The 5th annual Battle of the Animas, pitting local
businesses against each other in a head-to-head paddle raft race,
begins at 2: 30 p.m. at 32nd St. and ends at
approximately 3:30 p.m. at Santa Rita Park. 247-4789 for
details.
The Durango Chamber of Commerce hosts its popular American Idol
contest at 5 p.m. at the Durango Arts Center, 802 E.
Second Ave. 247-0312 for details.
Greg Ryder plays a free show at the Diamond Belle Saloon,
699 Main Ave., at 5:30 p.m. 375-7150.
Durango Motorless Transit sponsors a group trail run for all
levels on the Animas Mountain trail. Interested runners should meet
at 33rd St. trailhead at 6 p.m. 382-8005 for
details.
The Fort Lewis College Voices in American Drama series
hosts auditions at 6 p.m. in the college’s theatre building
for
actors and actresses interested in taking part in the July and
August readings. 247-7410.
Author Kay Niemann gives a talk and book signing on her recently
published book, Salone Italiano, at 6 p.m. at the Silverton Town
Hall. The book covers the saga of several Italian-American families
who settled in Silverton and Durango. 387-5360 for details.
The local chapter of the National Organization for Women
presents the “insider’s scoop” with Sen. Jim
Isgar at 6: 30 p.m. at the home at 465 E. Sixth Ave. 749-2708 for
details.
The Patio Restaurant, 475 Wolverine Drive in Bayfield, presents
Open Mic Night from 7-9 p.m. Sign-ups begin at 6:30 p.m.
946-8765 for details.
The Talent Search continues at Scoot ‘n Blues, 900
Main Ave., at 8 p.m. and includes a special show from the band
Pandemic. Lisa Blue and Brant Leeper play the Sidecar Jazz Lounge
at 7 p.m. 259-1400 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.
The Lost Dog, 1150 Main Ave., hosts ’80s and Service
Industry Night beginning at 9 p.m. 259-0430 for details.
The High Rollers play country and rock at the Wild Horse Saloon,
601 E. Second Ave., at 9 p.m. 375-2568.
Friday2
Top BMX professionals Jason Rogers and Donny Robinson
conducting a BMX clinic at the Durango
BMX track from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Lunch will be provided.
759-5700 to register.
Pete Giuliani brings his guitar and voice to Serious Texas
Bar-B-Q South, 650 S Camino Del Rio, from 5-9 p.m. 259-9507 for
details.
Greg Ryder plays a free show at the Diamond Belle Saloon,
699 Main Ave., at 5:30 p.m. 375-7150.
A fund-raiser for the Mancos Skate Park takes place from
7:30-11 p.m. at the Mancos Community Center. Events include a
silent auction, bachelor/bachelorette auction, live music and a
DJ. 533-7725.
Blues band Rhythm Fish plays at Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main
Ave., with shows at 5:30 & 8:30 p.m. The Jeff Solon Jazz
Trio performs in the Sidecar Jazz Lounge at 8:30 p.m. 259-1400
for details.
The Animas Music Festival concludes at 7 p.m. at the
Durango Arts Center, 802 E. Second Ave., with a concert
presentation of a theatrical work by composer Kurt Weill for
chamber orchestra, dance and mime. 247-7657 for details.
The High Rollers play a second show at the Wild Horse
Saloon, 601 E. Second Ave. The evening includes dance lessons from
7-9 p.m. 375-2568 for details.
The 8th Ave. Trio plays old school variety at the 8th
Ave. Tavern, 509 E. 8th Ave., beginning at 8 p.m.
259-8801.
DJ Mowgli spins a club mix at The Lost Dog, 1150 Main Ave.,
beginning at 9 p.m. 259-0430 for details.
The Chills play blues and rock at the Billy Goat
Saloon,
located on U.S. Highway 160 in Gem Village, at 9 p.m. 884-9155
for details.
Fort Collins band Wooleye brings its psychedelic grooves to
the Summit, 600 Main Ave., at 10 p.m. Local band, the Frank Trio,
will share the stage. 247-2324 for details.
Saturday3
The Durango Farmers Market meets in the First National Bank of
Durango parking lot, 259 W. Ninth St., from 8 a.m.-noon. www.durangofarmersmarket.org for details.
The Division of Wildlife hosts its annual Free Fishing
Day from 8 a.m.-noon at Haviland Lake. Kids 15 and under will
be supplied with gear, instruction and free fishing.
Volunteer training for the Medicine Horse Center for Therapeutic
Riding and Equine Rehabilitation takes place at its
headquarters in Mancos. General volunteer training takes place from
9 a.m.-1 p.m. and horse leader training follows at 1 p.m. 533-7403
to RSVP.
The La Plata County Humane Society’s annual Membership
Meeting and Board Member Election takes place at 10 a.m. at
the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Candidates include Dick Dahl,
Catherine Dickert and Cindy Christopher.
The Fort Lewis College Voices in American Drama series
hosts auditions at 10 a.m. in the college’s theatre building.
247-7410 for details.
Singer songwriter Nina Sasaki performs at Christina’s
Grill and Bar, 21382 US Hwy. 160 W., at 5 p.m. 382-3844 for
details.
Singer songwriter Greg Ryder plays a show at the Diamond
Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., at 5:30 p.m. 375-7150 for details.
The monthly Contra Dance takes place at the VFW Hall, 1515
Main Ave., with beginner instruction at 7 p.m. and dancing from
7:30-10:30 p.m. The Kitchen Jam Band provides live music and
special guest Adina Gordon from Virginia will call the dance.
259-6820.
Rhythm Fish plays a second night at Scoot ‘n Blues,
900 Main Ave., at 8:30 p.m. The Jeff Solon Jazz Quartet plays the
Sidecar Jazz Lounge at 8 p.m. 259-1400 for details.
DJ Mowgli spins music for mountaintop hip hop at the Lost
Dog, 1150 Main Ave., at 9 p.m. 259-0430 for details.
3 Peas, a Fort Collins band, brings its funk to the Summit, 600
Main Ave., at 10 p.m. 247-2324 for details.
Sunday4
Ayama Yoga Studio, located in Gem Village, hosts a free
Vipassana meditation workshop from 8:30-10:30 a.m. 779-0455 for
details.
Free fishing for kids 18 and under, sponsored by the Southwest
Colorado Bassmasters, takes place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Lake
Durango. Kids are invited to fish for largemouth bass, no licenses
are required and fishing gear will be provided. www.coloradobassfederation.org for details.
The seventh annual Small Quilt Auction takes place 4
at Rotary Park at 1 p.m. Participants are invited to preview the
quilts beginning at noon, and proceeds benefit various local
nonprofits and charities. 739-1982 for details.
Terry Rickard plays sounds of the seventies at
Christina’s Grill and Bar, 21382 US Hwy. 160 W., at 10 a.m.
382-3844 for details.
The Blue Moon Ramblers play free bluegrass at the Diamond
Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., at 5:30 p.m. 375-7150 for details.
Monday5
The Asa Fire Tribe gives a fire-dancing performance at
Trimble Hot Springs beginning at dusk. 247-0111.
Dobro player Anders Beck plays bluegrass at the Diamond
Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., at 5:30 p.m. 375-7150 for details.
Singer songwriter Terry Rickard plays El Patio, 600 Main
Ave., beginning at 5:30 p.m.
An open-level Latin/Salsa Dance Party takes place
at 8 p.m. at the Durango Recreation Center, 2700 Main
Ave. No partner necessary. 903-9402 for details.
Tuesday6
Singer songwriter Terry Rickard plays at the Diamond Belle
Saloon, 699 Main Ave., at 5:30 p.m. 375-7150 for details.
Earthrise Community, a cohousing community currently seeking
members, hosts a 6 p.m. potluck followed by a 7 p.m.
question-and-answer session. 259-6818 for details.
The Jeff Solon Jazz Group performs on the patio at the
Cyprus Café, 725 E. Second Ave., from 6-9 p.m. 385-6884 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.
Wednesday7
Greg Ryder plays a free show at the Diamond Belle Saloon,
699 Main Ave., at 5:30 p.m. 375-7150 for details.
A weed walk entitled, “History of Invasions: Land Use and
Weeds,” takes place from 6-8 p.m. at the San Juan Basin
Research Center in Hesperus. 385-1210 to register.
The Jeff Solon Jazz Group performs on the patio at the
Cyprus Café, 725 E. Second Ave., from 6-9 p.m. 385-6884 for
details.
The Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. Second Ave., presents Ladies
Night, including dance lessons from 7-9 p.m. followed by
karaoke with Crazy Charlie. 375-2568 for details.
Singer songwriter Terry Rickard performs at 7 p.m. at the
Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. 375-7260 for details.
An open-level Swing Dance Party takes place at 8 p.m. at
the Durango Recreation Center. No partner necessary. 903-9402 for
details.
Joel’s, 119 W. 8th St., hosts
“Underground Lounge” with DJ Claytanik spinning
music for Ladies Night. 385-0430 for details.
Ongoing
The Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College, opens “The Celestine
Prophecy” on June 2. Based on James Redfield’s
best-selling novel, “The Celestine Prophecy” is a
spiritual adventure film chronicling the discovery of ancient
scrolls in the rainforests of Peru. The prophecy’s nine key
insights predict a worldwide awakening. The film shows most nights
at 4, 6:15 & 8:30 p.m. 385-1711 for details.
The Open Shutter Gallery, 755 E. Second Ave., exhibits
“Forsaken Places,” the black-and-white photography of
Lou Swenson from Dolores, through July 5. Swenson’s
photography highlights the often overlooked features of the rural
Western landscape. Swenson develops, prints and frames his own
work. 382-8355 for details.
The Adaptive Sports Association offers summer activities,
including whitewater rafting, flatwater canoeing and kayaking,
fishing and other activities for people with disabilities
throughout the summer. Programs are open to all ages and
disabilities, and friends and family are encouraged to participate.
For more information or a list of activities, visit www.asadurango.com or call 259-0374.
Durango BMX hosts races every Sunday (weather permitting) with
sign ups from 1-2 p.m., and gate practices take place every Tuesday
from 5:30 p.m.-dusk. Visit www.durangobmx.com for details.
The Center of Southwest Studies hosts the Mesa Verde Centennial
exhibit featuring 11 sections on a variety of themes,
including archaeology, rock art (with Hopi interpretation), fire,
park ranger life, Navajo stone masonry, pottery (both ancient and
contemporary) and tourism bring the story to life. The exhibit will
run through late October. 247-7456 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.
Upcoming
Cara Bessko, Hatha Yoga teacher, offers a free children’s
yoga class on the morning of June 8 at Pediatric Associates.
259-7337 to reserve a place.
2005 Rockygrass Bluegrass Band Contest winners, Town Mountain,
will perform on June 8 at the Abbey Theatre.
The Durango Arts Center will host the Four Corners Commission
Exhibit, “Myths & Prophesies,” beginning on
June 8.
On June 9. the Abbey Theater hosts Grassroots Eclectic: An
Evening in Celebration of Sound, an all-ages, eight-band show
benefiting local drug rehab programs.
Durango Nature Studies offers Hiking the Strawberry Moon in
Sand Canyon on June 9. A DNS naturalist will lead the full-moon
hike. 382-9244 to register.
Relay for Life, an overnight event celebrating survivorship and
raising money to help the American Cancer Society, takes place June
9-10.
The 6th annual Adventure Xstream Adventure Race
Series returns to Durango on June 10 with both 12- &
24-hour races.
The inaugural Mountain Park Classic takes place on June 10,
and starts and finishes at the Tech Center. 375-7313 for
details.
The 38th annual Barbershoppers Concert takes place on June 10 at
the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College.
Oakhaven Permaculture Center offers another Kid Fest Summer Camp
beginning June 12. Visit www.oakhavenpc.org for details.
The Durango Independent Film Festival will screen “Sophie
Scholl - The Final Days” on June 14 at the Abbey
Theatre.
Who’s Your Daddy, a festival benefiting for the
Children’s Museum and the Durango Discovery Museum, returns
to Main Avenue on June 17.
Ride the Rockies passes through Durango on June 18 and a
street dance, beer garden and community dinner will take place on
Main Ave. 247-0312 for details.
A Claude Monet picnic takes place on June 18 at Blue Lake
Ranch and includes a Monet-inspired lunch, garden tours, costumes,
entertainment and more. 259-2606 for details.
Voices in American Drama: A Summer Play Reading Series continues
at Fort Lewis College on June 22 with “Don’t Blame Me,
I Voted for Helen Gahagan Douglas.”
Silverton Mountain hosts a June 24 writing workshop with Dolores
LaChappelle, Art Goodtimes and Steve Meyers. www.silvertonmountain.com for details.
Mesa Verde National Park will celebrate its centennial year with
a weekend of festivities on June 29-July 2.
Durango DOT Comedy is currently recruiting participants for
its first improv comedy cage match on June 30. 259-6004 for
details.
Dolores River Festival returns What: A two-day festival benefiting the Dolores River Coalition Where: The Dolores River Brewery and Joe Rowell Park in Dolores When: June 2 from 5-10 p.m. and June 3 from 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Four Corners residents will gather this weekend to celebrate and
raise awareness about the Dolores River. For the second year, the
San Juan Citizens Alliance is hosting the Dolores River Festival in
Joe Rowell Park in downtown Dolores on June 2 and 3.
Nearly 20 years ago, the final stone was placed on McPhee
Reservoir’s dam, and flows on the Lower Dolores River have
been stunted since. This weekend’s event will raise awareness
about the situation on the Dolores and benefit the Dolores River
Coalition. The coalition includes more than 20 different local and
national organizations and is an ongoing effort to encourage the
overall health of the river and its canyon.
On Fri., June 2, the festivities begin at 5 p.m. at the Dolores
River Brewery with an outdoor gear silent auction featuring dozens
of products from top outdoor dealers. Dave Insley’s Careless
Smokers will provide entertainment. On the morning of Sat., June 3,
the Dolores River Festival gets going with full force. The festival
features children’s activities, fly-fishing demonstrations,
and free raft rides on the Dolores. There also will be
community-wide yard and storefront sidewalk sales, a fine arts
festival and a river dog contest as well as the Dolores Rotary Club
Fun Run, a 2-mile or 5-kilometer race. Food and refreshments will
be available and live music from bands including, the Lindells,
Lawn Chair Kings, Cosmic Accident, Chopolgy Accepted, the Frank
Trio and headliner, Mingo Fishtrap, will play throughout the
day.
Men Who Grill take over Main What: The Women’s Resource Center’s annual fund-raiser Where: The 1200 block of Main Ave. When: Sat., June 3, from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
There’s only one local event where you can watch a whole
roasted pig spin over an open flame, line up to be served by men
wearing nothing more than animal-print sarongs, and then choose
winners among dozens of costumed chefs. This Saturday, Men Who
Grill, an annual fund-raiser for the Women’s Resource Center,
takes place in downtown Durango from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. in the
1200 block of Main Ave.
During the event, up to 25 teams of grillers will vie for top
honors from attendees and judges who choose winners based upon
taste and presentation. The chefs, both amateur and professional,
chose a theme and decorate their booths and don costumes
accordingly. The grilled goodies also relate to the theme.
In years past, Men Who Grill has seen the likes of teams such as
“The Wasabi Brothers” serving up grilled seafood, the
“Deep South Grill Team” slinging “road
kill,” “Men Are Pigs” spinning the aforementioned
roasted pig, and “The Neanderthals” dishing out spicy
barbeque. This year’s teams promise to be even more
competitive, offering interesting fare for meat lovers and
vegetarians alike.
This year’s event coincides with the annual Fun in the Sun
Arts & Crafts Fair in Buckley Park and includes a performance
by the local suburban rock band, the Lawn Chair Kings. Admission
includes tastes from all the grilling teams and free soda, and beer
and wine will be available for purchase. Attendees are asked to
leave their dogs at home.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call 247-1242.
The harvest of native plants for medicinal purposes should be
done ethically, according to Deb Swanson, owner of Dancing Willow
Herbs. Swanson offers the following guidelines for individuals
interested in wild herbcrafting:
• Explore a 1-mile radius around the plant you want to
harvest to make sure the species is viable in that area
• Take no more than 5 percent of the plant
• Try to leave the tap root in the ground
• Look for signs of other collection and choose plants
that have not already been touched
• Broadcast seeds to promote regrowth of the plants
• Leave smaller plants in place to develop for future
years
• Tread especially lightly during drought years
“There’s a big price to be paid,” Swanson
said. “We want to try to have as few impacts as
possible.”
