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Ongoing Upcoming

Abbey screens 'Being Julia'
Nutcracker returns to Concert Hall
Warsaw blows back into Durango

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

Noel Night - Downtown businesses offer specials and extend their hours through 9 p.m.

Thom Rader performs original bossa-nova & samba tunes for Noel Night at 2 & 7 p.m. at Southwest Sound, 922 Main Ave. Part of the proceeds from "Cafe Brazil" sales on Noel Night benefit the La Plata Humane Society. 259-5986 for details.

Park Elementary celebrates the completion of construction at its ribbon-cutting ceremony, " Shooting for the Stars in Our New School ," at 2 p.m. in the school gym. The ceremony includes a choir performance, guest speakers, star gazing and a 5 p.m. school tour. 247-3718 for details.

Mesa Verde National Park hosts its annual Holiday Open House from 4-9 p.m. in the Chapin Mesa headquarters area. The free celebration includes special tours, luminarias, musical entertainment and refreshments. 529-4462 for details.

The FLC Life-Long Learning Lecture Series wraps up with a talk by Richard Grossman, M.D., entitled "Population and Consumption: The Nemeses of a Sustainable Society, or Why My Granddaughter Claire's World Will Be Different!, at 7 p.m. in 130 Noble Hall. 247-7400 for details.

A community meeting to gauge community concerns on the potential closing of the Durango High School campus takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. at DHS. 247-5411, ext. 1440 for details.

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

The Sound Liberation Peace Choir meets from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Heartlight Wholistic Health Center, 97 W. North St. in Bayfield. 884-9216 for details.

Scoot 'n Blues, 800 Main Ave., hosts the Open House Dance Party , featuring house and hip hop music, at 8 p.m. 259-1400 for details.

Durango Joe's, 732 E. College, presents Open Mic Night from 9-11 p.m. Sign-ups for the talent contest begin at 8:30 p.m. 375-2121 for details.

DJs El Beau and Irah spin music at the Summit, 600 Main Ave., at 10 p.m. 247-2324 for details.

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Registered nurses Brenda Isgar and Debra Betwee don retro nursing caps and uniforms to commemorate San Juan Basin Health's 40th anniversary . The celebration takes place at 12:30 p.m. at the Durango Senior Center and includes free blood pressure clinics, cake and punch.

"Christmas Causes," a holiday celebration for Southwest Colorado non-profits takes place from 6-10 p.m. at the Durango Arts Center, 802 E. Second Ave. The event features music from the Broke Mountain Trio and Benny Galloway , food from Norton's Catering and a cash bar. Participating non-profits are Adaptive Sports, American Red Cross, Durango Arts Center, Durango Nature Studies, Habitat for Humanity, KDUR, Operation Healthy Communities, San Juan Mountains Association and San Juan Citizens Alliance.

"Dancin' With Pep ," a dance party in memory of former Fort Lewis coach and professor Carol "Peppy" Seale, takes place from 7:30-10:30 p.m. in the College Union Building Ballroom. Dance instruction will be provided from 7:30-8:30 p.m. and will include foxtrot, salsa, jitterbug, waltz, polka, country and line dancing. 247-7062 for details.

Jeff Strahan and the Strangers play an 8 p.m. show at Scoot 'n Blues, 800 Main Ave. 259-1400 for details.

Local jam band Freewill Recovery returns 4 to the Summit, 600 Main Ave., at 9:30 p.m. 247-2324 for details.

The Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College, and New Belgium Brewing host a late night screening of the film " Scrapple " at 10:30 p.m. A portion of the proceeds the Colorado Avalanche Information Center and there will be door prizes. 385-1711 for details.

The Lion's Den Unlimited Sound Station spins music for Pint Night at Steamworks, 802 E. Second Ave. KDUR will plays a live webcast of the show. 259-9200 for details.

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The League of Women Voters hosts a discussion of communication , policy governance and the 9-R school board at 9:30 a.m. at Durango City Council Chambers. 949 E. Second Ave. 247-5411, ext. 1440 for details.

The Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College, hosts the "Good Spirits" Art & Gift Show from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.The event features the work of 20 area artisans, a silent auction benefiting the SW Safehouse as well as holiday drink specials. 385-1711 for details.

The Wanbli Ota Club of Fort Lewis College hosts a holiday fair from noon-7 p.m. at the Native American Center. This event is a fundraiser for Hozhoni Days 2005 and gifts, including Native clothing, Native beadwork, arts & crafts and more, will be available. 247-7221 for details.

The La Plata County Humane Society hosts " Pets with Santa, " an opportunity for people to have their pets photographed with Santa, from 1-3 p.m. 385-4322 for details.

The Dances of Universal Peace take place at 7 p.m. at the Mason Center, 301 E. 12th St. The evening will feature simple but profound mantras with shorts bits of meditation in between. 375-7375 for details.

The Jeff Solon Swing'n Big Band plays a dance party from 7-11 p.m. at the La Plata County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall. The fundraiser benefits Community Connections and includes dancing, appetizers, desserts, beer and wine. 259-2464 for details.

Scoot 'n Blues, 800 Main Ave., hosts Saturday Nite Live, the "world's best karaoke" beginning at 8 p.m. 259-1400 for details.

The Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College, and New Belgium Brewing host a late night screening of the film " Scrapple " at 10:30 p.m. A portion of the proceeds the Colorado Avalanche Information Center and there will be door prizes. 385-1711 for details.

The Summit, 600 Main Ave., hosts a Durango-double bill with music from Formula 151 and the Frank Trio . Formula 151 plays from 9:30 - 11 p.m. and Frank Trio will close out the night from 11:30 - 2 p.m.247-2324 for details.

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Local singer-songwriter Terry Rickard plays at Scoot 'n Blues, 800 Main Ave., from 6-9 p.m. 259-1400 for details.

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

Storyteller Sara Ransom presents " A Sadhu's Christmas in India " at 7 p.m. at the Rocky Mountain Retreat, 848 E. Third Ave. Ransom tells tales of her walk through India as a spiritual pilgrim (sadhu) in the early 1970s. 247-5718 for details.

The Blue Moon Ramblers play bluegrass at the Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., from 7-10 p.m. 375-7150 for details.

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Holidays Appreciation Day

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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 King Karaoke with Steve Kahler beginning at 8 p.m. 259-1400 for details.

The second " Fort Lewis College Student Film Night " takes place at the Abbey Theatre, 4 128 E. College, at 8:30 p.m. Students in Professor Kurt Lancaster's filmmaking classes will show their work to the public on the Abbey screen.385-1711 for details.

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Duane Smith will kick off the annual Duane Smith Lecture on Southwest Studies series with "Where There Is No Vision, the People Perish: Durango and Fort Lewis, Past, Present and Future" at 7 p.m. in the Center of Southwest Studies Lyceum. The annual speaker series will bring a different nationally-known Southwest history scholar to campus each Dec. 247-7582.

Scoot 'n Blues, 900 Main Ave., hosts a second night of King Karaoke with Steve Kahler at 8 p.m. 259-1400 for details.

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The Marine Corps League has launched its 2004 Toys for Tots campaign and will be collecting new unwrapped toys at the following locations: Albertsons, American Legion, Bank of Colorado, Bayfield HS, Big 5 Sporting Goods, City Market (South), Elks Lodge, First National Bank, JC Penny, Kroegers, Lewis True Value, Pine River Valley Bank, Precious Earth, RE/MAX Western Realty, Rite Aid, Senior Center, VFW, Vectra Bank, WalMart, and Wells Fargo Bank. If you know of a needy child, call 759-0361 no later than Dec. 20.

Open Shutter Gallery, 755 E. Second Ave., hosts its annual Holiday Exhibit . More than 20 photographers show work in this exhibit which features selected photographs from past exhibits as well as new work from local and national photographers. The "talent" from the Mature Men of La Plata County calendar will also be on display through Dec. 13. 382-8355 for details.

The Durango Arts Center, 802 E. Second Ave., hosts "Visions From the Edge," an exhibit of outsider art, through Dec. 10. Creativity is the real theme of the show, which focuses on work from unschooled artists including the internationally renowned art of Howard Finster; Tony Pernciaro's drawings; Roy Benze Miller's mixed media sculpture; an installation by William Dixon; paintings by Tom Darnell; and a series of photographs by Paul Pennington. On Dec. 8, DAC will also begin showing its annual "Spirit in Hand Holiday Boutique," featuring inspired gift items made by local artists. A "Meet the Makers" reception takes place on Dec. 10 from 5-7 p.m. 259-2606.

The Ellis Crane Gallery, 131 E. 8th St., presents "Small Works," a holiday show of new work, through Dec. 26. The exhibit features contemporary art by Judith D'Agostino, Cynthia DeBolt, Carol Martin, John Maxon, Joan Levine Russell, Julie Shaw, Phyllis Stapler, Shan Wells, Diane West and Jeff & Susan Wise. 382-9855 for details.

The Mancos Valley Chorus performs its seventh annual Christmas concert at the First United Methodist Church in Mancos, 470 W. Grand, at 7 p.m. on Dec. 10 and 11. This year's concert is entitled, "On the Road to Christmas." The chorus is directed by Kriss Larsen of Durango and the concert accompanist is Lee Bartley, a Mancos musician and composer. The event is free and concert-goers are welcome to the reception following the concert. 533-7627 for details.

Silverton's "A Theatre Group" presents "A Night Before Christmas" at the Miners Union Theater, 1069 Greene St., for the holiday season. Showtimes are set for Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 12 at 3 p.m. 387-5337 for details.

The Children's Museum, 802 E. Second Ave., presents "Nature and Me" an exhibit about the indigenous trees in the area. Included in the exhibit is a puppet tree house, forest campsite, mini forest, bugs that help and hurt trees, video information about the effects of the Missionary Ridge Fire, a walk, and more. December is Gift Making Month at the Museum. Workshops on building music boxes, ornaments, birdhouses and more will be offered for a small fee throughout the month. 259-9234 for details.

The Center of Southwest Studies hosts its second annual "Images of the Southwest" Juried Photography Show through Dec. 15 in the Exhibit Gallery. The theme of this year's contest, which was open to the public, was "Women, Weather and Water." An exhibit of 40 years of political cartoons entitled "Evolution of Durango Man," is also on display. 247-7494 for details.

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Blues guitar virtuoso Alex Maryol returns to Scoot 'n Blues on Dec. 17.

Fort Lewis College will host its Winter Commencement Ceremony on Dec. 18 in Whalen Gymnasium. More than 220 students are expected to graduate.

The Abbey Theatre hosts the afternoon performance of Jazz Today again on Dec. 18.

The Women's Resource Center's Chick Flick Night returns to the Abbey Theatre on Dec. 20 with a screening of "Seagull's Laughter."

State Representative Mark Larson will discuss legislation affecting small businesses on Dec. 21 at the Durango Rec. Center.

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Abbey screens 'Being Julia' What: An acclaimed film starring Annette Bening and Jeremy Irons Where: The Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College When: One week only beginning on Fri., Dec. 3 A film that has been called an intoxicating combination of wicked comedy and smart drama will hit the Abbey Theatre screen for one week beginning this Friday. "Being Julia," which stars Jeremy Irons and Annette Bening, shows most nights at 6:20 and 8:30 p.m. The film is based on W. Somerset Maugham's book Theatre and was adapted to the screen by Academy Award Winner Ronald Harwood, who recently directed the acclaimed film, "The Pianist." Bening stars as the beautiful and beguiling actress Julia Lambert, who is at her physical and professional peak in 1938 London. However, her successful theatrical career and marriage to handsome impresario Michael Gosselyn (Jeremy Irons) have both become stale and unfulfilling. Enter Tom Fennell (Shaun Evans), a younger man who claims to be Julia's greatest fan. Finding him irresistible, she decides that romance is the best antidote to a mid-life crisis and embarks on an affair. However, Julia's young lover callously tries to relegate her to a supporting role. "Being Julia" has opened to critical acclaim. Jeffrey Lyons of NBC wrote, "Annette Bening gives one of the finest, most nuanced, intelligent performances of her career. Bruce Greenwood gives a daring portrayal, and Jeremy Irons is perfectly cast. You'll love this movie!" Janice Page of the Boston Globe commented, "Annette Bening gives a wickedly funny tour-de-force performance ... she glides seamlessly between on-stage melodrama and an offstage sexual reawakening, driving a story that culminates in a third act of laugh-out-loud showbiz revenge."

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Nutcracker returns to Concert Hall What: A performance by the David Taylor Dance Theatre Where: The Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College When: Friday-Sunday, Dec. 10-12 One of the West's most innovative and compelling dance companies brings its version of a Christmas classic to Durango this weekend. Denver's David Taylor Dance Theatre will perform "The Nutcracker" at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College Friday through Sunday, Dec. 10-12. In four separate performances, the 12-member professional dance troupe will take the stage with 26 local children all under the direction of Judy Austin. David Taylor's classical ballet has been performing for Denver audiences since its premiere in 1985 and has been on tour throughout the Rocky Mountain states, the Southwest, California, the Upper Midwest and beyond. The troupe also won Colorado's Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts in 1997. "Staging a production of 'The Nutcracker' has become a tradition for the Community Concert Hall," said Gary Penington, concert hall managing director. "We are especially pleased to offer the David Taylor Dance Theatre this year. Even those who have seen 'The Nutcracker' previously will be impressed with this production. There's plenty of choreographic surprises and brilliant dancing." Marc Shulgold of the Rocky Mountain News agreed that David Taylor's interpretation of "The Nutcracker" is definitely innovative. "This daringly different, witty production is anything but traditional," he wrote. "Its designs are sharply defined and consistently eye-popping. But more than that, this is a terrific show, brimming with originality."

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Warsaw blows back into Durango What: A return performance by the renowned ska/punk/Celtic band Where: The Summit, 600 Main Ave. When: Wednesday, Dec. 15, at 9:30 p.m. A favorite of Durangoans everywhere returns to the Summit this Wednesday. Warsaw fans rejoice! The ska-punk phenomenon from Arizona blows back into town on Dec. 15 and will go on stage around 9:30 p.m. The punk/ska/Celtic crossover band Warsaw Poland Bros. formed in Flagstaff, Ariz., in 1990. Since that time, the band has "played everywhere with everyone in most of North America and Hawaii." Named for the capital of Poland, Warsaw has released four nationally distributed CDs and created their own label, Invisible Mass Records. Their love for live performance and touring has also kept them on the road for more than 10 years and made for more than a handful of Durango stopovers. As for the band's sound, the group claims to specialize in "short-attention-span theatrics," slipping from punk and ska to Celtic, jazz and hip hop - "Think a weed-happy, dub-lovin' They Might Be Giants without the nerdy afterglow." Warsaw is made up of brothers Chris and Aaron Poland, each of whom sing and play guitar, drums and a horn, and Jay Kalk on bass and vocals. The Warsaw recipe appears to be working. Warsaw was voted the "Best Band of Tucson 2003." In the same year, Warsaw headlined New Belgium Brewery's Tour de Fat and played the solar stage in the 1200 block of Durango's Main Avenue. And the Honolulu Weekly called Warsaw, "Bad Religion meets the Pogues with a Jamaican twist, a modern-day Clash."

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