There Are Humans Among Us

art entertainment food drink music nightlife Thursday, November 5, 2015

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There are Humans among us Humans of Durango photography project bridges art and humanity. Also: Funkadelic band Elder Grown, Elvis Oatmeal, “Spring Awakening,� and Netflix booty calls

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DGO Magazine

Staff

What’s inside Volume 1 Number 2

Nov. 5, 2015

Chief Executive Officer

15 ‘Sex, relationships, sex, abortion, sex, death, suicide, sex ...’

Douglas Bennett V.P. of Finance and Operations Bob Ganley

The racy, rockinfused “Spring Awakening” is not your typical musical. We’ve been assured there will be no jazz hands within a threemile radius.

V.P. of Advertising David Habrat V.P. of Marketing Kricket Lewis Founding Editors Amy Maestas David Holub Katie Klingsporn Josh Stephenson Editor David Holub dholub@bcimedia.com 375-4551 Staff Writer

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Funkadelic band wants to grow

18 So far, so fun With a resounding “cheers” and a clink of glass, DGO was released to the world at The Steaming Bean last Thursday.

Durango’s Elder Grown has a knack for getting the floor hot with danceable beats and an electric energy.

Raychel Johnson rjohnson@bcimedia.com 375-4538 Contributors Bryant Liggett Robert Alan Wendeborn

12 ‘I think it’s just a platform for carrying out a passion’ Equipped only with her camera and notebook, Ashley Merchant (above) uses photography and passion in her project Humans of Durango.

/dgomag

Aubrey Adler Advertising 247-3504 Reader Services 375-4570

DGO Magazine is published by Ballantine Communications Inc., P.O. Drawer A, Durango, CO 81302

From the Editor

4

Love it or Hate it

5

Beer

6

Weed

7

Sound

Downtown Lowdown

8

DGO Tunes In

9

Album Review 9 11 High-Ass Recipes 15 Student Life 16 Movies 17 Savage Love 20 Happenings 23 Horoscope/ puzzles

/dgomag

Ryan Yaseen Christopher Gallagher

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@dgo_mag

On the cover “Just before I tried to commit suicide in 2010, 2 weeks before I was in a bad place - decided I didn’t want to be around people anymore. I decided that my family would get a quarter of a million dollars with life insurance, and better with that than with me.”

How did you overcome this?

“I woke up in a hospital and wasn’t dead. I said, ‘oh shit’, I’m still here. But, it was the realization that I can have purpose, and my kids want me here. Even though I don’t feel that emotion, I know that. Now I just try to find purpose, and things I like to do.---As time goes by there’s more wrinkles, and my evil clown look gets better.”

Interview and photo from Ashley Merchant’s photography project Humans of Durango

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@dg

dg

[CTRL-A] [ love it or hate it ] David Holub |DGO editor

When it gets too serious, turn a shopping cart into a recliner

M

ost of the work in Mike Brieger’s show “Slavery Days,” which opened at the Durango Arts Center on Friday, was expectedly dark and unsettling, full of sepias and black and whites, ghostly washes and crude sculptures (crude on a couple levels).

There were heavy reminders and depictions of ugly eras in human history – Anne Frank, Emmett Till, slavery, bondage, Jim Crow – but also the strength, perseverance and beauty that can arise from the human spirit.

But amid all of this challenging work and all the red dots affixed to the wall was something odd and out of place, a beacon of sorts, something that did not belong with the rest. In the middle of the floor, mingling with the public was a conspicuous wheeled chair (not a wheelchair, mind you). Someone had taken a shopping cart and refabricated it into something else, a seat on wheels, a recliner almost, with armrests and a gently sloped leg and foot rest. People pushed it around, they pushed it out of their way, some got in and took a load off. Art openings can be strenuous.

The chair did not have a placard, much less a title. It was not cordoned off in a corner with a price tag. It was just out in the middle of everything, unannounced and unacknowledged.

Everyone I spoke to about the chair wasn’t sure what it was supposed to be, who had brought it and for what purpose.

After a while, I could almost hear Brieger grinning. It had to be a joke, a visual joke if nothing else. Of course, it was.

The piece was about pure fun; when you see it, you want to get in and have someone push you around, get going down an incline

and then try to figure out how to stop. It added a quirky, oddball lightness to an otherwise haunting but beautiful show.

I don’t know Mike well, but what I do know of him is totally in line with the lighthearted shopping cart recliner as comic relief. When we met, he struck me as intense and driven, with gears constantly churning in his mind unlike those of anyone else, yearning to get something inside his head out into the world.

But along with this impression was another one. He also struck me as a generous and grateful guy, humble yet assertive in a punk rock kind of way, willing to hold out his middle finger when the time called for it, but in a fun, mischievous, unpredictable way. Hence, the shopping cart recliner.

It wasn’t the most dynamic piece in Mike’s show, and not the most original. It didn’t have a red dot anywhere near it because I don’t think it was for sale. But it was my favorite piece in the show.

It reminded me that we all have a lightness and darkness inside of us. Sometimes that darkness dominates and sometimes it’s the lightness shining brightest. It’s all there to certain extents and varying degrees at different moments.

When things get too dark, too intense, when we get consumed by the past or fretful about the future, I say find the shopping cart recliner, wherever it is for each of us. Take a seat, look for the light.

Someone might even come along and push you around, both of you laughing and hooting, while the rest of the people in the gallery are left frantically muttering about how you’re heading right for them before they have to duck for cover.

David Holub is the editor for DGO. dholub@bcimedia.com.

IPA Love it

OK, let’s say you walk into a room. If this room were a lager, it would be a studio apartment,minimally decorated with stuff you’d find on the walls at a Comfort Inn. If the room were a stout, it would be dark and shadowy, a musty, bitter stench coming from the aged carpet. If there were enough light to see the walls, they’d be painted brown, but not a good brown, a bad smoke-room brown from the ’70s. There are doors to other rooms, but you know that if you open them, it will be more of the same, more bad brown.

But this room, thank God, is an IPA, awash in pure orange sunshine blasting through 12-foot windows, bouquets of fresh flowers, notes of grapefruity citrus fluttering about the crisp spring air being piped in from somewhere glorious. The walls are pale orange with white trim and the art hanging is bold and fresh and bright, the subject matter refreshing and challenging.

There are doors everywhere, leading to only more goodness, more sunshine.

To me, this is what IPA is, pure sunshine and goodness. Its bright flavors so complex and immense, each gulp taking your tastebuds on a ride: Tart citrus, sweet floral, and enough tight and bright hoppy bitterness to give the back of your tongue the kick in the pants it probably needs.

— David Holub

Hate it For years, I tried to love IPA. I politely accepted pints of it at friends’ houses, cracked cans at parties.

I even ordered it at the bar. But try as I might to enjoy this hoppiest of brews, my palate wasn’t having it. Mostly, I grimaced my way through the bitter and unchuggable IPAs until they became too warm to stand (which happens the second they are remotely non-icy), and then poured them out when nobody was looking. In this world of bold flavors, strong ales and aggressive notes, some may argue I’m a flavor sissy for this particular aversion. But I’ve come to accept the fact that to me, drinking IPA is like having an obnoxious little man skanking away in my mouth – stomping his boots, throwing elbows and beating my taste buds senseless. And I suspect there are many more out there who secretly can’t stand IPA. To those people, I say this: Come out of the IPA closet. It’s liberating and vast, this world of beers that are actually drinkable. You’ll never have to choke down another room-temperature IPA again. Because, as good friend put it, “warm IPA is like Satan’s saliva.”

— Katie Klingsporn

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[beer]

First Draughts | Robert Alan Wendeborn

How about we Netflix and chill ... with beer

I

hate Halloween, but I had one of the best weekends of my life last week. First, the party to start DGO, then on to candles, wine and spooky things in the cemetery, walking around in my underwear and calling it a costume, throwing water balloons at “zombies,” and to wrap it up, brunch that lasted till 2 p.m., then skinny dipping in the river next to a keg of Euphoria.

Yes, swimming in the river on Nov. 1. It feels like summer may never end.

But it will end and it’ll be cold and icy and dark, and we won’t be able to go skinny dipping to see each other naked.

So what do we do? We Netflix and chill.

Netflix and chill is the new booty call, but more of a casual cuddly booty call, a booty call with pajamas and popcorn. Finding the right beer and snack to go with what we’re watching (or not watching) is just as important as good hygiene and a comfy, clean space. If things don’t go as well as we hope, at least we’ll both have something good to drink.

A new season of “The Gilmore Girls” is on the way, so I kind of want to get into the emotional motherdaughter duo of Rory and Lorelai Gilmore. For a snack, I’m thinking some rice cakes, and to drink, Snow Capped Cider. The tartness of this cider from Cedaredge will keep us on our toes no matter how whiny Lorelai gets, and the refreshing sweetness and dry finish go perfect with Rory’s sense of humor.

But maybe we didn’t get enough horror in the month of October.

Lucky for us, “American Horror Story” has four seasons on Netflix as well as new episodes from its fifth season on FX. Dark chocolate from Ani-

mas Chocolate Co. will pair perfectly with Fade To Black, an export stout from Left Hand Brewing. When I inevitably need to cover my eyes, I’ll just dip my whole head into this award-winning beer.

The smoked malt brings out rich roasted notes of coffee and cocoa as well some hints of dark fruits. Fade to Black is also a winter seasonal, so we should drink it while we can.

If you’re not into the horror thing but want something intense, “Roadhouse” is about as intense as we can get.

Some things are so bad they’re good, and “Roadhouse,” Slim Jims and Miller High Life are a perfect threesome. The Champagne of Beers will go great with spicy dried sausage, roundhouse kicks, a monster truck destroying a car dealership, babes in hot tubs and Patrick Swayze’s steely gaze.

Ultimately, if romance is the goal, we should watch “The Best of Me.” Nicholas Sparks’ formula for making audiences cry through intense love and tragic death might be getting old, but this is what we need. “The Best of Me” is kind of long, so we’re gonna want a lot of snacks (popcorn is easy and light). But to handle all the heavy feels, we probably want a heavy beer, so I’m picking up a growler of Jesus, a well balanced Imperial IPA from BREW Pub & Kitchen. When we’re turned into “THE ORIGINAL”

HAPPY HOUR 4–6, MONDAY–FRIDAY

970-259-0144

695 Camino Del Rio Durango, CO

Illustration by David Holub/DGO

»» Netflix and chill is the knots over sadness and joy, and our muscles ache from so many sobs, don’t worry; Jesus is brewed with yarrow, which is supposed to help with cramping.

More important than picking something good to watch, good to drink and good to munch on, is being a good date. If you want to keep chillin, please be courteous (let me cuddle), be polite (no judging my viewing history)

new booty call, and doing it with beer makes it all the better.

and be safe (don’t get me sick). And yeah, hit me up; let’s chill.

Robert Alan Wendeborn puts the bubbles in the beer at Ska Brewing Co. His first book of poetry, “The Blank Target,” was published this past spring by The Lettered Streets Press and is available at Maria’s Bookshop. robbie@skabrewing.com

799

$

Reg. $8.89

all varieties (pictured)

expires 11/11/15

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[ weed ] Seeing Through the Smoke Christopher Gallagher

Ganga, dagga, diesels, kushes? Here’s a primo primer

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and Cannabis ruderalis (a small, wild version from Central Asia that I mention here but will mostly ignore in the future unless new discoveries make it noteworthy). There is a lack of consensus among those who study and work with different incarnations of the cannabis plant as to whether these three comprise separate species or are simply further subcategories of a monotype.

For the purposes of this discussion, C. sativa and C. indica are the varietals of highest current interest.

While the rope farmers and cloth producers among us may be particularly excited about cannabis strains with low psychoactive properties, most of the time and effort over the past generation worldwide has been focused on the cultivation of marijuana plants with ever-increasing levels of THC or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the chemical compound with the ability to interact with receptors in the human brain to alter consciousness.

And these plants will

get you higher than ever before.

THC levels before the 21st century averaged 5 percent or less. That has changed dramatically in the past decade and a half with average THC levels in most Colorado shops more of the order of 20 percent and some award-winning strains approaching and even beginning to surpass the 30 percent threshold.

Sativa strains include the Haze varieties, Diesels, Jack Herrer strains, Lamb’s Bread and Durban Poison; these are known for producing a high that is uplifting and energetic and are good for daytime use. Indicas contain a higher ratio of CDB, or cannabidiol, to THC. CDB is an important chemical for many medical applications, a topic that will be discussed extensively here in the future. Famous Indicas include Kushes, Purple varieties, Afghanis and

Blueberry. The high associated with these strains is more sedating and can be used to combat anxiety and sleeplessness.

Most strains available nowadays are, in fact, hybrids. These hybrids are created by crossbreeding Sativas with Indicas to specific proportions in order to create new varieties that accent the most desirable qualities of different strains. Some well-known hybrids include Blue Cheese (the strain that changed my life), Northern Lights, Cinderella 99, AK-47 and Gorilla Glue #4.

I hope this provides a foundation for investigating how we came to this place with this plant. Over the next few weeks, we’ll look at the social, political and legislative history of our relationship with cannabis. Be well ’til then.

Christopher Gallagher lives with his wife and their four dogs and two horses. Life is pretty darn good.

Jerry McBride/BCI Media file photo

AWARD WINNING STRAINS

elcome back, friends. I hope the week held some time for productive endeavors, some time for cultivating what you love, and a healthy span of relaxation. This week we’re going to begin to look at what we’re looking at: The generally innocuous plant that grew to become the center of its own little universe.

This medium-sized shrub known to botanists as cannabis, also called marijuana, grass, pot, bud, herb, green, chronic, mota by Spanish speakers, ganja by Jamaicans, dagga in Africa, whacky tobacky, devil weed, and roughly 33 dozen other nicknames (many of them coined

by Snoop Dogg), each with its own context and connotation. It has been cultivated for millennia by societies across the globe for a wide range of uses including food, fuel, fiber, medicine, paper and spiritual purposes, and as a recreational intoxicant (though, technically not much of an actual medical “intoxicant” because its toxicity level, according to the D.E.A. – yes, that D.E.A. – is roughly 20,000 to 40,000 times the THC contained in a joint).

Kingdom Plantae, order Rosales, family Cannabacea, even botanists are at odds with each other when it comes to complete taxonomic classification. The plant’s genus is Cannabis; after that, things are understood differently by different groups of experts.

There are three agreed-on subdivisions within the genus: Cannabis. sativa (tall and relatively thin-leafed), Cannabis indica (shorter and bushier with thick “gorilla finger” leaves)

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[sound]

Funkadelic band wants to grow »» Durango’s Elder

Grown lets the groove guide the tunes

By Raychel Johnson Local funkadelic band Elder Grown is expanding its musical horizons and plans to book shows in Northern Colorado.

DGO Writer

Although they never planned on playing in a funk band, the members of Durango-based rock outfit Elder Grown have a knack for getting the floor hot with danceable beats and an electric energy. The three brothers who founded the band have come to recognize the importance of letting the groove guide the tunes.

For John Hoffman, bassist and founder member of the band, funk music wasn’t on his radar until Elder Grown’s sound shifted from folk to funk. He never listened to funk music until he started playing it, he said.

“Living in Durango opened us up to that genre, and whether we liked it or not, we were going to be playing it at some point,” he said. “It was more subconscious.”

Less subconscious was the obvious influence of alto saxophone player Sam Kelly. Elder Grown guitarist and front man Josh Hoffman said that before Kelly, the band’s aura smelled like campfire, and the sound had an acoustic feel.

“Having Sam show up and showing us what can happen when you add some groove to your songs really took the band to another level and evolved us from this folky, campfire scene to a ‘Holy cow, we’re going to rage the face off this club,’” Josh Hoffman said.

Kelly laughed as he expressed a similar sentiment.

“People are going to think we’re a funk band because we have a sax player,” he said. “Automatically, you’re going to see a sax player and think funk band.”

The sound into which Elder Grown continues to mature, whether it’s classified as funk, psychedelic roots rock or even hip hop, is backed by an undeniable positive energy Josh Hoffman says is inherent.

“It starts at the very beginning; it starts when we practice,” Josh Hoffman said, adding that the music, lyrics and stage presence of Elder Grown are heavily influenced by the brothers’ grandmother, for whom the band

Courtesy of Elder Grown

is named.

“They’re not just fun or shakeyour-butt kind of tunes. They’re not chauvinistic. We’re really going for a balanced, good message,” he said.

“That’s what we were raised on, and it would be unnatural for us to do otherwise. So, it’s inherent in the lyrics themselves, but I think it’s really inherent in the feel the band brings with it.”

For a band whose members range from the core group to up to 11 musicians on certain occasions, the music part comes easy. Wrangling schedules and working around school and other musical projects is the difficult part.

Also, giving each member ample room to express their own music voice is becoming easier with the establishment of Elder Grown’s own voice, its sound.

“The element of everyone having their individual voices, it’s kind of a stage for everyone to express those voices,” Josh Hoffman said. “So it can be hard, yes, in such a large group, but inevitably we all know that we’re really linked to one voice – the song – more so than everybody’s individual voices.”

Josh Hoffman compared the band to a small village and cited the band’s communal aspect as one reason the band has such a large roster of musicians. Looking up to their musician father, the Hoffman brothers were raised under the wings of musicians who took any opportunity to jam.

Whether a wedding or funeral, music was a necessary component.

“It wasn’t more like, ‘OK, we’re a

secret club called band,’ it was more like, ‘Holy cow, who’s here, what instruments do you have? Let’s do this,’” Josh Hoffman explained. “So it created a communal, very open energy. It was very accepting. It was all about having a good time and expressing yourself in a healthy and safe place, and I think that’s what blossomed into having so many more members come in.”

Offstage, the band is spending its time practicing, working on the business aspect of running a band and getting creative with visuals. Kelly said Elder Grown is working on a series of acoustic music videos to ring in the new album, with the release date still undecided.

“My idea is just simple, but with nice backdrop and acoustic versions of everything,” Kelly said. “I want them to be a few takes, roughly cut, like a nice raw setting. So when people hear the studio versions, it will be two different experiences.”

With the new album, music videos and growing popularity of Elder Grown, one question remains: Can Durango continue to contain and foster such a band? Making major strides in the music scene here, the band is setting its sights on getting out of this mountain town and seriously pursuing music as a career.

After Elder Grown’s last member graduates from college in January, John Hoffman said, anything is possible.

“We’re going to start expanding into Northern Colorado – Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins – that’s our next

step and going to be our catalyst for exploring what is probably (one of) the largest growing music scenes in the United States,” John Hoffman said. “I think we’re all throwing in the chips and are willing to go to wherever music is taking us.”

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T’s Smokehouse 3 Depot Place Durango, CO 81301 970.259.6000 tssmokehouse.com

[sound] T’S WILL BE CLOSED

Downtown Lowdown | Bryant Liggett

November 2nd – 10th

Fort Knox Five: D.J.s are performers and laptops and turntables are instruments

T 915 Main Ave, Durango, CO 81301 • 970-799-6299 • Open 7 Days A Week, 6am-8pm

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dgomag

he music-supporting community is nuts about the D.J. scene. Despite loads of criticism, electronic dance music continues to pack venues worldwide. Music fans and the purists among them will always believe that music needs to be made with instruments, and the ammunition pile for those purists continues to be replenished the farther techno, house, drone-womp and the like move away from its origins of being made with two turntables and a crate full of vinyl records. When a D.J. is onstage standing in front of a laptop, head bobbing and fist pumping, it’s still hard to tell if what’s being done is the playing of a recorded track, if there’s music being constructed out of different tracks, or if email is being checked and a Yelp review is being written. Others will say the turntable decks and other gadgets are an instrument.

Hell, even Frank Zappa, a respected rock musician, writer and composer, dabbled in electronic music in the latter part of his life and career, composing numerous compositions that were icing on the cake to a large body of respected work.

The Fort Knox Five continues to be a band that is able to pull people off the fence, dividing electronic-music lovers and haters, perhaps making people like myself find its worth in the vast sea of mediocre to must-own music. The Washington, D.C., quartet mixes live music and D.J. sets in its sound, a soulful collection of throwback funk and hip-hop. An alliance with local promotion company Durango Massive has built a strong following in Durango The D.J. portion of the band, featuring Steve Raskin and Jason “Q-DUP” Brown will perform Friday at the Animas City Theatre.

Its continued growth and popularity may be due to accessibility of

Bryant’s best Friday: Fort Knox Five 4-Deck D.J. set, 9 p.m. $15/$20. Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Drive. Information: 799-2281.

Saturday: Indie soul with Hello, Dollface, 10 p.m. No cover. El Rancho Tavern, 975 Main Ave. Information: 259-8111. equipment, and that equipment and the person behind it becoming center stage. D.J.s are no longer relegated to the corner providing background music.

“When we were growing up there wasn’t this big boom in electronic music, and I don’t think it was built-in and ingrained in the culture. I think a lot of kids growing up now, it’s something more accessible,” said Brown in a recent phone interview.

“People are saying they ‘D.J.’ as they do ‘I play guitar,’” Raskin added.

“The idea that D.J. culture has permeated every aspect of music now means that you can have these D.J. performance sets as performance, and not filling music within a space.”

The unique aspect of Raskin and Brown’s set is they D.J. together, working side-by-side creating the set of music. There’s an element of an improvisational band at work; while they have some certain musical outlines that may be in place prior to the start, there’s a free-form approach that can be dictated by mood of the artist and mood of the crowd.

“The thing that’s nice about the idea of this four-deck set is that it is performance, and while there might be routines, every time is different,” said Raskin. “There’s a sense of jamming that we’re allowed to do, it makes it exciting.”

Bryant Liggett is a freelance writer and KDUR station manager. liggett_b@fortlewis.edu.

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[DGO tunes in]

Caitlin Cannon

[sound] New at Southwest Sound

Singer/songwriter, The Cannondolls

FUZZ “II”

In which a local musician discusses four of their top songs and/or albums

»» In The

“The Night Josh Tillman Came to Our Apartment,” Father John Misty “It is my favorite song right now because I think he’s (Father John Misty) got this gift for really being absolutely conversational. It’s like a stream of consciousness, but the way he converts stream of consciousness into lyrics has such a sarcastic edge to it.”

“Cover Me Up,” Jason Isbell “That’s the song I want my future husband to write about me. Like, if any man wrote that song for me, I would just be done. When you hear that song, it’s like that’s they way every woman wants her man to feel about her.”

“Nothing Can Change This Love,” Sam Cook “This track is at the top of my make-out playlist. I really like that old R&B, soul stuff that he does. It’s really fun ...”

“Beg For It,” Iggy Azalea

Red

»»Release: Oct. 23

Punchy, punky and psyched out the mind. What else can be said about Fuzz’s second album that hasn’t already been said about the trio’s first release? The aptly named second album, “II,” takes the ideologies presented in the band’s debut effort and dips them in a metal bath. In fact, the album is quite reminiscent of early black punk, with nods to Black Sabbath. “II” is remarkably more heavy, and if taken all at once, can give listeners a feeling of being overdosed with psyched-out guitar riffs (Note: Don’t listen to the entire album front to back more than once in a 24-hour period.).

Most commonly, people in the music world will compliment Ty Segall on his ability to ever-constantly put his entire self into his various music projects, Fuzz being one of them. Although I agree, I’d say Fuzz, especially with this release and the tour it derives, deserves to become Segall’s top musical priority and not a side project.

— Raychel Johnson

New releases for Nov. 6 »»Sara Bareilles, “What’s Inside: Songs from ‘Waitress’”

“My guilty pleasure is by far ‘Beg For It,” by Iggy Azalea ... and googling the Twitter feud between Iggy and Azealia Banks.”

»»Bob Dylan, “Bootleg 12” »»Ellie Goulding, “Delirium” »»Cee-Lo Green, “Heart Blanche” »»9th Wonder and Talib Kweli, “Indie 500”

— Raychel Johnson

HAPPY HOUR

Monday-Friday 2:30pm-6pm 970.259.7655 948 Main Ave • Durango, CO ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Thursday, November 5, 2015 | 9

[ pages ] Maria’s Bookshop Top Ten Best-seller List 10/25 – 10/31 »»1. The Martian, by Andy Weir (Paperback) »»2. You Are a Badass, by Jen Sincero (Paperback) »»3. The Witches: Salem 1692, by Stacy Schiff (Hardcover) »»4. F*ck Feelings, by Michael Bennett MD, Sarah Bennett (Paperback) »»5. Grain Brain, by David Pearlmutter (Hardcover) »»6. In the Light of What We Know, by Zia Hader Rahman (Paperback) »»7. Station Eleven, by Emily St. John Mandel (Paperback) »»8. Euphoria, by Lily King (Paperback) »»9. The Untethered Soul, by Michael A. Singer (Paperback) »»10. The Mountain Shadow, by Gregory David Roberts (Hardcover)

This week’s staff pick, from Jaime Cary The Tsar of Love and Techno, by Anthony Marra

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Every once in a while we read something that speaks to us on such a profound level that we find that the words resonate through our soul and stick with us. This is what The Tsar of Love and Techno did for me. The language was so poetic, yet the phrasing so unusual, that I am still not sure what to think of it, as the words ring in my ears.

The book was phenomenal; this book is one that I could read for the first time, again.

A collection of short stories set in Siberia and Chechnya, the characters are tied together by an obscure Russian painting of a field. In the 1930s, a censor is tasked with reworking the painting toward the goals of the Soviet Union. What he does instead echoes throughout the century, linking the stories of a legendary ballerina sent to the gulags, her granddaughter, a gangster, a widower who last saw is wife in that field, and a soldier held in a well with a mix tape of unknown contents.

The resulting story, is ... well ... beyond anything I have ever aspired to have read. This is the best book I have read this year. The characters are touching, charming and incredibly human; their flaws adding to their allure. The story is fantastic, epic in its twists and turns, its humor and its sorrow. The setting itself

“

plays a character in tale, as all of the characters are trying to find where they fit in a country that is constantly changing and re-creating, and trying to survive the wars, the governments and the capitalism. It was fascinating to see how each of the different characters dealt with Russia at different points in time.

This book was beautiful. It was crass, dark, hopeful, sad, funny, but above all, it was a extraordinarily gorgeous book about the human condition, and the nature of connecting with people in a unstable world that is always changing.

[kanye says] My greatest pain in life is that I will never be able to see myself perform live.

”

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[ high-ass recipes ]

Elvis oatmeal »» You don’t have to be high to enjoy this ... but it sure doesn’t hurt When it comes to Elvis, Chef High Guy thinks we should all admire how he could take control of an audience with nothing more than a white jumpsuit and a quivering upper lip. He could also take control of some food, The King being in the pantheon of junky overeating, ahead of his time when it came to high-ass eating.

One of the famous creations credited to him was the Elvis sandwich, made of peanut butter, banana and bacon, totally fried, of course. This high-ass recipe simply takes the concept to oatmeal.

What you need: 1 cup water dash of salt 1/2 cup oats 1 banana 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1 to 2 tablespoons of peanut butter 4-second drizzle of honey 1 dollop of plain or vanilla yogurt 1/8 to 1/4 cup honey-roasted peanuts, crushed DGO staff

»» When it came to high-ass eating, Elvis was the king, and he inspired this oatmeal.

1 slice bacon, cooked, crumbled (optional)

Directions Bring water and salt to a boil. While you’re waiting, slice up that banana. Don’t forget to peel it. Add oats, cinnamon and half of the sliced banana. Turn heat to low, cover and simmer for about 10 minutes.

With about a minute left, add the rest of the banana (this all about preserving texture, which actually matters when it comes to food, bro).

When oatmeal is finished, keep it in the pot and loosely stir in peanut butter, honey and yogurt. I like the timed drizzle approach to honey because half of it inevitably gets stuck in the measuring cup otherwise. But then again, you’d probably love to just stand there licking honey out of measuring cups all day long. Do whatever you need to do.

Top with peanuts and optional bacon crumbles.

Of course, beyond the water, salt and oats, add more or less of anything to suit your high-ass tastes. And make sure you’ve turned the stove off.

— Chef High Guy

Durango - Silverton - Telluride - Moab - and beyond. www.adventurepro.us

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‘Humans of’: A brief history Although Humans of Durango was started by Ashley Merchant as a way to marry her two passions of photography and inspiring human connection, the idea of taking photographs of people on the street for such purposes is not new. Mercant said she was partially inspired by a similar photo project based in New York City.

Humans of New York was started in 2010 by Brandon Stanton, who set out on the streets to create a map of 10,000 photographs. The project gained an immense following on social media and resulted in more than 15 million followers on Facebook. Stanton turned Humans of New York into a book, which spent nearly 30 weeks on the New York Times Best Sellers list.

As a direct result, hundreds of ‘Humans of’ blogs and projects have sprouted up all over the globe.

Steve Lewis/BCI Media

»» Ashley Merchant’s photography project, Humans of Durango, addresses disconnection and loneliness head on. While scouting for subjects, Merchant will randomly pick strangers to photograph and interview.

Photographer uses her camera to connect community

“I think it’s just

a platform

for carrying out a passion”

By Raychel Johnson DGO Writer

Read the entire interview with Ashley Merchant and listen to exclusive audio at DGOmag.com.

Equipped only with her camera and notebook, Durango-based grad student Ashley Merchant sets out and uses photography as a platform to carry out her passion.

Humans of Durango, Merchant’s current photography project,

12 | Thursday, November 5, 2015 •

addresses disconnection and loneliness head on. While out and about scouting for photo subjects, Merchant will randomly pick strangers to photograph and interview. Through the simplicity of photography, Merchant is capturing the people of Durango at their most vulnerable, jubilant and uncertain times.

By asking deeper questions, no more “How are you doing” or “What’s up?” Merchant is, in essence, reintroducing us to people we thought we knew.

DGO caught up with Merchant, and asked her what inspires this quest for connection, especially in little ol’ Durango.

How did Humans of Durango get started?

Ashley Merchant: I noticed I started taking pictures of people that were in different places and got really interested in their story. It’s just something that I found that I enjoyed and I just felt more connected when I was using photography in that way. I saw Humans of New York. My friend pointed it out to me and I was like, ‘Oh this is cool; this is kind of like what I was doing when I was traveling except this is way more cool than what I was doing.’ So I thought about it, and I was like, ‘I wonder if anyone has done that for Durango,’ I was looking it up and didn’t find anything.

We have ideas about people, and until you actually talk to them and ask them more personal stories, like, ‘Hey what makes you happy?’ ‘What’s the hardest thing you’ve dealt with?’ Those questions help you really get to know someone.

It helped me feel more connected to people. So bringing that to social media where other people can see that, too, it helps us as a community to feel more connected.”

Has taking photos of strangers taught you that first impressions can be false?

AM: Part of it was breaking perceptions. As human nature, we have a tendency to do that, place judgements or certain perceptions we have on people based on just how they look. I try to have a nonjudgemental attitude in general, but I think one of the ways to be more authentic is by actually asking people questions where they identify themselves, and you’re not doing it for them.

What about the medium of photography continues to inspire you?

AM: I just had a conversation with you and asked you these questions where you’re thinking about it and I took a photograph while you’re in thought, in the thought process of it. So, photography is explaining exactly how that person felt at the time when I asked them that question. And maybe they hadn’t even thought about what I asked them in a while, so it feels the most real.

Do you purposefully set out on certain days for Humans of Durango?

AM: Occasionally, if someone really sparks my interest, I’ll definitely go up to them and photograph them. But a lot of times I like to be random about it because I don’t like to be picky and choosy by what I think is interesting. That’s the whole point to it, is breaking perceptions and having compassion for people who are different than us and it’s been really fun because I end up talking to some people maybe I would have never had the opportunity to talk to before, and everybody is so unique and specific, too.”

What are you studying in grad school?

AM: For a master’s in social work. I’m actually interested in social issues and photography, and this kind of spurred my interests into that. Through social work, I think the underlying thing we’re all dealing with for all of our issues is loneliness and connection, and when you feel lonely or disContinued on Page 14

Courtesy of Ashley Merchant

What’s been your greatest challenge from your entire life?

“Being a really liberal lesbian. I come from a really conservative family.”

How have you dealt with this challenge?

“We have a lot of things in common, like being a good person. Even though I voted for Obama, we still have that in common, being a good person. I don’t do drugs, punch babies, ya know..”

What worked for bringing your differences together?

“Finding common ground, for me that has been interpersonal communication. Loving everyone the same.”

Interview and photo From Ashley Merchant’s photography project Humans of Durango ������������ Thursday, November 5, 2015 | 13

Courtesy of Ashley Merchant

When have you been happiest in Durango?

“I do have a good one, but I’m not ready to be so liberal and lighthearted about that, however...

When I get to sing my 5 year old ninja turtle loving tutu wearing nephew to sleep- and half way through “You’ve got a Friend”

by Carole King his pint sized voice begins to sing along. Word for word. That is magic. That is delight.”

Interview and photo From Ashley Merchant’s photography project Humans of Durango

From Page 13

connected, I think that’s what perpetuates all our health problems and relational problems. I think it’s the foundation for good health and well-being.

So that’s part of it, too. If I can use art as a way for people to come together, I think that would be awesome.

Does Humans of Durango fill a void for you?

AM: The things that make us happy are things that make us feel connected. Photography allows you to be super present with people, and I like that.

Then, when you’re traveling, too, and especially in meeting new people, that’s also super present-

oriented. That’s really important to me, and I like waking people up that way, too, to become more selfaware.

don’t get why we have to be so, like, caged, in ways. I think there’s a lot of people who live in fear of their own self.

What are some crazy things that have happened from this project?

Will you carry on the idea of this project and pursue it in different forms?

AM: I think more than anything it’s just broken down those walls we have of this person’s crazy, or this person’s this. I don’t know if anything is really strange because if you actually talk to people and get their story, it all makes sense. It’s not like, well yeah maybe they’re acting strange, right, but that doesn’t mean they are strange. They’re living it.

They’re living out their truest self, and I think most of us aren’t, and that’s part of the project, too, I

AM: Yeah I think it’s what perpetuated a lot of other ideas and I’m going to Kenya in the fall, and I might have the opportunity to do a social issues photography project. And I’m going to bring that back here, too, and hopefully other places. I think it’s just a platform for carrying out a passion.

This interview was condensed and lightly edited for clarity.

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[student life]

Half-past Delinquency | Aubrey Adler

Looking to have a few when you’re the DD? Not cool, bro

I

’m sure many people have experienced being in an uncomfortable position with someone under the influence who is adamant about driving. Why is it that we let these individuals drive intoxicated? Why is it so hard to not let someone drink and drive?

For college students, the excuse may be, “Well, she was the designated driver; she knows what she can and cannot handle in order to be able to drive.” For adults, the excuse may be, “Well, his liver has built up a tolerance for alcohol over the years,” or, “Well, I didn’t want to be the one to take his keys.

He is really mean when he decides to drink.” Whatever the reasoning may be, letting someone drive home overly intoxicated is never a good one.

As you grow older you tend to experience the immaturity that comes with alcohol less and less, but while you are in college, it is all that surrounds you. One story I will never forget is one my older sister told me about her first college party, and how the whole night was so much fun until they had to go home. My sister and her friends had no ride back to their dorm because their designated unintoxicated driver had decided to have a few shots and beers while they were out. So instead of getting a ride home, they all had to walk about 20 blocks in Downtown Denver at 3 a.m. with no protection other than one another.

Can you remember a time when you felt your life was in danger because of another’s drinking choices? Did it feel good knowing they were intoxicated and threatening your life and everyone else’s on the road? I’m sure there must be an unexplainable thrill the driver experiences to be doing something so reckless. I hope I will never try to experience this thrill because of the

dangers it creates.

I have been in the passenger seat too many times, and have had unpleasant experiences with many people because of their individual choice to drink while claiming they are the designated driver of the night. To me, this is a huge sign of disrespect because that individual only cares about themselves having a good time while out partying rather than being responsible and taking a night off so others can have a good time without being put in any danger.

Now it is true that alcohol, if consumed responsibly, can lead to a great time. I am also aware that a lot of people in this world consume alcohol responsibly, and most of the time when people go out drinking they have a plan to get home, such as calling a taxi, getting a ride from a buddy, taking the bus or using some car service to arrange a ride for when they are done.

So how do we stop drinking and driving for good? There is no one answer, for many solutions are being tested and put in place. There are still those few individuals who do not seem to truly understand why drinking and driving is so dangerous.

I am not here saying that alcohol is absolutely terrible; I am just saying when it is being consumed, a person should not be allowed to drive no matter the circumstance.

So ask your friends what their opinion is on the subject matter. Do you all think the designated driver of your party should be allowed to drink at all while driving you around for the night?

Aubrey Adley is a sophomore at Fort Lewis College studying business. A Littleton native, she loves dogs, the outdoors, snowboarding, music, singing, dancing, and interacting with new people.

[stage]

‘Sex, relationships, sex, abortion, sex, death, suicide, sex ...’ »» Rock-infused and racy, FLC production of

‘Spring Awakening’ isn’t your typical musical Yes, “Spring Awakening” is a musical. But don’t think Rodgers and Hammerstein or “Singin’ in the Rain.” And we’ve been assured there will be no jazz hands within a three-mile radius.

You’ll likely want to download the alt-rocky soundtrack after you see the show, while the story and themes just might rip your heart out. “Spring Johannah Awakening” doesn’t shy away from taboos. When Laverty asked about the themes, director and Fort Lewis plays Wentheater prof Dennis Elkins said the musical was dola in Fort Lewis College’s about “sex, relationships, sex, abortion, sex, death, production of suicide, sex, homosexuality, sex.”

“Spring AwakAdapted from the shocking-for-its-time 1891 play ening.” of the same name, “Spring Awakening” follows a group of German youths as they discover themselves, their sexuality and their voices under the thumb of adult oppression.

We caught up with FLC freshman Johannah Laverty to get some behind-the-scenes. She plays Wendola, young and innocent at the start and, well, awakened by the end.

On Spring Awakening’s heavy themes

On challenges faced personally in the show

We’re (discussing) a bunch of things that are unsaid, that everyone knows about. They’re really heavy, like suicide and pregnancy and the awakening of everything, really. Everyone has (those topics) in the back of their head; they know what’s going on, with young kids and older people, too.

But this play just speaks it. It’s heavy.

We’re kind of like breaking down a wall in a way.

I’ve never had to do a heavy makeout scene. Also, just touching on your own emotions in the show. It’s a very emotional show. So to separate yourself from your character was hard to do.

There’s a way that you should have a little bit of yourself coming through your character because that’s how you can really connect but to have a line there so you don’t overstep your character bounderies.

On challenges faced by the cast in rehearsal

On why this isn’t your standard musical

It all touches home for us. There was actually one rehearsal that we all got too invested in the show and we all had a little ‘Wow, this is really real,’ so we had to take a break.

I’ve been in a bunch of musicals that are sing-songy … and it’s totally different. If you go to a musical, you go just expecting to be entertained. If it’s happy songs, good dancing, then you’re entertained. With this show, the songs and the scenes are so real that I don’t think you’re just entertained. You’re invested in it.

It was during the suicide, death scenes.

It hit one of our actors, it hit them at home. So she just needed to go take a lap, and we were all thinking about it and thinking about the words we were actually singing and the way it would hit the people in the audience, and it just touched us all.

— David Holub This interview was condensed and lightly edited for clarity.

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[ movies ]

‘Spectre’ not your Connery’s James Bond

He Named Me Malala Playing at Animas City Theatre Rating: PG-13 Genre: Docu-

mentary

By Richard Roeper

Directed by:

Davis Guggenheim

The Chicago Sun-Times

Daniel Craig had some fans quite shaken and others stirred with his declaration last month he’d rather slash his wrists than play James Bond again. And though I’ve found Craig to be an excellent Bond in his four turns as 007, maybe it’s time for a new and fresh edition because the veteran warhorse is getting a bit careless.

Not Craig. He’s still a tightly coiled, deadpan funny, hardcore charmer as Bond. But in “Spectre,” Bond looks weary and battle-scarred, and he’s getting a bit sloppy in his work, whether he’s walking away from a spectacular crash scene without making sure a monstrous goon is actually dead, taking note of a security camera but neglecting to destroy surveillance video or saying goodbye to his beautiful lover on an inexplicably empty street in London and walking away without even considering the possibility she might be snatched up by the bad guys the minute she turns the corner.

This is not your Connery’s James Bond.

Back to some other head-scratching moments down the line, but first the good stuff. This is the 24th Bond film and it’s solidly in the middle of the all-time rankings, which means it’s still a slick, beautifully photographed, action-packed, international thriller with a number of wonderfully, ludicrously entertaining set pieces, a sprinkling of dry wit, myriad gorgeous women and a classic psycho-villain who is clearly out of his mind but seems to like it that way.

Director Sam Mendes (“American Beauty,” the previous Bond film “Skyfall”) opens with a breathtaking flourish: a five-minute sequence (without a discernible cut) set amid a wild Day of the Dead celebration in Mexico City. We first see Bond dressed as a dashing skeleton – but soon he’s on a rooftop in a perfectly tailored gray suit, taking aim at terrorists who are plotting to blow up a stadium filled with thousands of people later that evening. It’s a near-perfect bit of action movie-making, ending with Bond making a hilarious landing.

(In the first minute of the film, we get the first of more than a dozen references, aka “Easter eggs,” paying tribute to earlier Bond films, from the Rolls-Royce in “Goldfinger” to the Aston Martin ejector seat to the train fight in “From Russia With Love” to – well, let’s leave it at that and just say there are plenty more inside jokes and callbacks for serious Bond fans to enjoy.)

Cut to the opening credit sequence, with Sam Smith belting out the ballad “Writing’s on the Wall” while anonymous women grope a shirtless Bond, and the slithering tentacles of a giant octopus wrap around legs and torsos and whatnot. “Live and Let Die” this isn’t.

And then it’s back to the movie. Dame Judi Dench’s M is gone, replaced by Ralph Fiennes’ fussbudget M – but Bond’s beloved mentor/mother figure has left a

Written by: Davis Guggenheim Runtime: 2 hr.

Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 70% Synopsis: An intimate portrait of

Columbia Pictures/EON Productions via AP

»» Daniel Craig puts on 007’s tuxedo for another time in the James Bond film “Spectre.”

Spectre Playing at Durango Stadium 9

message from beyond the grave. She wants Rating: PG-13 James to kill a man named Sciarra, and to Genre: Action & advenmake sure he attends ture Sciarra’s funeral.

Directed by: Sam Meanwhile, a Mendes twerpy bureaucrat Written by: Ian Flemnamed C (Andrew ing, John Logan, Neal Scott) has taken over Purvis and Robert British intelligence Wade and is moving forward Runtime: 2 hr. 30 min. with a grand (and stupid) plan to merge Rotten Tomatoes forces with eight other Tomatometer: 67% nations to create one global superpower capable of spying on just about everyone at all times – the better to combat the forces of evil, or so he believes.

Of course, C believes Bond is obsolete, an ancient relic whose time has come and gone. How long has Bond been hearing that song?

Bond goes on an international scavenger hunt, from Rome to Austria to Morocco, in an effort to track down the serpent’s head of an evil organization he eventually learns is called Spectre. Along the way we get a novelty for a Bond movie: James has a brief dalliance with the widow of an assassin, and she’s his age! (Monica Bellucci, who plays the woman in black, is actually four years older than Craig.)

Ah, but the main romantic interest is Lea Seydoux’s Dr. Madeleine Swan, the daughter of one of Bond’s former adversaries. Madeleine is brainy and beautiful and feisty, and about three days after she tells Bond she’s not about to fall into his arms seeking solace, she’s telling him, “I love you.”

Because he’s James Bond.

Malala Yousafzai, who was wounded when Taliban gunmen opened fire on her and her friends’ school bus in Pakistan’s Swat Valley. The then 15-year-old teenager, who had been targeted for speaking out on behalf of girls’ education in her region of Swat Valley in Pakistan, was shot in the head, sparking international media outrage. An educational activist in Pakistan, Yousafzai has since emerged as a leading campaigner for the rights of children worldwide and in December 2014, became the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

The Peanuts Movie Playing at Durango Stadium 9 (Also available in 3-D with surcharge) Rating: G Genre: Anima-

tion, kids & family Directed by: Steve Martino Written by: Brian Schulz, Cornelius

Uliano, Craig Schulz and Charles M. Schulz Runtime: 1 hr. 32 min.

Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 71% Synopsis: Charlie Brown, Snoopy,

Lucy, Linus and the rest of the “Peanuts” gang make their big-screen debut, like they’ve never been seen before, in 3-D. Charlie Brown, the world’s most beloved underdog, embarks upon an epic and heroic quest, while his best pal, Snoopy, takes to the skies to pursue his arch-nemesis, the Red Baron.

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[love and sex]

Sexless marriages: The Last Word on how to cope, when to bolt Savage Love | Dan Savage

DEAR READERS: Two weeks ago, I announced I would be taking a nice long break from questions about miserable sexless marriages. (I don’t get questions about happily sexless marriages.) I tossed out my standard line of advice to those who’ve exhausted medical, psychological, and situational fixes (“Do what you need to do to stay married and stay sane”), and I moved on to other relationship problems. Readers impacted by sexless marriages—men and women on “both sides of the bed”—wrote in to share their experiences and insights. I’ve decided to let them have the last word on the subject.

Since you don’t want to give any more advice to readers stuck in sexually unfulfilling marriages they can’t or don’t want to end, will you allow me to give a little advice from the perspective of the other woman, i.e., the person who makes it possible for them to “stay married and stay sane”? I contacted an old flame when my marriage ended. He was married. His wife refused to have sex with him but also expected him to stay faithful to her. Their kids were still in school. He honestly believed that staying together was the best thing for the kids. I went into it thinking it was going to be a fling, a temporary thing to get me over my husband and back in the game. But the sex was mind-blowingly good. And here’s the thing about amazing sex: It bonds people.

We fell in love all over again. He told me our affair made his sexless marriage bearable. He was happier and a more patient father, he bickered less with his wife. He made me feel beautiful, desirable, known, and accepted—all feelings that had been lacking in my marriage.

But I was in the shadows. Every assignation was a risk. I couldn’t introduce him to my friends, my son, or my family. After four years, I couldn’t take it anymore. My ego was shredded. So I ended it. I was tired of the fear, lying and hiding, and being secondary. My advice to readers stuck in sexless marriages who cheat to

“stay sane”: Beware of unintended consequences. You can have an affair with the most discreet, careful partner who accepts your circumstances, who makes no demands, who provides you with both a warm body to fuck and the passion that has drained out of your marriage. You can be careful not to get caught. It might be incredible for a while. But the chances of nothing going wrong and of everyone remaining happy over the long term are vanishingly small. It’s a matter of time before someone gets hurt.

Ruby Tuesday Your advice to people whose partners have checked out of their sex lives is on target. But would you be willing to share a voice from the other side of the bed? Until a year ago, I was always appalled when I would read letters like these. Who would stop having sex?! Who would stay with someone who didn’t want to have sex?! Then I got sick. My illness came on slowly, but the first noticeable symptom was my sex drive vanishing. My lady parts were drier than a desert. No amount of lube helped. Sex hurt, and I didn’t want it. My journey through the medical system was a battle. Trained medical professionals poo-poo’d me. They told me this is what all perimenopausal

women experience and I should just deal with it. I was told to “get started” and then maybe I would enjoy it. I was given lists of supplements to try.

Finally, in response to other health problems, my doctor diagnosed me with diabetes. Within weeks of taking medication and changing my diet, my engine started running again. It’s not what it was, but I don’t feel dead below the belly button anymore. During this time, my husband was supportive. I did my best to make him happy. I’d like to think that if I had continued to suffer a loss of libido for years, I would be brave enough to give him permission to find satisfaction elsewhere, but it would break my heart. My points, briefly: Legitimate things happen to people that make them lose their sex drive. Medical support for people brave enough to say “I’ve lost my mojo and need help to get it back” is not always there, and the solutions aren’t always easy or fast. Too often, people (especially women) are told that losing their sex drive is normal and they should just get used to it. No one should be forced to accept a sexless relationship if that’s not what they want. And if you’ve lost interest in sex and don’t really care to get it back, you don’t have the right to impose celibacy on another person.

But in a long relationship, each partner is going to face challenges—and one of those challenges might be helping your partner fight to regain their libido.

Bed Death Survivor I’m the “other man” to a woman whose husband won’t [have sex with] her. The guy must be gay or asexual, because his wife is beautiful, smart, and great in bed. I’ve never wanted marriage or kids, so this arrangement works well for me. The only time it got awkward was when my girlfriend—this other guy’s wife—broached the subject of monogamy. Asking for a monogamous commitment when you’re married to someone else? Seemed nuts. But I hadn’t slept with anyone else for three

years, or even wanted to, so I was already monogamous in practice.

Monogamous In Theory Now If my ex-husband wrote to you, he’d say I didn’t want to have sex with him anymore and he was going crazy. The truth is, I wanted to have sex—but I didn’t want it to be in one of the same three positions we’d been doing it for seven years. I was bored and asked for some variety, and he refused to do it. My boredom turned into frustration, and frustration turned into anger. At a certain point, the idea of having sex with him made me want to beat the living shit out of something. Was I supposed to continue satisfying him when my needs weren’t being met? Our mistake was waiting until I hit the angry point to get into therapy. We should have gone when I was bored. He wound up having an affair and blamed me because I didn’t want to have sex with him. But there was a good reason why I didn’t want to have sex with him. Maybe before you advise people in “sexless” marriages to have affairs, you could tell them to do some self-examination first?

Husband’s Always Right You wrote that you’re sick of telling people trapped in sexless marriages to do what they need to do “to stay married and stay sane.” I want to thank you for all that repetition. I needed it. But leaving my sexless marriage was what I needed to do to stay sane. My husband of 10 years berated me publicly, telling anyone who would listen that I was a whore. Had I not had your corpus of work on the matter of marital partners who have zero interest in sex but still demand enthusiastic monogamy, the journey through this would have been longer. Four years later, I still get excited that I actually get to have sex— awesome, giving, experimental, fun sex.

Gleeful Escapee Contact Dan Savage at mail@savagelove. net or @fakedansavage on Twitter.

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[partying]

So far, so fun

With a resounding “cheers” and a clink of glass, DGO was released to the world! A crowd of partiers, local movers and shakers and strangersturned-friends welcomed the launch of our new magazine and website at The Steaming Bean last Thursday. Face painting, dancing and all-around merriment ensued.

Thanks for celebrating our first issue with us. Let’s get together again, shall we?

Let’s D G O !

Visit dgomag.com/calendar + Add an Event

to the DGO calendar with

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[ happenings ] Thursday Reception: Deep Into Nature: New Work by Jim Bagley and Gerald Balciar, 5-7 p.m., Sorrel Sky Gallery, 828 Main

Ave., 247-3555.

DGO is available around town at these fine businesses.

Reception: “Art for the Endangered Landscape: Honoring Wolf Creek,”

Robbie Overfield, 7-11 p.m., Office Spiri-

torium, 699 Main Ave., 247-4431.

Kirk James Blues Band, 7 p.m., Clancy’s

Pub, 2701 E. 20th St., Farmington, (505) 3258176.

Taylor Raymond Gallery, 835 Main Ave., 7644064.

Karaoke, 8 p.m., 8th Avenue Tavern, 509 Million Dollar Highway, 8:30 p.m.-12:30

6512 Restaurant Acme Healing Center

Hermosa Creek Grill Home Slice Pizza (North & South)

First Thursdays Art Walk, 5-7 p.m., par-

Animas Brewing Animas City Theater

Iron Horse Inn KD’s Caffe Latte

Wild Horse Saloon, 601 East Second Ave., 3752568.

Animas Herbal Wellness Animas Surgical Hospital

Lemon Head Salon Liquor World

Backstage At The Balcony Billy Goat Saloon Bottom Shelf Brewery

Macho’s Mexican Magpies Newsstand Main Event Sports Bar

Brown’s Shoe Fit

Maria’s Bookshop

Carver’s CJ’s Diner Cloud 9

Mill Street Drug Moto Cafe Olde Tymer’s

College Drive Cafe Colorado Grow Company

Open Shutter Gallery Phillips 66

Commons Building Concrete Skate Shop

Pine Needle Mountaineering PJ’s Market

Cream Bean Berry Crossroads Coffee Derailed Pour House Digs Restaurant Diorio’s South Pizza

Purgy’s Restaurant Raider Ridge Cafe RGP’s Sante Alternative Wellness Ska Brewing

Dolce Durango Arts Center Durango Craft Spirits

Southwest Sound Southwest Women’s Health Starbucks

Durango Natural Foods

Steaming Bean

Durango Organics Durango Rec Center Durango Smoke Shop

Steamworks Studio & Tequila’s

Durango Sports Club

The Chair

East By Southwest El Rancho Envision Durango

The Greenery The Patio The Vault

Fifth Street Eatery FLC Student Union

Three Peaks Deli Tuning Fork Cafe

Four Leaves Winery Gandolf’s Smoke Shop Gardenswartz Outdoors

Urban Market Vaper’s Vape Velorution Cycles

Gardenswartz Sporting Goods General Palmer Hotel

Wagon Wheel Liquors WJ Doyle

Headhunter Industries

Yoga Durango (Both Locations)

To carry DGO in your business please e-mail info@dgomag.com

Four Leaves Winery, 528 Main Ave., 4038182.

ticipating galleries, http://durangoarts.org.

Karaoke with DJ Crazy Charlie, 9 p.m.,

Karaoke, 9 p.m., 8th Avenue Tavern, 509

East Eighth Ave., 259-8801.

Friday Opening Reception: “Colorado Childhood,” solo exhibit by artist Barbara

Klema, 5-7 p.m., Durango Arts Center Art Library, 802 East Second Ave., www.durangoarts. org.

Cannondolls, 5:30-10 p.m., Diamond Belle

Saloon, 699 Main Ave., 247-4431.

Black Velvet duo, 6-9 p.m., St. Clair Winery & Bistro, 5150 E. Main St., Farmington, (505) 325-0711.

Rhys Schrock, guitar and vocals, 6 p.m.,

East Eighth Ave., 259-8801. a.m., Billy Goat Saloon, 39848 U.S. Highway 160, Gem Village, 884-9155.

DJ Kaztro, 9 p.m., Moe’s, 937 Main Ave.,

259-9018.

Saturday Saturday Series: “Viewpoints: An Inspiring Approach to Creating Theatre” with Leah Brewer, 10 a.m.- 1 p.m.,

$40/$34. Durango Arts Center, 802 East Second Ave., durangoarts.org/performing-adults.

Robbie Overfield, 5:30-10 p.m., Diamond

Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., 247-4431.

BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet, 7 p.m., $38/$28, Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College, www.durangoconcerts.com.

“Mammoth’s in Durango: A Multi-

Continued on Page 21

Courtesy of BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet

Fancy fiddlin’ Cajun band comes to Durango Grammy winners BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet have created popular Cajun music for the past 37 years. The group is showing off its rich Louisiana roots with a concert at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College.

BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet have performed all over the globe, wowing diverse audiences spanning Cajun traditionalist and genre newcomers.

Tickets cost $28-$38 and are available at the Durango Welcome Center, www. durangoconcerts.com or at 247-7654.

— Raychel Johnson

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[kanye says]

[ happenings ]

“

Sometimes people write novels and they just be so wordy and so self-absorbed.

”

“

They say you can rap about anything except for Jesus, that means guns, sex, lies, video tapes, but if I talk about God my record won’t get played, huh?

Photographers Aidan Lynn Klimenko and Madison Perrins, the #NPS100 Road Team, will share tips on how to capture the beauty of America’s national parks, while working on

From Page 20 media Adventure Into the Ice Age,”

a two-part event with author Craig Childs and filmmaker Larry Ruiz, 7 p.m., $20, Durango Arts Center, 802 East Second Ave., www.durangoarts.org.

Greg Ryder, 7-11 p.m., Office Spiritorium,

699 Main Ave., 247-4431.

The American Songbook, benefit for

the Sunflower Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $45/$35, Sunflower Theater, 8 E. Main St., Cortez, sunflowertheatre.org.

Lionel Young, blues, 7:30 p.m., Crash Music, 104 N, Main Ave., Aztec, crashmusicaztec.com.

Karaoke, 8 p.m., 8th Avenue Tavern, 509

East Eighth Ave., 259-8801.

Head for the Hills with Kitchen Dwellers, 9 p.m., $15, Animas City Theatre,

128 E. College Drive, 799-2281.

First Saturdays featuring DJ Icite and Codestar, 9 p.m., Moe’s, 937 Main Ave.,

259-9018.

Sunday Irish music jam session, 12:30 p.m.,

Irish Embassy Pub, 900 Main Ave., 403-1200, www.theirishembassypub.com.

Informal Tango Practice, 5-7 p.m.,

Groove U Durango, 26369 U.S. Highway 160, tangodurango.info.

Jazz church (experienced musician drop-in session), 6 p.m., Derailed Pour

House, 725 Main Ave., 247-5440, www.derailedpourhouse.com.

environmental preservation at the same time.

For a chance to win a Backcountry Experience Mountaineering prize package, use the hashtag #BackcountryExperienceNPS100 on Instagram. A winner will be announced at the event.

“

”

We all self-conscious. I’m just the first to admit it.

”

— Raychel Johnson

Eddie Lee, 7 p.m., Moe’s, 937 Main Ave.,

259-9018.

Bluemoon Ramblers, 7-10 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., 247-4431.

Joel Racheff, 7-11 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave., 247-4431.

Karaoke, 8 p.m., 8th Avenue Tavern, 509

East Eighth Ave., 259-8801.

Latin music night, 8 p.m., Moe’s, 937

Main Ave., 259-9018.

Monday Four Corners Arts Forum, 9 a.m., KDUR

91.9/93.9 FM, www.kdur.org.

Photography clinic, Backpacker Maga-

zine National Parks Centennial Tour, 5-6 p.m., Backcountry Experience, 1205 Camino del Rio, www.bcexp.com.

Joel Racheff, 5:30-10 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., 247-4431.

Happy Hour Yoga, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Ska

Brewing Co., 225 Girard St., yoga and a pint of beer for $10, www.skabrewing.com.

Rhetoric of Rarity: Accession Language and Tarahumara Collections in the Smithsonian, 6 p.m., Center of

Southwest Studies Lyceum at Fort Lewis College, 247-7456, cswsmail@fortlewis.edu.

“Unleash Your Muse,” mixed media

workshop with Barb Horn, 6-7:30 p.m., $50/$40, Durango Arts Center, 802 East Second Ave., durangoarts.org.

Continued on Page 22

Sunday, Nov. 8, 11am–3pm Farmington Civic Center Brides free, all others $3!

Thank you sponsors!

Brought to you by

Backpacker Magazine photography tour lands in Durango

Backpacker Magazine is throwing an exclusive National Parks Centennial Tour event at 5 p.m.

Monday at Backcountry Experience.

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[ happenings ] From Page 21

259-5959.

Karaoke with DJ Crazy Charlie, 9

Main Ave., 247-4431.

p.m., Wild Horse Saloon, 601 East Second Ave., 375-2568.

Tuesday

Ongoing

Terry Rickard, 5:30-10 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., 247-4431.

“RARE II: Imperiled Plants of Colorado,” Center of Southwest Studies Museum

Ace Revel, 7-11 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699

Tim Sullivan, 7-11 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave., 247-4431.

at Fort Lewis College, 1-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, 1-7 p.m. Thursday, swcenter.fortlewis.edu.

David Sedaris, 7 p.m., $49/$39, Commu-

“The Up and Down of It” work by Becca Conrad-Whitehead, through

nity Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College, www. durangoconcerts.com.

Open mic night, 8 p.m., Moe’s, 937 Main

Where should we

DGO tonight?

Ave., 259-9018.

Wednesday Greg Ryder, 5:30-10 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., 247-4431.

Pub quiz, 6:30 p.m., Irish Embassy Pub, 900 Main Ave., 403-1200.

Open studio figure drawing, facili-

tated Ed Bolster, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 East Second Ave., www.durangoarts.org.

Two-step and swing dance lessons,

6:30-7:30 p.m., $10, Wild Horse Saloon, 601 East Second Ave., 799-8832.

Terry Rickard, 7-11 p.m., Office Spirito-

rium, 699 Main Ave., 247-4431.

Ping pong and poker tournaments,

8 p.m., Moe’s, 937 Main Ave., 259-9018.

Geeks Who Drink trivia, 8:30 p.m.,

BREW Pub & Kitchen, 117 W. College Drive,

Dec. 18, Smiley Building, 1309 East Third Ave., beccaconradwhitehead.artspan.com.

“Secretive Beauty,” photographs by

Roman Loranc, through Dec. 2, Open Shutter Gallery, 735 Main Ave., openshuttergallery. com. unre(Solved): Patti Singer, through Nov. 16, Fort Lewis College Art Gallery, fortlewis.edu/art-design/ArtGallery.aspx.

Tayler Hahn art exhibit, through Dec. 3,

Raider Ridge Cafe, 509 East Eighth Ave. “Slavery Days,” solo exhibition of new work by Michael Brieger, through Nov. 21, Durango Arts Center, 802 East Second Ave., www. durangoarts.org.

Submissions To submit listings for publication in DGO and dgomag.com, go to www.swscene.com and click “Add Your Event,” fill out the form with all your event info and submit. Listings at swscene.com will appear both at dgomag.com and in our weekly print edition. Posting events at swscene.com is free and takes about one business day to process.

Your #1 source for what’s going on around Durango dgomag.com/calendar Courtesy of YouTube

»» Musician Dustin Prinz will make an appearance at Ska Brewing Co. tonight.

YouTube sensation Dustin Prinz on tap at Ska Made famous by his specialized guitar-playing style known as “Para-Pickin’,” musician Dustin Prinz takes his audience on a wild ride of emotions.

+ Add an Event

to the DGO calendar with

Prinz, who incorporates percussion, powerful vocal styles and humor, is wellknown on social media, especially YouTube, where his videos have millions of views.

Prinz is coming to Ska Brewing Co. today to give a live performance. Catch him at 5 p.m.

— Raychel Johnson

22 | Thursday, November 5, 2015 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Horoscope ARIES (March 21 to April 19) In some clever fashion, today you might see a way to restructure debt or get better use out of shared property or the wealth and resources of others. Keep your eyes open!

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) This is a good day to sit down with friends and partners to discuss how to improve the relationship itself.

How can this be better?

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) This is the perfect day to introduce reforms and improvements at work. Ironically, it’s also the perfect day to think about how you can improve your health.

Ideas?

Look for ways to improve things at home, especially with respect to garbage areas, recycling, plumbing, laundry and bathrooms. This is the perfect day to do this.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22) All your communications with others will be strong and direct today, which is why this is a great day for those of you who sell, market, teach, act or write. You can’t lose.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18) Talk to someone in a position of authority today with your ideas about how to make improvements. You might be surprised that this person is actually ready to listen to you.

PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20)

Today you can see new uses and applications for something you already own. This is because you’re in a resourceful frame of mind.

This is a good day to study politics, religion and philosophical issues. You have concentration and a deep desire to understand hidden truths. You might see ways to improve something in medicine or the law.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21)

YOU BORN TODAY

Take a realistic look in the mirror and ask yourself what you can do to improve the image you create in your world. There is always room for improvement!

You are knowledgeable, modern and up-to-date.

You are also a truth seeker who likes to reveal the truth to others. You make an effort to keep abreast of current affairs. Settle your debts this year to prepare for financial accumulation in the next three years. To clear away indebtedness is the thrust of this year. Consolidate your affairs for future growth.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22):

CANCER (June 21 to July 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21

If you work in show business, the entertainment world, sports or with children, you will see better ways to do your job. Flirtatious relationships will be magnetic and exciting!

Research will go well today because you have perseverance, endurance and one-pointed focus. You will find what you’re looking!

LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22)

Expect to encounter a powerful person today, espe-

Bizarro

cially in a group. You might know this person already, or he or she could be someone new. Stand tall.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19)

© 2015 King Features Syndicate Inc.

[kanye says]

“ “

I don’t even listen to rap. My apartment is too nice to listen to rap in.

”

I think I do myself a disservice by comparing myself to Steve Jobs and Walt Disney and human beings that we’ve seen before. It should be more like Willy Wonka... and welcome to my chocolate factory

“

”

I am Warhol. I am the No. 1 most impactful artist of our generation.

I am Shakespeare in the flesh.

”

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Thank you Durango!

And a big shoutout to Steaming Bean for hosting a fab launch party!

We look forward to hanging every Thursday and anytime at dgomag.com /dgomag

@dgo_mag

dgomag