 that were stemmed from a series of concerts to raise aid for the victims and families of 911 for 3 years and then revived the mission 5 years later to serve the worthy local causes of the towns we visit. Often enough funds are raised by auctioning off a signed guitar.

These various cities and towns have supported Styx music for over 5 decades now, it's the 51st year of the band's existence. This is a tiny way we can acknowledge that we are connected and it's a small gesture to connect us to these communities in a deeper way.

LS: WE WERE LISTENING TO THE NEW SONG REVERIES, AND ALTHOUGH THE SONG HAS A MODERN SOUND DUE TO ITS GREAT PRODUCTION, IT STILL SOUNDS VERY MUCH LIKE A CLASSIC STYX SONG THAT CAN BLEND IN WITH SONGS FROM ANY OF THE ALBUMS FROM THE PAST. IS THAT SOMETHING YOU ARE CONSCIOUS OF WHEN YOU’RE WRITING AND RECORDING NEW MATERIAL OR DOES IT JUST HAPPEN NATURALLY WHEN YOU GUYS PLAY TOGETHER? LG: We listen to the classic records and extensively analyzed what makes the classic sound of STYX just that. So when we are writing something new it can have a modern feel lyrically to connect to the modern world but sonically we try to connect it to the classic rock sound that people love so much.

We do it this way for people who've been with the

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band since the beginning but we also do it for the younger people who weren't even born when these classic albums were made. Yet they love that sound and that way of production and that whole way of putting music together.

At our core it's a band, it's an assemble that has a certain sound that we try to replicate and continue on. If it's going to fit into the set alongside songs like “Come Sail Away” and “Blue Collar Man” it's going to have to connect in a seamless way to that era of music and at the same time speak to people in the current timeframe.

LS: WHAT HAS THE CROWD REACTION BEEN LIKE WHEN THEY HEAR THE NEW SONGS? LG: We found an effective way to integrate new material into the classics, a new piece will come up to segue into a song from the past. People who've loved the band for a long time sometimes think a new song is one from the past that they haven’t heard before. We integrate it…Here's a good example, (the song) "Sound The Alarm" Tommy Shaw sings that song and dovetails it straight into "Crystal Ball" seamlessly without you knowing it's connected to the other. The songs are 46 years apart but one sort of compliments the other and that's the way we build that in.

Chuck and I do a moment in the show where we do a new piece of music called "Lost at Sea" and that immediately flows straight into "Come Sail Away". There are ways we construct the show where you really don't know what era we are jumping into.

LS: YOU'VE JUST GIVEN US SOME OF THE EXCITING DETAILS FOR THE SHOW BUT ARE THERE ANY OTHER SURPRISES IN THE SETLIST FOR PEOPLE THAT MAY HAVE SEEN ONE OF YOUR RECENT TOURS THAT YOU COULD SHARE WITH US? LG: Every STYX show you are definitely going to hear every song you expect to hear, like "Grand Illusion", "Fooling Yourself", "Too Much Time On Your Hands", and "Lady". Those are in every setlist so the audience can have confidence knowing that those classic songs they've known for half a century are going to be in the show.

The rest of the show is a surprise, I often don't know what's going to be in the show until the sound check! We have so many choices of great songs to play that people have known for years. I like being surprised when we walk on stage and go “Oh great we are doing these 3 or 4 tonight!"

"I can’t wait to get on stage tonight, it's weird, it doesn't wash away, it's still very exciting, this band has been around 51 years and we will look at thousands of people tonight with big smiles on their faces and that's a feeling to feel really fortunate to experience in your life and we get to experience it 100 times a year!" – Lawrence Gowan LS: DOES MIXING IN NEW MATERIAL ALONG WITH THE CLASSIC FAN FAVORITES HELP KEEP IT EXCITING FOR YOU GUYS? LG: It does, it keeps me connected to the overall material and we have to alter things just a little bit every night. Something special and unexpected happens during every single show Jahna to be quite honest. But it’s impossible to predict until the moment it happens. We throw in something unexpected and get a great reaction for it.

LS: FROM WHAT WE’VE READ, CRASH OF THE CROWN IS NOT A “CONCEPT ALBUM” LIKE MANY OF YOUR PREVIOUS ALBUMS. HOWEVER, WITH SONG TITLES SUCH AS “THE FIGHT OF OUR LIVES”, “SAVE US FROM OURSELVES”, AND “SOUND THE ALARM” IT FEELS LIKE THERE’S A CERTAIN THEME OR MESSAGE TO THIS ALBUM NONETHELESS. ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE TONE AND TOPICS MAY FEEL DARK AND SERIOUS, THERE’S AN OVERALL OPTIMISTIC FEEL TO THE LYRICS THAT MAKES THEM SOUND LIKE THEY WERE MEANT TO INSPIRE. IS IT IMPORTANT FOR STYX’S MUSIC TO HAVE A POSITIVE MESSAGE AND FEELING? LG: It’s funny we began this record in late 2019, we had to stop in 2020. I don’t know if you noticed but there was a whole thing that stopped the world for awhile. After the 3rd month of the lockdown and pandemic, we said we better listen to the album and figure out what to do next when this whole thing is over.

Much to our surprise, we noticed so many of the songs and ultimately all the ones we put in the record hit the theme of renewal, renewal after a cataclysmic event. It must have been a sense in the air that something imminent was approaching.

Sometimes as songwriters or even artists, in general, you can kind of sense the spirit that's in the air of whats coming and you write in a way that's connected to that.

We found it very curious that we had written these songs that hinted at this theme of renewal after a cataclysmic event and it was then we realized the album has a theme to it. It's weary of the situation but yet still hopeful and positive about the ultimate outcome. That’s where the crash of the crown came from and then coincidentally "crown" in Spanish is "corona" and we found that very weird that there was that connection as well. We had no insight into that at all we just felt things were shifting and things would be positive in the end especially if the world had the new STYX album to listen to!

LS: WHEN IT COMES TO WRITING “CONCEPT ALBUMS” WHAT COMES FIRST THE OVERALL THEME/CONCEPT OR DOES IT START WITH INDIVIDUAL SONGS THAT START TO WEAVE TOGETHER AND FORM A STORYLINE? LG: Great question, because usually you’ve written one song and you may have done 3 or 4 others.

Another one comes along and you realize "oh wait a minute" there seems to be a connection between this one and the one we did 2 or 3 songs ago, there is something complementary between the two.

An example, the album "The Mission" from 2017. We were invited by NASA to witness the arrival of the spacecraft called "The New Horizon" as it arrived in Pluto on July 5th, 2014. Out of that Tommy came up with a song called "Mission to Mars". It was a cute little song, I thought it was a good tune we should learn. Another song arrived that he was working on with our producer and the two just seemed kind of connected. Then we got together with producer Willy Evankovic and did the song "Radio Silence" and suddenly there was a theme of space adventure and exploration that eventually became "The Mission." The whole idea where they go on a NASA-led mission to Mars where instead of coming back to earth they continue on and go as far as they can go. That was the general theme and we connected all the songs to that.

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The songs kind of says to us "Come in this direction keep coming this way". Then other songs begin to connect to them in a rather esoteric way but ultimately they hang together as one complete statement.

LS: YOUR PREVIOUS ALBUM 2017’S “THE MISSION” IS ABOUT A MANNED MISSION TO MARS IN THE YEAR 2033 AND THE 1983 ALBUM KILROY WAS HERE ALSO TOUCHED ON FUTURISTIC CONCEPTS. DO YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE AND WHAT PLACE DO YOU THINK ROCK MUSIC HAS IN THE FUTURE OF MUSIC? LG: That's another great one! ! I remember even as a kid in 1969 with all the predictions “rock is dead” and then a bunch of songs in the 1970s, Jethro Tull and The Who on the death of the rock age.

Here we are in 2023 I believe it is and rock music did not turn out to be the transient experience we were led to believe back then. Proof of that; On any given night half our audience was not even born when these rock albums were made. They are singing along and you look at that from the stage and you say "Huh, I guess we were wrong this is the big musical statement of the last half of the 20th century". People are still relating to these songs and seeing themselves in the little narratives that go through them and they are every bit as alive now as they ever were.

I don't know as far as the future goes, I have a feeling rock music will be played 100 years from now, just like Jazz is still played 100 years after. Or the fact that people just saw The Nutcracker and that was from the 1800s! I'm beginning to see there is a certain longevity that seems to be there when a great musical movement has established itself as rock music has.

LS: ANY FINAL THOUGHTS YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE? LG: Music enriches your life so much. To have music that you love, and be central to your life on earth is a much greater way to go through life! This is everything I wanted to be when I was a kid and I am very lucky that somehow it worked out!

I can’t wait to get on stage tonight, it's weird, it doesn't wash away, it's still very exciting, this band has been around 51 years and we will look at thousands of people tonight with big smiles on their faces and that's a feeling to feel really fortunate to experience in your life and we get to experience it 100 times a year!

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left to right: Chuck Panozzo, Ricky Phillips, Todd Sucherman, Tommy Shaw, James “JY” Young, Lawrence Gowan Photo Credit: Rick Diamond

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PERMISSION TO BE CHEESY

Valentine's Day Cheesecake ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY CASSIE SUPPES

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C ULIN A RY C R E AT ION S | F OOD + BE VE RAGE

Valentine's Day is all about showing your loved one just how much you care. Rather than opting for the predictable chocolates and flowers, why not showcase your culinary prowess and create a one-of-a-kind cheesecake? Not only will this delectable treat demonstrate your affection, but it will also add a personal and luxurious touch to the holiday celebration. Make this Valentine's Day truly memorable by going above and beyond with a heartfelt, homemade gift.

Cheesecake is the perfect dessert for two because it's both rich and indulgent, but not too heavy. Plus, it can be easily customized to fit your own personal taste and its much easier than you think!

TO MAKE THE PERFECT CHEESECAKE, YOU'LL NEED: • • • • • • •

1 pound cream cheese, softened 1 cup sugar 3 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup sour cream 1/2 cup heavy cream 1 prepared graham cracker crust

Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract. Next, add in the sour cream and heavy cream and mix until everything is well combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared graham cracker crust and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the cheesecake is set. Let cool completely before serving.

For this recipe, we decided to add berries and honey to the top of our cheesecake. Take the time to make yours special to

your relationship. With toppings such as chocolate, jelly, whip cream, berries, fruit, or whatever your partner's favorite is you're sure to make them smile. Make things colorful by adding food coloring to the mix, it can even be made in their favorite color. You can also change things up by making your own crust with Oreos or cinnamon crackers.

To elevate this recipe to the next level, consider using high-quality ingredients such as grass-fed cream cheese and locally sourced honey. For added luxury, try using a blend of different types of berries, or even substituting the graham cracker crust with a crust made of crushed pistachios or hazelnuts.

In addition to adding a variety of toppings, you can also get creative with the presentation. For example, try using a springform pan to create a heart-shaped cheesecake, or using cookie cutters to create fun shapes out of the cheesecake slices. You can also garnish the cheesecake with edible flowers or a sprinkle of edible gold dust for a truly indulgent experience.

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Get to Know Loveland's

Ms. Valentine

Sashes and Softball ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY CASSIE SUPPES

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Loveland, Colorado has just found its newest Miss Valentine, Ellie Heiser and she’s already making a name for herself in the community. At only 17 years old, this young softball player has been recognized for her outstanding character and leadership qualities.

Ellie is a born and raised local here in Loveland. Currently a senior at Loveland High School, she has future plans to continue her education and softball career at Adams State University. When asked about what makes Loveland special she replied “Loveland community has a small town feel while also having opportunities to do more. Activities like hanging a lock on the Love Lock Sculpture, going to Dairy Delite with your family, or taking a bike ride on recreational trails there is so much to enjoy. While Loveland is a town of love, it is also a place that truly brings people together with all you can do and all it has to offer.”

In order to become Miss Valentine Ellie first had to qualify, meaning she had to have a high GPA, meet the requirements for the busy schedule, and get voted into the top 4 by teachers in her school. After this, it was “boot camp” the remaining contestants from all over Loveland were tested on interview questions, public speaking, the dos and don'ts, an essay, and much more. Lastly, each of them gave a speech on Loveland, My Community written however they felt fit the topic. Based on all these factors, the judges voted on the rated scale and crowned Miss Valentine. When crowned Ellie had this to say "Being Miss Valentine, in the largest and simplest meaning to me, is a blessing. I am so thankful to have been granted this opportunity to be able to represent my community as well as contribute to it. I feel it brings upon great responsibility and I feel great honor. I hope that I can contribute much to my community being Miss Loveland as so many others have."

Ellie is an active student at school both in the classroom and on the softball field.

Representing your community at the young age of 17 can be stressful but her role on the field has helped shape her view on what it truly means to be a member of society. When talking about what this position means to her, Ellie said “To me, when being a part of a team, no matter the sport, a good teammate is one who does their job, and that does their job well. In a sport such as softball, there are different positions that all have different responsibilities but are necessary in a game. The same analogy applies to a community. As there are many jobs and different parts that make up a community, being an important member of the community means doing your job well and contributing to making your community a better place.” With a young representative like this creating a path for future Miss Valentines I think we are in pretty great hands.

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The Song Bird

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LOVELAND LOVES WENDY WOO ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY CASSIE SUPPES

A 12-year resident of Loveland Colorado Wendy Woo has created a strong and loyal fan base for her music. Though not born here she loves everything about Loveland and built her life here, raising her children and building a family beyond just blood. What about the story of how she got here?

Woo moved to Loveland 12 years ago and married a Lovelander.

They were married at the Devil's Backbone in 2010 and had a wedding officiated by Denver Mayor at the time, John Hickenlooper. Woo had 2 little boys from a previous marriage, with Drummer and lifetime friend Chris Maestas. After her split with Lovelander husband, she started playing and working downtown more. Needing to work she went and got an EMT degree from Front Range Community College in 2019. It was very tough to get hired in Northern Colorado

so she found herself working on a Denver ambulance. Woo also went back into the restaurant business working in almost every restaurant in Loveland. “It was hard being a server in a town that knows Wendy Woo The Musician. People would love to stop and talk about how their first date was a Wendy Woo concert and now they are married with kids. Next-generation Wendy Woo fans were being raised on their parents' music, so kids would come in and tell me that they love my music or were inspired to be a musician.” Woo said. While she loved being recognized as a server she knew she needed to focus on her music. Almost 3 years ago, on March 16th, 2020 when everything shut down Woo was laid off from my job at a local restaurant. She then went to work full time on the ambulance in Denver and did that for the duration of the pandemic.

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Wendy Woo and her drummer Dana Paige.

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LOCA L LIM E LIGH T | EN T E RTAI NME NT

She became employed at Betta Gumbo in Loveland to play every Tuesday during the pandemic. The owner is pro-business and wanted to provide free live music during the shutdown. Woo loved performing, saying “Rules stated to stay close to home, and here I was with a weekly gig, less than a mile from where I was living.” When the pandemic slowed down and things started opening up again, Betta Gumbo hired Woo to play every Thursday at their Windsor location. This gave her the freedom to continue music when the rest of the world had stopped. Woo thanks her Loveland following that has come from the many friends she met working in the restaurants and the downtown local Loveland scene.

After the pandemic, musicians came out of the woodwork. Open mics were packed with talented people back to back to back. By sharing her songs with the world, Wendy Woo is making a difference in the lives of others. She is an inspiration to us all, and we are grateful for her presence in our community.

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DIXIE’S TOWN OF SWEETHEARTS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CASSIE SUPPES

Loveland, a small town with a big heart, is a special place for many reasons. Its residents are committed to making it the best it can be and have a strong sense of community. Local businesses are at the center of Loveland, and supporting them is a top priority for people like Dixie Dally, the Business and Membership Director for the Loveland Chamber of Commerce. Dixie is an entrepreneur, speaker, inventor, and author with a lifelong passion for helping others and a strong connection to the town. She has owned a daycare and a boutique and is dedicated to organizing networking events to help businesses grow.

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T R AV E L J OU R N A L | L IFE + CULTURE

For Dixie, Loveland is not just a place to live and work, but a place where love and family are at the center of everything. She married her high school sweetheart and all four of her children did the same. After her husband's passing, Dixie found solace in writing poetry, collecting over 600 quotes in a 365-day journal titled "A Conversation with My Soul," which is now available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. She hopes her journal will help others find healing and love through writing, as it did for her.

This dedication to community is something that Dixie embodies in all that she does. From her work with the Loveland Chamber of Commerce, to writing and business endeavors, she is always looking for ways to positively impact the town and its people.

Dixie's story is just one example of the love and pride that the people of Loveland have for their town, and it's this love that makes Loveland such a special place to live.

Dixie's love for Loveland and its people is evident in all that she does. Dixie believes that living in gratitude and being grateful can change your life, and her story is a testament to the transformative power of love and community. Loveland, the town of Sweethearts, is a place where love and healing can thrive.

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"Making a difference in someone else's life will 28

make a difference in yours too" - Dixie Dally T R AV E L J OU R N A L | L IFE + CULTURE

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F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 3

events A curated selection of the most intriguing upcoming events in our area.

F E B R UA RY 1 0 T H

Sweetheart Festival

DOW N TOWN LOVELAN D'S FOU NDRY P L A ZA The nation’s Sweetheart City will once again play host to the annual Sweetheart Festival on February 10th and February 11th. Downtown Loveland’s Foundry Plaza will come alive with special light shows, live music, art installations, local beers, interactive activities and more!

F E B R UA RY 1 0 T H

Colorado Fall Charity's Winterfest Horse Show

T HE R AN CH EVEN TS COMPLE X Save the date! We are excited to announce Colorado Fall Charity’s Winterfest Horse Show! February 1012th, 2023

F E B R UA RY 1 2 T H

The Dixie Bridal Expo

1750 FOXTRAIL DR IVE LOVELA ND, C O | 5 :0 0 P M Come see all things bridal from local wedding experts at the first-ever Bridal Expo at the Dixie. Northern Colorado's newest venue!

F E B R UA RY 1 4 T H

Valentine's Wedding & Vow Renewal Ceremony

BUDW EIS ER EVEN TS CEN TER The annual Loveland Valentine's Day Group Wedding & Vow Renewal Ceremony is back! Join us on the ice to celebrate love! Please visit Budweiser Event Center for more info.

F EB RUA RY 1 7 T H

The Doo Top Project

RI ALTO THEATER CEN TER , 228 E 4 T H ST LOV E L A ND, C O Love the classic sounds of Frankie Valli, The Drifters, and The Del Vikings? Ever wonder what Maroon 5, Jason Mraz, and Garth Brooks would sound like if they had lived in the Doo Wop era? Meet The Doo Wop Project, a group of fantastically talented, charismatic and engaging Broadway stars from smash hit shows like Jersey Boys, Motown: The Musical, A Bronx Tale and more.

F E B R UA RY 2 3 RD

An Evening with STYX

BUDW EIS ER EVEN T CEN TER Rock band, STYX, will bring their world tour to the Budweiser Events Center on Thursday, February 23rd.

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ELEVATE YOUR CLOSET 8 WAYS TO O R G A N I Z E A N D

Every woman dreams of an organized and beautiful closet space, but it often comes last on the list of places that get their time and attention. Follow our eight tips for transforming and elevating your closet as you Spring clean and declutter for a more peaceful, inspired space you absolutely love.

A sneak peek inside the closet of active mom and entrepreneur Keri Tarantino of Leawood, KS reveals a dressing room that rivals celebrity homes in Beverly Hills. But it didn’t come easily. Keri painstakingly planned, designed and curated the space with care.

When we first stepped inside, we gasped as our eyes beheld the glory. No detail went unnoticed in this dreamy dressing room. Here are some guiding principles that can be drawn from her exquisite taste and vision. How you organize your closet will of course differ based on the size of your space, the size of your wardrobe, and the kind of life you lead. But applying the guidelines Keri used in her space will result in a much more organized and aesthetically pleasing space.

USE R EAL ESTATE W ISELY Reserve the front and middle of the closet for clothes worn most often. For someone who gets dressed for work each morning at 6 a.m., work clothes should be at the front of the closet. Store lesser-worn items like formal wear and out-of-season clothes toward the back and on the upper shelves. The large mirror and counter with chair provides the perfect spot to select jewelry and finalize finishing outfit touches.

While every closet is different, the key here is everything has a home.

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H OM E U P DAT E | HOM E + DE S I GN

ARTICLE BY HALEY WILLIAMS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY CASSANDRA CASTANEDA

INJECT ST YLE INTO YOUR SPACE

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ORGA NIZE BY K IND A ND COLOR

Group clothes by kind first and color second. This ensures quick location of that favorite shirt when it’s needed. Bonus - it’s easy on the eye. Group like with like: Gather belts, sweaters, long-sleeve shirts, work pants, dresses, button-down shirts, jeans, shorts, etc., and decide the best place to store each item as a group (e.g., hang pants in the closet, fold and stack sweaters in a bureau). Working with groupings will help you figure out how much space you need and the best way to store each type of item.

03 04 NEGATIVE SPACE

Using space efficiently is important, but keep in mind every good design includes some negative space. For instance, consider adding built-ins on the long wall of your closet but keep the short wall open with a mirror.

FACE CLOTHES THE SA ME DIR ECTION

It may seem silly, but when dealing with a small space, little things count. Hanging all clothes the same direction is a no-brainer for continuity in your closet.

BAG & SHOE STOR AGE Alternate the way shoes are facing. This ultimately helps fit more on each row and provide a visually appealing way to display those prized possessions.

Everyone understands the frustration of searching for that one clutch when rushing out for the evening. Bags benefit from a space all their own. Get clear container storage for small bags and purses so you can locate and access them easily.

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06

UPGR ADED HA NGERS The simplest and fastest way to make a BIG difference in your closet organization is to get matching hangers that go beyond the traditional plastic or wire hangers. And for sure ditch any with paper from the dry cleaner! Here’s a few of our favorite elevated hangers:

07 08 LIGHTING

Lighting is everything in a closet. Gone are the days of dim recessed lighting being sufficient.

Consider adding a statement lighting fixture like a chandelier or pendant that provides ample bright lighting to your space, no matter how big or small.

M AK E A STATEMENT

Why use an armchair when you have room for a sofa? Slide up a stool and colorful area rug to complete the look. If you have excessive wall space, consider a mini gallery wall or a statement wall with wallpaper to polish things off.

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