Fort Collins is very excited to play host to the annual Techstars Startup Week Fort Collins and the brand new Artup Week. This free 5-day celebration of community and entrepreneurship is something that is woven into the fabric of this town. You may be looking for events and things to do while they attend this awesome celebration of creative minds. So, Visit Fort Collins took the liberty of compiling a list of things to do during Techstars Startup Week Fort Collins. For a complete list of our events calendar please feel free to check it out here. For Our Weekly Happenings email please sign up here.
Dine
Enjoy limited edition dinner specials at dozens of Downtown’s favorite restaurants!
Discover
Stroll the sidewalks of Old Town and embark on a new culinary experience!
Donate
Give Back! After dinner, donate to the Food Bank for Larimer County – ask your server for details!
When: March 1st – 14th, 2018
Event Hours: 5:00pm to close at participating dinner restaurants
Price: $25.00 Dinner Specials; not including tax, tip, or donation
Experience Art and Exhibits Happening this Week
Fort Collins richly deserves its reputation as the cultural capital of Northern Colorado. With a half-dozen live theatre stages in production throughout the year; a symphony orchestra, ballet troupe and opera company as well as several choral ensembles; facilities that accommodate a wide range of national touring shows and concerts, and galleries and museums mounting exhibits of everything from animation art to historical kimonos, there’s always something interesting going on.
Here’s a list of what’s happening during Startup Week in the Fort Collins arts realm:
ARTup Week First Friday Gallery Reception
Come enjoy a night of art and science—with interactive activities for kids of all ages (even grownup kids) from Compass Community Collaborative School Fort Collins, Tiny Whoop, Fort Collins Drone Enthusiasts, Create Places, DJ Fullmetal, and more! ARTup Week Exhibition curated by the Downtown Fort Collins Creative District.
ARTup Week is a 5-day free celebration of the people building up the creative industries, creative environment, and creative community. It’s hosted in venues around Fort Collins and is organized by artists, musicians, and supporters of all kinds.
Entanglements includes the work of local artists Kyle Singer, Marjorie Lair, Carrie Miller, Alexandra Forsythe, Maggie Adams, Melissa Laugen, Christy Nelson, Emily Sullivan, and Zach Miller. These artist’s explorations in a diverse range of media mark relations to local, global, internal and external influences. The entanglements created through the proximity of this work unfold on a field of non-hierarchical difference and the gaps between each art work informs how individual meaning takes shape both for viewers and objects. The diversity of art objects presented in this exhibition often reveals a universal perpetuation of simultaneous human fallacy and renewal in the practice of working artists.
Fort Collins Gallery Walk
Historic Downtown Fort Collins is home to a vibrant art community! Each month, these fine and “folk” art galleries display new showings and open their doors for this self-guided walking tour. The Gallery Walk takes place the first Friday of each month, from 6 pm-9 pm.
Trimble Court Gallery Walk
Trimble Court Artisans presents Jewelry by Gary Hixon throughout the entire month of February. Store Hours are Mon-Thurs and Sat: 10-6; Fri: 10-8; Sun: 11-5.
“New Threads” Exhibition
Showcasing the Avenir Museum’s most recent acquisitions, the “New Threads” exhibition examines what makes historic textile or apparel objects “museum worthy” for acceptance into the collection. Spring 2018 features a breadth of garments, ranging from a woman’s practical wool day dress from 1910 Wisconsin to beautiful 1950s couture gowns by Denver designer Julia Tobias.
Orange: A short history of Orange in Fashion
The vitality of orange is all around us – in fashion, art, advertising, sports, and nature. ORANGE invites you to consider the vibrancy and psychology of the color orange in fashion design, as one cultural aspect of the 20th century – a color embraced by Colorado Agricultural College (forerunner to CSU), the Roaring ’20s, the counterculture ’60s, Yves Saint Laurent, and, the Denver Broncos!
“Fabrication” Exhibition
“FABRICation” is a traveling exhibition from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, hosted by the Avenir Museum as a thoughtful encounter with textiles and the art of fabricating-by-hand. The exhibition looks at the intersection where textiles and fine art meet – and materials and manual labor are prized – to consider how our material world is made, and to encourage the art of “slow looking”.
Nothing to Sneeze at: 1 Woman – 1,107 Handkerchiefs Exhibition
Florence Luebke (1901-1985) lived a quietly satisfying life of close family ties and friendships in rural South Dakota, big city Chicago, and ultimately Fort Collins, Colorado. Her carefully tended collection of over one thousand handkerchiefs records larger patterns of life in 20th-century America – Florence Luebke’s hankies may be diminutive textiles, but they present a remarkable story.
Live Music and Theatre Happening Throughout The Week
Fort Collins is rapidly becoming recognized as a hot spot for creative music and gifted new musicians. The recently opened Music District is a vibrant gathering hub, workspace, and resourceful playground for the music community. For the beginner or pro, it’s a place where anyone can polish their craft, learn the business, and share skills and passions with musicians and music lovers.
Searching for the latest and greatest local talent? Check out the Armory, The Mishawaka, The Downtown Artery, Hodi’s Half Note, or the Aggie Theater. Speaking of The Mishawaka (called “The Mish” by locals), this legendary venue celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016. Plus, The Bohemian Foundation (which owns the Armory) recently opened Washington’s, a premium 900-seat venue in Old Town.
Here’s a list of what’s happening in music and theater during Fort Collins Startup Week:
See the Grammy Award Winning Christopher Cross Perform
Christopher Cross made history with his 1980 self-titled debut album, winning five Grammy Awards, including—for the first time ever—the four most prestigious awards: Record of the Year (for the single “Sailing”), Album of the Year, Song of the Year (also for “Sailing”), and Best New Artist. Now, 30+ years after his extraordinary emergence into the music business, Cross continues his recording and performing career with a new album, Secret Ladder that evokes the artistry of such great singer-songwriters as Joni Mitchell and Randy Newman while addressing contemporary concerns head-on-a combination which is sure to please his loyal fan base.
Back to the Eighties at the Lincoln Center
To close High Performance Dance Theatre’s (HPDT) 22nd season of dance we are going “Back to the 80’s”. Get your leg warmers and shoulder pads out to bring the 80’s to the Lincoln Center Magnolia stage on February 23rd & 24th, 2018 at 7:30pm. HPDT choreographers and dancers will take you on a totally tubular journey through the music and movie of the 1980’s. Guest artists from Lime Light Fitness will join us to bring you exciting lyra, pole and aerial silk performances. Bring your favorite dude or dudette to get a dose of your MTV. This gnarly performance is sponsored in part by the City of Fort Collins – Fort Fund.
Appropriate by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins at UCA (For Mature Audiences Only)
Every estranged member of the Lafayette clan has descended upon the crumbling Arkansas homestead to settle the accounts of the newly-dead patriarch. As his three adult children sort through a lifetime of hoarded mementos and junk, they collide over clutter, debt, and a contentious family history. But after a disturbing discovery surfaces among their father’s possessions, the reunion takes a turn for the explosive, unleashing a series of crackling surprises and confrontations. Winner of the 2014–2015 Obie Award for Best New American Play. CSU System Passport eligible.
Wind Symphony Concert at Griffen Concert Hall
Find Your State: State of Impressionism With guests Michelle Stanley, Flute; and John McGuire, Horn The 2017-2018 Wind Symphony season highlights CSU’s commitment to collaboration, community, innovation, and inspiration. All of these ideals clearly connect to music and the arts, and the ensemble, conducted by Rebecca Phillips, continues its season by highlighting works of Impressionism. Each piece was originally written for winds during a historical period that highlighted the collaboration of visual art, literature, and music. The French movement, known as Impressionism (art) and Symbolism (literature) created timbres from which composers created some of our most colorful music in history. Join us and “Find Your State!”
Blitzen Trapper at Washington’s
A question I ask myself, why make records? And why in particular did I make this record? I’ve made lots of records, about half of them shared with the world, the other half squirreled away for no good reason. Songs upon songs upon songs.
But I guess in the end I just had some stories to tell, like the one about the cop turned cocaine dealer, or the murderous 13 year old girl, or the underage lovers who steal her mom’s checkbook, her dad’s truck and go on a spree down the west coast, free as the wind, until it becomes clear the boy is addicted to heroin, the physical freedom outstripped by enslavement to the substance. And but let’s not forget the one about the woman in the black TransAm who steals hearts from wrecked/jaded men deep in their cups, another form of internment. Stories upon stories. Each story is true in some sense.
Menopause the Musical at the Lincoln Center
Menopause The Musical® is a groundbreaking celebration of women who are on the brink of, in the middle of, or have survived “The Change.” Now celebrating 16 years of female empowerment through hilarious musical comedy, Menopause The Musical® is set in a department store where four women meet while shopping for a black lace bra at a lingerie sale. After noticing similarities among one another, the women joke about their woeful hot flashes, mood swings, wrinkles, weight gain and much more. These women form a sisterhood and unique bond with the audience as they rejoice in celebrating that menopause is no longer “The Silent Passage.”
The Movers and Shakers at the Magic Rat
The Movers and Shakers are a tight knit band of six music enthusiasts who bring everything they have to every single performance. Influences range from old school soul stars like Otis Redding and Sam and Dave to The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Talker, Joe Cocker and Jonny Lange.
American Lullaby at the Lincoln Center
American Lullaby was born from the artist’s response to the current political and social climate that exists in our country. Through movement, projected image and live text, the performance draws parallels between times in history where the “other” was marginalized, where turmoil brought about change and how the past is reflected in our present. The audience will be immersed in a collage of images, topics and most especially rich movement that illuminates our heritage of diversity and our connection to one another.
Chamber Choir and Concert Choir Concert
With Wesley Ferreira, Clarinet the Chamber Choir, conducted by James Kim, performs the premier of “Pilgrim’s Soul” by CSU Composition Professor James David. The piece for mixed chorus, clarinet, and live electronics features Dr. Wesley Ferreira and is based on the well-known poem “When You Are Old” by William Butler Yeats. “The idea behind the piece was to merge my love of the clarinet with the dramatic sounds of an acapella choir. The live electronic sounds provide an ethereal backdrop that blends the soloist with the voices, while also invoking images from the text,” said the composer. The Chamber Choir’s program also includes “Missa Brevis,” a five-movement work composed by contemporary Canadian composer, Ruth Watson Henderson. The Concert Choir, also conducted by Dr. Kim, performs works by the master composers, Johannes Brahms and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, concluding with spirituals arranged by Moses Hogan.
That’s not all…
Craft an Outdoor Adventure
Fort Collins continues to rank highly on lists of towns that offer outstanding outdoor adventures and access to exceptional recreational facilities. A quick glimpse at locals appreciating the city’s 50 parks, 280-plus miles of trails, including paved and unpaved walking and biking trails, and you’ll want to walk or ride in their shoes for a day. Thanks to urban open space in the form of 48 Natural Areas hikers, mountain bikers, cross-country skiers and nature enthusiasts don’t have to leave town to enjoy the tranquility and heart-healthy benefits of these activities. If you’re yearning for the unbelievable scenery of the backcountry, you need to look no further than nearby Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests, Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, the Cache la Poudre Canyon, Cameron Pass or Lory State Park. All areas offer opportunities for outdoor recreation like Fat Biking, hiking, birding, etc.
Explore Old Town by Horse and Carriage
When riding through historic downtown Fort Collins you’ll likely notice a strong resemblance to Disneyland’s Main Street USA; we’re proud to say it was modeled after our charming Old Town! Horse and Carriage rides can be booked almost every night in Old Town. This is a chance to take in the beautiful scenery of Historic Old Town Fort Collins in a more intimate setting. Envision you and that special someone cuddled up underneath a blanket while rolling along the historic streets of Old Town, soaking up that romantic moment. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Beer Tours and Tastings at one (or more) of 20-plus local breweries
Fort Collins is the largest producer of craft beer in Colorado, 70% in fact, making it the craft beer capital of the state. Currently, the city is home to more than 20 craft breweries, the most microbreweries in the state, each with its own distinctive style. If you want to taste award-winning lagers, pilsners and ales year-round, take part in some brewery tours and a wild variety of taster trays. And don’t be afraid to spend a few days to taste them all!
Don’t miss this brand new beer festival:
Hazy Shade of Winter Beer Festival
The Hop Grenade is hosting its first in-house beer festival! They’ll be showcasing the latest craze in hazy beers and winter warmers on all 27 taps during this two day event. Taste and enjoy the latest creations from some of Craft Beer’s finest breweries in their cozy taproom.
You’ll also enjoy live music (on Saturday night), great food, special guests and fantastic raffles prizes with your ticket purchase!
When: Feb 23 & 24 6 pm – 11:30 pm
Where: 347 E. Foothills Parkway, Unit #120
Cost: $25-35
Sip and Taste Your Way through the Distilleries
Locals say the craft spirits scene in Fort Collins is akin to the city’s craft brewing industry of 15 years ago. The distilling industry is most certainly growing here. Fort Collins is now home to six distilleries: Feisty Spirits Distillery, CopperMuse Distillery, Old Elk Distillery, Old Town Distilling Co., Elevation 5003 Distillery and Mobb Mountain Distillers. If spirits aren’t your thing but wine is then the vino lovers should check out Ten Bears Winery, which is located in Laporte, for tastings.
Local Shopping
Old Town Fort Collins has some of the best local boutique shopping in the entire state of Colorado. Each store offers unique Fort Collins-centric products that appeal to a wide range of interests. Fort Collins offers quaint, local shopping for those one-of-a-kind, locally-made gifts as well as modern shopping centers, like Front Range Village and the Foothills Mall, for those gifts that special person on your list has always wanted.
Immerse Yourself at the Museum of Discovery
The Fort Collins Museum of Discovery blends science, history and culture into an interactive and engaging museum that literally offers the best of all worlds! With hands-on exhibits, a state-of-the-art Digital Dome that immerses you into the action, and a nationally recognized interactive music experience that lets you create and play music, the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery is an experience not to be missed when in Fort Collins.
http://fcmod.org/
970.221.6738
Book a Specialized Tour
Discovering Fort Collins history and cultural traditions through our various amount of tours offered around town one can begin to weave together some of the many stories our city has to tell. Our ghosts, farms, and breweries all have stories to share with you. These enticing tours truly offer an unforgettable experience while connecting you with the fabric that makes up Fort Collins. There are numerous ways to tour Fort Collins based on your mode of transportation including by bicycle, in an art-covered Magic Bus, by a horse-drawn wagon, or on foot.
Don’t miss Art in Public Places
Thanks to a community commitment to Art in Public Places and gifted artists, Fort Collins hosts many stunning art projects that the public can appreciate freely as they stroll along the streets or through alleyways. Be sure to plan a self-guided tour of the city’s Transformer Cabinet Murals and Pedestrian Sidewalk Pavers. Or, try to find all of the Pianos About Town. This program places more than a dozen pianos, which are painted each year by local artists, throughout town in public spaces for amateur and seasoned musicians to play. Visit https://www.fcgov.com/artspublic/ for more information on all these fun projects.
Last week we posted information to help you 
Tate Gallery. Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Cunningham Dance Foundation. Any arts administrator would be lucky to name one of these arts institutions as clients — Kit Baker can claim them all, having raised millions of dollars for these and many others. Kit is an arts administrator, writer and producer who has worked in New York, London and beyond.
“It is so important to surround yourself with quality people who are supportive or helpful or inspiring,” says ARTup Week guest Cori Storb. “It is easy to lose momentum if you try to do everything yourself. Seek out powerful comrades.” Cori took her own advice when creating her local escape room and treasure hunt game, Somewhere Secret. Says Cori, “I hope people will become more aware of escape rooms as a potential art form and a venue for new experiences.”
Whether you realize it or not, you may already be familiar with Chris Bates’ artwork — Chris has completed over 30 murals across Northern Colorado. Chris works at two local galleries (Lincoln Center, Carnegie) and teaches mural workshops to grade school students.
Sari Kimbell’s career has touched nearly every sector of the food industry — including directing the largest CSA in the country, serving as a founding member of the NoCo Food Cluster, and working as the Marketing Director of Whole Foods Fort Collins. Sari is passionate about food and the way it connects all of us, leading her to start her own business, Cultivate Consulting LLC, helping the local food industry reach its goals. “I hope to see people in the food business push the envelope more into ethnic food and truly local or scratch made menus and products.”
Today, we have an interview with Lu Cordova, the head of 
