The Beet Street Blog

One thing I’ve noticed in my experience as a food blogger here in Fort Collins, is that food is the common connection between all of us.  Sure, we all need to eat, but it goes beyond that.  It’s a topic that almost everyone is passion about.  People will discuss at length their favorite restaurants and why they love them, share the recipes they make for their families and have detailed conversations about CSA’s, which one they chose and the benefits they’ve reaped from it.

Everyone in Fort Collins loves food – loves talking about it, loves eating it, loves sharing it.

This is why harvest season is a special time here in our city.  Not only is it a time where we share in the bounty of our agricultural abundance, but harvest season brings us Homegrown Fort Collins – a celebration of  our local food, our talented chefs and an appreciation for the deliciousness we partake in on a regular basis living here in the Front Range.

This is the second annual Homegrown Fort Collins, and this year is going to be an even bigger celebration than the last.  We have all of the same events as last year – the Downtown Tasting Tours, the Adventures In Food, the Battle Of The Burners, as well as Harvestival and the Sustainable Living Fair.  The difference this year?  The growing excitement within our community who now knows what Homegrown is about and is ready to dive in, fork first.

Beet Street bloggers are kicking it up a notch this month of September to cover all of these awesome events.  Look for more frequent posts that will cover all of the above mentioned events, and some extra tidbits like chef interviews and details on Farmer’s Market’s.  Make sure to add this blog to your bookmarks, follow Beet Street on Facebook or on Twitter.  You won’t want to miss out on this Fort Collins food celebration!

If you want to get involved in Homegrown, here are several events you can attend to learn about how you can support local farmers and businesses, why it’s important and the bounty that our region has to offer:

> Sept. 25: Battle of the Burners. As part of Beet Street’s Homegrown Fort Collins program, you can enjoy a high-energy showcase of our community’s culinary best, as six well-known local chefs compete for best first, second, and third course using locally sourced ingredients. Attendees will enjoy small plates of all six of the chefs’ creations, each paired with a great local beer.

 > Sept. 18: Adventures in Food. Join chef David Daggett, owner of Tastebuds Epicurean Café, as he teaches you how to prepare the locally sourced, multicourse meal he’ll be serving you. Enjoy live music and free libations while you savor this one-of-a-kind dining experience.

 > Sept. 10-26: Downtown Tasting Tours. Eighteen downtown restaurants will offer custom menus highlighting foods prepared by local chefs, featuring locally sourced ingredients.

"Canoptic Jar"

There is an absolutely amazing exhibit in town that you won’t want to miss. Myth, Object, and the Animal at the Fort Collins Museum of Contemporary Art features the work of master glass artist, William Morris. While Morris’ art has been collected by major metropolitan museums across the United States, he prefers to showcase his exhibits in small regional museums because they were instrumental in supporting him early in his career. This is the first and only time this exhibit will be on display in the Rocky Mountain region.

Two weeks ago in this blog, I wrote about visiting the Lindenmeier exhibit at the Fort Collins Museum and Discovery Science Center with my husband Bryan, who is an anthropologist. Having been out to Lindenmeier site at Soapstone Prairie Natural Area north of Fort Collins earlier in the spring, we were interested in looking at the artifacts before hearing Dr. Jason LaBelle speak at Beet Street’s Science Café. LaBelle’s talk was a fascinating account of recent research at the site.

Exploring Lindenmeier has been so interesting that this week I decided to invite Treloar Bower to join me at Myth, Object, and the Animal.

Treloar examines "Cache"

Treloar is the Curator of Education at the Fort Collins Museum and Discovery Science Center. She will be speaking about the artistic and aesthetic elements of the Lindenmeier artifacts at the Beet Street Art Café on Wednesday, August 25 from 5:30 to 7:00p.m. at Avogadro’s Number. With a background in anthropology herself, Treloar is interested in new research that considers the artifacts as aesthetic objects and explores the intent of the craftsmen who made them.

So, what does this have to do with glass art? Well, Morris is inspired by archaeology and Native American culture. His installations,

"Mazorca"

such as this one called “Mazorca,” which to me is reminiscent of the Pre-Columbian cultures of Mexico, explore the deep connections between humans, culture, and the natural world. I wondered how Treloar would react to the exhibit, and how it might influence her ideas about the stone tools from Lindenmeier as works of art themselves.

On the face of it, you might not think there is any connection between an art exhibit, a history museum, and an archeological site. But our visit to Myth, Object, and the Animal sparked an interesting and spirited discussion that encouraged me to think in new ways about the Paleo Indians of Lindenmeier. For example, Morris was a student of renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly. Through the ages-old tradition of apprenticeship, Chihuly passed his knowledge and techniques of glass-blowing to his student, and Morris ultimately expressed his own vision through his art, which departs significantly from Chihuly’s style.

Certainly, a similar tradition of apprenticeship must have occurred with the stone tool makers of Lindenmeier. While the individual artistic expression of these makers is much more limited due to the functional requirements of the objects they had create in order to survive, these artifacts are handmade, after all, not mass-produced by machine. While the Lindenmeier Folsom points might look all the same to you and me, Treloar explained that modern “flint knappers,” who make stone tools in an effort to replicate ancient techniques, believe that they can in some cases identify the individual makers of ancient stone tools. The evidence is in marks in the stone that the maker left behind – certain angles and force that reflect the

Folsom points

craftsman’s technique. And there may also be evidence certain makers preferred specific types of stone, perhaps due to their color. It is exciting to think that connections between the artifacts and the person who made them are available for us to explore 12,000 years after they were made, not unlike Morris’ work, which communicates his preferences for style, color, texture, and meaning.

So, we have a rare opportunity right here in our own backyard. I hope you will come out to Avo’s this Wednesday to meet Treloar Bower. Then I encourage you to visit both museum exhibits and Soapstone and come up with your own connections.

A few months ago I was fortunate to be part of something that made me want to go back to college. No it wasn’t a kegger… the CSU Landscape Design and Contracting students were presenting their final projects. Many were graduating and this was their chance to present their landscape ideas and possibly see their designs executed in the real world.  

The week I was graduating from college, I was packing, saying good-bye to friends and freaking out about joining the real world, but these students were calmly rolling out their design plans and explaining their water features, living walls, recycled materials, solutions to create more shaded seating and hands-on activities for kids. The students were not only challenged to design an aesthetically pleasing layout, they had to take into account a variety of factors including what plants are native in the region and bloom in August; how to accommodate emergency vehicles; where it makes most sense to place food and beverage vendors; and easy set up and take down of the event space.  

This weekend at New West Fest, visitors will find an oasis in the Creative Garden, which is inspired by the student designs. It’s a departure from the hot pavement, frenzied environment you often find at festivals. Creative Garden is designed to be a more intimate experience with local performers and visual artists interacting with the audience, all surrounded by lush vegetation. One of the challenges posed to the students after their first round of designs was to create more seating, but break it up into comfortable, inviting spaces.

What to expect

The event kicks off Saturday at 10:30 with Opera Fort Collins accompanied by the Fort Collins Symphony.  Other performers include: Bas Bleu Theatre Company, Canyon Concert Ballet, Carousel Dinner Theatre, Debut Theatre Company, Fort Collins Symphony, IMPACT Dance, Nonesuch Theater, OpenStage Theatre & Company and Opera Fort Collins.

There will be 20 visual artists performing throughout the days including the Northern Colorado Potters Guild.  For those enjoying the festival with small children, make seed mosaics and nature crowns with the Gardens on Spring Creek.  There will also be a selection of craft beers, wine and special plates from local restaurants.

Visit the Creative Garden page on the Beet Street Web site for more information. Also this Coloradoan article provides a nice summary of activities and performances.

I talked to Jennifer Kenline who planned Creative Garden for Beet Street and is no stranger to creating dream worlds – she used to work for Disney.             

Q: I sat in on the presentations of six student groups, I believe nearly 20 participated. How many student designs ended up being part of the final design?

Jennifer:  Elements from almost every project have ended up in the final design.  Modifications had to be made based on our actual ability to secure plant materials and build structures, etc.  It really was a group effort.

Q: How did you take all of those designs and come up with the final concept? 

Jennifer: We looked at the form and function of each idea and then discussed all of our options with the teams that are actually building Creative Garden.  The most exciting thing about a garden is that it is always changing and evolving.  And just like a garden, our design will be changing and evolving even as we build it on Friday.

Q: Any examples of design elements from the students that are part of the final design? 

Jennifer: All of the students proposed varying types of shade structures and planter beds.  We have incorporated both into the design.

What do you think will be the coolest thing in the Creative Garden? 

Jennifer: I think the coolest part about Creative Garden is the ability for guests to experience some of the best of what Fort Collins has to offer all on one street.

Visit Creative Garden this Saturday and Sunday on Chestnut Street from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

“I suppose, beyond the low clouds and the snowfields, lie the marks of the trenches where forty years ago we dug and we found them, found the Ice Age long-horned bison, the deadly point buried still in the massive vertabra.”

–Loren Eiseley, excerpt from “Flight 857”

Folsom point embedded in bison vertebra

In 1972, forty years after he had found the now-famous Folsom spear point still wedged in a Pleistocene bison vertebra while excavating with the Smithsonian archaeology team at the Lindenmeier site north of Fort Collins, the famous naturalist Loren Eiseley peered into his own past and remembered that day in a poem he titled “Flight 857.” Now standing in the Lindenmeier exhibit at the Fort Collins Museum and Discovery Science Center, I find myself imagining what it must have been like for Eiseley on that day in the excavation trench, as he peered into the ancient past, holding in his hands irrefutable evidence of human occupation in North America more than 11,000 years ago. If only he were here with me now, explaining the artifacts in the exhibit cases and telling me stories of the dig!

I find that I always enjoy museum exhibits and visits to historic sites much more if I am with someone who has some knowledge of the

Jason LaBelle, CSU Anthropology Dept.

subject. I learn more and remember the experience in more vivid detail. I invited Jason LaBelle, archeology professor in the Anthropology Department at Colorado State University to join me at the museum. He will be speaking about the Lindenmeier site at the next Beet Street Science Café on Wednesday, August 11 from 5:30 to 7:00 at Avogadro’s Number. I was eager to hear what Dr. LaBelle could tell me about the site. Unfortunately he was not available to meet me this week because he is finishing up teaching at the CSU Archaeology Summer Field School.

So instead I invited my husband Bryan to go with me to the museum, since he knows quite a bit about Plains archaeology. He has his own connection to Eiseley, whose writing on Howard Carter’s first look into King Tut’s tomb inspired Bryan to

Bryan Dennis at the museum

get a PhD in anthropology. I remembered how much fun we had hiking last spring at the Soapstone Prairie Natural Area, the location of the Lindenmeier site, a National Historic Landmark owned by the city of Fort Collins. What would otherwise have been a nice springtime hike became an educational experience, as Bryan read the landscape and interpreted how it had been used by prehistoric peoples.

Our trip to the museum was equally interesting, as we talked about the different types of stone tools, what they were used for, and where the stone came from. I learned how the Smithsonian team determined where to dig, based on finding stone tools eroding out of the sides of

Folsom points in exhibit case

an arroyo, and how they never found any human skeletal remains. We looked at photos of the excavation, including that famous flint spear point stuck in the bison vertebra discovered by Eiseley (the artifact is at the Smithsonian). We even chatted with another museum visitor who asked Bryan a few questions to satisfy her own curiosity about this amazing site. Eiseley captured the compelling mystery of Lindenmeier best when he wrote, “. . . the hunters had the grace to tiptoe away with the last mammoth. We never found them, only their flints.”

You never know what you’ll find at Streetmosphere – that’s part of the charm.  This past Saturday, slimy frog bellies, recycled paint, and Hot Notes on wheels were on tap, and performers represented a broad range of our community.

 Did you get to see Tableauxion (rhymes with Explosion)?  This trio of Poudre High School seniors and their restyled fairy tales had everyone, young and the less young, smiling.  Jessica Lenczycki, Kaitlyn Martin, and Allison Lloyd work their magic using a trunk filled with props, some BIG imaginations and a lot of talent.   Sporting goggles to die for, the Frog Prince negotiates having his slimy belly rubbed as he naps on the Princess’ pillow.  He doesn’t reclaim his Charming Prince persona until she hurls him across the room to splat on the wall.  Seriously!  And that was just one of five terrific tales presented à la Tableauxion. 

 Across the street, Chris Bates and Dave Clapsaddle of Viewsic set out an array of hand-me-down latex paints, a canvas, and a music stand.   Dave fills the air with delicious tunes while Chris paints.   Seeing the recycled paint cans made me wonder if I should have sent my oops bucket of lime green his way.

 Cater-corner from there, the Hot Note Quartet crooned barbershop harmonies from the alley next to Enzio’s to the corner by Austin’s.  Patio diners there got a special treat, for sure!

 And how about Break It! Performing in the Oak Street Plaza!  This group of third through eighth graders showed off some fresh talent, got feet tapping, and reminded us of the many positive opportunities available to our young community.   

 Fort Collins has been getting some good press lately about being a top place to live, and programs like Streetmosphere make it easy to see why.  It’s hard to beat a trip downtown with family and friends, checking out the shows and maybe even scouting talent for your next party.  Kudos to the downtown businesses that anted up to make this ongoing event possible.  The diversity of community talent Streetmosphere brings to us is priceless.

 Have you been to it yet?  Tell me about your favorite performance!  I want to hear about it and your experience of Streetmosphere.

Streetmosphere runs from June 4-October 17, 2010, Fridays: 4:00-8:00pm, Saturdays: noon-8:00pm, Sundays: 1:00-5:00pm. For more details on Streetmosphere, please visit www.beetstreet.org.

You know how some people ease into their morning routine over a hot cup of coffee? Not me! For years my morning routine included the jarring sound of a pop can opening – a Diet Coke to be specific. Throughout the day I’d have a few more – at the height of my addiction maybe five. Like many people who move to Colorado, I wanted to make some life changes and as sad as it sounds, finally kicking the Diet Coke habit was high on my list.

Photo from the Alleycat

I’ve never been a coffee drinker, so to ease myself off of Diet Coke, I chose tea (and some Excedrin – not sure that’s really healthy, so I’m not recommending it…). In particular I’ve become a fan of iced chai tea lattes. Living in Fort Collins, there are so many options. Here are a few of the coffee shops I frequent in town and some of the favorites of our Facebook and Twitter followers. Where do you go for your caffeine fix?

My usual stomping grounds

1. Mugs: I love to sit in the window early in the morning, watch Fort Collins come alive, see familiar faces and finish my blog posts. Being new to town, I don’t know that many people, but almost always bump into someone. As one of the most popular gathering places in Fort Collins, it really captures the pulse of the city. The staff is super friendly and the drinks are fantastic too. I’m a big fan of the chai tea lattes and I hear the coffee is tasty. If you want to find something to do in town, check out the massive community board.
2. The Bean Cycle: I’ve been going to the Bean Cycle since I first moved to town and recently discovered the spicy chai tea, which has so much flavor. I love it on ice.  Previously I enjoyed the huge mugs of hot tea, iced tea and the delicious smoothies. I find the drinks to be very tasty and reasonably priced. There is also a large selection of local baked goods. This is one of the most eclectic coffee shops in town. It shares space with the Matter Bookstore, which offers new and used books and features a lot of works from local authors.
3. Everyday Joe’s: This not-for-profit coffee house is so unique. I stop in when I want to stretch out and relax as I read or do some work. It’s a large space with high ceilings, which I find rare for coffee shops. Like The Bean Cycle, Everyday Joe’s is one of the most reasonable shops in town, and serves up great drinks and yummy treats. There are a lot of free or inexpensive concerts and the venue makes its meeting spaces available to the community. Be sure to check out the local art for sale.
4. Wild Boar Coffee:  I liken Wild Boar Coffee to sitting in the living room of a friend with really cool, funky taste. This coffee shop is actually a renovated 1924 bungalow home and each room has a different atmosphere. You can sip your beverage outside on the patio or in the library, den or living room. It’s a great place to work, study or catch up with a good friend. The breakfast, lunch/dinner menus offer quite a bit of variety and you can also purchase adult beverages including local beers. Beet Street staffer Lindsey told me the Wild Boar staff will make funky designs on top of your coffee.
5. Alleycat: My friend Dave introduced me to this large second floor coffee house with an outdoor patio. It tends to draw a younger, late night crowd, which often means music is being played. Sometimes it’s musicians the coffee house books and often its patrons getting together for a jam session. It’s the liveliest of the coffee shops I’ve visited. To get the full experience, be ready to play some board games and chat with the people at the next table. The shop offers a full range of tea, coffee and Italian sodas.

 Readers’ suggestions

Here are some of our readers’ recommendations. Most of my favorites are located close to Old Town because when I first came here I didn’t have a car. I’m excited some of our readers added shops I didn’t know about to the list. Please share your favorites. I’ll visit them and write a follow-up post soon.

• Bean Cycle
• Catalyst on Shields
• Café Ardor
• Mugs
• Genoa Coffee and Wine
• Everyday Joe’s
• Happy Lucky’s Tea House
• Cuppy’s on Drake
• Cups on Taft
• F/stop Café
• Wild Boar Coffee

 Readers’ comments

Here are some of the comments our readers shared about their favorite coffee shops in town:

• Sarah: Genoa Coffee and Wine! The people that work there are so friendly, EXCELLENT pastries and love the live music on the weekend! Feels like a little piece of Italy!
• Ellen: Cuppy’s on Drake because of the convenience, Wild Boar on College because of the ambiance, Cups on Taft because of the uniqueness and variety and Catalyst on Shields because of the excellent service.
• Lisa: Depending on the mood… Bean Cycle, Genoa Coffee & Wine or Catalyst. All three have wonderful service & great beverages.
• Cory: Mugs for their locally grown everything including art and the random collection of furniture downstairs. Everyday Joe’s is outstanding in their services of volunteer work and hosting live bands for very little money. Anyone can see that the community loves this place.
• Christie: 1) Wild Boar–best ambiance and friendly staff; 2) Mugs–best people watching; 3) Bean Cycle—funkiest.
• Mandy: If I’m up north, f/stop, because they have the best bagel sandwiches and 1.99 latte! But most of the time it’s Catalyst because they stock my favorite 3rd street chai tea!
• Colleen prefers the Bean Cycle, Stacee says Happy Lucky and Meg says “hands down” Café Ardour
• From @WhiskeyCardigan on Twitter: I head to @everydayjoes. They serve beans from Novo. Delicious.
• @CohereLoveland: Cafe Ardour
• @FeastingFC: Mugs or Café Ardour! Yum!
• @focoblog: Usually Bean Cycle. Good coffee, good price, right downtown.

Stinky knee pads, rink rash and bruises the size of a softball are the badges of honor with these ladies.  You run into them every day; dropping the kids off at day care, having your family portrait taken, and getting the dog groomed.  Regular Fort Collins women by day, super skaters in hot pants and fish nets at night, these stay-at-home moms, family counselors, and business women blow off some steam by taking on their alter ego with aliases such as Texas Chainsaw Mascara, iOna Switchblade or Tammy Faye Slayer.

This is Northern Colorado’s first Roller Derby League – FoCo Girls Gone Derby.

Roller Derby as a sport got its beginning way back in the 1930’s when skaters endured physical contact and developed teamwork in flat-track roller skating races.  The sport lived through an ebb and flow of popularity, eventually collapsing in the 1970’s.  In the early 2000’s, a grass roots effort developed to revive the sport, creating the modern-day roller derby that we see today.  Now it’s all over the world reaching as far as  Europe and Australia.

The Fort Collins league got its start in 2006 by Jerica Trevena (known in the rink as “Urrk’n Jerrk’n as Booty Block ‘Ya”) and the Trevena family.  They own Rollerland Skate Center, where the derby league practices and competes in bouts.  Jerica is a Nationally ranked speed skater and helped to coach the women on their skating skills.  Many of them had never been on skates before trying out for the Roller Derby league.  After a few years of practice, some blood, sweat and tears, the FoCo Girls Gone Derby League became the 67th WFTDA-certified league in the nation, giving them the ability to compete with other leagues for national ranking.  FCGGD has three teams:  The Chanel Cartel, The Deathrow Dolls -  both home teams that skate against each other at Rollerland and their travel team, the FoCo Micro Bruisers (I love this team name) to bout against neighboring leagues.  In 2010, the league has close to 50 skaters!

Here’s the scoop on how it all works:

• Each game, called a bout, consists of two 30 minute halves.
• Each period contains several jams that can last up to 2 minutes.
• Before each jam, 5 players from each team line up on the track.
• The pack is released at the single whistle. The jammers shoot off in hot pursuit at the double whistle.
• The first jammer to make it through the pack legally is called lead jammer.

You can read more about how they score and details about player positions on their website.

If you’ve never seen these women compete, I highly suggest you do.  The rules are easy to understand (an important factor for me when it comes to sports) and it’s very entertaining.  I might be biased since some of my best friends are in the league and I’m the league’s personal trainer, but even still, these bouts are action packed!  I will never forget the bout a few months back where a skater actually jumped over a ref that had been taken out by another skater to avoid a spill.  It was an insane demonstration of skill and the risk that lurks in the game.

Roller Derby, while super exciting, can be dangerous as well.  There are EMT’s on hand at every bout.  Besides the common mild injuries of scrapes and bruises,  there have been broken bones, separated shoulders and skates to the face.  These women are tougher than nails.

The next bout is on Saturday, August 14th at Roller Land Skate Center at 7:30pm (doors open at 7:00). $15 (or $10 pre-sale), you can check out how to purchase tickets on their website.  This is sure to be a huge bout and one you’d regret missing!  The veteran skaters will be ready to rock after a short break to rest their weary feet.  The new recruits, after months of training and practice, are skating their very fist bout.  I know I’m excited to see how it all goes down!

Go check out one of Fort Collins’ fasted growing trends and see how awesome these ladies are for yourself.  Stinky knee pads and all.

More often than not, opera is perceived to be elitist, expensive, pretentious, stuffy, formal, odd language, and boring. Going to the opera means dressing up, shelling out a lot of money, putting on an air of sophistication and most importantly, not making any noise whatsoever, unless it’s the appropriate time to applaud the diva. There is indeed a tradition of un-American behavior at the “Opera”.

Opera Fort Collins Guild decided to combat this image. In September 2008 the Guild started “Arias at Avo’s in blue jeans” intended to increase ticket sales to Opera Fort Collins. Instead of going to 5 or 6 different Operas, one can go to Avogadro’s Number and listen to the best Arias from those operas. Opera rocks with: Passion, Love, Death, Betrayal and Blue Jeans at Arias@Avo’s. It is an informal, intense, acoustic, musical experience.

Arias@Avo’s is a monthly classical music event to accomplish the following:

1. To expand, in Fort Collins, the appreciation of opera as a form of art and entertainment.

2. To provide the best of a variety of operas in a short time frame.

3. To provide the opportunity to enjoy opera to those who may not be able to attend an opera .

4. To provide more opportunities for young singers to perform solo or duet in front of supportive audiences.

Arias@Avo’s is a volunteer effort. Attendance and donations at Arias@Avo’s have been enough to sustain the monthly two hour program featuring four classical singers, an accompanist and the venue at  Avogadro’s Number.  

This Wednesday, Beet Street Art Cafe is featuring Opera Fort Collins Artistic Director, Dr. Todd Queen, at Avogardro’s Number from 5:30-7:00.  Please join Beet Street to learn and discuss the in’s and out’s of opera with Dr. Queen.

Todd Queen, Assoc. Prof. of Voice, CSU School of the Arts

Todd Queen remembers the day quite well – the day he got hooked on opera. An incoming freshman at BYU, he went to see a production of Carmen, Bizet’s 1875 opera comique about a beautiful gypsy and her lover, Corporal Don Jose. Queen was immediately pulled in to the music, the drama, and the passion of the performance. He recalls being struck by the range of emotions, delivered “not-so-subtly” by the performers, and the athletic nature of singing without amplification. While Queen cautions that even the best recordings can’t capture the acoustical properties of the operatic voice, this YouTube video of Julia Migenes as Carmen helped me imagine the young man’s enthusiastic response to that experience as an undergrad.

As we sat in his office last week talking about his first live opera performance, Queen went on to tell me that he returned to his dorm that night and told his roommates that he had found his life’s purpose: he would become an opera singer. Of course, his roommates thought he was crazy, but Queen was quite serious. After completing his undergraduate degree at BYU, he went on to earn DMA and MM degrees from the prestigious Eastman School of Music. He joined the CSU School of the Arts in 2001, and is now Associate Professor of Voice and Director of the Colorado State Opera.

Okay, so now he’s got me curious. My interest and knowledge of opera is limited to memories of my mother listening to it on the radio Sunday mornings after church, which probably helps to explain why I know little about it and don’t much care for it. But, like Queen, I also sang in choirs in high school. So now I’m wondering, is it too late for me to get bitten by the opera bug? I asked Queen what keeps him motivated after many years and multiple performances, and what brings him back to certain pieces time and again. He explained that he likes bringing all the pieces of a performance together, the teamwork, and the complications. His favorite is The Marriage of Figaro – he’s done it the most and can’t wait to do it again because there’s a lot to come back to, and it’s never the same way twice. (Yes, you know this one too. Don’t believe me? Here’s the overture).

Listening to Queen talk about opera, I couldn’t help but notice his knowledge and passion for the subject. Elizabeth Elliott, founder of Opera Fort Collins, also noticed these qualities when she met with Queen shortly after his arrival here in 2001. Queen remembers being amazed when Elliott almost immediately offered him the role of Candide

Todd Queen as Candide, Opera Fort Collins

during that first, fateful meeting. Queen soon joined the board, and in 2005 Elliott retired and put her faith in him to continue her legacy, making him Artistic Director of Opera Fort Collins in 2005.

Speaking of Elliott’s legacy, Opera Fort Collins has been around for more than thirty years, starting in 1979 with independent productions and incorporating as a non-profit performing arts organization in 1991. Queen says he highly values regional opera companies like Opera Fort Collins because they play a central role in the development of opera in America and provide venues for the opera singers of tomorrow. Most of all, they offer rich cultural experiences for their local communities.

This Wednesday, July 28, you will have an opportunity to meet Todd Queen and become part of Fort Collins’ passion for opera at the first Beet Street Art Café at Avo’s from 5:30 to 7:00. There will be plenty of opportunities to explore your new-found appreciation of opera in the near future, with live performances of Rigoletto at Opera Fort Collins in August, and Arias at Avo’s the last Sunday of every month.

 I grew up in the middle of cornfields – only 60 miles from Chicago, but it was rare for me to be in the big city. In grade school, I remember a particular field trip to the Museum of Science & Industry right before the holidays. The exhibit that captured my attention isn’t exactly what you’d expect at that museum – Christmas trees from around the world. I remember standing in front of a tree representing Greece decorated in blue and white and imagining a faraway place.

 Fast forward 20 years and 11 years living in that big city – trees from around the world is still one of my favorite memories. It sparked my imagination and dared me to dream big…I went back many times over the years to get lost in my thoughts and in the trees. I’ve actually been fortunate to visit Greece twice in my life…and many other places I dreamed about as a kid standing in front of those trees.

Museum Illustration

I was reminded of this experience Monday night at an event at Odells updating the progress of the new Fort Collins Museum & Discovery Science Center, which is set to break ground soon at Cherry and College. What struck me about the museum is yes, it has really cool, unique exhibits, but the spirit of it seems different than other museums I’ve visited. One of the presenters described it as a “hybrid approach of culture and science” – the theme being how historical events and scientific advancements connect to each of our lives.

Digital Dome Illustration

Now I’ve always been a dreamer, but there are those places that make you feel introspective and beg you to think about your role in the world. I feel most museums achieve this here and there, but what excites me about the new Fort Collins Museum & Discovery Science Center, is the whole museum is built around this concept.

Here are some of the interesting things I learned about the new museum…  

• Interact: During the presentation, someone in the audience asked “what’s coolest thing about the new museum?” One of the presenters mentioned the interactive elements. “The idea is, you not only see what something is like, you feel it,” said the presenter. From what I understand, the litmus test for the exhibits and programming will be whether they inspire this connection.
• Energy:  The building, designed by OZ Architecture and Hensel-Phelps Construction will run on 50 percent of the energy required by similar buildings. The building was also specially designed so you can see some of the machines at work. As one of the presenters put it, visitors will “Get the sense of how pieces interact – see how systems work and are integrated.”
• Giving back: You’ll be able to see the systems and much more from the free zone, also known as the Observation Deck.  Because the museum has been in the community for century, it wants to give back and make some things free. The Observation deck will offer unobstructed views of scenery including Long’s Peak.
• Take flight: The exhibit that elicited the most excitement from the panel was the Digital Dome. One of the presenters described it as a hybrid planetarium and Omnimax experience. They emphasized it isn’t just about astronomy – although expect to spend some time exploring Saturn’s rings.  I was excited about the prospect of not just seeing the Grand Canyon, but the experience of flying through it.
•  Contribute: As a visitor, you won’t just be a viewer, expect to become part of the exhibits. A focus of the museum staff is finding ways to incorporate visitor contributed content. The staff is currently running in-house experiments to come up with ways to elicit response and get people to participate in the exhibits. Have ideas? Share them here and with the museum staff.

 These are just a few of the things you can expect at the new museum. Find more details about the plans on the museum Web site. What museums and exhibits have stuck with you over the years? What would you like to see in the new museum?

 In the homestretch

The museum already has raised $19 million of the $24 million it expects to need for the entire project. There is still a big fundraising push for the digital dome in particular. Contributions of $1,000 or more may qualify for the Enterprise Zone Tax Credit, which permits a 25 percent tax credit.   

I just have to mention, I met two of the planners from Gyroscope Inc., a company that helps museums build exhibits and solicit all of the necessary components. They also help capture the unique personality of the museum and community in which it operates. In my opinion, these guys have a pretty cool job. Thank you to Annette Geiselman, Executive Director and Cheryl Donaldson, Director of the Fort Collins Museum who answered a lot of my questions and who have obviously poured their hearts into this project. Here is a link to information about all of the designers involved in the project: http://www.fcmdsc.org/about/new/designers.html

Outdoor space plan for the museum