This week we’re diving into the ‘Lovely’ history of the reservoir that built Loveland. It’s a story involving 19th-century engineering and a cheeky mid-century musical heist. We’re also stopping by Windsor to celebrate 33 years of craft at Memory Lane Antiques as they prepare for a new chapter. In the garden, we are officially in the "final sprint" to the last frost, starting the heat-loving okra and basil that define a NOCO summer. And because it wouldn't be April without a little drama, we're keeping one eye on the weekend forecast for a potential ’mid-April flinch.’ Grab a coffee and your row covers cause it's time to get to work. Let’s dig in!

– Megan

Before the paddleboards and the joggers, there was a swampy depression west of a dusty railroad town called Hays Lake. In 1893, that low-lying spot was engineered into a proper reservoir by the Greeley-Loveland Irrigation Company (GLIC), the same outfit that was threading water across NOCO to turn high-desert cactus patches into gold.

Completed in 1894, the dam allowed the lake to fill for the first time with the 1895 spring runoff. At the time, it was touted as the most complete reservoir system in all of Colorado. The logic was simple: survival. Our slice of the Front Range gets around 14 inches of rain a year. Without the water diverted from the Big Thompson River and channeled through the Barnes Ditch, the cherry orchards and sugar beet fields that built Loveland's early economy simply wouldn't have existed.

A century ago, the basin sat half a mile from the town center. Today, the city has grown entirely around it. While the surface is famous for its recreation, the water itself still primarily serves as a supply for the City of Greeley, a reminder of the historic ties between our NOCO hubs.

Musical Fun Fact:

The lake even has its own anthem, but the story behind it is a bit of a mid-century heist. In December 1949, Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians recorded ‘There’s a Lovely Lake in Loveland,' but the song wasn't exactly a fresh batch of inspiration.

A trio of British songwriters had actually written a nearly identical track in 1935 called — you guessed it — ’There’s a Lovely Lake in London.’ Somewhere between the fog of the Thames and the dust of the Front Range, someone realized that ‘Loveland’ sang a whole lot better than ‘London.’ Whether the swap was prompted by a postcard from the Valentine Re-Mailing program or just a hunch about a town with a better name, the records are silent.

What we do know is the track got its big moment on Valentine's Day 1950 when Lombardo was named Honorary Mayor of Loveland. He turned our local irrigation reservoir into a piece of Americana that played on radios across the country, proving that sometimes, a little creative recycling is all it takes to put a town on the map.

For your listening pleasure: ‘There’s a Lovely Lake in Loveland’

Why We Love Them:

How to Support:

Storefront at 426 Main St Closing May 9th

The grow-light shelf is officially at peak capacity, and those green shoots are starting to lean toward the garden gate. We are exactly three weeks out from the May 7 average last frost date. This week’s lineup is the final, heat-loving wave — the crops that only need a quick 3–4 week head start before they hit the real dirt.

🌱 Start These Seeds Indoors This Week

Okra: Surprisingly excellent in NOCO — our hot July days are exactly what it wants. Soak seeds for 12–24 hours before planting; they need nighttime temps consistently above 55°F once they move outside.

Watermelons: Every head start helps in our short season. Choose short-season varieties like the Sugar Baby (75 days). Note: Use biodegradable pots only; these roots do not forgive a rough transplant.

Pumpkins: If you missed last week, this is your last call for October jack-o-lanterns. Stick to varieties under 100 days for our elevation.

Basil: The one herb that truly cannot handle a NOCO cold snap. Start now for a late May transplant — it will sulk and collapse if moved out too early.

🌿 The Outdoor Calendar Is Wide Open

Direct Sow Now: Beets, carrots, radishes, turnips, and parsnips are all in the window. Per the almanac, April 9–16 is the final call for fava beans and peas.

Transplant Ready: Onions, leeks, and kale started in early March should be fully hardened off. If they've had 7–10 days of graduated outdoor time, they are ready for the ground.

💡 Quick Tips

Amend Early: Turn 2–3 inches of compost into your top 6 inches of soil now. Your future transplants will thank you.

Trust, but Verify: May 7 is an average, not a guarantee. Keep your row covers and "Wall-o-Waters" on standby through at least May 15.

Hydrate the Beds: Our spring wind dries newly turned soil in minutes. After direct sowing, water in well; dry surface soil is the #1 reason seeds fail to germinate in NOCO.

One more week of indoor tracking, and then we officially trade the grow lights for the garden spade. Woo hoo!

The House of Neighborly Service has been quietly holding Loveland together for decades — food, clothing, crisis support, family services. On Friday night, they're making it a party.

Hope Blooms is a fashion show fundraiser at their Loveland home base, featuring upcycled looks sourced entirely from their own Treasure Exchange thrift store. The same racks that help neighbors stretch a dollar are walking the runway to keep those programs funded.

Tickets are available now. Can't make it? There's a donate link for that too!

The stack of documents lands on the table and suddenly the house you love feels like a liability. The clauses, the contingencies, the counteroffers. It's a lot to deal with, even when everything goes smoothly.

Amilyn Stange has been inside that paperwork longer than most agents have been in real estate. Before she even showed a house, she spent years as a banker and a paralegal for real estate and estate planning attorneys. The fine print isn't intimidating to her, it’s the foundation of her journey into real estate. She works across all of NOCO — from Erie to Wellington, Estes to the plains — and her job is to make sure you understand exactly what you're signing, and why.

From Berthoud to the Wyoming state line, Fort Morgan to Estes, each week we pull together a list of the top events happening all over Northern Colorado.

Greeley Home Expo @ Island Grove Event Center — Fri 12 to 6 PM, Sat 10 AM to 5 PM, Sun 11 AM to 4 PM (Greeley) — Planning a spring renovation or just dreaming of a better backyard? Connect with local pros and explore the latest in home tech and design. 👉 Get inspired

Anything Goes @ Candlelight Dinner Playhouse (Johnstown) Fri. April 17 @ 6pm · Sat. April 18 @ 12pm & 6pm — Cole Porter's classic musical set aboard an ocean liner — mistaken identities, big songs, and dinner included. One of NOCO's best nights out, full stop. 👉 Get aboard

Name That 2000s Emo Song @ Loveland Aleworks (Loveland) — 6–8pm — Your eyeliner era is calling. 👉 Answer it

Spring Sangria Social @ Sweet Heart Winery (Loveland) — 6–7pm — Seasonal fruit. Good company. One hour well spent. 👉 Pour into spring

Pork Rib Class @ Frank's BBQ Trading Post (Loveland) — 6pm — Learn to cook the thing people lie about knowing how to cook. 👉 Get saucy

Jeopardy! Bar League @ MeadKrieger Meadery (Loveland) — 6:30–8:30pm — This is the category for "best Thursday in Loveland." 👉 I'll take it

Music Bingo @ Big Thompson Brewery (Loveland) — 6:30–8:30pm — Hum it, guess it, win it. 👉 Play your song

Karaoke @ 120 Bar & Grill (Loveland) — 6–9pm — No talent required. Courage optional. 👉 Take the mic

High Five League @ Sweetheart Bowling (Loveland) — 6:15–10pm — League night energy, no commitment required. 👉 Roll with it

Pottery Wheel Throwing — 3-Day Immersion Series @ The Artisan Shop & Studio (Loveland) — 6:30–8:30pm — Night two of three. Get your hands back in the clay. 👉 Keep throwing

Date Night: Come Back to Venice Cooking Class @ Farm Fusion (Fort Collins) — 5pm — Pasta, ambiance, and something to talk about at the table. 👉 Ciao, date night

Community Conversations: Understanding Teens' Digital Lives @ Free to Be Studio (Fort Collins) — 5–6:30pm — AI, chatbots, and the kids navigating all of it. Worth the hour. 👉 Join the conversation

Agave Underground Trivia & Bingo @ Agave Underground (Fort Collins) — 7–8pm — Tight window. High stakes. Great mezcal. 👉 Know your stuff

Nerd Nite @ Wolverine Farm Publick House (Fort Collins) — 7–9pm — Smart people. Weird topics. The best kind of Thursday. 👉 Get your nerd on

Jazz Combos Concert @ CSU School of the Arts (Fort Collins) — 7:30–9:30pm — Student jazz. Live and loose and worth catching. 👉 Sit in

Alex Thoele Acoustic @ The Rock Inn Mountain Tavern (Estes Park) — 5–8pm — Drive up. Settle in. Let the mountain do the rest. 👉 Head up the hill

Local Bluegrass Pick @ Twin Owls Steakhouse at Taharaa (Estes Park) — 6:30–9pm — Rotating pickers, mountain views, dinner you won't forget. 👉 Tap your boots

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie @ Historic Park Theatre (Estes Park) — 6:30–8:30pm — Still running at America's oldest cinema. Still worth it. 👉 Game on

Music Bingo @ Wiley Roots Brewing (Greeley) — 6:30–9pm — Greeley's got the beat. 👉 Guess that track

Thursday Trivia Night @ High Brau Taphouse (Greeley) — 6:30–9pm — Regular trivia. Irregular knowledge. Bring both. 👉 Prove it

Poker Night @ Mighty River Brewing (Windsor) — 6–8:30pm — Cards, craft beer, and a Windsor Thursday that earns it. 👉 Ante up

Intro to Mushrooms: Uses, Benefits & How to Grow @ Orion's Apothecary & Mushrooms (Loveland) — 4:30–5:15pm — Short, practical, and genuinely useful. Fungi have entered the chat. 👉 Learn the mycelium

Hope Blooms Fashion Show Fundraiser @ House of Neighborly Service (Loveland) — 6:30–8:30pm — Style with purpose. All proceeds support NOCO neighbors in need. 👉 Dress the part

Heart and Sol APIDA Fundraiser @ Loveland Chamber of Commerce (Loveland) — 7–9pm — A celebration of the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American community in NOCO. 👉 Show up

Mosaic Lamp Workshop @ Our Town Market (Loveland) — 6:30–8:30pm — Cut. Grout. Glow. Take it home. 👉 Make some light

Les Misérables @ Rialto Theater (Loveland) — 7pm — Lost Marbles Theatrics brings the barricade to downtown Loveland. 👉 Do you hear the people sing

Ball and Chain League @ Sweetheart Bowling (Loveland) — 6:30–9:30pm — Married. Bowling. Competitive. This checks out. 👉 Roll together

Eric Golden Band @ The Boot Grill (Loveland) — 8pm — Live country rock for a Friday night that means business. 👉 Boot up

Art for Breakfast @ Silver Grill Cafe (Fort Collins) — 8:30am–1:30pm — Art and the oldest café in Fort Collins. Start the weekend right. 👉 Eat and look

Fort Collins Foodie Walk™ @ Downtown Fort Collins — 5–8pm — Eat your way through Old Town. No map needed, just hunger. 👉 Walk it off later

FoCo Book Fest @ Foothills Shopping Center (Fort Collins) — 5:30–9pm — Books, authors, and a Friday night that smells like good paper. 👉 Turn the page

Wildlife Trivia Night @ Northern Colorado Wildlife Center (Fort Collins) — 6–7:30pm — How well do you actually know your NOCO neighbors? 👉 Test your wild side

Spring Pops Concert: Gold Rush — A Silent Film Journey @ The Lincoln Center (Fort Collins) — 7–9pm — Live orchestra scoring a silent film. Old magic, live. 👉 Hear the pictures

"The Cottage" @ The Lincoln Center (Fort Collins) — 7:30–10:30pm — OpenStage Theatre brings a sharp new play to Fort Collins. 👉 Take your seat

For the Love of Strangers @ Fort Collins Welcome Center — 7–8:30pm — A storytelling event about human connection. Bring your open heart. 👉 Listen in

Anatomy of a Fiasco @ The Neighbor (Fort Collins) — 7:30–9pm — ⚠️ Title only, no description available — worth a click to confirm what this is before it runs. 👉 Investigate

Spring Dance Concert @ CSU School of the Arts (Fort Collins) — 2–4pm — Student choreography, live on stage, before the weekend starts. 👉 Catch the movement

The Rocky Horror Picture Show @ The Lyric (Fort Collins) — 9pm — You know the words. You know the drill. 👉 Do the Time Warp

Reflections on Light and Color @ Art Center of Estes Park — 11am–5pm — A full afternoon of new work worth the drive up. 👉 See the light

Friday Live Music: Andrew Tuszynski @ Snowy Peaks Winery (Estes Park) — 4:30–6:30pm — Mountain wine, live music, golden hour. Hard to argue with. 👉 Sip and stay

Jon Pickett (Chain Station) Acoustic @ The Rock Inn Mountain Tavern (Estes Park) — 5–8pm — One of NOCO's best live rooms. One of its better regulars. 👉 Head up the hill

Our History, Our Voice: Mexican American History Project @ Greeley History Museum — 10am–4pm — Community-documented history from the people who lived it. 👉 Hear it directly

Student Night @ Greeley Climbing Collective — 5–9pm — Discounted climbing for students. Good for everyone's grip strength. 👉 Chalk up

Country Swing Dance Lessons (Greeley) — 6:30–8:30pm — ⚠️ No venue listed in source data — confirm location before publishing. 👉 Two-step in

ACT Presents: Side Show @ Aims Community College (Greeley) — 7pm — A bold musical about belonging, difference, and being seen. 👉 Take your seat

Volunteer: Saturday Morning Garden Club @ High Plains Environmental Center (Loveland) — 9am–12pm — Get your hands in the dirt for a good reason. 👉 Dig in

Rocky Mountain RepRap Festival @ Ranch Events Complex (Loveland) — 9am — 3D printing nerds, unite. The Front Range's favorite maker festival. 👉 Print something wild

Metric Motors Celebrates 50 Years @ Metric Motors (Loveland) — 10am–2pm — Half a century of keeping NOCO rolling. Car show, community, and probably some cake. 👉 Celebrate the miles

Gold Rush in Leadville @ Loveland Museum — 10am–4pm — The history of Colorado's most legendary boom town, right here in Loveland. 👉 Strike it

Build Your Own Fairy Garden Workshop @ Our Town Market (Loveland) — 1:30–3:30pm — Tiny worlds, real dirt, genuine delight. 👉 Make it magical

HPEC Earth Day Cleanup @ High Plains Environmental Center (Loveland) — 12–3pm — Show up, pick it up, feel genuinely good about your Saturday. 👉 Do the thing

Flannel Fest @ Sweetheart City Racing (Loveland) — 3–7pm — Racing and flannel. Very NOCO. Very correct. 👉 Plaid out

Date Night Couples Cooking Class @ Frank's BBQ (Loveland) — 5pm — Learn to cook together. Eat together. Call it a win. 👉 Fire it up

Douglas James Live @ Loveland Aleworks — 5–7pm — Live music, local beer, early enough to make a night of it. 👉 Pull up a stool

Love Shack Comedy @ The Love Shack (Loveland) — 7pm — Craft mocktails and actual laughs. No hangover, guaranteed funny. 👉 Get in on it

FoCo Book Fest @ Foothills Shopping Center (Fort Collins) — 9:30am–6:30pm — Day two. More authors. More books. Same great excuse. 👉 Keep reading

Foothills Winter Farmers Market @ Foothills Shopping Center (Fort Collins) — 10am–2pm — Local produce before the season really hits. Go early. 👉 Shop the season

Pard Morrison Installation Celebration @ CSU School of the Arts (Fort Collins) — 11am–1pm — A new public installation worth seeing in the making. 👉 Witness it

Earth Day Fort Collins @ Odell Brewing (Fort Collins) — 11am–5pm — Planet-first energy with a cold one in hand. Very Fort Collins. 👉 Raise a green glass

Music City Hot Chicken 10-Year Anniversary @ Music City Hot Chicken (Fort Collins) — 11am–11pm — A decade of heat. Benefiting Launch. Eat spicy, do good. 👉 Celebrate the burn

Old Town Breweries & Distilleries Tour @ Fort Collins Tours (Fort Collins) — 2–4pm — Guided, walkable, delicious. The best kind of Saturday afternoon. 👉 Follow the pour

Guest Artist Concert: Tadeu Coelho, Flute @ CSU School of the Arts (Fort Collins) — 1–3pm — World-class flute in a free afternoon. Don't sleep on it. 👉 Listen close

Spring Pops: Gold Rush — A Silent Film Journey @ The Lincoln Center (Fort Collins) — 2–4pm — Live orchestra, silent film, full magic. Second and final showing. 👉 Hear the pictures

Letters I Never Sent @ Global Village Museum (Fort Collins) — 6–9pm — An evening event about words that never quite made it. 👉 Read between the lines

Marfa @ Aggie Theatre (Fort Collins) — 8pm — 👉 Find out

The Whiskey Pickles @ The Tavern at Red Feather Lakes (Fort Collins/Foothills) — 7–9pm — Mountain tavern. Great band name. Drive worth taking. 👉 Head for the hills

Reflections on Light and Color @ Art Center of Estes Park — 11am–5pm — Still up. Still worth the drive. 👉 See the light

Sarah Minto-Sparks @ The Rock Inn Mountain Tavern (Estes Park) — 5–8pm — Live music before the night really gets going. 👉 Settle in

James Davis Live @ Twin Owls Steakhouse (Estes Park) — 5:30–8:30pm — Dinner and live music under the Rockies. The combo works. 👉 Book the table

Accessible Art Gala and Auction @ The Bird's Nest (Estes Park) — 5:30–8:30pm — Art made accessible, in every sense of the word. 👉 Bid on something beautiful

Glentucky Funkdown @ The Rock Inn Mountain Tavern (Estes Park) — 8:30–11pm — The night gets funky late in the mountains. Plan accordingly. 👉 Get down

Winter Farmers' Market @ Zoe's Café (Greeley) — 9am–12pm — Local goods, early morning, the good kind of errand. 👉 Shop small

Paint Your Own Dessert Frogs @ Makers Mercantile & Studio (Greeley) — 10:30am–12:30pm — Frogs. Dessert-themed. On canvas. We don't question it, we celebrate it. 👉 Paint the frog

Watercolor Techniques with Bee @ Makers Mercantile & Studio (Greeley) — 10:30am–12:30pm — ⚠️ Same time/location as Dessert Frogs above — confirm these run simultaneously or on separate tracks before listing both. 👉 Brush up

Broken China Mosaic Class @ Makers Mercantile & Studio (Greeley) — 1–3pm — Smash it. Reassemble it. Call it art. 👉 Break something beautiful

Overtime: Modern Day Outlaw Tour @ Moxi Theater (Greeley) — 8pm — 👉 Catch the outlaw

High Plains Honor Flight Send-Off: Escort of Heros @ Blue Arena / The Ranch (Loveland) & Ranch McKee Building (Fort Collins) — 7am — Veterans headed to Washington D.C. for the first time. Show up and wave them off. This one matters. 👉 Be there

Rocky Mountain RepRap Festival @ The Ranch Events Complex (Loveland) — 9am — Day two of the Front Range's favorite 3D printing and maker gathering. 👉 Print on

Dot Painting @ Our Town Market (Loveland) — 11:30am–1:30pm — Meditative, colorful, and surprisingly addictive. 👉 Make your mark

Candle Making Workshop @ Our Town Market (Loveland) — 1:30–3:30pm — Pour, scent, wick, done. Take the whole Sunday home with you. 👉 Set the mood

Fused Glass: Mushrooms, Flowers & Gnomes with Gail Frick @ Lincoln Gallery (Loveland) — 1–5pm — A whole afternoon of melted glass and woodland whimsy. 👉 Make it glow

Horsetooth Half Marathon @ New Belgium Brewing (Fort Collins) — 8am–12pm — The hills are real. The finish line beer is realer. 👉 Run it

Magic Sunset Series: Molly Higgins Band & TAARKA @ Magic Rat (Fort Collins) — 5–6:30pm — Two great acts, golden hour, one of Fort Collins' best small rooms. 👉 Catch the light

Earth Day Baby Shower @ Northern Colorado Wildlife Center (Fort Collins) — 5–7pm — New animals, new life, and a reason to celebrate the season. 👉 Meet the babies

Geeks Who Drink @ The Lyric (Fort Collins) — 7pm — The thinking person's trivia night. In a movie theater. On a Sunday. Perfect. 👉 Prove your nerd

Sunday Funday @ Snowy Peaks Winery (Estes Park) — 4–7pm — Mountain wine and a long afternoon. The weekend's not over yet. 👉 Sip it out

Sunday Dinner Live Music @ Lonigans (Estes Park) — 6–8pm — Dinner, live music, mountain town Sunday. Hard to top. 👉 Stay for the set

The Unlikely Candidates @ Moxi Theater (Greeley) — 8–10pm — Indie rock with hooks sharp enough to close out a weekend on. 👉 End it right

Monday Mugs & Mingles @ FeelLove Coffee (Loveland) — 7:30–9am — Start the week with coffee and actual humans. 👉 Show up warm

Ladies Night Out @ Sweetheart Bowling (Loveland) — 6:15–9:30pm — Lanes, strikes, and no explanation needed. 👉 Roll with your people

Beer & Bingo @ Maxline Brewing (Fort Collins) — 6–8pm — Cold pint, dauber in hand, perfect Monday reset. 👉 Dab and drink

Average Joe & Jane Bowling League @ Chipper's Lanes (Fort Collins) — 6:30–9pm — No talent required. Just show up and roll. 👉 Average never felt so good

New Material Night @ The Comedy Fort (Fort Collins) — 7pm — Local comedians testing fresh material on a live crowd. Be a good sport. 👉 Laugh at something new

Virtuoso Series: Tiffany Blake, Soprano @ CSU School of the Arts (Fort Collins) — 7:30–9:30pm — A trained voice doing what trained voices do. Worth the Monday night out. 👉 Listen to something beautiful

Ed Beaty Hall Art Show: Intentions @ Aims Community College (Greeley) — 10am–4pm — Last few days to catch this student exhibition. 👉 See what they meant