Hi Fort Collins, we made it to Thursday! In today’s fun-for-grown-ups edition: Secret stand-up show, Drag Brunch, and city council ending license-plate surveillance + plenty of reasons to put on real pants this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's $150 off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Policy shift after public pressure: Fort Collins City Council voted to end its Flock Safety contract, stopping license-plate data collection immediately. Cameras to be removed soon, with bids paused until a surveillance policy is adopted -- see the council vote.
Changing culinary landscape: Fort Collins said goodbye to Inca Mexican Restaurant, while two new food and drink spots are coming soon, marking more shifts in June for the city’s dining scene -- explore June dining changes.
A new chapter downtown: Local Motive Appliance, a mom-and-pop repair shop, is moving into downtown Loveland’s former J. Day’s Appliance space, continuing the family-owned tradition with reliable brands and a name inspired by railroads -- meet the new appliance shop.
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half — this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial walk-in-the-door fee to x-rays, surgery, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could save thousands on your next vet bill with Lemonade*. Highlights this week: |
02 — From our sponsor This summer, what if you didn't have to point at the menu?Not "menu Spanish." Not pointing at the photo and hoping. Ordering dinner like a local, talking the vendor down at the market, catching the punchline before anyone explains it. Babbel gets you there in ten minutes a day. Most people are holding real conversations within three weeks, because every lesson is built by 200+ language experts to get you talking early, not drilling flashcards you'll forget by lunch. And it works: 92% of users improved their proficiency in just two months, with 25 million subscriptions sold. Then there's the part that makes it a no-brainer. You pay once. A single lifetime subscription unlocks all 14 languages Babbel teaches, for every trip you'll ever take, with no monthly fee and no renewal quietly hitting your card next year. Get Babbel for 55% off through the end of June.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Need a little color?: Blue Moose Art Gallery is the kind of local gem you stroll through and accidentally find the exact thing your living room, best friend, or mildly neglected desk plant has been missing. Swing by this week, take a slow lap, and let something one-of-a-kind pick you.
Catch a local show: FCHS Performing Arts Center keeps Fort Collins’ stage life humming with student-led theatre, concerts, and the occasional district-wide summer musical, all backed by serious talent and heart. Pick a night this week, grab a friend, and remember why live performance beats another scroll session.
Pie solves everything: Sunny Sky Pies is cranking out handmade beauties with all-butter crusts, locally sourced fruit, and a few allergy-friendly twists, so you can be the hero at dinner, book club, or that “oops, forgot dessert” moment.
|
04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
A blown engine can cost more than your car is worth: And it almost never warns you. One day it runs fine, the next you're staring at a $7,000 repair on a car you still rely on every morning. That's the kind of bill an extended warranty exists to absorb, the engine, transmission, and electrical failures that wreck a budget overnight. You bring it to any certified mechanic, pay a deductible, and the rest is handled. Enjoy a free year of Elite Benefits and a 30-day money-back guarantee on top. *See everything it covers →
You may be eligible to save thousands on credit card interest: If you're carrying a credit card balance, interest alone can cost you thousands. With 0% intro APR until 2028 and no annual fee, this card could provide you with a path to being debt free for nearly two years. *See if it's a fit →
What's the easiest heart-healthy habit there is? A daily walk, no gym, no equipment, no complicated plan. Regular walking is one of the simplest ways to support your heart and circulation, and a structured challenge gets you doing it often enough to feel the difference. A few weeks in, you've done something real for your heart without rearranging your life to do it. *Start the challenge →
Premiums are up roughly 46% since 2021: Home insurance has outpaced inflation for years, and renewals rarely move in your favor. Rather than take the new number on faith, FinanceBuzz lets you match your home with top-rated insurers and compare quotes side by side — free, in about two minutes. Even if you decide to stay put, you'll know you checked. *See your options →
Summer just went on sale at CVS: The seasonal shop is stocked with sun care, beach chairs, coolers, fans, pool toys, and snacks — hundreds of items under $10, with 25 summer staples at buy one, get one 50% off. Sun Bum and Hawaiian Tropic sunscreen are marked down with ExtraBucks back, and the soda 12-packs are buy two, get one free. Pick it up in store, get it same-day, or have it shipped. *Shop the summer sale → |
Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
|
05 — The event calendar Fort Collins for grown upsThe best events and nightlife experiences for adults this week. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🎨 Art on Tap! @ Stodgy Brewing Co | Thursday (6/18) at 6:30 PM – Feel like flexing your creative muscles without the art school critique? Stodgy Brewing hosts a guided paint night, first pint included, with local artists steering every stroke, no experience required. You leave with a canvas, a buzz, and bragging rights for the fridge.
😂 Don't Tell Comedy @ The Comedy Fort | Friday (6/19) at 8:00 PM – Skip the same-old Old Town loop and slip into a secret stand-up show at a local bar, with the address revealed day of like a cryptic pin drop. Smart comics, proper pours, and snacks you won’t share. 21+, obviously.
🧘 Summer Solstice Yoga Workshop & Herbal Tea Ceremony @ Primrose Studios | Saturday (6/20) at 8:30 AM – Celebrate the summer solstice with grounding breathwork, a slow, fluid yoga flow, guided journaling, and a seasonal herbal tea ceremony. Less hustle, more grown-up exhale, where you open up, invite what’s flourishing, and give the longest day something better than yard work.
💃 Drag Brunch @ The Lyric | Saturday (6/20) at 11:00 AM – Take a break from errands and slide into Drag Brunch with Krisa Gonna at The Lyric Lobby. Ten bucks gets you the show, food sold separately, all ages welcome. Expect laughs, bigger lashes, and the kind of Sunday sass worth putting on pants for.
🌈 Fort Collins Pride Bar Crawl @ The Yeti Bar and Grill | Saturday (6/20) at 4:00 PM – If you’ve been waiting for a reason to trade yard work for rainbow confetti, the Official Fort Collins Pride Bar Crawl is it. Wander Old Town’s best bars, toast love and neighbors, and prove you can pace yourself, sip well, and dance a little.
🎷 An Evening of Swing @ Old Town Churn | Saturday (6/20) at 6:30 PM – Whether you still remember the Lindy or just fake it with confidence, swing back into Saturday nights all summer at The Exchange with a quick lesson, live music from the Julie Koenig Trio, and scoops from Old Town Churn. Family-friendly, no partner required, unapologetically fun.
🥃 Balvenie Pairing @ William Oliver's Publick House | Monday (6/22) at 6:00 PM – An evening of The Balvenie tastings with curated small bites, the kind of grown-up fun where you can debate sherry versus bourbon casks, then actually taste the difference. Fort Collins charm, easy conversation, and zero gimmicks, just excellent whisky and bites that keep up. Live music & entertainment:
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor In case you missed itWe opened The Insiders’ Club last week and hundreds of folks have already joined (seriously… can’t thank you enough!!). For a few bucks a month, The Club gives you every newsletter ad-free on your schedule, plus members-only updates to help you stay connected to your community. The Weekly Events Roundup is my favorite feature. You get one email a week with all the best events and nothing else cluttering it up. Want only that? Skip the daily emails and turn the rest off. Join the club → |
07 — The Fort Collins report Weather forecastToday — High: 84°F — Low: 56°F — Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 84. East southeast wind 6 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 16 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 56. Northeast wind 3 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 90°F — Low: 59°F — Precip: 1%
Sunny, with a high near 90. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. This house is wildThis South Fort Collins standout sits on coveted Rookery Road, where fewer than 48 homes share the street. Nearly 4,000 square feet bring six bedrooms, six baths, a main-level guest suite, and a finished basement. A remodeled quartz kitchen, stately exterior, oversized three-car garage, and covered patio with built-in outdoor kitchen round out the charm.
Take a peek inside → |
| |
