Ear to the ground:

“I saw you last night ... right?”
– One of many hazy morning-after conversations during a revelry-filled Snowdown weekend
 

More bang for the buck

Forget Outside magazine, National Geo Traveler, Sunset and yes, even True West.

Durango has gone viral. Well, sort of.

Seems a willing participant in the Telegraph’s “Word on the Street” feature for the Jan. 23 has earned himself more than a little local notoriety. 

The response of a gentleman going by the name Keef Nobler – whose now-infamous answer to a question about failed New Year’s resolutions involving a certain activity with a certain ex – garnered local attention, both pro and con. However, his brief three-word answer also caught the attention of the national webopshere, notably The Chive’s “afternoon randomness” on Jan. 26 (www.thechive.com) and Tosh.O’s daily blog (tosh.comedycentral.com/ blog) on Jan. 28.

“So much for a fresh start,” quipped the Tosh.O posting, which was submitted by one Josh Keown. It included a scan of p.5 from our very own pages, with a red square drawn around Nobler’s succinct response followed by the commentary: “Which means he broke his other resolution which was drinking alone near a device that sends text messages.”

While we’re not sure if Mr. Nobler will ever talk to the press – or his ex – ever again, there is one upside to the 15 minutes of fame. Bank of the San Juans and Animas Surgical Hospital, both of whose ads appeared on the page, likely had their biggest advertising exposure ever. Talk about bang for the buck.

The cheesiest ...

Aspen can keep its $1,000-a-head Wine and Food festival. This summer, Durango hosts a comfort food fest for the masses that everyone, from starving college students to preschoolers to senior citizens, can sink their teeth into.

The inaugural Mac and Cheese Festival oozes into Santa Rita Park on Sat., June 28. The event, produced by American General Media, owner of local radio 99X, is a benefit for the Children’s Miracle Network and Durango Business Improvement District.

The $45 ticket gains entrants access to oodles of noodles as well as other gourmet delights, beer, wine and spirits. There will also be live music, and a corn hole tournament to assist in burning off all those extra carbs.

Local restaurants and chefs wanting to dish up their favorite cheesy concoction are asked to contact  Jessica Beattie at AGM, jbeattie@americangeneralmedia.com.

Sorry, no little blue boxes or bunnies need apply.