Loveland
June 30, 2010:
Free Friday Night Concerts!
Sounds of Centerra will present free concerts at the Chapungu Sculpture Park just east of the Promenade Shops at Centerra starting July 16th and will go through August 20th.
Concerts will be held from 7-9pm and here’s the lineup:
July 16: Kenny Cordova & The Olde Rock Band
July 23: Soul School
July 30: Loose Nuts Band
August 6: Kutandara
August 13: Modern Rhythm Project
August 20: Modniks
May 19, 2010:
A Taste of Summer: Loveland Farmers’ Markets
Like the Fort Collins Farmers’ Markets, Loveland has their own fantastic markets for fresh and (often) organic fruit, veggies and other home-grown and hand made items.
Location: Hobby Lobby parking lot at Norther Garfield and Orchards Hours: Tuesdays 11AM-3PM May through October. For a list of venders, check out Local Harvest.
Location: Rainbow Plaza at 4229 West Eisenhower Hours: Sundays 11AM-5PM May 16th-October 17th. This particular market features local organic produce, green products and services, Colorado wines & beers, local artists and crafters, organic breads & baked goods, gluten free products, organic pasta, local honey & condiments, organic plants, organic eggs & cheese, grass fed meats, gourmet products, cooking demos, wine & beer garden, music.
If you can’t make it to the Farmers’ Market, how about Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)? A box of fresh produce can be delivered to your door, or you can pick it up at a convenient location. Check out Loveland-based Earth-Shares CSA for more information.
May 18, 2010:
Learn About Loveland
Located 46 miles north of the capitol, Loveland is the the 14th most populous city in Larimer County with roughly 60,000 residents. The city was founded in 1877 along the Colorado Central Railroad and Big Thompson River and named for William A. H. Loveland, the president of Colorado Central Railroad.
Other historical facts:
- Primary crops were sugar beets and sour cherries
- Built in 1901, the Great Western Sugar Company was the main source of employment until its closure in 1985
- Loveland had the largest cherry orchard west of the Mississippi in the 1920s but a series of droughts, blights and freezes destroyed the industry by the 1960s
- Today, Loveland is part of the Fort Collins-Loveland Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Front Range Urban Corridor
The Valentine Re-Mailing Program
Every February, hundreds of thousands of Valentines are packaged inside larger envelopes where volunteers hand-stamp them with a Valentine’s verse and send them on to the intended recipients. Known as the “Sweetheart City” you will find red hearts with sponsored personal messages on light poles and other fixtures of the city streets in the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day. You can also buy their Valentines online in January 2011.
The Public Arts Program
Loveland has early 300 pieces of art in its public arts collection—primarily sculpture but the collection also includes murals and other two-dimensional art. Visit the Benson Sculpture Garden, considered the nation’s best outdoor exhibitions of artwork, to view over 100 of the sculptures. The Sculpture in the Park Show, hosted by the Loveland High Plains Arts Council, takes place annually in August and exhibits artwork from artists from the United States and the world.
To learn more about this sweetheart of a city, visit the Loveland Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Loveland Association and the City of Loveland websites.
May 5, 2010:
Big Thompson Canyon, Gateway to Rocky Mountain
National Park
Thirty-two miles west of Loveland on Highway 34, you’ll come to Estes Park, the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park where you’ll find an abundance of activities and attractions.
The area is known for spotting wildlife such as elk, deer, bighorn sheep, and the occasional bear, but is also known for being a hummingbird’s paradise. You will find historic shops that specialize in goods from Colorado as well as Southwest and American Indian artist shops specializing in locally produced foods and t-shirts. Along the way, there are also many opportunities to hike, fish, camp, bike and picnic.
There are numerous lodging opportunities along the river’s edge, many offering rustic cabins, guided fly-fishing tours and restaurants. The two-lane, windy road leads to Estes Park, a thriving town loved by tourists and locals. It offers tons of unique shops, lodging and restaurants, all under the watchful eye of the beautiful Stanley Hotel, commonly known as Stephen King’s inspiration for his book, The Shining.
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most beautiful areas in Colorado, if not the West, and where visitors come to hike, snowshoe, camp, fish, and just sight-see. A popular destination is Longs Peak, Colorado’s northernmost fourteener (one of 88 peaks that are 14,000+ feet in elevation) that draws backpackers and rock climbers from all over.
To learn more about this historic and gorgeous area of Northern Colorado, visit the Rocky Mountain National Park website and mark your calendar…June 5th is American Hiker Society’s National Trails Day!
April 28, 2010:
Loveland Golf
If you love to golf, you will love the courses in Loveland each offering a great experience for beginners and pros! And of course, don’t forget the beautiful views of the Front Range and mountains!
Mariana Butte Golf Course
This course features 6,604 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72 and was designed by Richard M. Phelps, ASGCA, the Mariana Butte golf course opened in 1992. It is located at 701 Clubhouse Drive and is considered to be one of the most beautiful courses in the area with it’s border to the Big Thompson River and breathtaking views of the mountains.
Fees: $17-22 for 9 holes, $34-42 for 18.
Visit their website for more information or call 970-667-8308.
The Olde Course
Located at 2115 West 29th Street, this course features 6,827 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72, designed by Henry B. Hughes, AGSCA, and opened in 1960. Challenge yourself with tree-lined fairways leading to small, tight, undulating greens, 6 ponds, and an island green on #14.
Fees: $13-18 for 9 holes, $26-32 for 18.
Visit their website for more information or call 970-667-5256.
Cattail Creek Golf Course
This course 1,426 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 27, designed by Richard M. Phelps and opened in 1991. It is located at 2116 West 29th Street and is considered a favorite among beginners, however, it does offer golfers of all levels certain challenges–like water coming into play on 5 of the 9 holes. This course is right across the street from The Olde Course.
Fees: $13-18 for 9 holes, $26-32 for 18.
Visit their website for more information or call 970-663-5310.
April 12, 2010:
Downtown Loveland
If you’ve ever been to this quaint and unique area of Loveland, you can understand why the all-volunteer staff of of the Downtown Loveland Association, has made it their mission to revitalize Downtown Loveland. The heart of Downtown is on 4th street between North Garfield and Washington avenues. Mosey around and you will find many one-of-a-kind shops like Almosta Mercantile, Huckleberry Gifts and great restaurants like the Black Steer, 4th Street Chop House, and Adelita’s Fine Mexican Food. Downtown Loveland is also known for its variety of antique and consignment shops like the Funky Monkey Thrift and Collectibles, Hip and Trendy’s, Dogwood & Cattails Antiques, and Merchant Voyage.
(Photo courtesy of Pizazz, a great little shop offering gifts and accessories as well as a working studio and classes)
In addition to the great shopping and dining, Downtown Loveland is proud to be the location for many community events, art galleries, historical architecture, cultural activities, and festivals.
Visit the Downtown Loveland Association to learn about what they are doing to keep this beautiful part of Loveland preserved and endured. They also have a calendar of events and information on the LOVEland ARTSource.
March 23, 2010:
Shopping in Loveland
The Promenade Shops at Centerra are located I-25 and Highway 34 interchanges, offers over 60 specialty shops and restaurants in an open, outdoor mall atmosphere. Retail shops include: Macy’s, Banana Republic, Barnes and Noble, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Eddie Bauer and Gymboree.
Centerra shops also house several restaurants for every appetite such as, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Rock Bottom Brewery, Red Robin and The Bent Fork.
Just across the highway is Outlets at Loveland with outlet stores like the Nike Factory Store, CoachOshKosh B’Gosh, Ann Taylor and J. Crew.
When it’s time to recharge, the outlets offer a variety of restaurants including, Chilis, Mimi’s and quick serve eateries such as Subway, Taco Bell and Chick-fil-A.
March 8, 2010:
Performing Arts
The Loveland Performing Arts Association was originally formed in 1975 and is run by an all-volunteer staff. All performances are held at Thompson Valley High School Roberta Price Auditorium that seats 1,200 and is located at 1669 Eagle Drive in Loveland.
The association brings affordable classical and pop performances to Northern Colorado, often to a sold-out crowd. Check out their Bravo Series for upcoming performances and for more information, contact 970-663- 9420.
The Budweiser Event Center is Northern Colorado’s largest and most diverse venue, with a 7,200 seat complex and is home to the Colorado Eagles of the Central Hockey League, as well as the Indoor Football League. Located at 5290 Arena Circle, just off of Interstate 25, the event center is just minutes from other cities like Windsor, Fort Collins, and Greeley. In addition to hockey, the facility also plays host to basketball, football, family shows, rodeos, concerts, trade shows, and dozens of other events.
The Budweiser Event Center is part of the 374, 000 square foot fairground complex called, The Ranch.
Upcoming events include: Disney on Ice and country music performers, Martina McBride and Trace Adkins.
Past performances have included The Blue Man Group, Bill Cosby, The Harlem Globetrotters, Willie Nelson and U2.
Contact the Box Office for more information: 970-619-4112 or visit their ticket page.
February 24, 2010:
Loveland Art Scene
Loveland offers wonderful opportunities to artists and art lovers alike! The Loveland Museum Gallery, located at 503 Lincoln Avenue has three different galleries, each with it’s own exhibit.
Foote Gallery: From Magic Dust to Marble Dust, marble sculptures from Hollywood Animator, Ellen Woodbury. It runs February 27th-April 12th, 2010 with an opening reception March 12th from 6-8pm.
Main Gallery: Integral Elements, four artists from around the United States celebrate and reveal the components and elements that go into a work of art. It runs February 13th -April 11th, 2010.
Green Room: Time Machines, by Randy Mulder. Runs through March 28th, 2010.
To learn more about the exhibits, check out The Loveland Gallery Museum
UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE MUSEUM:
2010 Colorado Governor’s Art Show: April 25th-May 30th, 2010
Kent Pendelton: Scale: April 9th-July 3rd, 2010
Mandala Art of the Himalayan Kingdoms: June 12th-August 29th, 2010
Triad: Introspection, Observation and Tradition: Contemporary Art of India: June 12th-August 29th, 2010
Selena Karim Prints: July 9th-October 10th, 2010
Art Steps Plein Air Community Events: October 2nd-November 14th, 2010
The museum also offers classes for youths and adults…take a watercolor or mosaics class…even a woodblock printing class! Contact the museum at (970) 962-2410 for more information.
