No matter where you looked, there were cool things going on for the holiday season in Durango this year.

On Dec. 17, the Strater Hotel held a Victorian Christmas dinner prepared by Arnold “Chef Safari” Ngumbao, complete with parlor games, Father Christmas and Christmas crackers. (More on those in a minute.)

The event was held in the Pullman Room, which, like the rest of the historic hotel, was decorated for the holiday season.

Guests – some dressed in Victorian garb, some in warm clothes for Christmas, some in bright holiday cheer – arrived for a social time that included passed appetizers of fresh sage sausage rolls, crab croquettes with remoulade sauce and flaked smoked salmon on homemade crackers.

Hotel owner Rod Barker pointed out the return of a Strater tradition of old, the relish tray, although I will say I don’t remember radish roses being on the trays of yore. They were a bit more plebeian and featured plain old radishes, no flourishes included.

Dinner started with a cream of sherry-mushroom soup, followed by a hearty December meal of prime rib, Yorkshire pudding with gravy, roasted potatoes, brussels sprouts with bacon, onions, garlic and butter paired with La Claret Bordeaux.

(I must confess to having been a fan of Georgette Heyer when I was 14. She later became known as Princess Diana’s stepgrandmother or something like that. But in those days, Heyer was the bestselling regency-romance novelist both in the U.S. and United Kingdom. All her heroes drank claret at their clubs, so the wine choice was a fun addition.)

Dinner ended with a real plum pudding (minus the suet and beef broth that were part of the traditional version) arriving in flames.

I have to admit I had never had Yorkshire pudding before; it turns out not to be what we call pudding, but a combination of a popover and a soufflé. At least, that’s how the Food Lovers’ Companion describes it.

Plum pudding was also a new one for me – and, it turns out, for Barker as well. Kind of fruitcaky with raisins and currants – no plums, however – and moist, served with hard sauce, it was delicious.

The party was hosted by Lady Wilhelmina and Lord Augustus – also known as Suzanne Parker and Tom Doak – with Emily Spencer, Strater Catering manager, bowing and bobbing as the Victorian-era maid she purported to be. The lord and lady, of course, were dressed to the Victorian nines.

Father Christmas, who, he made clear, came before Santa Claus and is not the same thing, made an appearance. He pointed out his svelte figure – no “little round belly, that shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.” And instead of a cap, he wore a wreath of holly that I actually liked better. Parker helped costume the jolly old fellow.

Christmas crackers were on offer as dessert was being flambéed. You crack them open to find little treats, riddles, and in my case, a tiny magic trick that is supposed to be easy. I’m still trying to figure out the instructions.

And then Spencer brought out a silver tray full of items, including a pearl necklace, pocket watch and fob, silk flower, candlestick and little china shoe. After she passed through the room twice, we had to remember as many as we could. The winning table came up with 12 of the 15 and went home with Christmas ornaments that were miniatures of the Strater as the prize.

The hotel has been holding themed dinners monthly, all prepared by Chef Safari, for a couple of years. Most have been international in flavor – northern and southern Italy, Spain, Germany, French, China, chuckwagon and so on. Coming up on Jan. 21 is a Harvey House Dinner, focusing on the popular chain of railroad hotels and restaurants in the Southwest. They were built by English immigrant Fred Harvey starting in 1870.

I happened to sit at a table with Tony and Myriam Palmer, and it turned out he’s collected Harvey House memorabilia for many years. He’s going to help the Strater get it right.

At some point in my Neighbors career, I met a local who had a mother or grandmother who had been a Harvey Girl. Unfortunately, my name archives overfloweth, and I can’t remember who it was. I would appreciate a quick call or email from you if you read this.

But for now, I’m just going to relish (pun intended) memories of my Victorian Christmas dinner.

HHH

Finishing off the 2015 birthdays and kicking off the 2016 celebrations are Art Chase, Suzanne Chiarito, Charlie Millet, Sharon Donahue, Richard Biegel, K Redford, Todd Youngblood, Al Spungen, Lou Falkenstein, Sonja Bayley, Niall Byers, Martie Anderson, Virginia Miller Cavanagh, Mary Orsini, Jan Goldman, Cheryl Jackson, Marcia Baxter, Jacky Dzuibek, Sandy Campbell, Gay Kiene, Ilamae Watters, Mike Davidson, Jon Powell, Mick Souder, Anna Cheesewright, Ted Carr, Jon Geer, Sam Kidd, Kellie Stanley, Justin McBrayer, Sue Mooney, Jack Schuba, Joyce Boyer, Scattie McGrath, Amy Ginn and Jordan Stanley.

HHH

One thing to be grateful for as we look back on the holidays is how much our community reaches out to those in need during this time of year.

One great case in point is Shop with a Cop, which took place Dec. 17 at the Durango Walmart Supercenter, which sponsored the event. Area businesses and individuals donated more than $11,000 to the Fraternal Police for the event, where 64 officers from every law enforcement agency in the county, and then some, took 111 children from 78 families shopping for clothing and toys.

If you don’t believe me about every agency, here’s who was involved: Durango Police Department, La Plata County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado State Patrol, Southern Ute Rangers, Southern Ute Tribal Police, Bayfield Marshal’s Office, Durango Municipal Court, Durango Code Compliance, and the La Plata County Department of Human Services.

The Department of Human Services identified the children who would take part.

The officers spent an average of $125 per child, $75 in clothing and $50 on toys. There was also a surprise visit by Santa, who handed out candy canes.

It’s great these hardworking law-enforcement professionals took time from their own busy work and personal responsibilities during the holidays as well as putting in the effort to raise the money. Then it’s also great that these people, who see some of the worst tragedies and most stressful situations in our community in their day jobs, got to spend some time doing something joyful for children living in the most fragile circumstances in our community.

Not only are these children receiving some much-needed clothing and something fun, too, they’re seeing law enforcement and human service providers as human beings, which is an important lesson for all of us.

A total of 21 area businesses and organizations along with 38 individuals contributed to the cause. At first I looked at the groups involved and said, “Oh, it’s the usual suspects.” And then I thought two things – “I’m using a movie metaphor about crime in a story about law enforcement.” And then I thought, “I see these businesses named all the time as donors, but the community doesn’t. So I’m going to name them all as part of the holiday spirit of giving.”

So here they are, in no particular order: Durango Masonic Lodge, San Juan Basin Shrine Club, Shriners Tin Lizzies, CJ’s Diner, Target Rental, Cal Steel, Beta Sigma Phi, La Plata Electric Association, Griego’s, Kachina Kitchen, Kiwanis of the Narrow Gauge, Cross Fire LLC, Best Western, United Methodist Thrift Shop, First Presbyterian Church of Durango, Durango Dermatology, the Palace Restaurant, The Durango Team LLC, Alpine Bank, RELLIM Inc., Durango Lodge and the Wells Group.

HHH

Enjoying the final holiday anniversaries are Joyce and Paul Boyer, Jon Powell and Linda Arndt, Winston and Mary Marugg, Kenny and Shannon Bassett and Charlie Hakes and Lynn Partridge.

Special greetings go to Kathy and Jon Cohen, who gave me my very own O. Henry Gift-of-the-Magi moment last week. He called me and asked me to include their anniversary, but not tell her, and the very next call was Kathy Cohen requesting the same thing and the same secrecy. Don’t want to blow your cover(s), but it was charming and made my day.

HHH

Yours truly is starting the New Year the best of all ways – with a vacation. There are generally no Neighbors events and few meetings that first week of January, plus I’m exhausted from covering the big storm. So Neighbors will return Jan. 13.

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) and include no more than three to five people.