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Rise and shine, Fort Collins!
Before we get into today’s email… I’m excited to share that we quietly launched BaseLocal Business last week, and 400+ businesses have already signed up 🥹 If you own or manage a local business and want to see what the platform’s all about, you can sign up for free in less than five minutes (if you haven’t already).
We launched the platform to make it easier for the community to connect with local businesses in a meaningful way that benefits everyone… and so far it’s going great.
So I just wanted to say THANK YOU to each and every one of you for being here and helping us make this newsletter better every day.
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Fresh leadership for local staple: Connecting Signs, a 14-year-old Fort Collins sign company, has been acquired by Severance couple Scott and Jamie Howell. Founders Bruce and Brooke Gardner say they’re confident in the company’s future — see who’s taking over.
Western thrills and tunes: PBR will return to Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins this year for three nights, featuring Miranda Lambert, Bailey Zimmerman, and the Last Cowboy Standing event with 35 top bull riders — get all the details.
Eco-friendly billing initiative: Larimer County Treasurer Irene Josey is urging property owners in Fort Collins to enroll in eNotices, getting tax statements electronically to reduce paper waste from nearly 90,000 mailings each year — get all the details.
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.
Gold & silver are hot: Gold just had its best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150% in 2025… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. If you’re curious about adding precious metals to your portfolio as a market hedge, American Hartford has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.
*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:
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🫶 We got your back
Playful dining adventure awaits: Captain Hook Seafood brings a playful twist to Fort Collins with a full pirate ship inside the dining room. The locally owned spot highlights seafood boils and quirky nautical decor. A fun pick for families and anyone craving a casual seafood fix close to home. Read the full story.
Low-maintenance lash magic: Whether you’re retiring the mascara wand or want extra flutter, Lush Lash and Skin Studio delivers thoughtful lash extensions, lifts, and tints with a calm, one-artist vibe. They also shape brows and treat skin, so you can snag a glow-up in one stop.
Find a standout topper: Need a hat with real character and a backstory? In Old Town, Wear It Again, Sam stocks vintage clothing and accessories from the late 1800s to the 1990s, with fresh consignments rolling in, so you can snag a topper that instantly sharpens your everyday look.
A new haircare solution: My hair’s been thinning and I’ve been quietly ignoring it, hoping it’ll fix itself. Plot twist… it hasn’t. When I finally started looking into what I should do, there were so many options I didn’t know where to start. I stumbled on Keranique, and its simplicity really sold me. One kit, no pills, no choosing products, and no confusion whatsoever. It’s also on sale with a money-back guarantee (although I doubt you’ll need it).
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.
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📆 Around town this 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.
🔭 Stargazing Fundamentals @ Konstruct Brewing | Monday (1/19) at 6:00 PM – Trade scrolling for stargazing at Konstruct Brewing, where a pint pairs with a guided tour of the night sky. Patrick points out constellations, planets, and the stuff that’s definitely not a satellite. Low-key, local, and surprisingly romantic, even on a Monday.
🕯 Make Your Own Candle @ Glow Candle Company | Tuesday (1/20) at 4:00 PM – Glow Candle is hosting a small-batch class where we pour signature scents for $29, max 10, refills run $16. Venmo to claim a spot. Then we drift to Rare Italian for happy hour dinner, and I’ll book the res once we have a headcount.
🚲 2026 Holiday Light Ride @ Downtown Fort Collins | Tuesday (1/20) at 5:00 PM – If your tree is down but you’re not done with twinkle season, hop on a cozy carriage through twinkle lights, Old Town glow, and that satisfying clip-clop. Weather gets spicy now, so they’ll pause for safety when needed, then get you rebooked, no drama.
🌳 Bonsai Class @ Breckenridge Brewery | Wednesday (1/21) at 5:30 PM – Trade your houseplants’ midlife crisis for a tiny tree you actually get to shape. Breckenridge Brewery hosts a bonsai class with your own tree and pot, expert tips on wiring and care, plus a beer or seltzer included. All levels welcome, $60, Fort Collins.
🧀 Mac N’ Cheese Melt Off @ Desk Chair Workspace | Thursday (1/22) at 6:00 PM – Think you can tell a smoky gouda from a cheddar blindfolded? Downtown turns into a bubbling battlefield as local cooks throw down mac n’ cheese creations paired with craft beers, and you get to judge, sip, and claim bragging rights. Elastic waistbands recommended.
🎬 Pieowa Screening and Q&A @ The Lyric | Friday (1/23) at 7:00 PM – National Pie Day at The Lyric means one thing, carbs with culture. PIEOWA screens a charming love letter to America’s pie obsession, with cameos from NPR types and church ladies, a post-film Q&A with the filmmaker, and yes, actual slices served.
🌙 National Geographic Live: Earth After Dark @ The Lincoln Center | Friday (1/23) at 7:30 PM – Trade your evening scroll for National Geographic Live, where Explorers share stories of nocturnal wildlife and the cosmos, with photographer Babak Tafreshi’s unreal night-sky imagery. Think Milky Way, creatures that clock in after sunset, and goosebumps, minus camping. Captioning provided, because even stars deserve subtitles.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Fort Collins report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 42°F – Low: 18°F – Precip: 11%
Mostly sunny. High near 42, with temperatures falling to around 38 in the afternoon. South wind 2 to 7 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 18. West wind 5 to 8 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 52°F – Low: 17°F – Precip: 4%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. West northwest wind 7 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 17. West northwest wind 6 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
This house is wild
On an oversized lot at the end of a quiet South Fort Collins cul-de-sac, this two-story backs to a greenbelt and the Power Trail for privacy and path access. An open main level links kitchen, dining, and living, while the kitchen brings stainless appliances, granite counters, a center island, and a pantry. A front bonus room flexes as an office or den.
Upstairs adds four bedrooms and a loft, plus a primary suite with ensuite bath and walk-in closet. The yard and covered patio capture Rocky Mountain and Southridge Golf Course views, with xeriscape, a dog run, a three-car garage, and a future park at the start of the street.
Take a peek inside →
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Thanks for reading! If you know someone who’d love BaseLocal, send ’em here so they can sign up too 🙂
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