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Ongoing Upcoming

Fort Lewis to graduate 42nd class
Alex Maryol Band returns to 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

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.

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.

DJ Morning Bear spins hip-hop and dance hall music for pint night at Steamworks, 802 E. Second Ave., at 9:30 p.m. 259-9200 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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The Ground Zero Movement, "Denver's hottest hip-hop band," plays a "No More School Bash" at 10:30 p.m. at the Summit, 600 Main Ave. Local hip-hop band Dialogue will open the show. 247-2324.

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The Children's Museum, 802 E. Second Ave., and Durango Nature Studies pair up to present a Birdfeeder-Making Workshop from 10-11 a.m. for children ages 6-10. Participants will build two different feeders and learn fun facts about common backyard birds. 259-9234 to pre-register.

A Holiday Market takes place from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Elks Lodge, 901 E. Second Ave. The market features locally grown foods, arts and crafts.247-2296 for details.

Jazz Today returns to the Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College, from 1-3 p.m. The afternoon show features an encore performance by the local jazz quartet Furniture. 385-1711.

The Heartlight Wholistic Health Center, 97 W. North St. in Bayfield, offers a locals' appreciation day from 1-4 p.m. The public is invited to meet Heartlight's practitioners and have a 30-minute intro session with one of them. 247-2683 for details.

The Dance Center, 1309 E. Third Ave., hosts a studio showing by adult students at 4 p.m. The free performance will feature jazz, hip-hop, tap, ballet, belly dance, power dance and more. 259-4122 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 8th Avenue Tavern hosts karaoke from 8 p.m.-2 a.m. at 509 E. 8th Ave. 259-8801 for details.

Local jam band Aftergrass plays a show at the Summit, 600 Main Ave., at 9:30 p.m.247-2324 for details.

DJ Rem-E and guests spin music for FLC's graduation and Ladies Night at Steamworks, 802 E. Second Ave., at 10:30 p.m. The title of the show is "The Beginning of the End." 259-9200 for details.

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Local singer-songwriter Tim Guidotti 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.

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

The 8th Avenue Tavern hosts karaoke from 8 p.m.-2 a.m. at 509 E. 8th Ave. 259-8801 for details.

The Heartlight Wholistic Health Center, 97 W. North St. in Bayfield, hosts an "Imagining Party," a visioning session that is open to everybody, from 7-8:30 p.m.. 884-9216.

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The Women's Resource Center's Chick Flick Night continues at the Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College, with "Seagull's Laughter," a quirky comedy about a post-World War II widow's return to the Icelandic fishing village where she grew up. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with socializing, a door prize and drink specials. Film starts at 6 p.m. 247-1242 for details.

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Winter Solstice

Zuma Natural Foods in Mancos celebrates its first holiday season by hosting a locals' appreciation day from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. 533-7300.

State Representative Mark Larson discusses legislation affecting small businesses at 5:30 p.m. at the Durango Rec. Center. The talk highlights the December meeting of the Durango-Area Home-Based Business Association. 884-6175 for details.

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.

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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 Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College, will screen "The Story of the Weeping Camel" beginning on Sat., Dec. 18. The film tells the story of a family of herders in Mongolia's Gobi Desert who face a crisis when a mother camel unexpectedly rejects her newborn calf.The film shows most nights at 6:15 & 8:30 p.m. and there will be a 4 p.m. matinee on Dec. 18 & 19. 385-1711 for details.

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.

Karyn Gabaldon Fine Arts, 680 Main Ave. "on the corner," hosts a preview exhibit of Durango artists who will have feature shows at the new gallery in 2005. The show will run through the end of Dec and featured artists include Ron Fundingsland, Carolyn Reeves Johnson, Mary Lou Murray, Jan Goldman, Eileen Fjerstad, Susan Tait, Katherine Barr and Ann Smith.For more information, call 247-9018.

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. 382-8355.

The Durango Arts Center, 802 E. Second Ave., hosts the annual "Spirit in Hand Holiday Boutique" through Dec. 24 in the Barbara Conrad Gallery. The exhibit features inspired gift items made by local and regional artists and craftspeople. 259-2606 for details.

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 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.

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The Frank Trio and several special guests will unveil new material for New Year's Eve at the Summit.

The Abbey Theatre celebrates New Year's Eve with DOWN, its monthly club night hosted by DJ Brian Ess.

Ralph Dinosaur and the Fabulous Volcanoes play New Year's Eve at Scoot 'n Blues.

The Children's Museum will reopen with a new exhibit on Jan. 12. The new exhibit will be called "Playing to Learn: Learning to Play" and is centered on the importance of healthy play for children.

The Hesperus Ski Patrol will offer its first "A Common Sense Approach to Avalanches" school on Jan. 19, 20 & 22. 247-4617.

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Fort Lewis to graduate 42nd class What: Winter commencement for 224 graduating seniors Where: Fort Lewis College's Whalen Gymnasium When: Sat., Dec. 18, 10 a.m. U.S. Representative Mark Udall, D-Colo., will deliver the commencement address to the 224 graduating seniors this Saturday at Fort Lewis College. The winter commencement will send FLC's 42nd baccalaureate class into the big world and takes place at 10 a.m. in Whalen Gymnasium. FLC President Brad Bartel said that the college is gratified that Udall will be speaking at Winter Commencement. "He was the unanimous first choice of the selection committee," he said. "His congressional championing of environmental issues is greatly aligned with student involvement at Fort Lewis College. I know the graduates are excited about having him address them at this important ceremony." Udall, a Boulder County resident, is serving his third term representing Colorado's Second Congressional District. As a member of the House Resources Committee, the Committee on Science and the Agriculture Committee, Udall has championed environmental, energy, education and health-care issues. The congressman's operating style has been to avoid burning bridges with people, including those with whom he has philosophical differences. "You can disagree without being disagreeable," said Udall. This style has allowed him to work in a bipartisan fashion to pass legislation to turn Rocky Flats, the former nuclear weapons facility, into a wildlife refuge, protect many of Colorado's wilderness areas, establish a math and science scholarship program, and secure transportation funding for high-priority projects in Colorado. In describing Udall's work the Denver Post calls him "a tireless worker" and says he has "been effective largely because he puts the public's business ahead of partisan concern." Udall is also an avid mountaineer and has climbed or attempted some of the world's most challenging peaks, including Mt. Everest. For more information on Fort Lewis College's winter commencement, call 247-7400.

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Alex Maryol Band returns to Durango What: A performance by the acclaimed blues guitar talent Where: Scoot 'n Blues, 900 Main Ave. When: Sat., Dec. 15, 9:30 p.m. A local favorite and one of the region's top guitarists and songwriters returns to Durango this Saturday. Scoot 'n Blues will again showcase the blues guitar talents of the Alex Maryol Band. Maryol started playing the guitar when he was 7 but got into playing the blues much later. He'd heard the likes of Chuck Berry and Fats Domino growing up and discovered the Rolling Stones as a freshman in high school. Eventually, he grew into a full-blown appreciation for the blues."Really all modern music - rock, funk, all of it - can be traced back to the blues,"Maryol said. A native of Santa Fe, N.M., Maryol released his debut CD, "They Call Me Lefty," at the age of 18, and at 19 was playing at top bars and clubs an average of five nights a week. By the age of 20, Maryol had played at New Mexico's acclaimed Thirsty Ear Festival along with several of his heroes and garnered the attention of the international media. "Despite his youth, Maryol writes and plays with a rare maturity and confidence," wrote Genevieve Williams of Blues Revue. "Alex Maryol is uncommonly advanced on his axe, showing both great technical ability - the guy can wail - and the equally important ability to restrain himself where appropriate one to watch in the coming years," noted Thirsty Ear Magazine Maryol also took first place in the 2002 Sonny Boy Blues Society "Battle of the Blues Bands" in Helena, Ark., and second place in the 2000 Telluride Blues & Brews Festival Acoustic Blues Competition. His latest album, "Make Everything Alright," was released in June 2003. It is a testament to his continuing originality and ability to take the roots of blues and twist them into a sound all his own. The Alex Maryol Band will go on stage this Saturday at 8 p.m. For more information, call 259-1400.

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