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5 interesting places to meet over ice cream
Photo courtesy of Old Town Churn on Facebook
We’re in the full swing of summer, and for me that means taking my meetings out of the office and into the sun. Below are a few unique spots in Fort Collins where we could cool down while we talk shop.
- Old Town Churn is situated at the heart of The Exchange, which I blogged about here. Their Salted Oreo flavor is from another planet and The Exchange’s outdoor lawn area is kid-friendly.
- Walrus Ice Cream is a FoCo staple, as much for their playful flavors as for the walrus-inspired art covering the walls.
- Revolution Artisan Pops offers homemade gelato and ice pops. I love that they collaborate with other local businesses, from dairies to coffee shops to juiceries. Did you know Revolution is owned and operated by students at CSU?
- Union Bar & Soda Fountain is worth visiting just to check out their mid-century decor. In their own words, Union puts their “own creative twist on timeless recipes such as egg creams, phosphate sodas and even milkshakes.” They also offer cocktails, a full menu, and a beautiful patio.
- Eating healthier this summer? I haven’t forgotten you! Ba-nom-a-nom is a mobile food cart which offers soft serve made from fruit. Their goodies are “dairy free (vegan), gluten free, nut free, sugar free, fat free, & egg free by nature.” The cart can often be found at the FoCo Food Truck Rally.
I am only scratching the surface—Fort Collins has no shortage of summer sweets. Give me a call to meet up at one of my favorites, or at yours!
Pedaling the Poudre
You would never buy a home without driving around the neighborhood first, right? Perhaps you should explore the area by bicycle as well!
Not sure where to begin? In Northern Colorado there is no shortage of fun clubs and group rides. However, I recommend looking into Pedaling the Poudre tours through the Poudre Heritage Alliance. These tours are less concerned with cardio and more focused on education and exploration along various stretches of the Cache le Poudre River. The guides are friendly and knowledgeable, their tours stick to paved trails, and the fees for the tour support the work that the PHA is doing to share the history and culture of the river corridor. PHA regularly offers tours in Larimer County (Fort Collins) and Weld County (Windsor, Greeley).
Prefer to move at your own pace? Strike out on your own with PHA’s self-guided tours instead. Stretch your legs, get some sun, and fall in love with a beautiful, scenic area!
NoCo NOSH
Have you given NoCo NOSH a try? It’s a new service much like Uber Eats or Door Dash, with a fabulous local twist: it is owned and operated by restauranteurs from Fort Collins, Greeley and Loveland.
According to North Forty News, the restaurant owners behind NoCo NOSH “believe that restaurant owners themselves should be involved not only in the decision-making of the delivery of their food, but they should also be charged commission rates that are fair and sustainable, and not the current national rates, which are way above most independent restaurants’ margins.” The owners also want more control over the delivery service itself, which impacts their customers’ experiences with their food.
The platform is growing quickly! At the time of writing, you can browse the menus of nearly 60 local restaurants offering everything from Mexican to sushi to barbecue and beyond.
I recommend following NoCo NOSH on Facebook, where they announce new restaurants as they add them to their service. A few of their newest spots: Blue Agave Grill, Saigon Grill III and Cacciatore at Heller’s Kitchen.
P.S. Pay special attention to this post, which offers a 1-time free delivery after 8pm! Ice cream from Walrus, perhaps?
Greeley’s Friday Fest
Festival season is well underway! Have you planned out all the bands you’ll check out and all the street meats you’ll sample?
Be sure that Friday Fest is on your list. Every year, downtown Greeley offers up their summer-long lineup of free music and fun. Bring the kids along and enjoy face painting, chalk art, street performances and more.
During Friday Fest, the city also offers “Go-Cup service” — purchase an adult beverage at any of Greeley’s restaurants and you are welcome to take that drink with you to the Fest’s outdoor concerts and activities. (Mom and dad deserve a fun night out, too…)
Don’t forget that a move can be about more than a house. It can also be about wanting more night life, a more family-friendly city or more summer fun. What are your new neighborhood must-haves?
Prospect New Town, Longmont
When is the last time you cruised through Longmont? If you’re due for a visit, you may be missing out on this area’s charm!
For example, Longmont’s up-and-coming Prospect New Town development has taken a unique approach to its architecture, blending contemporary styles with more traditional looks. You’ll find bold colors mixed with farmhouse shades and modern lines next to white picket fences.
Street names such as Ionosphere, Neon Forest Circle and 100 Year Party Court tell you something different is happening in Prospect New Town, which calls itself “the coolest neighborhood in America.”
Are you looking to make a change? Something fresh and new might be closer than you think. I’d love to talk about your next move!
The Buzz About Berthoud
Photo courtesy of the Town of Berthoud
The town of Berthoud in Northern Colorado has been booming lately. Anna S., a recent transplant to Berthoud, explains why she and her family felt so drawn to this up-and-coming area.
What are a few of the other areas you considered, and what made you ultimately choose Berthoud?
Anna: We looked at a lot of places in Northern Colorado: Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor, Johnstown, Greeley. We fell in love with Berthoud’s downtown and the fact that we could afford a place close enough to it to be able to ride our bikes there. It has a couple good breweries, a distillery, and a really good bakery, plus some cute shops. It’s a very walkable downtown.
It was also in just the right spot for us. We travel frequently, and we really wanted to be under an hour to the airport. We’re also 45 minutes to downtown Denver, 35 to Boulder, 45 to Estes Park, and 30 to Fort Collins. Loveland and Longmont are both great cities and very close. Carter Lake is an enormous, beautiful reservoir, and it’s only 15 minutes away. Berthoud is really centrally located.
You’ve lived in Berthoud for a few months now. Do you have a few favorite haunts?
Anna: City Star Brewing makes great beer, hosts great music, and has a great beer garden. They also sponsor a lot of community events. RISE Bakery is excellent. There are also several good thrift stores – Mr. Thrift, Habitat for Humanity, Flashback Antiques. And I absolutely have to mention Little Thompson Observatory; it’s an amazing facility, particularly for a town this size.
What makes Berthoud a family-friendly town?
Anna: The downtown has lots of programming and events, such as Berthoud Days in the summer, Snow Fest, Oktoberfest, and weekly farmers’ markets. They’re having their first fireworks show this summer. Apparently there’s a large quilting festival in July! Due to the recent growth in Berthoud, there are a lot of young families moving here.
Is there anything else that house hunters should know about Berthoud?
Anna: The P.O.R.T. Advisory Committee (parks, open space, recreation, and trails) has been working on a really impressive recreation master plan. Berthoud is the Garden Spot of Colorado, and they take it to heart with lots of trees, community gardens, trails, and great landscaping.
Curious about Berthoud? Let’s talk!
Fantastic Two-Story Home!
Fantastic home at 6814 Autumn Ridge Drive centrally located in between Fort Collins and Loveland. This two-story home features an open floor plan on the main level with a large family room and spacious eat-in kitchen. Upstairs is the master suite with private master bathroom and walk-in closet. 2 additional bedrooms and 2nd full bathroom are also upstairs. Enjoy the Colorado sunshine on the back deck. This beautifully maintained home is close to Pelican Marsh Natural Area and Waters Way Park. Contact Anali Roath at (970) 829-8818 for your private showing for more information or click the link below for more details.
Spectacular Home in Highland Meadows!
This spectacular home at 5802 Bromborough Drive has an open floor plan works with the way you live with two bedrooms, a dining room and office all on the main floor surrounding the kitchen and great room. The finished walkout basement backs to Hole 11 and offers amazing views of the green. Complete with a wet bar, rec room and 2 bedrooms, one of which has been converted to the perfect workout space! Call for your private showing at (970) 829-8818 for more information or click the link below for more details.
4 Reasons I Love The Exchange in Fort Collins
Image courtesy of The Exchange on Facebook
On the northern corner of Old Town Fort Collins sits a unique stack of shipping containers that are drawing a lot of attention. Named The Exchange after the stockyard exchange that used to exist in the same spot, this vibrant new development has added energy and fun to the area. Here are just a few reasons why I’m drawn to it:
- The food. I love getting to choose between Vatos Tacos & Tequila, Chick’n Cone, and The Pizza Press—that is, when I don’t give in and just eat Fort Collins Donut Co’s strawberry rosé doughnuts for dinner.
- The drink. Copper Muse Distillery has been in the area for years, but they have two great new neighbors: Infinite Monkey Theorem Urban Winery and Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project. Not only are the options great, but as of April you can enjoy your drinks outside due to The Exchange’s new common consumption permit.
- Its family-friendly nature. The Exchange’s patio area is large enough to spread out, but not so huge that I can’t keep an eye on my kiddo. There is playful, loose seating, usually a cornhole set or two, and always many kids running around. And did I mention that the center of The Exchange is dominated by an ice cream shop in the shape of an enormous churn? A miniature golf course just opened up as well!
- The Summer Series. The Exchange recently announced on Facebook that they would be putting on a free music series on Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons, June through August. Read more about the Summer Series here, and count me in.
If you’re looking to shake up your social life or just want to be within biking distance of amazing doughnuts, let’s meet at The Exchange and talk about Fort Collins!
Beautiful Ranch Style Home Located in desirable Governors Ranch!
This beautiful ranch style home at 1390 Settlers Dr has a spacious and open floor plan with enough bedrooms and bonus space for all of your needs. A large flagstone patio in the front and concrete patio in the back offer lots of options for spending time outdoors. The enclosed sun-room allows you to enjoy all 300+ days of sunshine Colorado has to offer. The front bonus room could be used as a study or formal dining room, which ever works best for your lifestyle. Call for your private showing at (970) 829-8818 for more information or click the link below for more details.
