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Hi Fort Collins, hope you’re having a great weekend!

In today’s in-case-you-missed-it edition: I-25 express lane tolling, St. Paddy’s with a Celtic trio, and new Filipino boba spot + the top stories from this week & a sneak peek at next week.

From today’s sponsor, FinanceBuzz: Many Colorado drivers end up paying higher auto insurance premiums because they don’t shop around enough. The same driver with the same car can get wildly different quotes from different insurers, so it truly pays to compare. Their free tool makes it easy.*

📰 Most-clicked stories this week

What drivers should know: North I-25 express lane tolling between Fort Collins and Berthoud will begin April 7, with time-of-day pricing and higher rates without a transponder to repay the $900 million project — see how pricing will work.

Long-term reliability upgrade underway: Fort Collins’ Power Trail is closed for several weeks in March between Harmony Road and Prospect Street as crews install fiber. Expect heavy equipment, flaggers, and detours — get all the details.

Sweet sips meet savory bites: Marcuz Boba recently opened in Fort Collins, serving Filipino favorites alongside boba tea. The spot features a three-story space, adding a new hangout for local food lovers — read the full story.

Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*

Gold & silver are hot: Last year was gold’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150%… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. Curious about precious metal investing? GoldCo has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.*

All the crowd favorites:

• Celtic trio rocks Breckenridge Brewery
• Sculpt bird feeders or your own creation
• Combat Japanese beetles and ash borers

💎 This week’s top finds

Craving cozy pho? When the chill sets in or you need a dependable reset, Young’s Cafe delivers soothing, brothy pho, easy rice paper wraps, and vermicelli bowls piled with fresh herbs and crunch. It’s the place you remember midweek, and you’ll be glad you actually went.

Time to feed the stash: The Fig Leaf is a Fort Collins classic for fabric, quilt kits, and notions galore, plus a 2026 class lineup (think mastery sessions, Open Sew, and a mystery quilt) to jumpstart your sewjo. Consider this your nudge to turn that UFO into an actual ta-da.

Old Town breakfast upgrade: Silver Grill Cafe channels cozy, locals-know-the-servers energy, plus the cinnamon rolls Fort Collins swears by. Around since 1933, it delivers classic diner comfort with crispy hashbrowns, big mugs of coffee, and a side of history. When breakfast calls, this Old Town staple answers with an easy yes.

These aren’t ads or sponsored placements — they’re the local spots your fellow readers clicked on most this week.

🫶 We got your back

Your data is for sale right now: There are over 400 websites selling your info to marketers, political campaigns, and scammers. They’ve got your phone number, home address, relatives’ names… you name it. That’s how robocallers seem to know everything about you before you pick up. You can remove your info one site at a time, or pay a service to do it for you. Here’s what we recommend →

Why your last diet didn’t work: Sustained weight loss is nearly impossible with diet alone. Your body literally fights back by making you hungrier the moment you start restricting calories. That’s why more doctors are recommending GLP-1s. The best part? Getting them has never been easier. We compared three programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

Paying full price is officially optional: Blu Dot just marked down dozens of their best sofas, beds, dining tables, outdoor pieces, and lighting by as much as 60%. Not because something’s wrong with them, but because every great design eventually has to make room for the next one. The deals change daily, so it’s always a new adventure. *See what’s on sale today →

Most people have no idea what’s happening inside their body: Not because the data doesn’t exist, but because no one’s collecting it. Routine annual checkups miss things like body composition, biological age, and the biomarkers that can help predict long-term patterns. The good news? HumeHealth offers tools to help you track all of that at home for less than the cost of a specialist visit. *Use code NEW20 to save 20% →

Something in your house is about to break: It might be your AC, your water heater, your fridge… doesn’t matter. Every major appliance has an expiration date, and when it goes, you’ll be staring down a repair bill that can climb into the thousands fast. An AHS home warranty covers these types of surprises + *select plans are $150 off right now →

📆 Sneak peek at next week

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🎨 Spring Break Painting Lab: Paint a Panda Tote @ Blue Moose Art Gallery | Tuesday (3/17) at 1:00 PM – Bring the crew for a Spring Break painting lab where ages 5+ paint a panda on a cotton tote, no experience required. Go guided or freestyle, leave with a tote you will actually carry. All supplies included, parents and grandparents welcome, and wear painting clothes.

☘ St. Paddy’s @ Breckenridge Brewery | Tuesday (3/17) at 7:00 PM – St. Paddy’s at Breckenridge Brewery Fort Collins gets the real treatment with Once Upon a Tune, the Mulligan’s-honed Celtic trio. Fiddle, guitar, and bodhran may nudge you into a jig, an Irish waltz, or just a pint sway. Authentic tunes, neighborly vibes, minimal leprechaun nonsense.

🍴 Fort Collins Foodie Walk @ Old Town Square | Friday (3/20) at 5:00 PM – Third Friday means free grazing across Downtown, a self-guided stroll where Fort Collins’ culinary shops ply you with seasonal samples, oddball pairings, and local goodness. It’s cardio with snacks, a little education, and zero reservations. Bring curiosity, stretchy waistbands, and a patient plus-one.

🧘 Spring Equinox Cosmic Yoga @ Yoga Pod Fort Collins | Friday (3/20) at 7:00 PM – Spring Equinox vibes are landing at Yoga Pod, with Joy Childress guiding a burn ceremony, an all-levels yoga flow, and a crystal bowl sound bath. Think spring cleaning for your nervous system, legally setting baggage on fire, and leaving balanced, unclenched, and smugly serene.

🐝 Adventure in Beekeeping 101: Beginners Class @ Copoco’s Honey | Saturday (3/21) at 9:00 AM – Swap yard work for Beekeeping 101, a dive with a morning workshop and an afternoon nosing around the hives out back. Small class, a book included, real suits, not the boardroom kind, and a partner discount with code 20%offtwo; weather might juggle the apiary visit.

🥚 Easter Egg Hunt @ Front Range Community College – Larimer Campus | Saturday (3/21) at 12:00 PM – Front Range Community College turns into a kid-powered treasure hunt with thousands of eggs and golden egg prizes. It’s free, but you must register and show the confirmation, then let the little ones sprint for glory while you supervise, coffee in hand. Bring a basket.

🐞 Managing Japanese Beetles & Emerald Ash Borers Class @ Bath Garden Center and Nursery | Saturday (3/21) at 1:00 PM – Consider this garden group therapy for anyone whose roses and ash trees keep getting chewed. Learn to identify Japanese beetles and emerald ash borers, choose proven controls, and time your moves, saving your yard, your wallet, and your sanity.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Fort Collins report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 35°F – Low: 15°F – Precip: 19%

Patchy blowing dust and a slight chance of snow. Mostly sunny, with a high near 35. North northwest wind 21 to 28 mph, with gusts as high as 46 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 15. East wind 3 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 53°F – Low: 35°F – Precip: 0%

Partly sunny, with a high near 53. South southwest wind 3 to 12 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35.

Most popular house this week

Set inside gated Hidden Valley Estates near Devil’s Backbone, this custom retreat captures panoramic views of Mount Meeker and Longs Peak. A 23-foot great room highlights Wyoming snow fence accents and rough-sawn beams. Highlights include a main level suite with spa 5-piece bath, a walkout basement with kitchen, and 3,809 square feet of garages for ten cars plus an RV.

Take a peek inside →