Downtown Durango - The Durango Herald

El Moro to hold CRAFT food and beverage pairing

El Moro Spirits and Tavern will reprise its CRAFT food and beverage pairing event from 6-8 p.m. April 18. This time, the pairing will have a “European Vacation” theme, with six f...

DATE: Apr 9, 2019 | CATEGORY: Food

In split vote, Durango City Council approves sign code amendments

Business can display banners and sandwich boards, with restrictions

DATE: Apr 3, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Firefighters douse chimney fire Friday night on Main Avenue in Durango

No damage on roof of Derailed Pour House

DATE: Mar 22, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Police take proactive approach to problems at Colorado Pongas

Agency sees positive results working with pool hall on liquor license violations

DATE: Mar 12, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Cantera pivots toward high-end cuisine

Mexican restaurant managers want to better represent entirety of Mexico

DATE: Mar 6, 2019 | CATEGORY: Food

The Cavern restaurant now Down the Rabbit Hole

Remodel of Lady Falconburgh’s space backs away from craft beer

DATE: Mar 6, 2019 | CATEGORY: Food

Save the date for these events

Now that 2019 is in full swing, here are key dates for events downtown and in the North Main District for your calendar. The North Main District Clean Day will be held on May 3. ...

DATE: Feb 16, 2019 | CATEGORY: What's Up Downtown

Campaign to dissuade handouts to homeless may expand in downtown Durango

Make It Count program could move beyond donation boxes

DATE: Feb 13, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Rotary Club to host chapter president of restaurant group

Dave Woodruff, Durango chapter president of the Colorado Restaurant Association, will speak to the Rotary Club of Durango at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Strater Hotel, 699 Main Ave. He ...

DATE: Jan 3, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Open house to discuss Fort Lewis Mesa district plan

The Fort Lewis Mesa Planning District Open House will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Jan. 19 at the Breen Community Building, 15300 Colorado Highway 140. A presentation about the work ...

DATE: Jan 3, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Downtown snow removal set for Friday, Saturday mornings

Herald Staff Report City of Durango crews will be hauling snow from the Central Business District from 11:59 p.m. Thursday to 8 a.m. Friday and again Friday night through Saturday...

DATE: Jan 3, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Moe’s Starlight Lounge busted for serving minors

State suspends bar’s liquor license

DATE: Dec 24, 2018 | CATEGORY: Local News

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

El Moro to hold CRAFT food and beverage pairing

In split vote, Durango City Council approves sign code amendments

Firefighters douse chimney fire Friday night on Main Avenue in Durango

Police take proactive approach to problems at Colorado Pongas

Cantera pivots toward high-end cuisine

The Cavern restaurant now Down the Rabbit Hole

Save the date for these events

Campaign to dissuade handouts to homeless may expand in downtown Durango

Rotary Club to host chapter president of restaurant group

Open house to discuss Fort Lewis Mesa district plan

Downtown snow removal set for Friday, Saturday mornings

Moe’s Starlight Lounge busted for serving minors

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