Noel Night takes place throughout downtown Durango with many stores offering late hours, specials and refreshments.
The League of Women Voters of La Plata County invites the public to a general meeting from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 495 Florida Rd. The meeting will be followed by a holiday potluck.
Mesa Verde National Park hosts its annual holiday open house and kicks off its year-long Centennial Celebration. Cliff Palace and Spruce Tree House will be illuminated as Native American musicians perform. The festivities begin at 4 p.m. www.mesaverde2006.org for details.
Park Elementary School hosts an evening of stargazing and astronomy from 6-8 p.m. and a 5:30-7:30 p.m. spaghetti dinner fund-raiser. Visitors will be able to look through telescopes, visit the star
lab, see photos of space, and hear Native American stories about the stars. 347-3718, ext. 38 for details.
Singer songwriter Greg Ryder plays a free show at the Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., at 5:30 p.m. 375-7150 for details.
The Patio Restaurant, 475 Wolverine Dr., presents Open Mic Night in Bayfield from 7-9 p.m. Sign-ups begin at 6: 30 p.m. 946-8765 for details.
Singer-songwriter Terry Rickard plays at Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave., at 8 p.m. The Peter Pheteplace Trio performs at the Sidecar Jazz Lounge at 7 p.m.. 259-1400 for details.
The Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. Second Ave., presents College Night, including a performance by DJ DRE and mechanical bull riding, at 8 p.m. 375-2568 for details.
Durango Joe’s, 732 E. College, presents Open Mic Night from 8: 30-11 p.m. Sign-ups for music and poetry begin at 8:30 p.m. 375-2121 for details.
A guest DJ spins retro and funk for ’80s Night at the Lost Dog, 1150 Main Ave., at 9 p.m. 259-0430 for details.
DJ Fat P and Mateo spin music for Pint Night at Steamworks, 801 E. Second Ave., 10 p.m. 259-9200 for details.
Friday9
Animas Conservancy and Friends of the Animas River unveil the “Celebrate the Animas” calendar from 5-8 p.m. at Open Shutter Gallery, 755 E. Second Ave. All of the contributing photographers will be there with their framed artwork on display. The calendar supports Animas River protection efforts. 259-0522 for details.
The Durango Chamber of Commerce presents Business After Hours at 5 p.m. at the Pine River Valley Bank, 1701 Main Ave. The event includes appetizers, drinks and door prizes. 247-0312 for details.
Joel Ratchefs plays a free acoustic guitar show at the Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., at 5:30 p.m. 375-7150.
The Alpiners play traditional German music at the Berliner in Oxford at 6 p.m. 884-2098 for details.
Steamworks, 801 E. Second Ave., hosts Blue Friday with mellow music from Santa Fe’s BLU 102.9 and a keg giveaway at 6 p.m. 259-9200 for details.
The Bar-D Wranglers and singer-songwriter Lisa Blue perform a special Christmas Jubilee show at Miller Middle School at 7 p.m. This will be the Bar-D Wranglers first-ever Christmas show in the band’s 37-year history.
The 8th Ave Trio plays bluegrass and more at the 8th Ave. Tavern, 509 E. 8th Ave., at 7 p.m. 259-8801 for details.
Sugarhouse brings its rock and blues back to Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave., at 8 p.m. 259-1400 for details.
A guest DJ spins a contemporary club mix at the Lost Dog, 1150 Main Ave., at 9 p.m. 259-0430 for details.
The Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. Second Ave., presents a country and western dance mix at 9 p.m. 375-2568 for details.
Mountain Mystics play live reggae at the Summit, 600 Main Ave., at 9:30 p.m. 247-2324 for details.
Saturday10
Durango Mountain Resort celebrates Opening Day beginning at 9 a.m. The day includes the Total Telemark Tour featuring professional instruction from PSIA and Babes in the Backcountry, free equipment demos from Pine Needle Mountaineering, athlete appearances, kids’ equipment and instruction, movie premieres, women’s clinics, steep camps, backcountry safety seminars, and much more. 385-2167 for details.
A parade for the Fort Lewis College mens soccer team, recent NCAA soccer champs, begins at 3 p.m. at 600 Main Ave. Local kids are encouraged to wear their soccer shirts.
Joel Ratchefs plays a free acoustic guitar show at the Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., at 5:30 p.m. 375-7150 for details.
Deep Blue Creek brings its local bluegrass to the Berliner in Oxford from 6-10 p.m. 884-2098.
Sugarhouse plays a second show at Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave., at 8 p.m. The Jeff Solon Trio plays the Sidecar Jazz Lounge from 8-11:30 p.m. 259-1400 for details. 4
The 8th Ave. Tavern, 509 E. 8th Ave., hosts a karaoke party at 8 p.m. 259-8801 for details.
DJ Mowgli spins for Mountaintop Hip Hop at the Lost Dog, 1150 Main Ave., at 9 p.m. 259-0430 for details.
The Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. Second Ave., presents a country and western dance mix at 9 p.m. 247-7634 for details.
The Felonious Groove Foundation brings its soulful funk and R&B back the Summit, 600 Main Ave., at 9:30 p.m. 247-2324 for details.
The Lion’s Den Unlimited spins dancehall and dub for ladies night at Steamworks, 801 E. Second Ave., at 9:30 p.m. 259-9200 for details.
Sunday11
The group, Huggers Against Fear, presents “Public Display of Affection” beginning at 10 a.m. at FLC’s Reed Library and ending at Buckley Park. The parade of huggers hopes to encourage community interaction and offer a reminder of common humanity and the public is encouraged to take part. 259-5110 for details.
Pongas hosts free pool after 6 p.m. at 121 W. 8th St. 382-8554 for details.
The Blue Moon Ramblers play free bluegrass at the Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., at 7 p.m. 375-7150 for details.
Singer songwriter Nina Sasaki plays at the Lost Dog, 1150 Main Ave., from 6-10 p.m. 259-0430 for details.
The 8th Ave. Tavern, 509 E. 8th Ave., hosts a Karaoke Party at 8 p.m. 259-8801 for details.
Monday12
Anders Beck of Broke Mountain Bluegrass Band fame plays a free show at the Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., at 5:30 p.m. 375-7150 for details.
Pongas, 121 E. Eighth St., hosts a 9-ball pool tournament at 7 p.m. 382-8554 for details.
The Durango High School choirs will present their annual holiday concert at 7:30 p.m. in the DHS Auditorium. The concert will feature performances from the Concert Choir, Colours, Pearls and the DHS Orchestra. 259-1630, ext. 2101 for details.
J.Bo’s, 1301 Florida Rd., hosts Gentlemen’s Night featuring music and dancing from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. 259-0010 for details.
Tuesday13
Music Together of La Plata County presents an after school Pajama Jams!, featuring seasonal songs, dance tunes and jam sessions, from 3:30-4: 30 p.m. in Room 5 of the Smiley Building, 1309 E. Third Ave. 799-0960 to reserve a spot.
The Women’s Resource Center’s Business Women’s Network meets at 5:30 p.m. at Yarn, 1051 E. Second Ave. The evening will include a knitting demonstration and refreshments. 247-1242 for details.
Wichita plays a free show of acoustic music at the Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., at 5:30 p.m. 375-7150 for details.
Lee Bartley performs on piano in the Sidecar Jazz Lounge at Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave., at 6 p.m. 259-1400 for details.
The Summit, 600 Main Ave., presents open mic night from 7 p.m.-midnight. 247-2324 for details.
Tuesday Trivia takes place at Lady Falconburgh’s, 640 Main Ave., at 8 p.m. 382-9664.
Wednesday14
The Green Business Roundtable meets at noon at the Diamond Circle Theatre, 699 Main Ave. This month’s topic is “Greening the Doctor’s Office” and includes presenters, Dr. Art Zemach, Dr. Pakhi Chaudhuri and Dr. Bill Palko-Schraa. 375-3099 to register.
The Durango Chamber of Commerce offers Lunch and Learn at the Bank of Colorado, 1199 Main Ave., at noon. Heather Otter of Durango Computer Classroom will offer tips on spreadsheets. 247-0312 to register.
Lions Den Unlimited Soundz, featuring DJs Zen Ken and I-Gene, spins roots reggae at J. Bo’s on Tap, 1301 Florida Rd., at 4:20 p.m. 259-0010 for details.
The Women’s Reading Circle meets at 5:30 p.m. to discuss Girl in Hyacinth Blue, by Susan Vreeland, and the public is invited. 247-1242 for location.
The Durango Arts Center, 802 E. Second Ave., hosts a special holiday gathering for artist members at 5:30 p.m. Guest speaker Susan Tait will present excerpts from her holiday program, “In Search of Santa.” 259-2606 to RSVP.
Greg Ryder performs on acoustic guitar at 5:30 p.m. at the Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. 375-7150 for details.
The OutDurango Holiday Homo Hang Out takes place at 7 p.m. at Solids. Participants are asked to bring a new kid’s toy or small cash donation to the benefit.
The Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. Second Ave., offers a music mix for Ladies Night beginning at 8 p.m. 375-2568 for details.
The Lost Dog, 1150 Main Ave., presents ’70s Retro Night with DJs Tim & Johnny at 9 p.m. 259-0430 for details
Joel’s, 119 W. 8th St., hosts “Underground Lounge” with DJ Claytanik spinning music for Ladies Night. 385-0430 for details.
Warsaw brings its ska, punk and celtic back to the Summit, 600 Main Ave., at 9:30 p.m. 247-2324 for details. 4
Ongoing
Community Connections hosts the 2nd annual Festival of Trees on Dec. 9 and 10 at the La Plata County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall. The event features festive trees sponsored by businesses for auction to the public, ongoing performances and a shoppers’ mall. Breakfast with Santa runs from 9-11 a.m. on Dec. 10. The event benefits Community Connections and its effort to benefit persons with developmental disabilities. 385-3445 for details.
The Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College, screens “Bee Season” beginning Dec. 9. Based on the best-selling novel, the film follows a family of seekers as their 11-year-old daughter works toward becoming the national spelling bee champion. The family begins to disintegrate as the national competition draws near, and the daughter may be its only chance. The film stars Richard Gere and Juliette Binoche and shows most nights at 4:15, 6:30 & 8:45 p.m. 385-1711 for details.
The Durango Lively Arts Company stages “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” at the Durango Arts Center, 801 E. Second Ave. The all-ages play follows the Herdman kids (the worst kids ever) as they try out for the annual church Christmas pageant. The director must deal with the consequences of terrified shepherds, a kitchen fire, miffed angles and a Virgin Mary who smokes cigars in the ladies room. The play shows Dec. 8-10 at 7:30 p.m., and there will be a 1:30 p.m. matinee on Dec. 10. 382-8584 for details.
The Durango Act Too Players present “The Smell of the Kill,” a one-act dark comedy written by Michele Lowe, on Dec. 9 & 10. The play poses the hypothetical question, if your cheating husband accidentally locked himself in a deep freeze, how long would you leave him there? The play takes place at the Fort Lewis College Mainstage Theatre, and curtain time is 7:30 p.m. 759-5711 for details.
The Durango Arts Center, 802 E. Second Ave., will host the annual “Holiday Art Olé” Exhibit through Dec. 24. This boutique-style exhibit will feature original, unique gift items in ceramics, jewelry, fiber, metal, glass, wood, paper, calligraphy, photography, sculpture, printmaking, painting and drawing. 259-2606 for details.
The Center of Southwest Studies hosts three separate exhibits: The 3rd annual “Images of the Southwest” Juried Photography Show, “Trees in a Circle: Navajo Teec Nos Pos Rugs” and “Borderline: An Environmental Installation by Michael Berman.” The exhibits will be on display through Dec. 15. The new exhibit “Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead): A Living Tradition” is also on display in the Center’s Delaney Southwest Research Library. 247-7494.
“Emergence,” works by emerging artists in various media including drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics and jewelry, shows through Dec. 16 in the Fort Lewis College Exit Gallery. 247-7668 for details.
The Mancos Valley Chorus presents its annual Christmas concert, “Winter Wonderland,” at 7 p.m. on Dec. 9 and 10, at the Mancos United Methodist Church, 470 W. Grand. A reception follows each concert. 533-7627 for details.
The Children’s Museum, 802 E. Second Ave., hosts the dinosaur exhibit, “Now You’re in Their World.” There will be many hands-on activities, fine motor and gross motor fun, “Dinosaur Ridge” and extinction dioramas. Workshops are available anytime during museum hours and include dinosaur stuffed animals, dinosaur face masks and alphabet coloring dinosaurs. 259-9234 for details.
The REACH (Resource, Enrichment, & Academic Choices) Program for independent learners in Bayfield offers enrichment classes to any K-12 students in the area. For the month of December, REACH classes include: Drumming & Rhythm, Group Guitar, Papier Mache Ornament Creations and Local History of the Pine River Valley. 884-3259 for details.
Upcoming
Turtle Lake Refuge holds a benefit potluck/silent auction/turtle talent show on Dec. 15 at Rocky Mountain Retreat.
Durango Skies Telescope and Binocular will offer the free workshop “Telescopes 101” on Dec. 15.
Durango Mountain Resort will host Benefit Ski Day on Dec. 16 with proceeds benefiting Trails 2000. $10 lift tickets can be purchased in advance at both City Markets, Albertson’s and Nature’s Oasis.
A Cycling Celebration takes place Dec. 16 at the Community Concert Hall. Discovery Team member Tom Danielson, USPRO National Champion Chris Wherry and four time Tour de France rider Bob Roll will all be on hand.
Fire and Ice, a special holiday benefit to raise money for the Katrina evacuees living in Durango, takes place Dec. 10 at Southern Soy (formerly Café Sarie).
Michael Barry, Discovery Channel pro cyclist and author of Inside the Postal Bus, will sign copies of his book at Mountain Bike Specialists on Dec. 17.
The local chapter of Amnesty International will celebrate the fight for human rights on Dec. 21 at the Adult Education Center.
A fund-raiser for the Jeff Strahan Band’s coming competition in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis takes place on Dec. 30 at Scoot ‘n Blues.
Mikylah Myers McTeer, 30, is assistant professor of violin and viola at Fort Lewis College. Now in her third year as a faculty member, she is also concertmaster of the San Juan Symphony; half of a new professional duo, Campi and McTeer; and a third of The Red Shoe Piano Trio, a chamber group that performs regularly in and around the Southwest.
McTeer’s academic schedule and concertizing have not stopped her from fulfilling a long-held dream to start a youth orchestra.
“When I was young,” McTeer said in an interview last week, “I played in the Portland Youth Philharmonic. It’s the oldest youth orchestra in the country. It laid the groundwork for my life as a professional musician and music educator.”
From those early days, two bits of musi
cal wisdom have stayed with her, McTeer said: Sit up straight, and look at the conductor. “I learned that from our conductor Jacob Avshalomov,” she said. “In addition to the discipline and love of music he instilled in us, that simple advice has stood me well.”
McTeer is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where she was a four-year member and co-captain of the Oberlin Varsity Women’s Soccer Team. She also earned a master’s and doctoral degree from the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music. Until the creation of the Durango Youth Symphony, McTeer spent her summers performing at music festivals throughout the United States and Europe.
– Judith Reynolds
Concert Hall hosts “The Nutcracker” What: The annual performance of the Christmas classic Where: The Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College When: Dec. 9 & 10 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 11 at 2 p.m.
An annual tradition takes the stage at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College this weekend. The Denver-based David Taylor Dance Theatre returns to Durango on Dec. 9-11 with its innovative version of the family classic, “The Nutcracker.”
David Taylor’s classical ballet premiered in 1985 and has toured throughout the Rocky Mountain states, the Southwest, California, the Upper Midwest, and Victoria, B.C. The troupe won the Colorado Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts in 1997 and is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary. As founder and artistic director, David Taylor has noted that his company’s shows “explore metaphysical concepts (and) the ritualistic aspects of dance.”
The company’s performance of “The Nutcracker” also departs from the mainstream.
Marc Shulgold, of the Rocky Mountain News, commented, “This daringly different, witty production is anything but traditional. Its designs are sharply defined and consistently eye-popping. But more than that, this is a terrific show, brimming with originality.”
The 12-member ensemble dance troupe and many local dancers take the stage at 7 p.m. on Dec. 9 & 10, and at 2 p.m. Dec. 11. Tickets are available on-line at www.durangoconcerts.com, at the Concert Hall’s new downtown ticket office at 707½ Main Ave., or by calling 247-7657.
Break Mechanics play the Abbey What: A return performance by the underground hip hop band Where: The Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College When: Fri., Dec. 9, at 10 p.m.
Top-notch jazz-fusion/hip hop returns to the stage at the Abbey Theatre this week. Break Mechanics, a live crew that has been getting a lot of attention in Denver’s underground hip hop community, plays Durango this Friday.
Founding members Daren Hahn (drums) and Casey Sidwell (bass) started to put together the sound and form of Break Mechanics more than three years ago. The idea was to create a true, live, hip hop experience with drums, bass and keyboards backing live MCs. The sound is a combination of many styles that doesn’t stray from true hip hop roots.
Since being joined by Greg Raymond (keys) and MC Paas, the band has held residencies at the Purple Martini and the Blue Mule and performed with the likes of Blackalicious, Slick Rick and KRS-1.
Break Mechanics also has its roots in a wide range of musical experience and styles. Hahn has played with Ani DiFranco, the Eels and Geggy Tah. Sidwell plays with Denver-based Future Jazz Project, which also features Paas, a staple of the Denver hip hop community. Raymond has toured extensively with the Motet. The result can be heard on “Break Mechanics,” their self-titled, recently released first CD.
The band goes on this Friday at 10 p.m. For more information, call the Abbey at 385-1711.
A Reel Environmental Experience returns What: A benefit for the Fort Lewis College Environmental Center Where: The Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College When: Thurs., Dec. 8, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Film and the environment again come together this Thursday at the Abbey Theatre. The Fort Lewis College Environmental Center hosts its fourth annual “A Reel Environmental Experience” film festival and fund-raiser Dec. 8. The evening includes three films as well as drinks, appetizers and a silent auction.
Headlining this year’s event is the acclaimed film, “The Future of Food.” In the picture, director Deborah Koons Garcia offers an in-depth investigation into the disturbing truth behind the unlabeled, patented, genetically engineered foods that have quietly filled U.S. grocery store shelves for the past decade.
From the prairies of Saskatchewan, Canada, to the fields of Oaxaca, Mexico, this film gives a voice to farmers whose lives and livelihoods have been negatively impacted by this new technology. The health implications, government policies and push toward globalization are all part of the reason why many people are alarmed by the introduction of genetically altered crops into our food supply. The film also explores alternatives to large-scale industrial agriculture, placing organic and sustainable agriculture as real solutions to the farm crisis today.
In addition to “The Future of Food,” two locally produced shorts will be screened. Both by S. Graham Pierce, “Pie” is a psychological drama following the struggle for the first slice of pie; and “Adhesive: The Wilson Carr Story” documents local artist Wilson Carr and his experiments with duct tape.
Prior to the films, Carvers’ beer, wine and Sunnyside Farm appetizers will be served, and a silent auction will take place. For more information on the event, contact the FLC Environmental Center at 247-7676.
Mikylah Myers McTeer, 30, is assistant professor of violin and viola at Fort Lewis College. Now in her third year as a faculty member, she is also concertmaster of the San Juan Symphony; half of a new professional duo, Campi and McTeer; and a third of The Red Shoe Piano Trio, a chamber group that performs regularly in and around the Southwest.
McTeer’s academic schedule and concertizing have not stopped her from fulfilling a long-held dream to start a youth orchestra.
“When I was young,” McTeer said in an interview last week, “I played in the Portland Youth Philharmonic. It’s the oldest youth orchestra in the country. It laid the groundwork for my life as a professional musician and music educator.”
From those early days, two bits of musi
cal wisdom have stayed with her, McTeer said: Sit up straight, and look at the conductor. “I learned that from our conductor Jacob Avshalomov,” she said. “In addition to the discipline and love of music he instilled in us, that simple advice has stood me well.”
McTeer is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where she was a four-year member and co-captain of the Oberlin Varsity Women’s Soccer Team. She also earned a master’s and doctoral degree from the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music. Until the creation of the Durango Youth Symphony, McTeer spent her summers performing at music festivals throughout the United States and Europe.
