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Ongoing Upcoming

"A Christmas Carol" takes the stage
FLC hosts winter commencement
Abbey screens "Melvin Goes to Dinner"

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

San Juan Citizens' Alliance hosts a holiday open house from 5-7 p.m. at 850 Main Ave. Food, drinks and music will be provided. 259-3583 for details.

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

The Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College, screens Poor Boyz Productions' "Session 1242," a ski and snowboard film featuring Oakely's top riders going off around the globe, at 8 p.m. Ladies Latin Boogie Night with DJs spinning all salsa and latin grooves takes place at 9 p.m. 385-1711 for details.

A jazz quartet featuring Corey Sheridan (percussion), Steve Dejka (drum set), Johnny Revetto (bass), and Peter Pheteplace (guitar) plays from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Scoot n Blues, 800 Main Ave. Downstairs DJs Erik James & Rem-E spin music for Femme Fatale . 259-1400 for details.

Holly Hieronymous and Laura Wright play piano at Christina's Grill & Bar, 21382 Hwy. 160 West, at 6 p.m. 382-3844 for details.

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Freewill Recovery jams at the Summit, 600 Main Ave., at 10 p.m. 247-2324 for details.

Airborne plays high-energy rock, Latin and funk at Steamworks, 801 E. Second Ave., at 10 p.m. 259-9200 for details.

Ralph Dinosaur plays at Scoot n Blues, 800 Main Ave., with shows at 5:30 and 8 p.m. 259-1400 for details.

Movin' On plays a little bit of country and a little bit of rock n' roll at the Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. Second Ave. 375-2568 for details.

Holly Hieronymus and Laura Wright play piano at Christina's Grill & Bar, 21382 Highway 160 West, at 6 p.m. 382-3844 for details.

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The Kuntz Family Christmas Show takes place at 2 & 7 p.m. at the Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College. Musician and comic Darryl Kuntz is joined by daughter and jazz vocalist Piper; son Nick on drums and guitar; second son and sidekick Quinn and Kevin Orrick on trumpet; Peter Pheteplace on jazz guitar; Boothe Iberg on sax; percussionist Corey Sheridan; and Johnny Rovetto on bass. 385-1711 for details.

The A/C Adaptable Robots, Let Tomorrow Be and other bands

play an all-ages punk rock show at the Fort Lewis College Extreme Room from 7-10 p.m.

Steamworks, 801 E. Second Ave., presents Ladies Night at 10 p.m. with DJ Michael Dominion spinning hip-hop and break. 259-9200 for details.

The Crawdaddys plays fossil rock and country at the Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. Second Ave. 375-2568 for details.

The Studio 3 Band , featuring Mario Dobbs, plays Scoot n Blues, 900 Main Ave., at 8 p.m. 259-1400 for details.

Holly Hieronymus and Laura Wright

play piano at Christina's Grill & Bar, 2138 Highway 160 West, at 6 p.m. 382-3844 for details.

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Pongas hosts free pool after 6 p.m. at 121 W. 8th St. 382-8554 for details.

Tim Guidotti plays a solo show at Scoot n Blues, 900 Main Ave., at 6 p.m. 259-1400 for details.

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Scoot n Blues, 900 Main Ave., presents a Keg Party at 8 p.m. downstairs at Liquid with guest DJs Matthew and Sluke. 259-1400.

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

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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., presents the semi-finals of king karaoke with Steve Kahler beginning at 8 p.m. 259-1400 for details.

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Christmas Eve

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"Naked Observations," an exhibit of recent and somewhat tiny works by Paul Pennington and Maureen May will be on display at the Buzz House, 1019 Main Ave., through the end of December. 259-0176 for details.

The Open Shutter Gallery, 755 E. Second Ave., presents its annual holiday gift show through Jan. 15. The work of more than 20 photographers will be on display and available for sale. 382-8355 for details.

The Durango Arts Center, 802 E. Second Ave., presents the "Spirit in Hand Holiday Boutique" through Christmas Eve, Dec. 24. The juried exhibit features inspired gift items made by local and regional artists and craftspeople. Upstairs, the Arts Center hosts an exhibit of new sculpture by FLC professor Amy Wendland. 259-2606 for details.

The Animas Museum, 3065 W. Second Ave., shows " Ranch Families: Culture of America ," an exhibit featuring photographs and artwork of southwest Colorado ranch families by Jenny & Greg Gummersall.259-2402 for details.

The Center of Southwest Studies hosts two new exhibits in the Exhibit Gallery through Dec. 19 and Jan. 5-15. They are : "Inspiration in Desolation," which features the paintings of Serena Supplee, and "Textiles from the Handweavers of Los Ojos/Tierra Wools." The exhibit is open for public viewing 1-4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. 382-6980 for details.

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Legendary Texas Singer Songwriter Willis Alan Ramsey will play shows on Dec. 27 & 28 at Tamarron.

The Broke Mountain Bluegrass Band reunites to play New Year's Eve at the Summit.

Local hip hop band Dialogue plays Storyville on Dec. 31.

The Motet will ring in the New Year at the Abbey Theatre with AmeriCubAfrican Dance Grooves.

Steamworks will host a Nighty Nite Pajama Dance Party for New Year's Eve with DJ Morning Bear spinning.

The Scott McGill Band will play a New Year's Eve show at Scoot n Blues.

"A Christmas Carol" takes the stage What: A musical adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic Where: The Smiley Theater, 1309 E. Third Ave. When: . Dec. 19-21 at 7 p.m. with weekend matinees at 2 p.m. Early Stages Productions (ESP) will stage the Charles Dickens classic "A Christmas Carol" with a twist at the Smiley Theater this weekend. A new production company dedicated to presenting and producing theatre for children and by children, "A Christmas Carol" is ESP's first large-scale show. Adapted and directed by Helen Gregory, the play is a musical version of the Dickens' story. The tale of Ebenezer Scrooge's visits to Christmas Past, Present and Future will be orchestrated by a cast of 23 actors. They range in age from 8 years to 40-something and represent a mix of well-known local talent as well as new faces. ESP was founded in an effort to offer more creative outlets and experiential educational opportunities for Durango's young people. ESP believes that the process of producing theatre offers the potential to integrate the creative expression of all of the arts. The group's goal is to encourage, empower and shine a light on the creative spirit. The company's founders are Dr. Ginny Davis, Helen Gregory, Glenda Hensley Dean and Jeannie Wheeldon. For more information on "A Christmas Carol" or Early Stages Productions, call 375-7135.

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FLC hosts winter commencement What: Baccalaureate graduation for more than 200 FLC students Where: The Fort Lewis College Whalen Gymnasium When: Saturday, Dec. 20 at 10 a.m. Winter commencement exercises for Fort Lewis College's 41st baccalaureate class will be held this Saturday in the Whalen Gymnasium. More than 200 students are eligible to receive their bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees at the first of two annual commencement ceremonies. Spring graduation is scheduled for May 1. Preston Somers and James Wixom will serve as faculty marshals for the event. Faculty marshals traditionally are professors who have announced their retirement following the academic year. Marshals lead the faculty procession into the commencement ceremony following the entry of the platform party, which includes the president, administrators, guests and commencement speaker. Somers, professor of biology emeritus, has been a member of the Fort Lewis College faculty since 1969, retired last August and is teaching on a transitional contract through the end of the winter semester. Wixom, associate professor of mathematics and computer science emeritus, has been a member of the Fort Lewis College faculty since 1983, retired last May and also is teaching on a transitional contract through the end of the winter semester. Leonel Silva, a member of the Board of Trustees for Fort Lewis College and former three-term mayor of Durango, will deliver the graduation address. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. in the Whalen Gymnasium.

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Abbey screens "Melvin Goes to Dinner" What: A witty comedy about dinner with a group of 30-somethings Where: The Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College When: Dec. 21-30 at 7 & 9 p.m. "Melvin Goes to Dinner" focuses on the somewhat mundane life of Melvin, a dissatisfied 30-something who spends most of his time working, smoking pot, watching porn and having sex with his overly demanding girlfriend. The cycle ends when he agrees to have dinner with his friend Joey, who brings along his two friends Alex and Sarah. As the dinner progresses, the group of almost-strangers engage in increasingly intimate dinner conversations about relationships, religion, infidelity, fetishes, ghosts, loneliness and everything in between. Michael Blieden, Stephanie Courtney, Annabelle Gurwitch and Matt Price star in the witty comedy that features cameos from the likes of Jack Black, Maura Tierney and David Cross. "Melvin Goes to Dinner" is the directorial debut of Bob Odenkirk, co-creator and co-star of the acclaimed HBO series "Mr. Show." In spite of its recent release, the film has already earned glowing reviews. Variety called it an "an intelligent, seriocomic film that, at its best, reminds of what Woody Allen used to deliver in his movies." "Melvin Goes to Dinner" will show nightly Dec. 21-30 at 7 & 9 p.m. The Abbey also will screen "Winged Migration" through Dec. 30 at 4:45 p.m. with Friday, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. For more information call 385-1711.

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