Sports + Recreation

Shaping Confidence

Mountain Shadows Aerial Silks: Curating High Flying Leaders  Article by Jacey Blue Renner  | Photography by Mountain Shadows Aerial Silks Elizabeth Fluharty, silks program director for Mountain Shadows Aerial Silks, is creating something both beautiful and profound.  “A community space where you can be active and supportive together,” she says of the program, now in its 10th year.  Recently, to celebrate the milestone, Fluharty had students collaborate on a studio mural painting “YET”—a...

Travel

A Spirit of Adventure

The Outrider Hotel: Manitou’s New Gem Article by Jessi Scoletti | Photography by The Outrider Hotel & Pasley Commerical Interiors Named after an idea of a scout—someone who rides ahead of the group to escort, guard and see what lies beyond the next hill—The Outrider Hotel reopens in May 2026 and is excited to be part of a new chapter in Manitou Springs. “Manitou Springs has always been a place shaped by explorers from the Indigenous communities who first moved through this valley, to the...

Arts + Culture

Joy, Painted Large

Molly McClure: Showing Up in Murals Across the City Article by Christa Hays | Photography by Zak Bloomfield, Zak Kroger and Gray Warrior Photography In a city where art is starting to define entire neighborhoods, one local muralist is leaving a mark that goes far beyond paint on a wall. Molly McClure’s work is bold, bright and instantly recognizable—and if you’ve spent any time around Colorado Springs, chances are you’ve seen it. Her story started in a house where art was just part of...

Health + Wellness

A Shifting Sound Landscape

Singing Bowls of the Rockies: Pause, Listen and Return to a Natural State of Balance Article by Rochelle Reeder | Photography by Singing Bowls of the Rockies In a world increasingly defined by racing thoughts, constant noise and an unrelenting pace, the quiet resonance of singing bowls offers something rare: stillness. Ancient Roots Rooted in ancient Himalayan traditions, Tibetan singing bowls have been used for centuries in meditation, spiritual ceremonies and therapeutic practices. Crafted...

Style + Beauty

A Burst of Color

Colorado Jewelry Designer Tish Collins Creates Wearable Art Article by Linden Butrym | Photography by Tish Collins Every summer, Palisade-based jewelry designer Tish Collins builds a design book brimming with ideas for her next collection before settling into her home studio to create from September to May. Her necklaces, earrings, bracelets and brooches are equal parts wearable and sculptural, crafted with materials like resin impregnated paper, Japanese glass beads, sterling silver and...

Entertainment

Preserving the Past, Enhancing the Experience

Manitou Springs Penny Arcade: Delivering Nostalgia + Family Fun for 93 Years Article by Cara Bukacek | Photography by Maria Navaratne John Weiss remembers his first visit to the Manitou Springs Penny Arcade. It was 1973, and he was a prospective college student exploring the area when he spent a day in Manitou Springs. The experience stayed with him, ultimately helping influence his decision to attend Colorado College and planting the seed for a lifelong connection to the area.  Years later...

Finance + Legal Services

Building on a Legacy

Farm Credit of Southern Colorado: Moving Forward, While Holding on to what Matters Article by Christa Hays | Photography by Farm Credit of Southern Colorado & Stellar Propeller Studio As you walk into the offices of Farm Credit of Southern Colorado, you immediately sense the association’s commitment to its customers. Photos of high school and college students line the walls, recipients of the association’s annual scholarship campaign. A display check written out for $8 million dollars is...

Food + Beverage

Built on Family, Served with Heart

Zócalo: How Decades of Shared Meals Became One of Colorado Springs’ Most Welcoming Tables Article by Brandy Lovelace | Photography by Lauren McKenzie, REN Creativ When you step into Zócalo, owners Lindsey and Sergio De Los Santos want you to feel like you’re on a vacation at the beach—without leaving downtown Colorado Springs. Lindsey is the brains behind the design of the bright, vibrant space. She designed every detail, from the VW Bus in the back corner to the swinging seats by the large...

Home + Design

Capturing the Vision

Sunflower Landscapes: Building Dreams from the Ground Up Article by Rochelle Reeder | Photography by The Elan Studio "So… you’re going to move out to Colorado and mow lawns?" Sheldon Funk remembers his father asking with a mixture of disbelief and perhaps a little concern. Sunflower Landscapes, founded in 2006, started with little more than a wheelbarrow, a shovel and a half-ton truck. Hard Work + Attention to Detail Funk, Dustin Hamilton and another college friend moved to Colorado Springs...

Food + Beverage

The Sweet Spot

MB’s Something Sweet: A Twist on Traditional Ice Cream Article by Linden Butrym | Photography by MB's Something Sweet For the founders of MB’s Something Sweet, an ice cream parlor in Polaris Pointe serving rolled ice cream, inspiration for their new business struck both abroad and locally.  Jeff and Beth McKiernan first sampled rolled ice cream while stationed in Japan with the Air Force. Scott and Katie Brown discovered the unique concept, which originated in Thailand around 2009, at a...