In my almost 15 years of writing Neighbors, I have told countless people who have purchased cool meals and experiences at fundraisers to let me know how the event goes. Hearing about them may encourage others to bid, shall we say, with a lot more spirit when they know what they missed the previous year.
Katherine Burgess and Bernardine Cox took it one step further, inviting me to join the 30 guests at their “Evening with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans” on Feb. 6 at Bowman Hall, which is the gathering place of the Durango Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. They had sold the evening at the fellowship’s Fall Frolic.
Husbands Dwight Burgess and Ed Cox served as hosts, with Ed Cox serving as the master smoker of the meat – eight hours just for the ribs – also including brisket and pulled pork. Guests had a choice of a variety of barbecue sauces. The menu also featured coleslaw, beans, cornbread and either pecan, chocolate pecan or four-fruit pie (in quarters). It was a little more highfalutin’ than the traditional chuckwagon dinner since wine and beer were also on offer.
You can’t have an evening with Rogers and Evans without at least one of them showing up. And since they’re both in the great beyond riding Trigger and Buttermilk with the “Ghost Riders in the Sky,” Tim Sullivan stepped in to do the honors. (Although he wasn’t wearing nearly enough sequins to nail the look.)
It turns out not only is he a Roy Rogers fan, he actually created a program as an homage that he performed during a concert at Carnegie Hall several years ago. So, of course, the joke was “From Carnegie Hall to Bowman Hall.”
Sullivan had researched Rogers’ life, although he made me promise not to consider anything he said as gospel. But Rogers was picking fruit in California’s Central Valley when his coworkers, who had heard him sing around the campfire, urged him to enter a contest that a Los Angeles radio station was holding.
Unlike “American Idol,” where even finalists end up with a shot at a music career, Rogers won, and the rest, as they say, is history. Rogers was a founder of the Sons of the Pioneers (So, of course we heard “Cool, Clear Water”) and starred in movies before beginning his television show with his wife, Dale Evans. I didn’t know she actually wrote the song we all start singing when we hear the name Roy Rogers: “Happy Trails to You.”
It was a lot of fun and very nostalgic – we were all singing along on songs that are part of the American soundtrack.
(Oh, and best wishes to Sullivan and his bride-to-be Lori Shields, who are starting their life together this weekend. He finished the performance by singing a song he wrote for her, “Saving the Best for Last.” There wasn’t a dry eye, at least among the women.)
HHH
Yikes, here’s hoping these birthday celebrants don’t get a sunburn on their spring-like February birthdays this week – Stan Crapo, Herb Folsom, Odette Zenizo, Gene Bradley, Sam Stites, Paul Broderick, Fred Kroeger, Charlotte Pirnat, Mary Husemoller, Jeffrey Munger, Lloyd Lasher Jr., and Peggy White.
HHH
On Feb. 22, 2008, Durangoans were stunned and grieving as we watched three historic buildings burn in the 700 block of Main Avenue. An explosion almost killed several firefighters, and three businesses, including Seasons Rotisserie & Grill, were destroyed. Seasons came back better than ever – although I still mourn the thousands of dollars of wines destroyed in the blaze – and owners Karen and Wayne Barger have marked the occasion by holding Burning Down the House every year on the anniversary.
All proceeds benefit the Hundred Club, which provides financial assistance to first responders and their families in the event of a serious injury or death as well as a significant scholarship program for their children.
Executive Chef David Stewart and his cuisine crew are developing some great specials, and Erin Pozzi and the front of the house team will be hopping all night Sunday. There are two seatings, beginning at 5:30 p.m., and reservations are required by calling 382-9790. This always sells out, and there are only a few reservations left.
This is also a great time to thanks our first responders, as many turn out for the event.
HHH
About a month ago, I encouraged long-time residents to share memories about food and eating out in La Plata County through the decades for the La Plata County Historical Society’s History LaPlata special section that will run in May.
If you haven’t gotten around to it, maybe this will inspire you. From 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday (that’s today), the Animas Museum will hold a members-only exhibit featuring memorabilia and menus from eateries across the years. I’m particularly looking forward to the Town House’s menu, because I have fond memories of lunching there with my mom, Kathy Butler.
What, you’re not a member? You can join when you go this afternoon. A basic membership is $35 for singles, $50 for families, $25 for pioneers (over 65) and $15 for students. It includes unlimited free admission, two passes for guests or friends and Artifacts, the historic society’s quarterly newsletter, which always shares interesting stories from the past. Enhanced and business memberships offer even more perks, including 10 percent off in the gift shop.
Visit www.animasmuseum.org to learn more about the historical society. You can download a membership form and fill it out before you go, learn more about the collections and see how you can support this organization. Its staff and volunteers do amazing work documenting and sharing our history, and they do it on a shoestring. Your membership dollars will help.
HHH
The croci are blooming for the February anniversary of Sam and Kathy Burns.
HHH
Here’s how to reach me: neighbors@durangoherald.com; phone 375-4584; mail items to the Herald; or drop them off at the front desk. Please include contact names and phone numbers for all items. Follow me on Twitter @Ann_Neighbors.
I am happy to consider photos for Neighbors, but they must be high-quality, high-resolution photos (at least 1 MB of memory).
