Good morning, Fort Collins! In today’s edition: Alex Cuba, a blood moon, Kinky Boots, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Fresh sounds take center stage: The Local 303 features Colorado artists for January 2026, including Andy Frasco & the U.N., Tammy Ealom, and Bitchflower, plus new projects Espiaille and Lulu Benning from Colorado Springs — get meetup details and artists.

Craftsmanship meets comfort: Forma Furniture is showcasing the makers behind its sustainable modern collection at showrooms in Fort Collins, Boulder, and Denver, featuring names like Stressless, Copeland, and Skovby for design lovers — explore the featured brands.

High-elevation advantage for viewers: Colorado skies will host a March blood moon, with prime viewing expected across cities including Fort Collins, Denver, and Colorado Springs. A second lunar eclipse is expected later this year — check visibility across Colorado cities.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per 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.

Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since this month last year. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.

*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!

Highlights this week:

• Explore estate planning with Attorney Karen Fischer
• Make monster clay pinch pots
• Find your community in Northern Colorado
• Stuffy sleepover fundraiser for Polaris Media Center
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%
• A home warranty that actually pays is 50% off

🫶 We got your back

Project timeline in flux: Tolls for the North I-25 Express Lanes have been delayed again. The 19-mile stretch between Fort Collins and Berthoud will continue operating without tolls for now. The project remains controversial, and officials have not moved forward as planned. Read the full story.

Warm up your nest: If your countertops and coffee table need a glow-up, The Cupboard is a family-run Fort Collins standby stocked with beautiful home décor, reliable kitchen tools, and giftable specialty foods. You might go in for a spatula… and leave with a cozier living room.

Cider break, secured: When beer fatigue hits, Locust Cider – Fort Collins pours rotating hard ciders, with a gluten-free-friendly menu, patio hangs, and retro video games. It’s an easy Old Town reset, cozy enough to thaw January’s chill.

Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now, you’ll get three free gifts, AND you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.

📆 Around town this week

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

This week

🥩 The Pit Master Academy: Beef & Vino Night 2 @ Sweet Heart Winery & Event Center | Tuesday (1/6) at 5:00 PM – Whether you can reverse sear in your sleep or think resting is for you, not the steak, this Beef & Vino night levels you up. Timber & Tallow’s Pit Master Academy covers premium beef cuts, expert technique, and wines that belong. Come hungry, leave smug.

🎸 Alex Cuba and more @ Armory FoCo | Friday (1/9) at 6:00 PM – Consider this your permission slip to feel downright giddy: Alex Cuba brings his Grammy-winning glow, Miguel Aviña in tow, for a night where melancholy takes a backseat to groove. Expect Stevie-level sunshine, Tito-worthy swing, and involuntary la-la-las, no translator required.

🎸 Shovelin Stone with The Unwieldies, Christine Alice @ Aggie Theatre | Friday (1/9) at 8:00 PM – Take a break from the group chat and swing by the Aggie for Shovelin Stone with The Unwieldies, and Christine Alice, a Colorado-rooted, Texas-tinged indie folk romp. Heartfelt lyrics, sharp pickin’, and just enough twang to remind your knees they still work.

This weekend

👢 Kinky Boots @ The Lincoln Center | Saturday (1/10) at 2:00 PM – The boots are back, and Kinky Boots delivers big-hearted Broadway sparkle even your grumpiest uncle will clap for. Expect a Cyndi Lauper score, Harvey Fierstein humor, and high-heeled heart as Charlie and Lola revive a failing shoe factory, and you’ll strut out humming.

🕵 The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show @ Fort Collins Marriott | Saturday (1/10) at 6:00 PM – Skip the crime podcasts and let FoCo feed you clues. This interactive murder mystery plops suspects at your table, so you can play detective between courses, trade theories with your neighbors, and enjoy big laughs, solid alibis, and a surprisingly good meal.

🖼 Framed Moss Class @ Bath Garden Center & Nursery | Sunday (1/11) at 12:00 PM – Make a framed preserved moss piece at Bath Garden Center, beginner-friendly, zero watering. Winter cabin fever calls for something greener, and quieter, than shoveling, so play with textures, arrange your moss, and head home with a calm little artwork, not another houseplant to babysit.

👭 Women’s Wisdom Well Social @ Rocky Mountain Restore & Stretch LLC | Sunday (1/11) at 12:00 PM – Ready to trade small talk for real talk by Horsetooth? This women’s social at the Golden House is part circle, part sanity check, all heart, with stories shared, wisdom swapped, and that lake-breeze calm we forget to schedule. Bring your voice, leave a little lighter.

Live music & entertainment:

• 1/7 FoCo Dead Nights @ Salt Road Brewing – 6:30 PM
• 1/8 Friendly Reminders with Poudre Valley Playboys, Nolen & Friends @ Aggie Theatre – 8:00 PM
• 1/9 Alex Cuba and more @ Armory FoCo – 6:00 PM
• 1/9 Partialist and more @ Scrumpy’s Hard Cider Bar and Pub – 8:00 PM
• 1/10 Ich geh und suche mit Verlangen, BWV 49 @ Plymouth Congregational Church, UCC – 6:00 PM
• 1/10 Frogboat and more @ Avogadro’s Number – 8:00 PM
• 1/13 An Evening with Leftover Salmon @ Washington’s FoCo – 7:00 PM
• 1/18 Gabriel Mervine Trio @ Magic Rat Live Music – 4:00 PM
• 1/18 Candlelight: Queen vs. ABBA @ The Lyric – 8:30 PM
• 1/24 Grand FoCo Opry @ The Lincoln Center – 7:00 PM

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Fort Collins report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 56°F – Low: 27°F – Precip: 2%

Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. West wind 10 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27.

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Tomorrow – High: 53°F – Low: 23°F – Precip: 7%

Partly sunny, with a high near 53. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23.

This house is wild

Set in a small-acreage enclave, this 4-bed, 5-bath ranch pairs easy flow with Colorado comfort. Sunlight fills an open plan anchored by a fireplace. The kitchen brings expansive counters and a center island with prep sink. Formal dining and a main-floor study add flexibility. The primary suite catches the morning light and includes a five-piece bath and a generous walk-in closet.

The walkout basement adds two oversized bedrooms, a huge family room, a wet bar, and a movie room. A deck off the kitchen looks across 2.8 acres that back to open space. A 1,188 square foot detached garage and shop includes its own bathroom.

Take a peek inside →