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ongoing upcoming
Durango celebrates Cinco de Mayo
The Big Kahuna of whitewater benefits
A stroll through Durango’s galleries
Remodeled Abbey hosts Jamaican artist and film

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The San Juan Mountains Association will host a free weed walk with Rod Cook, county weed manager, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Santa Rita Park. Participants will learn how to identify weeds and tips for control. 385-1210 for details.

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

The Center of Southwest Studies will celebrate Cinco de Mayo by presenting a lecture by Ruben Archuleta entitled “Understanding the Penitentes: The Truth about Three Centuries of Hispano Religious Traditions” at 7 p.m. in the Lyceum. Archuleta will discuss the research and writing he is doing for his new book about the Penitentes from Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico

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

Beer Bingo Night takes place at Lady Falconburgh’s, 640 Main Ave., at 9 p.m. 382-9664.

The Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. Second Ave., hosts “Thursday Night Live,” a night of live music and local talent. 375-2568 for details.

Haggard’s Black Dog Tavern, 10 miles east of Durango on Florida Road, hosts Canyon Dog Jam at 8 p.m. All are welcome to the acoustic free-for-all. 259-5657.

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

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The FLC Environmental Center will present a lecture and slide show by Tom Riesing and Christie Berven entitled “Permaculture in Your Back Yard” at 6:30 p.m. in 130 Noble Hall. Riesing and Berven, of the Oakhaven Permaculture Center, will teach participants how to plant a high-altitude companion garden and how mulching can build soil and eliminate the need for plowing. 247-7676 for details.

The Talon Club will host the 11^th annual Sports Spectacular silent and live auctions at 5 p.m. at the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum. 247-7571.

Mysto the Magi does tableside magic from 7-10 p.m. at East by Southwest, 160 E. College.

Catalyst jams at the Summit, 600 Main Ave., at 9:30 p.m. 247-2324.

Pop Shuvit plays Storyville, 1150 Main Ave., at 9:30 p.m. 259-1475.

The Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. Second Ave., hosts Gran Bailazo for Cinco de Mayo. 375-2568 for details.

Doug Phillips and his band play rock and blues at Big Daddy’s Nightclub, 2653 Main Ave. 247-1224 for details.

Denver’s Federales play original rock at Steamworks, 801 E. Second Ave., at 10 p.m. 259-9200 for details.

Freewill Recovery plays a free show at Haggard’s Black Dog Tavern, 10 miles east of Durango on Florida Road, at 9 p.m. 259-5657 for details.

The Soul Deacons play Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave. DJ Rasta Stevie spins reggae downstairs at Liquid. 259-1400.

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Fort Lewis College will host its 40^th annual Spring Commencement at 10 a.m. in the Fieldhouse. Jane Margaret O’Brien, president of St. Mary’s College of Maryland, will deliver the commencement address to about 380 graduating seniors.

Mysto the Magi will present the magic of reading at the Durango High School Gymnasium. Performances take place at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and proceeds benefit Friends of Dyslexic Youth. 259-1672.

A Special Needs Trust SeminarA0will take place at noon at First United Methodist Church of Durango. Richard “Jack” Loney, JD, CFP, and CLU will discuss proper estate planning techniques to prepare for the care, comfort and financial well being of your special-needs children. Call 799-2540 for details.

The Friends of the Animas Valley will host “Smart Growth,” a talk by Dr. Albert Bartlett, professor emeritus of physics from CU Boulder, on the effects of population growth and his experience with Boulder’s open space and growth programs at 7 p.m. at the FLC Center for Southwest Studies.

This month’s Contra Dance will be held at Park Elementary School, 623 E. Fifth St. Instruction takes place at 7 p.m., and dancing runs from 7:30 to 10 p.m. The Metrognomes, of Los Alamos, will provide music. 259-6820.

Catalyst jams at the Summit, 600 Main Ave., at 9:30 p.m. 247-2324.

The Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. Second Ave., hosts Gran Bailazo. 375-2568.

Aftergrass plays funky newgrass at Steamworks, 801 E. Second Ave., 259-9200.

The Soul Deacons play Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave. 259-1400.

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The Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. Second Ave., hosts Gran Bailazo. 375-2568 for details.

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

Jeff Strahan and the Strangers play Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave., at 2 p.m. 259-1400 for details.

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Trails 2000 hosts trail work on the Sale Barn trail from 3-8 p.m. Volunteers are needed, can arrive and leave as their schedules permit and are asked to meet at the trailhead half mile past New Country Auto on the Frontage Road. Bring lots of water and work gloves if you have them. 259-4682 for details.

The Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. Second Ave., hosts Gran Bailazo for Cinco de Mayo. 375-2568 for details.

Sand Sheff plays the Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave., from 6:30-10 p.m. 382-2648 for details.

Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave., hosts live improv with Comic Kazi. 259-1400 for details.

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The San Juan Mountains Association will host a free bird identification workshop at Pine Needle Mountaineering with avian ecologist Lynn Alterman. Call 385-1210 to register.

Tuesday Trivia takes place at Lady Falconburgh’s, 640 Main Ave., at 8 p.m. 382-9664 for details.

Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave., hosts king karaoke with Steve Kahler beginning at 8 p.m. 259-1400.

Tim Sullivan plays country at the Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave., from 6:30-10 p.m.

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The Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, a nonprofit group dedicated to preserving the state’s 14,000-foot peaks, will host a volunteer outreach meeting at Pine Needle Mountaineering, 835 Main Ave., at 7 p.m.

Pongas, 121 W. Eighth St., hosts a scotch doubles pool tournament at 7 p.m. 382-8554 for details.

Kirk James plays at the Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave., from 6:30-10 p.m.

The Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. Second Ave., presents Crazy Charlie’s karaoke. 375-2568 for details.

Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave., hosts a talent search. 259-1400 for details.

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The Fort Lewis College Art Gallery will host the contemplative and playful work of visiting instructor Chad Colby, “Spaces Between Leaves,” from Monday, May 5, - Friday, May 16. Colby’s work explores the relationship between organic and man-made forms. An artist’s reception will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, May 2, in the Art Gallery. 247-7167 for details.

A new exhibit of emerging Durango artists titled “Hot Spots” will run at the Durango Arts Center, 802 E. Second Ave., through May 31. The exhibit will feature Ed Bolster’s performance and installation work; collage from Michael Darmody; Gary Devore’s oil paintings; and gouache paintings by Mary Mellot. An artists’ reception will be held on Friday, May 2, from 5-7 p.m. 259-2606 for details.

The Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College, will screen “Standing in the Shadows of Motown.” Fourteen years in the making, the film tells the saga of the Funk Brothers, a Motown studio band that played behind 1960s legends from the Supremes to the Temptations. The film shows nightly at 6:30 & 9 p.m.

The Open Shutter Gallery, 755 E. Second Ave., will host “Alaska,” an exhibit by local photographer John Schwieder through May 17. The exhibit features images of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. 382-8355 for details.

The Center of Southwest Studies is showing “Riders of the West,” black-and-white photographs by Linda MacCannell capturing the world of Indian rodeo riders and family, and “Southwest Textiles from the Durango CollectionAE,” spanning eight centuries of weaving.

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The Center of Southwest Studies and Office of Community Services will present the third annual Historic Preservation Awards on May 8. 247-7333 for details.

Edith and Bill Stagstetter will give a lecture entitled “The Mining Camps Speak: A New Way to Explore the Ghost Towns of the American West” on May 8 at the Center for Southwest Studies.

The annual city of Durango Clean-Up will be held May 9, and volunteers are encouraged to meet and pick up garbage throughout the city.

Ride the Lightning, a benefit mountain bike race for Montezuma County Partners followed by a bash and band at Koko’s Pub, will take place in Cortez on May 10. 749-1060 for details.

Dance in the Rockies will present its 13^th annual spring recital, “A Night at the Movies,” on May 10 at the FLC Community Concert Hall. Dancers of all ages will perform ballet, tap, jazz, modern, lyrical, and hip hop. 247-7657.

The Durango Society of Cultural and Performing Arts will present a concert by acclaimed autoharpist Bryan Bowers on May 12.

Alternative Horizons will sponsor the third annual World Dance & Music Festival on May 14 at the Abbey Theatre. Performers will include Ballet Folklorico, Durango Country Cloggers, 12 Gauge and Benet el Noor. 247-4374 for details.

Oakhaven Permaculture Center and the FLC Environmental Center are co-hosting a free presentation “What is Permaculture?” on May 16. 259-5445.

“Carmina Burana,” Carl Orff’s setting of medieval tales, will be performed by the Durango Choral Society, Durango Children’s Chorale and the Animas Music Festival Orchestra on May 16 at the Community Concert Hall.

The first annual South Rim Trail Duathlon will take place May 17 and include a 6-mile trail run and 15-mile mountain bike race. 749-7441 for details.

The Taste of Durango will return to downtown May 18. Operation Healthy Communities will be this year’s beneficiary.

Durango celebrates Cinco de Mayo What:A local celebration of Mexico’s victory in the Battle of Puebla Where:Santa Rita Park and the Smiley Theatre When: Saturday, May 3, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sunday, May 4, 7 p.m. For the ninth year, the Durango Latino Education Coalition will host the annual Cinco de Mayo festival Saturday at Santa Rita Park featuring arts, crafts. food and children’s activities. A single elimination basketball tournament also will be held. Interested teams should be there by 9:30 a.m. In addition to the activities, the main stage will provide music and dance throughout the day. 759-2609 for details. Schedule of Santa Rita Events: 10 a.m.: Prayer service led by Salvador Cisneros 10:45 a.m.: Opening song: National Anthem sung by La Jovencita 10:50 a.m.: Mariachi de Durango – music 11:15 a.m.: La Jovencita – singer 11:45 a.m.: Esquela de la Musica Mexicana – mariachis & folkdancing 12:30 p.m.: La Jovencita 12:45 p.m.: Folklorico Durango 1:30 p.m.: Tango, Merenge, Salsa 2:30 p.m.: Mariachi de Durango 2:45 p.m.: Folklorico Durango 3:15 p.m.: Tango, Merenge, Salsa 3:30 p.m.: Escuela de la Musica Mexicana 4:15 p.m.: La Jovencita 4:30 p.m.: Tango & Salsa with workshop On Sunday evening, Escuela de la Musica Mexicana will perform in the Smiley Building Theatre. The evening will feature live music, dance and song from more than 40 performers from Durango, Mexico. The group will give the audience a colorful and creative taste of life in Durango, Mexico. Mayor Virginia Castro, who saw la Escuela de la Musica Mexicana last fall in Durango, Mexico, said, “They’re incredibly professional and well worth seeing. It’s going to be a wonderful taste of Durango, Mexico, and it could be a while until they come again.” Castro added that the $5 tickets will go to offsetting travel and production costs and have been kept low in order to get as many Durangoans to attend as possible. 749-3344 for details.

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The Big Kahuna of whitewater benefits What: Durango Whitewater’s annual benefit and movie premier; high school race and rodeo When: River events 1:45 to 5 p.m. Saturday; Auction 6 to 8 p.m., Sunday, May 4 Where: Abbey Theatre and Whitewater Park With spring in full bloom, many a local’s fancy turns to boating, and what better way to make a splash on the river than with some brand new schwag won at Durango Whitewater’s annual fund-raiser? This year’s event will include door prizes (read: free) as well as river-related auction items donated by various local stores. An added bonus to this year’s event will be the spectacle of local boating personality and event emcee Corey Nielson festooned in a coconut bra. The island garb is in honor of this year’s theme, a nod to the town run’s legendary double wave that barely made it up last summer. Nielson said if the prospect of seeing him scantily clad in hula suit isn’t enough to draw in the crowds, helping local kids in Durango’s whitewater program should be. “The event will help fund coaching and senior athletes,” said Nielson. “We’ve got some good athletes. A lot of these guys want to go to the Olympics, and it’s an 11-month commitment.” As in years past, the event also will feature a world premiere short film from the creative mind of former-slalom-racer-turned-film-director, John Brennan. This year’s offering, “No Snow. No Rain. No Water. No Problem,” takes a look at the agonizing life of river dwellers during a time of drought. Brennan, who calls the 20-minute film a “celebration of local athletes,” said despite the bleak conditions of last summer, local boaters still managed to find water, as well as other entertaining activities to bide their time. “We had a horrible drought, and people still managed to find water,” he said. “I’ve also got mountain biking; I’ve got motorcross racing; I’ve got footage from the North Shore of Hawaii.” He said the film also contains segments on world slalom champ Rebecca Giddens; creeking in Southwest Colorado; and the ever-popular “crash-and-burn” section. The benefit will be held in conjunction with a Colorado High School Whitewater Championship race and rodeo Saturday afternoon at Whitewater Park. A slalom race will take place at 1:45 p.m. followed by a freestyle rodeo at 3:30 p.m. “It should be a total blast,” said Nielson. “I’m excited. It should be a good kickoff weekend for the season.” For more information, call Nielson at 375-6286.

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A stroll through Durango’s galleries What: The Annual Spring Gallery Walk Where: Downtown Durango When: Friday, May 2, 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Each fall and spring, The Durango Gallery Association, an organization dedicated to the promotion of local fine arts and downtown galleries, provides a chance for art lovers to spend the night strolling in and out of the many receptions that coincide with the event. Gallery-goers will have ground to cover this spring with 12 galleries participating, including the Open Shutter, Durango Arts Center, Gallery Ultima, Martin Roll Gallery, Red Canyon Gallery, Termar Gallery and Toh-Atin Gallery. This spring’s walk will, as always, include appetizers, beverages and entertainment at each of the galleries. Walkers can obtain a free “passport” at any of the participating venues. Throughout the next week, participants will have the opportunity to complete the walk, validating their passports with stamps from each gallery. Completed passports will be entered in a drawing for a $300 gift certificate valid at any of the galleries. 259-2606 for details.

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Remodeled Abbey hosts Jamaican artist and film What: “Life and Debt” and Yami Bolo concert Where: Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College When: Monday, May 5, 9 p.m.; concert, 11 p.m. The Abbey Theatre will unveil a new balcony and state-of-the-art sound system on Monday, May 5. Along with the facelift, Stephanie Black’s documentary “Life and Debt” will show followed by a reggae concert featuring one of the film’s actors, Yami Bolo. “Life and Debt” examines the effects of global economy, labor practices and governmental policies on the economy and people of a developing country. Jamaican farmers tell of Chiquita squashing local crops, and garment workers describe sweatshops. Bolo, touring in support of his 20th album “Rebelution,” will perform after the screening. Bolo sang on the 2002 Grammy Award-winning album “Halfway Tree” with Damian JR Gong Marley and Stephen Marley’s Ghetto Youths Krewe. Advance tickets are available at Southwest Sound and the Abbey. 385-9221 for details.

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