thursday friday saturday sunday monday tuesday wednesday
ongoing upcoming
Hollis brings tempermental pop to town
DMR hip-hops into new year
Be aware and avoid avalanches

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The Kirk James Trio plays blues from 3 to 7 p.m. at Purgy’s at Durango Mountain Resort.

Nina plays covers at the Palace Restaurant, 1 Depot Place, from 6 to 9 p.m. 247-2018 for more info.

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

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

Pete Giuliani brings his acoustic stew to 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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Join Southwest artisan Susan Tait for her light-hearted presentation, “In Search of Santa,” at 4 p.m. in the Double Diamond at Durango Mountain Resort. Tait, often recognized as the “Santa Claus Lady,” is on the Durango Art Center Board of Directors.

The Kirk James Trio plays blues from 3 to 7 p.m. at Purgy’s at Durango Mountain Resort.

Hollis, a hard-edged, indie-pop trio from Dallas, plays the Grizzly Peak Pub at Cascade Village. 259-3500 for info.

Mark Wilner brings his special blend to Christina’s Grill and Bar, 3416 N. Main Ave. 382-3844 for more info.

Tim Sullivan plays the Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. College Ave. 375-2568 for more info.

Ralph Dinosaur rocks out at Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave. 259-1400 for more info.

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The Kirk James Trio plays blues from 3 to 7 p.m. at Purgy’s at Durango Mountain Resort.

Hollis, a Dallas-based hard indie-pop band plays Storyville, 1150 Main Ave., at 9:30 p.m. 259-1475 for more info.

Steamworks, 801 East Second Ave., hosts a going-away bash for DJ Ethos with Brian Ess as guest DJ. 259-9200 for more info.

Tony Rio and Voodoo Chile play Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave. 259-1400 for more info.

Wolf at the Door plays the Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. College Ave. 375-2568 for more info.

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Jeff Strahan and the Strangers play rock ‘n roll from 3 to 7 p.m. at Purgy’s at Durango Mountain Resort.

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

The Brad Tarpley Trio plays jazz at 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 for more info.

Jeff Strahan and the Strangers play rock ‘n roll from 3 to 7 p.m. at Purgy’s at Durango Mountain Resort.

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

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

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New Year’s Eve!

Jeff Strahan and the Strangers play rock ‘n roll from 3 to 7 p.m. and from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Purgy’s at Durango Mountain Resort.

Pongas, 121 W. Eighth St., celebrates New Year’s with karaoke. 382-8554 for more info.

Dem Tangs gets funky for New Year’s at the Summit, 600 Main Ave. 247-2324 for more info.

Local punk phenomenon The Thirteens and Denver’s Gina Go Faster will play Storyville, 1150 Main Ave., beginning at 9:30 p.m. 259-1475 for more info.

The Grizzly Peak Pub at Cascade Village will host a disco party beginning at 10 p.m. 259-3500 for more info.

The Sand Sheff Band plays country rock at Haggard’s Black Dog Tavern, located 10 miles up Florida Road. 259-5657 for more info.

Steamworks, 801 East Second Ave., presents a special menu and a DJ spinning hits from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and beyond. 259-9200 for more info.

The Strater Hotel will host a benefit for the Durango Arts Center at the Diamond Circle Theater, 699 Main Ave. The evening will feature a Casino Night, a four-course meal, a drawing for a trip to Cabo San Lucas and a performance by Durango Dot Comedy. 247-3400 for more info.

Tim Sullivan plays country at the Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave., from 6:30 to10 p.m. 382-2648 for more info.

The High Rollers play a “New Year’s Masked Ball” at the Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. College Ave. 375-2568 for more info.

The Kirk James Band plays blues at the Pioneer in Bayfield.

The Crawdaddies play at the Billy Goat Saloon in Bayfield.

Hues of Blues plays a New Year’s Eve party at Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave. 259-1400 for more info.

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Happy 2003!

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“The Fast Runner,” an award-winning Canadian film written, produced, directed and acted by Inuit, shows at the Abbey Theatre, 123 E. College Ave., nightly at 6:45 p.m. (There will no New Year’s Eve showing.)

Thomas the Tank Engine will be visiting the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Dec. 27-29. Thomas trains will pull out of the Durango station starting at 10:30 each morning. Each trip will last 30 minutes. 247-2733 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 also is 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 Durango Arts Center, 802 East Second Ave., presents “Holiday Cards” through Dec. 31 in the DAC Art Library. The exhibit is a display of handmade cards. 259-2606 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 for more info.

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Newgrass greats Acoustic Syndicate will return to Durango on Jan. 13 with a special guest. Vince Herman, lead singer and guitarist for Leftover Salmon, joins them for a three-set extravaganza. Stay tuned for locations and details.

A benefit concert for Bryce Henning will take place Jan. 17 at the Abbey Theatre. Bryce must have reconstructive facial surgery after being mugged in Seattle. The benefit will feature various bands including the Blue Moon Ramblers, Beltaine, the Blanco Basin Boys, the Badly Bent and the Bruce Hayes Band. There also will be a silent auction and door prizes.

Hollis brings temperamental pop to town What: Alt-pop trio from Dallas and Tulsa When: Dec. 27-28 Where: Grizzly Peak Pub at Cascade Village and Storyville, 1150 Main Ave. The band Hollis began this year as a collaborative effort between Dallas-based solo artist Deck Sachse and Tulsa songwriter Scott Griffith. Sasche plays guitar and shares vocals with Griffith who also plays drums. Bass player Jay Blakey rounds out the band. The trio is playing a winter/spring tour of their self-released debut “Sound” and stopping over in Durango for two shows. Thomas Conner of the Tulsa World praised Deck Sachse’s 2001 solo CD, saying, “Sachse writes sweet, simple ballads of longing and regret and whisks them out on acoustic guitar.” During the past summer, the group has opened for the Cowboy Junkies, Trans Am, and shared bills with acclaimed Oklahoma artists Tony Romanello, Susan Herndon and Caroline’s Spine.

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DMR hip-hops into new year What: DMR’s First Annual Rebel Alliance New Year’s Party Where: The Columbine base area at Durango Mountain Resort When: Dec. 31, 7 to 10 p.m. Durango Mountain Resort will kick off the New Year beginning with a torchlight parade down Divine Comedy 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. “Fire Dancing” also will take place. The event will take place outside at the Columbine beginners’ area at the resort from 7 to 10 p.m. The price of admission includes pizza, nachos, wings and soda. For those o, Jeff Strahan and the Strangers will be playing rock at Purgy’s from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Shuttles will run to and from Durango High School.

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Be aware and avoid avalanches What: The Hesperus Ski Patrol’s seventh annual avalanche school Where: The National Guard Armory and the San Juan Mountains When: Two sessions: Jan. 15, 16 & 18 and Feb. 5, 6 & 8 The Hesperus Ski Patrol is currently taking advance registration for its “A Common Sense Approach to Avalanches,” a level-one avalanche course. Two separate classes will take place, one in mid-January and a second in early February. Classes will include study of avalanche phenomenon, avalanche hazard rescue, emergency survival and mountain weather. The courses also include field days with hands-on study of beacon searches, stability tests, snowpit and terrain analyses, and route selection among other things. The course costs $40, advanced registration is required, and class size is limited to 24 persons. Applications are available at area sports stores, the San Juan National Forest Supervisor’s Office or call Kathy Fritch at 247-4617.

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