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Halloween: Spooky part comes Sunday
You Call That Art?
Ted Holteen
I gave up trying to understand Durango's fascination with Halloween years ago, but that doesn't mean it's not still fascinating.
Quantifying our town's participation, statistically, in the festivities likely is a futile pursuit and one I'm far too lazy to even attempt, but if I had to guess, I would say nearly half our population will be on the streets at some point Saturday night.
In most cities, such a surge would merit a National Guard response. But here, it's just a rite of autumn, and one for which our entertainers are more than prepared.
Make no mistake, there are too many Halloween parties to discuss here, but you can check the next page for a full list.
Instead, I'll just stick to what I'm doing, which means some of my enemies will know where to find me and others can avoid me. Whether I get to all of these remains to be seen, but it's a plan anyway.
There are three big-ticket events I'm pretty sure I can pull off, though it will take two nights to do so. Tonight I'm heading to the Henry Strater Theatre for "The Rocky Horror Show," but there's a Halloween night show, as well, if it hasn't sold out by the time you read this. That's good fun, but if you caught the show earlier this week, I implore you not to use the same costume for Halloween night. That's lazy.
On Saturday, I'll catch the late Salt Fire Circus performance, which is sold out, but at last check, there might have been a few tickets left for the 6:30 p.m. show. Then it's off to the Abbey Theatre for KDUR's annual Transvestite Ball, which still is the best party in town after all these years. Music will be provided by the three-headed DJ monster of Jonezy, Mr. Anderson and Niko, with an indescribable video and light show from Stacy Sotosky and Alex Oliszewski. It's wild.
If the idea of being on time to a ticketed event isn't in your plans, there's plenty more unorganized fun to be had.
Steamworks continues to lead the Halloween charge with the best decorations in town - it's almost a haunted house, but there's a bar that re-suspends the suspension of disbelief for the bleary-eyed so no one actually jumps out the window screaming. They've also got live music by semi-locals Liquid Cheese, who are making Halloween at Steamworks an annual tradition.
New on my radar this year is The Lost Dog, of which I have no actual Halloween experience, but knowing the attention to detail Victor and Ann put into their special events, I expect it to rival Steamworks for best decorations. It's one of many downtown bars that's also giving away cash and/or prizes for best costume.
Which reminds me of another Halloween trick: If you think you're in contention to win a contest but see a rival who could steal your potential thunder, just move down Main Avenue to the next bar and see if the competition is a bit weaker. There's no shame in vanquishing a lesser opponent.
I'll end with the traditional caveat, kind of. Have a safe and happy Halloween, but really just don't drink and drive. The happy part's fine, but most of us don't care if you fall in the river, get beaten to a pulp or thrown in jail. But when you get behind the wheel, it becomes everybody's problem. Please plan ahead.
ted@durangoherald.com
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