Ear to the ground

“Maybe he was getting good sound quality through his Whisper 2000.”

-An audience member after hearing that an older hippie gave a positive review to last Saturday’s Bob Dylan concert

A whole lot of bull

Professional bull riding is bucking into Durango next weekend. On Aug. 3-4, the La Plata County fairgrounds will be taken over by nationally ranked bulls, professional riders and big rodeo carnage.

The U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Challenger Tour is coming to town and will offer three different competitions – bull riding, bull fighting and “bulls buckin.’” The bull riding will showcase some of the most promising rising stars of Professional Bull Riding getting bucked alongside fan favorites and veterans. The tour offers upcoming bull riders the opportunity to compete in Pro Bull Riding-sanctioned events, while also earning money to qualify for the Built Ford Tough World Finals. In addition, the Professional Bull Fighter’s Daisy Protection Bullfight Tour will take to the fairgrounds and feature top bull fighters competing against some of the most dangerous bulls on the continent.

The riders and fighters aren’t the only up-and-comers competing in the Durango events.

American Bucking Bull Inc. will be showcasing its 3- to 4-year-old bulls in the competitions. Depending on how they perform, these bovines could be destined for the elite Built Ford Tough Series.

The events get under way at 7:30 p.m. each night, and tickets are available at the La Plata County Fairgrounds.

A big gift from Harry

Harry Potter smiled on Durango when he rolled into town on July 21 at the stroke of midnight. Maria’s Bookshop donated more than $3,300 from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pre-sales to the Durango Public Library.

Maria’s donated $7 from each reserved copy of the final book in J.K. Rowling’s series to the library and pre-sold more than 475 copies of the book. The independent bookseller also threw a giant Midnight Release Party on July 20. The event included a free screening of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” a street party and activities for all ages. At the stroke of midnight, the books were released and Potter-heads have been turning pages ever since to unravel the boy wizard’s fate.