Shakira isn’t going to let her ex have the last word. Last month, she kicked off the new year with her scathing “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” collaborative single, with Argentine DJ Bizarrap. Now, in a special Valentine’s Day TikTok post, she has another message for Gerard Pique, her former partner of 12 years.
In the clip, she is seen sweeping her floor, while wearing a black shirt and pants, with matching heels. She lip-syncs to SZA’s “Kill Bill,” which has become a viral hit on the video-sharing platform.
The video is set to the song’s chorus, which contains the lyrics, “I might kill my ex, not the best idea / His new girlfriend’s next, how’d I get here? / I might kill my ex, I still love him though / Rather be in jail than alone.”
Shakira hasn’t spoken much about the split with Pique in recent months, however, she did open up about the breakup in an interview with Elle back in September. She revealed that being around friends and family has helped her heal through the heartbreak.
“I think that even when you feel like you’re falling down an abyss and there’s no end to that abyss, there’s always a certain safety net at the bottom. And that safety net is formed by family and friends. And if you’ve done things right, you will find that helping hand. And friendship, they say, is the purest form of love, and maybe the most long-lasting one.”
Donald Trump has plenty of enemies, but he hates few with the ire he reserves for Mitch McConnell. The former president hates the Senate minority leader so much — despite McConnell refusing to convict him during his second impeachment, effectively ensuring he can run a third time, which he now is — he even goes after his wife. And Trump doesn’t just go after Elaine Chao, who was secretary of transportation in his administration. He pelts her with taunts that are straight-up racist. Will that stop McConnell from supporting him if he winds up with the Republican ticket again? Of course not.
As per Mediaite, McConnell spoke to reporter after Nikki Haley, former governor of South Carolina, announced she was throwing her hat in the ring, making her the only official rival to her former pal, Donald Trump. When asked if the GOP should finally move on from the guy who keeps calling his wife “Coco Chow,” he responded not with a definitive answer but a non-committal, rambling non-response.
“Well, what I think we’re going to have is a vigorous primary with a number of candidates making their case,” he said. “And the American people, those who are registered Republicans who are going to participate in these primaries are going to decide who they want to nominate.”
He added, “And obviously, I’m going to support whoever the nominee ultimately is.”
McConnell’s not the only member of his party who won’t condemn a guy who insults his wife. Just ask Ted Cruz, who had the added bonus of Trump calling his dad a murderer, too.
It’s impossible to mention the Slam Dunk Contest and not have the face of one man conjured up like its high-flying, gravity defying genie. Vince Carter solidified his place in the NBA and in the Contest’s history with his 2000 performance. It would become something of a double-edged sword, with Carter swearing off for a time the very thing that made him so mesmerizing for so many to watch. Before he retired, Carter returned to dunking and his legacy is traceable in pretty much every Dunk Contest entry since, as well as on the floor in real-time bounce.
As part of this year’s NBA All-Star weekend, Carter teamed up with Paul George and AT&T. The two were scanned using 3D technology to be put into a custom-built video game that fans can play online and in person over the weekend as AR avatars.
Dime caught up with Carter over the phone to talk about the collaboration, his stance on the Dunk Contest’s past and present, making peace with his part in the history of the dunk itself, the surprising takeaways from his post-playing career as an analyst for ESPN, and that 2014 return to Toronto, when he finally got a standing ovation.
Well first, I want to wish you a happy Valentine’s Day.
Thanks, same to you.
What was it about AT&T’s Playmaker AR Arcade game that appealed most to you?
Well first of all, I’ll say this, I’ve been a longtime customer with AT&T, so it was a no-brainer for me. As a kid, growing up, playing video games, and then as a professional having the chance to be in a video game — it’s just a great opportunity.
I saw some of the behind the scenes footage you and Paul George did for your avatars, can you tell me a bit about that process?
AT+T
It was a pretty cool process. I didn’t know what to expect walking into it. For me, personally, I hadn’t been in a uniform, in jersey for a really long time. And to put the Raptors jersey back on and understanding what this avatar’s going to be for, and the big picture. Like I said, pretty cool situation, particularly now being retired away from the game a couple years and getting to relive some fun moments and be a part of something like that with a guy like Paul George — who’s playing well, is an All-Star, and very in right now.
It would be impossible not to talk to you about dunks and with this project, the All-Star game, so, I don’t know if you clocked it, but this is the first Valentine’s that hasn’t fallen on All-Star weekend in a while. Little bit of backstory — my husband and I have watched the Dunk Contest together for Valentine’s since we met, we also have matching Dunk Contest tattoos.
Oh wow.
It’s a dumb tradition, but it’s ours. But I mention the tradition, because I started to think about the tradition of dunks. The first dunk in the 1930s, to the move being banned by the NCAA, to Dr. J and Kareem popularizing it in-game, the first dunk contests and then of course yours in 2000, which I think captivated so many people, including myself. Dunks themselves take on elements of past dunks as callbacks, or put twists on classics — and now, you are such an undeniable part of that tradition forever, and I wanted to get your thoughts on that.
I’m thankful for it. I’m one with it now. At one point it was, I don’t want to say uncomfortable, but it was just like, no way. You’re talking about history. When you talk about situations or moments for those who are around can relive, or talk about all-time leading scorer, people can think back to where they were when Kareem broke the record, and now people will think back to where they were or what they were doing when LeBron broke the record. So, now when you talk about dunks and your name is thrown around with the elite, a lot of people say the best — I leave it up to them for debate — but that’s a great feeling.
For me, particularly because being a part of the Dunk Contest, being in the NBA, was it. That’s the goal of every player who’s there. But while doing so, I also wanted to be a part of the Dunk Contest. That’s something I used to watch, I used to tape it, I used to study it. I used to try and figure out why guys are doing particular dunks, what are they trying to get out of it? Then I got my opportunity. So, I wanted to make the best of my opportunity. I felt like I was prepared for it. And I wanted people just to see how crazy my imagination was outside my athleticism. My imagination heightened my athleticism, if that makes sense. You have the god-given athleticism, but you allow your imagination to flow with that, you can take it to another level and I was able to do it that night.
It makes perfect sense. Cause correct me if I’m wrong, you had some ideas and then you just decided to go from, basically scratch as soon as you got to that Contest, did you not?
Yeah. Which is a scary thing if you think about. Because if this doesn’t work out, [laughing] we’re not having this conversation about it.
Absolutely true. On a less serious note, I was curious if you sit in any firm camp when it comes to the Dunk Contest? You know, there are people who are strictly no props, people who love the props, people who think it should be one attempt only, people who think the format should change. Where do you fall?
I’m more of the old school mindset. I thought the gimmicks and stuff watered it down a little bit. The one thing I did not like, and I’m glad they got rid of it immediately, was the wheel. Because I feel like a Dunk Contest is for people to go out there and show what they can do, and not what other people feel like they can do. And what I mean by that is when you talk about a wheel, guys get exposed. You’re talking about a two foot jumper, a guy who’s great at jumping off of two feet, picks a dunk on the wheel that requires a one foot jump that they’re not able to do. And you don’t get to see the best of the athlete because of it.
So, I thought it was a bad idea. I didn’t like it. There were some cool dunks on there but it should’ve been on the wheel, or not even the wheel, but options to pick from that fit in your wheelhouse — no pun intended. I like just actually back and forth. You dunk, then I dunk. I know they had a couple of dunks in a minute, or something like that, it’s just like, what are we doing? That’s not how the history of dunks go, that’s like trying to rewrite history. Like somebody going back in time to rewrite how hip-hop started — it started in the park, battle raps. That’s kind of the same thing. Dunking started like you go dunk, get through your line, throw the ball to the next person like ‘Alright, what you got?’ And that’s how people fell in love with it.
I’m with you on that. I want to switch over to your job as an analyst because in the same vein as this AR game, you’re seeing and interacting with the game at a different level now. What’s been the biggest surprise for you since you began your work as an analyst?
That’s a tough one. This is going to sound crazy, like I’m trying to make a joke, the biggest surprise is man, I can’t believe — I guess it’s spoiled, hmm, maybe — but I can’t believe how uncomfortable it is to sit at these tables. Because they’re not making these tables for Reggie Miller, Grant Hill, 6’7, 6’8, Chris Webber at one time, 6’10. They’re not making them for these guys. You go to some of these arenas and try to sit at these tables and you try to sound comfortable on TV, and that’s the biggest surprise and toughest task because sometimes I’m sitting there squirming and uncomfortable [laughs]. It makes me laugh because I just think of some of the arenas I’ve been in, like, this is not going to work. How?
Other than that, I think it wasn’t honestly a lot of surprises because of my preparation prior to. Meaning, nine years prior to retirement, I was doing just this. After the season was over I would do studio work at Turner, and then in the playoffs, during the Finals, I would do work with ESPN — sideline reporting, studio stuff, and everything. So I had some experience and preparation so I knew what to expect. So it wasn’t like anything caught me off guard. The biggest challenge, and this is not even a challenge, I get the chance to work with some of the greats in the play-by-play world. For me, I’m like, man, don’t mess this up. And they always ask me, you good? Anything I need to do? I’m like, you’re Mike Breen. You’re Mark Jones. Like, what? I’m making sure I’m doing what I need to do to make this flow. So that’s been, if you would, the challenge personally, internally, was just flowing with some of the greats. I’ve only been in it for a couple years but I’ve had the opportunity to work with a lot of greats so far that we hear every day, every week.
I was at the Memphis-Toronto game in 2014 where you got the tribute and the boos turned to a standing ovation.
Ah.
It was honestly like seeing history change in real-time. It was really powerful, I definitely cried. But it struck me as such a full-circle moment, going from being the sweetheart of the city, to so disparaged for a long time, and that coming back around to a very deep love, acknowledgement and appreciation from the fanbase. As an athlete, I wondered, do you get many moments like that?
Ooh, man. A select few. Obviously the superstars, when they come back home, and things like that, but not often. I knew about it, I knew it was happening, but I didn’t know how it was going to feel. You can’t prepare for that. Particularly in those situations, where do you go Google that? You can’t go look up, former player who had this moment. I had a unique situation like none other [chuckles]. There hasn’t been a player who has gone through that. It’s been funny over the years, when people talk about oh, they’re going back to their old team, or former team, and the boos should be crazy. I’m like, aight, if that’s what you guys call crazy. [laughing] Just cause I know what that really looks like.
And to go from that to that moment — ah man — was just … I felt like I was in my little bubble. It was just me sitting out there by myself in the arena watching this film, the tribute. They asked me, I remember them asking me all these questions about did you see the crowd, I had no clue. I just felt like I was standing in the bubble by myself, reliving some great moments. And when I actually came to, if you would, and paid attention, hearing people cheer when it was over. It was like, Oh man. What’s going on? [laughing] It was just a cool moment.
Between Joe Biden’s State of the Union address and Rihanna’s explosive Super Bowl Halftime Show, we’ve hardly had a moment to check in with Rudy Giuliani. Though it doesn’t seem the same could be said for Fani Willis, the district attorney in Fulton County, Georgia, where Donald Trump and his cronies could be in big trouble once the grand jury report related to the former president’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election are unsealed.
As Raw Story reports, Harry Litman — a former federal prosecutor — is feeling pretty confident in his assumption that an indictment could be coming Giuliani’s way in the VERY near future. While appearing as a guest on MSNBC’s All In on Monday night, the topic turned to Trump’s shady phone call to Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s Secretary of State, whom Trump and his team pushed to help them “find 11,870 votes” so that he didn’t lose the Peachtree State, or the general election. (The same call during which the former president may have loudly farted.)
“If I had done that, if some random person off the street in Georgia had done that, we’d be in prison right now wouldn’t we?,” Hasan asked, with Litman responding in the absolute affirmative. In fact, Litman went so far to to claim that such a statement could easily be considered “solicitation to commit election fraud,” and feels pretty confident that there will be repercussions.
“He’s gotten the target letter, and that means for the listeners out there, that [Fulton County D.A. Fani Willis] has decided he is in her sights,” Litman said. “So, she intends to indict him. But since he took the Fifth, I doubt it. I anticipate, and it’s a really good general point, it is not just Trump involved here. He did as much as suggested it was Trump because he once talked about people not before the grand jury. Seventeen target people, sort of all the president’s men and women. Giuliani really, really — he goes down to Georgia, tells all these fibs. I think he’s in a world of hurt and is likely to be indicted.”
On the bright side, maybe Rudy can get a discount on those cozy sandals he was hawking a few months back for MyPillow man Mike Lindell. We hear them make comfy shower shoes, and where Giuliani is going, he might very well need them.
Last week, a train carrying five tankers of combustible chemicals including butyl acrylate and vinyl chloride overturned in the small, working-class town forcing first responders to carry out a “controlled burn” before the unstable liquids could explode. Residents were ordered to evacuate while authorities tried to assess whether the air and local water supply had been contaminated by the spill, eventually returning to their homes when the Environmental Protection Agency deemed it safe to do so.
Currently, a massive black plume is hovering above the town and residents are reporting local wildlife, along with their own pets (mostly dogs, foxes, fish, and birds) are either dying or experiencing breathing issues. Some townspeople say there’s a chemical odor in the air while others are questioning if they can trust the government’s recommendation to return home when the long-term effects of the spill aren’t yet known.
THREAD: Photos, videos, and news reports about the train derailment and toxic chemical release in East Palestine, Ohio.
This may be the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history.
It’s an epic catastrophe at this point and it’s just getting stranger by the second.
That latest disturbing bit of news about the crash shares an odd tie-in to a recent disaster comedy on Netflix. Noah Baumbach’s White Noise released late last year and starred Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig as parents of a family of five whose lives are upended when “a train accident casts a cloud of chemical waste over their town.” The family is forced to evacuate after the “Airborne Toxic Event” and the rest of the film deals with the lack of media attention surrounding the disaster as well as the couple’s overwhelming fear of death after the spill.
The strange part? Some of the background actors in the film’s evacuation scenes are residents of East Palestine, Ohio which means they filmed a fictional version of the exact environmental emergency they’re now living through.
“The first half of the movie is all almost exactly what’s going on here,” resident Ben Ratner, who was an extra in the film, told CNN. “Everybody’s been talking about that. I actually made a meme where I superimposed my face on the poster and sent it to my friends. All of a sudden, it hit too close to home.”
On Monday, Sarah Silverman began her weeklong tenure as the latest celebrity Daily Show guest host, following Chelsea Handler’s fine run. She kicked things off in fine fettle, showing how perfect she is for the gig by pointing out one of her most ideal qualifications: Fox News and most of rightwing media, as she put it, “really f*cking hates” her.
It began with a “Daily Show-y” montage, showing one GOP figure after another bashing her, sometimes on Fox News, sometimes elsewhere. Laura Ingraham called her “a complete buffoon and aggressively unfunny.” Kimberly Guilfoyle, who gave an accidentally funny speech at the RNC in 2020, “didn’t find anything funny, actually, about her.” Ben Shapiro’s no fan, nor is Bill O’Reilly (who doesn’t work there anymore), who said he’d “like to hit her with a pie.” Some guy even called her a “Jezebel,” “a witch,” and “a god-hating whore.”
Silverman’s conclusion? “These right-wing people really fucking hate me!” she boasted to the crowd. She wondered what she could have done to accrue their ire. “I mean, what am I, a gender-neutral bathroom over here? What am I, a Starbucks cup that just says ‘Happy Holidays’ over here? What am I, a grown woman with an opinion? Oh yeah, that’s probably it.”
During her inaugural night, the comic and actress also speculated about why Rihanna, during her Super Bowl halftime show, did a Kanye song but didn’t invite Kanye to join her. Perhaps, she wondered, it was because “there wasn’t enough space for her dancers to form a swastika.”
You can watch Silverman’s maiden Daily Show hosting performance in the video above.
Regardless of what part of the country (or the Northern Hemisphere) you live in, you’re bound to have at least a handful of teeth-chattering cold days left before spring. The type of day where, instead of waiting for your car to warm up so you can head off to work, you’d rather just call in sick and stay home in front of a fireplace and sip warming alcoholic beverages all afternoon. Especially if that warming treat is a malty, rich beer.
When we talk about warming winter beers, we’re talking about winter warmers, barleywines, Scotch ales, and other bold, warming beers. And who better to highlight these wintry beers than the people who actually make them? We asked a handful of well-known brewers and craft beer experts to tell us the best beers to warm up with this February — keep scrolling to see them all!
Sucaba from Firestone Walker. This English-style barleywine is matured for a minimum of a year in a combination of barrels that formerly held Four Roses, Heaven Hill, and Old Fitzgerald bourbon.
Tasting Notes:
It has the characteristic dark fruits like raisins and dates, caramel, and brown sugar, but so well balanced and a real treat to sip out of a snifter during the cold months.
Trösten Lager from von Trapp Brewing. It’s a great beer to ‘warm’ your inside when it’s so cold outside. This dark, nutty lager translates to ‘comforting’ and that’s exactly what it is.
Tasting Notes:
I really enjoy the roasted malt flavors, chocolate notes, and a touch of smokiness to round it out.
Traquair House Ale from Scotland is just a wonderful Wee Heavy. The estate once gave shelter to Bonny Prince Charlie whilst fleeing the British Army. When he left, the gates were closed ‘n’er to be opened till the rightful Scottish King regained the throne in Britain.’
Tasting Notes:
Just a marvelous swirling of dried fruit, brown sugar, sherry, and plums. What could be better during the winter months?
Boulder Killer Penguin
Boulder
Bryan Donaldson, the brewing innovation manager at Lagunitas Brewing Company in Petaluma, California
Killer Penguin from Boulder Beer. I have a lot of family in Colorado and Boulder Beer is probably the brewery outside of California that I have been going to the longest. I don’t remember the first time I had Killer Penguin, but I do know that it is delicious and dangerous.
Tasting Notes:
Lots of malt character, with hints of bourbon and butterscotch. Lots of dried fruits — you could almost call it a fruitcake in a can, but much more enjoyable than most fruitcakes.
Three Magnets Old Skook in the Woods is a bourbon barrel-aged version of Old Skook, the beer that earned Three Magnets its first Great American Beer Festival medal.
Tasting Notes:
It marries rich, caramelized malt flavors—brown sugar, cinnamon, maple, fig—with deeper notes of bitter cocoa, molasses, orange juice, and gentle vanilla for a drinking experience like dipping into a bag of bourbon-flavored Rollos.
Wishlist from Fort Point Beer Company. It’s a coffee dark lager. Need I say more? Well, I will. This mocha-inspired dark lager is brewed with Crystal and roasted malts and was brewed to taste like an iced mocha.
Tasting Notes:
This velvety smooth dark lager is highlighted by flavors of dark chocolate, roasted malts, and freshly brewed coffee.
Fuller’s Old Winter Warmer from London is a dark and distinctive beer that wraps you up like a warm blanket in delicious malt complexity and character, yet it is only 4.8% ABV so it won’t knock you over the head like some of the stronger winter beers.
Tasting Notes:
This beer is a nice mix of caramel malts, candied nuts, and floral, earth hops. Surprisingly warming even with its low ABV.
Fair State Work Life Balance
Fair State
Garth E. Beyer, certified Cicerone and owner and founder of Garth’s Brew Bar in Madison, Wisconsin
ABV: 13%
Average Price: Limited Availability
The Beer:
I tend to gravitate to English-style barleywine more than American because it showcases fig, raisin, and toffee more prominently. The favorite barleywine in question is Work Life Balance by Fair State Brewing Cooperative.
Tasting Notes:
What makes it special is a tinge of roast (think dark coffee bean rather than campfire) that’s subtly strung through the sweetness of the malt. It’s both chewy, warming, and pleasantly caramel-y. A wonderful wintertime sipper.
Vintage Sierra Nevada Bigfoot is still a very fun one to drink. While most modern barleywines that are well-hopped will oxidize poorly or turn to an herbal hop mess, Bigfoot manages to age gracefully.
Tasting Notes:
The early years have a sort of guilty pleasure numbing bitterness to them, but it’s after five or six years when things start to get interesting, the hops (while still somehow there), ease up just enough to let some developed sherry notes shine.
There are tough conversations that are just plain ol’ uncomfortable for parents to have with their children. Some parents would rather deflect difficult questions or give a very made-up, childlike answer. For example, a parent might tell a child babies come from storks or they give them out at the hospital, just to avoid the topic of sex.
The thought is usually that the child is too young to know actual information about the difficult topic, so in a fit of panic, the parent makes something up. But as a licensed therapist with a degree in child development, I can tell you kids typically only ask questions they’re ready to hear the answer to. In fact, they’re really good at letting you know when you over-explain because they’ll either change the subject or become obviously disinterested.
Actress Kristen Bell made headlines recently for her approach to discussing difficult topics with her children. She’s honest with her kids, even about their father’s addiction and recovery. Bell appeared in the magazine Real Simple and explained that there’s nothing off the table to discuss with her two daughters, Delta, 8, and Lincoln, 9 1/2.
“I know it’s shocking, but I talk to my kids about drugs, and the fact that their daddy is an addict and he’s in recovery, and we talk about sex,” she says. “There are all these ‘hard topics’ that don’t have to be if you give the person on the other end your vulnerability and a little bit of credit,” Bell told Real Simple. Being completely honest with children can be shocking to some parents, Bell noted in the interview.
Certainly, complete honesty comes with the caveat of delivering the information in an age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate way. But why do parents shy away from honesty when it comes to talking to kids about hard topics? Well, in my experience, it’s often because it makes the parent uncomfortable or they’re so worried about getting it wrong that they put off answering, thus creating anxiety-inducing anticipation.
Parents don’t want to accidentally mess up their kids and they also don’t want to expose them to things they don’t think they’re ready for. And sometimes things pop up unexpectedly that parents simply don’t have a choice about when it comes to having hard conversations.
“There are many things that children don’t yet understand, and exposing them to complex topics early on can help both their emotional and intellectual development,” Alicia Robins from the Institute for Childhood Preparedness wrote. Being truthful also helps encourage children to be open and honest in return because there’s been a reciprocal exchange of information and feelings from an early age.
A 2022 study of Indigenous families found that being honest with children created more resilience, quality relationships and overall life satisfaction. But when looking at parents who practiced less open communication, including lying, children were less likely to be resilient and had an increased risk of trauma symptoms in adolescence.
While experts aren’t saying you should tell your children all the nitty gritty details of topics, they are saying that age-appropriate honesty is best, even when the topics are hard.
Sometimes you listen to a song and have no idea whether you just experienced complete stupidity or utter genius. “Teenie Weenie Beanie” is one of those songs.
The song is about, you guessed it, tiny beanie hats, which might not seem like a bop at first. But when sung by two expert goofballs, Paul Rudd and Jimmy Fallon, it becomes far too silly not to love.
Plus, they managed to find 12 words that rhymed with “beanie.” Even Dr. Seuss would be impressed.
Fans who watched couldn’t deny that it was an instant earworm. Here’s a taste of what people are saying:
“Weirdest bop of the century. I can’t stop watching and smiling. Thanks Rudd and Jimmy.”
“Great!! Now THAT’S going to be stuck in my head for the next week!! LMAO!”
“Pure joy! My face hurts from smiling so hard. Here I go to watch again!”
“I literally was like oh no at the end, cause i know for the rest of the day, ‘its a teenie weenie beanie’ is gonna play in my head over and over again.”
Just take a listen and try not to get this stuck in our head, I dare you.
You’re welcome. Go ahead and watch it six more times. You know you want to.
There has long been a fascination with and romanticism of the American West. From your grandpa’s favorite John Wayne films to the current obsession over Paramount’s Yellowstone series (and its multiple spinoffs) – the lifestyle is one few get to actually experience but many love to fantasize about.
Following the Yellowstone season 5 premiere grabbing the title of the highest viewership ratings of any scripted television show in all of 2022, there is now a phenomenon that’s been dubbed “The Yellowstone Effect” — creating a boom for all western-inspired, well, anything. From country music, western television, and film, to even think pieces attempting to understand why city dwellers who have never saddled up are suddenly wearing cowboy hats.
And travel isn’t immune — it’s also seen surging interest in the West, arguably due to the fictional exploits at the Dutton Ranch. Frequently dubbed a “Cowboy-cation” on TikTok, the trend towards Western travel at guest and dude ranches is hotter than ever. And luckily there are plenty of options in the mountain west. But you don’t have to wait until warmer weather to experience an authentic dude ranch, my personal favorite – C Lazy U Ranch in Granby Colorado – is just as picturesque in the winter months.
Here is what you need to know before you go cosplay as a Dutton:
WHY IT’S AWESOME:
Emily Hart
C Lazy U has been a working guest ranch for over 100 years. The all-inclusive, luxury dude ranch is family owned with a team that works tirelessly to give guests the rustic western experience they’re after without sacrificing service or luxury. The large property is immaculate and home to 180 horses and world-class wranglers.
With activities for adults and kids (and, importantly, separate adult-only and children-only activities) the ranch is the perfect place to get away. After the East Troublesome Fire destroyed the historic barn and some of the ranch facilities, C Lazy U has rebounded and continues to provide exceptional experiences for guests while continuing to rebuild and improve.
IN-HOUSE FOOD AND DRINK:
Emily Hart
The ranch is all-inclusive, with meals served in the lodge. There are hours you can drop in for breakfast and lunch, while dinner has a set menu and time. I loved sitting with other guests for dinner each night, learning about them while enjoying incredible food and wine. The menu changes seasonally but is grounded in traditional Western fare – decadent beef, tender bison, and fresh trout with creative sides.
There are also snacks and drinks available throughout the day. I loved warming up with some cocoa in the lodge after exploring during the day and by the fire at night.
AMENITIES:
Emily Hart
Nightly bed turn down
Cabins with fireplaces with wood and fire starters restocked daily
Valet parking
Photographer on site (seasonally)
Reusable water bottles
Shuttle service
Game room
Summer and winter boot rental
Fishing rods available
Tennis rackets and balls available
Cross country skis available
Snowshoes available
Ice skates available
Western style bar
Hot tub
Seasonal pool
ROOM TYPES:
Emily Hart
There are several options for luxurious cabins during your stay at C Lazy U. There are 38 different options for accommodations, ranging from one to three-bedroom cabins and even a 3,600-square-foot, four-bedroom lodge for larger groups. I loved my in-room fireplace, large bathroom with soaking tub, and porch with mountain views that felt secluded while being within walking distance to the lodge and all amenities.
There is no shortage of activities on the ranch – even in the winter. From horseback riding through the snow, to ice hockey, to cross-country skiing – you can be as active or relaxed as you choose.
My inner horse girl was completely in awe during the fairytale-like winter horseback ride. There are two trail rides offered on the property each day during the winter season, each lasting about an hour and a half. The 8,500-acre ranch is home to 180 horses and experienced world-class wranglers ready to guide you through some of the most incredible Rocky Mountain vistas you will ever see.
BEST THING TO DO WITHIN A $20 CAB RIDE:
Emily Hart
While you could opt to leave the ranch to ski at nearby Winter Park Resort or Ski Granby Ranch (and the ranch concierge can set you up with shuttles, lift tickets, etc.) – I wouldn’t personally want to spend any time off the idyllic 8,500-acre property. The greatest benefit of an all-inclusive, to me, is that you get to stay in one place and let others figure out any logistics for you. And with so many activities at the ranch – you can fill your days very easily.
In the winter months, there are daily trail rides, ice hockey, hot tubs, snow tubing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, trap shooting, and even sleigh rides all available. In the warmer months, you can opt for more riding, fly fishing, archery, hatchet throwing, mountain biking, tennis, a ropes course, zip line, yoga, hiking – even beehive tours – and that’s not even an exhaustive list.
In either season, be sure to get outside in the morning or evening for the daily “Jingle” to watch the 180 horses run into the pasture then back in the morning to prepare for trail rides.
BED GAME:
Emily Hart
I stayed in the Spring Cabin during my weekend at C Lazy U Ranch. A duplex-style cabin with large rooms on either side with a large bathroom, sitting area, fireplace, and – in my case – two beds. As the cabin is generally booked all in one, the side I had seemed to be set up as another room for a family with two beds and a pullout couch. I did push the two together upon arrival creating a larger place to relax but would have preferred a king or queen at the outset.
The mattress and linens were all up to the high standards the ranch holds itself to. I loved cozying up in the plush robe and starting a fire while enjoying a glass of wine in bed at night.
Rating: 7/10
SEXINESS RATING:
Emily Hart
I think this one really depends on how innately sexy a dude ranch is to you. For some people (like me and the over 14.3 billion viewers of the “cowboy” TikTok hashtag) there is almost nothing as sexy as waking up on a ranch surrounded by professional wranglers. And even if you don’t have a weird obsession with anyone in a cowboy hat, the ranch has intentionally added in some sleek and adult elements. From the bar in the lodge to the hot tubs by the fire and the seasonal spa over the river – the ranch is rustic yet sleek.
Rating: 7/10
THE VIEWS AND PHOTO SPOTS:
C Lazy U is nestled into the Rocky Mountains with incredible views in all directions – you really can’t go wrong. I personally loved the views from the trail ride around the property and cross-country skiing. Borrow some snow shoes in the winter months to explore the trail system or take an ATV ride to the top of a bluff for some trap shooting and incredible mountain views.
Rating: 8/10
BEST SEASON TO VISIT:
Emily Hart
I’ve only visited in the winter and can say that as someone who honestly abhors winter, I loved it. I completely and unequivocally recommend a winter stay, however nonintuitive it might seem. While I do want to visit during the warmer months (if only to experience the seasonal spa on the river) winter was like a dream. With fewer guests, different activities, and – to be totally honest – fewer families with young children, it was everything I hoped for.
Fall, winter, and spring also have lower rates and fewer requirements for minimum stays, making a visit during those times slightly more economical.
IF I HAD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ONE THING:
Emily Hart
During my obsessive internet research before visiting, I fell in love with the photos I found of the Lazy You Spa. With tents arranged on Willow Creek (and some massage tents situated over the creek with glass floors) I wanted nothing more than to have a massage and relax in a copper tub with the sounds of the creek in my ears. Unfortunately, it is of course only open seasonally so I wasn’t able to experience it on my last visit. While there are alternate locations for spa services in the winter, it doesn’t compare to the unique vibes of the Lazy You location.
Book Here:
All-inclusive rates start at $525 per person in fall/winter/spring and start at $713 per person in the summer season. Minimum stays are required and vary depending on the season.
INSTAGRAM IMAGES TAKEN AT C LAZY U RANCH:
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