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Ongoing Upcoming

Oktoberfest returns to Main Avenue
Durango Fall Blaze takes off

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

Durango Motorless Transit sponsors a group trail run for all levels on the Log Chutes trails. Interested runners should meet at the trailhead at 6 p.m. 382-8005 for details.

Ultimate Frisbee takes place at the Miller Middle School football field at 6 p.m. 375-7313 for details.

Midwife Linda Barnes presents a free talk and slideshow on her 2 ½ years teaching at a maternity hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, at 7 p.m. in the Eolus Room of the Durango Recreation Center. Donations benefit the Afghan Midwives Association. 247-9584 for details.

The FLC Life-Long Learning Lecture Series continues with “Engineers Without Borders: Building a Better World One Community at a Time” at 7 p.m. in 130 Noble Hall. Seventeen students spent May in Thailand developing solutions to problems.

The Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. Second Ave., hosts salsa dancing, including free dance lessons from 7-8 p.m., and a DJ spinning tunes until 10 p.m. 375-2568 for details.

Author Guy Walton presents the illustrated lecture, “Mercy Hospital of the San Juans,” at 7:30 p.m. at the Animas Museum, 3065 W. Second Ave. Walton will sign copies of his new book. 259-2402 for details.

Phillip Walker brings his big Texas blues to Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave. at 8 p.m. Lisa Blue

and Brant Leeper plays downstairs in the Sidecar Jazz Lounge at 8 p.m. 259-1400 for details.

Vic spins a club mix at the Lost Dog, 1150 Main Ave., for Service Industry Night at 8 p.m. 259-0430 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.

I-Gene spins reggae, dancehall and dub for Pint Night at Steamworks, 801 E. Second Ave., at 10 p.m. 259-9200 for details.

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Aspen Guard Station Artist in Residence Valerie Orlemann, a Utah painter of oil landscapes, hosts an open house from 1-3 p.m. at the historic cabin near Mancos. 385-1219 for details.

The Southwest Colorado Peace and Justice Coalition holds a peace vigil from 5 to 6 p.m. at the corner of Main Ave. and 11th St. Signs available or bring your own. 259-4185 for details.

The Pride of the West in Silverton hosts acoustic classics and originals from Pete Giuliani from 5-8 p.m. and Freeplay playing classic and modern rock at 9 p.m.

This Soul Food Forum explores feng shui, the chakra system and numerology at 5 p.m. at the Cortez Public Library.

Durango’s Critical Mass meets at 5:30 p.m. at the corner of 5^th St. and Main Ave. The ride leaves at 6 p.m. for an unspecified location.

Ralph Dinosaur returns to Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave., with shows at 5:30 & 8: 30 p.m. 259-1400 for details.

Steamworks, 801 E. Second Ave., hosts BLU Friday beginning with a 6 p.m. keg giveaway and DJs taking requests for 80s Night at 10 p.m. 259-9200 for details.

Gary Walker plays favorite jazz standards at the Mahogany Grille, 699 Main Ave., from 6-9 p.m. 247-4433 for details.

The Fort Lewis College Mallet and Percussion Ensembles present a concert and CD release titled “The Invisible Proverb” at 7 p.m. at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College. The program includes selections from composers Ney Rosauro and William Bolcom, as well as a theatrical work from Richard Gibson. 247-7657 for details.

Dr. Donald Warne presents “The Lakota Medicine Wheel:  Ancient Knowledge for Healing the Mind, Body, Spirit and Heart” at 7 p.m. at Telluride’s Sheridan Opera House. The event is free to all Durangoans. www.ahhaa.org/outloud for details.

Wild Country plays country and rock at 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.

Zoomin’ Newman performs rock at the Billy Goat Saloon, located in off Hwy. 160 in Gem Village, at 9 p.m. 884-9155 for details.

The Dead Cowboys and Pinhead play a 9:30 p.m. show at the Summit, 600 Main Ave. 247-2324 for details.

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The nonprofit Durango Early Learning Center’s annual yard sale takes place from 8 a.m. to noon at 890 E. Third Ave. Proceeds will go toward the school’s building-purchase fund. 4

The 12th annual Journey of Hope 5K Family Run/Walk takes place along the Fort Lewis College Rim. Registration begins at 8 a.m., walkers start at 9 a.m. and runners start at 9:15 a.m. in the event honoring women and families who have been touched by breast cancer. Visit www.go-dmt.org for details.

Household Chemical Collection Day returns to the La Plata County Fairgrounds from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Cleaning supplies, painting supplies, indoor home supplies, garden supplies, automotive fluids, home and car batteries, hobby supplies, propane tanks and pharmaceuticals will be accepted.

The Durango Farmers Market meets in the First National Bank of Durango parking lot, 259 W. Ninth St., from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. www.durangofarmersmarket.org for details.

The Alzheimer’s Association’s annual Memory Walk takes place at Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez with registration at 9 a.m. and the closing ceremony, lunch and country fair at Vista Mesa Assisted Living Center. All proceeds stay in local communities. 259-0122 for details.

“Publicly Funded Elections: Are They in Our Future?,” a public forum on changes to how we fund elections, takes place from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at 130 Noble Hall. Panelists include Fred Brown, Denver Post columnist; State Rep. Mark Larson; Elena Nunez of Colorado Common Cause; Durango Mayor Sidny Zink and past mayor Jasper Welch. Visit www.lwvlaplata.org for details

Tara Mandala Retreat Center, located near Pagosa Springs, offers an open house from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. There is no charge and the day includes lunch. 731-3711 to RSVP.

The Southwest Colorado Mental Health Center celebrates the opening of Crossroads, which will house psychiatric acute treatment, triage and detox units, from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at the new campus of Mercy Medical Center. Drinks and appetizers will be provided. 385-3496 for details. 

“Art for the Cabin,” a silent auction to benefit the Aspen Guard Station Artist-in-Residence Program, kicks off at the Main Book Company and The Gallery in Cortez. The auction features more than 40 original works of art and will run through Oct. 13. 385-1219 for details.

R&B singer/songwriter/pianist Kelley Hunt plays a 7:30 p.m. show at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College. This event benefits the La Plata Family Centers Coalition and begins with a 5:30 p.m. pre-concert social and silent auction. 247-7657 for details.

Jeff Sweet plays favorite jazz standards at the Mahogany Grille, 699 Main Ave., from 6-9 p.m. 247-4433 for details.

Staboola McPet plays Oktoberfest at the Carver Brewing Co., 1022 Main Ave., at 8 p.m. 259-2545 for details.

Ralph Dinosaur plays a second night at Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave. at 8 p.m. 259-1400.

The Magpies play their electric bluegrass at the Columbine Bar in Mancos at 8 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.

Yo Flaco!, a Denver based hip-hop and acid jazz fusion group, plays Oktoberfest at the Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College, at 9 p.m. 385-1711 for details.

Mama’s Cookin’ brings its world-funk back to the Summit, 600 Main Ave., for Oktoberfest at 9 p.m. 247-2324 .

Liquid Cheese, an eight-piece ska, funk and rock band from El Paso, plays Oktoberfest at Steamworks, 801 E. Second Ave., at 9:30 p.m. The band BPM opens the show. 259-9200 for details.

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Durango BMX hosts its season party following races, which begin at 2 p.m. Awards will be given out, family relay races will be held and a potluck will follow.

Violinists Mikylah Myers McTeer and Miriam Belyatsky and pianist Lisa Campi present a 3 p.m. recital at Roshong Recital Hall at Fort Lewis College. 247-7657 for details.

Earth Mama, an environmental entertainer, brings her song and humor to the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College at 4 p.m. The celebration focuses on sustainable living and biodiversity and is presented by Durango Nature Studies. www.durangonaturestudies.org for details.

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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 Youth Ultimate Frisbee Program meets from 4-6 p.m. at the La Plata County Fairgrounds’ north baseball field. 375-7313 for details.

An open-level Latin/Salsa Dance Party takes place at 8:30 p.m. at the Durango Recreation Center, 2700 Main Ave. 903-9402 for details. 4

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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.

Ultimate Frisbee takes place at Miller Middle School football field at 6 p.m. 375-7313 for details.

The Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College, screens “Anomaly,” a ski and snowboard film, at 7 & 9 p.m. 385-1711 for details.

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

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Outward Bound Wilderness presents “The Essence of Outward Bound Wilderness” at 3:30 p.m. in room 119 at the FLC Student Life Center. The event includes a short film and presentation on OB careers and adventures. 247-7293 for details.

Mountain Bike Specialists, 949 Main Ave., hosts a 4-6 p.m. party to celebrate local cyclist Tom Danielson’s win of Stage 17 of the Vuelta a España. The event includes video coverage of the stage, light refreshments and Danielson signing autographs. 247-4066 for details.

The Youth Ultimate Frisbee Program meets from 4-6 p.m. at the La Plata County Fairgrounds’ north baseball field. 375-7313 for details.

Trails 2000 seeks volunteers for trail work from 4-7 p.m. Volunteers should visit www.trails2000.org for details or to sign up for the trailwork e-list.

National Eating Disorder Awareness Week hosts a volunteer orientation at 5 p.m. at Steaming Bean Coffee, 915 Main Ave. The week takes place Feb. 25 - March 3, 2006. 799-0116 for details.

The Southwest Center for Independence hosts a free disability services forum from 5-7 p.m. at Rocky Mountain Retreat, 848 E. Third Ave. The forum focuses on barriers faced by individuals with disabilities in the Durango community. 259-1672 for details.

Michael Attie, the Squeeze-Box Swami, performs and reads from his book Many Ways, Middle Way, No Way at 7 p.m. at Jungle Chic, 1121 Camino Del Rio. Admission to the event is free. 385-5993.

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 Lost Dog, 1150 Main Ave., hosts Salsa Night at 9 p.m. 259-0430 for details.

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The Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College, screens “Half Nelson.” The film follows Dan, an idealistic inner-city junior high school teacher with a drug habit and Drey, one of his troubled students, as they stumble into an unexpected friendship. The award-winning picture shows most nights at 4, 6:30 & 9 p.m. “Spirit of the Southwest” continues through the end of September showing nightly at 5:30 p.m. 385-1711 for showtimes.

The Fort Lewis College Art Gallery hosts the David Hunt Annual Ceramics Invitational through Oct. 18. In this fifth annual exhibition and sale by Fort Lewis College alumni and regional artists, 14 new and returning artists utilize varied techniques and materials to create a wide variety of ceramic styles. 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.

Durango BMX hosts races every Sunday (weather permitting) with sign ups from 1 to 2 p.m., and gate practices take place every Tuesday from 5:30 p.m. to dusk. Visit www.durangobmx.com 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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Fort Lewis College will celebrate Latino College Day on Oct. 5.

The Durango Arts Center hosts the Heart of the Cowboy artist’s reception on Oct. 5, featuring artist Jim Bramlett, the works of artist and writer Will James and music from Wild Country.

The Durango Cowboy Gathering returns to Downtown Durango on Oct. 5-8 and features cowboy poetry, music, historic exhibits, a parade and western swing dance.

St. Mark’s Church will host the ICON Sacred Arts Festival beginning Oct. 6, and artists of all ages and faiths are welcome to participate. 247-1129.

Irish supergroup Lúnasa plays the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College on Oct. 6.

This Soul Food Forum explores “The Yin and Yang of the Four Seasons” on Oct. 6 at the Cortez Public Library.

The Rocky Mountain Horse Expo returns to the La Plata County Fairgrounds on Oct. 6-8.

The Durango Lively Arts Company will present “Wiley and the Hairy Man,” a magical, family play, on Oct. 6-7 and 13-14 at the Durango Arts Center.

The Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College presents Roald Dahl’s “Willy Wonka” on Oct. 7.

Cadence Therapeutic Riding hosts the first annual Barnyard Golf Challenge, a horseshoe pitching contest, on Oct. 7.

The Tara Mandala Retreat Center offers a meditation day on Oct. 7.

The 6^th annual Mutt-Strut and Adopt-a-thon takes place on Oct. 8 at Santa Rita Park.

The Powerhouse Pizza Party, a benefit for the Durango Discovery Museum/Children’s Museum of Durango, takes place on Oct. 11 at Carvers.

The Green Business Roundtable returns to the Strater Hotel on Oct. 11 and discusses “Greener Hospitality and Events.”

The 12^th annual Pink Ribbon Affair, a dinner and event benefiting breast cancer treatment, takes place on Oct. 11 at the La Plata County Fairgrounds.

The Durango Independent Film Festival presents “Street Fight” as its Monthly Movie on Oct. 11.

Mesa Verde hosts its Centennial Alumni Reunion Weekend on Oct. 13-15. The event includes three days of music, dancing, tours, lectures and food.

The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad will begin service to The Peanuts’ Great Pumpkin Patch on October 14.

The nonprofit Durango Early Learning Center will host its annual Harvest Festival fund-raiser from 2 – 7 p.m. on Oct. 21 at 890 E. Third Ave.

The Center of Southwest Studies is accepting submissions for the 4^th annual Juried Photography Exhibition through Oct. 30. 247-7456 for details.

The 10th annual Durango AIDS Benefit takes place Nov. 4 at the Durango Arts Center and includes dinner, silent auction and dance.

Sherman Alexie, Esther G. Belin, Lisa Lenard-Cook, Steven J. Meyers, William Pitt Root and more will be featured at the Southwest Writers Institute on Nov. 10-11. Visit southwestwritersinstitute.org for details.  

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Oktoberfest returns to Main Avenue What: The San Juan Citizens’ Alliance 3rd annual Oktoberfest celebration  Where: Durango’s Main Avenue When: Sept. 30 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Oct. 1 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Beer, bratwurst, beer and polka are again taking over Main Avenue this weekend. San Juan Citizens Alliance presents the 3rd annual Oktoberfest celebration on Sept. 30 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Oct. 1 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The event will close off Main Ave. between 9th and 11th streets and then spill into three local venues for an evening of performances. Durango Mayor Sidny Zink kicks off the celebration at noon with a ceremonial keg tapping. Durango’s four local breweries will all have beer on hand throughout the afternoon and local restaurants will be grilling up brats, kraut, authentic German fare and more. There will be games and family activities and music on a Main Avenue stage from the bands, Staboola McPet, Mama’s Cookin’, Liquid Cheese and Yo Flaco! as well as polka artists Die Hursts, Alte Kameraden and The Alpiners. Last but not least, a mechanical bull will be on hand for the cowboy in each of us. The Main Avenue festivities wind down on Saturday at 6 p.m., but the celebration continues. A wristband gives revelers access to live music at Steamworks, the Summit and the Abbey Theatre during a musical pub crawl. The following morning, Oct. 1, Oktoberfest fires up again at 11 a.m., and the music, food and revelry all continue through 3 p.m. For more information on Oktoberfest, log onto www.sanjuancitizens.org or call 259-3583.

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Durango Fall Blaze takes off What: A new road riding tour offering 37, 57 and 100-mile tours Where: The roads and highways surrounding Durango When: Saturday, Sept. 30 beginning at 8 a.m. Big miles and bright colors are on tap this weekend as the first-ever Durango Fall Blaze takes to area roads. The inaugural bicycle tour takes off on Sept. 30, and local road riders will have the opportunity to ride with Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team member Tom Danielson, his pro cyclist wife, Kristin, and members of the Fort Lewis College Cycling Team. “The Durango Fall Blaze is not only going to be a fun ride, but also a great way for Fort Lewis cyclists to become more involved in the community,” says FLC Cycling Club President Eric Ransom. “We are expecting up to 70 student athletes, dressed in FLC apparel, to accompany participants along the whole route.” The ride begins in the morning with a cannon blast and a Rim Drive circular start with Tom and Kristin. Three different tour options are available, including a 37-mile, 57-mile, and 100-mile ride. This ride is fully supported with mechanics, sag sweep, and aid stations along the way. All the rides end at FLC’s Venue Event Tent for catered food, views and draft beer. All proceeds from the Fall Blaze will benefit the Tom Danielson Scholarship Fund at Fort Lewis College, dedicated to helping rising young cyclists at the college. Visit www.durangofallblaze.com for more information and to register.

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