Five months is long enough for a trail to grow over, but in Northern Colorado, it’s also long enough for the seasons to forget their lines. We’re currently in that strange, suspended animation between the "Big Dark" of January and the first true green of April. The air smells like woodsmoke and turning soil; the light is getting longer, but the wind still has teeth.

This week, we’re leaning into that duality. We’re looking back at the pioneers who broke this ground and looking forward to the first tiny seeds of the season. Whether you’re chasing the "Acoustic Ninja" up in Estes, dodging 700-pound neighbors in West Loveland, or just trying to figure out your taxes, remember: you’re doing it with the NOCO Crew.

Let’s dig in.

– Megan

As Black History Month draws to a close, there's a name worth carrying into March: Charlie Clay. Clay arrived in the Poudre Valley in the 1860s, a formerly enslaved man who traveled west and put down roots in ground that didn't yet have a name most people recognized.

He became one of the region's first successful Black landowners and entrepreneurs. While others were chasing gold in the mountains, Clay was chasing something quieter and harder: water. He was among those who helped pioneer the irrigation systems that turned this high desert into farmland. The lateral ditches that still cut through Front Range fields today carry a little of his logic in them. He understood the alchemy of Colorado dirt and snowmelt before most people understood there was something here worth understanding.

Some histories travel loud and well-lit through the generations. Others get quiet and dusty, filed away until someone decides to go looking. Historian Meg Dunn went looking and this Thursday, February 26th at the Greeley History Museum, she's bringing what she found into the room.

If you live here — if you love this place — this story is part of your home's foundation. Go hear it be told at the Greeley History Museum.

👉 Greeley History Museum, Thursday Feb 26

If you live near Coyote Ridge or the western edges of Loveland, your "neighbor" might currently be sporting a very impressive set of headgear.

As the heavy snow packs down in the high country (yes, we do have some snow up there), these 700-pound commuters have officially checked into their annual "low-land retreat." They aren't here for the drama or the subdivision scenery; they’re here strictly for the calories. You’ll find them drifting to lower elevations to conserve energy, grazing on local golf courses and tucked into the draws behind the Harmony corridor while the alpine meadows are still locked under a white duvet.

The Rule of Thumb: Give ‘em the ‘thumbs up.’ Literally, stretch your arm out and close one eye. If you can’t completely cover the elk with your thumb, you’re too close. Let them graze in peace; they’ve got a long, steep climb back to Rocky Mountain National Park once the thaw begins, and they need every bit of strength to get there.

📸 We Want to See Your Crew!
Since the elk are basically the unofficial mascots of the NOCO Crew this week, we want to see your sightings. Did you wake up to a bull elk in your front yard? Did you catch the herd crossing the road near Devil’s Backbone?

Share the view:

We’ll feature the most "NOCO" photo in next week’s issue. (Remember: Safety first! No ‘elk-sefies’ please; long lenses only!)

The Shrub Club series covers nine food-producing bushes that are genuinely well-suited Northern Colorado gardens: cold-hardy, productive, lower-maintenance than fruit trees, and rewarding far sooner. Let’s get into em’.

The Honeyberry (Haskap)
The first fruit of the season, full stop. It ripens two to three weeks before your first strawberry, and its flowers can survive a frost down to 14°F. On the Front Range, where late April cold snaps have murdered apricot blossoms since time immemorial, that number matters. Dark blue-purple berries with a layered flavor — blueberry, then grape, then a pleasant tartness — and a mature plant yields 5–15 lbs a season for 30 years or more. One rule: plant two compatible varieties within 6 feet of each other. Good pairs: Boreal Beauty + Boreal Beast, or Aurora + Honeybee.

The Gumi Berry
Tart-sweet red berries in June, 10–15 lbs per plant, plus a trick almost nothing else in the garden can match. Like clover and beans, the gumi fixes nitrogen in the soil, quietly enriching the ground for every plant around it. On the Front Range, where native soils trend toward depleted clay, that's not a side benefit. It's the whole point, I mean, other than the berries themselves :). Drought-tolerant, alkaline-tolerant, mostly self-fertile. Plant it near everything you care about.

The Nanking Cherry
Commercial agriculture abandoned it because it doesn't ship and can't be harvested by machine. Neither of those things matter to you. What matters: every spring, it engulfs itself in dense white-pink blossoms — among the finest displays of any edible shrub. Then, June arrives; and, the small bright-red cherries come — sweet-tart, extraordinary in jams, pies, and fruit wine. A mature plant yields 15–50 lbs per season. Hardy to Zone 2. Lives up to 50 years. Plant two within 10 feet for cross-pollination, and put up netting at peak ripeness. The birds have excellent taste.

Bare Root Basics:

Right now, through late March, you can plant dormant bare root shrubs at lower prices with better selection. After that, it's containers only as the bare root window closes. The move:

Next week we head indoors — the Seed Starting Series kicks off alongside Shrub Club, running in parallel through April. Two tracks, one garden.

From Berthoud to the border, Fort Morgan to Estes, each week we will to pull together a list of the top events happening all over NOCO.

Made in Loveland @ desk chair workspace (Loveland) — free events all week — Loveland’s version of Startup Week. This is a free week-long speaker series designed to be a valuable resource for entrepreneurs seeking knowledge and for those looking to gain the right tools to start a business. 👉 Get good at business

Body/Speak: Community Dance Concert @ University Center for the Arts (Fort Collins) — Thursday Feb 20 & Friday Feb 21 at 7:30 pm — Bodies in motion speak. — 👉 When words fail, dance

Sean Patton: Stand-Up Comedy @ The Comedy Fort (Fort Collins) — Friday Feb 27 & Saturday Feb 28 at 6 pm and 8:30 pm; Sunday Mar 1 at 7:30 pm — Comedy Central veteran returns. — 👉 Laugh it up

Local Art Show: Maggie Daniel @ Bath Garden Center (Fort Collins) — Feb 27, 9:00 AM – Mar 1, 5:00 PM — Local art in bloom — 👉 Stop in and wander

Tax Help Colorado @ Aims Community College (Loveland) — 4:30 to 8:30pm — Free, professional tax preparation (limitations apply) for those who need a hand navigating the IRS maze. 👉 Get your refund


Most Influential Business Leaders — Forge Event Center (Loveland) — 4 to 6:30pm — BizWest honors the movers and shakers shaping the Northern Colorado economy. 👉 Network with the best

Kids Pottery Wheel Throwing @ Our Town Market (Loveland) — 5:30 to 7:30pm — Let the kiddos learn the basics of the ceramic wheel. 👉 Let 'em spin

Sober Sips and Chair Tricks @ The Love Shack (Loveland) — 7 to 8:30pm — A unique fusion of craft mocktails and a fun, beginner-friendly movement class. 👉 Sip and stretch

Mushroom Growing with Inoculation —@Orion’s Apothecary (Loveland) — 11 to noon — A hands-on workshop that includes a grow kit and liquid culture so you can start your fungi journey at home. 👉 Inoculate your interest

Lucky Letters Modern Calligraphy @ Berthoud Brewing Co (Berthoud) — 6pm — Learn the art of beautiful lettering just in time for St. Paddy’s Day cards. 👉 Get your ink on

Candlelight: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac @ The Lyric (Fort Collins) — 6:15 to 7:30pm — The chain will never be broken at this stunning string quartet tribute to the icons of rock. 👉 Go your own way

Candlelight: A Tribute to The Beatles @ The Lyric (Fort Collins) — 8:30 to 9:45pm — Experience the Fab Four's greatest hits under the glow of a thousand candles. 👉 Across the universe

Local Bluegrass Pick — Twin Oaks Steakhouse (Estes Park) — 6:30pm — Enjoy the twang. 👉 Pick along

Love Bites: The Dating Profile Roast Show @ The Comedy Fort (Fort Collins) — 7:00 PM — Comedians take a hilarious (and brutal) look at local dating profiles. 👉 Swipe right for laughs

Swing Night featuring The Jazz Section @ Avogadro’s Number (Fort Collins) — 6 to 9pm — Grab a partner and hit the floor for a night of classic swing tunes and local jazz mastery. 👉 Cut a rug

Penelope Road with Benny G @ Aggie Theatre (Fort Collins) — 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM — Indie-folk melodies and soulful storytelling in one of the city's coolest listening rooms. 👉 Hear the harmony

Harry and The Heros @ The 120 Bar and Grill (Loveland) — 6:30 to 8:30pm PM — End your week with live tunes in the heart of downtown. 👉 Unwind in style

Yoga Workshop & Herbal Tea Ceremony @ Fox Den: No Waste Cafe & Roastery (Fort Collins) — 6:30pm — Reconnect with your body and resetting your nervous system. 👉 Find your flow

Marty Astry Live @ Snowy Peaks Winery (Estes Park) — 4:30pm — Acoustic favorites and mountain folk to pair with your fireside dinner. 👉 Listen local


Beyond The Buzz Social Networking @ The Love Shack (Loveland) — 9:30pm — High-level networking without the hangover. Sip craft mocktails and make genuine connections. 👉 Network dry

Date Night Pottery @ Our Town Market (Loveland) — 6:30 to 8:30pm — Grab your partner and recreate that scene from Ghost (well, sort of) in this fun intro to wheel throwing. 👉 Get messy

Wind Symphony Concert: Convergence @ Griffin Concert Hall (Fort Collins) — 7:30 PM — A powerful performance by the CSU Wind Symphony exploring the meeting points of music and culture. 👉 Hear the harmony

The TEN Tenors: 30th Anniversary World Tour @ The Lincoln Center (Fort Collins) — 7:30 PM — The Australian vocal powerhouses bring their global celebration of opera and pop to NOCO. 👉 Catch the tenors

Glow-in-the-Dark Bowling — Sweetheart Lanes (Loveland) — 9:30pm — Neon lights, heavy beats, and the chance to win free games. It’s not your average night at the lanes. 👉 Strike a pose

RIOT with Ridence, Klauser, Karnage @ Aggie Theatre (Fort Collins) — 8pm (doors at 7) — Get ready for a high-energy night of heavy bass and dance floor chaos. 👉 Join the riot

Purple Piano: The One-Man Tribute to PRINCE starring Marshall Charloff @ Rialto Theater (Loveland) — 7:30pm — Acclaimed musical smash 👉 Pay tribute

Stories that Linger in the Dust @ Loveland Museum (loveland) — 1 to 3pm — Discussion facilitated by Sharon Carlisle, Free to register, but seats are limited 👉 See the spark

Foothills Winter Farmers’ Market @ Foothills Shopping Center (Fort Collins) — 10 to 2pm — Stock up on local root veggies, honey, and handmade goods at this cozy indoor market. 👉 Shop local

Plant Physiology Class @ Bath Garden Center (Fort Collins) — 1 to 2pm — Go beyond the "green thumb" and learn how plants actually function from the inside out. 👉 Grow your brain

Crochet Granny Stitch Tote (Part 1) @ The Artisan Shop & Studio (Loveland) — 12 to 2pm — Start your journey toward the ultimate handmade market bag in this two-part series. 👉 Get hooked

Tincture Making 101 @ Bath Garden Center (Fort Collins) — 3pm — Learn to create your own herbal extracts for health and wellness. 👉 Brew some magic

Fort Collins Winter Brewfest @ The Drake Centre (Fort Collins) — 2 to 6pm — Celebrate the best of NOCO’s craft beer scene with unlimited tastings and live music. 👉 Cheers to winter

Hop on the Brew Hop Trolley — Verboten Brewing (Loveland) — 3 to 7pm — Catch the trolley during Downtown Beer Week for a stress-free tour of Loveland’s best breweries. 👉 All aboard

Gold Rush in Leadville @ Loveland Museum (Loveland) — 5 to 8pm — A fascinating deep dive into the high-altitude history of Colorado's most famous mining town. 👉 Strike gold

Kids' Tea Making @ Orion's Apothecary (Loveland) — 10:30 to 11:30am — A fun, hands-on workshop for the little ones to blend their own custom herbal teas. 👉 Steep some fun

Book Signing with Jo Renfro @ Old Firehouse Books (Fort Collins) — 1 to 2pm — Meet the author and illustrator behind the whimsically encouraging Cowgirl Spirit. 👉 Meet the author

Roller Derby Double Header: Season Opener — Blue FCU Arena (Loveland) — 4 to 10pm — High-speed, high-impact action as the FoCo Roller Derby kicks off their 2026 season. 👉 Watch the hits

Travel Series: Peru @ Estes Valley Community Center (Estes Park) — 10 to 11:30pm — Explore the sights and stories of Peru without the 10-hour flight. 👉 Start your journey

Hearts For Hope 25th Anniversary Gala @ Embassy Suites (Loveland) — 5:30pm — Celebrate a quarter-century of community impact at this formal fundraiser for the Loveland Chamber. 👉 Support the cause

Rocky Mountain Raptor Program 33rd Annual Gala @ Lory Student Center Grand Ballroom, CSU (Fort Collins) — 5 to 10pm — An evening dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of our region's incredible birds of prey. 👉 Help them fly

Great Horned Owls & American Barn Owls — Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch (Loveland) — 6 to 8pm — Join naturalist Scott Rashid for an intimate evening learning about NOCO's nocturnal neighbors. 👉 Hoot and holler

Trace Bundy live at the Legion @ American Legion Post 119 (Estes Park) — 6:30 to 8:30pm — Known as the "Acoustic Ninja," Bundy’s intricate fingerstyle guitar will leave you speechless. 👉 Witness the magic

An Evening with Tumbledown Shack @ Avogadro’s Number (Fort Collins) — 8pm (doors at 7) — A tribute to the Grateful Dead that’ll have the whole house dancing. 👉 Keep on truckin'

Mardi Gras Themed Ballroom Dance Party — Maya’s Ballroom (Loveland) — 6:30 to 10pm — Dust off your dancing shoes for a masquerade-themed night of ballroom and swing. 👉 Put on your mask

Sky Bear’s Throwback Throwdown Dance Party @ Sky Bear Brewery & Pub (Loveland) — 8 to 11pm — A high-energy dance party featuring all your favorite hits from decades past. 👉 Dance like it's 1999

Bird Banding & Bird Walk @ High Plains Environmental Center (Loveland) — 9 to noon — Get an up-close look at our feathered neighbors and help contribute to local conservation research. 👉 Take flight

Sunday Brunch with John McKay — Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch (Loveland) — 11 to 2pm — Elevate your eggs and bacon with live acoustic tunes at one of the prettiest ranches in the valley. 👉 Savor the morning

Little Shop of Physics Open House — CSU Lory Student Center (Fort Collins) — 10am to 4pm — Over 300 hands-on science experiments that make "magic" look easy. Perfect for curious kids and kids-at-heart. 👉 Get experimental

2026 Huaxing Lunar New Year celebration @ 4424 Innovation Drive (Fort Collins) 3 to 7:30pm — Celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse with traditional performances, food, and community activities. 👉 Happy New Year

Jellyfish Terrarium Workshop with The Creative Connection @ Loveland Aleworks (Loveland) — 1 to 3pm — Craft your own low-maintenance "underwater" world using air plants and glass. 👉 Dive in

Mushroom Growing with Inoculation — Orion’s Apothecary (Loveland) — 1 to 2pm — Another chance to master the art of the fungi; walk away with a kit and the know-how to grow at home. 👉 Spore it on

PB&J Monthly Jam @ Pinball Jones (Fort Collins) — 2 to 10pm — A low-pressure, high-fun pinball tournament for all skill levels. 👉 Flip it

1st Sundays Fireside @ CSU Environmental Learning Center (Fort Collins) — 3 to 5pm — Cozy up by the fire for stories, community, and the perfect Sunday evening wind-down. 👉 Stay warm

Mentor-Student Art Show —Art Center of Estes Park (Estes Park) — 11am to 5pm — Check out the creative collaboration between Estes Park’s rising artists and their professional mentors. 👉 Support local talent

Virtuoso Series: Rose Wollman (Viola) — Organ Recital Hall, UCA (Fort Collins) — 7:30pm — A world-class performance featuring the rich, soulful sounds of the viola in an intimate setting. 👉 Experience the virtuosity