Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday

Ongoing Upcoming

SASO to stage ‘Los Monologos de la Vagina’
Fort Lewis College graduates Centennial class
Concert Hall presents ‘Quetzalli’ de Veracruz

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

Thursday28

Pete Neds hosts open mic night at Sweeney’s, located just north of Durango on CR 203, from 5-9 p.m.

The San Juan Mountains Association hosts a 5:30 p.m. talk from author and outdoor guide Brett LeCompte at the San Juan Public Lands Center. LeCompte will discuss his 1,400-mile solo journey from the bottom of the Grand Canyon to the top of the Rocky Mountains and back again. 385-1312 for details.

Durango Motorless Transit hosts a group trail run on the Sale Barn Trails. Interested runners should meet at the trailhead, located near Dietz Market, at 6 p.m. 946-5557 for details.

The Durango Fencing Club meets from 6-8 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 878 E. Second Ave. The club meets every Thursday. 759-1883 for details.  

Katrina and Cook play their weekly mix of pop, rock, jazz and blues at the Durango Brewing Co., 3000 Main Ave., from 6 p.m.-close.

The Jeff Solon Jazz Duo plays Mutu’s, 701 E. Second Ave., from 6-9 p.m.

Internationally renowned sculptor Kevin McCarthy gives a free lecture and demonstration at Toh-Atin

Gaella ElanRah leads meditation and discussion from 7-8:30 p.m. at The Cafe of Life, 925 Highway 3. By donation. 375-9080 for details.

Tim Sullivan and the Narrow Gauge play the Derailed Saloon, 725 Main Ave., from 7-11 p.m.

Moe’s Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave., hosts Salsa Night with dance lessons and music from DJ Caliente from 8 p.m. -close. 259-9018.

Higher Ground, a discussion group geared toward making a difference, meets at 8 p.m. at Durango Joe’s, 732 E. College. The group also meets at the Lavenia McCoy Library in Bayfield at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. 884-9171 for details.

Durango’s Steven Andrews Band plays Thirsty Thursday at the Summit, 600 Main Ave., at 9:30 p.m.

Friday29

Southwest Colorado Community College hosts its summer kick-off party from 1-4 p.m. at the Commons Building, 701 Camino del Rio. The party includes music from the Spinning Wheels and Uncovered and activities like pie-throwing, a cupcake walk and face painting. 247-2929 for details.

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

FireWise of Southwest Colorado and the San Juan Public Lands Center kick off a Home Ignition Zone Workshop from 5-9 p.m. The class continues all day on April 30. 385-8909 to RSVP.

Dave Luna plays a solo acoustic happy hour at the El Rancho, 975 Main Ave., from 5-8 p.m.

Neil Nelson plays the Derailed Saloon, 725 Main Ave., from 5-9 p.m. The Jelly

Durango Critical Mass meets at 5:30 p.m. at Buckley Park and rides at 6 p.m. Email durangocriticalmass@riseup.net for details.

Ten Cent Raise plays a live show at Desperado’s Bar & Grill, 351 S. Camino del Rio, from 6-10 p.m.

Black Velvet, with Nina Sasaki & Larry Carver, play the Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., at 5:30 p.m. The duo returns at the same time on April 30.

Yogadurango, 1485 Florida Rd., offers Sacred Sound Yoga at 5:30 p.m. The by-donation event includes yoga, mantra and sound healing.

The Durango Public Library hosts a book sale from 6-9 p.m. (for Friends of the Library members only). The sale opens to the general public from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on April 30.

Moe’s Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave., hosts Friday Afternoon Club with music from 6-9 p.m. and a DJ spinning from 9 p.m.-close. 259-9018.

Progressive rock band Midwest Dilemma makes a rare appearance in Durango at Ska Brewing, 225 Girard, at 6 p.m.

The Lisa Blue Trio plays the lounge at Sweeney’s, located just north of Durango on CR 203, from 6-9 p.m.

Psychedelic Mojo plays classic rock at the Balcony Bar & Grill, 601 Main Ave., from 6-10 p.m.

Dancing Spirit, 640 Goddard Ave. in Ignacio, hosts a booksigning with Tom Givon, author of Seadock: The Last Battle of Berkeley, from 6-9 p.m.

Gary B. Walker plays jazz piano at the Mahogany Grille, 699 Main Ave., at 6:30 p.m. 247-4433 for details.

Mark Simons plays classical and jazz at the Jean Pierre Wine Bar, 605 Main Ave., from 6:30 p.m.-close. 247-7700 for details.

Jonathan R. Latta performs a marimba recital at St. Mark’s Church, 910 E. Third Ave., at 7 p.m. to close out the sixth season of the St. Mark’s Recital Series. The show includes works by Bach, Abe, Maslanka, Dietz, Creston and Norton. www.DurangoRecitals.com for details.

DJ PM spins dance beatz at Pongas, 121 W. 8^th St., from 9 p.m.-close. 382-8554 for details.

Red Eyed Djinn jams at the Billy Goat Saloon, 4

located on U.S. Hwy. 160 in Gem Village, at 9 p.m. 884-9155 for details.

DJ B-Side & Dj Mowgli spin at the Summit, 600 Main Ave., at 10 p.m.

Saturday30

The Lisa Blue Trio plays a sultry blend of favorites for brunch at the Brickhouse Café, 1849 Main Ave., from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The trio returns at the same time on May 1.

The Animas Museum, 3065 W. Second Ave., commemorates the anniversary of the start of the Civil War from 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. The festivities include a flag-raising, a period presentation by the Victorian Aid Society, and sampling of period food. www.animasmuseum.org for details.

Yogadurango, 1485 Florida Rd., offers a free Yoga Basics Workshop from 1-2:30 p.m. No previous experience necessary. 946-8961 for details.

Shannon Cruise hosts an art opening for “Emergence From Academia” at the Blue House, 135 E. 13^th St., from 5-9 p.m. The sculpture and photography show will also be on display from noon-5 p.m. on May 1. 719-207-2787 for details.

Randy Crumbaugh plays the lounge at Sweeney’s, located just north of Durango on CR 203, from 6-9 p.m.

Durango Brewing. 3000 Main Ave., hosts its weekly Open Mic Night at 6 p.m. 247-3396 for details.

Durango Dance presents its annual youth recital, “Dance Around the World,” at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College. The performance goes on again at 2 p.m. on May 1. www.durangoconcerts.com for details.

Mark Simons & Jack Maynes play jazz and classical at the Jean Pierre Wine Bar, 605 Main Ave., from 6:30 p.m.-close. 247-7700 for details.

Finnders & Youngberg brings its honky-folk bluegrass back to the Henry Strater Theatre, 699 Main Ave., at 8 p.m. www.henrystratertheatre.com for details.

Moe’s Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave., presents a dance party from 9 p.m.-close. 259-9018 for details.

Psychedelic Mojo plays the Derailed Saloon, 725 Main Ave., from 9 p.m.-close.

Oakhurst returns to Durango for a 9 p.m. show at the Summit, 600 Main Ave.

DJ Vadim & The Electric join Dr Israel & Resident Anti-Hero on stage at the Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College. Doors open at 9:30 p.m.

Sunday1

The Irish Embassy, 900 Main Ave., hosts a traditional Irish Jam from 12:30-4:30 p.m. www.theirishembassypub.com for details.

The Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., hosts its Gospel Brunch with music from 1-3 p.m. The Blue Moon Ramblers play their weekly gig beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Durango Food Not Bombs (FNB) offers its weekly free vegan/vegetarian meal at 1-3 p.m. in Riverfront/Iris Park. In honor of May Day, a Really Really Free Market will be held. www.foodnotbombs.net.

The Durango/Four Corners Chapter of Parent, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays meets from 6-8 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Durango, 419 San Juan Dr. 799-0482 for details.

Martin Sexton returns to Durango for a live show at the Smiley Theatre, 1309 E. Third Ave. Sexton is touring in support of his latest album, “Sugarcoating.” Doors open at 7 p.m. www.tamigraham.com/events for details.

Moe’s Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave., hosts Musica del Mundo, world music and dancing, beginning at 8 p.m. 259-9018 for details.

Monday2

Mark Simons plays classical and jazz guitar at Cosmo, 919 Main Ave., from 4:30-6 p.m. 259-2898 for details.

Singer-songwriter Tim Guidotti plays the Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave., from 7-11 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.

Phosphorescent, a noted improvisational rock band, plays the Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College. Doors open at 8 p.m.

Tuesday3

Kids4Trees seeks volunteers to help kids plant trees at Vallecito Lake from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and at the same time on May 4. Bayfield Elementary students will plant 300 ponderosa pines on the east side of the reservoir. 385-1310 for details.

Mill Street Brews, 25 W. Mill St. in Bayfield, offers its weekly Open Acoustic Jam beginning at 5 p.m. 884-7070 for details.

Durango BMX kicks off the 2011 season with gate practice from 5:30 p.m.-dusk. The first race of the season is set for May 6. www.durangobmx.com for details.

Terry Rickard plays the Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., at 5:30 p.m.

Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main Ave., hosts a 6:30 p.m. book signing with local award-winning children’s author Will Hobbs for his latest young adult novel Take Me to the River. 247-1438 for details.

The Durango Recreation Center offers drop-in Indoor Ultimate Frisbee from 7-9 p.m. 375-7300 for details.

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

Moe’s Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave., hosts its weekly karaoke contest from 8 p.m.-close. 259-9018 for details. 4

Lady Falconburgh’s, 640 Main Ave., hosts Beer Bingo from 9-11 p.m. with prizes for each game.

Wednesday4

4CORE’s Sustainable Building Education Program continues at noon at the First National Bank of Durango, 259 W. 9^th St., with the talk, “Insulated Concrete Forms,” by John Hatfield of Energywise Sustainable Products. 259-1916 for details.

The Lost Dog Bar and Lounge, 1150 Main Ave., hosts a Monte Carlo Night from 5-11 p.m. The event includes family activities, gaming tables and is a fund-raiser for the Relay for Life. 769-2048 for details.

The Spruce Tree Coffeehouse, in Cortez, offers a 5-7 p.m. art opening/reception for local photographer Isabella Vanderheiden. The exhibit will remain on display through May. www.sprucetreecoffeehouse.com for details.

Greg Ryder plays the Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., at 5:30 p.m.

Chad MacCluskey performs Celtic fingerstyle and solo jazz guitar at Eno, 723 E. Second Ave., from 6-8 p.m.

An open bluegrass jam meets from 6-8 p.m. at the Durango Brewing Co., 3000 Main Ave. The circle gathers every Wednesday. 247-1264 for details.

Serving Life Chiropractic Studio, 1040 Main Ave., offers a free Wellness Wednesday Talk on health, life and well-being from 6-7 p.m. 422-2032 to reserve a spot.

The Durango Recreation Center offers free racquetball clinics from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

The Durango Chess Club gathers for its weekly meeting at Durango Joe’s, 732 E. College, at 6:30 p.m.

The Derailed Saloon, 725 Main Ave., celebrates Amy Daily’s birthday with music from DJ Hip Hop from 7 p.m.-close.

Singer-songwriter Terry Rickard plays the Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave., from 7-11 p.m.

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

The Irish Embassy, 900 Main Ave., hosts its weekly Pub Quiz with trivia and prizes beginning at 8:30 p.m. www.theirishembassypub.com for details.

DJ Double D hosts the weekly Karaoke Gong Show at the Summit, 600 Main Ave., at 9 p.m.

Ongoing

The Fort Lewis College Art Gallery hosts the Graduating Senior Art Majors Exhibition through April 30. The show is a culmination of the students’ coursework and includes senior-level art and humanities majors working in a variety of media. The exhibit was juried, designed and installed by students.

The Open Shutter Gallery, 725 Main Ave., exhibits elegant black and white images from Cara Weston and Jan-Oliver Wenzel through May 12. Weston is the granddaughter of world-renowned photographer Edward Weston, and German photographer Wenzel is focused on nature and architecture reflecting simplicity of light and form. www.openshuttergallery.com for details.

The Anasazi Heritage Center presents the photo exhibit Sacred Images: A Vision of Native American Rock Art through Oct. 30. The exhibit features Utah rock art in vintage chromogenic prints by photographers Craig Law, Tom Till, and John Telford. www.co.blm.gov/ahc for details.

The Durango Arts Center, 802 E. Second Ave., hosts the annual Images of the Southwest Juried Photography Show through April 29. This year’s theme is “Animals Rule!” and the exhibit features all types of furry, feathered and reptilian creatures that also call the Southwest home. “Roots,” featuring sculpture, drawings and book art by Mary Ellen Long, shows in the DAC Art Library through the month of April. 259-2606 for details.

An exhibit of paintings by Phyllis Stapler shows at Eno, 723 E. Second Ave., through the month of April. 385-0105 for details.

The Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College presents “Treasures Unveiled: Extraordinary Items from the Vault of the Center of Southwest Studies.” The exhibit was developed by the Center of Southwest Studies to show the public a seldom-seen sampling of its artifact and archival collections. “Frontier Blues: The Legacy of Fort Lewis College,” an exhibition commemorating FLC’s Centennial, is also on display. 247-7456 for details.

Upcoming

The Hot 8 Brass Band will bring the sound of New Orleans to the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College on May 5.

Maria’s Bookshop will host a May 5 book signing with Philip Connors, author of the debut memoir Fire Season: Field Notes from a Wilderness Lookout.

The fifth annual Durango Wine Experience opens with a VIP welcome reception on May 5 and runs through May 8.

Lisa Campi Walters and Marilyn Mangold Garst will perform a program of piano duets May 6 for the final installment in the 2010-11 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Recital Series.

Legendary band The Platters play the Smiley Theatre on May 6. The show benefits the local VFW Post # 4031.

“After the Wildfire, Return of the Wildflowers,” a spring wildflower hike, takes off May 6 at Narraguinnep Canyon Natural Area. coloradowildflowers@yahoo.com for details. n

The Rochester Hotel will host “Talk Derby to Me,” a Kentucky Derby benefit for the Durango Arts Center, on May 7.

La Plata Open Space Conservancy will offer a May 7 tour of the Zink Pond property, which was conserved in 2000 and is vital to wildlife. Email LPOSC@gobrainstorm.net to register.

Dogster’s Spay & Neuter Program will host a “Yappy Hour,” a chance for humans and their dogs to schmooze, sniff and indulge in treats, on May 7 at J-J Ranch. 247-DOGS for details.

The Contra Dance returns to Park Elementary on May 7 with music from Santa Fe’s Hot Tops band.

The Sideshow Emporium and Gallery, in Dolores, will present “Say Whaaat ?!?,” comedic readings of ridiculously bad writing, on May 7.

The annual Sunrise over Africa Mother’s Day Telegraph race returns to Horse Gulch on May 8 and benefits the Ssejinja Children’s Foundation and the Southwest Safehouse. 10K, 5K, and 1-mile fun run options available.  Email efeazell@gmail.com for details.

The Johnny Clegg Band brings its world beat sound back to the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College on May 8.

Durango Parks and Recreation will host the Hershey’s Track & Field Meet on May 11 at the Durango High School Track. Winners in each event qualify for a state meet in June. 375-7313 for details.

Tom Hafnor (narrator) and Tom Fischbach and Ruth Cutcher (classical guitars) will give a special musical presentation of The Velveteen Rabbit on May 11 & 12 at the Durango Public Library.

The Durango Arts Center will host a staged reading for the winners of its 10-Minute Play Contest on May 15.

The Smiley Theatre will host a May 19 benefit for the Chapman Hill Bike Park Project and screen the bike films, “Life Cycles” and “Freedom Riders.”

Salt Fire Circus and Bare Bones Burlesque will present The Elixir on May 19-21 & 26-28 at the Durango Arts Center Theatre. www.durangoarts.org for details.

The Abbey Theatre will host a May 20 hip hop show with music from Gang Green Int., Gunna & Mr. Midas, Jaybyrd-Kdog and the Warriors.

top

SASO to stage ‘Los Monologos de la Vagina’ What: A Spanish performance of Eve Ensler’s play the “Vagina Monologues” Where: The Open Shutter Gallery,   When: Fri., April 29 at 7 p.m. Durango will get a new take on an old classic this week. The Sexual Assault Services Organization (SASO) will stage the “Vagina Monologues” in Spanish at the Open Shutter Gallery on Friday, April 29. This event is free and open to the public. Eve Ensler’s Award Winning “Vagina Monologues” is made up of a variety of monologues read by a varying number of women. Every monologue somehow relates to the vagina, and a recurring theme throughout the piece is female empowerment. Friday’s show is the only performance of the “Monologues” this year In Durango and the first time the play has been staged locally in Spanish. SASO is a Durango-based non-profit dedicated to ending sexual violence. The organization provides advocacy and support for victims of sexual assault, as well as education and prevention programs aimed at increasing public awareness and safety. For more information, call 259-3074 or visit www.durangosaso.org.

top

Fort Lewis College graduates Centennial class What: The 2011 Spring Commencement Where: Whalen Gymanasium When: Sat., April 30 at 8:30 & 11:30 a.m. Fort Lewis College will send 557 seniors off into the real world this Saturday. The 2011 ceremony will be a first for FLC and will commemorate Fort Lewis’ 100 years as a public educational institution. Former mayor of Durango Ann Wilson Brown will address the graduates. Brown, a fourth-generation native of Southwest Colorado, was born and raised on the family farm near Cortez. After graduating from Montezuma-Cortez High School in 1956, Ann enrolled at Fort Lewis College where she met and married Don Brown, of Durango. She was among the first students to attend FLC after its move to Durango in 1956. Brown says the things she learned at FLC helped her throughout her career and remain with her to this day. Her thoughts on her education echo much of what current Fort Lewis students say about their educations. “I think the main fact that the classes were small and the professors were exemplary is a good reason to go to Fort Lewis,” she explains. “I imagine that is true to this day.” There will be two ceremonies – at 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

top

Concert Hall presents ‘Quetzalli’ de Veracruz What: A performance by the renowned ballet folklorico Where: The Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College When: Thurs., April 28 at 7:30 p.m. Mexico’s famed Ballet Folklorico “Quetzalli” de Veracruz stops off at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College this week. The renowned troupe plays Durango’s biggest stage at 7:30 p.m. on April 28. For 25 years, Ballet Folklorico “Quetzalli” de Veracruz has been entertaining audiences with its visual fiesta of color and folklore. For the anniversary tour, “Quetzalli” will present dances from four different regions of Mexico, as well as the traditional Pre-Hispanic “Danza de los Concheros,” which pays homage to Mexico’s millenary tradition and features elaborate feather headdresses and shell anklets. Joining “Quetzalli” will be the renowned band Tien-Huicani. Named the “Best Folk Music Group” in Mexico by the Union of Music and Theater Critics, Tien-Huicani is led by veteran musician and harp virtuoso Alberto del la Rosa. Tien-Huicani will back Ballet Folklorico’s dance performances and offer its own musical segments as part of the show. Tickets are available online at www.durangoconcerts.com, by calling 247-7657 or at the downtown ticket office, located at 7th and Main.

top