Downtown Durango - The Durango Herald

Cleaning up downtown for summer

On Friday, May 26, join the Durango Chamber of Commerce and the Durango Business Improvement District for Downtown Clean Day. This annual event is a fun volunteer opportunity for families, c...

DATE: May 9, 2017 | CATEGORY: What's Up Downtown

Downtown Durango panhandling survey pitches ideas – some unique, some possibly illegal

ACLU says some suggestions violate First Amendment

DATE: May 2, 2017 | CATEGORY: Local News

Apartments proposed along Main Avenue in downtown Durango

Mixed-use building includes 44 residential units

DATE: Apr 13, 2017 | CATEGORY: Local News

Budding entrepreneurs

DATE: Mar 29, 2017 | CATEGORY: Local News

Oohs & Aahs set to close as owner nears retirement

Shop filled high-end home decor niche

DATE: Feb 19, 2017 | CATEGORY: Local News

Main Avenue buildings may be redeveloped

Structures in 1100 block date to about 1900

DATE: Feb 15, 2017 | CATEGORY: Local News

The Blotter

Durango Police Monday 12:12 a.m. Someone reported two or three intoxicated people sleeping in the Durango Post Office lobby, 222 W. Eighth St. Police made at least one arr...

DATE: Feb 14, 2017 | CATEGORY: Local News

Model Tire Store will close in March

Downtown Durango business dates to 1925

DATE: Feb 14, 2017 | CATEGORY: Local News

Marchers garner cheers, disapproval as they protest Trump inauguration

Many choose to tune out swearing in, inaugural festivities

DATE: Jan 20, 2017 | CATEGORY: Local News

Widespread power outage scrambles routine for businesses, shoppers

A widespread power outage left about 6,000 customers without electricity for nearly two hours Tuesday across much of Durango and surrounding areas, according to La Plata Electric Association...

DATE: Jan 17, 2017 | CATEGORY: Local News

Photo: Putting out the bear

DATE: Jan 10, 2017 | CATEGORY: Local News

El Moro employees volunteer while restaurant repaired

Downtown tavern closed by fire to reopen soon

DATE: Jan 5, 2017 | 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 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

Cleaning up downtown for summer

Downtown Durango panhandling survey pitches ideas – some unique, some possibly illegal

Apartments proposed along Main Avenue in downtown Durango

Budding entrepreneurs

Oohs & Aahs set to close as owner nears retirement

Main Avenue buildings may be redeveloped

The Blotter

Model Tire Store will close in March

Marchers garner cheers, disapproval as they protest Trump inauguration

Widespread power outage scrambles routine for businesses, shoppers

Photo: Putting out the bear

El Moro employees volunteer while restaurant repaired

Videos & Photos

Search Directory Plus

Most Popular

Most Recent

Ballantine Communications, Inc.

Contact Us

Find Us