thursday friday saturday sunday monday tuesday wednesday
ongoing upcoming
“The Fast Runner” arrives at the Abbey
Nutcracker returns for sixth season
Thomas the Tank Engine makes Durango return

Submit items for On the Town to: 534 Main Ave., Durango, CO, 81301; fax: ( 970) 259-0448; e-mail: telegraph@durangotelegraph.com ; or fill out this form

The Durango Community Recreation Center will host lunch with Santa from 11 a.m. to noon. The lunch will be catered, and Santa will visit with each child. 375-7300.

Pongas, 121 W. Eighth St., presents a singles, 8-ball pool tournament at 7 p.m. 382-8554.

Lady Falconburgh’s, 640 Main Ave., presents Beer Bingo Night at 9 p.m. 382-9664 for more info.

Tim Guidotti plays acoustic soul and funk at Christina’s Grill and Bar, 3416 N. Main Ave. 382-3844 for more info.

Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave., hosts Studio 54 Ladies Night at 10 p.m. 259-1400 for more info.

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The St. Columba Bell Choir will perform Christmas carols from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Village Plaza at Durango Mountain Resort.

Storyville, 1150 Main Ave., hosts Supper Club with the music of local folkie Greg Oldson at 5:30 p.m. At 9:30 p.m., the Salty Dogs bring their bluegrass to the stage. 259-1475.

The Open Shutter Gallery Christmas party takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. at 755 East Second Ave. The public is invited. 382-8355 for more info.

Steamworks, 801 East Second Ave., hosts Laser Floyd, a live laser and light show with music from Pink Floyd and video on the big screen. 259-9200 for more info.

Jeff Strahan and the Strangers rock out at Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave. 259-1400 for more info.

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Fort Lewis College will host its annual Winter Commencement Ceremony at 10 a.m. in the Student Life Center. Nearly 270 students will receive their bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees. Karen Wade, director of the Intermountain Region of the National Park Service, will deliver the commencement address.

Brian Carter plays classics at Purgy’s at Durango Mountain Resort from 3 to 7 p.m.

The Durango Children’s Chorale will perform at the Village Plaza at Durango Mountain Resort from 4 to 6 p.m. Hot chocolate will be provided.

The Salty Dogs bring bluegrass to the Summit, 600 Main Ave. 247-2324 for more info.

DJ Ethos and a special guest spin tunes at Steamworks, 801 E. 2^nd Ave., for Ladies Night. 259-9200.

Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave., will host the Toys for Tots Christmas Party at 8 p.m. to benefit Project Merry Christmas. The evening will feature door prizes, food and drink specials, and music from the Kirk James Blues Band. Bring a toy worth $10 and get in for free. 259-1400.

Pete Giuliani brings his acoustic stew to Christina’s Grill and Bar, 3416 N. Main Ave. 382-3844.

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Brian Carter plays classics at Purgy’s at Durango Mountain Resort from 3 to 7 p.m.

Pongas hosts free pool after 6 p.m. at 121 W. Eighth St. 382-8554 for more info.

The Sweet/Ross Quartet featuring Terisa Ross brings jazz to Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave. 259-1400 for more information.

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The Summit, 600 Main Ave., hosts open mic night. 247-2324.

Native son and Nashville talent Sand Sheff plays the Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave., from 6:30 to 10 p.m. 382-2648.

Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave., hosts Durango Dot Comedy and Comic Kazi. 259-1400.

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Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave., hosts the King Karaoke Show at 8 p.m. 259-1400 for more info.

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Merry Christmas!

Santa will be cruising around the mountain at Durango Mountain Resort, and Christmas Day services will be offered at the on-mountain chapel at the top of Chair 1.

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Santa will be paying a visit to the Durango Mountain Resort Plaza between Dec. 20-23 from 4-6 p.m. Don’t miss the cookies and fun.

The Durango Arts Center, 802 East Second Ave., presents the “Spirit in Hand Holiday Boutique” through Dec. 23 in the Barbara Conrad Gallery. The exhibit features inspired gift items from local and regional artists. An exhibit titled “Holiday Cards,” a display of handmade cards, runs concurrently in the DAC Art Library. 259-2606.

The Fort Lewis College Art Gallery will host the Senior Art Majors Exhibition through Friday, Dec. 20. The work of graduating Fort Lewis College art majors will be displayed. 247-7167 for more info.

The Open Shutter Gallery, 755 East Second Ave., is exhibiting a “Best of the Year” holiday show through Jan. 16. The show features a selection of the last year’s photographs as well as exciting new work from locals Jenny and Greg Gummersall, Karin Becker and the Up Close series from Kirk Norlin. The gallery is also presenting an installation of work by acclaimed New York photographer Lois Greenfield at the Cafe of Life, 925 Highway 3, through Jan. 31. 382-8355 for more info.

The Center of Southwest Studies presents, “Potters and Painters: The Artistry of Mata Ortiz” This collection features contemporary pottery from the village of Mata Ortiz in northern Mexico. The center also is hosting “Ranch Families: Culture of America,” a celebration of ranching’s multi-cultural heritage featuring Jenny Gummersall’s photographs and C. Gregory Gummersall’s paintings, through January. 247-7456.

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Durango Mountain Resort will host a New Year’s Celebration on Dec. 31 with a Torchlight parade and a fireworks display at dusk. Then the resort will present its first annual Rebel Alliance New Year’s Party with a live hip-hop band, followed by a disc jockey. Shuttles will run from Durango High School.

“The Fast Runner” arrives at the Abbey What: An acclaimed Inuit language film When: Beginning Dec. 26, time TBA Where: The Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College Genuinely spooky shamanic rituals, intensely erotic moments and an incredible chase across a melting glacier are just a few of the highlights in “The Fast Runner” (Atanarjuat), a three-hour debut feature of Inuit director Zacharias Kunuk. “The Fast Runner” is Canada’s first feature-length fiction film written, produced, directed and acted by Inuit. It was filmed on location in the Arctic, with an all-Inuit cast, in and out of actual igloos lit solely by seal oil lamps. The results are breathtaking: yellow and purple skies; vast, flat ice-covered horizons; and naturalistic performances from the (mostly inexperienced) actors combine to make this a one-of-a-kind viewing experience. With equal attention paid to authenticity and narrative, “The Fast Runner”emerges both as a vital cultural document and an innovative dramatic film. “The Fast Runner” won honors for Best Feature-Length Mountain Fiction Film at the 2002 Banff Mountain Film Festival, the Camera d’Or for the Best First Feature at the Cannes Film Festival as well as awards at dozens of other film festivals. Michael Wilmington of the Chicago Tribune called “The Fast Runner” a “landmark movie that becomes a priceless entryway into a distant land and its people.” “The Fast Runner” will begin showing at the Abbey Theatre on Dec. 26. Check www.abbeytheatre.com for show times.

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Nutcracker returns for sixth season What: The Aspen Santa Fe Ballet’s annual performance of The Nutcracker Where: The Fort Lewis College Community Concert Hall When: Dec. 20 at 7 p.m., Dec. 21 at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. Aspen Santa Fe Ballet returns this weekend for its sixth year of performing “The Nutcracker” in Durango. This grand production, based on the well-known book by E.T.A. Hoffman and set to Tchaikovsky’s music, opens in the midst of the Victorian era. With numerous costumes, a large cast, special effects and new, original choreography by directors Jean-Philippe Malaty and Tom Mossbrucker, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet’s effort is an invigorating version of a holiday classic. Many Durango dance students plus guest dancers from all over the country appear alongside the professional dancers. “The Nutcracker” will show at various times from Dec. 20-22. For more information, call (970) 925-7175 Ext. 11. Tickets are on sale now and can be bought by calling 247-7657.

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Thomas the Tank Engine makes Durango return What: Fun for kids with the famous cartoon train Where: The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge and Abbey Theatre When: The weekends of Dec. 20-22 and Dec. 27-29 Thomas the Tank Engine, the star of children’s books, videos and television, will be rolling back into Durango on Dec. 20-22 and Dec. 27-29. Children of all ages will be able to take a ride on Thomas’ own train as he travels on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge line. Thomas fans will meet Sir Topham Hatt and enjoy a variety of activities including a bouncy train, storytelling, live entertainment, a food court and much more. Thomas will pull out of the Durango station every 45 minutes starting at 10:30 each morning. Each trip will last 30 minutes. In addition to this, the Durango Film Festival will be working in cooperation with the D&SNG to present a special screening of the children’s film “Salty’s Secret and Other Thomas Adventures,” starring Thomas and Friends. The screenings are a kick-off announcing a children’s and family films program as part the 2003 Durango Film Festival. The film will be shown at the Abbey Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 21, and Sunday, Dec. 22, at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. There will be door prizes at each show, and tickets will be available at the door of the Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College Ave. Call 247-2733 for more info.

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