Good hair day
Trivium Salon continues to slay BW’s Best of East County awards
Before she opened Trivium Salon, owner Rori Bass provided hair and makeup for some of the biggest names in rock ‘n’ roll: The Cars, Aerosmith, Sonic Youth . . .
“Being a makeup artist and doing hair came naturally to me,” says Bass, a Boston native who’s called Colorado home for the last 16 years.
And while Bass doesn’t work on quite as many celebrities these days, she and her team at Trivium certainly treat every client like a star, as evidenced by Trivium’s five Best of Boulder East County awards in 2021: Best Barber Shop, Hair Salon, Day Spa, Business Owned by a Woman, and Independent Business.
It’s not the first time Trivium has scored multiple wins in Boulder Weekly’s Best of East County awards, snagging the same five categories in 2020, and four of them in 2019.
“I live in Louisville, so I do have a reputation to uphold,” Bass says during a busy autumn Thursday at Trivium. “I certainly would not want to bump into someone walking down the street who was dissatisfied, so I take it to another level because I work and play in the same place.”
Bass renovated the building at 945 Front Street and opened Trivium on Valentine’s Day 2016. At 2,000 square feet, the space holds eight stylist chairs, four shampoo bowls, and three treatment rooms.
If it’s your tresses that need some love, Trivium has all the services you could possibly need, from double-process coloring to glazes and protein treatments, plus up-dos for special occasions. If you’re settling in for a few hours of color and then a cut, you can enjoy a glass of wine, some refreshing spa water, or a soothing cup of tea.
While Bass has done it all, these days she specializes in advanced skin care, using high-quality, medical-grade products customized to treat the skin of all ages, ethnicities, and conditions. So if it’s your skin you’re looking to pamper, Bass has you covered: Trivium offers acid peels, enzyme exfoliators, microdermabrasion, and more. They can even dye your eyelashes to better match your new shade of hair color.
And whether our readers know it or not, Trivium is a sustainable salon, recycling or repurposing up to 95 percent of the resources that were once considered waste, materials such as hair, leftover hair color, foils, color tubes, aerosol cans, paper, and plastics.
In the sleek, upscale environment, staff laugh with clients and each other.
“You can have fun working here,” says esthetician Caitlynn Rawlings. “It’s a really amazing environment. The people are amazing. I can honestly say it’s the best job I’ve ever had.”
Kiandra Hazelwood, Trivium’s guest services coordinator, agrees.
“I came from a high-end salon, and I’ve never seen a salon and staff so meticulously taken care of,” Hazelwood says. “Everybody just helps each other; the teamwork, the camaraderie, is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”
Which is exactly how Bass wants it to be.
“It’s my employees that drive me not only to work hard for myself, for my future and my income, but to get all of these humans on track so they can take care of themselves,” Bass says. “I look at them as my kids, and I want them to be successful. I lead by example. If I can continue walking this planet humbly and softly, then I’m doing a good job.”
—Caitlin Rockett
BARBER SHOP
Trivium Salon
945 Front Street, Louisville, 303-949-5542
Lafayette Winner: Floyd’s 99 Barbershop
Longmont Winner: Elite Barber Shop
DAY SPA
Trivium Salon
945 Front Street, Louisville, 303-949-5542
Longmont Winner: Sunflower Spa
Lafayette Winner: Ninety-Fifth Street Salon & Spa
Write-In: Just Jamie Skin Studio
HAIR SALON
Trivium Salon
945 Front Street, Louisville, 303-949-5542
Longmont Winner: Studio Boom
Lafayette Winner: Ninety-Fifth Street Salon & Spa
BUSINESS OWNED BY A FEMALE
Trivium Salon
945 Front Street, Louisville, 303-949-5542
Lafayette Winner: The Read Queen
INDEPENDENT BUSINESS
Trivium Salon
945 Front Street, Louisville, 303-949-5542
Lafayette Winner: Confluence SBC
ACUPUNCTURE CLINIC
Left Hand Community Acupuncture
424 E. Simpson St., Lafayette, 720-378-6090
Longmont Winner: Well Woman
Louisville Winner: Louisville Acupuncture
Left Hand Community Acupuncture founders chose their business name for three reasons—the first is because one founder is left-handed. Second, in traditional acupuncture, the left hand is used to feel the Qi (life force in Chinese medicine, pronounced “chee”) of a patient. The last reason is to pay tribute to Chief Left Hand, the leader of the Southern Arapaho tribe that called Boulder Valley home long before settlers crossed into the Front Range. Patients say they love the calm environment at Left Hand as well as the flexible payment options. The clinic offers many treatment options, including acupuncture pain relief, Reiki energy healing, electrical stimulation, and even “ouchless” acupuncture for those who are afraid of needles. If you have been looking for a quiet, unique, healing atmosphere, our readers say this is the place for you.
CHIROPRACTOR
Colorado Spine and Sport
400 McCaslin Boulevard, Suite 111, Louisville, 303-604-4358
Longmont Winner: Longmont Chiropractic Wellness
Lafayette Winner: Complete Care Chiropractic
Write-In Winner: Johnston Chiropractic
Since 2001, Colorado Spine and Sport’s goal has been to bring organic healthcare options and cost transparency to Boulder County. The clinic provides a multitude of services including chiropractic, physical therapy, massage therapy, and radiology. Doctors say they refer their patients to the clinic because the staff at Colorado Spine and Sport really care about patients—and it shows, because patients say they love the clinic because of the staff. Colorado Spine and Sport’s dedication to treating people on an individual basis has earned it the title of Best Chiropractor in Boulder.
CLIMBING/PARKOUR GYM
The Spot
1754 Dogwood Street, Louisville, 303-317-3770
Longmont Winner: Longmont Climbing Collective
Broomfield Winner: G1 Climbing
An expansive climbing gym with the environment in mind, The Spot Louisville offers novice and experienced climbers alike 25,000 square feet of exercise space and climbing walls up to 45 feet high. Bring tiny climbers with you to enjoy kids zones, take a class, prep and recover your muscles with yoga offerings, and enjoy what some have called the “indoor rock climber’s paradise.”
DANCE STUDIO
Tara Cluck Dance Center
990 S. Public Road, Lafayette, 303-665-0908
Louisville Winner: Mountain Kids
Longmont Winner: Dance Dimensions
Its logo may look like it belongs to a chicken restaurant, but Tara Cluck Dance Center (TCDC) says its mascot is just another thing that sets TCDC apart from the rest! At the center, the goal is for dancers of any age or ability to have a space where they can explore the art of dance. You can learn how to really get your strut on with classes at TCDC. #chickensforlife
DENTIST
Louisville Dental Associates
1760 Centennial Drive, Louisville, 303-665-7505
Lafayette Winner: Comfort Dental
Niwot Winner: Niwot Dental
The goal of having a warm and friendly environment seems to have worked for Louisville Dental Associates. This winner provides a multitude of dental services from general exams to cosmetic work and periodontal care. More than 200 reviews on Google speak to just how kind, gentle, and welcoming the staff members are. So if you are looking for a dentist’s office that will provide that kind of environment, our readers say this is the place for you. Remember, the pandemic won’t last forever, so take care of your teeth before you take your mask off!
GOLF COURSE
Indian Peaks Golf Course
2300 Indian Peaks Trail, Lafayette, 303-900-4657
Louisville Winner: Coal Creek Golf Course
Longmont Winner: Haystack Mountain Golf Course
Indian Peaks Golf Course opened in 1993 and is named after the picturesque wilderness area located along the Continental Divide. The layout was designed by Hall of Fame player Hale Irwin. With its stunning views and four-and-a-half-hours pace of play time, it’s no wonder this gem has been a reader favorite again and again through the years. So, if you think nothing beats the smell of a freshly mowed green, and are looking for a fun but also challenging 18-hole course in Boulder County, it may be time to check out Indian Peaks. Set aside some time to tee off with great views of the Flatirons and the Rocky Mountains followed up with a drink on the patio at sunset.
GYM/FITNESS CENTER
Louisville Recreation & Senior Center
900 Via Appia Way, Louisville, 303-666-7400
Lafayette Winner: Bob L. Burger Recreation Center
Longmont Winner: City of Longmont Recreation Center
Write-In Winner: FAS Training
Newly renovated, with the mission of providing quality recreational and leisure activities and services, the Louisville Recreation & Senior Center is a vital part of the community. The center has programs, classes, and services that promote physical, mental, and social well-being. From swimming and fitness to computers and children’s day camps, the Louisville Recreation & Senior Center has something for everyone.
HOSPITAL
Avista Adventist Hospital
100 Health Park Drive, Louisville, 303-673-1000
East County Runner-Up: Boulder Community Health
Longmont Winner: UCHealth Longs Peak Hospital
Avista Adventist Hospital is a Centura Health location with a mission to “extend the healing ministry of Christ by caring for those who are ill and by nurturing the health of the people in our communities.” The location offers heart, vascular, and emergency care as well as specializing in joint and spine care. The hospital has been recognized and awarded for its New Life Center, the largest birth center and Neonatal Intensive Care Nursery in the Louisville and Boulder County area.
LASIK SERVICES
Eye Care Center of Northern Colorado
1400 Dry Creek Dr., Longmont, 720-782-6739
Broomfield Winner: Colorado Eye Center
Louisville Winner: Eyeworks Louisville
There are few of us in the bespectacled realm (or among contact lens wearers) who haven’t dreamt of having LASIK vision correction surgery. The possibility of never again hunting for misplaced eyeglasses, of never buying defogger spray again, can be incredibly tantalizing, and when BW readers in East County finally take the leap, they call Eye Care Center of Northern Colorado. Their Longmont office offers OptiLASIK™ laser vision correction, which uses a custom “map” of your eyes to personalize the procedure for the best results—and it’s clear to see why Eye Care Center of Northern Colorado is our readers’ favorite.
MARTIAL ARTS
International MartialArts Association
1340 Main St., Longmont, 303-665-0339
Longmont Winner: Tran’s Martial Arts & Fitness Center
Lafayette Winner: Rocky Mountain Kung Fu
Write-In Winner: Success Martial Arts
At Louisville’s International MartialArts Association, Hanshi Cyrus Madani and Sensei Fariba Madani teach Shotokan karate, a style developed in the mid-twentieth century, to students of all ages and skill levels. The discipline transcends physicality, and students learn to integrate their mind and spirit as they practice—developing skills like resilience and staying calm under pressure, attributes we could all use more of in these unpredictable times. BW readers voted International MartialArts Association the best in East County once again, so whether you’re a novice or looking to return to form, you ought to check them out.
MASSAGE
Elements Massage
765 E. South Boulder Road, #100, Louisville, 720-504-4958
Longmont Winner: Sunflower Spa
Superior Winner: Massage Envy
It’s been all too easy to forget about self care since COVID struck in March 2020, but some of the smarter among us remembered to start booking massages as soon as they were available again, and they’re happier for it. Elements Massage in Louisville is BW readers’ favorite destination when it’s time to indulge in a therapeutic Swedish or deep tissue massage to rejuvenate and heal your musculature. Elements also offers prenatal massage for moms-to-be and couple’s massage sessions, along with aromatherapy, hot stone massage, Himalayan salt stone massage, and cupping therapy—you’ll find the relief you’re looking for here.
MEDICAL DOCTOR
Dr. Mira Lee—Family Medical Associates Of Louisville
1000 W. South Boulder Road, Lafayette, 303-415-4355
It can be difficult to find a kind and accomplished doctor who’s embedded in the community and trusted by their patients—the complexity of today’s medical system can make you feel like a data point instead of a patient. But BW readers have nothing but accolades for Dr. Mira Lee of Family Medical Associates of Louisville, who treats patients from newborns to geriatrics. Dr. Lee prides herself on a philosophy of collaboration with her patients to help them realize optimal health, and those patients helped name her the best in East County.
NAIL SALON
Luxe Nail Bar
1361 Forest Park Circle, Suite 104, Lafayette, 303-666-6770
Longmont Winner: Allure Nail Bar
Louisville Winner: Luxury Nails and Spa
Manicures and pedicures—really, the whole nail salon experience—are about more than walking out with perfect French tips or eye-catching claws. Time in the salon is like a vacation from the rigamarole of your busy day-to-day life—go ahead, splurge on some eyelash extensions or get some unsightly hair waxed off, too. BW readers swear by Luxe Nail Bar in Lafayette when their nails need a tuneup, or when they just need some me-time (a quick note to men who’ve never indulged in a pedicure: you’re missing out). Luxe is vegan-friendly, too, offering Bio Seaweed Gel polish alongside trendier products like chrome polish and holographic nails.
ORTHODONTICS
Caraway Orthodontics
71 Erie Parkway, Suite 103, Erie, 303-828-0454
1760 Centennial Drive, Louisville, 303-665-7333
Longmont Winner: Longmont Orthodontics
Lafayette Winner: Lafayette Family Orthodontics
Dr. Damen Caraway has been crafting spectacular smiles in Louisville since 2006, and Erie since 2009, and over the years has earned his practice’s multiple wins for best orthodontics in East County. When you (or your child) need to straighten out your teeth, Caraway Orthodontics offers a variety of treatment options, including colored metal braces and Invisalign clear aligners, to help you reach your goal and look good while you’re doing it. If your smile needs a tuneup, our readers suggest you call Caraway Orthodontics.
PHYSICAL THERAPIST
Coal Creek Physical Therapy
315 W. South Boulder Road, Suite 100, Louisville, 303-666-4151
Longmont Winner: Alpine PT
Lafayette Winner: Ability Physical Therapy
Whether you tweaked your back coming back to earth after a middle-aged slam-dunk attempt or you’re a keyboard jockey with an unexplained shoulder pain, you would probably benefit from physical therapy, wherein a trained therapist creates an individualized exercise plan to address specific issues. Athletes already know the value of a superlative physical therapist, but their skills are for the rest of us as well. BW readers who already know this count on Coal Creek Physical Therapy, which earned a repeat win as the best in East County.
PILATES STUDIO
Club Pilates
700 Ken Pratt Blvd., Suite 101, Longmont, 720-442-8385
Lafayette Winner: Rocky Mountain Pilates & Yoga
Louisville Winner: Center Your Body Pilates
Pilates is the art of controlled movements, a practice that builds strength and flexibility alongside coordination and balance while strengthening one’s core. But adherents already know that, and that’s why our readers have again voted Club Pilates, with locations in Lafayette, Longmont, and Boulder, the best pilates studio in East County. Club Pilates offers Joseph Pilates’ original Reformer-based Contrology method, but modernized with state-of-the-art equipment. If you’re on the fence about starting Pilates, you can check out an introductory class for free.
TANNING SALON
At The Beach
1124 W. Dillon Road, Suite 2, Louisville, 303-362-1040
1631 Pace St., Suite 5, Longmont, 303-772-1332
Longmont Winner: Tiki Tans
Bronze is beautiful, especially when the healthy glow of your tan is backlit by mountain snow. As days get shorter and our Indian summer fades into memories, you don’t have to let your tan vanish as well. At the Beach offers VersaSpa sunless tanning and Ergoline sunbeds to keep you looking sun-kissed year-round, and for that BW readers have once again named At the Beach the best tanning salon in East County. New to sunless tanning? Ask one of their expert tanning consultants how to get the results you want, and they’ll set you on your way.
URGENT CARE CENTER
UCHealth Urgent Care
2101 Main St., Longmont, 720-745-8030
Gunbarrel Winner: BCH Urgent Care
Louisville Winner: AFC Urgent Care
When you’ve got an owie or a mysterious ailment but it doesn’t quite warrant the emergency room, you’re quite likely headed to an urgent care center. The UCHealth Urgent Care center in Longmont is open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with X-rays and lab services available on-site, and our readers say they’re the best when you need immediate medical attention from a highly trained health care professional. They’re now even offering virtual urgent care from the comfort of your own home, so if you’re hurting, don’t hesitate to contact UCHealth Urgent Care center.
VETERINARY CARE
Jasper Animal Hospital
1369 Forest Park Circle, Suite 101, Lafayette, 303-665-4002
Longmont Winner: Longs Peak Animal Hospital
Erie Winner: Foxtail Pines
Write-In Winner: Valley Vet
Trust is the most important factor when you put the health of your children in a doctor’s hands—in this case, we’re talking about your four-legged fur-babies, who can’t tell you where it hurts or why they’re suddenly under the weather. When a pet needs medical attention, BW readers in East County turn to the team at Jasper Animal Hospital for compassionate, experienced diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Kelli Space worked as a veterinarian at Jasper for 11 years before becoming its owner in 2018, and with her team of vets continues to offer the best care possible for your non-human family members.
YOGA STUDIO
Corepower Yoga
549 Flatiron Blvd., Suite A, Broomfield, 720-887-5752
Louisville Winner: Yoga Junction
Lafayette Winner: Soul Tree Studio
Write-In Winner: Elevated Yoga
If we could name one practice, one habit that helped keep us sane and grounded during these turbulent pandemic times, it’s our yoga practice. Finding your center, optimizing your strength, fine-tuning your balance, communing with your breath, discovering your flow . . . these processes helped us navigate the new, unpredictable world we were confronted with, and we know we’re not alone. Many of our readers turned to their yoga practices for rejuvenation throughout this time, as well, and they swear by CorePower Yoga in Broomfield. CorePower promises its yoga is unlike any other fitness experience, working all of your muscles and emotions to change your body and your life—our readers second that sentiment.
