The mere mention of the word "ramen" in a college town conjures images of red plastic pouches of noodles for pennies. For some it's a rite of passage every bit as important as freshman biology and dorm pranks.
But we're talking authentic ramen. Tender noodles in delicious broth, ramen is more than a college meal of frugality. So where do you find it in Fort Collins? I'm no authority on this subject, so I asked 13,000 of my closest friends. Here's what they had to say.
The short answer is that it may be on short supply. The consensus Gohan Time was the best in town. But heavy on the was...they closed down. Some folks head to Niwot Market on Sundays. Others mentioned Okole Maluna in Windsor if Hawaiian style is your thing. But as for Fort Collins, those who responded have been left wanting.
Except for those making it at home, that is. If you're interested in taking a shot at it in your kitchen, this may be helpful.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Where do the trains in Fort Collins typically come from and where do they go?
Trains are seemingly omnipresent in Fort Collins, but I figure you're asking for one of two reasons.
Either A) You are looking to join the circus and are planning to jump a train.
Or B) You're at your wits end with the train traffic, are thinking about ramming on with your car.
But listen, you aren't Robert Pattinson and everyone gets frustrated with the trains. Even Captain Kirk.
And remember: In car versus train, train always wins.
Always.
But since we're here, let me dive into the answer anyway. The trains passing through Fort Collins haul a wide variety of goods, from Canadian lumber to molten sulfur to crude oil and coal destined for the East Coast. Because train companies are private companies, they rarely disclose publicly exactly what they’re hauling at any given time.
But as far as I'm aware, there's no Super 8-style alien transports happening.
The vast majority of the cargo passing through Fort Collins is destined for other places, but some cars do stop here. Among those are the cars carrying grain to the Budweiser plant off Interstate 25 (the plant’s construction here 1989 meant the railroads killed a plan to bypass the city most of the time) and the cars hauling new Vestas wind turbine blades to customers all over the country.
The BNSF track on Mason Street is part of the Front Range Subdivision that operates from Denver to Cheyenne, linking customers here to BNSF's 32,000-mile network in 28 states and two Canadian provinces, and to ports for export. BNSF spokesman Andy Williams said the "vast majority" of the railway's north/south traffic from Denver to states north runs out on the Eastern Plains, not through Fort Collins.
For more on where those trains might go, check http://www.bnsf.com/customers/where-can-i-ship/.
Fun fact: a modern diesel train can move one ton of freight nearly 500 miles on a single gallon of diesel fuel, and the average train can carry the equivalent freight of 280 or more trucks.
The vast majority of the cargo passing through Fort Collins is destined for other places, but some cars do stop here. Among those are the cars carrying grain to the Budweiser plant off Interstate 25 (the plant’s construction here 1989 meant the railroads killed a plan to bypass the city most of the time) and the cars hauling new Vestas wind turbine blades to customers all over the country.
The BNSF track on Mason Street is part of the Front Range Subdivision that operates from Denver to Cheyenne, linking customers here to BNSF's 32,000-mile network in 28 states and two Canadian provinces, and to ports for export. BNSF spokesman Andy Williams said the "vast majority" of the railway's north/south traffic from Denver to states north runs out on the Eastern Plains, not through Fort Collins.
For more on where those trains might go, check http://www.bnsf.com/customers/where-can-i-ship/.
Fun fact: a modern diesel train can move one ton of freight nearly 500 miles on a single gallon of diesel fuel, and the average train can carry the equivalent freight of 280 or more trucks.
What legitimate sources are available to find rental properties if I don't live in the area yet? Is the rental housing market still tight?
The rental housing market remains tighter than Scrooge McDuck on the day before payday. Largely, it depends on whether you are a student or not and if you're looking for an apartment or a house.
There are several property management companies in the city that can help you find a place (I included a short list of some of the bigger ones below). Fort Collins Craigslist is another place to look, but beware of scammers.
The two best sources for this sort thing are the Coloradoan's classifieds (http://www.coloradoan.com/homes/) and NorthernColoradoRentals.com. You'll find listings, photos and contact info. Everything you need to find your next home.
Good luck out there!
The following is not an endorsement any of the companies, but a sampling of those that are in the city. Armadillo Property Management, www.rentfortcollins.com, (970) 416-7368; Touchstone Property Management (www.touchstone-property.com), 970-223-5000; Mountain-n-Plains, 970-221-2323; Peak Property Management, www.peakproperty.net, 970-377-2717.
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