2017:The Work That Moved Us

art entertainment food drink music nightlife Thursday, December 28, 2017

DGO

2017: THE

WORK THAT MOVED US

The world of entertainment was full of gems this year.

Our local cool-hunters discuss what inspired them.

dgomag.com

Also: New Year’s Eve event roundup, the six best Durango winter beers, what it’s like getting cryotherapy, and lucky NYE foods

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DGO Magazine

STAFF

What’s inside Volume 3 Number 10 Thursday, December 28, 2017

Editor/ creative director

4

From the Editor

4

Love it or Hate it

Patty Templeton

6

Eat

ptempleton@bcimedia.com

8

Sound

Sales

Downtown Lowdown

David Holub dholub@bcimedia.com 375-4551 Staff writer

Liz Demko 375-4553

8

Contributors

Album Reviews 9

Katie Cahill

10 Beer

Christopher Gallagher

16 Weed

Bryant Liggett

17 Street Style

Jon E. Lynch Brett Massé

17 Pages

Lindsay Mattison Sean Moriarty Lucy Schaefer Cooper Stapleton

Patty Templeton/DGO

»» Stephanie Garcia, during her and Peter Hay’s collaborative performance art piece at Studio &’s holiday party, Saturday, Dec. 26.

19 Happening

17 An acclaimed essay

collection to read

right now

22 Horoscope/ puzzles

20 DGO Deals

Robert Alan Wendeborn Reader Services 375-4570 Chief Executive Officer Douglas Bennett V.P. of Advertising David Habrat

10 Best Durango winter beers This week, Sean Moriarty decided to visit every brewery in Durango to find the best winter beers Durango has to offer. It wasn’t a tough job.

V.P. of Marketing Kricket Lewis Founding Editors Amy Maestas David Holub

DGO is a free weekly publication distributed by Ballantine Communications Inc., and is available for one copy per person. Taking more than five copies of an edition from a distribution location is illegal and is punishable by law according to Colorado Revised Statute 18-9-314.

18 Life Hax

16 Oldsters get the green A recent study conducted by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicated that cannabis use among adults 65 years and older rose by 250 percent between 2006 and 2013. Good on ya, oldsters – get that green!

23 Travel

Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib’s “They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us” is a cultural critique of modern American life as seen through music.

Wanderlust 23

/dgomag /dgomag

@dgo_mag

ON THE COVER 2017 was full of awesomeness. Thanks, pop culture.

Tell us what you think!

Got something on your mind? Have a joke or a story idea or just something that the world needs to know?

Send everything to editor@dgomag.com

David Holub/DGO

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

A SAVVY MAGAZINE FOR A SAVVY CUSTOMER.

Call Call 375-4570 375-4570 or or email email info@dgomag.com info@dgomag.com

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[ love it or hate it ]

David Holub |DGO editor

2017 DGO stories to go back and read

I

n 2017, we here at DGO brought a number a stories to Durango that I’m really proud of. In addition to countless musicians, artists, performers, professors, budtenders, bartenders, and brewers, we talked to strippers, mediums, Republicans, museum curators, and panhandlers. And we always tried to do it in a smart, reverent, engagingly fun way. Here are the stories that stood out for me:

‘Spirits, telepathy, and talking to the dead: An interview with a local medium’ It was one of those stories on dynamic people with fascinating jobs. Durango medium Trena Kirkland took us inside her world to give insight into – literally – another side of human life. Regardless of your beliefs, this one scratches that curiosity itch like no other.

‘Adventures in IUDs, part one: The insertion’

‘‘It was an absolutely helpless, awful feeling.’’ Ryan Brungard lost his dog in Canyonlands National Park.’

Cyle Talley’s “First Person” unearthed some great stories and nuggets of wisdom from the ether of Durango. No better was his two-parter with Ryan Brungard and the heart-wrenching, nail-biter of losing his dog in the unrelenting wilds of Canyonlands National Park.

‘Vintage Durango: 1980s technology’

Patty Templeton got an IUD, and given the assault women’s health care is under in our country, wrote about it – a courageous piece of writing, written the only way Patty could – shocking, funny, and real. As Patty says, “Here’s to talking publicly about our bodies to normalize the conversation.”

Patty took a unique and fascinating look at history in Durango with her running, bite-sized feature. Called “Vintage Durango,” she examined old newspaper stories and adverts to see how far we’ve come (or not) culturally over the decades. A look at a 1989 Radio Shack ad was my favorite.

‘What I learned from a dying deer and a gun-toting Trump supporter’

‘Two stories that may challenge what you think about panhandlers’

Katie Clancy bonds with a stranger who she might have dismissed had she not shared an experience with him. Her piece was a call to bridge differences with those whom we disagree during a time of divisional politics.

Often what the world lacks is simply taking the time to hear the complexities of someone’s story and squelching our prejudice and preconceptions to empathize.

In doing this, Patty told two humanizing stories of panhandlers in Durango.

‘Confused and falling in love while playing ‘Grand Theft Auto’’

‘Maybe these adventures will mend my broken heart?’

Brett Massé’s gaming column “Extra Life” is surprising and indubitably engaging every installment, even for non-gamers like myself. Brett ruminates, philosophizes, and tells intimate stories not necessarily about the games themselves, but why they matter to those who play them. My favorite was a love story that took shape during “Grand Theft Auto.”

In her awesome yet short-lived column “Heartbreak Combatant,” Cassidy Cummings offered a glimpse into the life of a youngish single woman trying to find confidence, empowerment, and balance. Her wit, unique point of view, and uneasy vulnerability made each installment worth a read.

‘What you don’t know about house party strippers’ The interview could have gawked, mocked, and patronized. But Patty’s interview smartly straddled the line of asking questions you always wanted to know and showing that even strippers are thoughtful, brave, intelligent human beings.

Sometimes photo contributor Lucy Schaefer will document a single event, like the Ska Anniversary Party or Four Corners Folk Festival. But often, she comes back with photos of her weekend haunts: House parties, people on the street, coffee drinkers, shop clerks, etc.

It’s always a look at Durango life we don’t always get to see.

‘Durango’s ghost train: A car with a history of blood, love, and murder’

‘In this political climate, we can’t talk about medical MJ enough’

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum curator and local history buff Jeff Ellingson “unveiled a tale of a young prostitute, a gory train fight, and a bloody mishap that led to a brutal suicide.” The ghostly story may have been the most intriguing and engaging ever told to DGO.

Chris Gallagher devoted a number of his “Seeing through the smoke” columns to the political climate surrounding marijuana legalization in this Year of Trump and the regressive policies of Attorney General Jeff Sessions. If you think legalization and cannabis research (not to mention use) are safe, think again.

‘Weekend Durango haunts’

Elvis Love it It seems too easy to say what I love about the guy many believe to be the greatest rock star of all time, but apparently, there are those who disagree.

For a guy who didn’t play anything or write any songs, to be arguably the greatest performer of the 20th century is astounding. The charisma and persona he exuded is unmatched. Yes, he co-opted black music for white audiences, but aren’t we better for it a little?

Elvis’ story touches everyone somewhere: A modest upbringing, unwitting stardom, unheard of success, dramatic falls, comebacks, drug use, and an unaccepted death. His music is just as diverse. Throw on an Elvis retrospective and you have gospel, crooning, rock ’n’ roll, lounge, soul, and a taste of funk, among others.

And this leaves out the peculiarities: The acting, the dancing, the sexual progressiveness, the meeting with Nixon, the wild eating and crazy pistol-wielding behavior.

There’s so much depth to Elvis – I could listen, watch, and read about all day – and so much to love.

—— David Holub

Hate it Elvis-shmelvis. I’m here to holler about The King a week-ish before his birthday (Jan. 8). King of what? King of popularizing R&B to structurally racist white America through covering the songs of black musicians. “That’s Alright Mama” was by Delta blues man Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup. Memphis blues singer Junior Parker wrote “Mystery Train.”

“Don’t be Cruel,” “Return to Sender,” and “All Shook Up” were all written by African-American songwriter Otis Blackwell. There’s plenty more.

Elvis often said that he knew he couldn’t sing like Fats Domino, that spirituals and black culture influenced him. On a cursory level, he credited his sources, but when it came to specifically and economically crediting people, Elvis wasn’t so spot on. The King may have bumped black and white America together on the dance floor through sexual musicality, but more than anything, he represents a time period when America needed a white face on culture to accept it.

“Hound Dog” may have been written by two white dudes, but it was written for a black R&B howler – and Big Mama Thornton was first to record it in 1952. Her version is infinitely more compelling than Elvis’ 1956 version, and yet, Rolling Stone has Elvis’ version on its list of “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.” Why? Because more than a half a century later, the Elvis problem still exists. America doesn’t credit black musicians as originators and cultural heroes.

You can keep your Elvis, I’ll take Big Mama Thornton any day.

—— Patty Templeton

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[Something Wicked]

Patty Templeton

CRYOTHERAPY:

What it’s like using extreme cold to benefit your health at Durango Assertive Wellness

F

uture tech is here, folks, and that means that your health path may very well lead to a CRYOTANK! OK, so the technical term is a cryosauna or a cyrochamber, but what you really need to know is that our m-effin’ “Star Trek,” super sci-fi lives are starting.

I’m a total nerd and the only reason I even know about cryogenic tanks is because I heard self-help guru Tony Robbins getting all glowy about them on a podcast. When I learned that Assertive Wellness, a naturopathy clinic in Durango, had cryotherapy, I was like, “MUST. TRY. FREEZYTHING.” So yeah, I recently shucked off my duds to stand au naturel in subzero temps to tell you about it.

If you’re lucky, and it ain’t her day off, when you walk into Assertive Wellness, you’ll meet Doris.

She’s an elegant, silver-haired, secretarial Mae West. Come to think of it, everyone at Assertive Wellness was strikingly personable. My interactions were with Dr. John Partenope, certified naturopath and doctor of medicine, and T.J. Leeder, personal trainer and cryotherapy technician.

When you check in, you’ll sign a three-page release form that yaps on dos, don’ts, and the process – like how you’ll be in the tank for no more than three minutes and your surface skin temperature will drop to 34 degrees via NITROGEN! You’re led from the lobby to a small changing room. Ladies, you can strip down to nips and nothing else, but dudes, you gotta protect the D and B and keep underpants on (or a sock). The goal here is to have as much uncovered skin as is safe and possible. No, no one is going to see you naked, unless you walk outta the changing room lewdly and rudely without putting on the provided robe, socks, and stretchy shoes.

From there, you go directly from the warmly lit changing room into the cryotherapy room. There’s a soft indigo light that makes it feel like a future-scape.

Before you step into the sleek, black cryosauna, your cryo-tech will go over a few rules. They are: »» BREATHE! Keep your chin up and take deep breaths. »» March in place while lightly clapping your gloved hands together. If you can, turn in a circle, too. »» Communicate with your cryo-tech. They will be there the whole three minutes. They have to be to press an I’m-still-here-not-checking-Facebook-safety button every 30-seconds.

MEGA DEAL! Right now, Durango Cryotherapy experiences are buy one session, get another free for new clients. That’s $60 plus tax for two sessions. (If you’re a veteran, first responder, or in the armed forces, ask about their discount.) It ain’t chump change, but it is also probably less than your bar tab, so TRY SOMETHING NEW! Details: durangocryo.com

»» Patty Templeton is in a cryotank and quite cold. »» Other tips before you get in the machine: Subdermal metal is fine (like copper IUDs, pins in your hip, etc.) but all jewelry should be taken off. Also, don’t come to cryotherapy straight from a shower or having slathered yourself in lotion. Any moisture on your skin can crystalize and become extremely uncomfortable.

You step into the tank, your cryo-tech shuts the door, they hand you gloves, and you pass back your robe. The nitrogen party starts and it gets colder than a cast iron shitter on the shady side of an iceberg. Some folks swear, some try to meditate, I (somewhat uncontrollably) laughed my ass off and talked to T.J. the cry-tech to try and pass the freakin’ time.

The first minute went fast. The second started to last. The third, I was mega doing the stomping, rotisserie-chicken spinning thing trying to Just Get It Over With. Why had I done this to myself ?

Cryotherapy tricks your body into thinking it will freeze. Because of this, the fight-or-flight response takes over. Blood goes to your core to protect vital

organs. “You step out of the chamber at the end of three minutes and your body is like, ‘Great, I’m not freezing to death,’ and it shoots all that blood back out. Anywhere you have stagnant healing, swollen joints, chronic pain, etc., that new blood stimulates the healing process,” said Dr. Partenope.

To put it simply, supercharged blood floods your system and then, “Even after you leave here, after a day or two, that new blood is circulating and that’s where people get relief. Mentally, physically, emotionally, a lot of people use this for depression, migraines, and headaches because a lot of endorphins get released.”

Cryotherapy has been shown to help athletes and individuals with reducing inflammation, pain relief, reducing anxiety and depression, and other ailments for people who want to avoid or limit their pharmaceutical use. Big hella bonus: Cryotherapy can also burn up to 800 CALORIES in one session and may have anti-aging benefits due to helping to produce collagen.

When I got out of the machine, my elbows were tingling. I asked Dr. Partenope about it, and he asked if I typed a lot. That was a big ol’ yep. Apparently, my elbows are an inflammation spot and the blood was rushing to them.

After I was clothed, T.J., the doc, and I went to the personal training room. I stood on what I will scientifically name the Shaky Machine for a few minutes.

This further helped circulate my blood for maximum healing impact.

By the time I got to my car, I was EUPHORIC. I had the energy of six espresso shots with none of the shaky-ew side effects.

I’m not an effing doctor. I’m not saying cryotherapy is for everyone or a cure-all. I’m just a gal who would absolutely do it again for the blissed-out endorphin heaven it put me in all day long.

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[eat]

What the Fork | Lindsay Mattison

David Holub/DGO; images via Adobe Stock

A local twist on Hoppin’ John, the luckiest of New Year’s foods

W

ith the holidays decidedly behind us, we have one last big day to look forward to (well, until Snowdown, that is). New Year’s Day is just a few days away, and if you’re wishing for a prosperous 2018, then you need to be doing more than just nursing your hangover.

There are some pretty serious food rituals out there rumored to make or break your year.

Some bring good fortune – like eating greens for luck, beans for money, grains for abundance, and pork for wealth and prosperity. Others are decidedly unlucky – apparently, eating chicken on New Year’s Day can cause your luck to simply fly away. No wonder I didn’t have any success with my resolutions last year. (Oh wait, that’s not because of chicken, that’s because I suck at follow-through.)

Why should pigs rooting forward mean luck and chickens scratching backward equal bad luck? It’s beyond me, but I’m a pretty superstitious person myself so I’m not going to argue with it. I do all kinds of ridiculous things for superstition – like how I’m sure the Broncos do better when I’m not watching, and I strategically get up to grab a beer or head to the bathroom on big third-down conversions. So if eating pork, rice, beans, and greens is rumored to bring me good luck, you better believe I’m gonna do it!

The best, easiest, and most famous way to cook up this combo comes from the American South: The Hoppin’ John, a super-savory dish of black-eyed peas and rice served alongside pork-braised collard greens. This dish pretty much guarantees your good luck, but unfortunately, it usually turns out mushy and less than stellar. Why so bad? Well, the ingredi-

ents they used back in the day certainly aren’t the same ones we’re cooking with today.

The first recipes for Hoppin’ John go back to the 1840s, and let’s just take a moment to think about how long ago that was. The first prospecting party arrived in the Animas Valley in 1860, and Colorado didn’t even become a state until 1876. Not to get into climate change or GMO cropping conversations here, but everything from the landscape to the crops themselves are different today.

For example, old-school Hoppin’ John recipes used red cowpeas (a firmer, meatier cousin to the modern-day black-eyed pea) and Carolina Gold rice (a non-aromatic long-grained rice variety that was prized for its ability to produce fluffy, individual grains). These crops were inexpensive and easy to grow in the South’s hot climate, but as time went on, the country moved away from these varieties. The

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rice couldn’t be harvested with mechanical harvesters and black-eyed peas were simply easier to grow.

So if the dish is about celebrating what was abundant in the American South (pork, rice, beans, and greens), why not twist it a little bit – just a little bit – to compensate for modern ingredients? And, while we’re at it, why not sub-in some locally-grown ingredients?

For example, we grow our own cowpeas right down the road in Dove Creek.

Known as the Pinto Bean Capital of the World, Dove Creek is growing heirloom beans, packaged and shipped under the name Adobe Milling. You could use any of their beans, but look for the pink-eye pea.

It’s the most similar to the red cowpeas from the antebellum South, a less starchy, super soft, and meaty bean with a slightly sweet flavor. Check out Nature’s Oasis and look for the beans with a bluish ring around the pea’s “eyes.”

Now that we have the peas out of the way, let’s talk about greens. There are any number of local collards, kales, and chards I could use, but I’m tempted to turn to something more famous and ultimately more recognizable – the green chile. This thing turns up everywhere in the Southwest – it’s in your breakfast scramble, smothering your burrito, and served up as soup with a side of tortillas. So, we would be remiss not to include those in our version of Hoppin’ John.

Since I’m not sure of any rice pioneers in Colorado (please, let me know if you know of any!), I chose an heirloom Kokuho rice from Koda Farms in California. It’s not totally local, but it’s my go-to rice because the grains maintain their individual texture. If you really want the real deal, order up a bag of Carolina Gold from Anson Mills. But since you’re cooking the rice separately and mixing it in later, you can choose any rice you’re into these days.

Put it all together (with some bacon, of course) and you have a locally-minded good-luck recipe for New Year’s Day. The best part of this recipe is the bean gravy (which I could basically drink). And, if you’re really feeling all that New Year’s partying, don’t worry about making it at home. Chef Neal at the Strater Hotel is whipping up a special Hoppin’ John batch for the big day!

Lindsay D. Mattison is a professional chef and food writer living in Durango. She enjoys long walks in the woods, the simplicity of New York-style cheese pizza, and she’s completely addicted to Chapstick. Contact her at lindsaymattisonwriter@gmail.com.

Hoppin’ John Serves 6-8 3 quarts pork stock* 4 slices bacon, cut into 1/4inch lardons 1 pound Adobe Milling Pink Eye peas 1 large yellow onion, diced 1 carrot, peeled and diced 2 stalks celery, diced 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 1 bay leaf 5 sprigs thyme 1 (4-ounce) can green chiles Kosher salt 1 tablespoon butter Splash apple cider vinegar Cooked rice *If you don’t have pork stock, sub in chicken stock.

Don’t have that either? Use water. It’ll totally be fine.

In a large stockpot or Dutch oven, heat the pork stock over medium-high heat. Once the liquid comes to a boil, add the onions, carrots, celery, garlic, bay leaf, thyme, and green chiles. Do not add the salt (this will prevent the peas from cooking all the way through).

Reduce the heat to low and simmer, partially covered, for about an hour, until the peas are nice and tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Drain the peas and reserve the cooking liquid. Make the gravy by placing 1 cup of peas and 2 cups of cooking liquid in the blender, along with the butter and apple cider vinegar.

Blend on high for 2 minutes, until super smooth.

When you’re ready to serve, toss the peas with cooked rice.

Pour the gravy over top and serve with a side of braised greens.

Note: You can cook the peas up to 3 days in advance. Store them in their cooking liquid and the gravy in a covered container in the refrigerator. Gently warm on the stovetop before serving.

Happy Holidays!

From all of us at Star.

1485 Florida Road

970-247-2258

HOURS: MON - THURS: 9-10, FRI & SAT: 9-10:30, SUN: 10-7 www.StarLiquorsDurango.com

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DESIGNATED

DRIVER The Ultimate Friend Take Turns Save your friends, family, community members from accidents. Make our roads safe for all.

Save Money on No DUI’s Look for the bars and restaurants offering free non-alcoholic drinks to designated drivers.

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[sound]

Downtown Lowdown | Bryant Liggett

Funky electronic Fort Knox Five to play on NYE Courtesy of Danio Management

»» Steve Raskin, producer and driving force of The Fort Knox Five, will perform on New Year’s Eve at the Animas City Theatre.

D

urango shares a special connection with the electronic funk music scene of Washington D.C. If you start dropping the names of bands falling under the umbrella of international lounge, bossa-nova, and world-sensation Thievery Corporation, you’ll connect to bands that have come here on the regular for the last decade: Thunderball and Empresarios, See-I, and Fort Knox Five. They’ve all done an electronic and down-tempo, reggae, and world beat thing underlined with funk music.

On record, Fort Knox Five functions as a band, complete with stunning instrumentals and thick cuts with guest vocals. In the live setting, they are an electronic outfit, which has more than the predictable motions of a typical electronic DJ set.

Less “womp boom womp” and more sounds that are procured and structured to make a song.

Steve Raskin, producer and driving force of The Fort Knox Five, will perform on New Year’s Eve at the Animas City Theatre. Local DJs Posh Josh and Matteo will also perform. It’s a co-production of The Animas City Theatre and local radio KDUR [full disclosure: I’m the KDUR station manager].

There’s always been a little bit more “oomph” to

whatever they are doing musically above what other contemporary electronic artists do. More layers, more samples, and more musical territory explored as Fort Knox Five mashes up 1960s and ’70s funk, and weird funk-influenced ’80s new wave that’s all wrapped up in a musical package capable of dropping you right into the soundtrack of a classic Blaxploitation film. All of this also wreaks of the Do-It-Yourself ethos via Washington D.C. punk-rock upbringings.

Raskin was a punk-rock kid whose musical beginnings included being a fan of early funk music and Washington D.C. Go-Go. While in England recording with ’90s rock band Edsel, Raskin was struck by the electronic sounds being played out in clubs throughout the country.

“Even from back in the punk-rock days, all the music that precedes the genre and style of music you’re playing you’re influenced by,” said Raskin.

“We were very influenced by old-school funk music, and a lot of D.C. bands were influenced by that. All of these elements were already in play. For me, it was in the mid-’90s when Edsel recorded a record in Liverpool, we were exposed to underground electronic music going around then. One of the things

I heard was some early jungle and drum and bass stuff. It struck a chord with me and made me feel like this was the future evolution of what the Bad Brains were doing. I came back from that trip very interested in making electronic music.”

Fort Knox Five made sense for Washington D.C., a city that may be more known for punk rock, that actually saw its longer-tenured hardcore bands branch out from the straight-ahead two-minute songs that specialized in three-chord angst to make music that recognized funk and jazz rhythms heard elsewhere in the city. It was an obvious path for Raskin.

“The first forays I was sort of dabbling in was a DJ Shadow trip-hop meets-drum-and-bass kind of project, which evolved into Thunderball, which we put out with Thievery on their label,” said Raskin.

“Fort Knox Five sprang out of that, doing a funkier, livelier dance set through the D.J. thing. It may seem like an obtuse direction to jump from punk rock to funk, but especially in the scene in Washington D.C., there were blurred lines in mixing genres. It’s not that big of a leap.”

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

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[sound]

Jon Lynch’s favorite albums of 2017 With my final column of the year, I’ll be closing it out the same way many over-inundated music fans do: The retrospective, the “Best Of” list, has become expected. I might even reference it in a review throughout the year every now and then, when a record really strikes me. There is no rhyme or reason to the list. Not really, anyway. No compound equation to determine value or worth; no serious metric.

I keep a list – a running list of albums as they are released. This helps especially with those early-year releases, the albums out in January/February/March.

Pretty certain Ty Segall, The Sadies, and Split Lip Rayfield all released their records early on in the year and I certainly gave each many, multiple, worthy listens. Being able to look back at old columns in the back issues of DGO helps. I had forgotten how much I listened to “Dada” by B Boys. Same with the Jay Som album. They

The most anticipated albums for 2018, from

Portal,“Ion” Portal always gives their listeners strange insights into unfathomable rituals – murky recordings that sound like something one should not have stumbled upon. The one single that has released from the new record, “Phreqs” is unsettling in its clarity, being one of the first Portal recordings to not be drenched in murk and filth. And, as with all horror, sometimes the unseen monster is more frightening than the one that is seen, and sometimes the monster is far more terrifying when it becomes concrete. That is what intrigues me so much about “Ion.” I cannot wait to see what The Curator and Horror Illogium have crafted for us, and the insight it will bring to Portal’s distinct mythos of the “Vint-Age,” the Victorian esoteric aesthetic which Portal has cultivated for almost 25 years.

Harakiri For The Sky,“Arson” Harakiri For The Sky has had one of the most interesting musical progressions I have found in recent years. Starting as a fairly run-of-the-mill black metal project, they have slowly morphed more in line with groups like Converge and Circle Takes The Square. Adding that extra emotional bent has worked extremely well in their favor, adding space to breathe and letting the harsh reality of the lyrics settle in. HftS has

were both killer albums that should certainly make the list, semi-forgotten until looking back at old articles.

I will also look at spin statistics from a couple sources to see what I kept listening to. Which albums did I return to over and over and over? This might be the single most important barometer of what constitutes, or at the very least what should be considered, an Album of the Year. So I check in with KDUR, (www.kdur. org) our local college and community radio station, to peruse my old playlists, as well as the playlists from my favorite DJs. This is exceptionally helpful. If I spun an album repeatedly, or my favorite, trusted DJs did, then it certainly deserves consideration. You can also look at spin stats within iTunes to help jog that memory.

So here they are, much to the chagrin of many, in no particular order. If you just need to know which is my absolute favorite album of 2017, the one that occupies

eschewed the genre conventions of Satan and Hell in favor of depicting the living hell that is the reality for too many people, singing about drug abuse, self-deprecation and harm, and alcoholism, grounding the songs in something so much more concrete. “Arson” looks to continue that evolution, bringing in Krimh from Septic Flesh to add an even more punk-influenced drum sound to the record.

Behemoth, title to be announced One of the most popular and influential black/death metal bands in the world is finally returning after 2014’s masterwork “The Satanist.” Behemoth have fully embraced the atmospheric side of their sound, drowning their records in mysticism rooted in Eastern European occultism and thelema. “The Satanist” is an absolutely massive record, recorded while frontman Nergal (Adam Darski) was in chemotherapy for leukemia, and the listener can feel the triumphant transcendence of cancer in remission in every second of that record. I cannot wait to see what they cook up on the next album. Some fans didn’t appreciate the change in sound, but I hope the band embraces the weirder side of their sound even more to create something truly memorable.

The Ocean, title to be announced Any time a new Ocean record is on the horizon, I get excited. This German collective gathers 20-30 new musicians for every epic concept record that they compose. Their last one, “Pelagial,” was an exploration of the ever deepening

the top spot, I guess that would be Downtown Boys, “Cost Of Living.” Ask me again in 10 minutes and the answer would’ve easily been different, and likely one of the following: Mac Demarco, “This Old Dog,” The Jesus and Mary Chain, “Damage and Joy,” The Cairo Gang, “Untouchable,” (Sandy) Alex G, “Rocket,” Jen Cloher, “Jen Cloher,” Slowdive, “Slowdive,” METZ, “Strange Peace, LCD Soundsystem, “american dream,” Protomarytr, “Relatives In Descent,” Old 97’s, “Graveyard Whistling,” The Rubs, “Impossible Dream,” Kane Strang, “Two Hearts And No Brain,” Acid Tongue, “Babies,” The Black Angels, “Death Song,” Beechwood, “Songs From The Land Of Nod,” or any of the artists listed earlier.

Goodbye, 2017. Here’s hoping for a marked improvement in 2018.

zones of the oceans and seas, and the one before that was a double record concerning worship of the stars and worship of humanity. It has already been five years since the release of Pelagial, and there are plenty of unexplored realms for the collective

—— Jon E. Lynch KDUR_PD@fortlewis.edu

to do a deep dive on. Over the last few records, the band has embraced orchestral arrangements and choirs, so hopefully, they continue to get more elaborate compositions on whatever the new album ends up being about.

—— Cooper Stapleton

Thank you for a great 2017!

Have a safe & fun New Year’s Eve! HOLIDAY December 31st, 9am–6pm HOURS January 1st 10am–close

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[beer] Beer and Loathing in Durango Sean Moriarty

THE

6

BEST DURANGO BEERS

FOR WINTER The best part of writing this column is that it often requires a healthy river of beer flowing right down my gullet. Well, some would say it’s an unhealthy river, but what do they know? They’re just doctors. Anyhow, this week, I decided to visit every brewery in Durango to find the best winter beers Durango has to offer.

Photos by Sean Moriarty

2016 Big Grizz Barleywine, Carver Brewing Co. It wouldn’t be winter without a big, chewy barleywine. Carver just released this brew they’ve been cellaring since last year, and the aging process has been kind to it. It has dried, dark fruits on the nose like raisins and dates with a hint of port. The dried fruit flavors wash over the palate on the first taste and are joined by sweet molasses.

This is one of the best examples of the style I’ve ever had and I plan to indulge frequently until it’s gone.

Euphoria, Ska Brewing A winter staple in Durango, Euphoria is a pale ale that stands apart from the crowd. It has a bit more body than most examples of the style and its cereal-like sweetness balances perfectly with the tangerine and grapefruit notes from the hops. A big plus with this beer: Unlike most of the others on this list, you can have a few of them without calling an Uber.

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Rye Can’t IBU, BREW Pub & Kitchen I’d never tried this style before and I have a feeling that BREW invented it because online searches yielded no other examples. It is a black imperial rye pale lager. Say that three times fast, I dare you.

The herby hops and the rye really come through on the nose. The first taste had notes of pumpernickel with a bitter, citrusy hop note that reminded me of orange peel. It finishes dry (like a good lager should) with lingering espresso bitterness.

Imperial Oatmeal Stout, Durango Brewing Co. This new offering from Durango Brewing will kick you right in the teeth in the best way possible. It starts out sweet with strong toffee notes and a hint of brandy. Then, its generous hop profile cuts through, finishing dry with a light coffee taste. The label says “Pairs best with cold nights and good friends” and I could not agree more. At a staggering 10 percent alcohol by volume, this gem will definitely warm you from the inside, and if you bring it to a party, you’ll make new friends quickly.

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This lager had an impressive color like a ruby held up to a light. It had aromas of toasted malt and hard candy. The candy-sweetness was the first thing I noticed when I tasted it.

There was no detectable hop character, which is perfect for this style of Bock, and it finished with an enjoyable, abiding sweetness. This beer went down way too fast and I had to order another within 10 minutes of receiving the first.

New Years Eve 10am – 5:00pm New Years Day 11am – 6:30pm

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Limit one per customer.

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WWW.SANTECOLORADO.COM 742½ MAIN AVENUE DURANGO, CO

HOURS

New Years Eve 9:00am – 8:00pm New Years Day 10:00am – 9:00pm

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Mutu’s Italian Kitchen

Alley

Durango Coffee Co

E 7th St

Spruce Goose is one of the more unique winter beers that you can find in Durango. It quite literally tastes like trees because it’s made with handpicked spruce tips from the San Juan National Forest. Before you raise a skeptical eyebrow, let me assure you that the spruce aroma and flavor is outstanding. The candy sweetness backs up the spruce character to create a rare winter treat.

Bockcountry Lager, Animas Brewing Co.

RECREATIONAL

MEDICAL

E 8th St

Spruce Goose, Steamworks Brewing Co.

Holiday Hours

Main Ave

MEDICAL: SUN to SAT 10AM-6:30PM RECREATIONAL: SUN to WED 9AM-9PM & THUR to SAT 9AM-9:45PM

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OUR FAVORITES FROM THE YEAR IN POP CULTURE »» Durango

experts pick their top books, movies, music, TV, podcasts, and video games of the year

What didn’t suck in 2017? Well, actually, quite a bit. DGO spoke to opinionated, cool-hunting Durangoans about their pop culture prize finds. Each of our experts has a knowledgeable obsession with a subject - like books, movies, or TV – and they were willing to narrow down their long lists of 2017 loves to their top three favorites in a given media. Here’s to brightsiding a cluster-f of a year by looking at the art that made us wanna keep on truckin.’

BOOKS “Fascism Today,” by Shane Burley There have been quite a few books coming out

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exploring the alt-right movement and the rise of right-wing populism with authoritarian tendencies. “Fascism Today” is one of the strongest books to examine and critique it while holding forth an empowering message about how to confront this movement on a holistic level ... What I admire is how well-researched it is in highlighting the various movements and how it is about building solidarity, community, and reaching out to people who are potential targets of these right-wing groups.

“Wielding Words Like Weapons,” by Ward Churchill Churchill is a controversial scholar. This essay collection spans 1995-2005 and it acts as a good introduction to Native American struggles. He connects indigenous struggles globally and doesn’t lose sight of the main thorns, like confronting vulture capitalism that destroys ecosystems and an unresponsive state that allows a peoples’ land to

be exploited and degraded.

“Hunter of Stories,” by Eduardo Galeano Eduardo Galeano wrote what he called poetic histories. This posthumous collection of vignettes touches on indigenous struggles and also historical events that have been marginalized. Galeano brings global indigenous culture to life through recording creation stories, uprisings, and revolutions led by indigenous peoples. He’s like the Latin American Howard Zinn. Galeano was a beautiful writer, very poetic. His writing has always been spellbinding and you walk away from his books with an empowering message that connects you to the whole of humanity.

—— Kirbie Bennett, bookseller at Maria’s Bookshop Continued on Page 14

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Bennett

Casto

From Page 13

“The End We Start From,” by Megan Hunter This is a small novella about a woman who gave birth while the apocalypse is happening ... There’s a poetic feel to it that focuses on the sensory parts – the touch, smell, feel – of an apocalypse. It’s for people who are interested in the dystopian narrative without monsters and how a traumatic event impacts a new family.

“Afar,” by Leila del Duca “Afar” is the best graphic novel I’ve read in a long time. It’s about a girl in an ancient setting who discovers she can astral-project into other people’s bodies on other planets. She discovers she can have big influence over people’s lives and not always in the best way ... It’s also about her and her younger brother surviving in a brutal world after their parents disappear and don’t come back.

“Strange the Dreamer,” by Laini Taylor It starts as this typical fantasy setting where it is an orphan boy who doesn’t think he is anything special [but] has greatness thrust upon him ... People are under an oppressive situation by gods who live in the sky, but it’s a love story between the young man and one of the children of the gods – the goddess of nightmares ... It was a really whimsical, enjoyable read.

—— Becca Jordan, bookseller at Maria’s Bookshop

MOVIES “Get Out” “Get Out” was written by the comedian Jordan Peele. It’s his directorial debut. The film is an interplay of modern-day race relations where you can stand there and analyze it, but it is also a movie you can throw on and wash the dishes to ... It’s comedic horror about a black protagonist in an interracial relationship who gets caught up in a psychological thriller storyline. It’s funny and serious at the same time.

“The Square” (The Something Wild Fest) showed “The Square.” It is a stylized drama where a museum director is having an existential crisis. It was winner of the Palme d’Or (at Cannes) and a thought-provoking satirical story.

“Bladerunner 2049”

Elder

Fogdall

I think “Bladerunner 2049” will age well and last ... You can get away with seeing it without seeing the first movie, but there are also mini stories from the first that will lead you deep into “2049” ... It is a dark, but purposefully optimistic movie, which is unusual for a noir film ... It is one of those films that will influence neo-noir directors for a long time to come.

—— Derrick Casto, founder of the Something Wild Film Festival “The Shape of Water” “The Shape of Water” is a monster fairy tale. (Director Guillermo) Del Toro said seeing “The Creature from the Black Lagoon” as a kid inspired him. It was the movie that made him want to make movies, but he couldn’t understand why the monster didn’t get the girl. He made “The Shape of Water” because he wanted to make a movie where the monster gets the girl. It’s beautifully shot. Quirky characters. Really heart-wrenching story.

“Lady Bird” “Lady Bird” is about a teenage girl who isn’t Catholic but she’s at a Catholic high school in Sacramento.

Her name is Christine, but she decides she wants to be called Lady Bird. A lot of it is about her relationship with her mother who is played by Laurie Metcalf, who is great ... In the first scene you are completely sucked in because Lady Bird is in the car with her mother and they’re arguing and Lady Bird opens the car door and throws herself out. It’s charming, it’s funny, and beautifully acted.

“Loving Vincent” It’s an animated film about Vincent van Gogh, and they animated it out of 65,000 oil paintings, all in the style of van Gogh. It’s really neat. Van Gogh has died and about a year after his death, a young man comes to the last place that he lived to give his final letter to someone.

—— Michele Malach, chair and associate professor of English at FLC

MUSIC “Boy in a Well,” The Yawpers The album’s called “Boy in a Well,” and it’s about a baby in World War I-era France that is abandoned in a well by his mother. It’s super strange, especially for The Yawpers; they’re usually about escaping small-

Holub

Irwin

town boredom. Musically, they’re stripped down. It’s vocals, drums, guitars, and they describe themselves as psychotic blues. They manage to be righteous and riotous and rich without being over the top.

“The Worst of Brett Newski,” by Brett Newski There’s this guy named Brett Newski. He calls himself nomad/dork rock. He’s in the same vein as Todd Snider or sort of the Violent Femmes. Super anti-commercial with songs like “F*ck You Spotify” and “Black Friday Totally Sucks.” ... He is calling out a lot of macho crap in America right now with the album “The Worst of Brett Newski.”

“Sidelong,” by Sarah Shook and The Disarmers “Sidelong” was re-released on Bloodshot Records in 2017 but Shook had released it earlier on a super-local, only-North-Carolina level. She’s in the vein of Lydia Loveless or Lizzie Huffman. She’s got this vibrato and there’s an effortlessness to her voice that she brings to down-and-out, hard-living, hard-drinking songs.

—— Kynan Kelly, co-host of “The Velvet Rut” on KDUR “Everything is Forgotten,” by Methyl Ethel It’s dreamy psych-rock with a butt-rockin’ beat.

Spine-tingling. Every song is different.

“Orc,” by Thee Oh Sees They’re a unique, ferocious rock-punk band. This is an incarnation of John Dwyer of Castle Face Records.

He has put out at least three or four albums this year under different names, a massive virtuoso. They make you sit up and listen.

“Blast Off Through the Wicker,” Art Feynman It’s a seamless blend of world beats, electronic instruments, ethereal vocals. It’s kinda haunting. If you’re in a bad mood and need an attitude adjustment, put this one on and it will tilt you outta that.

Shoutouts: “Occult Architecture, Volume 1,” by Moon Duo, “Relatives in Descent,” by Protomartyr, “Hot Thoughts,” by Spoon, “World Eater,” by Blanck Mass —— Nancy Elder, host of “A Vinyl Fetish” on KDUR

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Jordan

Kelly

PODCASTS “Friends at the Table,” Season: “Twilight Mirage” This is an actual-play podcast where a group of friends play role-playing games live, and they’re very good at it. This season they’re playing “Twilight Mirage,” which is a utopia set in the future. It stops feeling like a game a lot of the time and starts feeling like collaborative storytelling ... It focuses on being an inclusive show with the LGBTQ community in particular.

“Up First” “Up First” is a 10- to 12-minute daily news podcast through NPR that gets released at about 6 a.m. every morning. I listen to it while I brush my teeth. It’s a nice way to get the top three or four stories of the day.

“Songonauts” The basic premise is that a down-and-out band finds the Essence of Music in a beat-up drum machine and they go on adventures to save the SongVerse. It’s very Saturday-morning-cartoon and silly... At the end of the day, it’s about saving the world with the power of music and that’s refreshing.

—— Dane Fogdall, materials handler at the Durango Public Library “Waking up with Sam Harris” Sam Harris is known in the new atheism and the secular humanism worlds and he’s a very thoughtful, well-rounded, intellectual person ... The thing I like about that show is he talks about politics quite a bit, and is anti-Trump, but he invites people on his show that are Trump supporters or conservatives who may not totally support Trump but can give a conservative perspective. I like that you can get a conservative opinion in a thoughtful conversation that doesn’t devolve into nonsense and shouting.

“Revisionist History,” season two Having read everything Malcolm Gladwell has written in book form, it’s that same pop social science but in a nugget-podcast size. It melds research with an accessible writing style. He tackles complex issues in a distinct, unexpected viewpoint.

“Heavyweight” Johnathan Goldstein, known from appearances on “This American Life,” finds people who have dynamic

Malach

Massé

Miller

moments from their past that are influential and are either mysterious or a weight needing to be resolved.

For example, there’s one where a man lent field recording CDs to Moby as he was up-and-coming and Moby took them and the man never heard about it again until Moby was sampling them on hit records. It was framed as “I want my CDs back,” but it was more a conversation of, “I want recognition.”

—— David Holub, editor of DGO Magazine

“Late Night with Seth Meyers,” 2017 season With the world being as insane as it is right now, you need to inject a little bit of comedy in your life on a daily basis. I think the person who is doing it the best is Seth Meyers. His commentary is straight-on, funny, and smart. He has really good writers that are on-point with looking at the world and making it so we can laugh and see the absurdity in such a way that it is clever and inclusive to women and minorities.

—— Sandy Irwin, director of the Durango Public Library

TV “Mr. Robot,” season three I feel like it’s the same premise as “Fight Club,” but way smarter and pulls at the heartstrings. There’s a superhero, tortured figure and it is really smart writing. It has nothing to do with robots. You get to see the inside of a schizophrenic mind in a brilliant way.

“Rick and Morty,” season three I love it. It’s a friend-requisite. I don’t know if I can be friends with you if you don’t like this show. It’s hilarious. It’s super smart. It has multiple levels of plot connectivity and (is) super deep for an animated show.

“Stranger Things,” season two I’m in love with Winona Ryder. I love watching her. It takes me back to the feeling I had when I first saw “E.T.” It’s that nostalgia of kids with adventure and real-life fears and challenges. It’s a show about figuring it out.

—— Hattie Miller, actress, choreographer, co-founder of Imaginario Circus “Game of Thrones,” season seven I love “Game of Thrones.” I really like that it’s the women that are taking charge in it. It has gone from women being objects to women being leaders. I’ve enjoyed that trajectory and the dragons taking lead in the story as well.

“Stranger Things,” season two I love “Stranger Things.” It’s such smart writing. I like the edition of Paul Reiser this season, and I read that the Duffer brothers had approached him about the role because they had written the character as the “Paul Reiser Character.” I think both seasons were equally good and totally different trajectories with great soundtracks, too.

VIDEO GAMES “Night in the Woods” You assume the role of a woman who is returning to her hometown after dropping out of college. There is some sort of supernatural, bizarre, cultish thing that is going on that you have to uncover with the help of your old friends ... It’s a modern take on a coming-ofage story involving people who leave home to go to college and realize it doesn’t fit right, but then come home and realize home isn’t what it used to be, that friends aren’t what they used to be. It asks a lot of difficult questions but with self-awareness as a video game.

“Ruiner” This is a cyberpunk, top-down shooter (that) has amazing artwork and is an homage to classics like “Ghost in the Shell” and “Bladerunner,” and it has an amazing soundtrack. The world is so dense and beautifully designed and executed. It’s a violent game, but very satisfying to play and has a lot of good replay value.

“Cuphead” This game is wonderful top to bottom. It is a runand-gun and a side-scroller. The story is nonsensical and hilarious. The artwork is hand-done and inspired by the rubber hose animation style of 1930s cartoons, like “Felix the Cat” and classic Disney. On top of that, they had a jazz musician do the entire soundtrack inspired by music of that era. It’s phenomenal.

—— Brett Massé, DGO video games columnist Interviews edited and condensed for clarity.

—— Patty Templeton

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[ weed ] Seeing Through the Smoke Christopher Gallagher

Marijuana use is up in one age group, and it’s not who you might think

W

ho uses cannabis? High school kids?

Yes, but, according to a new federal survey, fewer are doing so in Colorado and the other states since legalization.

College students? Sure, college is the place where we are encouraged to experiment and grow, to learn from both our book and professors and from our experiences as we progress from youth to full adulthood; expanding consciousness has long been part of that process. Adult use has risen in the legal states as marijuana has become a viable social alternative to alcohol, and ridiculous stigmas surrounding use have come to be seen for the smokescreens that they always were.

There is one demographic that may surprise you – the elderly. The most recent study, conducted by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, indicated that use among adults 65 years and older rose by 250 percent between 2006 and 2013. Good on ya, oldsters – get that green!

The reasons for this are varied and make sense for an aging population. Cannabis can be helpful with a wide variety of maladies that will visit us all one day, should we be lucky enough to survive. Pain, sleep issues, fluctuation in mood – these are issues that are likely to trouble us in one way or another as we age. Add in the various conditions that cannabis has been shown to treat as effectively or more effectively than the cornucopia of multicolored prescriptions filling the daily dispensers of so many of our friends and relatives, and cannabis reveals itself as a comforting ally that can help us gracefully deal with the passage of time and its effects on our flesh and bones.

Cannabis has a history as old as human civilization; having been used for thousands of years (it is mentioned among 1,900-year-old Chinese medical texts based on oral traditions going back as far as the 28 B.C.) and, before its prohibition here in the U.S. in the 1930s, it was an active ingredient in scores of over-the-counter medicines. An early mention of cannabis as a treatment in the modern era of medicine can be found in an 1890 issue of the British medical journal, Lancet, in which it is named as an effective therapy for “sun-downing” dementia, a condition characterized by restless confusion at nighttime that is not present during daylight hours.

There are many positive qualities cannabis offers to contemporary seniors that might not be apparent.

First, and in many ways most important: due its ability to treat pain, it mitigates the necessity of doctors to prescribe and patients to take potentially fatal opiate medicines (which are doled out to seniors at a rate many times that of patients under 65). Another is the option for patients to reduce the number of total medications taken daily by substituting cannabis, a nontoxic, nonaddictive multifaceted option. This in place of a wide range of prescription medications with their sometimes-troubling side effects.

Cannabis can be used topically to reduce the aches of arthritis and neuropathy. It can be used to stimulate appetite, an effect that can combat nutrient deficiencies. Cannabis need not be smoked; it is a very powerful treatment in its edible forms.

It need not always get those who consume it high; CBD is very effective at alleviating seizures and tremors without psychoactive effects.

Cannabis use by the elderly is almost certain to rise during the next several decades as the Woodstock Generation ages. Now is the time to investigate whether cannabis is a viable alternative for our loved ones on their journey in the later days of their lives.

Christopher Gallagher lives with his wife and their four dogs and two horses.

Life is pretty darn good. Contact him at chrstphrgallagher@gmail.com.

Thanks

for a great

2017!

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[pages] [durango street style]

The essay collection on every year’s best nonfiction lists Two Dollar Radio is a badass indie press that publishes works that you’ll immediately want to book-club with friends. Poet and columnist Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib’s “They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us” hella hits that vibe.

What ya got is a cultural critique of modern American life as seen through music.

Gay pins and the Gingham Club There are people in this world that vibrate at a higher energy. When they smile at you, it feels like you’ve walked into a sunbeam. Elementary school art teacher Shannon Cruise is one of those people. Cruise is not only exquisitely amicable, she’s a helluva snazzy dresser. DGO chatted with Cruise at Studio &’s holiday party to ask her about her infinitely interesting fashion sense.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a music nerd or not, this collection is for you.

Going to a Bruce Springsteen concert becomes a meditation on the working class and the death of Michael

Brown. Watching the chipper Carly Rae Jepsen sling pop tunes becomes an existential exploration of lifting sorrow from large swaths of people. Willis-Abdurraqib covers the likes of Fleetwood Mac and Chance the Rapper and does so in a way that will make you ponder the weight and joy in your own days.

If you enjoy thought-provoking books you’ll wanna talk about, innovative music criticism, or want an accessible entry into reading essays, pick up “They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us.” — Patty Templeton

[Odd Rot, by Patty Templeton]

“I’m an art teacher so I feel like I can get away with a lot. If I’m in my bedroom and I’m thinking to myself, ‘Should I do that?’ it’s usually a yes because the kids think the more crazy looking you are, the more legitimate you appear to be as their art teacher.

Tonight, I’m trying to be warm – functionally fashionable. My mom gave me this pin. I remember seeing it when I was growing up. I was just visiting her in Florida and she’s like, ‘I can’t wear this pin anymore.’ I asked, ‘Why?’ and she was like, ‘People keep thinking I’m gay.’ (Laughs) I was like, ‘There’s nothing wrong with that!’ She was like, ‘Well, I don’t want people thinking I’m gay,’ and I was like, ‘I’ll take it!’ I live in a rainbow (colored) house. I don’t know what people think about me and I don’t care. Let’s add to the rainbow.

I remember as a little kid being made fun of by my family for changing outfits four times a day. They would say, ‘Shannon costume change again.’

My mom would get really mad and point out that clothes weren’t dirty yet, and I was like, ‘That’s fine. I still want to change my clothes.’

This outfit is from Outdoor Exchange, the thrift store, and this shirt I just bought here and put it on. Tim (Kapustka) told me that the Gingham Club was his grandparent’s polka club on the south side of Chicago, way back in the day. That’s super great. I love stuff like that.”

Interview edited and condensed for clarity.

“Don’t Bring Me Down” Got rad style or know someone who always looks fab? Send DGO a heads-up on who to interview next at ptempleton@bcimedia.com.

—— Patty Templeton

Patty Templeton journaled the f outta this hellhole of a year. She particularly enjoyed listing an answer to “What projects/people give you energy?” For random hooliganry by ze Dread Templeton, stop by www.instagram.com/pattytempleton or http://pattytempleton.tumblr.com.

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[advice]

Life Hax | Carolyn Hax

How to refresh after this terrible of terriblest years?

This has been a rotten year. My dad got laid off from work, my mom had breast cancer surgery, my grandmother had two serious hip surgeries, a close friend was diagnosed with terminal cancer, my dad just fell ill with a mysterious illness (no, really), and I got pregnant. (The pregnant bit isn’t rotten, but it is contributing to the roller-coaster nature of this year.)

I’m floundering in a sea of black emotions and despair, which, aside from not being good for the fetus, isn’t really good for me. My work is suffering, my relationship with my husband is suffering, and I’m at wits’ end. I wake up every day wondering what bad thing will happen, and I go to sleep every night praying no one dies before the next day. Any tips, advice?

Overwhelmed Wake up every morning accepting that bad things might happen, and go to bed accepting that someone might die the next day – whether your year has been rotten or not. (You, too, can receive Mary Poppins as your personal savior.) While you’re at it, also accept that it’s better to have death and bad things than not.

This is not a typo, or a braino. That’s because the only alternative to feeling the pain of loss is to have nothing to lose. You’re suffering now because you care about these people. And if you were given the choice, on the spot, right now, irrevocably, to stop feeling all this pain and with it the love you feel for them? You wouldn’t do it.

Know this. Force it to the front of your anguished brain every time you’re picking a fight with your husband, or fretting too much to concentrate at work, or feeling road-enraged as you try to get to the hospital before visiting hours end, or wishing pregnancy had come at a more fortuitous time.

If you’re less than convinced, consider: You have enjoyed, in some cases for decades, the great gift of knowing these people – all for the low, low price of one abysmal year. Since everyone who cares about anybody has to pay at some point, pay gladly. Go love mom

and dad, love your grams, love your friend. Love your husband.

And love that baby. You’re carrying nothing less than living proof that love can be renewed. I risk my cliche-combat badge by pointing it out, and yet it’s too profound to ignore.

Granted, unleashing all these warm feelings will only deepen your emotional sea, but there’s an answer for that, too. Anchor yourself to whatever you can – your job, your marriage – then stop thrashing and just … float. I’m sure you’ve tried many times not to laugh or cry or have a crush on someone, so you know that feelings always last longer when you fight them. Feelings at full intensity simply cannot be sustained.

So float, and trust that the waters will slowly recede. It’s a scary thing, and exhausting, to surrender yourself to so many feelings at once, but it’s exhilarating as well. It’s also the least grinding path to dry land – and your child will be grateful for that.

A couple of years ago, I was in a relationship for a couple of months that didn’t end very well. It was going OK, but I decided she just wasn’t right for me. I’ve never been good with talking about issues like that, or anything emotional, so I simply stopped calling and spoke with her online less and less.

I never gave her an explanation, and I still feel guilty about that. Would it be appropriate to send an email about how I’m feeling; write a letter; call?

few too many beers, made a comment that some people listening took as racist. I wasn’t there but trust the people who told me about it. I now have close friends questioning my judgment for associating with that guy, and for marrying someone close to him – and who, unfortunately, had to loudly take up for his brother despite not agreeing with what he said.

What else should I do, besides reminding my friends that my fiancé and his brother are two different people?

Questioned Unless there’s more to the “loudly take up for his brother,” they’re grabbing torches and pitchforks against the innocent, and that won’t stop racism – but might empower its apologists.

So see if there’s more: “Do I hear you correctly – I should drop my fiancé because of something HIS BROTHER said? I want to understand.” An indication that you’re willing to listen in itself can be disarming.

Advice from readers: I learned this important truth the hard way.

I was a corporate attorney for a Fortune 500 company for 20 years. After enduring much bullying, I eventually learned: Just because someone asks you a question does not mean you have

to answer it.

I have tried to instill this truth in our children (one of whom is of a different race).

When someone asks me an inappropriate question, I simply do not reply.

I just stand there looking at them.

And I am a short, gray-haired woman, not some big burly guy.

Quickly, they become uncomfortable and change the subject.

The best response to rudeness is no response, which immediately causes the questioner to feel frustration because they have failed in their attempt to be nosy, rude and bullying.

On dealing with a gossip: In the times in my adult life that anyone has told me anything negative about someone in my life, or that someone said they had heard something negative about me, I learned to respond to the messenger with, “Why are you telling me this?”

While the messenger has never admitted to the attempt of manipulation that they are making – usually they will give a lame excuse – they don’t ever play that game with me again.

Carolyn Hax is a syndicated advice columnist for The Washington Post. She started her advice column in 1997, after five years as a copy editor and news editor in Style and none as a therapist. Email her at tellme@washpost.com.

Conflicted I’d just ignore your question, but I crave closure.

The rule on out-of-the-blue apologies is that you should only undertake one if it’s to ease her pain, not appease your guilt.

The other rule is, no one ever has any idea how the other person feels.

So, do it. Good practice. Plus, it’s a kind gesture; even if the gesture fails, the kindness still counts. And email sounds fine to me.

My fiance’s brother, who had had a

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[happening]

NYE’s picks in and around Durango NYE funk party

Details: $15 GA, $30 VIP, 21 and over, 9 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 31, Durango Arts Center, 802 East Second Ave., www.facebook.com/ jcalvineight

Have a wellness-centered NYE at YogaDurango.

Michele will lead a candlelit class in the early evening.

Details: $16 drop-in (those with class packages welcome, too), all ages, 5:30-7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 31, YogaDurango, 1485 Florida Rd., C-201, https://yogadurango.com

NYE Prohibition party Get on your Jazz Age, flapper best, Derailed is having a Prohibition-style NYE. There’s music by the Black Velvet Band, champagne toast and balloon drop, and a $100 gift card drawing. VIP tix available with guaranteed seating if you call 247-5440.

Maria Samora, 9 a.m., Sor-

rel Sky Gallery, 828 Main Ave., 247-3555.

Baby meet-up, 9:30 a.m.,

activities. There will be the live bluegrass of People We Know (2-5 p.m.), Fireworks and Torchlight parade (6-6:30 p.m.), and two sets from 9 p.m.-1a.m. from folk-rockers The Outskirts. Plus, there’s three seatings of a NYE buffet at Hoody’s.

J-Calvin’s Funk Express and the Afrobeatniks will take over the DAC for a funked-up hella dance party.

Yoga into the New Year

Thursday

Details: Free entry (except Hoody’s), all ages (except Outskirts sets 21 and over), 2 p.m.-1 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 31, Purgatory Ski Resort, #1 Skier Pl., www.purgatoryresort.com

Columbine House, 2307 Columbine Drive.

Toddler story time, 10:30

a.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave., 375-3380.

Tim Sullivan, 5:30 p.m., Di-

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

Overeaters Anonymous,

5:30 p.m., Christ the King Lutheran Church, 495 Florida Road.

Open Mic Night, 6 p.m.,

p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave., 375-7260.

Friday Maria Samora, 9 a.m., Sor-

rel Sky Gallery, 828 Main Ave., 247-3555.

Preschool story time,

Purgatory Resort, 1 Skier Place.

New Year’s Eve celebration, 9 p.m., Balcony Back-

stage, 600 Main Ave. KDUR New Year’s Eve celebration, 9 p.m., Animas City

Theatre, 128 E. College Drive, 799-2281.

Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, 479 Main Ave. Rob Webster, 7 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave., 375-7260.

Tuesday

The old-time tunes of Six Dollar String Band and electric, psychedelia of Dreem Machine will flood outta The Balcony for NYE.

10:30 a.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave., 375-3380.

Baby story time, 2 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave., 375-3380.

Black Velvet Duo, 5:30

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

Details: Free, 21 and over, 9 p.m.-2 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 31, Balcony Backstage, 600 Main Ave., www. balconybarandgrill.com

Jack Ellis, 7 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave., 375-7260.

Super Ted’s Super Trivia,

Saturday

Wednesday

Audubon Christmas bird-count, 7:30 a.m., Cortez

SMART Recovery Durango, 5:30 p.m., Suttle Street

Free tunes at Balcony

Cheap beer on NYE Lady Falc’s will host a DJ get-down on NYE. There’ll be $2 beers and a free champagne toast.

p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., 247-4431.

Cultural Center, 25 N. Market St., Cortez, 565-1151.

Maria Samora, 9 a.m., Sor-

Jean-Pierre Bakery and Wine Bar, 601 Main Ave., 247-7700.

The Fort Knox Five bring funky hip-hop to the ACT. Posh Josh and DJ Mateo keep the party going. Funky/disco attire encouraged.

Wild Horse Saloon will have music by the High Rollers, door prizes all night long, a champagne toast, and finger food.

Donny Johnson, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., 247-4431.

Details: $30 pre-sale, $35 doors, 21 and over, 9 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 31, Animas City Theatre, 128 East College Dr., www.animascitytheatre.com

Details: $15 for 21 and over, $25 for 18-20 crowd, 6 p.m.-2 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 31, Wild Horse Saloon, 601 East Second Ave, https://durangowildhorsesaloon.com

Purgatory Ski Resort hosts a plethora of NYE

New Year’s Eve party with The Outskirts, 9 p.m.,

New Year’s Brunch Train, 9:30 a.m., Durango &

A buckin’ NYE

Party at Purgatory

Dustin Burley, 7 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave., 375-7260.

Andrew Schumann, 7

Funky fresh at ACT

Details: free entry, 21 and over, 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 31, Rusty Shovel Saloon, 18044 County Road 501, Bayfield, www.therustyshovelsaloon.com

dic Center, 1 Skier Place.

Monday

Details: Free entry, 21 and over, 10 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 31, Lady Falconburgh’s, 640 Main St., downstairs, www.falconburghsalehouse.com

Arizona singer-songwriter Josh Bierman brings the tunes and the R.S. has specialty menus going on.

New Year’s Eve full moon party, 5:30 p.m., Durango Nor-

Eno Cocktail Lounge and Wine Bar, 723 East Second Ave., 3850105.

Details: $50, 21 and over, 5 p.m.-2 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 31, Derailed Pour House, 725 Main Ave., www.derailedpourhouse.com

Live tunes at Rusty Shovel

Bluemoon Ramblers,

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

Bayou Bash Get swampy at Sky Ute for NYE. Creedance Clearwater tribute band Fortunate Son plays along with Troy Landry from Swamp People.

Dance party and/or dinner packages available.

Details: $25 dance party, $100 dance party and dinner, 21 and over, 6 p.m. dinner, 9 p.m. bands start, Sky Ute Casino, 14324 HWY 172 North, Ignacio, www.skyutecasino.com

rel Sky Gallery, 828 Main Ave., 247-3555.

Henry Stoy piano, 11 a.m.,

Dustin Burley, 7 p.m., Lady Falconburgh’s Ale House and Kitchen, 640 Main Ave. Greg Ryder, 7 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave., 375-7260.

Sunday Maria Samora, 9 a.m., Sor-

rel Sky Gallery, 828 Main Ave., 247-3555.

Henry Stoy piano, 11 a.m.,

Jean-Pierre Bakery and Wine Bar, 601 Main Ave., 247-7700.

New Year’s Eve party, 5 p.m., Derailed Pour House, 725 Main Ave.

6 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Drive, 799-2281.

Clinic, 72 Suttle St., Suite M. Greg Ryder, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., 247-4431.

Ongoing Call for auditions: Durango Voice fundraiser for Manna, submit two-min-

ute mp3 demo songs to durangovoice2@gmail.com by Jan. 12 for blind auditions Feb. 24 and finals April 7 at the Henry Strater Theatre, 699 Main Ave.

Submissions To submit listings for publication in DGO and www.dgomag.com, visit

www.swscene.com, click “Add Your Event,” enter the event info into the form and submit.

Listings at www.swscene.com will appear on www.dgomag. com and in our weekly print edition. Posting an event on www.swscene.com is free and takes one day to process.

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Horoscope ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Go after what you want this week because you will make a great impression on bosses, VIPs and parents. They see you in positive, flattering terms, even if you don’t do anything different.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Grab every chance to travel or broaden your horizons this week because this will please you. If you can’t travel, explore your own city. Talk to people from different backgrounds.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Wrap up loose details regarding inheritances, taxes, debt and shared property. This is the time to deal with any loose ends regarding these areas.

(You’ll be glad you did.)

CANCER (June 21 to July 22)

Bizarro

It’s important to get more sleep now.

Once a year, you’ll need more rest than usual, and that time is now.

LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22) You will take pride in your work this week. In fact, you will want to give more than what is expected of you, especially if you get the credit! (Receiving credit for your efforts is important.)

VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22) Take some time out this week to play and have fun. It’s important to balance your work and your responsibilities with time off to enjoy yourself and express your creative talents.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22) You might be involved with a parent more than usual this week. If you have a chance to cocoon at home and relax among familiar surroundings, you will enjoy this.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21) The pace of your days is accelerating right now! You’ve got things to do, people to see and places to go!

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21) Focus on financial issues this week because you cannot ignore them. Tidy up loose ends so that you feel confident about moving forward in a new direction.

privacy to get things done. You are still ambitious; nevertheless, you will be more productive on your own this week.

PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20) Talk to a friend or perhaps a member of a group this week to share your ideas for the future. Bounce your dreams off someone to get his or her feedback.

BORN THIS WEEK

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18)

You are cheerful, jovial and very calm this week. You also are organized, competent and reliable. This is a year full of excitement and change! Opportunities will present themselves, and when they do, you must act fast. Your personal freedom will be a top priority. You also will travel this year and do things that expand your horizons. Enjoy this busy, fast-paced year!

Work alone or behind the scenes this week because you need some solitude or

© 2017 King Features Syndicate Inc.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19) You are energized now because the Sun, Venus, and Saturn are all in your sign.

This means you are starting to go in a new direction.

[NYE FAQ to drop at your party] »»That song “Auld Lang Syne” means “times gone by.” »»Forty-five percent of Americans make New Year’s resolutions and 25 percent of those give up their resolutions by the second week of January. »»Exercising more or “getting fit” is the most common New Year’s resolution. »»If you want to accomplish your New Year’s resolutions, experts say you should make the resolutions very specific, measure progress, be patient with yourself, and share your goals with friends or family so there is someone else to keep you accountable. »»Black-eyed peas and cabbage are considered to bring good luck if eaten on NYE. Leafy greens are also supposed to bring prosperity. »»Allegedly, in Sicily, lasagna is served on New Year’s Day because other noodles would bring bad luck. »»The first Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball Drop was in 1907 because the city had a ban on fireworks. »»In 1942 and 1943, the Times Square Ball Drop didn’t happen due to World War II citywide dimouts. »»About 360 million glasses of sparkling wine are washed back on NYE.

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2018

[travel]

Leaving an island in darkness, by road and by sea

NEW YEARS

PARTY

WANDERLUST Travel stories worth telling

The “beep-beep-beep” of the travel alarm slowly eased its way into my dream, ending my slumber. 4 a.m.

– time to get up. Emily and I were sleeping on the kia-kia – a raised open air sleeping platform with a thatched roof – of our host-volunteer, Jennifer.

It was 2000 and my then-wife and I were Peace Corps volunteers in Kiribati (formerly known as the Gilbert Islands) in the Pacific at the equator and International Dateline intersection. As I walked over to the water tap to splash water on my face and run wet fingers through my hair, I looked up at the night sky, as I always do, to find my friend Orion amidst the billions of other stars.

When I reached the BWA and threw my gear on board, I glanced back and saw a sinuous line of people wading thigh- and waist-deep in the water, silhouetted by the moonlight. Once all gear was stowed under the deck and

en

ou

s e a n d Kit

ch

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31ST DJ PLAYING FROM 10PM - 2AM FREE GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE FOR THE COUNTDOWN Find everything you need for your wedding ALL IN ONE PLACE! »» Keith Cliver and Emily Moddelmog in Miana with views of the reef at low tide. everyone was seated onboard, a man whom I had sat across from on the ride over to N. Tarawa one week earlier appeared out of the darkness, extended a hand and said, “Tiabo,” which means “goodbye” in the I-Kiribati language. I shook his hand and knew I had made a friend.

As we cautiously motored over the reef, the sun began its slow ascent in the Eastern sky. Wind and waves washed over us as flying fish broke the surface ahead of the BWA. We were on our way home.

—— Keith Cliver Got a travel story worth telling? Write it in about 400 words and send it to editor@ dgomag.com. If you’d rather tell your story, send a brief synopsis to the same address. Either way, your story should be true.

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When we arrived at the landing, we were told we had to hurry, as the tide was going out. Again, in total darkness save for a sliver of moon and pinpoints of stars, we unloaded the truck and began wading out into the lagoon, carrying bags on our backs, over our heads, and under our arms. Every few minutes, the boatman would flash a light a half mile away where the BWA was anchored in deeper water.

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Once all the gear and passengers were piled onto the truck, we drove in darkness down the one-lane coral road through the island. Headlights illuminated colorful lava-lavas as men, women, and children walked down the road carrying rice bags filled with coconuts, fish, and Pandanus leaves.

Al

The “Transport,” one of the few open-bed trucks on the island, was due to pick us up at 4:30 a.m. and take us – six Peace Corps trainees and two LCI’s (language and cultural instructors) to the next village where we would depart for the “BWA,” a closed deck outrigger canoe with an outboard motor that serves as a taxi between islands for people, goods, and animals.

rs on T Bee ap 38

������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ Thursday, December 28, 2017 | 23