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Fourth Street will be a hub of music, engaging activities, hors d’oeuvres and wine Friday — as it is every second Friday of the month. Called Night on the Town, the event was created by organizers who hope people will stroll the streets to enjoy art receptions, business discounts and outdoor installations.
This Friday from 6 to 9 p.m., start on the east end of Fourth Street by Washington Avenue for a djembe drumming, fire spinning good time.
441 E. Fourth St.
The Loveland Center for Business Development will host a fundraising event during Night on the Town. A circle of African drummers from Gregg Hansen’s Front Range Djembe Orchestra will beat out a djembe jive, the Lalla Rookh Celtic band will perform and storytellers Katy Little and Dan Dungan will entertain during a silent auction. The auction will feature gift certificates to local restaurants and breweries as well as artwork, video production, dog grooming, hair cuts, oil changes and handcrafted items. Funds will benefit continuation of programs at the center to become more self-sustaining, according to director Robin Shukle.
The event will promote local small businesses and bring awareness of the role small businesses play in the community. “Small businesses provide a richness in the types of good and services available in a community,” Shukle said. “We want to live in communities that are vibrant and have new and innovative things. We have that in Loveland and I don’t think everyone knows that.” Loveland offers food trucks, nontraditional healthcare services, artisans, dog products, social media products, inventors, carpet cleaners, cookbook authors and coffee roasters.
“Who knew you could have a unique coffee blend roasted just for you to your exact specifications?” Shukle said.
422 E. Fourth St.
A fire spinner will light up the night outside Anthology Book Company. Jody Roberts of Loveland started spinning “poi” almost two years ago. The poi is a kevlar wick at the end of a heat-resistant chain that she spins in a form of dance. While there are several types of spinning poi, she usually does “tech poi” which are patterns and designs and fully extended arms. “I’ve burned myself a few times,” she admitted but rarely does now. She wears bandannas around her hands and the right kind of clothes – natural fibers instead of synthetic that would melt if singed.
Anthology Book Company’s grand opening was last week and the newly-renovated space includes a music stage, tables and cafe. The cafe will offer sandwiches made from scratch, Colorado beers, cider, root beer and wine. On Friday night, acoustic guitarist Brian Kittrell will perform and visitors will be able to order sandwiches like turkey and camembert and empanadas filled with veggies and savory fillings. “All these offerings on board will help make us more available to the community,” said owner Stephanie Stauder. “We have different events planned and people are already looking to us as a place to hold events and gatherings.”
With the drummers at the Business Development Center and fire spinner at Anthology, Stauder commented that the night will be a “Hey, look at us at the end of Fourth Street kind of night.”
315 E. Fourth St.
Pop into the Majestic Gathering Place – a space that the Odd Fellows rents out throughout the month – for music and a delectable buffet. You might hear big band or jazz music while you pile a plate with egg rolls, chips and salsa, fruit and other tasty treats from a spread in the back.
228 E. Fourth St.
Across the street at the Rialto Theater Center this month, the Visual Arts Commission will honor the 10 Northern Colorado artists who painted utility cabinets into works of art in 2012. A formal dedication will be in the Devereaux Room from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday night. The artists worked with the theme “Where art and science meet.” The public is encouraged to attend and interact with artists. The beautification project began in 2008 and 57 boxes since then have been transformed.
503 N. Lincoln Ave.
Detour over to Fifth Street and the Loveland Museum/Gallery at the corner of Lincoln Avenue for the one night a month that entrance to the main gallery exhibits is free. And as part of the 75th anniversary year of the museum, the venue will host several authors in a “Loveland by the Book” event.
Meet with authors who have written about Loveland and captured our city’s heritage, prosperity, history and love stories. Authors on location will include Kenneth Jessen, Debra Faulkner, Laurel Benson, Andrea Downing, Kirk Orndorff, Candy Hamilton and David Jessup.
This is also the last weekend for the “No Place to Call Home” quilt exhibit in the Foote Gallery/Auditorium. The 15 quilted works of art offer a stark look at aspects of homelessness.
429 and 440 N. Lincoln Ave.
Stop in at the Lincoln Gallery and Independence Gallery for receptions and the latest artwork. The Independence Gallery is hosting an exhibit of “Modern Day Teen Superheroes” by Sugar Mill Productions. Christy Grosboll and business partner Janie Rocek invited teens to display their inner superhero for the camera in a campaign that culminated with a photo display at the gallery, on exhibit through Sept. 17.
121 E. Fourth St.
Saunter by the Kitchen Alley and you will see Connie Corbett and her daughter, Kacey painting terra cotta pots at an outdoor table surrounded by tubes of acrylic paint and brushes of all sizes. The two started painting their “Happy Pots” about four years ago. Connie paints flowers and mountain scenes. Her daughter, Kacey, paints the whimsical; cartoon mooses, bears, bees and butterflies.
“I always wanted to take up art after I retired; I’ve been lucky enough to do that,” Connie said. The mother-daughter team participate in two craft shows a year and are busy the rest of the time designing creative pots to sell at the Kitchen Alley, Bear’s Den and Widow McCoy. They have been painting during Night on the Town for many months.
And when they need to buy supplies or treat themselves? They dip into what they jokingly call their “pot money.”
310 N. Railroad Ave.
Select middle school students are exhibiting works of photography and printmaking techniques from Bob Campagna’s classes, sponsored by Artworks. The art will be on display 6-9 p.m. Friday and available for viewing through Sept. 17.
130 W. Third St.
To round the night off, head south just after the railroad tracks, skip over to Third Street and experience an installation by six Colorado artists at the Loveland Feed and Grain Building. The event, sponsored by ArtSpace, will be an eclectic mix of fiber, wood, music and other art installations that will be gone before you’ve gotten your fill. The opening reception will be 6-9 p.m. Friday night and the event will continue 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
And more
Other businesses sprinkled down Fourth Street like Loveland Music, “B” Sweet Cupcakes, The Heart of the Earth, Green Ivy Hair and Nail Studio, Cloz to Home, Creative Wellness, and Merchant Voyage are all open late and often offer complimentary glasses of wine, chips and salsa, free samples of products, crackers and cheese or other treats as you browse and shop.
Artworks Loveland at 310 N. Railroad Ave. will be open with an exhibit of Bob Campagna’s Select Student Photography and a city of Loveland farmers market will be at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Fourth St.
Take a break for dinner or drinks (if you’re not full up on snacks yet) at venues like Henry’s Pub, The Next Door Restaurant, the Pourhouse or Generations Wine and Martini Bar.