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Hi Fort Collins, hope you’re having a great weekend!
In today’s in-case-you-missed-it edition: Three Dragon Thai opens, IKEA small-format store planned, and I-25 express lane tolls start + the top stories from this week & a sneak peek at next week.
Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Fort Collins protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.
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📰 Most-clicked stories this week
Vibrant flavors and atmosphere: Three Dragon Thai opened Feb. 23 in Fort Collins. A first look shows the space and highlights what the new spot is serving to hungry locals — see the space and menu.
What drivers need to know: I-25 North express lanes serving Fort Collins commuters will begin tolling April 7 after a test period, with variable pricing and carpools of three or more using HOV transponders exempt — see how the tolls work.
Strategy shift fuels growth: IKEA is planning a 64,000-square-foot small-format store in Fort Collins, which would be the brand’s first in Northern Colorado, aiming for easier access and proximity to customers over warehouse-style destinations — learn about the expansion strategy.
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.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
All the crowd favorites:
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🏆 Gold and silver are heating up
Together with our sponsor American Hartford Gold
Gold just posted its strongest run in decades… and the momentum is carrying into 2026. Silver has become one of the most talked-about assets as investors look for ways to stay ahead of market volatility.
While many are still sitting on the sidelines, others are quietly repositioning.
If you’re wondering whether you’re missing something, AHG has a free guide explaining what’s driving the renewed interest… and how investors are approaching precious metals right now.
It’s free and worth reading before the next move.
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🫶 This week’s top finds
Twirl-worthy pasta night: Craving a proper carb hug? RARE Italian delivers with pappardelle al ragù, silky carbonara, and a playful seasonal lineup that keeps things fresh. Ideal for a midweek boost or a low-key date where the pasta does the flirting, and you just enjoy the twirl.
Tapas night, sorted: Shareable plates, a legit wine list, and that cozy linger-for-one-more-bite vibe await at Door 222 Food & Drink. Mix a couple go-to favorites with something bold, sip well, and call it a midweek win you didn’t have to cook.
Brows that stick (nicely): MR NaturaLines Permanent Makeup & Training in Fort Collins crafts natural-looking, low-fuss brows with digital microblading and ombré shading, so you can sip coffee and actually get out the door. Wake up with arches that behave… and a routine that finally keeps up.
Thinning hair? It only gets worse: A few months ago, I noticed my ponytail getting thinner. I tried the usual stuff (biotin, shampoo, etc.) but mostly just hoped it would fix itself… until I learned that active follicles can permanently go dormant if you don’t do something about it. The good news? You can get treatment that actually works with no office visits or trips to the pharmacy. Learn more about my favorite online options here.
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📆 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.
🍽 Great Plates of Downtown @ Downtown Fort Collins | Monday (3/9) at 8:00 AM – Think you know downtown’s best bites? Back for year 21, Great Plates brings two weeks of specials at 49 spots, $15, $25, $35, or $45. Eat like a regular, and call it community service with silverware since donations support the Food Bank for Larimer County.
🎗 Pint Night, Silent Auction & Fun Run @ Verboten North Brewpub | Tuesday (3/10) at 5:30 PM – Beer now, run later, and feel wildly virtuous. Verboten North Brewpub is throwing a pint night, silent auction, and casual run to benefit The Matthews House, with optional sauna and cold plunge, which around here counts as church for runners.
🍀 Sharin’ O’ The Green @ Washington Park | Saturday (3/14) at 9:00 AM – Trade your usual Saturday errands for a St. Patrick’s Day 5k through downtown, starting at Washington Park and mercifully finishing at Odell. Run or walk, feel virtuous supporting Partners Mentoring Youth, then reward yourself with the beer garden, live music, food, vendors, giveaways, and swag.
🥕 Blue Moose @ Foothills Mall | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – Skip pretending you love kale samples and swing by the Foothills Mall Winter Farmer’s Market for a monthly, free make-and-take with Deb Tewell. Wet felted beads, hands-on demos, chatty gallery folks, and zero pressure to buy anything, just cozy, creative fun.
🐾 Adoption Event @ PetSmart Fort Collins | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – Every Saturday in March, Animal Friends Alliance turns the PetSmart on South College into a cuddle gauntlet of adoptable pups and kittens. Get pre-approved if you want first dibs that first hour, otherwise wander in late morning, meet the candidates, pretend you resisted.
🧚 Fairy Gardening Class @ Bath Garden Center & Nursery | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – Play in the dirt like a kid, minus the backache, at a beginner-friendly Fairy Gardening Class at Bath Garden Center & Nursery on Prospect. They supply the container, soil, plants, and decor, and you bring curiosity, reading glasses, and $50. Seats vanish, so register early.
🌿 Forest Apothecary @ Golden Poppy Herbal Apothecary | Sunday (3/15) at 10:00 AM – Kat Mackinnon is leading a forest walk to help you identify and safely harvest over 10 medicinal trees and shrubs, with tastings, samples, and medicine-making from teas to salves. Leave with three wildcrafted herbs, and the smug joy of knowing your backyard. Pre-register online: https://goldenpoppyherbs.as.me/Forest-Apothecary
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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🔥 Worth a peek
We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.
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📻 Fort Collins report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 67°F – Low: 34°F – Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 67. Southwest wind 3 to 8 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 34. Northwest wind 6 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 69°F – Low: 34°F – Precip: 0%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. West southwest wind 6 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34.
Someone Googled you this week 👀
It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but unfortunately It’s the new normal. Whether you’re joining a committee, selling something locally, dating again, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up online.
Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.
Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you – or someone you care about – to clean up outdated results that no longer tell the real story. Learn more here.
Most popular house this week
Designed by Montezuma Fuller, this 5-bed, 6-bath Old Town estate pairs historic elegance with rare versatility. Every bedroom is ensuite, two are primary suites. A Carriage House ADU with kitchen and laundry carries a transferable Primary STR license. Highlights include 7+ office-ready rooms, a butler’s pantry, a solarium mural, three fireplaces, two patios, porches, balcony, and a Class 4 roof.
Take a peek inside →
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