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Fort Lewis College hosts Squawker Cross

Southwest Writers Institute returns
Mountainfilm shows at the Abbey

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

A free concert of choral music takes place at 5:30 p.m. in the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College. The performance culminates the 10th annual High School Honor choir program at FLC. 247-7251 for details

A discussion of the recent boom in uranium mining in the Four Corners region, its impacts on native peoples, and ways to get involved takes place at 7 p.m. in 130 Chemistry Hall at Fort Lewis College. The event is part of FLC’s Common Reading Experience. 247-7676 for details.

The Life-Long Learning Lecture Series continues at 7 p.m. in 130 Noble Hall with a slide-presentation on Outdoor Pursuits’ recent climbing expeditions to Mt. Elbrus and Mt. Kilimanjaro. In the summer of 2006, OP led a group of students on successful attempts on Europe’s and Africa’s highest peaks. 

Rambling songsmiths James O. Patterson & Tom Murray perform at Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave., beginning at 8 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.

Mark Berenson brings his guitar and vocals to the Columbine Bar in Mancos at 8:30 p.m. 533-7397 for details.

A Guest DJ spins a mix for Service Industry Night at The Lost Dog, 1150 Main Ave., at 9 p.m. 259-0430 for details.

Steamworks, 801 E. Second Ave., celebrates Pint Night with music from DJ Spark Madden at 10 p.m. 259-9200 for details.

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The Southwest Center for Independence, 835 E. Second Ave., offers Munch Bunch, a weekly gathering of women dealing with disability and challenges in daily functioning. 259-1672 for details.  

The Southwest Colorado Peace and Justice Coalition holds a peace vigil from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the corner of Main Ave. and 11th St. Signs available or bring your own. 259-4185 for details.

Tim Telep plays acoustic rock, folk, and blues at 5 p.m. at the Mill Street Brews Coffeehouse, 25 W. Mill St. in Bayfield. 884-7070 for details.

Miller Middle School holds its first annual “Family Fund-Raiser Night” from 5:30-8 p.m. The event includes dinner, a movie, chats and a silent auction and benefits the exploratory class “Miller Enterprises.” 247-1418, ext. 2545 for details.

Steamworks, 801 E. Second Ave., hosts Blu Friday with a Poetry Slam, a keg giveaway and music from DJ Link beginning at 6 p.m. 259-9200 for details.

Gary B. Walker, jazz pianist, performs at the Mahogany Grille, 699 Main Ave., at 6 p.m. 247-4433 for details.

Jack Ellis and Larry Carver play blues and folk at Rubio’s in Aztec from 6: 30-10:30 p.m.

The Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College, screens “Star Dreams,” a feature-length documentary exploring the mystery of crop circles, at 7 p.m. There have been almost 11,000 recorded crop circles world-wide since 1980 and a growing consensus that higher intelligence is responsible. 385-1711 for details.

Traditional Irish band, Dervish, plays a 7 p.m.

show at San Juan College’s Henderson Fine Arts Center in Farmington. (505)566-3430 for details.

Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave., hosts a Dance Party with DJs spinning music from 8 p.m. until close. Brant Leeper, piano virtuoso, plays downstairs in the Sidecar Jazz Lounge at 8 p.m. 259-1400 for details.

Longtime favorites, the 8^th Ave. Trio, return to the 8^th Ave. Tavern, 509 E. 8^th Ave., at 8 p.m. 259-8801 for details.

DJ Mowgli spins a club mix at The Lost Dog, 1150 Main Ave., at 9 p.m. 259-0430 for details.

The Lawn Chair Kings take their suburban rock to the Billy Goat Saloon, located off Hwy. 160 in Gem Village, at 9 p.m. 884-9155 for details.

The Badly Bent brings its high-energy, traditional bluegrass to the Carver Brewing Co., 1022 Main Ave., at 9:30 p.m. 259-2545 for details.

Bones Solo Ensemble performs at the Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College, at 9: 30 p.m. Bones, formerly of the bands Shakedown Street and Jaka, mixes percussion, song and dance into a polyrhythmic solo act. 385-1711 for details.

DJs Fat P and Brian Ess bring “Music for Heads” to the Summit, 600 Main Ave., at 10 p.m. 247-2324 for details.

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The Durango Arts Center, 802 E. Second Ave., hosts an orientation for volunteers interested in working at the reception desk in the gallery or in the Gallery Shop at 10:30 a.m. 259-2606 for details.

YogaDurango, 1480 E. Second Ave., offers a free Yoga Basics Workshop at 11 a.m. 946-8961 or www.yogadurango.com for details.

The Breen Community Association hosts a Chili Supper Fund-Raiser from 5:30-8 p.m. at the Breen Community Building, 15300 U.S. Hwy. 140.

Jeff Sweet, jazz pianist, performs at the Mahogany Grille, 699 Main Ave., at 6 p.m. 247-4433 for details.

Turtle Lake Refuge holds a benefit potluck/Turtle Talent Show from 6-9 p.m. at Rocky Mountain Retreat, 848 E. Third Ave. Net donations go to the Sustainable Living Education and Open Space Fund. 247-8395 for details.

Jack Ellis and Larry Carver play 4 

blues and folk at Rubio’s in Aztec from 6:30-10:30 p.m.

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Martin Sexton plays a 7 p.m. show at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College. Sexton is one of the most talked-about recent arrivals to the “new folk” acoustic music scene. www.durangoconcerts.com for details.

Durango DOT Comedy presents “You, Yes, You!,” an improvisational comedy show, at 7:30 p.m. at the Durango Arts Center Theatre, 802 E. Second Ave. 259-6004 for details.

Dances of Universal Peace return to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 910 E. Third Ave., at 7:30 p.m.

Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave., hosts a Dance Party with DJs spinning music from 8 p.m. until close. Brant Leeper, piano virtuoso, plays downstairs in the Sidecar Jazz Lounge at 8 p.m. 259-1400 for details.

Four Corners alt-country favorites, the Beautiful Losers, play the Columbine Bar in Mancos at 8:30 p.m. 533-7397 for details.

DJ Mowgli spins a club mix at The Lost Dog, 1150 Main Ave., at 9 p.m. 259-0430 for details.

L.A. Symphony, a hip hop band from Los Angeles, plays a 9 p.m. show at Club Uno Mas, 117 W. College. The Denver band, By Improv, and local group, The Truth/Slick One, open the show. 375-2568 for details.

Steamworks, 801 E. Second Ave., hosts Boogie Nights with retro DJs accepting reguests beginning at 9:30 p.m. 259-9200 for details.

The band Breaking and Entering plays the Summit, 600 Main Ave., at 9:30 p.m. 247-2324 for details.

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Ultimate Frisbee takes place at the Miller Middle School football field at 2 p.m. 375-7313 for details.

The San Juan Symphony teams up with the Durango Choral Society and guest vocalists for a 3 p.m. show at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College. The team will perform the overtures, arias and choruses from several well-loved operas. www.durangoconcerts.com for details.

Singer-songwriter Joel Racheff plays the Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave., from 7-11 p.m. 375-7260.

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Chris Page, a senior consultant for the Rocky Mountain Institute, gives the talk, “Systems Thinking and Natural Capitalism: A Holistic Approach to Business Sustainability.”  A discussion and dialogue takes place at 2 p.m. in Room 104 of the FLC College Union Building, and a presentation takes place at 7 p.m. in 130 Chemistry Hall. 247-7676 for details.

David Ssejinja,founder of the Ssejinja Foundation, discusses “Orphaned by AIDS, What Now?” at 7 p.m. in Fort Lewis College’s 130 Noble Hall. Ssejinja himself was orphaned by AIDS and started the foundation to help similar children in Africa. 247-6587 for details.

The Durango DEVO Team’s junior program, mountain biking for riders from second to fifth grade, meets from 3:30-5:30 p.m. 247-8355 or stescher@yahoo.com for details.

The Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College, screens “Grease not Gas,” a snowboard/biodiesel film, at 7 p.m. 385-1711 for details.

Lacey Black, singer-songwriter/pianist, performs at the Mahogany Grille, 699 Main Ave., at 7 p.m. 247-4433 for details.

An open-level Latin/Salsa Dance Party takes place at 8:30 p.m. at the Durango Recreation Center, 2700 Main Ave. No partner necessary. 903-9402 for details.

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P is for Peanut, 473 E. College, offers free kids’ storytime at 11 a.m. 385-4525 for details.

The Durango DEVO Team’s junior program, mountain biking for riders from second to fifth grade, meets from 3:30-5:30 p.m. 247-8355 or stescher@yahoo.com for details.

Durango FiberWorks, 1309 E. Third Ave. in the Smiley Building, hosts Community Night from 5-8 p.m. Local and aspiring fiber artists are encouraged to attend. www.durangofiberworks.com for details.

The Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College, hosts screenings of the newest Warren Miller ski film, “Off the Grid,” at 6:30 & 8:15 p.m. The 6:30 p.m. screening includes a special benefit reception takes place at 5:30 p.m. All proceeds benefit the Durango Winter Sports Foundation. 385-1711 for details.

Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main Ave., hosts a 6:30 p.m. booksigning with Jim Fergus, acclaimed author of the books, The Wild Girl and One Thousand White Women. 247-1438 for details.

The Fort Lewis College Woodwind Ensembles play a free 7 p.m. concert at Roshong Recital Hall.

The Summit, 600 Main Ave., presents open mic night from 7 p.m.-midnight. 247-2324 for details.

Lacey Black, singer-songwriter/pianist, performs at the Mahogany Grille, 699 Main Ave., at 7 p.m. 247-4433 for details.

The Columbine Bar in Mancos hosts its Tuesday Night Jam at 8 p.m. 533-7397 for details.

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Steve Salka and Lori Cole, of PhaseFree Inc., discuss protecting equipment from power anomalies for the Chamber of Commerce’s Lunch and Learn at noon at the Bank of Colorado, 1099 Main Ave. 247-0312 4

to reserve a space.

A free seminar discussing funding opportunities for Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Value Added Projects takes place from 1-3 p.m. in the Montezuma County Annex Building. 565-8416, ext. 4 to RSVP.

The Fort Lewis College Brass and String Ensembles perform a free 7 p.m. concert at Roshong Recital Hall.

Lacey Black, singer-songwriter/pianist, performs at the Mahogany Grille, 699 Main Ave., at 7 p.m. 247-4433 for details.

An open-level Swing Dance Party takes place at 8:30 p.m. at the Durango Recreation Center. No partner necessary. 903-9402 for details.

The Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College, hosts Lebowski Night, an event including door prizes, a costume contest and a screening of “The Big Lebowski.” Doors open at 9 p.m. 385-1711 for details.

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Fort Lewis College Theatre presents “Three Tall Women” at the Gallery Theatre on campus. Edward Albee’s Pulitzer Prize winning play is based on his adoptive mother who, at 92 years of age and in failing health, is examining her life. Her reflections of love, hate and humor allow us to witness her passionless marriage, a strained relationship with her son, and her fight to “fit in” to society. The play shows on Nov. 9, 10, 11 at 7:30 p.m. and on Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. Visit www.theatre.fortlewis.edu for details.

“Cars,” an exhibit by Durango photographer John Sfondilias, is on display at the Lavenia McCoy Public Library in Bayfield through November and December. To see the “virtual exhibit,” go to http://sfondilias.com/bayfield. For more information on the actual exhibit, call 779-0399.

The Durango Arts Center, 802 E. Second Ave., hosts the “Everything with Drawers” exhibit through Nov. 17. Artwork submitted by local artists will compliment the furniture of Durango craftsman Gregg Senne. “New Works,” small paintings and woodcuts from Chad Colby is one display upstairs in the Art Library through the end of December. 259-2606 for details.

The Fort Lewis College Art Gallery hosts the exhibit, “Visual Stories.” Artist Anna Ursyn transformed images inspired by the natural and technological worlds for the prints and projected images in the show. The Exit Gallery hosts “Hiroshima Nuclear Legacy: Realities and Implication,” a poster exhibit created by Hiroshima Women’s University. 247-7167 for details.

The Children’s Museum, 802 E. Second Ave., hosts the new exhibit, “Pushing Your Limits.” The museum explores how people “push their limits” to survive, or just have more fun. Children can crawl into Puebloan dwelling and imagine how it was to live on the edge, wiggle in a full-sized raft, or grind it out on a mountain bike trail. 259-9234 for details.

A new exhibit, “Railroad Boomtown – The San Juan Extension & the Founding of Durango,” is on display at the Animas Museum, 3065 W. Second Ave. The exhibit uses historic photos, maps, newspapers, art and artifacts to commemorate the 125^th anniversary of the founding of Durango and the coming of the Denver & Rio Grande Railway. 259-2402 for details.

The Center of Southwest Studies presents 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

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Open Shutter Gallery is accepting submissions for its community show “The Defining Moment.” Two photographs illustrating the theme of the exhibit must be submitted with the application. 382-8355 for details.

The one-of-a-kind pop-jazz style of Spyro Gyra comes to the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College on Nov. 16.

Tom Lewis, well-known folk singer of sea shanties, will perform a Nov. 17 benefit concert at Rocky Mountain Retreat.

Computer & Electronic Collection Days take place on Nov. 17 & 18 at the Durango Recycling Center.

Ska Brewing and Venture Snowboards will host their second annual Season Kickoff Party on Nov. 18 at the Summit with music from Warsaw and The Freeman Social.

Durango will again participate in the annual America Unchained event on Nov. 18, and community members are encouraged to spend their money exclusively at locally owned, independent businesses. A culminating celebration takes place Nov. 19 at the Abbey Theatre.

Advantage Physical Therapy & Wellness will offer free injury screenings on Nov. 18.

Local Vibe, a CD featuring local artists, is scheduled for release with a benefit concert on Nov. 29 at the Diamond Circle Theater. The CD will benefit the Durango Foundation for Educational Excellence and local school music programs.

Durango Acting Studio will offer the plays, “Quick Wit:  An Evening of One Act Plays” on Nov. 30-Dec. 2 and Dec. 7-9 and “The Eight:  Reindeer Monologues” on Dec. 1-2 and Dec. 8-9.

The REEL Environmental Experience – Environmental Film Festival, a fund-raiser for the FLC Environmental Center, returns on Dec. 7.

The Badly Bent brings its high-energy bluegrass back to Steamworks on Dec. 8.

Mesa Verde will host an open house and Centennial Finale in an all-day event on Dec. 9.

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Fort Lewis College hosts Squawker Cross What: The USCF Colorado State Cyclocross Championships Where: The Fort Lewis College Rim   When: Sat., Nov. 11 Mud, sweat and tears will take over the Durango area this weekend. On Sat., Nov. 11, Fort Lewis College is hosting the Squawker Cross cyclocross extravaganza. More than $5,000 in prizes will be up for grabs in the event which is the USCF Colorado State Cyclocross Championships, which will feature lop-level college and professional racers. The course will be very challenging, starting on the campus stadium track complete with barrier sections and a great mix of off-camber, grass and concrete terrain looping riders along the Fort Lewis Campus. Elite Men will race at 3:30 p.m. and the women go off at 2:30 p.m. Online registration is currently available at www.active.com and on-site registration will take place on race day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Some of the talent scheduled to race in the Squawker cross includes: Todd Wells, a 2004 Olympian and two-time cyclocross champion; Tom Danielson of Team Discovery; Shonny Vanlandingham; Ned Overend; Travis Brown; and members of the Fort Lewis Cycling Team. Following the races, there will be a celebration with live music at Steamworks Brewing Co. For more information on the Squawker Cross, call 247-7460 or e-mail hagen_d@fortlewis.edu. For those looking for a little light competition, cyclocross racing returns to the Durango Sport Club the following day. For the first time since 2001, citizen racers can compete in the event, which begins at 10 a.m. on Nov. 12. For more information, contact 259-2579.

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Southwest Writers Institute returns What: The second annual gathering of regional writers Where: Fort Lewis College and the Abbey Theatre When: Nov. 10-11 Authors are converging on Durango this weekend. Courtesy of the Southwest Writers Institute, there are several opportunities for the public to glean some wisdom this weekend.   Now in its second year, the Southwest Writers Institute takes place Nov. 10-11 and offers keynote readings by national and regional writers, craft sessions and two writers’ panels in which writers discuss the writing life and publishing. This year, the Institute was moved to November in order to celebrate Colorado’s American Indian Heritage Month. In that spirit, Sherman Alexie kicks off the weekend with a public reading at 7 p.m. on Nov. 10 at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College. A Spokane/Coeur d’Alene Indian, Alexie has authored seven books of poetry, two novels, two collections of stories, and numerous magazine articles. Alexie is perhaps best known for his film, “Smoke Signals.” The following evening, Nov. 11, will showcase the work of Southwest writers Esther Belin, Steven J. Meyers and William Pitt Root. The joint reading begins with a 6:30 p.m. reception at the Abbey Theatre. For more information on the Southwest Writers Institute, log onto www.southwestwritersinstitute.org

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Mountainfilm shows at the Abbey What: Telluride Mountainfilm’s World Tour Where: The Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College   When: Thurs., Nov. 9 at 6:30 p.m. Telluride’s Mountainfilm is touring through Durango this week. This Thursday, the Abbey Theatre hosts a screening of Telluride Mountainfilm’s World Tour. Mountainfilm is more than a film festival. The annual event is a distinctive blend of films, speakers, gallery exhibits, slide presentations, seminars and on-the-street conversations that demonstrate the power of visual arts to instigate change. The 28th Mountainfilm Festival again infused Telluride with extraordinary footage and legendary mountaineers, filmmakers and activists on May 26-29 this year. If you missed the weekend or are simply ready for another taste, Mountainfilm is coming to Durango. MountainFilm on Tour features a collection of award winners and festival favorites. “The Mountainfilm World Tour is a visually dazzling and emotionally compelling experience that leaves you with an array of feelings: shock, pride, sorrow and – above all – hope,” said Sydney Stowe, film manager at Dartmouth College. Mountainfilm is also injecting a little hope into the San Juan Mountains with its visit this week. All proceeds from the show benefit the San Juan Citizens Alliance’s Public Lands Program. For more information, contact San Juan Citizens Alliance at 259-3583.

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