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  Hot or Not?
A reader asked me to check on persistent rumors he’d heard that Fort Collins has been a hot spot on the jazz radar through the years.
Sorry, but not really. Although time to time there are related bursts of activity, Denver seems to claim most of the title of Colorado’s jazz hub. According to local musician and former music teacher Glenn Shull, high school band programs didn’t include jazz until the late ‘60s.
Others I spoke with say most local enthusiasts hit Denver clubs like Vartan’s and Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret for their regular fixes. The city has a well-documented urban music scene. In fact, a recent article in the Colorado Statesman (http://www.coloradostatesman.com/current_news) notes the Five Points neighborhood is gearing up to revitalize the area with tourism based on its illustrious jazz and African American history.
Even rumors that some great musicians have moved here to retire have turned up very little information, so far. There is, however, an article written by a local aficionado that appeared in the now-defunct Rocky Mountain Bullhorn. If anyone knows where we can find a copy of that article, please let us know. That one lost story could hold the key.
Currently Avogadro’s Number (http://www.avogadros.com) does feature mostly “hot” jazz – ragtime and swing – on the first Friday of the month, when the Poudre River Irregulars hit the stage. The sounds of the Just Jazz Quintet can also be heard time to time in the back patio, which is one of the few venues big enough to host the larger groups.
Ace Gillett’s Lounge (http://www.acegilletts.com) opened in March in the lower level of the Armstrong Hotel, which is just off the corner of Olive and College. They offer an historic location and “cool” jazz.
The Fort is also not without its jazz following on the radio. You’ll find historic and modern compositions on KRFC 88.9 FM (http://www.krfcfm.org) Thursday nights, 10 until dawn, and Sundays, starting at 7:30 p.m.
Great timing on the topic as this week the Fort Collins Jazz Experience fills the air. A-Train PR Manager Josh Johnson says, “It’s the only [Colorado] jazz event that’s all jazz.”
There’s more than music at the free festival – special restaurant deals, gallery walk Friday evening and presentations by jazz historians. More details on events at http://downtownfortcollins.com/dba.php/fcjazzlineup/
I am definitely willing to leave this question open.
Next week: “The Return of Satchmo” (or at least the story of the statue that once stood in Old Town Square).
Acknowledgments:
Josh Johnson of A-Train Marketing for the idea, Fort Collins History archives staff for helping me get past the dead ends, and members of The Northern Colorado Jazz Society for sharing their stories.
My apologies to our readers. I updated the blogging platform and theme last night, and somehow lost the image file that is behind the posts. This made the site next to impossible to read. A loyal reader pointed this out to me today, and I was able to correct the problem. Again, my apologies.
Terence’s Note: This post was originally on FortCollinsNouns
There are places in this world that are in plain sight but seen by few. The Poor Sport is one of those places.
It is a fine establishment located in Fort Collins. But I do not know of many residents who know of it. If you’re one of those people and you’re curious about the Poor Sport this post is not going to be much help to you.
These photographs are all I am going to offer up as clues to the location of the Poor Sport. I can tell you that it is worth finding and do highly recommend lunch at the Poor Sport. Best burger deal in town.
The Poor Sport was one of the first watering holes I visited while on vacation in Fort Collins back in November of 1997. Since then I’ve had many happy returns. Let me know if you ever want to meet up for lunch there one day.
Terence’s Note: This post was originally on FortCollinsNouns
“There is no Fort in Beer Collins.”
When I moved to the Choice City in 1999 you could buy shirts that said that. It has been years now since I have seen one but I believe it still rings true. The citizens of Fort Collins are blessed to have access to a huge variety of fresh local beer. In no particular order we have…
Odell Brewing Company:
 Coopersmith’s Pub & Brewing:
 Fort Collins Brewery:
 New Belgium Brewing:
 CB & Potts:
Horsetooth Brewing (in the works):
Anheuser-Busch:
 I think that covers all the official beer makers in Fort Collins. But I don’t want to leave out all the home brewers because I know Fort Collins has a very good community of beer brewing folk. And in Old Town we have a retailer dedicated to home brewing:
**UPDATE** Chipper Dave who publishes Fermentedly Challenged, a great Colorado beer blog, was quick to point out that Fort Collins has another home brew store on the way, Rocky Mountain Homebrew Supply.
That is a lot of suds to be had. So many that I knew I could not do them justice in one blog post. I want to try and do the beers of Fort Collins justice so for the next few weeks I am going to be taking a look at individual brews that Fort Fun has to offer. I’ll start with my personal favorite Fort Collins beer and then move through the list of brews randomly. I hope to have a lot of fun with this series, introduce you to some friends, and meet new friends. All in the name of beer, glorious beer.
 The walls of Lucky Joe’s are filled with memorabilia and historic photos that fill in some of the gaps between 1904 and today. Hard to believe it has only been 25 years since Old Town Square was created. Photo by/Jamie Folsom. Why yes, it does.
I don’t know how many of you have seen the mural that covers the north side wall inside Lucky Joe’s Sidewalk Saloon, but it shows a view of what would later become Old Town Square. It captures a moment in 1904 — people strolling across the power line-framed dirt streets, bicycles parked everywhere and brick store fronts. A friend and I sat for two hours figuring out which buildings and landmarks are still there, and which ones are long gone.
At six feet square or more, the mural is actually just a portion of a series of photos taken that year from a viewpoint of Mountain Avenue facing northward. The very same scene sits in the middle of a much smaller panoramic shot on display at Reader’s Cove Bookstore, where I first heard the rumor of the electric car.
Among the extended view of buggies, bikes and people stands a small, literally horseless, carriage. It is parked in front of what is now Beau Jo’s Pizza at the corner of College and Mountain.
Bill Schneider, director of the Larimer County Historical Museum says it was indeed the first of its kind in Fort Collins – little more than a stripped down carriage with an electric motor attached. The owner was a Dr. Morrill, who was most likely a chiropractor. His offices were upstairs in the bank building. His car is seen in the same parking place in a number of shots taken in that decade.
Other copies of these photos can be seen around town in various businesses and of course, at the museum.
Also in this same fascinating set of photos lie two other clues to Fort Collins history. The LCHM has just completed a history of medicine in the area and is currently working on a bicycle history. I’ll be heading to the museum soon to research those surprisingly modern-looking bikes and perhaps uncover some ties to our current love affair with designated lanes, parades, winter commuting and fat tires (or Fat Tires, as the case may be).
Special thanks to Bill Schneider of the Larimer County Historical Museum in Wellington (3740 Cleveland Ave.) for his expertise, and to the good folks at Reader’s Cove Bookstore(Harmony and Lemay) for their knowledge and good humor.
Terence’s Note: This post was originally on FortCollinsNouns
When I moved to Fort Collins way back in 1999 this work of art was almost the thing of urban legend. People would speak of this giant Andy Warhol soup can that CSU once had. I never gave it much thought because I assumed it was either long gone, maybe now residing at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburg or long forgotten in some CSU warehouse never to be seen again.
But thankfully this fine piece of art has now found a home in front of CSU’s University Center for the Arts.
The can and Warhol’s visit to Fort Collins has received a lot of attention recently. That is because of CSU’s Art Museum’s two exhibits Through Warhol’s Lens and Warhol’s Flowers. The museum is looking for people who have memories of the 1981 visit from Warhol. You can read more about that here.
 I recently came upon this house on Mountain Avenue that had been gutted and the roof taken off. We shall see what happens with this one.
Terence’s Note: This post was originally on FortCollinsNouns
Looking for some peace and quiet? A return to nature? Running Deer Natural Area is a great place to find those things right here in Fort Collins.
Located on East Prospect Road near the Colorado Welcome Center and I-25 Running Deer is a gem seldom used by the citizens of Fort Collins. In it you will find over two miles of trails to walk and you’ll also have a good chance to spot some wildlife. On my visit for the post I had a raptor fly over head, an eagle I believe, as well as two low flying pelicans headed for the nearby ponds at Cottonwood Hollow Natural Area.
Running Deer makes a great in town walking retreat because dogs and bikes are not allowed. I don’t have anything against dogs or bikes but it can be nice to get away from them every now and then. And it should be noted they are allowed across Prospect at Riverbend Ponds.
You can also “Spend some time at Artist’s Point. It’s a great spot to sketch wildlife or take photographs – or you can just sit back, relax and watch the wetland.”
Speaking of art, there are always friends waiting for you…
If you do decide to visit I recommend a early morning or evening visit because there is not much shade to be found at Running Deer. I do recommend checking it out though. It is a great place to be alone with your thoughts. I have been out there a few times and I’ve had the whole place to myself.
Use this link for information on Fort Collins Natural Areas.
 NW Corner Meldrum and Oak circa early 1990's Last year I came across this photograph while at Ulrich’s Blueprint. This is a photograph of the Northwest corner of Meldrum and Oak taken sometime in the 1920-30′s. This photo showcased some beautiful homes. Sometime in the 1960′s to 1970′s these homes were torn down in the name of Urban Renewal. This was a common practice across the country at this time, as communities wanted to modernize, and old was bad. Occasionally urban renewal was successful. More often than not it was disastrous, destroying entire communities. Fortunately, here in Fort Collins, while we did lose some structures, there was not wholesale destruction. Of course, this debate rages on today, preservation vs. new.
So what was built here?
A parking lot.
Is this really progress? Not in my mind. This was done before Preservation became important to the City of Fort Collins. Below is a photo of the same corner today. This parking lot itself is little used and is ripe for development in and of itself.
 NW Corner Meldrum and Oak today. People do ask, what are the benefits of historic preservation? They are many. Among them are preservation of communities within the city, as well as the heart and soul of the city. Historic Preservation is also an economic driver. Fort Collins historic preservation efforts are nationally re-known. We have one of the largest collections of sandstone constructed buildings in the country. When you see pictures of Fort Collins in the national media, you don’t see pictures of the mall, you don’t see Front Range Village, you don’t see Walmart, you see one of our beautiful downtown buildings. During the last 25 years, we have seen private owners take on the rehabilitation of many of the buildings in downtown, to make it the success it is today. Downtown is a destination unto itself. How many communities can say that the downtown is more popular and is doing better than the mall? Not many. It is something to be proud of. Imagine what downtown Fort Collins would be like today if we had lost most of those buildings and we had newer Key Bank style buildings? It would be like almost anywhere else USA.
Of course, preservation does not mean keeping it all as is, and not moving forward. Fort Collins has some fabulous examples of new construction and infill development that fits right in with the neighboring historical properties. This community, and all communities continue to struggle with how to keep the character and soul of the city, what makes it great, and what people moved here for in the first place, while at the same time allowing for rejuvenation of the city and keeping our city great.
We are starting a new series, then and now to showcase some of the highlights. Some will be good changes, some bad. These will be posted from time to time. Enjoy!
Many of you may know Daryle Dickens. He is a local writer, and recently produced the FortCollinsNoun blog. He has decided to shut that blog down, but has graciously offered the content of his blog to Lost Fort Collins. Over time, I will release that content as new posts. He does have some good tidbits. In addition, Daryle may also write new articles for Lost Fort Collins as he has time. If only we all had more time…
In Daryle’s words
“When I am not exploring Fort Collins looking for material for this blog you can usually find me running my company Palaver Contemporary Communications where I help businesses, large and small, market themselves through various internet mediums. I also help artists and creative folks do the same over at Art Palaver, my artist focused blog and community.”
Welcome Daryle!
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