Friday, August 16, 2013

How many Laser Tag places are there in Fort Collins?

Ah laser tag: The game for those of us too chicken to play paintball. Don't get me wrong, I'm not judging. I'm not exactly a fan of being covered in tiny circle-shaped, bruise-colored camouflage either.

The good news: You've got options for laser tag. Barely.

First, right here in Fort Collins, Fort Fun is the place to channel your inner Han Solo. With new games starting every 15 minutes, you should be able to zap away to your heart's content. Games in the "multi-level, galactic arena" run $6.50 each.

Just down I-25, Loveland Laser Tag also gives you two levels of laser tag fun. Featuring a 5000 square foot arena "filled with fog to make the lasers and flashing lights more visible", you can join in on one of the new games starting every 20 minutes for $5.00. LLT also features in-game power-ups and rewards.

And if you're serious about your laser tag (and honestly, for a game intended purely for entertainment with no baring on reality, why wouldn't you be?) check out these 18 steps to winning at laser tag.

I'm looking for new gluten free lunch options in mid-town Fort Collins. Any suggestions?

Avoiding grain in Fort Collins? Good luck with that. From the breweries to burgers to the bake shops, Fort Collins is overflows loves its wheat.

Many restaurants have a number of gluten-free options on the menu. Oftentimes you can find a place with a menu you like and see what can be adjusted.

Still, it's nice to have someone create something with you in mind, rather than making it work for you. I asked around and found a few options you may enjoy:

Whole Foods has a variety of fresh and prepared gluten-free foods with a covered patio on which to enjoy your wheat-less wonders. Find them at 2201 S College Ave.

Boutique burger joint Larkburger can help you satisfy your beef craving while steering clear of gluten. Visit them at 2539 S College Ave.

If you're craving pizza, Uncle's Pizza is your spot. They have a gluten-free crust to satisfy your anchovie craving. Stop by 1717 S College Ave.

And if you're up for international cuisine you've got plenty of options: Mt. Fuji Japanese Restaurant (4020 S College Ave), Nyala Ethiopian Cuisine (2900 Havard St), Maza Kabob (2427 S College Ave) and Taverna Greek Grill (4325 S College Ave).

If you're looking for even more options, the community on Yelp has also done a pretty good job of reviewing the gluten free options in Fort Collins.

Happy eating!

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Will MAX have racks to transport bikes?

Ah, the three Bs of Fort Collins. Bikes. Beers. Barely finding a place to park in Old Town.

The city hopes to alleviate the some frustration caused by the last item on that list with the completion of the MAX bus system, currently scheduled to start service in May 2014.

There won't be bike racks, but there will be room inside the bus for bikes. As the City of Fort Collins says on its website: no more rack on the front, just roll that bike onboard.

The city's website also says the buses will accommodate "three or more bicycles." The website says "Safety will dictate the maximum number of bikes permitted."

For a full tour of the inside of the bus, check out this pdf or watch the video below.

Any leads on local barbershops in Fort Collins that offer straight razor shaves? (Asking for a friend)

Asking for a friend, huh? Congrats to your friend on being awesome. Seriously, Clint Eastwood thinks this question is manly.

Whoever is aiming to add to their world's most interesting man cred, they've got a few options around Fort Collins. If anyone else knows of a shop doing this, drop me a line in the comments.

Carmel Barber Shop
315 W Oak St
(970) 493-1685

Sammie’s Lucky 27 Barber Shop & Social Club
1205 W Elizabeth St
(970) 581-5559

Ray's Barbershop
1649 S College Ave
(970) 482-5618

Scissors and Sinners
112 E. Laurel Street
(970) 482-1111

Congrats on all the swagger points you'll gain from this. And if you decide you want to upgrade your experience in front of your own bathroom mirror, Fort Collins resident Dan Herrick recently shared tips for a satisfying home save experience in an Ignite Fort Collins talk titled "Wet, Hot, and Lathered".

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

My partner and I are wanting to know the process for civil union. Where do we find that information and how much does it cost?

Well, first off, congrats! That's a big life decision but doesn't appear to be an overly cumbersome process. You'll need to obtain a license, certify that license and submit the license for government records.

To obtain a license, you'll both need to bring your IDs to one of the Larimer County Clerk and Recorder's office locations in Fort Collins, Loveland or Estes Park. If you'd like the process to move along quickly, you can fill out this form beforehand. The license will cost you $30 and is good for 35 days. If you turn it in late, it'll cost you another $20.

Lesson: Don't be tardy.

Next, it's ceremony time. Another good thing to be on time for. If you'd like, you can certify your own civil union as a couple. You can also have a variety of other people perform a ceremony and certify this for you. They'd need to be a judge, retired judge, magistrate, Indian tribe official or clergy.

After the ceremony, turn the license back in to the Clerk and Recorder's office and you'll be all set!

For all the information you could possibly want, check out the Civil Unions page on the Larimer County website. And if you still have questions, you can call the Clerk and Recorder's office at 970-498-7860.

Congrats again! Let me know where to send the toaster oven.

When the Mason corridor is complete, will all the Transfort bus stops be removed from College Ave?

I know what you're thinking: They can't take service off of College Avenue. It will make such a better back drop for my remake of the 1994 blockbuster Speed.

Cue sad Keanu: You're going to have to keep it above 55 on Mason St.



Yes, bus service will being coming off College Avenue when MAX comes online. Officials say it would be a parallel service and therefore not needed. Transfort folks say the MAX service will be an improvement.

So if you're walking from the east side of College to reach your bus stop, as the person who asked this question will be, it's going to mean a bit of extra work on the pedestrian portion of your commute.

You've still got time to get your filming in. MAX service is scheduled to begin May 2014. For the latest on MAX, follow along at www.coloradoan.com/max.

Monday, August 12, 2013

Is there any way to tell which little lakes in Fort Collins have public areas?

No one ever accused Colorado of being the Land of 1000 Lakes. Heck, most people look at our lakes and call them ponds. They look at our ponds and asked if it rained earlier today. Year after year, we put in a lot of effort to deal with the drought conditions of our region (not to mention the wild fires).

As such, a number of folks have taken it upon themselves to build their own bodies of water, whether it's a watering hole for cattle or beauty and recreation for landowners.

And generally, that means other folks can't use the man made lakes and ponds. Warren Lake and most other small lakes around the city are not open to public access. Generally, they are privately owned and often have different ownership for the surface rights and the land along the shoreline. If it’s not in a public park, such as Sheldon Lake in City Park, you should probably assume the lake is not open for public use.

That said, there are several natural areas around town that are open to the public. The city's website will show you which activities are allowed at which areas.