Briefs - The Durango Herald

International Fly Fishing Film Festival tickets now available for purchase

The 2023 International Fly Fishing Film Festival is coming to Durango for two showings April 1, featuring 10 short and feature-length films. The screening at the DoubleTree, 501 Camino Del R...

DATE: Mar 22, 2023 | CATEGORY: Community

Cottonwood Holistic Family Health adds new physician

Cottonwood Holistic Family Health has announced the addition of a new physician, Dr. Andrew Clarkinson DO to their team. Clarkinson is a board certified family practice doctor. He was born a...

DATE: Mar 22, 2023 | CATEGORY: Business

New member added to Advantage Physical Therapy & Wellness team

Mike and Amy Testa of Advantage Physical Therapy & Wellness, 3600 Main Ave., announce the addition of physical therapist Haley Hutton, PT, DPT. Haley is from Flagstaff, Arizona. She received...

DATE: Mar 22, 2023 | CATEGORY: Business

San Juan Regional Medical Center announces Daisy Award winners

Nurses honored for dedication, compassionate care

DATE: Mar 20, 2023 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

Bridge Scores

Durango Bridge Club online and in-person play – all pairs received 50+ percent

DATE: Mar 17, 2023 | CATEGORY: Community

Fort Lewis College Calendar

Visit www.fortlewis.edu, click the “Quick Links” menu, choose “News & Events,” then click “Events” to view the complete calendar. Sunday Vocal Studio Recital, 3-4 p.m., Roshong Reci...

DATE: Mar 16, 2023 | CATEGORY: Community

Senior Center Calendar

Durango/La Plata Senior Center 2424 Main Ave., 382-6445 Monday 9:30 a.m.: Tai Chi. 10 a.m.: Computer Class 10:30 a.m.: WYS Marvel. 11 a.m.: Chair Zumba. 12:30 p.m.: Duplicate Bridge. 1 p.m.:...

DATE: Mar 16, 2023 | CATEGORY: Community

Scholarship applications now available

The Southwest Colorado Bar Association will award three scholarships to graduating high school seniors in Archuleta, La Plata or San Juan (Colorado) counties. The scholarship will assist in...

DATE: Mar 15, 2023 | CATEGORY: Community

Rosie the Riveter exhibit to open at museum

The Animas Museum, 3065 West Second Ave., will have a new pop-up exhibit opening at 10 a.m. Tuesday about the World War II-era’s Rosie the Riveter. Learn about Durango connections with Rosie...

DATE: Mar 15, 2023 | CATEGORY: Community

Grange, 4-H club to co-host auction

Pioneer 4-H Club and Marvel Grange will co-host a Baked Potato Bar and dessert auction at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Marvel Grange hall, 217 County Road 133A. The dessert auction will benefit t...

DATE: Mar 15, 2023 | CATEGORY: Community

Photography Club to host presentation

The Durango Photography Club will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday in the La Plata County Fairgrounds East Exhibit Hall, Lightner Room, 2500 Main Ave. Kurt Hillman will present an “Introduction to Ni...

DATE: Mar 15, 2023 | CATEGORY: Community

Senior Center Calendar

Durango/La Plata Senior Center 2424 Main Ave., 382-6445 Monday 9:30 a.m.: Tai Chi. 10:30 a.m.: WYS Marvel, Neo Delphi Meeting. 11 a.m.: Chair Zumba. 12:30 p.m.: Duplicate Bridge. 1 p.m.: Bin...

DATE: Mar 9, 2023 | CATEGORY: Community

Colorado history gets weird, wild, wacky at Fashion Do’s and Don’tsAnnual Snowdown event has become so popular, auditions are now required

Cowboys. Fancy ladies. Gold miners. Even-toed ungulates that some in Durango might consider more like rats.Where can you find a runway show that takes you on a whirlwind tour through the weird, wacky and wildly exaggerated 150 years of Colorado history? Only at Durango’s annual Fashion Do’s and Don’ts, held Wednesday, where models and audience members donned costumes celebrating Colorado’s sesquicentennial – the theme of this year’s two-week Snowdown celebration.Standout acts included the Ghosts of Durango, which featured four of Durango’s most famous ghosts: a Rochester hotel ghost in a Victorian get-up of a more “modern” variation; the Strater Hotel’s head of housekeeping, also head of more discreet services; a young girl haunting El Rancho bathroom; and Sheriff Bob Thompson, killed in a 1906 gunfight. according to emcee Suzan Lane. A Another act was the secret circus society, featuring Rubi Starr, Jeni Gross, Tabatha Joy Bettin, Adrienne Young and Ethan Deffenbaugh dressed as a car and the roadside pests better known as deer. Group members said the inspiration for the costume came from lived experiences driving the Durango roads. The two-person Cantine Couture act starred Leslie Ponce and Tyler Frakes in an homage to the plentiful variety of Mexican restaurants found in any Colorado town. Ponce, dressed in comically large Mexican pointy cowboy boots, ambled down the runway as if taking a stroll under the hot, dusty, high-altitude sun, while Frakes flitted about the stage in a bright yellow salsa dress. Ponce said this years costume had been tough to decide, but the final decision was inspired by TikTok videos of Mexican cowboys in pointy boots. This was the duo’s third year strutting down the runway. Why they keep coming back for more, Frakes said laughing, was, “for the fame, the glory and the attention.”

Fashion Do’s and Don'ts has been one of the most highly anticipated Snowdown events since it’s inception in the 1990s. It has more than doubled in size over the past several decades. Last year, there were a record number of models, and in order to keep the event at a manageable size, this years fashion show was the first one to require the acts to audition. But many of the models were unphased by the change. “It was actually easy,” said Jodi Zuber, one part of the two-person duo that made up the 1950s Texas Invader Ski Couple. Her partner-in-costume, Danny Jaques, said they had been doing this for several years, and it’s good with everything going on in the world to “get some levity and let your hair down.” The performers were not the only ones in costume. Audience members also dressed in a wide variety of unique takes on what makes Colorado, Colorado. JonBenet Ramsey made a miraculous appearance, being played by an 82-year-old woman, as did Casa Bonita, an ensemble that included a taco, sopaipilla and gorilla in chains – to name some of the characters. By the end of the show, people were in high spirits, as usual. “It was just delightful,” said a first-time audience member. If blessed with the chance to get the much coveted tickets – he said he would jump on it. jbowman@durangoherald.com

Annual Snowdown event has become so popular, auditions are now required

Photos: Snowdown 2026 Fashion Do’s and Don’ts

Photos: Durango High School basketball teams lose to Montrose High School

Photos: Local girls high school wrestling at La Plata TriDurango girls wrestling went 2-0 to win Tri on Thursday night at Bayfield

Durango girls wrestling went 2-0 to win Tri on Thursday night at Bayfield

Photos: Fort Lewis College women’s and men’s basketball take on Westminster UniversityBoth Skyhawks teams were victorious on Saturday afternoon

Both Skyhawks teams were victorious on Saturday afternoon

Photos: An afternoon in 2004 with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell as he works on Capitol HillDurango Herald Photo Editor Jerry McBride had the chance to spend an afternoon with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2004, photographing him during meetings and around the Capitol.

Durango Herald Photo Editor Jerry McBride had the chance to spend an afternoon with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2004, photographing him during meetings and around the Capitol.

Photos and video: ICE protests return to DurangoAbout a dozen protesters tried to block federal agents from leaving with a detainee on Thursday

About a dozen protesters tried to block federal agents from leaving with a detainee on Thursday

The Durango Herald’s year in photos 2025

Photos: Chapman Hill fires up the snow guns

International Fly Fishing Film Festival tickets now available for purchase

Cottonwood Holistic Family Health adds new physician

New member added to Advantage Physical Therapy & Wellness team

San Juan Regional Medical Center announces Daisy Award winners

Bridge Scores

Fort Lewis College Calendar

Senior Center Calendar

Scholarship applications now available

Rosie the Riveter exhibit to open at museum

Grange, 4-H club to co-host auction

Photography Club to host presentation

Senior Center Calendar

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