Ear to the ground:

“Now we just have to invent the beer bottle paddle and we’ll make a fortune.”
– Local entrepreneur discussing ways to capitalize on the paddle-only zone above 32nd Street

Glampire weekend

Love the idea of camping but hate the part about being outdoors, putting up the tent, rolling out the Paco Pad and lying in the dirt?

Well, you’re not alone. This year’s Telluride Blues and Brews festival, taking place Sept. 12-14 in Town Park, features a “Glamping Village,” among other more civilized amenities.

The fully furnished, heated, “safari-style luxury yurts” feature unique decor, wood floors, heat, linens, and queen or twin beds – depending on the level of ro/bromance desired. And should you want to venture outside, each yurt comes equipped with its own front-porch seating area with adirondack chairs (no flimsy camping chairs here), small gas stove and even an on-site concierge to shoo away those pesky ants or the dirtbag Coleman crowd.

And if the daily “running of the tarps” isn’t your thing either, a special VIP lounge awaits. Laugh at your friends on the other side of the barricade as you nosh on a raw bar and order expensive cocktails from a fully stocked sports bar. There will also be several large-screen HD TVs, lest you tire of all that boring box canyon scenery.

Alas, all this luxury comes at a price: $750 for a glamping pass and $975 to upgrade to the VIP glamping. Perhaps even more shocking than the price is the news that four days after the glamping passes went on sale on March 1, they had all sold out.

But if you missed out, don’t despair. We’re pretty sure the crazy tripper howling like a wolf from the top of the tailings pile at 5 a.m. can be heard equally as well from a heated, luxury yurt as he can from a regular old REI special.

What’s happnin,’ Rog?

Miss your calling as a high-ranking Madison Avenue copy writer? The Durango Business Improvement District is inviting witty local wordsmiths to lend their creative two cents to its downtown event marketing efforts.

While the BID will be hanging onto the ever-popular winter “HOLiDAZZLE” moniker, it is looking for catchy headings to promote Durango’s three other seasons. All four promotions will be tied together by the over-arching “What’s Happening Durango” catchphrase.

“Spring it On” and “Fall for Durango Days” will be retired. “We need enticing, new sub-heads,” “Tim Walsworth, BID executive director, said.

Submit your ideas – one to four words each – that speak to the essence of summer (May-July); fall (August-October); and late winter/spring (February-April) by March 28 to pamg@downtowndurango.org. Winning entrants receive downtown gift cards.