Parties for patriots, bike-in ‘Hangover’ and Canadian swill

by Chris Aaland

It’s time for a little patriotic trivia! When did the original 13 colonies declare independence from Great Britain? On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted in a closed session to approve a resolution of independence. Congress debated and revised the document on July 4, 1776. Most historians agree the Declaration of Independence was actually signed a month after its adoption, Aug. 2, 1776.

Less fuzzy is that of the 56 signatures on the Declaration of Independence, two belonged to future presidents: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Both men died, ironically, on July 4, 1826 – 50 years down the road. Only one other president (James Madison) died on July 4.

This, as former Fort Lewis College sociology professor Dennis Lum liked to tell his students, gives us an excuse to wave sparklers and cook hot dogs.

Durango’s Fourth of July activities include the usual suspects: an All-American breakfast starting at 7:30 a.m. in Rotary Park; the Freedom 5k at 9 a.m.; the American Voices reading of important American documents at 11 a.m. in Buckley Park; the family picnic from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. in Buckley Park (free music, face-painting, magicians, jumpy castle, a kids-to-kids flea market); the Stars & Stripes parade at 6 p.m. down Main Avenue from 5th to 10th; a street dance featuring the High Rollers following the parade; and the fireworks display at approximately 9:15 p.m. The display will last approximately 30 minutes.

Fort Lewis College celebrates its Centennial with Old Fort activities from 11:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday at the Old Fort campus south of Hesperus with archeological and agricultural tours, hayrides, a petting zoo, kids’ games and a farmer’s market featuring produce grown at the Old Fort.

While Durango certainly knows how to revel, nothing quite tops Silverton’s patriotic pride. My favorite July 4th fandango include a Blue Ribbon 10K fun run/walk (what exactly is fun about running at 9,318 feet above sea level?); the fire department’s water fight; the International Rhubarb Pie contest (show up early, lest you risk getting shut out on pie — I’m serious, now) and Silverton Brass Band concert in Memorial Park; a Ducky Derby; old-fashioned picnic in the American Legion; and fireworks after dark.

Not to be outdone, the good folks in Bay City are serving up classic Americana on the Fourth, including a pancake breakfast, 5K run/walk, a church pie sale, pet parade, horseshoe tournament, coed one-pitch softball, live music from Psychedelic Mojo and Wild Country

Independence Day fun comes two days early in Mountain Village near Telluride as the Hot 8 Brass Band plays the free, family-friendly Red, White & Blues event at 4 p.m. at the Sunset Plaza Stage near Lift 1. These guys are torchbearers for New Orleans’ famous second line parade music and played the Community Concert Hall recently. The family activities kick off at 2 p.m. with a jumping castle, face painting and ice cream social. Then at 6 p.m. Wednesday, the free Sunset Concert Series kicks off with singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Darrell Scott. I just saw the guy do two sets at Telluride Bluegrass, one with a bunch of his bluegrass cohorts, the other with Robert Plant. He managed to strum a variety of acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins, banjos and even the pedal steel through the day.

Steamworks’ Firkin’ Friday takes an all-American spin this month with a watermelon beer. Based in their award-winning Colorado Kölsch, it’s mixed with watermelon, giving it a pink tint and the flavor and aroma of watermelon. The cask will be tapped at 3 p.m. Friday.

Something new this summer is a free, weekly, bike-in movie to be screened outdoors at dusk on Friday nights at the Ska Brewing World Headquarters. This week’s flick is “The Hangover,” fittingly titled for those who choose to slurp one too many Modus Hoperandis. Ride your bike, scooter or cruiser and the first 25 people get a free bike light with a beer purchase. The local trio Vixen performs from 5-7 p.m. preceding the movie.

This week’s Starlight slate includes Salsa Night with DJ Caliente and free dance lessons at 9 p.m. tonight (Thurs., June 30); Psychedelic Mojo doing FAC from 6-9 p.m. Friday; dancing with Soultron from 9 ‘til close Friday; Benjamin K from 9 ‘til close Saturday; and the weekly Musica del Mundo at 9 p.m. Sunday.

More good stuff: Fuzzy Killing Machine plays tonight’s Ska-B-Q; High Altitude Blues does the Animas River Café at the DoubleTree Hotel from 5-9 p.m. tonight; Black Velvet swings at Sweeney’s Restaurant at 5 p.m. Friday; Pete Giuliani goes solo on Serious Texas BBQ South’s patio from 6-9 p.m. Friday; and Freeplay has a 7 p.m. gig at Vallecito’s Schank House Saturday and an acoustic set at Trimble Hot Springs from 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

So if Independence Day isn’t enough North American pride for you, ponder this as you begin your three-day weekend Friday afternoon: July 1 is Canada Day. On July 1, 1867, Canada celebrated the official joining of the three British North American colonies: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Province of Canada. The latter was divided into Ontario and Québec that same day.

This week’s Top Shelf list gives my Canadian friends some suggestions on what to drink on Canada Day. And – please! – shelve the Molson (owned by MillerCoors) and Labatt (Anheuser-Busch). The last of the big breweries owned by Canadians is Moosehead:

• Moosehead Lager. This New Brunswick Brewery was founded in 1867, the same year that Canada Day started.

• Unibroue’s La Fin du Monde. This Québec-born Belgian is worth its hefty price.

• St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout. McAuslan Brewing of Montréal crafts this one.

• Lucky Lager. Canadian rednecks and Québécoise separatists can agree on one thing: It sucks that Lucky Lager, once proudly brewed on Vancouver Island, is now owned by Anheuser-Busch.

• Sleeman Original Draft. The pride of Guelph, Ontario, now brews PBR, Stroh’s, Schlitz and Old Gymsockee for the Canadian market — even though they’re owned by Japan’s Sapporo. •

I’m drinking Canada dry since my woman said goodbye? Email me at chrisa@gobrainstorm.net.