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Eating takes center stage at Snowdown

Festival’s pursuit of deadly sins examines gluttony

OK, every party needs to take a breather for the grand finale, and that’s kind of what Steampunk Snowdown 2015 did Thursday night.

The limbo contest was canceled: too few competitors.

Zero, zilch, nada: That’s how many big-time eaters in the Four Corners could handle the challenge of 6 pounds of burger presented to them in the Phat Phat Phat Burger Eat Off. But Thursday’s action had its moments:

Steampunks looking for love

People of all ages looking for love gathered in the Rochester Hotel on Thursday night for two rounds of speed dating.

The 40 slots filled up fast, and the onlookers who came to participate gathered to watch the romantic sparks fly.

“Who knows, I might find Mrs. Right,” Dana Hodge said before the event started.

A few love birds were new to both the speed dating scene and the town.

“I moved to Durango last March, and there’s slim pickings in this small town,” said Colleen Johnson, who came fashionably dressed in her steampunk best.

As the aristocratically dressed gathered to watch the participants, Max Robinson, the emcee, kept conversations moving at a heart-stopping pace.

“This is speed dating; this isn’t casual dating folks,” he called over the din of voices.

Was there a love connection? Time will tell.

Mary Shinn

That’s one phat burger, partner

Pedro Cordova came so, so terribly close to eating-contest legend Thursday. He said he felt like he ate 4.5 pounds in 30 minutes of intense eating.

He competed against 10 others, some with eating-contest experience. But after many pained bites he arose victorious.

According to the rules, only the one who finished his burger first would win a trip to Mexico. The judge relented.

Lisa Gibson granted Cordova a trip to the roaring approval of the crowd.

The victor said he felt “stuffed,” and he didn’t plan on eating another burger soon, unless it was a Big Mac.

At the end of the night, Gibson passed around take-out boxes for the losers.

“We’re bringing you guys to-go boxes so you can feed your family for the next week,” she said.

Mary Shinn

Oyster slurpin’ showdown

The oysters were smaller this year at the Shuckin’ Suckin’ Oyster Slurping Contest, and Chris Feely and C.J. Wise were champions under Thursday’s performance-enhancing conditions.

Feely ate 43 oysters in 45 seconds, while Wise ate 59 oysters in 60 seconds. One last oyster slipped out of her hand. Could she have eaten 60?

“Totally,” Wise said.

Wise, a nurse at La Plata Family Medicine, is the women’s defending champion. She grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. “I’m a seafood eater,” she said.

Feely was a first-time competitor. “I can eat a lot. It’s a real skill,” he joked.

Feely is a butcher at Albertsons. “I sell oysters every day,” he said.

Host Chuck Norton, owner of the Highway 3 Roadhouse, said the oysters came from Chesapeake Bay. His restaurant served more than 54,000 oysters last year.

Chuck Slothower

Beards Battle at Carver’s

Nathan Hammond was impressed by the level of talent at Snowdown’s Beard Competition.

“I do have a decent beard, and I was really cocky coming into this,” he said. “I am humbled.”

Some of Durango’s fuzziest faces fought for honor Thursday. This is the sixth year Carver Brewing Co. has hosted the event.

Three ladies judged the beards on three categories – length, color and overall. A fourth category, absorption, was judged by dunking the beard into a bowl filled with Carver’s beer, then wringing it out into a second bowl placed on a scale.

The men showed up Nov. 7 clean-shaven. Since then, their follicles have been in silent battle.

One of the judges, Mary Hodge, a Carver’s employee, praised Jason Dzikowski’s effort. “This is my favorite beard,” she said. “I’m going to give it a nine for color.”

Dzikowski’s beard was more of a bushy build than a ZZ Top, measuring 2¼ inches.

“Size, in this arena, does matter,” he said.

Dzikowski’s beard won best overall, while Rick Harman won for absorption with 13.3 ounces in 20 seconds.

Chuck Slothower

Friday Steampunk Snowdown Schedule

For more information, visit www.snowdown.org.

All week

Snowdown Theme contest, through noon Sunday, Magpie’s Newsstand Cafe, 707 Main Ave., 382-0518.

Snowdown Search for “The Silver Bullet,” award ceremony, 5 p.m., Saturday, Durango Elks Lodge, 901 East Second Ave., 247-3620.

Bear Down for Snowdown, donate a stuffed bear and earn a chance to win a $50 gas gift certificate, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Friday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Durango Harley-Davidison, 750 South Camino del Rio, 259-0778.

Friday

Snowdown T-Shrit Day, all day.

Snowdown Steaming Scavenager Hunt – Judging, 10 a.m., Elks Lodge, 901 East Second Ave., (Ninth Street side entrance).

Design Your Own Mechanical – Entry Viewing, noon-4 p.m., Pine River Valley Bank, 1701 Main Ave.

Iron Mixology Creative Cocktail Contest, 1 p.m., El Moro Spirits & Tavern, 945 Main Ave., 903-2403, 259-5555.

Snowdown Waiter Waitress Race, 2 p.m., Steamworks (in the ally behind), 801 East Second Ave., 903-4750, 259-9200.

Pre-sale Tickets for Snowdown Chili Cook-Off & Bloody Mary Contest, 3-4 p.m., BREW Pub & Kitchen, 117 W. College Drive.

Ultra Sexy Steam Swimdown, 4-5:30 p.m., Rochester Hotel, 726 East Second Ave., 385-1920.

Bed Rally Race, 3 p.m., Steamworks (in the alley behind), 801 East Second Ave., 247-7344, 385-1920.

Four Square Tournament, 4-5 p.m., Durango Welcome Center, 802 Main Ave., 247-3500.

Get Punked Up Costume Contest, 4:30 p.m., Grassburger lot, 726½ Main Ave., (480) 381-3333, 903-3327.

Design Your Own Mechanical – Awards Ceremony, 4:30 p.m., Pine River Valley Bank, 1701 Main Ave.

The Coggler’s Cafe, 5-8:30 p.m., Durango Elks Lodge, 901 East Second Ave., (enter at the Ninth Street entrance), 247-2296.

Hand on the Van, 5 p.m., Grassburger parking lot, 726½ Main Ave., (480) 381-3333, 903-3327.

Steampunk Photo Fun, 5-7 p.m., Durango Welcome Center, 802 Main Ave., 247-3500.

Steaming Hot Chocolate, 5-8 p.m., Durango Welcome Center, 802 Main Ave., 764-8412, (928) 274-2196.

Darts Contest, 5 p.m., 6512’ Restaurant & Lounge, 152 E. College Drive, 946-0662, 946-6606.

Twister, 5:30 p.m., Moe’s, 937 Main Ave., 749-7231.

The Snowdown Firework!, 6 p.m., downtown Durango.

Snowdown Light Parade, 6 p.m., Main Avenue from College Drive to 12th Street, 749-1816.

Snowdown Steampunk Funk Teen Dance, 7-10 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall, 2500 Main Ave., 759-0763, 764-7628.

Snowdown Follies, 7:30 p.m., Henry Strater Theater, 699 Main Ave., and Durango Arts Center Theatre, 802 East Second Ave.

Snowdown Follies Videocast, 7:30 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Drive, 799-2281.

Chapman Challenge Uphill/Downhill Race, 7:30 p.m., Chapman Hill Ski Area, 500 Florida Road, 247-8728.

Snowdown Ski Softball, 7:30 p.m., Fort Lewis College Softball Complex. 247-2211, 247-5893.

Mr. Black Music Trivia, 8 p.m., Derailed Pour House, 725 Main Ave., (847) 852-0920, 247-5440.

Zumba Booty Shaking Contest, 8-9:30 p.m., Smiley Building theater, 1309 East Third Ave., 769-4154, 382-1228.

Karaoke Contest, 8 p.m., 8th Avenue Tavern, 509 East Eighth Ave.

Pole Dancing Contest, 10 p.m., Ponga’s, 121 W. 8th St., 769-0059, 382-8554.

Snowdown Follies – Second Friday Performance, 10 p.m., Henry Strater Theatre, and Durango Arts Center Theatre.

Snowdown Follies Videocast, 10 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Drive.

Jan 29, 2015
You’ve got to love the game when it comes with pain
Jan 29, 2015
Beards battle it out at Carver’s
Jan 29, 2015
Looking for love, steampunk style
Jan 29, 2015
Water slide bliss turns into endurance grind
Jan 29, 2015
That’s a phat, phat, phat burger!
Jan 29, 2015
Oyster slurping showdown


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