Ear to the ground

“I’m sorry officer, but there’s no way my minivan does 90 mph without shaking.”

– A Durango woman after winding up on the wrong side of the law in Albuquerque

Barbie’s Harley
Barbie and Kotex are heading out on a big ride with Harley-Davidson (and no, this is not a punchline). The three brands ranked as tops for women in a recent study done by NBC Universal. NBCU’s Brand Power Index considered 500 brands over a 12-month period and determined which are “most attractive” to the female customer.

“The most successful brands we’ve seen over the last 12 months not only engaged women across multiple platforms, but also created the opportunity for women to engage with one another and contribute to the brand conversation,” Melissa Lavigne-Delville, of NBCU, told Forbes.

Harley-Davidson earned NBCU’s “best breakthrough buzz” honor, landing on the index for the first time this year after the traditionally male brand started making concessions to female riders. The company kicked off a number of initiatives celebrating the growing number of female riders and created a women’s only website to give Lady Harleys a place to gather and communicate.

Mattel Inc.’s Barbie landed even higher on the index after launching “Genuine Ken,” a reality web series, and helping Barbie and Ken – America’s most famous couple – to reunite after a wrenching breakup. Barbie also took home the “best viral buzz” honor, though we understand she’s in treatment.

And Kotex scored points for “best controversial buzz” thanks to its “U by Kotex Tween,” a new line of feminine care products aimed at 8-to-12 year olds. The company earned marks for “breaking the silence around feminine care.”

Gone hogging
Hogs, pigs and pints will be the flavors of the weekend at the corner of 10th and Main. El Rancho and 4C host the first-ever Hogfest throughout the weekend, and American steel, Durango music, micro-suds and locally grown suckling will all be on tap. Hogfest runs from noon-5 p.m. on Sept. 3 - 4.

“Hogs are gonna fly!” proclaimed Greg Snyder, El Rancho manager. “The event is sure to bring bikers to downtown Durango to show off their prized motorcycles and enjoy some local roasted pig and a plethora of tasty beers.”

Musicians Eric Kiefer, Freeplay, Robby Overfield and Jack Ten High will be on hand for your listening pleasure, and Avery, Left Hand, SKA and Stone will be pouring. Live motorcycle art and local art vendors round out the offerings. And last but not least, locally grown pig will be roasted throughout the weekend. Proceeds go to 4C, the local organization dedicated to the development of interdependent culture.