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Biggest Small Town in the USA (or:  We Love FoCo Part 100)

10/18/2014

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I was going to sign on and write about this week in the life of H&D.  And it involved a bunch of cool things, like a 5-course beer dinner -- in which each course incorporated pork -- with Vincent Heavenly Pies & Pasta (which was, by all accounts, heavenly), and a Ballots and Beers event at the taproom, and a beer-cheese pairing with Welsh Rabbit Cheese Bistro at the Forge Publick House and an amazing 8-course dinner at Jordan's Floral Gardens to benefit The Growing Project (and in which #WhistleBlastHoneyBrown was used both in and as a pairing for The Kitchen's dessert).  All of these things were lovely and tastybeer-accented and therefore, of course, stellar. But what I really want to write about here is the tiny window we got on the CSU 100th Homecoming Parade during its set-up on Friday.  We happened to have a blood tie to someone who was co-chairing it (and you may have chatted with her over the bar in the taproom), so we signed on for a volunteer time slot of 1-4pm. We didn't get to stay to see the parade, because we had been neglecting the taproom (though Abby and Trina had it all under control when we got back here). Even without watching the marching/performances, seeing all these groups and volunteers and students rally around downtown to celebrate CSU and seeing how much the city of FoCo does to accommodate this parade is moving.  Our daughter transferred to CSU.  I'm pretty close to 100% sure they don't have a homecoming parade at the school she initially attended , but I'm DEFINITELY sure it doesn't have a club that puts in entries like this:
There were plenty of other typical parade entries -- the university marching band (which I'm ever so sorry to have missed), the cheerleaders and dancers of all ages, and the floats.  
A couple of typical FoCo scenes -- a track team (?) getting in its run before the parade, and a golden riding by in style observing the hoopla.
Picture
Picture
There were t-shirts making political statements and those welcoming alumni back to town and to campus:
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It was a gorgeous Colorado fall day.  Almost everyone handled the various road closures with good grace (there were a few notable exceptions to this of people who really could have used an attitude-adjusting fresh tasty craft beer, but by and large, people dealt).  We walked away with a feeling of immense gratitude to all the people who made the parade possible -- from the university founders to the current day administration, from the student groups to the community ones, from the businesses and people whose parade-route entrances and parking lots were inaccessible for several hours to the folks who turned out to volunteer, and to the parade organizers and watchers.  Where else has a downtown parade for its local university's homecoming that involves a horse with a ram's head painted on it, pint-sized baton twirlers, a respite care foundation float, a ROTC unit, and a Grand Marshal like Amy Van Dyken Rouen?   Nowhere else, that's where.  For a bourgeoning city of 150,000 and growing, there sure is a fabulous small-town close-knitted-ness and appreciation for life in this place.  Go Rams!
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    ...is the dragon's wanderings through the world of craft beer. It may be hard to follow. This is best read with a great microbrew at hand!

    Categories

    All
    Anniversary
    Barleywines
    Beer Pairing
    Belgians
    Big Beers
    Biking
    Blizzard
    Book Trust
    Brewers' Olympics
    Brewing
    Buildout/Planning/Tanks
    Cans Vs. Bottles
    Charities
    Colorado
    Community
    Construction
    Craft Beer
    Craft Beer & Community
    Craftbeerfolkisgoodfolk
    Craft Beer Folk Is Good Folk
    CSU
    Earth Day
    Festivals
    Fire Captain Irish Red Ale
    Firefighter Community Compassion Fund
    Fish Restaurant & Market
    FoCo
    FOCO Cafe
    Fort Collins
    Fort Love Brewers' Jamboree
    Freshtastycraftbeer
    GABF
    Half Marathon & Pint Run
    Homebrewing
    Horse & Dragon
    House That Beer Built
    Jax Fish House
    Local
    Local Artistry
    Old Town
    Seafood Boil
    Taproom
    Taproom Team
    Team Rubicon
    Thanksgiving
    Visit Fort Collins
    Volunteering
    Water
    Website Humor

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Horse & Dragon Brewing Company   ••  124 Racquette Drive  ••  Fort Collins, CO  80524  ••  970-689-8848
For bar/restaurant/liquor store beer orders, please contact Luke Margheim, 970-980-6564; LukeM@hdbrew.com