Southwest Life - The Durango Herald

Climate lobby to host ‘Beyond Zero’ screening

Durango Citizens Climate Lobby will host a screening of the film, “Beyond Zero” at 5:40 p.m. May 2 at Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave. “Beyond Zero” is a film about a global comp...

DATE: Apr 23, 2025 | CATEGORY: Community

May Library Events

Durango Public Library 1900 East Third Ave. Contact: 375-3380. Weekly events for youths Tuesdays, 4-5 p.m.: Youth Chess Club. Drop-in chess games in a friendly environment. Meet fellow e...

DATE: Apr 23, 2025 | CATEGORY: Community

And the West is History: Track meet at fairgrounds – 1917

DATE: Apr 21, 2025 | CATEGORY: And the West is History

Move to redefine “harm” in Endangered Species Act may pose ecological risks

Only direct killing or collecting of species would still be outlawed under new definition

DATE: Apr 18, 2025 | CATEGORY: Southwest Life

Brains, bots and a big win: How STEM is powering the future in Durango

In education, we often talk about “future-ready skills” – but what does that look like? Here in Durango School District 9-R, we’re seeing the future take shape in classrooms every day. Wheth...

DATE: Apr 18, 2025 | CATEGORY: Education

Bridge scores

Durango Bridge Club online and in-person play – all pairs received 50+ percent April 11 – Club Charity Championship First: D. Read/J. Cox Second: W. Rosenberger/B. Gantner ...

DATE: Apr 17, 2025 | CATEGORY: Community

Residents invited to wildfire workshop

La Plata County residents are invited to a free community wildfire workshop from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday at the La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave. The workshop will be hosted by t...

DATE: Apr 16, 2025 | CATEGORY: Community

Mountain Middle School hosts ‘Math Games’ Exhibition Night

Fifth graders at Mountain Middle School are set to showcase their innovative math games at the annual “Math Games” Exhibition. This special event, open to parents and community members, will...

DATE: Apr 16, 2025 | CATEGORY: Community

Botanic Gardens thanks supporters of conference

The Durango Botanic Gardens wishes to thank the 162 people who attended our Envisioning a Changing DurangoScape 2025, on March 21 and 22. The conference projected anticipated changes in the...

DATE: Apr 16, 2025 | CATEGORY: Community

Senior Center Calendar

Durango/La Plata Senior Center 2424 Main Ave., 382-6445 Monday 9:30 a.m.: Intermediate Tai-Chi. 10:30 a.m.: Neo Delphi Meeting, Watch Your Step – Marvel, Chair Yoga. 12:30 p.m...

DATE: Apr 16, 2025 | CATEGORY: Community

The Switzerland Trail in Boulder County has a storied past in mining

If you go along Switzerland Trail in Boulder County today, you’ll see hikers and bikers. Along the trail are beautiful creeks where you could see some people fishing in them. The trail is ve...

DATE: Apr 16, 2025 | CATEGORY: Southwest Life

And the West is History: Fishing on the Animas – ca. 1899

DATE: Apr 14, 2025 | CATEGORY: And the West is History

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

Climate lobby to host ‘Beyond Zero’ screening

May Library Events

And the West is History: Track meet at fairgrounds – 1917

Move to redefine “harm” in Endangered Species Act may pose ecological risks

Brains, bots and a big win: How STEM is powering the future in Durango

Bridge scores

Residents invited to wildfire workshop

Mountain Middle School hosts ‘Math Games’ Exhibition Night

Botanic Gardens thanks supporters of conference

Senior Center Calendar

The Switzerland Trail in Boulder County has a storied past in mining

And the West is History: Fishing on the Animas – ca. 1899

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