Romance in Fort Collins: Ice Skating

Okay, so we aren’t in Canada, but with the cold nights, inevitable snow and impressive Colorado Avalanche hockey team, why not give ice skating a try? Grab a date, lace up those old hockey/figure skates and head over to Old Town Square for a night of romantic wonder.

That’s right—Old Town Square is set to open the annual outdoor ice skating rink Saturday, November 17. A perfect addition to a romantic evening out on the town, the ice skating rink offers couples and families yet another fun and romantic activity to enjoy in Old Town.

Whether it is Phil Connors and Rita from Groundhog Day, or Coach Bombay and Charlie Conway’s mom, Casey from The Mighty Ducks, a romantic outdoor ice-skating sessions has served the meaningful purpose of igniting a passion between two unlikely individuals.

In light of this, I encourage you to grab your loved one, bundle up and head over to Old Town Square for some good-old fashion romance.

Hours of Operation:

OLD TOWN ICE RINK 2007 - 2008

November 17 – December 20
Monday – Thursday: 4:00 PM – 8: 00 PM
Friday: 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sunday: Noon – 6:00 PM

Special Hours:
Wednesday November 21: Noon – 8:00 PM;
Closed on November 22 for Thanksgiving
Friday November 23: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Monday November 26: Noon – 8:00 PM

December 21 – January 6
Monday – Saturday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sunday: Noon – 6:00 PM

Special Hours:
December 24: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Closed on December 25
December 31: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Closed on January 1

January 7 – January 31
Friday: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Special Hours:
January 21: Noon - 6:00 PM

Skating Rink is located on the north end of Old Town Square.

Cost: Skating $2 / skate rental $1

Old Town dresses up in Christmas cheer, romance

The Christmas season is the perfect time to give a gift, sing a cheerful carol and enjoy an odd yet surprisingly delicious Nogasake—a Christmas concoction composed of three parts sake and one-part eggnog.

But beyond gifts, seasonal songs and crazy Christmas cocktails, this rapidly approaching holiday season—perhaps excessively fast thanks to corporate America—provides the right mix of cheer and tradition for love to flourish. In fact, Christmas is the perfect time for spouses and partners to retrieve that little box labeled “romantic tricks,” wipe off the dust that has accumulated over the year(s), and stir up something special for that special someone.

If you’re scratching your head wondering where exactly that specific box hides, worry no longer! I have compiled a perfect package of fun and romance in Fort Collins for you and your spouse to
enjoy. Stay tuned as I reveal ten romantic Christmas time activities in Fort Collins!

Let's go tubing!

When the days begin to shorten and the weather begins to plummet beneath room temperature, I like to close my eyes and think of the glory days of summer. I reminisce of t-shirts, sandals and music that makes you happy to be young. I picture road trips, fireworks and everything else that makes summer far better than this cold, pathetic time of the year.

As I daydream of summer time, I am captivated by memories of my favorite warm weather activity in Fort Collins: going tubing down the Cache la Poudre river. The Poudre, as it’s called for short, is a tranquil place with bits of excitement intertwined between sequences of thrilling rapids.

For fun-craving tubers, the best time of year to take advantage of the Poudre’s natural environment is early summer when the temperature is warm enough to ward away the shivers and the water level is still high.

The drive itself makes up half the thrill of going tubing. The Poudre begins high in the peaks of Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park along the Continental Divide. Flowing north and east through Roosevelt National Forest, it tumbles down the slopes of the Front Range and meanders through the city of Fort Collins. Highway 14, which follows much of the river, reveals the rich scenery, history, archeology, flora and fauna of the Poudre River.

So as you shiver through the winter, feel free to share in my warming daydreams of tubing down the Poudre.

Comedy Group Brings laughs, smiles to Fort Collins

At one time, the Clown Box improv group was a once-a-month hobby that brought four individuals together in a small auditorium in front of a handful of skeptical audience members. They would play a few games, sing some songs and would always seem to pull a respectable amount of laughs from the small audience that sat before them.

That was eleven years ago, though. The group has grown now to four shows a month on average at much larger venues. More than a hundred audience members of all ages show up to see the growing improv group and although much has changed, the clowns stick tight to their original purpose: to have fun while making people laugh.

Improv, short for improvisational, is a type of comedy act that is performed with little to no predetermination of subject matter and structure. Improv comedy relies heavily on audience participation and the quick, clever thinking of the cast. Prime examples of this kind of comedy can be seen on the television show Whose Line Is It Anyway?.

Grant Garrison, 25, has been with the group since its beginning and feels strongly about the role Clown box plays in his life.

“(Clown Box) is the best thing that has happened to me since I won my fifth grade the talent show for singing ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’ while standing on my head,” Garrison said. “Knowing that what we do makes people laugh is enough to make me all warm and fuzzy inside.”

The group now performs predominantly at the Lincoln Center and the Bas Bleu Theatre, both located in Fort Collins. In the past, the group has had the opportunity to perform at CSU Preview—an orientation event held for all in-coming CSU freshman and transfer students.

The Clown Box’s next show is scheduled on Thursday, November 15 at the Lincoln Center. Tickets are $7 available on their website at www.clownbox.com.

“If you’ve never seen an improv show you owe it to yourself to check us out,” Garrison said. “Grab a date, a roommate, the janitor in your dorm—it doesn’t matter, just bring a friend and come check us out. It will be worth it.”

Rest in Peace Sally Baker

On October 9, 2007 Sally Baker spilled her heart to three college students, myself included. She shared the struggle and battle that was her life. As a homeless person living in Fort Collins, Sally scraped the streets everyday just to get by—just to find food and shelter.

Unfortunately, the wounds of the streets proved too much for Sally. Just 24 hours after we met with her, she suffered cardiac arrest and spent nine days on life support. She never did regain consciousness. On October 19, 2007, Sally Baker was pronounced dead at the young age of 46.
Although the time I knew Sally was short, it was very sincere and profound. Before I spoke with her, I knew nothing of her struggle. She opened my eyes to a world begging for attention and help.

As the winter rapidly approached, Sally feared her first wintry, cold nights. Fortunately, Sally won’t have to shiver through another night. She won’t have to go to bed starving, wondering how many more days she will have to go before she gets a meal. Fortunately, the struggle is over.

Lory Brown, Sally’s sister, was with her when she passed.

“We are sad that she is no longer with us on this earth, but we know that she will no longer suffer,” Brown said.

To read Sally's story and learn more about homelessness in Fort Collins, visit fortcollinshomeless.blogspot.com

Homelessness in Fort Collins

I recently had the opportunity to explore the issue of homelessness in Fort Collins. I sat down and listened to the stories and struggles of three homeless people. On several occasions tears would fill the eyes of these individuals as they described the hardships they face on a daily basis.

In the few hours I spent with each one of them, their lives impacted me greatly.

For the first time I was able to hear why and how these individuals became homeless. They showed me their scars and described how the cold nights and scarcity of food had attacked their immune system. I saw the shanty, cardboard hideaways that many call home.

An epileptic man named Tony “Too Tall” Neighbors had me shed tears as he held my hand in the painful presence of a silencing seizure. He clinched his eyes tight and for 30 seconds his body trembled—no noise, just an occasional wince.

As his body returned to a normal state he looked at me, and with tears running down his face he said, “See, just like that. Sometimes I can’t even sleep because I start twitching.”

This experience put a face on the issue of homelessness for me. Spending time to talk with these individuals gave me glimpse into the harsh environments that they are forced to live in.

To learn more about the issue of homelessness in Fort Collins and read the profiles of Tony “Too Tall” Neighbors and others like him, check out fortcollinshomeless.blogspot.com

Fall in Fort Collins: manageable

There comes a time when the air tends to cool down. When the days shorten and the tips of mountains are painted with the falling of snow. This time of year is highlighted with brightly colored leaves and football weekends full of big hits and upsets.

I, personally, hate this season. I associate it with stressful workloads and strange weather conditions that have you shivering endlessly while sweat drips down your forehead. Comedian Lewis Black contends that “it’s not weather, it’s malaria.”

I’ve actually had malaria and, frankly, when I have five midterms, a news project, two blogs and 16 pages of a newsletter to design I would much prefer the endless shivering and dangerously high fevers brought on by that infected insect than suffer through the overload of this stressful season.

Of course the dreadful season I’m describing is fall, or autumn if your name is Mary Poppins.
Still, despite my abhorrence for fall, I have accepted that Fort Collins actually is a decent place to be during this sad season. Like the marching band at CSU football games, Fort Collins is the best of a crappy situation.

To pass time, give Horsetooth Reservoir a shot. It truly is amazing how much Horsetooth transforms from summer to fall, and then fall to winter. As the end of the year nears, the reservoir will begin to freeze over, giving the lake a celestial glaze that is truly remarkable. The reservoir is a short 15-minute drive from campus and is a great alternative to a doomed CSU football game.

In a sad, depressing, cold/hot season, Fort Collins’ Horsetooth Reservoir serves as the perfect retreat from the busyness of school and work. Give it a shot!

Round Six: Fort Collins vs. Shaqlawa, Iraq

SHAQLAWA, Iraq—I woke that night to the echoes of an AK-47 and the thunderous blast of a rocket propelled grenade. My father, CEO of an international relief agency and missionary, told me that evening to sleep on the floor, that way I wouldn’t be hit by a stray bullet from the tragic war of hatred outside.

I was only 8 years old at the time and living in northern Iraq had its effects on me. I had several friends and had adapted to the culture with ease. Coming to understand and accept the horrors of war, however, never came easy. Sure, I quickly began to realize that war was bad, but that was simply because when gunshots were going off my parents wouldn’t allow me to play with my friends. Naturally, I developed a hatred for war’s unjust qualities.

As I near my graduation in May 2008, I look back on the difficult circumstances I have faced in my short time here in Fort Collins and chuckle at the simplicity of my college life compared to the adventures of my youth.

Aside from a few stressful final weeks, a slowly dying Minnesota Vikings franchise, and my continual failure at intramural sports, college has been, well, cake. I have yet to sleep on the floor because of bombs blowing up my neighbor’s house.

My electricity is reliable, and the candles in my room are there because I like the smell of French vanilla beans when I study, not because they provide light in case of a power outage.

But these are exceptionally obvious generalizations that Matlock or Columbo would readily throw away. Fort Collins is clearly safer than Iraq when it comes to the threat of war. We obviously have access to better utilities and certain freedoms are inherently protected significantly more.

The point, however, is that despite the fact that Fort Collins would seem to be a clear winner based on all these premises, it actually loses this week’s round! That’s right; Fort Collins loses this week on the basis of “adverse experiences that have caused growth.”

Even though my experience in Iraq featured fearful nights of ringing war, I have discovered that it is through these hard situations that the soul is strengthened, ambition is inspired and success is achieved.

It was once said that, “If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant. And if we did not sometimes taste pain, prosperity would not be so welcoming.”

And so today, I chose the lessons I learned in the midst of war over the years of relative ease in Fort Collins.

Fort Collins vs. Minneapolis, Minn.

Round Five: Rockies vs. Padres

FORT COLLINS, Colo.—At 10:17 p.m. on October 1, 2007, sporadic shouts of celebration flickered through the silence of Morgan Library at Colorado State University when the Colorado Rockies clinched the NL wildcard with the most dramatic comeback yet.

After 162 games, 13 innings and 4 hours and 40 minutes of pure drama, Matt Holliday raced home on Jamey Carroll's shallow sacrifice fly ball, capping a stunning, nearly perfect end to the regular season for the Rockies. The 9-8 win over the San Diego Padres marks Colorado's 14th win in the past 15 games. (Read more about how the NL wildcard was won)

For nearly five hours, online radio coverage of the game streamed through my headphones on the second floor of Morgan Library, peeling me further and further away from my original angle for my “Fort Collins vs. San Diego” blog.

Before the game, I had planned to reminisce about how San Diego had been a playing ground for my young soul to grow and experience several “first time” events. But with the mounting intensity of every extra inning, I began to lose interest in memories of my first full beer.

I had planned to edge out the win to Fort Collins based on the variable “days of sunshine,” where Fort Collins’ 300 sunny days a year overcasts San Diego’s average of 146 days.

However, after such an epic game, I have to give the win for this round to Fort Collins’ bigger brother, Colorado. Way to go Rockies, let’s carry the magic onto Philadelphia!

Official score for round five: 9-8 (Colorado).

A blemish we do not welcome...

I am going to take a break from my “Fort Collins versus…” series and address a topic that has had a fairly large impact on CSU’s campus, Fort Collins as a community and myself.

On Friday, September 21, 2007, CSU’s own daily newspaper Rocky Mountain Collegian published an editorial that took the idea of freedom of speech to a new level. The article read, in sum, “Taser this… F--- BUSH,”spelling out the expletive, along with the explanation, “this column represents the views of the Collegian’s editorial board.”

As soon as I read this article it was clear to me that there would be severe ramification for the Collegian. There have been. Since Friday, the paper has suffered a $30,000 loss in advertisements revenue and in an attempt to level out the budget, editor-in-chief J. David McSwane has cut staff salaries by 10 percent.

Unfortunately, the effects of this childish blemish go beyond the newsroom and the present day. Because of the national coverage that this editorial has received, the university’s image has undoubtedly been tarnished. Parents of high school juniors and seniors are tearing up CSU applications and throwing them in the trash. Alumni who have graciously donated to their alma mater in the past are shaking their heads at this, meanwhile slipping their checkbooks back into storage.

I love Fort Collins and CSU. It's unfortunate that a mindless, immature, self-absorbed statement like this is going to paint our community in negative colors. This statement is unfounded among our people, uncharacteristic of our campus and unwelcome in this community!

When I read the "editorial," I went to a computer immediately and this is what I wrote to editor-in-chief J. David McSwane:

“I truly am ashamed to say I wrote for the Collegian after such a crass, moronic statement like this. Those childlike words warrant the walls of a bathroom stall in the PIKE house, not the pages of a professional daily. Have you forgotten your role as a trustworthy news source? Do you have any journalistic integrity? Could you not have found a more appropriate/mature way to voice your appreciation of the first amendment? Apparently not... All the hours I spent interviewing viable sources, capturing the essence of a story using the most captivating words and making sure my AP style was correct is all time wasted. I wouldn't dare show a prospective employer any connection with your newspaper on the chance he read those two words. You really dropped the ball on this one McSwane... you should resign.”

If you would like to send editor-in-chief J. David McSwane your opinion on the matter, click here.

Round Three: Fort Collins vs. Dillon, Montana

So I cheated a bit this time. Well maybe not cheated, but I went ahead and picked a place that many of you are probably not familiar with: Dillon, Mont. Then again, when one is trying to find a town for a completely one-sided, subjective competition that has the same winner every week, picking small, obscure towns that can’t be found on most maps will always fare well.

Dillon is a very small cowboy/college town with what seems like little to offer. Although most of its attributes are frail in comparison to the robust Fort Collins (i.e. its college and its bar scene), it actually comes in as a worthy contender when considering their clean air and amazing landscapes. This battle will pit Fort Collins' progressive and innovative open space program with Dillon’s natural beauty and landscapes.

For someone looking to get away from the busy life and settle into the countryside, Dillon may be your town. With beautiful mountain scenery, amazing outdoor opportunities and affordable living, Dillon can win over most people in a heartbeat. However, this beauty is only momentary. Because of Montana’s relaxed development laws and environmental stance, the countryside can quickly disappear to mass-housing developments, as Bozeman, Mont. is rapidly experiencing.

Fort Collins, along with Larimer County, combines to make one of the most environmentally friendly areas in the country. Sitting just outside of Fort Collins to the north is the Rural Land Use Planning Center (RLUP). One of the main goals of the RLUP is to give tax and land incentives to developers for building with great consideration to wildlife habitat and corridors as well as minimizing their impacts on the land. The RLUP has been wildly successful inside Fort Collins and is catching on all around Larimer County.

Because of the conscious efforts that Larimer County and RLUP have taken to conserve the beautiful natural landscapes of the area, Fort Collins has hope for a preserved ecosystem. Dillon’s destiny, however, is simply routed in a grim path toward a spoiled beauty.

Round goes to the natural environment that will remain 50 years from now: Fort Collins.

Round Two: Fort Collins vs. Albuquerque, NM

If the premise for this contest were simply crime rate, it would end faster than Bob Saget’s rap career. According to data from the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR), in 2005, Fort Collins had 37.9 reported violent and property crimes per thousand people. Albuquerque, on the other hand, had 71.15 per thousand.

To those who have visited both Albuquerque and Fort Collins, this should come as no surprise. For those of you who haven’t, allow me to break down these statistics in a way that is easier to comprehend—appearances on “COPS” the TV show.

Anytime I get homesick for Albuquerque, I just turn on COPS and watch as the high crime rate is documented and demonstrated in an entertaining fashion. Go ahead—give it a try! You might have to go back a few years, however, because Albuquerque mayor Martin Chavez banned the show from being filmed there. The basis: It was giving Albuquerque a bad reputation and hurting tourism. The reality: Albuquerque has a high crime rate—“COPS” was merely documenting this—and banning the show from filming the city doesn’t dispose of the statistics, it just hides them.

How many times has Fort Collins been on COPS? According to the Internet Movie Database, a big, fat ZERO times. I know. I know. Crime isn’t determined by the amount of times a city appears on COPS. However, this isn’t a featherweight fight where slaps are measured in actual statistical date. This bout that pits Fort Collins against other cities is a heavyweight brawl where blows are measured in abstract, intangible measurements that I judge to be important.

Therefore, the victory for round two goes to the town with fewer appearances on COPS: Fort Collins.

Fort Collins: The undisputed champ

What makes a town a great place to live? According to Money Magazine, it’s gotta have “everything any family could want - economic opportunity, good schools, safe streets, things to do and a sense of community.” The magazine also looks at the ratio between average annual income and cost of living, average amount of school completed by residents, percentage of people with health care and overall quality of life.

Well, Fort Collins has done quite well in these ratings and consequently received the prized title of “Best Place to Live in 2006.” But what about the intangible observations that statistics can’t measure? I have compiled a list of 10 fairly intangible observations that I feel exalt Fort Collins, the constant, above other cities that I’ve lived in, the variables. So sound the bell and let's get this heavyweight bout underway!

Round 1: Fort Collins Vs. Colorado Springs

This battle might as well be titled “attractive girl blows kiss from nice Jetta vs. high school dropout on power trip stares you down through the peeling window tint of his Honda Civic.” To me, this is a no-brainer.

Let me explain: See, in Colorado Springs Civics are as common as AIDS in Africa (and probably more deadly). Young wannabe Slim Shadys buy Honda Civics with unfinished body work from the parking lot of Wal-Mart, alter the exhaust, throw a “meant for speed” sticker on the back window, and all of a sudden think their on the set of The Fast and the Furious.

Not only that, but when they pull next to you at a stoplight, they stare as if they are Vin Diesel. Fortunately, Vin Diesel looks like a chimp with Down syndrome and so I laugh at their pitiful attempt at establishing their piss boundaries.

Fort Collins, on the other hand, has a beautiful rule that is more reliable than gravity: out of five females driving a Volkswagen Jetta, four will be attractive (deemed by me).

The Four-fifths Rule, as my roommates and I describe it, ensures that when you pull up to a light, you’re more likely to get a germ-free air kiss from a gem in a Jetta than a finger from a chimp in a Civic. Four-fifths of the time I’ll take the former over the latter!

That’s enough for now … Round one goes to Fort Collins!

Old Town Square: The difference is night and day...

There is something truly special about Old Town Square. Sure, the rich history and timeless architecture of the location is worth much consideration, however, the true beauty of Old Town exists elsewhere.

That’s right, in fact Old Town Square’s most admirable quality can be found in its unique setting that masterfully combines daytime food and entertainment with a rich nightlife that is sure to offer great times.

During the day, the location offers both visitors and locals alike with quality dining, beautiful sites and countless amounts of family-friendly entertainment and fun.

Take for example CooperSmith's Pub and Brewing. Located in the heart of Old Town Square, this restaurant/poolhall/brewery has answers for the whole family. A few weeks ago my nephew (4) and niece (2) ate their dinosaur chicken nuggets and colored their menus while their responsible uncle entertained himself with several mugs of Mountain Avenue Wheat. We all left full, happy and a little unsteady on our feet. Cheers!

When the sun goes down in Old Town, however, it’s time to call a baby sitter (be it for your children or immature roommates), grab your drinking socks/hat/thong, and head on over to the much-transformed Old Town Square for a night of live music, friendly people and rich culture. Be sure to take several pictures, however, because drink specials tend to take precedence over maintaining memory.

Still, with a mere dimming of the celestial lights, the versatility of Old Town Square becomes evident and one can see that the difference is truly Night and Day.

Let’s go!

Fort Collins: So awesome a caveman would think so...

Fort Collins has it all, even if you were born during the Paleolithic Era: There's wild life to hunt (although I don't think the Homo sapiens in the cave next to you would be too happy if you ate Scruffles for dinner); there are several water sources to bathe in and travel by; and last of all, there is a large variety of strong, fit females that would make a perfect breeding partner.

Still, Fort Collins offers fun and amusement that goes far beyond the basic needs of any lingering Neanderthals.

I aim to outline why I feel Fort Collins rightfully deserved Money magazine’s title of the “best place to live in America for 2006” and, in doing so, angrily oppose the incoherent decision to omit this wonderful place from 2007’s ranking. Did they forget that Fort Collins offers FOUR eco-conscious breweries? How many do you have Middleton, Wis. (if that’s even a real place)?

-Onward-

Photograph by BEN AAKER/Old Town, Fort Collins

Now you know....

My name is Benjamin Donald Aaker and I am an aspiring pirate. Unfortunately, Colorado lacks dark and dangerous seas (or seas at all for that matter... Garrrrr), and I have settled for another passion--College. I am currently a senior at Colorado State University studying public relations. During my time in Fort Collins, I have had the opportunity to develop myself professionally beyond the classroom. I worked as a reporter for the Rocky Mountain Collegian, publishing articles on the Special Olympics, various campus events and large research breakthroughs at the University. Currently, I work as the newsletter coordinator for Apartment Life, CSU's off-campus living. This position affords me the opportunity to grow in areas of graphics design and computer-mediated messaging. In addition to this, I am gaining experience in interpersonal and intergenerational communications. Working with Apartment Life also allows me the unique opportunity to plan and publicize multicultural events.

More about myself...

I hail from Colorado Springs, Colo., a place where methamphetamine dealers and pastors live in harmony. I enjoy photography, movies that end in "detective," and rockin' wife-beaters with the people I pay to be my friends (not because I'm in a fraternity but because I lack social skills/game). My favorite websites are thephatphree.com and pandora.com (a place where music flows smoother than Eminem's eighth mile). I hope to one day be like my father: successful, raise a beautiful family and always trusting the plan God has for my life. My first son will be named Auto and he will star in "300, Part Duo." Mark my words!

-Onward-