business and finance - The Durango Herald

Durango’s growth endures through policy changes

Durango’s ideas, policies about housing development have evolved over the years

DATE: Aug 26, 2016 | CATEGORY: Business

U.S. economy grew at tepid 1.1 percent pace in spring

WASHINGTON – The U.S. economy expanded at a sluggish pace this spring as businesses sharply reduced their stockpiles of goods and spent less on new buildings and equipment. The Co...

DATE: Aug 26, 2016 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

Internet isn’t crimping Durango book stores

Durango supports seven book retailers

DATE: Aug 24, 2016 | CATEGORY: Business

U.S. home sales fell in July amid inventory shortage

By JOSH BOAK Associated Press WASHINGTON – U.S. home buyers pulled back in July, as sales declined amid a shortage of available properties and steadily rising prices. ...

DATE: Aug 24, 2016 | CATEGORY: Business

Wilson Gulch Road set for October opening

Road will stay closed during Bridge to Nowhere repairs

DATE: Aug 23, 2016 | CATEGORY: Local News

Business Briefs

Tafoya Barrett welcomes employee Tafoya Barrett and Associates, a certified public accounting firm, has announced the addition of Kayla Tomlinson to the firm. Tomlinson grew up ...

DATE: Aug 23, 2016 | CATEGORY: Business

Starting a budget in your 20s is smart, and it doesn’t need to hurt

Q: I’ve heard I’m supposed to create and stick to a budget, but that seems complicated and time-consuming. Do I really need a budget in my 20s? A: It is, unequivocally, a good ide...

DATE: Aug 23, 2016 | CATEGORY: Business

More small businesses put focus on a mobile-first strategy

NEW YORK – GreenPal CEO Bryan Clayton came to realize he had to scrap his company’s $90,000 website. The business aims to link homeowners with lawn care companies, but its softwa...

DATE: Aug 23, 2016 | CATEGORY: Business

Craft beer is big business in Durango

The Durango Business Improvement District represents commercial property owners in the Central Business District and along North Main Avenue, as well as the businesses in those properties. F...

DATE: Aug 23, 2016 | CATEGORY: What's Up Downtown

U.S. new-home sales climb to best level since late 2007

WASHINGTON – Americans stepped up their purchases of new homes in July to the fastest pace in nearly nine years, the latest sign that low mortgage rates and a solid job market are helping su...

DATE: Aug 23, 2016 | CATEGORY: Business

Sales tax collections up in June after declines

Strong sales in July and August could put the city back on track

DATE: Aug 21, 2016 | CATEGORY: Local News

What would you pay for the White House?

Group puts a $250 million value on iconic D.C. property

DATE: Aug 20, 2016 | CATEGORY: Business

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 wore 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’s 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 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 year’s 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 its 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 year’s fashion show was the first one to require the acts to audition. But many of the models were unfazed 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

Durango’s growth endures through policy changes

U.S. economy grew at tepid 1.1 percent pace in spring

Internet isn’t crimping Durango book stores

U.S. home sales fell in July amid inventory shortage

Wilson Gulch Road set for October opening

Business Briefs

Starting a budget in your 20s is smart, and it doesn’t need to hurt

More small businesses put focus on a mobile-first strategy

Craft beer is big business in Durango

U.S. new-home sales climb to best level since late 2007

Sales tax collections up in June after declines

What would you pay for the White House?

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