Where Will Our Dispensary Guide to Southwest Colorado Take You?

art entertainment food drink music nightlife Thursday, April 27, 2017

DGO Where are they? What are the deals?

What’s the in-store vibe? We have answers

WHERE WILL OUR DISPENSARY GUIDE TO SOUTHWEST COLORADO TAKE YOU?

Also: DRAGrango and the joys and rules of drag, Harlis Sweetwater in Cortez and Aztec, Ska’s new head brewer talks shop, and how medicinal MJ was critical in becoming cancer-free

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STAFF

What’s inside Volume 2 Number 27

April 27, 2017

Chief Executive Officer

9 Mexi and Modus

not going anywhere

Douglas Bennett V.P. of Finance and Operations

Ska Brewing Co. is a Durango gem, and Kurt Randall (left) couldn’t be happier than to help polish it. In March, he stepped into the head brewer position. We talked to him about what that means for our favorite beers.

Bob Ganley V.P. of Advertising David Habrat V.P. of Marketing Kricket Lewis Founding Editors Amy Maestas

4

From the Editor

4

Love it or Hate it

6

Sound

Downtown Lowdown

8

Vintage Durango

9

Beer

David Holub Editor/ creative director

16 Get to know vaporizing

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

David Holub/DGO

»» Kurt Randall, Ska head brewer, pulls a taster at Ska’s Mod brewing operation.

Contributors Katie Cahill

5

Christopher Gallagher

On the joys and rules of drag DRAGrango will be part variety show, part competition where contestants perform twice and judges select who slayed their way to the crown. Ms. Fontoya Vendetta is this year’s host. DGO asked her how she got in the biz and what tips she has for audiences.

Alexi Grojean Meggie J Bryant Liggett Jon E. Lynch Cooper Stapleton Cyle Talley Robert Alan Wendeborn Advertising

16 Weed

Using a device called a vaporizer, ground marijuana flower (buds) can be consumed without inhaling harmful carcinogens.

375-4570

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.

Seeing Through 16 the Smoke

Elevated Discourse

17

18 Savage Love 19 Happening 20 DGO Deals 22 Horoscope/ puzzles

17 How MJ helped me

beat cancer “In February 2013, two months before I turned 38, I was diagnosed with stage 3B colon cancer.”

22 Pages 23 First Person

/dgomag

247-3504 Reader Services

6

Album Reviews 7

6

Sweetwater hits it hard If you had to describe Harlis Sweetwater after a quick, first listen, he’s a blues guitar player with hints of hard rock and even a ballad or two tossed in for a nice balance. But he’s a fan of all things music.

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

/dgomag

@dgo_mag

ON THE COVER We wish these particular shoes were actually for sale because we would buy all of the pairs and where them to all of the places.

David Holub/DGO

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

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@dg

dg

[CTRL-A]

[ love it or hate it ] David Holub |DGO editor

Chewing ice Love it

Eating, drinking in Denver, I see how standing out sells

I

found myself in Denver last weekend for the Colorado Press Association’s annual conference, and when not conferencing, I navigated knots of freeways, light rails and Ubers to venture into the big city. I drew distinctions between a metro area that has about 2.8 million more humans than Durango, distinctions big and small, obvious and subtle, all making me appreciate the snarling traffic on Camino del Rio and our lone Main Avenue, but also prompting ideas about how things might be different here.

The main destination Saturday was a beer festival we happened to hear about a day before leaving Durango. The House that Beer Built, a benefit for Habitat for Humanity, invited 21 Denver breweries (about 1/1000th of all Denver breweries) to Great Divide Brewing’s bottling hall for what I assume was the first inside beer festival ever conceived. The festival attracted some breweries whose beer we see here in Durango – Great Divide, Epic, Crazy Mountain and Dry Dock – but also had what I think of as neighborhood breweries, which I think make the craft brewing explosion quite exciting: These are not big distributors and may not distribute much at all. They’re small-batch breweries, like Living the Dream down the street from my brother’s house in Littleton, tucked into neighborhood strip malls or industrial parks in the suburbs with loyal, nearby clientele. They harken to the late 1800s – the last peak of breweries in America – where, if you wanted beer, you’d go to nearby pubs that made it themselves.

Beyond Great Divide’s Roadie Grapefruit Radler, the grapefruitiest summer session ever, which I was assured would make it to Durango soon, the clear winner of the festival for me was the Lupulin ’Ohana Pineapple Juicy IPA from Fiction Beer Co., whose employees began to recognize me after I’d gone back for sixths.

The pineapple IPA did everything right – a hazy yellow-orange sunset in color, not over-hopped, the pineapple flavor definitely there to taste but not overwhelming – but it was the concept of

the brewery that intrigued me. Located on Colfax by the old Stapleton Airport, Fiction Beer Co. is, as you might guess, book-themed: The bar is craftily built on stacked books, the beers categorized by genre (Classic, Adventure, Fantasy) and named with literary-themed inside jokes.

The brewery also hosts book clubs.

Fiction got me thinking about how, for businesses in a big city, questions of “What makes us unique?” and “Why would someone come here instead go there?” become ever more important.

Sometimes it’s location, like the neighborhood breweries, or something so niche, like Fiction.

Or sometimes, it can be through specialization and doing one or two things really well.

That was the case with Machete Tequila + Tacos, a posh, trendy restaurant near Union Station that we hit up after the beer festival. Its drink menu consisted almost entirely of tequila (about 45 different kinds) and margaritas (13). And while they had some chips and salsa-type appetizers, a few quesadillas and such on the menu, Machete’s food focused almost entirely on street-style tacos – beef, pork, lamb, chicken, fish – 17 in all. And, considering all the tacos eaten by everyone in my group, Machete nailed it.

It occurred to me that in a city of millions like Denver, the impetus to specialize is greater, where in a city like Durango, where you can find burgers, tacos and pizza on just about every menu in town, the temptation to offer general, wide-ranging menus seems just as potent. Because here, especially with the influence of tourists, if you don’t have French fries on the menu and bottles of Bud Lite somewhere on hand, it might be one more reason for customers to find a place that does.

So while expansive menus with a little something for everyone are the norm in Durango, let’s be on the lookout for those places here courageous enough to step out and do something truly simple, unique and different, the places that cling to their niche and do one or two things really well. It’ll make us that much more unique.

I am a connoisseur of ice chewing. By far, my favorite is pearl ice. It’s that slighty-smaller-than-a-dime, round ice. It’s the kinda stuff that old-school hot-dog stands serve in their soda pops. You know flaked ice, otherwise known as slushie ice? That’s my second favorite.

Big-ass ice cubes can suck it. They hurt my teeth. They are also too loud to bite into. I prefer dainty ice chewing, thank you very much.

There is a disorder called pagophagia. It’s when you chew ice like an addict. There are online communities dedicated to finding the perfect fast food ice (like icechewing.com). There are people who eat entire bags of grocery store-bought ice in a day.

I don’t do any of that. I’m not compulsive about it. I just enjoy chewing soft pearls of ice. Yes, I know I’m ruining my teeth. No, I’m not going to stop.

— Patty Templeton

Hate it Clay, cigarettes, paper, dirt, laundry soap. These are all known in the nutrition field as pica (not the lovable rodent or cherished unit of measurement) – when people eat non-food items with no nutritional value, usually because of nutrient deficiencies, most commonly seen in the odd, baby-inside cravings of pregnant people. You know what else is on that list? Ice. That’s right, it’s technically a non-food item, so I’m not alone in my cringe-inducing disdain at even the idea of eating frozen water.

Just the thought of crunching on ice makes my teeth hurt, a practice that combines the worst aspects of an ice-cream brain freeze and chomping porous rocks.

There are many reasons this activity is hate-worthy. Ice eating can be a sign of anemia – iron deficiency in particular – though it’s not clear scientifically why this causes people to add ice to their eating habits. It’s also not too good for your teeth, for the same reasons pebbles should be avoided as food, unless they’re of the Fruity and Cocoa varieties.

In the end, the fact that I squirm at the thought of chewing on ice just makes me feel normal and well-adjusted.

— David Holub

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[entertainment]

FONTOYA VENDETTA:

On the joys and rules of drag »» Saturday

brings DRAGrango 2017 to the Henry Strater Theatre

Who will get crowned Ms. Durango Pride? What about Mr. Durango Pride? Get your ass to DRAGrango to find out. Held at the Henry Strater Theatre, 699 Main Ave., DRAGrango will be part variety show, part competition where contestants perform twice and judges select who slayed their way to the crown. Interludes between drag acts will be filled by the SE School of Movement from Pagosa Springs, the local comedy of Stephen Harman and Allie Wolfe, and a surprise act by a surprise guest.

The wild night of striking delights will be a fundraiser for the Four Corners Alliance for Diversity and will feature artists from all over the region.

Ms. Fontoya Vendetta is this year’s DRAGrango host. DGO asked her how she got in the biz and what tips she has for audiences.

What are your shows like?

GO!

One of the things I am known for in Denver are my flips, splits, and the fact that I like to add something different than you would see elsewhere.

For me, drag isn’t so much an impersonation as an entertaining performance. I want to make sure people see things they’ve never seen before.

See Fontoya Vendetta host DRAGrango 2017

The easiest way for me to describe it is a Cirque du Soleil performance.

Ages: 18+

When: 8-10:30 p.m. Saturday, April 29 Where: Henry Strater Theatre, 699 Main Ave. Cost: $25/$40 (VIP) Information: https://www.picatic.com/dragrango

What got you into drag?

I had met Chi Chi LaRue and she was like, “I wanna put you in makeup. I wanna see you perform.”

I was like, “I’ve never done that before,” and she was like, “Well, you’re going to do it now.”

[Laughs] The way I say it is that you’re not going to go to a strip club without singles, why would you go to a drag show without ones?

Do you find yourself doing that to other people? Dragging them into drag?

Do you have a motto?

Live and let live.

All the time. One of the things I really like to do, my roommate has a show called “Play It Forward” and basically you work with a baby drag king or queen for about a month and then after the month, all of the knowledge that you passed on, they get to display at a show.

Bringing down someone else’s happiness isn’t going to do anything but make everyone negative.

You have a time machine. You can go back and witness any drag moment in history, what would you go see?

What’s the hardest part of your job that an audience wouldn’t know about?

Staying current and relevant, is the hardest thing.

Drag has been around for so many years and almost everything I can think of has been done one way or another. So, the hardest thing for me is to always come up with new ideas, the things that people haven’t seen.

What’s a hidden joy of your job?

At every show, I always have pictures and a meet and greet with the cast, that way if anyone wants to talk to us or get to know us, they have that opportunity.

My thing is to meet the audience after. They’re the reason why I do drag.

What makes a show successful?

Usually based on the number of people that show up.

I’ve performed for bartenders before. My idea of a successful show is having an audience and keeping an audience.

Courtesy of Fontoya Vendetta

What bad behavior can an audience leave at home?

One thing that I really dislike is when people grab me, hold me, or pick me up. I usually have a whole routine planned. Being taken off my routine for any amount of time can throw off my whole performance. Then it is just winging it.

Don’t touch the drag queens. A good drag queen will interact with you when she has the opportunity to.

And, one of the things that I make a joke about, but is true, is that if you don’t have money to tip the queens, come and enjoy the show, but know that it costs a lot of money to do drag.

In other words, tip, you bastards?

I would go back to witness Stonewall. It was the birth of drag. I’ve done a lot of research into the history of drag, but to go back and witness it would be so powerful.

After the interview, you walk out your door and find a $10 million winning lotto ticket. What happens next?

First, I would pay off all of my debt. Then, I would invest half of that. Then, I would tour the world for a while, come back, and buy a house. I like to travel and I like to make memories more than have stuff. But ... I would use a large portion to grow my drag closet.

You’d still be performing?

Oh yeah. [laughs] This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

—— Patty Templeton DGO Staff Writer

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[sound]

Downtown Lowdown | Bryant Liggett

Courtesy of Page Photgraphy/HarlisSweetwater.com

Harlis Sweetwater hits it hard: The road and the guitar

I

t’s a decent method of identification if you’re a band sticking with a traditional and unchanged sound. The bluegrass of Bill Monroe. Be-bop jazz. Ragtime. Classic hip-hop.

Classical. Otherwise, “genre” means nothing, a trivial exercise of methodical categorization. It just doesn’t work for a rock band, when “rock ’n’ roll” is at the trunk of the tree and its branches encompass all of the great sounds that make up rock ’n’ roll, and, therefore, define the trunk. Blues, jazz, folk, country, garage rock, punk. Funk and soul; “good” or “bad” just don’t work for some people, when really that’s all you need to define most styles of music.

The tree-trunk analogy is something that works for a musician like Harlis Sweetwater. If you had to describe the dude after a quick, first listen, he’s a blues guitar player with hints of hard rock and even a ballad or two tossed in for a nice bal-

Bryant’s best Friday: Rock music with Harlis Sweetwater Band, 7:30 p.m. $15.

The Sunflower Theatre, 8 E. Main St., Cortez. Information: (970) 5161818.

Saturday: Music with The Lawn Chair Kings, 9 p.m. No cover. El Rancho Tavern, 975 Main Ave. Information: 259-8111. ance. But he’s a fan of all things music, someone who will name drop Chuck Berry, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and ’80s-era punk rock like Black Flag, The Descendents, and The Angry Samoans as influences.

A quick study will reveal that all the aforementioned bands are playing the blues at the core.

The Huntington Beach-based Harlis Sweetwater Band will be in the Southwest this weekend, playing Friday in Cortez at The Sunflower Theatre, and Saturday at Crash Music in Aztec.

“I’m really anti-genre in general. The more it’s in my head and my heart, the more I’m rebelling against it. It’s just music. If asked what kind of music it is, I say ‘It’s good music.’ You’ll wanna drink, you’ll wanna dance, you’ll wanna have a good time,” said Sweetwater in a recent phone interview.

“Because, in my world, I love the punk rock, I love old-school country music, R&B, soul, rock ’n’ roll.

When we’re in the van, we’re listening to The Clash, then Toots and the Maytals, then The Specials, then Merle Haggard. We’re just musicians that love music. People wanna put you in a box and categorize you, and I get it. But at the same time, I took all the labels off my merchandise, you decide what it is for you, and if you like it come check it out.”

The band just released its new record, “Holler, Stomp and Growl,” a release that showcases Sweetwater’s aggressive guitar playing and crack band, where a ripping and a tasty ad-

dition of horns compliment the guitar work. It’s rowdy and fun.

They’re also a band that gets it, well aware of the modern method of what it takes to succeed these days in the strange music business: Get away from the studio and the confines of home and hit the road. Sweetwater’s approach of getting out there and playing is matched with an unquestionable drive and enthusiasm. He’s also got this punk-rock front-man approach to his guitar playing, an in-your-face player who isn’t afraid to ditch the stage and cut around the crowd.

“We always hit it hard, hit it as hard as we can,” said Sweetwater. “We love being out on the road, meeting new people, having these experiences, and playing our music. We just go-go-go, anywhere they’ll take us we will go and play.”

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

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[sound] What’s new Black Lips,“Satan’s graffiti or God’s art?”

of the same straightforward garage punk and “cut-a-bitch” attitude, but instead, they managed to mold their unique revivalist rock ’n’ roll into a familiar yet fresh album of brash, fuzz and sax-a-ma-phone-infused sonic dissonance.

Available: Friday, May 5, via Vice Records on compact disc and standard black vinyl LP. Atlanta’s self-proclaimed “flower punks” return with their first long-player since the swampy scuzz of 2014’s “Underneath the Rainbow” and it’s a doozy, beyond well worth the wait. Clocking in at just under 56 minutes and 18 tracks, the Sean Lennon-produced “Satan’s graffiti or God’s art?” might just be an early front-runner for my Record of the Year. It could have been easy to follow up the last album with more

New at

April 28 Gorillaz,“Humanz” The big one for the summer, and possibly the rest of the year, is finally here: Gorillaz’s glorious return. Once the track list came out, I was worried about it feeling bogged down. I wasn’t a fan of “Plastic Beach” and thought that it had entirely too much whatnot that wasn’t actually Damon Albarn singing songs.

And don’t get me started on “The Fall.”

Regardless, I went in with high hopes, because, recent output notwithstanding, Albarn knows how to put together a song. For the most part, I wasn’t disappointed. Though nothing will ever hit the high of “Demon Days” ever again, there are some outstanding moments on “Humanz.” As a huge Pusha T fan, “Let Me Out” was a massive highlight, even though it was a quick two-and-ahalf minute burst. Some of the tracks felt a little superfluous, or could’ve ended sooner. The one thing I don’t like about the more recent Gorillaz is how it’s moved so far away from being a concentration of Albarn’s experimental output and become basically a massive mixtape of people he likes working with. Some might not be put off by that but the lack of cohesiveness is off-putting to me.

Thurston Moore,“Rock N Roll Consciousness” Do you like noise rock and/or being bummed out? Hurray! Me, too! Let’s

My excitement for this particular record is in large part due to a positive lineup shift.

Founding members Cole Alexander (vocals/rhythm guitar) and Jared Swilley (vocals/ bass) reintroduced guitarist Jack Hines into the fold.

Hines was a member of the band from 2002 to 2004 and, once departed from the band, made a couple

hang out and stare at our cellphones and listen to the new album from Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore. All I needed to hear before getting excited about this one was the 45-second loop he had on his YouTube channel and I was hooked. “Rock N Roll Consciousness” is moody post rock at its very best, and I can’t wait for other people to be able to hear it. Where everyone else’s summer music is probably going to be Kendrick’s “DAMN” or whatever that last Drake album is called, this is my type of summer music, as moody and muggy as a sunset at that long, green park by the river.

of killer sludge-punk records with the K-Holes for HoZac and Hardly Art Records. In 2013, he also made a damn-near-perfect record with his wife, Julie, under the moniker Georgiana Starlington. His is a welcome return to say the very least. The album also features member additions Oakley Munson on drums and Zumi Rosow on saxophone and contributions from Saul Adamczewski of Fat White Family and guest vocals (respectfully) by none other than Yoko Ono. Recommended for fans of The Gun Club, X, The Cramps, and The Almighty Defenders, or contemporaries such as Natural Child, Night Beats, or the Growlers.

ing Trees frontman Mark Lanegan.

I’ve been on a big Sisters of Mercy kick lately, and this one is just about scratching that itch so I can stop annoying my girlfriend by repeatedly playing goth classic “Floodland.” “Gargoyle” is a contender for taking that spot. Lanegan’s voice isn’t as scratchy as it has in the past, especially on the Screaming Trees stuff or on Queens of

—— Jon E. Lynch KDUR_PD@fortlewis.edu

the Stone Age’s “Songs for the Deaf” (the greatest rock album of all time).

Regardless, his voice still aches with pain, rivaled only by progenitor of the genre Tom Waits, and contemporary Nick Cave. “Gargoyle” has its moments of levity, but don’t dive in unless you are prepared to get a little bit sad.

—— Cooper Stapleton

Dimmu Borgir,“Forces of the Northern Night” Oh, Dimmu Borgir. You used to scare the shit out of me. They were the first black metal band I ever laid my ears and eyes on and I was immediately infatuated. The corpse paint, the spikes, the boots, and the sheer grandeur of it all. “Progenies of the Great Apocalypse” made black metal fans out of an entire generation that heard that song, and this live album allowed me to relive that experience anew.

Performing with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra lends the performance far more gusto than the records ever gave, and gives the truest experience of Dimmu Borgir’s music out there. I don’t listen to them much anymore, but this record brought me back to being 15 and being really excited to find some way to rebel that felt genuine to who I am.

Mark Lanegan,“Gargoyle” Speaking of moody summer music, here is the new one from ex-Scream-

256996

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»» Ad for the midnight show at the Kiva Theatre in the Durango News on July 13, 1951.

Midnight monster show All you bats and ghouls, the creature feature is calling you ... or at least it was. Old-time Durango used to have midnight monster shows at the Kiva for 65 cents a seat! As if that wasn’t enough to bring all the mummies and murderers out, anyone “brave enough” to stay through the whole movie “Murders in the Rue Morgue” was given a free ticket to another show.

Um, yes, I can sit through your black and white, 1932 loose adaptation of the Poe story, especially since it stars Bela Lugosi a year after he played Dracula.

If you haven’t seen it, “Murders in the Rue Morgue” is a cult classic that takes place in 1845 Paris. A mad scientist abducts virgins and injects them with ape blood to, um, try and morph them into a girlfriend for his sideshow ape, Erik.

WT and F. Gotta love them Pre-Code Hollywood days before motion picture censorship guidelines went into effect in the mid-1930s.

—— Patty Templeton DGO Staff Writer

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[beer]

SKA’S NEW HEAD BREWER:

‘MEXI AND MODUS AREN’T GOING ANYWHERE’ »» Kurt Randall

talks shop at Ska Brewing Co.

Ska Brewing Co. is a GD Durango gem, and Kurt Randall couldn’t be happier than to help polish it. Randall has been at Ska for two years as brewhouse supervisor. In March, he stepped into the head brewer position. We talked to him about how his role has changed and what that means to our favorite beers.

How is being a head brewer different than being brewhouse supervisor?

bit lately. It’s a little bit hoppier for a pilsner.

Any secret competition with a brewery in Colorado?

Well, I was on the brewdeck three or four days a week when I was the brewhouse supervisor, actually supervising the brewing of beer. Now, I’ll fill in when somebody takes a vacation. I’ll work a shift or two.

Now, I’m creating recipes, managing inventory, and making sure we have everything we need.

Not off the top of my head. I really appreciate what Troy Casey is doing up in Glenwood, but we can’t really do that. He’s using up a lot of mixed fermentation and bacteria and that doesn’t really work with our facility as far as having another place to keep all the bacteria and mixed fermentation separate from day to day production.

But that’s definitely something I’d like to get us into. More barrel-aged and mixed fermentation. I’m hoping to do it in the next couple of years.

When is the busiest time of year for Ska? Mexi (Mexican Logger) season. Right now.

We started going 24/7 in February and that will be through the end of October. We started doing Mexican Logger in February and it goes through the summer. We can barely keep up with demand on that beer.

David Holub/DGO

»» Kurt Randall, Ska head brewer, stands on the catwalk outside Ska World Headquarters.

What excites you about this gig?

Getting to write more recipes. Getting to have my ideas out there.

Where do you get your ideas from?

Drinking beer [laughs].

That’s a hard life.

It is [laughs].

What flavors or styles of beer do you lean toward?

I’ve always been a big IPA fan. I fell in love with Modus [Hoperandi IPA] the first time I had it. I’ve also fallen in love with sour beers, just like most of America. We can’t seem to get enough of it.

What boundaries are you looking to push beer-wise?

to get stuff. I’m doing a weekly inventory just to keep track of what we got and what brews are coming up.

Every Monday morning I come in and count everything.

I have to order two weeks ahead from when inventory will be here. That’s a challenge, being this far away from Denver. A lot of this stuff you can have dropped off that day or even go pick it up, in a bigger city.

Being six or seven hours away from the city, you gotta plan a little bit better.

What was your favorite crap beer you drank as a kid who couldn’t afford any better?

Ohhh, I drank a lot of PBR. I was a river guide when I was 21, and it was an easy-drinking light beer for a raft trip.

I want to press for new and creative styles. Joe [Hull] has been going to town with all the fruit beers, so I’m going to leave that up to him [at Mod Brewery]. We over-contracted on some hops, so we gotta figure out a way to get those out in the market in beer. We are looking at, what I think the term is these days, a “juicy” IPA.

What was the first beer you drank that opened up your palette?

What’s a challenge to your job folks might not realize?

I still absolutely love Modus, but it depends on the day, my mood. If it’s hot out I’ll be drinking Mexi. I’ve been digging on the Pils [World Craft] Lager quite a

Being that we are in Durango, it takes quite a while

I was actually drinking Sierra Nevada Pale Ale when I was 16. I’ve just always been a big fan of beer. That was definitely the first craft beer I had.

What’s your favorite Ska beer right now?

Does Colorado act as an inspiration for the type of beer you want to make?

We have a hell of a craft beer industry going on here as far as other breweries and we are pushing the limits with some of the beers being cranked out. It’s great having six different breweries in such a small town and getting to talk to other brewers. Not quite as many as Denver, but we’re pushing the envelope with six. It’s pretty awesome.

Is it important for you to work at an independently-owned brewery?

Absolutely. It’s nice being able to see Dave [Thibodeau] on a regular basis, to chat with the owners, get their opinions, find out what they’re thinking and where they want to go. I enjoy it a lot more than, say, when I was at Breckenridge who got bought out by Anheuser-Busch and now they are part of the machine, so to speak.

Hints of things to come at Ska? We got some sours coming out soon that we’re going to put into packaging. There are a few other ideas going on. The big one coming up soon is the sours.

Any last tidbits to share?

Mexi and Modus aren’t going anywhere, nor are they changing. I’ve seen a lot of comments on social media saying, “Just don’t change Modus!” I’m not gonna mess with a good thing.

—— Patty Templeton DGO Staff Writer

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[beer]

First Draughts | Robert Alan Wendeborn

‘Whales’: Where beer, scarcity and nerdom meet

I

f you’re up on your beer social media, you know about “beer haul” shots. Pictures of bottles and cans arranged nicely, usually from someone’s vacay to the Northeast, or from some super-rare release, or just a trip to the local bottle shop that turned up an overlooked beer.

They’re mostly a way for beer nerds to show how cool they are, like, women showing off their legs poolside, or moms showing off their cute babies or cat people showing how crazy they are. The beers in these pictures run the gamut from mainline regional craft brews to annual releases of some hyper-local brewery’s barrel-aged whatever-the-hell. For the most part, I’m pretty immune to this type of rabid consumerism (maybe it’s because, as a child, I knew I was never going to get the hot new toy, but, rather,

last year’s model, or a cheap knock-off), but for those who are, as you scroll through streams of these photos, you will go through some phases similar to grief.

Denial: No way, did he get that many bottles of Hunahpu!

Anger: What does he need that many bottles of Hunahpu for?!

Bargaining: Maybe if I invite him to my next bottle share, he’ll bring one of those Hunahpus ...

Depression: OMG, I may die before even tasting a sip of a Hunahpu :(.

Acceptance: It’s OK. There’s always next year, and I DO have tickets to Dark Lord Day this year.

Right now, if you’re not a hardcore beer nerd, you might be saying, “WTF is a Hunahpu? What is a Dark Lord Day?” To answer your question though, Hunahpu is an Imperial Stout with chocolate, peppers, and spices, brewed by Cigar City Continued on Page 11

Alexi Grojean/Special to DGO

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From Page 10

in Tampa Bay, Florida. Dark Lord is a Russian Imperial Stout brewed with coffee, vanilla, and Indian sugar.

But it doesn’t matter what they are. I could have made them up, but I didn’t.

The point is, people lose their shit for them. In this secret world of beer nerdom, these types of beer are called “whales” – coveted beers because of their rarity or their high demand from beer traders in other regions of the country.

And people will wait in line for hours for these beers. They’ll hire “mules” to wait in line for them.

They’ll spend thousands of dollars for one bottle. Is that crazy? Maybe.

For a lot of people, spending tons of money on beer is just plain stupid.

But I’d say the same for someone who spends a lot of money on a car, or their hair, or whatever. In my mind, this is great for beer. It shows that beer has a high end. When beer has a high end, you don’t have to rely on quantity, but quality, to make your money as a pro-

ducer. It also shows the sophistication of the consumer: They can tell the difference between a mass-produced craft beer and a hand-crafted one-of-akind drinking experience.

I will say that you won’t often find me in line for a rare beer. You won’t find me lurking the internet, looking for expensive beers. But, the other day at the grocery store, when I was looking for a chicken biscuit from the deli, I saw a four-pack of Founder’s Kentucky Breakfast Stout and I bought it on impulse. When I recently showed up late to a bottle share and was offered a taste of Bourbon County Stout, I told them to pour it directly into my mouth. I don’t really seek out whales, they usually find me, except in D.C. last week for the Craft Brewers Conference. I asked every bar for a Natty Boh. It took me three days, but I found a bar that had it.

Robert Alan Wendeborn is a former cellar operator at Ska Brewing and current lead cellar operator at Tin Roof Brewing in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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[ democracy ]

Trump and television FROM THE FILES OF

What you need to know President Trump is a 70-year-old man obsessed with television.

BUBBLE HASH $25/G*

Why this is not normal

NOT NORMAL

Trump’s staff appear on television because they know if their boss sees them on TV, he’ll be more receptive to the ideas they put on the table. The same goes for pundits and representatives. Newt Gingrich has gone on record saying that before he could even walk from the “Fox and Friends” studio to his car, Trump called him to say he gave good interview.

Foreign ambassadors ask their leaders to go on television, not for publicity, but so Trump knows who they are and their country’s political conversation.

Sean Spicer, a press secretary who has made multiple, large-scale gaffs, will not be fired because, Trump said, “That guy gets great ratings. Everyone tunes in.” Because ratings are a press secretary’s job, not transparency with the American public.

Democracy depends on a well-informed citizenry, whether those citizens are minimum wage workers waiting for mid-term elections or the president. The president is surrounded by experts who have spent decades studying issues and yet, he gets his information from cable news shows whose first priorities are ratings and profit, not the truth.

Trump’s world-altering, political decisions are based on whoever can best dominate the soundbite, just like he did in the election.

—— Patty Templeton DGO Staff Writer

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Follow us on Instagram for 10% OFF @acmedurango NEW HOURS 8AM-7PM • 7 DAYS A WEEK 1644 CTY RD 203 - OLD SWEENEYS BLDG (970) 247-2190 • ACMEHEALINGCENTER.COM

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CANNABIS DISPENSARY GUIDE TO SOUTHWEST COLORADO Durango Acme Healing Center Durango 1644 Colorado Road 203, 247-2190, www.acmehealingcenter.com

Store vibe: High quality, Colorado-grown cannabis, edibles, drinks, tinctures, CBD products, and more line the cases in Animas Herbal’s artistic, cozy space. A friendly, informed staff is ready to step in if you want guidance through their plethora of cannabis products.

»»Recreational Deals:

»»15 percent off to military or veterans »»5 percent off locals »»varied daily and weekly specials Menu: www.acmehealingcenter.com/ strains Store vibe: A golden wood interior gives Acme Healing Center Durango a serene ambiance. Their u-shaped counter encourages you to pull up a chair and talk to astute budtenders. Added bonus, Acme’s the closest dispensary to Purgatory Mountain Resort.

Colorado Grow Co. 965½ Main Ave., 259-1647, www.coloradogrowcompany.com

»»Recreational Deals:

»»20 percent off to military or veterans »»20 percent off locals discount (Bayfield, Hesperus, Ignacio, and other nearby towns included)

»»20 percent off to medical MJ card holders (any state)

»»20 percent off to students with current I.D.

Animas Herbal Recreational Store

»»Loyalty card: Buy nine of any item and get your 10th for a penny

»»Daily specials on flower

1111 Camino del Rio, Suite 5, 385-8622, www.animasherbal.com

Menu: http://www.coloradogrowcompany.com/recent-strains

»»Medical and recreational

Store vibe: An open concept space with warm, exposed brick, the Colorado Grow Company is the only dispensary located on Main Ave. in downtown Durango. Tucked away on the second floor above The Jewelry Works, customers are encouraged to shop at their own pace in a historic space. Strains are available to see and smell up close.

Deals:

»»15 percent off to military or veterans »»Full flower 1 gram joints – one joint for $10, four for $35, seven for $60

»»$40 eighths from the Gold Shelf »»$200 select ounces »»Pick up a review card in-store, then leave a review on Google, Facebook, Weedmaps, or Leafly to receive two grams for the price of one. Must present review card for discount.

Menu: www.animasherbal.com/menu

Durango Organics Recreational Store 72 Suttle St., Suite G, 259-3674, http://durangoorganics.com

»»Medical and recreational Deals:

»»10 percent off to military or veterans »»$225 select ounces »»Happy hour: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily on rec side for select $35 eighths Menu: www.durangoorganics.com/durango-marijuana-strains Store vibe: Known for their vast edible selection, Durango Organics is a clean, courteous shop that strives to provide high quality cannabis. Budtenders will guide you through the edible and bud bars.

»» Where

are they? What are the deals?

What’s the in-store vibe? We have answers Weed tour! Southwest Colorado has dozens of dispensaries situated in quaint, historic towns near state parks, breweries, adventure sports, and scenic locales. Whether you’re on a quick herb errand or want a fabulous day trip, here’s your guide to Colorado’s Four Corners cannabis community.

Reminder: You can find more extensive discounts if you check a dispensary’s social media accounts for pop-up sales.

Regarding discounts: Assume that you will need to show appropriate I.D. for local, military, or medical discounts (some recreational-only shops offer deep discounts for customers with medical cards, so be sure to ask). Also, each store will have a different policy on if they do or do not allow discount-stacking. »»20 percent off to military or veterans »»Loyalty card: Get nine stamps and your 10th is free (Categories include joints, grams, eighths, and edibles.)

»»Monday: Buy one gram and get the second gram 50 percent off

»»Tuesday: 15 percent off all edibles and drinks

»»Wednesday: 15 percent off all wax, shatter, hash, and oils

»»Thursday: 15 percent off any one item of your choice

145 E. College Drive, 764-4087, www.durangorecroom.com

»»Recreational Deals:

»»10 percent off locals discount on flower

»»$12 1 gram select top shelf bud »»$35 eighths select top shelf bud

Menu: http://durangogreenery.com/ marijuana-strains Store vibe: The Greenery demystifies pot shopping for beginners and carries the variety that connoisseurs enjoy in a discreet, accessible location in Bodo industrial park. Owned by Joel and Brian, Fort Lewis alumni and longtime Durango residents, The Greenery uses natural, innovative grow systems to create a sustainable, community-friendly business.

Menu: www.durangorecroom.com/flower Store vibe: Located on College Drive in downtown Durango, the Durango Rec Room is a bright, spacious shop located on the second floor of the Sunburst building.

It’s a calm, well-lit space where you’re encouraged to make yourself feel at home while you look at the menu of Southwest Colorado-grown product.

Medical Horticulture Services (MHS)

The Greenery

»»Tuesday: 20 percent off topicals,

208 E. Parker Ave. Suite E, 403-3710, http://durangogreenery.com

»»Wednesday: $155 select one ounce,

»»Recreational

»»Thursday: Buy two edibles, get the

789 Tech Center Drive, Suite E, 2474372, www.mhsdgo.com

»»Medical Deals:

»»Monday: Four-gram eighths - limit two eighths

Deals:

on vapes, hash, and concentrates

»»Sunday: $20 eighths select strains Menu: www.mhsdgo.com/strain-menu Store Vibe: Medical Horticulture Services (MHS) is a locally-owned dispensary with an on-site grow facility. You must have a Colorado medical MJ card to enter.

They have an all-organic, discreet facility with over 30 strains in rotation, member perks, and an informed staff.

»»Friday: Spend $50 and get a pre-roll for $1

Durango Rec Room

»»Friday: Buy two joints, get the third free »»Saturday: Buy three get fourth free

Rocky Mountain High 120 E. 36th St., 259-4093, http://rockymountainhigh.co

third for 50 percent off

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2345, http://doobiesistersco.com

Deals:

»»Recreational

»»Wheel Wednesdays: Spin the in-store wheel and receive the deal you land on

»»Loyalty program: Special pricing, discounts, and points for every visit after sign-up Menu: www.santecolorado.com/recreational Store Vibe: Safe, discreet, and professional service awaits you at Santé. Cordial, up-to-date staff will usher you through high-end, locally-grown cannabis, infusions, accessories, tinctures, topicals, and all of your cannabis questions in a historic, downtown Durango shop.

»»Recreational Deals:

Telluride Bud Co.

»»10 percent off to military or veterans »»30 percent off for medical MJ card-

3473 Main Ave., 422-8311, www.telluridebc.com

holders Happy hour: 4:20 to 6 p.m. every day, four pre-rolls for $20 Loyalty card: Buy seven eighths and get your eighth eighth for $1 Menu: www.massroots.com/strains Store Vibe: Rocky Mountain High has seven locations across Colorado, with Durango’s being in a beautiful red castle-house on the north side of town.

Expect an upscale selection of top-quality, Colorado-grown cannabis, extracts, oils, edibles, and hash in a chill, no-rush environment.

tinctures, and tablets $300 select two ounces

»»Medical and recreational

Santé Durango 742½ Main Ave., 375-2837, www.santecolorado.com

»»Recreational Deals:

»»Daily specials on select strains »»Loyalty card: Fill a card and be entered into a drawing for big discounts Menu: www.telluridebc.com/durango-retail-marijuana-store-telluride-bud-company.html Store Vibe: Hardwood floors and bright white walls create an upbeat, industrial rustic look. Easy-going staff are ready to answer your big and small cannabis questions.

Cortez The Doobie Sisters 695 N. Broadway, Cortez, (970) 565-

Pssst!

Help us keep these listings up to date All information and specials are current as of April 2017.

If you are a business and have a change you’d like to request to your listing, please email ptempleton@bcimedia.com.

smaller space. Reasonable prices and an experienced staff.

Deals:

»»Monday: 20 percent off topicals »»Tuesday: 20 percent off edibles »»Wednesday: Buy one, get one 50 percent off concentrates

»»Thursday: 20 percent off drinks »»Friday: Purchase any full-priced eighth and get a gram free (Does not apply to Willie’s Reserve)

»»Happy hour: 4:20 to 7 p.m. every day, all flower prices drop.

»»Doobie Dollars do not apply to discounted items.

Menu: http://doobiesistersco.com/menu Store Vibe: Locally-owned, the Doobie Sisters is run by real sisters. They provide high-end, Colorado-grown weed in a comfortable, amiable environment.

The Herbal Alternative 1531 Lebanon Rd., Cortez, (970) 5297007, http://theherbalalternative.net

»»Medical and recreational Deals:

»»10 percent off to military or veterans »»10 percent off locals discount (CO I.D. holders)

»»Early bird: 10 percent off everything from 8 to 10 a.m.

»»30 percent off to CO medical MJ cardholders (medicated products only)

»»50 percent off joints on days when the pirate flag is flying (usually bad weather or heavy wind days)

»»Loyalty card: Issued for specific

Durango Organics 1104 E. Main St., Cortez, (970) 5656500, http://durangoorganics.com/cortez-marijuana-dispensary

»»Medical and recreational Deals:

»»10 percent off to military or veterans »»$25 eighths popcorn buds »»Select grams starting at $10 »»Loyalty program: Special pricing and discounts after sign-up Menu: http://durangoorganics.com/cortez-marijuana-dispensary Store Vibe: Durango Organics Cortez is a homey storefront that showcases a surprisingly wide variety of cannabis products (especially concentrates and edibles) in a

categories

»»Monday: Mix or match four grams for the same price as a regular eighth OR mix and match seven grams for 30 percent off of the regular price; $100 ounces of select prepackaged strains from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.; 50 percent off select strains 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

»»Tuesday: $70 for two eighths; $100 ounces of select prepackaged strains from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.; 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. 50 percent off select strains

»»Wednesday: Wheel Wednesday: Spin the in-store wheel and get whatever deal you land on; $100 ounces of select prepackaged strains from 1 to Continued on Page 14

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[dispensary guide]

The spark to start

»» Why Southwest Colorado folks

get into the business of weed

People use cannabis for medicinal, lifestyle and party purposes, but what gets someone so jazzed about Colorado herb to be in the actual business of selling weed legally? DGO asked a few folks to find out.

From Page 13 3 p.m.

»»Thursday: $100 ounces of select pre-

products Store Vibe: A roomy, easy-to-find store, The Medicine Man hosts a selection of cannabis, extracts, edibles, and pre-rolls.

packaged strains from 1 to 3 p.m.

»»Friday: 20 percent off everything in store »»Saturday: $10 off all concentrates »»Sunday: 20 percent off everything in store

»»More discounts apply to medical-specific purchases.

Mancos The Bud Farm 385 N. Willow St., Mancos, (970) 5339931, http://thebudfarm.net

Durango Rec Room

Menu: http://theherbalalternative.net/ recreational/flowers

»»Medical and recreational

Why they’re in the biz

Store Vibe: Do you want a brewery tour experience but with cannabis? The Herbal Alternative runs tours of their entire facility – medical and recreational grows included – at 2 p.m. every day. Hospitable, fun budtenders can guide you through cutting-edge, fresh products from edibles to strains.

»»$145 (plus tax) weekly grower’s spe-

LivWell

»»Tuesday: 15 percent off any two items »»Wednesday: $35 eighths, $200 select

“A friend of mine who has MS was telling me all of the medicinal benefits of marijuana,” said Pat Dalton. “I was going through a very difficult time. [My friends] were all saying, ‘You have to try this.’ I was like, ‘I don’t smoke weed.’ I was busy being a dad and working hard and focusing on business, but finally, I told them I would take a hit if they would leave me alone. I took one hit and it was the first breath I had taken in 10 years. I literally went, ‘Wow, this is the first time I’ve felt normal in a decade.’ That was the light bulb moment that made me think that this could help everybody. It did this for me, and I want to share this experience with other people ... I want people’s buying experience to be really good. When you walk out, we want you to know that we care about you and that we want you to feel good.”

The Herbal Alternative After serving for five years in the U.S. Coast Guard, Garrett Smith exited military service. Smith, the owner of The Herbal Alternative, developed a debilitating seizure disorder: “I really couldn’t find a product at the time that would curb my epilepsy, other than cannabis. I started using cannabis and then it got fairly expensive for me to purchase, so I got into growing at my residence. Then, an opportunity came by, with a friend, to purchase a dispensary in need of revitalization.”

The Bud Farm Why they’re in the biz

1819 E. Main St., Cortez, (970) 565-9577, http://www.livwell.com/cortez-2/ Deals:

»»Varied deals on weekly featured products »»Sign-up for LivWell Rewards for more deals Menu: www.livwell.com/products Store Vibe: A storefront in historic Cortez, located nine miles from Mesa Verde National Park, LivWell Cortez carries a vast amount of edibles, concentrates, glass, apparel, and more than 20 strains.

Owners Lea and Jim Cody came to cannabis culture through pain management. Jim, a former college football player, found that marijuana was the only pain medicine that allowed him to keep a clear head. It was a discovery he wanted to share: “We believe in the medicinal properties and benefits of [marijuana],” said Lea Cody. Cannabis “has helped people we know who have had cancer or debilitating diseases, and [we] feel it should be available. We believe in educating the public about the plant and its uses.”

The Medicine Man

Good Earth Meds

»»Medical and recreational

310 E. Main St., Cortez, (970) 564-5181 http://cortezmedicineman.com Deals:

Why they’re in the biz Bill Delany is a veteran who Western medicine could not remedy. In 1999, Delany developed Crohn’s disease. In 2007, he was put on 100 percent disability. “My Crohn’s was so bad that I never thought I’d work again,” Delany said.

After not having marijuana in over two decades, Dealny tried it after reading a chance notice in the paper about medical marijuana becoming accessible in 2009. “There is more scientific proof on how marijuana works on Crohn’s and MS than on any other diseases,” said Delany, “and I’ll be damned if it didn’t turn it around for me.” Delany wanted to openly share the success of cannabis’ medicinal properties and opened Good Earth Meds.

»»15 percent off to military or veterans »»Early bird: 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. every day, varied discounts

»»Happy hour: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. every day, varied discounts

»»Monday: 20 percent off moon rocks »»Tuesday: 20 percent off concentrates

»»Wednesday: 20 percent off CBD products

Interviews have been edited and condensed for clarity.

—— Patty Templeton DGO Staff Writer

cial top shelf ounce

»»Loyalty card for locals only: 420 punch card. For every $20 spent, card is punched, when $420 is spent, turn in the card for a $42 discount.

»»Monday: 15 percent off edibles, $10 select grams, $2 off joints

»»Recreational

Why they’re in the biz

Deals:

»»Thursday: 20 percent off all drinks, buy one get one on joints, and a manager’s special

»»Friday: Buy one eighth get a joint for one penny

»»Saturday: 20 percent off edibles »»Sunday: four gram eighths Menu: http://cortezmedicineman.com/

top shelf ounce

»»Thursday: $10 select grams, 15 percent off pipes

»»Friday: 15 percent off wax and Trailblazer hash, 15 percent off military or veterans or patrons wearing red

»»Saturday: 15 percent off shatter, 20 percent off glass pipes, $70 1/4s

»»Sunday: $10 select grams, $200 select top shelf ounce Menu: http://thebudfarm.net/marijuana-products/recreational-marijuana-bud-menu Store Vibe: The Bud Farm is a boutique-size ma-n-pa pot shop with an on-site grow facility. With easy highway access, the Bud Farm specializes in creating personal relationships with customers and flavorful connoisseur strains.

LivWell 449 Railroad Ave., Suite 1, Mancos, (970) 533-9848, http://www.livwell.com/locations/

»»Recreational Deals:

»»Varied deals on weekly featured products

»»Sign-up for LivWell Rewards for more deals Menu: www.livwell.com/products Store Vibe: LivWell Mancos is a bright, cheerful addition to the cannabis community. At 7,000 feet elevation, LivWell Mancos has flower, concentrates, edibles, topicals, glass, accessories, and more in a primo mountain setting.

Continued on Page 15

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[dispensary guide] From Page 14

Pagosa Springs Good Earth Meds 600 Cloman Blvd., Suite 1, Pagosa Springs, (970) 731-3202, http://goodearthmeds.com

»»Recreational Deals:

»»10 percent off to veterans (with I.D.) »»10 percent off all non-sale items every Tuesday

»»Medical MJ cardholders discount when asked

»»Discount basket: Large basket instore filled to the brim with daily-rotating products all 20 percent off Menu: http://goodearthmeds.com/recmenu_302.html Store Vibe: A little off the beaten path, Good Earth Meds is worth the drive. It may look non-descript from the front, but enter and you’ll find a warmly-finished, open-concept dispensary. A patient staff.

with a bright white roof is a hop off the highway in downtown Pagosa Springs.

The Green House has three full-service counters with well-versed budtenders ready to guide you through their extensive selection of edibles, tinctures, topicals, strains, concentrates, and therapeutic products.

270 E. Pagosa St., Pagosa Springs, (970) 264-3420, http://greenhousepagosa. com

»»Veterans get double stamps »»Loyalty card: Five stamps gets a penny gram of select bud

»»Early bird: $300 select ounces 8 a.m. to noon

»»Happy hour: $300 select ounces 7 to 9 p.m.

Store Vibe: A large greenhouse

Menu: http://sanjuanstrains.com/menu-2

Menu: No online menu available Store Vibe: Knowledgeable budtenders will spend time with you at this friendly, convenient storefront. Loud, blue and red walls paired with warm hardwood floors create joyful, open space that will be a variety-packed pleasure to shop in.

»»Medical and recreational

Silverton

Deals:

Acme Healing Center

»»Medical and recreational

1330 Greene St., Silverton, (970) 3870267, https://www.acmehealingcenter. com

»»Rotating daily and weekly specials

»»Rotating daily and weekly deals Menu: http://pagosaorganic.com/ourcurrent-menu Store Vibe: Pagosa Organic Therapeutics looks utilitarian from the outside, with its metal corrugated structure, but its vivid walls make it cheerful on the inside. They have a wide variety of topicals, edibles, tinctures, and other cannabis produts.

356 E. Pagosa St., Suite B., Pagosa Springs, (970) 264-5323, http://sanjuanstrains.com

»»Recreational Deals:

»»$125 select ounces every day Menu: www.acmehealingcenter.com/ strains Store Vibe: Quality cannabis and a focus on amiable education of customers are standout services at Acme Healing Center Silverton. Stop by after your trip on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge train for a picturesque pot store in a historic downtown.

Deals: Menu: www.cannabistelluride.com/ menu Store Vibe: Pre-rolled joints, bubble hash, concentrates, and potent, organic strains are what you’ll find at Delilah in downtown Telluride. You’ll find connoisseur strains not available elsewhere.

Telluride Bud Co. 135 S. Spruce St., Telluride, (970) 2396039, http://www.telluridebc.com

»»Recreational Deals:

»»Recreational

Silverton Green Works

daily specials

124 E. 13th St., Suite A, Silverton, (970) 387-9931, https://www.silvertongreenworks.com

»»Monday: 20 percent off health and wellness products

»»Tuesday: 10 percent off San Juan

»»Recreational

Strains apparel

Deals:

»»Wednesday: Buy two grams of con-

»»25 percent off to military or veterans

centrate and get a free edible

»»Thursday: Buy two multidose infused

Menu: http://greenhousepagosa.com/ our-current-menu

from 8 a.m. to noon

»»Rotating daily and weekly deals

115 W. Colorado Ave., Telluride, (970) 728-5880, www.cannabistelluride.com

298 Bastille Dr., Suite B1, Pagosa Springs, (970) 731-4204, http://pagosaorganic.com

»»Happy hour: 3 to 6 p.m., rotating

Deals:

»»Sunday: 15 percent off baked goods

Deals:

Delilah

Pagosa Organic Therapeutics

Deals:

»»Recreational

trates

Store Vibe: An eager staff create a welcoming atmosphere at San Juan Strains.

An approachable storefront with a comfy lobby leads into modern rustic counters with budtenders who will work with you to find what suits your needs, rather than pushing brands on you.

San Juan Strains The Green House

»»Saturday: 20 percent off all concen-

drinks and get a free pint glass

(with I.D.)

»»15 percent off for medical MJ card-

»»Rotating daily and weekly specials Menu: www.telluridebc.com/telluride-retail-marijuana-store.html Store Vibe: At Telluride Bud Co., you’ll peruse top-shelf strains, a diverse array of infused products, and cannabis light caviar (marijuana flower infused with hash or concentrated THC). This locally-owned shop in downtown Telluride has a reputation for trailblazing their grow capabilities and customer service.

holders (any state)

»»Friday: 20 percent off all intimate

Menu: www.silvertongreenworks.com/ price-list

products

Store Vibe: Super-friendly staff and a convenient downtown location make Silverton Green Works a must-visit when in the cozy, mountain town. Expect affordable pricing and a great selection of cannabis, especially pre-rolls, edibles, and extracts.

Telluride

HOME OF THE COOLEST MARGARITAS IN TOWN!

Alpine Wellness

HAPPY HOUR

Monday - Friday 2:30pm - 6pm 948 Main Ave · Durango, Co 970.259.7655

300 W. Colorado Ave., Suite 2C, Telluride, (970) 728-1834, http://alpinewellness.co 255904

»»Medical and recreational

Telluride Green Room 250 S. Fir St., Telluride, (970) 728-7999, http://telluridegreenroom.com

»»Medical and recreational Deals:

»»Rotating daily and weekly specials Menu: http://telluridegreenroom.com/ menu Store Vibe: Reasonable prices and a wide variety keep folks coming to Telluride Green Room. The pet-friendly storefront has approachable budtenders willing to take the time to lead you through their products.

—— Patty Templeton DGO Staff Writer

������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Thursday, April 27, 2017 | 15

[ weed ] Vaping: A primer Seeing Through the Smoke Christopher Gallagher

Blue Dream: The prototypical hybrid strain

W

hen it comes to picking a favorite strain, we all have preferences. You may fall in love the first time you time you encounter something new or your preferences may be revealed over time by the sampling of a range of varieties. Or, you may have a few strains that stay in your rotation – with some investigation, you may come to understand exactly where on the cannabis family tree your sweet spot is located, helping to make future buying, smoking, and growing choices easier.

One of the cool byproducts of legalization is the ability to track the sales of each and every strain available in the legal states. According to a handful of sites that engage in this kind

of thing, the big winner for sales last year was Blue Dream, coming in at a cool $49 million in sales in Colorado, Washington, and Oregon, while inhabiting the top sales slot in California’s medical program.

Blue Dream is a high (17-24 percent) THC cultivar that is a cross of the indica-dominant strain known as Blueberry and Haze, a sativa created by mixing a few landrace strains from around the world.

Haze, one of the most famous and important foundation cannabis strains ever produced, is one of the generation of strains with ties to the wild, natural landraces known as heirloom strains, developed in Santa Cruz, California, in the 1960s from Mexican, Thai, Colombian, and South Indian plants. The background genetics of equatorial sati-

NOW THAT WE’RE FULL ON BLUEGRASS… Come in for some green grass!

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A vaporizer uses ground marijuana flower (buds) that can be consumed without inhaling harmful carcinogens. The marijuana is heated to just below the point of combustion, putting out a puff of vapor to inhale.

Types

vas created an American classic whose high will send your mind on a powerful rocket blast straight into the stratosphere. Due to the fact that Haze’s ancestors come from areas on the globe where the weather is steamy and the growing season is long, it, like other sativas, presents some challenges to the would-be grower. Namely, the long flowering time and tall, lanky plants (they may grow more than 15 feet tall outdoors) may not be well-suited for the average indoor grow setup.

Enter Blueberry. One of the reasons breeders and growers combine the genetics of indica and sativa (and ruderalis) plants is to create new cultivars that maintain the best characteristics of the strains that comprise their lineage while fixing issues that make growing certain strains more difficult. Blueberry, like Haze, is a plant that traces its history back several decades and has been sewn widely with great results.

A child of legendary strain creator DJ Short, the 2000 Cannabis Cup winner is the product of Afghani indicas crossed with Thai and Mexican sativas to create an indica-dominant (80/20) cross to create a classic that has been the foundation of many a breeding and growing program since the 1970s. The practical benefit of crossing this tight, bushy strain with a soaring sativa is seen in the smaller, more manageable offspring, which fits better in most grow rooms and shortens the duration from planting to harvest. Also, the addition of the Afghani genetics mellows out the sometimes racy/paranoid Haze buzz.

Blue Dream, which has been around since about 2003, is the prototype of a strain that takes the best of existing plants and combines them to create something both novel and familiar: It is easy to grow, produces string yields for the grower and a positive experience for the smoker. It is easy enough to see why it has become so popular in a relatively short span of time.

Desktop

Christopher Gallagher lives with his wife and their four dogs and two horses. Life is pretty darn good. Contact him at chrstphrgallagher@gmail.com.

»»Clean your device often to ensure proper use and excellent taste.

These plug into the wall and have a bowl where you place the ground cannabis buds. Some have a whip that attaches to the bowl, which is basically a lid that fits the bowl with a tube and a mouthpiece to draw from.

Portable These have rechargeable batteries and small ovens that can be filled.

They usually need recharging after about four hours of use. Most come with their own charger.

Pros »»Because you are not burning anything, you get an amazingly flavorful hit even several hits into the bowl. »»A healthier alternative to smoking. »»The timing of the onset is similar to smoking, but the buzz is a bit different. »»Gives a clean fresh high, longer lasting than smoking without the toxic feeling of smoke.

Cons »»Price. Decent setups can run $200-$400. »»While there are lots of cheaper models on the market, buyer beware. Some do not heat the pot enough, or have a good delivery system for the vaporized pot, leaving you feeling like you didn’t get a hit, or worse, like you wasted your weed and you’re still not high.

Tips »»Already vaped buds (AVBs) still retain a bit of THC and CBDs and can be used in baking, so you can get high twice. »»It’s best to grind your weed finely so the heat distributes evenly through the weed and gives a better hit and longer-lasting bowl.

—— Meggie J

16 | Thursday, April 27, 2017 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

[ weed ] Medical marijuana history

Elevated Discourse Meggie J

My survivor story How medical marijuana was critical in becoming cancer-free

L

ate in the fall of 2012, I went camping in the desert. In the morning, I trucked out to find a secluded spot to dig myself a hole to do my morning business. Afterwards, shovel in hand ready to refill the hole, I looked down at the red and brown striped candy cane poop I had produced. Beets? I did a mental scan. No, I had not had beets in the last few days. Blood? Weird. I went back to camp and decided to call the doctor upon returning to civilization. After a few tests, my family doctor referred me to a specialist for a colonoscopy. While I was terrified by the literature on irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease, everyone seemed assured it was just a hemorrhoid, or possibly a small, benign polyp. This was not the case. In February 2013, two months before I turned 38, I was diagnosed with stage 3B colon cancer.

Colo-rectal cancer has an undeserved reputation for being a rare, old-man’s cancer, while, in fact, it is the third most common cancer behind lung and breast. According to the American Cancer Society, the overall risks of getting diagnosed are nearly the same for men (4.7 percent) as for women (4.4 percent). And while it is true that colo-rectal cancer is the second leading cancer causing death in men – lung cancer being first for both men and women – it’s third for women. My prognosis, however, was quite good. With surgery to remove the tumor, and approximately nine rounds of chemo, I had about a 70 percent chance of survival. I was young, fairly strong and relatively healthy, so it was determined I would receive what was known as the kitchen sink, a cocktail of chemotherapy chemicals so vile it killed the cancer, but it also left me crying in pain in a ball on the bathroom floor.

Every day I took pills that came shipped in a special container with radiation warnings on the box. Also, once every three weeks, I would go to the hospital for infusions, where I’d sit in a room full of other cancer patients and a large fish tank for six hours. In addition to various chemo drugs, I was also on pain medication and a large and mostly ineffective variety of anti-vomiting drugs. No matter what I was prescribed, I spent a great deal of time during the beginning of my cancer treatment unable to keep anything down. My doctors told me that if I could not keep down the chemo, they had no choice but to take me off it. My chance of survival plummeted to 20-some percent without chemotherapy.

At this point, several friends urged me to try medical marijuana. I had smoked plenty in high school and my early 20s, but it had been years. After

discussing it with my oncologist, I made an appointment to get a medical card, which, in Colorado, only certain doctors are certified to give out. After a brief appointment, it was then necessary to register with a local dispensary, then send all the paperwork to the state and wait for the card to come in the mail.

By June I was ready to shop. In 2013, Colorado had yet to legalize recreational marijuana, hence all dispensaries were medical. Most had an outer waiting area, and an inner room where a care provider would assist with your selections. At the suggestion of many friends, I went to the Telluride Green Room. Greg, the care provider, talked with me for nearly an hour about all my ailments. He carefully went through my medical needs and then discussed different products he thought might help. He taught me about the differences between indica and sativa, letting me know that indica could help me sleep and help me with my nausea, while the sativa would help with the nausea, but I wouldn’t feel as tired. We talked about CBD, one of the cannabinoids in marijuana plants shown to be most helpful for relieving pain.

He showed me several edibles, suckers, and tinctures that I could take with me on infusions days. He also loaned me a home vaporizer because he didn’t want me to ingest smoke. Vaporizers heat cannabis to right below the point of ignition, causing vapor, but not smoke. It is an extremely efficient way to extract CBD and THC without getting carcinogens.

Throughout the summer of 2013, my health, and conversely, my quality of life drastically improved.

With the aid of medical marijuana, I was able to complete all of my chemo treatments on time. I stopped needing any pain medication, and because of my new regiment with cannabis, I was not nearly as nauseated. Medical marijuana also helped with my appetite, helping prevent malnutrition, as well as helping me gain back some of the weight I had lost during treatment. In October 2013, I finished my final round of chemotherapy and was declared cancer-free.

While I am not a scientist or a medical professional, as a cancer survivor, I believe with every fiber of my being that access to medical marijuana was a critical piece to the success of my treatment. This last weekend was my birthday. I turned 42 and spent four days rafting, oars in hand, on my own boat, rowing myself ever onward, grateful to be alive.

Meggie J is a published poet and freelance writer living in the Four Corners. She is an avid reader, rafter, and connoisseur of cannabis. She can be reached at coxwell. meggiej@gmail.com.

Marijuana had made its way into the United States pharmacopoeia

Massachusetts becomes first state to outlaw cannabis "Reefer Madness" American Medical Association opposes the proposed Marijuana Tax Act and supports research on medical cannabis Marijuana removed from U.S. pharmacopoeia

Controlled Substances Act classifies marijuana as a drug with "no accepted medical use" President Nixon declares “War on Drugs” New Mexico passes first state law recognizing medical value of marijuana First medical marijuana initiative passed in San Francisco Court battle over marijuana rescheduling keeps marijuana in Schedule I California becomes first state to legalize medical marijuana West Virginia becomes the 29th state to legalize medical marijuana

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������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Thursday, April 27, 2017 | 17

[love and sex]

Savage Love | Dan Savage

Sexsomnia: Another thing you didn’t know is real I’m a 31-year-old gay male. I’ve been with my fiancé for three years, and we are getting married in the fall. I’ve got a question about initiating sex in my sleep – I read somewhere that “sexsomnia” is the “medical” term, but maybe the internet invented that? According to my fiancé, I have initiated or performed some kind of sex act in the middle of the night and then gone right back to sleep. The next day, I don’t remember anything. This freaks me out for a couple of reasons: My body doing things without my mind being in control is concerning enough, but it feels kinda rapey, since I doubt I’m capable of hearing “no” in this state. My fiancé doesn’t feel that way; he finds it sexy. The other thing – and maybe I shouldn’t have read so much Freud and Jung in college – is that I’m worried my body is acting out desires that my conscious mind doesn’t want to acknowledge. According to my fiancé, the last time I did stuff in my sleep, I rimmed him and told him how much I wanted to [eff] him. Rimming isn’t a typical part of our sex life (although I’d like it to be), and my fiancé has never bottomed for anyone (I’ve topped guys in previous relationships, but in our relationship I’ve only bottomed).

Is my body doing things that my mind won’t admit it wants to do? Is there a way to prevent it from happening?

Sexsomniac Hoping Eventually Eager Trysts Stop Sexsomnia is a real and sometimes troubling phenomenon, SHEETS, and not something the internet made up like Pizzagate or Sean Spicer. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says sexsomnia is real – a real clinical condition – but they prefer the fancier, more “medical” sounding name: sleep related abnormal sexual behaviors. Dr. Michel Cramer Bornemann, a lead researcher at Sleep Forensics Associates (sleepforensicmedicine.org), describes sexsomnia as “sleepwalking-like behaviors that have sexualized attributes.”

And sleep-rimming your delighted fiancé definitely counts.

“Sexsomnia may be expressed as loud, obscene vocalizations from sleep (that are typically uncharacteristic of the individual while awake), prolonged or violent masturbation, inappropriate touch upon the genitals, buttocks, and breast of a bed partner, and initiation of sexual intercourse,” said Dr. Bornemann. “The vast majority of sleep disorders are not reflective of a significant underlying psychiatric condition.”

So your unconscious, late-night gropings/initiatings/rimmings don’t mean you secretly desire to be an ass-eating top. And there’s no need to drag poor Sigmund or Carl into this, SHEETS, since you’re not doing anything in your sleep that you don’t desire to do wide awake. You wanna rim your fiancé, you’ve topped other guys and would probably like to top this one, too – so neither of the examples you cite qualify as desires your “conscious mind doesn’t want to acknowledge.” (Unless you wrote me in your sleep.) Like all sleep disorders, sexsomnia is just something that happens to a very small number of people, SHEETS, there’s no need to endow it with deeper meaning. Take it away, Dr. Bornemann ...

“The brain is made of approximately 100 billion neurons, or electrical connections that allow effective communication between brain subunits. As with all electrical systems, errors in transmission may occur – these are called ‘switching errors.’ In sleep, switching errors may activate previously quiescent areas of the brain while other areas remain off-line. In sleep-related behaviors, it is thought that deep-seated subunits near the sleep-wake generating center become triggered, which activate primal automatic behaviors. Simply stated, electrical switching errors in sleep may unleash the animal that actually lies within us all – sometimes to an extent that may have unintended criminal or forensics implications.”

In most cases, sexsomniacs will hump a pillow or jerk themselves off.

The sexsomniacs who tend to make the

news – the ones we hear about – are the “unintended criminals” Dr. Bornemann alluded to, i.e., people who’ve sexually assaulted someone while asleep. Luckily for you, SHEETS, your fiancé is OK with your “primal automatic behaviors.”

But you might wanna watch “Sleepwalk with Me,” an autobiographical film

by Mike Birbiglia, a comedian with a sleep disorder. Birbiglia wasn’t initiating sex in his sleep – he was jumping out of windows. A danger to himself and others, he sought treatment and is no longer jumping out of windows in his sleep. You’re not a danger to yourself or others currently, SHEETS, but if you got a new partner or your current partner’s feelings about surprise, middle-of-the-night rimjobs were to change, you could be a danger. So you should chat with a doctor now about drugs and/or other interventions.

“My catch-all advice is to read this book called “The Promise of Sleep,” by Dr. William C. Dement,” said Birbiglia, in an email after I shared your letter with him. “He’s sort of the father of sleep medicine. He talks about sleep hygiene extensively, i.e., how to have the best night’s sleep possible by avoiding TV, eating heavily, drinking, etc., a few hours before bed. I know this isn’t exactly an answer to SHEET’s specific question, but getting a better night’s sleep could probably help him across the board in ways that he doesn’t even realize.”

I’m a straight married male. My wife has a very close male friend who happens to be in a poly marriage.

Recently, my wife said she would like us to be able to date others, have sex, romance, etc., but still remain a married couple. She specifically wants to date her friend. I am struggling. I am not closed off to having a conversation about nonmonogamy, but I struggle with the thought of her having a boyfriend. I want to be able to give this to her, but I feel like my mind and body are not letting me. Any advice is so much appreciated.

Help Understanding Spouse’s Blunt And New Demand “Introducing nonmonogamy into an existing monogamous relationship can be tough, especially when it wasn’t your idea,” said Cunning Minx, host of the “Polyamory Weekly” podcast, who has been providing poly news, advice, and insights to the masses since 2005 at polyweekly.com. “It’s even more stressful when there is a potential partner waiting in the wings! Yikes!”

While Minx is a poly activist and advocate, HUSBAND, she thinks both parties need to be on the same page before going poly. And before you take that step – if you take that step – Minx thinks you need to ask yourself some questions. “HUSBAND should do a fear inventory,” said Minx. “What is he afraid of? What would it mean to him if his wife had a boyfriend? What if she wanted to love a woman – does the penis make a difference? If so, why?

Then he should sit with his wife and take stock of the health of their current relationship.”

You can say no to opening up your marriage, HUSBAND, but your wife may decide she wants out of the marriage if no is the answer – basically, this is a circumstance where one of you is going to have to pay a pretty steep price of admission. Either, you’ll have to accept polyamory, or your wife will have to drop it. There isn’t really a middle ground here – or is there?

“It’s perfectly acceptable for HUSBAND to self-identify as monogamous while his wife practices polyamory,” said Minx. “It’s a difficult path, and will require a high level of internal security and self-awareness on his part, but ultimately your self-identity is your own decision.”

Dan Savage is a nationally syndicated sex advice columnist writing for The Stranger in Seattle. Contact him at mail@savagelove.net or @fakedansavage on Twitter and listen to his podcast every week at savagelovecast.com.

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[happening] Merchants of Doubt: Propaganda experts shaping your brain

Thursday

Sunday Durango Home and Ranch Show, 10

Are you sure your opinions are your own? If you based your opinions on experts on TV, you may have an issue. There’s a small group of propaganda experts that have shaped the world’s view of tobacco, toxins, and global warming.

“Merchants of Doubt” is a documentary film, based on a book by the same name, that looks into the professionals whose jobs it is to cast doubt on scientists to appease corporations.

Made by the creator of “Food, Inc.”, “Merchants of Doubt” will be shown at the Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave., on Thursday, April 27.

Movie begins at 6 p.m. sharp.

Free.

“Dance for Balance” dance class for seniors, 3 p.m., donations welcome, Absolute

Physical Therapy and Wellness, 277 East Eighth Ave., 764-4094.

Trails 2000 Project Sky Steps, 4 p.m., Na-

ture Trail, 978 East Sixth Ave., 259-4682.

Durango Green Drinks, 5 p.m., Carver

Brewing Co., 1022 Main Ave., 259-2545.

DELC annual art show fundraiser, 5

p.m., $5-$15, Powerhouse Science Center, 1333 Camino del Rio, 259-9234.

Education Graduates PEX Exhibition,

5:15 p.m., Student Union, Ballroom, Fort Lewis College, 1000 Rim Drive, 247-7010.

Five Rivers Trout Unlimited Chapter meeting, 5:30 p.m., Irish Embassy Pub, 900

Main Ave., 403-1200.

“Merchants of Doubt” film screening,

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

Cornhole tournament, 6 p.m., Durango

Brewing Co., 3000 Main Ave., 247-3396.

Friday “Week of the Young Child” free screenings and activity fair, 10 a.m., Durango

Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave., 375-3380.

Patient-appreciation day, 4:30 p.m., Ab-

solute Physical Therapy and Wellness, 277 East Eighth Ave., 764-4094.

Andy Janowsky, 5:30 p.m. Diamond Belle Sa-

loon, 699 Main Ave., 247-4431.

The Robin Davis Duo, 5:30 p.m., Balcony

Bar and Grill, 600 Main Ave, 422-8008.

“Age of Consequence” film screening,

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

Divorce Care Group, 6 p.m., $25, First

Methodist Church, 2917 Aspen Drive, 247-4213.

Rob Webster, 4 p.m., Balcony Bar and Grill,

600 Main Ave., 422-8008.

“Above Ground Burlesque” casting call, 4:30 p.m., Strater Hotel, 699 Main Ave.,

247-4431.

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

91.9/93.9 FM, www.kdur.org.

People’s Practice in the Park, 12:30 p.m.,

Buckley Park, 247-8395, www.turtlelakerefuge. org.

“What does success mean to you?” event, 5 p.m., Carver Brewing Co., 1022 Main

Ave., 259-2545.

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

ing Co., 225 Girard St., www.skabrewing.com.

Spoken Word, 7-9 p.m., Steaming Bean, down-

stairs at the Irish Embassy Pub, 900 Main Ave., 403-1200, www.thebean.com.

Tuesday Master’s Men Colorado, 6:30 a.m., DoubleTree Hotel, 501 Camino del Rio, 259-6580.

Animas High School information session, 5:30 p.m., Animas High School, 20091 U.S.

Highway 160, 247-2474.

Tuesday jam, 6 p.m., Steaming Bean, 900

Main Ave., 403-1200.

Useless Knowledge Bowl Trivia+, 7 p.m.,

Recital series, 7 p.m., $20, Unitarian Univer-

Richter Uzur Duo World Music, 7:30 p.m.,

The Outskirts, 9:30 p.m., Balcony Backstage, 600 Main Ave., 422-8008.

“The Big Lewbowski,” stars Jeff Bridges as the Dude, an L.A. slacker, avid bowler, and the victim of mistaken identity. All the Dude wants is for someone to pay for his messed up rug and somehow he ends up on a mission to deliver ransom money for a trophy wife. The Coen Brothers slay cinema with this cult classic comedy that plays at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 3, at the Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Drive.

17 and over $8.

ery and Wine Bar, 601 Main Ave., 247-7700.

“Sing Your Way Home” by Durango Choral Society, 4 p.m., $5-$10, First United

Durango Brewing Co., 3000 Main Ave., 247-3396.

Kim Boekbinder, 7:30 p.m., $15-$50, Henry Strater Theatre, 699 Main Ave., 375-7160.

“I’m the Dude, so that’s what you call me. That or, uh His Dudeness, or uh Duder, or El Duderino, if you’re not into the whole brevity thing.”

Henry Stoy piano, 11 a.m., Jean Pierre Bak-

United Methodist Church, 2917 Aspen Drive, 247-4213. salist Church, 419 San Juan Drive, 385-8668.

Cult classic stoner flick at Animas City

a.m., $5, La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave., 749-5582,

$19-$24, Community Concert Hall, Fort Lewis College, 1000 Rim Drive, www.durangoconcerts. com.

Wednesday

Saturday

Floor Barre conditioning class, 3 p.m., donations welcome, Absolute Physical Therapy and Wellness, 277 East Eighth Ave., 764-4094.

Restorative-yoga workshop and Shanta Foundation benefit, 9 a.m., $45, 4-Cor-

Trails 2000 Project Sky Steps, 4 p.m., Nature Trail, 978 East Sixth Ave., 259-4682.

ners Yoga, 1309 East Third Ave., 259-4794.

People’s Climate March, 10 a.m., Durango

& Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad depot, 479 Main Ave., www.citizensclimatelobby.org.

Durango Home and Ranch Show, 10

a.m., $5, La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave., 749-5582.

Nissan Leaf ride-and-drive event, 11

a.m., Buckley Park, www.citizensclimatelobby.org.

Henry Stoy piano, 11 a.m., Jean Pierre Bak-

ery and Wine Bar, 601 Main Ave., 247-7700.

Matt Rupnow, 5:30 p.m., Balcony Bar and

Grill, 600 Main Ave., 422-8008.

Durango High Noon Rotary Casino Night, 5:30 p.m., $55, DoubleTree Hotel, 501

Camino del Rio, 259-6580.

Ben Gibson Band, 9:30 p.m., Balcony Back-

stage, 600 Main Ave., 422-8008.

San Juan Citizens Alliance community meeting, 5 p.m., Powerhouse Science Center,

1333 Camino del Rio, 259-9234.

Mindfulness for Athletes 4-week course, 5:30 p.m., $0-$180 sliding scale, Smiley

Building, 1309 East Third Ave., 382-9593.

Open Mic, 8 p.m., Balcony Backstage, 600 Main

Ave., 422-8008.

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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April Clearance Sale!

DEALS

Dog & Cat Food & Supplies Grooming & Dog Wash • Boarding Day Care

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Durango Discount Blinds

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Print, Text & Share all the great deals online from your PC or smartphone.

DurangoCOUPONS.com To advertise in DGO Deals contact us at 970-247-3504

20 | Thursday, April 27, 2017 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Spring Cleaning Special

Professional Carpet Cleaning

(970) 564-0800

swcare.com

Expiration Date: 04/30/2017 *Minimum charges applies. Must present coupon at time of purchase. Not valid with any other offer.

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Buy One Entrée Get the Second Entrée

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21636 US-160 • Durango • (970) 385-6400 Mon–Sun, 6am –10pm • Bar Open Until 11pm

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Real Estate Land Use Transactions Title/Mineral Research

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Estate Planning Flat Fee Plans

Free Initial Consultation · In Home Consultations Available Free Estate Planning Seminar (Please RSVP) (2nd Thursday, 5-7 PM, Vectra Conf Room)

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EVERYDAY IS EARTH DAY AT

Cliffrose

GARDEN CENTER & GIFTS Cliffrose Main 27885 Highway 160 Cortez, CO

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15% OFF -Organic Fertilizers -Organic Pest Control -Organic Soil Conditioner

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10% OFF Your Total Bill

Expiration Date: 04/30/17 Not valid with any other offers, must present coupon.

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To advertise in DGO Deals contact us at 970-247-3504 ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Thursday, April 27, 2017 | 21

Horoscope ARIES (March 21 to April 19) This month is an excellent time for you to buy wardrobe items for yourself.

It’s also a wonderful time to schmooze with others because you will be charming and diplomatic with everyeone.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) You might want to cocoon at home more than usual or hide somewhere during the coming month because solitude in beautiful surroundings will appeal to you. Enjoy the good life.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) During the month ahead, you will be more involved with younger people and creative, artistic types than usual. Share your goals and dreams with someone.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22)

Bizarro

Relationships with bosses, parents and authority figures will be particularly

warm and supportive for the next month. Some of you might strike up a romance with a boss.

more attractive during the next month.

Some of you will get praise, and a few will get a raise!

LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21)

Travel for pleasure will appeal to you in the next month. Do something to get a change of scenery because your appreciation of beauty will be heightened.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22) Throughout the next month, gifts, goodies and favors from others will come your way. Lucky you! Keep your pockets open.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22) Relationships with partners and close friends will improve in the next month.

This also is a good time to mend broken fences.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21) Many of you will make your workspace

Romance, vacations, playful times with children, sporting events and the arts will be wonderful sources of fun for you in the next month. Make plans to enjoy yourself!

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19) Go forward with redecorating plans for where you live during the next month.

You also will enjoy entertaining at home.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18) You will notice more beauty in your daily world throughout the next month.

You also will discover how much love there is in your everyday world. (It’s strange when we suddenly see things

that were always there.)

PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20) Financial matters will bless you in the coming month. (You might boost your income in some way.) Many of you also will shop for beautiful things for yourselves and loved ones.

BORN THIS WEEK You love the outdoors – especially the water. You are intelligent and often will go with your instincts. This year will bring excitement, adventure and more freedom than you have experienced in recent years. It’s time to move away from old routines and feel loose and free! For many, a major change will occur, perhaps as significant as what occurred around 2008. It’s time to test your future! © 2017 King Features Syndicate Inc.

weekly bestsellers April 16-22 »»1. You are a Badass at Making Money, by Jen Sincero (Hardcover) »»2. Killers of the Flower Moon, by David Grann (Hardcover) »»3. Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher (Paperback) »»4. Song of the Lion, by Anne Hillerman (Hardcover) »»5. In the Woods, by Tana French (Paperback) »»6. The Woman in Cabin 10, by Ruth Ware (Paperback) »»7. Milk and Honey, by Rupi Kaur (Paperback) »»8. H is for Hawk, by Helen MacDonald (Paperback) »»9. Norse Mythology, by Neil Gaiman (Hardcover) »»10. Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis, by J.D. Vance (Hardcover)

22 | Thursday, April 27, 2017 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

[Durango’s stories, told in their own words]

First Person | Cyle Talley

‘Am I old, am I young, or are they both just moving targets?’ »» Grant Andrew, on how the world changes when your kids grow up and leave the house I occasionally go to Denny’s late at night to enjoy a bit of nostalgia via a cup of really bad diner coffee. Apparently, so does Grant Andrew, a man with a hedge-thick beard and a voice made for radio work. When he acknowledged me with a tip of his mug, I couldn’t help but ask if I might join him and ask a few questions. We spoke about what he’s been learning recently, and I tell his story here, in his own words.

M

y youngest son is a senior in high school and so I can see that I’m – not coming to the end of the line – but I’m definitely changing cars. I was a young father. I was a kid, then I had kids and became a parent, and now I have to learn how to be an adult, which is a completely different world.

As I let the reins out on my children and accept that their choices and directions are going to be different than the ones that I might’ve laid out for them, I get to recognize them as coming into their own and transitioning into adulthood in some of the same ways that I’m transitioning into ... whatever this is. They’re becoming peers with their parents. What they don’t know – and probably can’t fully understand yet – is that getting a driver’s license or becoming old enough to drink, or any of those cultural demarcations, are just the uniform of adulthood and are not themselves maturity. When I find myself in the company of people who are significantly older, I feel young.

My reactions and perspectives and ways of looking at the world are fundamentally different than theirs. So am I old, am I young, or are they both just moving targets?

Here’s what’s really funny to me: My children and I are on the same level in some ways, particularly in the sense that they’ve now inherited the problems of adulthood that are just like mine. If they blow the engine in their car, it’ll cost them the same as it would if the engine in my car blew. The other day, my daughter had two flat tires, which is exactly the same kind of problem that I have and that would derail my day.

There was a point in time in which any problem my child had could be solved with a pacifier. Now, not so much. But I also recognize that my perspectives on things, and my experience with them, is vastly different than what they have to draw from. There are still places where I can be helpful to them as they navigate the uniform of adulthood and how they want to wear it, and I also understand that, to someone in their 70s, my approach still could use some honing. I have more respect than ever for the wisdom of years.

Our culture is sort of funny that way. We have these demarcations of age – driving, drinking, voting, serving in the military – and once you hit them, we basically say, “OK, you’re free to go.” At first, you’re overwhelmed with these changes, because they’re just so

huge and coming so quickly.

“I can drive now!” “I can drink now! My God!” But it takes you a few years before you look around and say, “Wait, I might not have this as together as I thought.” The rush of those little accoutrements fades and you realize that there’s still a lot of work to do and things to learn. It’s like being a Boy Scout. You get these little badges, and that’s exciting because it’s an acknowledgment that you’re doing something right.

Then they start to add up, and all of a sudden you find yourself in reach of becoming an Eagle Scout, which is exciting and you feel like you’ve made it. Then you realize that you’re an Eagle Scout, and you might also be an asshole and have to work to become a good person with some character and skills who can contribute to their society. Or not. [laughs] I guess then, to answer your question, I’m learning that the story isn’t over just because a chapter’s finished. OK, you made it through kindergarten. OK, you made it through puberty. OK, you made it through your first job, your first fender bender, your first heartbreak. At each step you think, “Phew! Thank God that’s over!” only to find out that you’ll get your heart broken again, or you’ll actually wreck the car this time, or that it’ll be something good – you get the job and now you actually have to show up for work. So this chapter of being a parent and having my kids at home with me, is over, but another one’s starting.

Cyle Talley is a stodgy old misanthrope who suffers from reoccurring bouts of genuine fondness for people. Email him at: cyle@ cyletalley.com.

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