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Warm Up in Downtown

by Julie Sutter

Published: January, 27, 2010

Every February when Groundhog Day rolls around, I find myself secretly hoping that Punxsutawney Phil won’t see his shadow, thus signaling that winter is drawing its last frigid breaths and spring lies just around the corner. Of course, since I was born and raised in Colorado, I know better. Regardless of what happens when Phil waddles out of his Pennsylvania burrow, here in Colorado, winter takes its time. While we are always graced with some sweet and surprising sunny days in the months before May, sometimes the best bet is to hunker down indoors and wait for springtime to arrive.

Luckily, in Downtown Fort Collins, there are plenty of warm and inviting places to take a break from the cold and find refuge from frigid temps. This is especially enticing when accompanied by a close companion; cuddling is optional, but not a bad idea. In February, you can celebrate Valentine’s Day by ducking into any number of warm stores to pick up an unusual gift for the love of your life (or the friends that are there when the love of your life isn’t). Paul Wood Florist and Palmer Flowers are two excellent downtown choices for floral expressions of fondness with a little hint of spring. And with countless retail stores located Downtown, you have unlimited opportunity to find just the right gift that shows how thoughtful you are. Even at the last minute!

And I haven’t even mentioned restaurants yet. What’s more heartwarming than gazing into your lover’s eyes over a delectable dinner? Doing it with a discount! March ushers in Great Plates of Downtown (March 1 – 14), bringing mouthwatering but wallet-friendly culinary opportunities to downtown diners for two full weeks. Celebrate the abundance of authentic cuisine by getting cozy in any of more than 25 participating restaurants. And just when you think you can’t keep up your good spirits in the face of wintery weather, St. Patrick’s Day arrives, complete with the festive Lucky Joe’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade and a chance to get a peek at some spring greens, even if it’s only in the form of those “Kiss Me, I’m Irish” buttons. Spring officially arrives via the equinox on March 20, but on March 23, you can tell your taste buds that winter has truly ended by treating yourself to an ice cream cone during Ben & Jerry’s annual Free Cone Day at the Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop in Old Town Square.

And with the arrival of April, just about everybody gets outside again. The runners are running (join them for the Horsetooth Half Marathon on April 18) and the bikers start biking (look for the Fort Collins Bike Library to open again in the spring). You can even take advantage of spring breezes with a great event called Kites in the Park, scheduled for May 1. Until then, I’ll meet you for a cup of coffee – inside!