Sweetheart City, Loveland/Colorado

Loveland - our next stop, only about half an hour away from Fort Collins - is a city of sculptures (and lovelocks) and has a long tradition with foundries. There are bronze (and other) sculptures everywhere, in downtown, around The Foundry, and, concentrated in four Sculpture Parks. The Benson Sculpture Garden is one of them, and, was our first stop. Fantastic artwork surrounded by green, and, an annual large arts show taking place on the grounds. 

 

 

 

Next:  Chapunga Sculpture Parkwhich is famous for its unique collection of sculptures from Zimbabwe:

Loveland was the first City to make it a law that 1 % of all large investments has to go into public art. In addition to sculpture, there is a mural program going on in downtown
 (photo left and further below).
 


Unfortunately, the weather wasn't really photo-friendly today, dull and grey most of the time, in addition, it was the first cold day with temps around 45 deg. F in the morning. Didn't matter so much at our next stop after the sculpture gardens: Grimm Bros Brewing ("Gebrüder Grimm") - right photo. 

The Brewhouse started in July 2010 and is the oldest brewery in Loveland (now there are several!), specialized in German-inspired beers - Alt, Lagers, Bock or Oktoberfest. The names of the beers are inspired by the famous German writers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm: like "Little Red Cap" (Rotkäppchen), Snow Drop (Schneeweißchen) or Ragamuffin (das Lumpengesindel), beer steel tanks are called Haensel and Gretel or Rumpelstilz.




But,,, Loveland is best known as the land of love, and, Loveland has two LOVE lock sculptures: a heart (left pic), and, a huge "LOVE" sign in front of the Visitors Center. In the shop adjacent, everyone can buy a lock, engrave it and lock it on the sculpture. That's what we did as well, not so much feeling romantic, but perhaps it brings us back to town one day? The first Love Lock sculpture was introduced in 2019, the  heart sculpture was added at the south shore of Lake Loveland a year later. It became so popular, especially, on Valentine's Day, and, with young couples as a selfie spot. BTW, these sculptures were designed specifically to support the weight of love locks.

 

 
We stayed in the comfy, brandnew TownePlace Suites in downtown, at The Foundry Square (photo below, left), and after a walk to explore the area and its murals and sculptures (below), we had a delicious dinner at Betta Gumbo: Louisiana Food.

"Slap yo'mama" on photo above: french bread, Andouille sausage, shrimp and crawfish in a cheese sauce, to go perfectly fine with margharitas!