Hey, neighbors. I don’t usually make room for sports here; but, I do love some hockey — and, the Eagles are in their first conference final — one series from the Calder Cup. So this week, we’re talking about it! 

We’ve also got a backroads loop out to Masonville and back, and a flat river walk for the evenings if you want to experience lush green and water without heading west.

Let’s dig in!

– Megan

The Colorado Eagles, Loveland's AHL team, are in the Western Conference Finals for the first time since they joined the league. If they win this round against the Chicago Wolves, they're into the Calder Cup Finals!

Here's how it works. It's a best-of-seven, so the first team to win four games takes the series. Normally the two teams trade off hosting, but Loveland and Chicago are far enough apart that the league bunches up the travel instead of sending everyone back and forth all week. The Eagles hosted the first two games at home at Blue Arena on May 28 and 30, then the series moved to Chicago for the next three. If neither team has won four games by the end of those, it comes back to Loveland for Game 6 and 7.

It's been a tight, back-and-forth series. Chicago stole Game 1 in Loveland, the Eagles answered with a third-period comeback to take Game 2, and Game 3 in Chicago went down to the wire. Forward Ivan Ivan scored the game-winner with about 50 seconds left to give Colorado a 2–1 lead in the series. But Chicago answered in Game 4, building a 2-0 lead and holding on for a 2-1 win.

That leaves the series tied 2-2!

Game 5 is Friday, June 5 in Chicago 6:00 PM MT at Allstate Arena. The next chance to see them at home is Game 6 on June 7. Check where things stand before you make plans!

👉 Eagles schedule and results

You don't have to head for the hills to get a good walk in. As of this spring, the Poudre River Trail runs in one unbroken line for about 45 miles — starting at Bellvue northwest of Fort Collins, and ending at Island Grove Regional Park in Greeley. The last piece of the trail — a one-mile gap between Timnath and Windsor — is finally complete now that crews have finished a new bridge over the Greeley No. 2 Canal. For the first time, you can get on at one end and walk or ride to the other without ever leaving the path.

The stretch I'd point you to this week is the Greeley-to-Windsor run on the trail's east end. It's flat, paved, and shaded, with cottonwoods leaning over the water, and plenty of places to get on and off to enjoy the scenery. Start wherever's closest. Eastman Park on the Windsor side has parking right at the trail, and on the Greeley side, you can hop on at Poudre Ponds or at Island Grove. Pick a direction, and go as far as the daylight holds.

The path runs past the Poudre Learning Center and the Kodak Watchable Wildlife Area. It makes for a fine evening reset or a slow ride after work.

A few things worth knowing before you go. The trail is open dawn to dusk, it's leashed pets only, and there's no swimming in the river. The final connections are open to the public, but some finishing work is still going on, so watch for crews near the newest sections. And if you want to make an event of it, there's a free community grand opening and ribbon-cutting on June 13th.

👉 Poudre River Trail (poudretrail.org)
👉 Map the route on COTREX

We ride motorcycles, and love taking day jaunts all around NOCO. The twisties up and down the foothill canyons, or the flat, straight stretches out east are worth exploring in their own way. These are rides we think you'd enjoy, regardless of how many wheels you’re rocking.

Here's a half-day loop that packs a lot of good road into a short ride. Head west out of Loveland on US-34, climb up Glade Road, and work over to Buckhorn Road into Masonville. The pavement bends and rolls through the foothills the whole way, and suddenly, as the road turns, it reveals grand mountain vistas that make you glad you came.

Stop at the top, at the Masonville Mercantile. The little store has sat at the corner of Buckhorn Road since 1896, when James Mason platted a town for a gold rush that never really happened. The Merc outlasted the town. It went dark for a stretch, then reopened in 2025 under new owners. They now offer coffee, cold drinks, trinkets of all kinds, and a shady place to stretch your legs. Cyclists treat it as a landmark. So can you!

From there, drop onto CR-38E and wrap around the south end of Horsetooth Reservoir — with views of the water on one side and hogbacks on the other — before the road tips you down into south Fort Collins and home.

A few notes for the ride: This is summer thunderstorm country, so watch the afternoon sky, and don't get caught up high in a downpour. The road is a favorite with cyclists, especially weekend mornings, so give them room. And the shoulders catch gravel and sand in spots, so mind your line in the corners!

There are a handful of places along this route that look like proper mom-and-pop operations, about as quaint as they come, and we've decided to go learn about them. Maybe next week, we'll share some finndings.

👉 Masonville Mercantile

June in Northern Colorado means we are all moving at top speed — whether you're working a shovel in the tomato beds or pushing your limits on the foothills singletrack. When a knee starts clicking or your lower back objects to the weekend shift, Choice City Physical Therapy is where you go to stop guessing. Sam Fischer and his team run a down-to-earth Fort Collins clinic that completely skips the corporate, assembly-line vibe. They focus on honest, hands-on, evidence-based care designed to keep the NOCO Crew in motion.

Every contribution keeps us out in the field, digging into local history, and showing up for the towns we cover. We're grateful for every bit of support. Thanks for being part of this.

— Megan & David

👉 MAKE A CONTRIBUTION

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.

Vintage Market Days of Northern Colorado @ Blue Arena / The Ranch Events Complex (Loveland) — Fri 10am–4pm (Early Buying) · Sat–Sun 10am–4pm (General Admission) — Three days of vintage, antique, repurposed, and handmade goods at the Ranch. Friday gets you in first; the weekend gets everyone else. 👉 Dig through it

Colorado Medieval Festival @ The Savage Woods (Loveland) — Fri 3–6:30pm · Sat–Sun 10am–6:30pm — Armor, tournaments, period craft, and the particular joy of watching people commit fully to a bit. Just west of Loveland at 1750 Savage Road. 👉 Hail the weekend

Railroad Earth — 25th Anniversary Celebration @ Mishawaka Amphitheatre (Bellvue) — Fri–Sat, doors 6pm · show 8pm — Two nights at the Mish for one of Colorado's most beloved acts. Twenty-five years of Railroad Earth, and a 2-day pass if you're all in. 👉 Don't miss this one

Mindfulness & Birding in Rocky Mountain National Park @ Meet at the Fall River Visitor Center, 3450 Fall River Road (Estes Park) — 9am–1:30pm — Slow down, look up. A guided half-day at RMNP combining birding with mindfulness practice. 👉 Find the quiet

Trail Ridge Road Scenic Ecology Tour of RMNP @ Meet at the Fall River Visitor Center, 3450 Fall River Road (Estes Park) — 10am–4pm — A full day up high with a naturalist guide. If you've driven Trail Ridge alone, this is a different experience entirely. 👉 See what you've been missing

Mini Clay Wheel Workshop @ Creativity Cabin (Estes Park) — 11am–1pm — Two hours at the wheel, mountain air outside. 👉 Throw something beautiful

Candle Making Workshop @ The Artisan Shop and Studio (Loveland) — 6:30–8:30pm 👉 Pour your Thursday into it

An Evening with Megan O'Grady joined by Nina McConigley @ Old Firehouse Books (Fort Collins) — 6–7pm — A literary conversation worth showing up for. Free. 👉 Pull up a chair

Fort Collins Blues Revue ft. Peaches Embry & The Rhythm Train, The Buzz Brothers Band, and More @ Aggie Theatre (Fort Collins) — 8pm — A stacked local blues bill. The Aggie is a great room for it. 👉 Get in early

FIRKIN & FIRE @ The Post Mountain House (Estes Park) — 6–10pm — Fresh firkin tapped, fire going, mountain night. 👉 Pull up a stool

Listening at the Legion Presents James Kirby @ American Legion Post 119 (Estes Park) — 6:30–8:30pm — Good music in an unexpected room. 👉 Listen up

Full Draw Film Tour @ Rialto Theater (Loveland) — 7pm — A curated night of outdoor archery and bowhunting film. Niche in the best way. 👉 Watch the release

HPEC Open Nursery Day @ High Plains Environmental Center (Loveland) — 9am–12pm — Native plants, knowledgeable staff, and the reminder that your yard could look like the actual prairie. Free. 👉 Take something home

Poudre River Irregulars Traditional Jazz on Avo's Patio @ Avogadro's Number (Fort Collins) — 4–7pm — Traditional jazz, patio weather, and one of Fort Collins' best old rooms. 👉 Let the horns do the talking

First Friday Art Walk @ Downtown Fort Collins — 6–9pm — Old Town opens up every first Friday. Walk in and out of galleries, studios, and shops. 👉 Wander with intent

Plant Allies Project Showing @ Petrichor Collective (Fort Collins) — 6–9pm — A community art showing rooted in botanical relationships. Worth a stop on your First Friday route. 👉 See the work

CRAFT RAVE @ The Love Shack — Craft Mocktails (Loveland) — 7–9pm — Mocktails, crafting, and low-stakes chaos. The vibe is exactly what the name suggests. 👉 Make something weird

First Friday Art Groove @ Estes Arts District (Estes Park) — 5–8pm — The Estes version of First Friday. Galleries, music, mountain air. 👉 Groove through it

Friday Live Music: Andy Eppler @ Snowy Peaks Winery (Estes Park) — 5–7pm 👉 The mountain office awaits

First Friday Art Walk @ Downtown Greeley — 5–8pm — Galleries, record shops, a climbing gym, a cinema, a distillery, and a jazz jam at the Armory — all open and activated across downtown. This month the Creative Arts Center opens Continuum, a new Pride Month exhibition. A good excuse to wander Greeley with no particular agenda. 👉 See what's showing

Downtown Greeley Friday Fest @ Downtown Greeley — 6–10pm — Food, music, people, summer. 👉 Friday in the street

Native Orchids of Rocky Mountain National Park @ Rocky Mountain Conservancy (Estes Park) — 9am–3pm — A guided all-day search for native orchids inside RMNP. More interesting than it sounds — these are hard to find and worth the effort. 👉 Go looking

Bryan Dubrow & Chase Marler @ City Star Brewing (Berthoud) — 6–8:30pm — Live music at Berthoud's favorite taproom. Part of the Angie Stevens and Friends series. 👉 Pull up a pint

HPEC Volunteer Saturday Morning Garden Club @ High Plains Environmental Center (Loveland) — 9am–noon — Hands in the dirt, good company, real work. 👉 Grow something good

HPEC May Bird Banding & Bird Walk @ High Plains Environmental Center (Loveland) — 9–10am — Watch the scientists work. Bird banding is fascinating up close and this one's open to the public. 👉 See the birds before they go

Mycology Meetups & Spore Swaps @ Orion's Apothecary & Mushrooms (Loveland) — 2–4pm — Bring spores, swap spores, learn things. A small, specific, genuinely NOCO-weird afternoon. 👉 Get in on the mycelium

Meet the Artists Week 6 @ Loveland Museum (Loveland) — 2pm — Part of an ongoing artist series. Free, local, and worth the trip to the Museum. 👉 Meet them

Comedian Zane Lamprey @ Crooked Beech Brewing (Loveland) — 7–9:30pm — Zane Lamprey is legit — travel and drinking culture comedian with a real following. A fun Saturday night at Crooked Beech. 👉 Show up thirsty

Beginner Crochet Basics @ The Artisan Shop and Studio (Loveland) — 12–1:30pm — Hook, yarn, and ninety minutes to figure out what all the fuss is about. A good first step. 👉 Cast on

Book Signing with Jessica Leigh @ Old Firehouse Books (Fort Collins) — 1–2pm — Jessica Leigh writes folkloric romance — love stories tangled up in Appalachian myth, ancient woods, and the kind of magic that doesn't quite leave. She's a Colorado resident, and her books are exactly as atmospheric as that sounds. 👉 Get it signed

Make & Mend @ Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising (Fort Collins) — 10am–3pm — A day of textile repair and sustainable making at CSU's design museum. Free. 👉 Fix something worth keeping

The Collective Market @ Dandelions & Rust A Colorado Mercantile (Fort Collins) — 10am–3pm — A Saturday morning market with local makers and vendors. 👉 Shop small, shop local

Larimer County Farmers' Market @ 200 W. Oak St. (Fort Collins) — 9am–1pm 👉 Fill the bag

NBB Silent Disco @ New Belgium Brewing (Fort Collins) — 8–11pm — Three channels, one dancefloor, headphones on. New Belgium is a great room for it. 👉 Pick your frequency

Demo Day | Ride & Try E-Bikes & Camper Trailers @ 1230 Blue Spruce Dr (Fort Collins) — 10am–4pm — Free to try, no purchase required. If you've been e-bike-curious, this is how you find out. 👉 Take it for a spin

Snowbelt Bluegrass Duo @ The Rock Inn Mountain Tavern (Estes Park) — 5–8pm — “Comically simple music performed by comically simple people” 👉 Tuck into the Tavern

Estes Park Car Club Cars & Coffee @ Estes Valley Community Center (Estes Park) — 9–11am — Free, outdoors, and a good excuse to be up early in Estes. 👉 Come for the cars

Greeley Archers 4th Annual 3D Archery Shoot @ Greeley Archers Outdoor Range (Evans) — check-in 8am · shooting starts 9am — Outdoor 3D targets, a real archery club, and a genuinely different Saturday morning. Free to register online. 👉 Nock and go

Greeley Farmers' Market @ 7th Street north of Lincoln Park (Greeley) — 8am–noon 👉 Start the Saturday right

Cycle Wise Safety Workshop @ North Lake Park (Loveland) — 9–11am — Free bike safety skills for riders of all ages. Helmets, hand signals, and the confidence to actually use the bike lanes. 👉 Ride smarter

Angie Stevens @ City Star Brewing (Berthoud) — 6–8:30pm — The headliner of her own series takes the stage. 👉 Be there for it

Gii Astorga @ Mighty River Brewing (Windsor) — 6–9pm — Live music on a Saturday night in Windsor. 👉 Pull up a stool

Community River Day @ Picnic Rock Natural Area (Bellvue) — 9am–1pm — Diversify Whitewater is putting on a free river education day for folks who haven't always seen themselves in the whitewater world. Instruction, gear, good people. 👉 Get on the water

Tiffany-Style Stained Glass Sun Catcher @ The Artisan Shop & Studio (Loveland) — 1–4pm — Cut glass, copper foil, solder, and three hours later you leave with something that glows. Beginner-friendly, all supplies included. $65. 👉 Let the light through

Wolverine Farm Benefit Show w/ Girl Haggard @ Wolverine Farm Publick House (Fort Collins) — 6–8pm — Fort Collins' beloved literary gathering spot hosts a benefit show. Girl Haggard is a solid act. 👉 Support the Farm

Organ Week Concert: Joel Bacon and Jason Moy @ Griffin Concert Hall, UCA (Fort Collins) — 7:30–9:30pm — A serious organ recital at CSU's concert hall. Unusual and worth your Sunday night. 👉 Hear the pipes

HR of Bad Brains @ Aggie Theatre (Fort Collins) — 8pm — The front man of one of punk and reggae's most important bands. If you know, you know. 👉 Be in the room

Sarah Minto-Sparks @ The Rock Inn Mountain Tavern (Estes Park) — 5–8pm 👉 End it right

The Birdcage 30th Anniversary @ Historic Park Theatre (Estes Park) — 7–9pm — A Fathom Event screening of the 30th anniversary of a genuine comedy classic. Big screen, old Estes theater. 👉 Put on the Birdcage

Patriotic Stained Glass for Beginners @ Greeley Creative District (Greeley) — 1–3pm 👉 Cut your colors

Bike & Trails Day @ Loveland Farmers Market, Fairgrounds Park (Loveland) — 9am–1pm — The farmers market gets a trails and cycling overlay this Sunday. Browse the stalls, talk trails, maybe find your next ride. 👉 Roll on in

Mike Finders @ City Star Brewing (Berthoud) — 5–7:30pm — A Sunday evening wind-down in Berthoud. 👉 End the week right

Ecstatic Dance feat. Kai Rune @ Sunrise Ranch (Loveland) — 6:15–9:30pm — Freeform movement, no choreography, no judgment. Sunrise Ranch is a quietly excellent venue for this kind of thing. 👉 Move however you need to

Wine & Cocktail Tasting with Small Bites @ The Tavern at Red Feather Lakes (Red Feather Lakes) — 1–4pm — A Monday afternoon tasting in the mountains. Worth the drive if you've been meaning to go up anyway. 👉 Head up the mountain

Wesley Scott @ The Rock Inn Mountain Tavern (Estes Park) — 5–8pm 👉 Monday, but make it Estes

Birdhouse Making Class @ Estes Valley Community Center (Estes Park) — 5:30–7:30pm 👉 Build something with a future