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THE ULTIMATE FIGHT A new MMA league is using cannabis to punch back against heroin addiction

Also: Why that burger costs so much, Durango apartment hunting is like bad dating, and Steamworks head brewer’s top six beers

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DGO Magazine

STAFF

What’s inside Volume 3 Number 26 Thursday, April 19, 2018

Editor Angelica Leicht aleicht@bcimedia.com 375-4551 Staff writer Jessie O’Brien jobrien@bcimedia.com Sales Liz Demko 375-4553 Contributors Katie Cahill

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Spirits at the Spiritorium

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Durango life

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Eat

DGO photo contributor Lucy Schaefer spent her weekend in the midst of debauchery at The Office Spiritorium for your viewing pleasure.

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Visual

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Sound

Check out the photos on Page 23 and many more at dgomag.com

Christopher Gallagher Bryant Liggett Jon E. Lynch Brett Massé

Lucy Schaefer/Special to DGO

Sean Moriarty Cooper Stapleton Robert Alan Wendeborn

Reader Services 375-4570 Chief Executive Officer Douglas Bennett

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Apartment hunting That harsh reality is that apartment hunting in Durango is a test of will, one that forces a person to renegotiate their standards until they become unrecognizable to themselves. You know, just like bad dating.

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Beer and Loathing

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What’s in Your Sixer 11 Seeing Through the Smoke 16 Review 17

19 Happening

17 Riptide review This week, we’re going to chat about “Riptide,” a sativa strain with the same moniker as that earworm song. Try to smoke it and not hum “running down to the riptide...”

You can’t.

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Album Reviews 9

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Downtown Lowdown

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[Durango life]

Apartment hunting in Durango is like bad dating Your friends encourage you to keep at it, even as you continue to be ghosted by landlords you thought you had chemistry with. You start re-evaluating your non-negotiables, like you did with the picky eater and that guy who thought Chacos were a reasonable fashion choice. You think, Maybe I don’t need a washer and dryer. Maybe inhaling mold isn’t as bad for you as they say.

Like when first entering the dating scene, finding an apartment in Durango is initially exciting. You are at the start of a fresh chapter, and are full of positivity because the newness overshadows the harsh reality of what’s to come. That harsh reality is a test of will, and it forces one to renegotiate their standards until they become unrecognizable to themselves.

At first, apartment hunting is fun.

It’s probably been a couple years since you’ve had to do it. You imagine your life living in your cozy nest, and have no doubts you will find the one – an open space with clean carpets, a gas stove, and Eastern-facing views.

You chalk up the first two or three unsuccessful “dates” as coincidence. Just as you are sure of your destiny with Prince Charming, you are sure of the affordable, spacious apartment you are destined to inhabit.

You soon realize you are being duped by online profiles with fancy language and straight-up lies. As 6-foot really means 5-foot-7; an efficiency apartment means a 302-square-foot box with industrial carpet and a mini-sink used for both kitchen and bathroom purposes. These $900 “studios,” with less legroom

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than an Allegiant flight, are not flukes. This is the pool you’re fishing in, and you have to pay the tab each month.

Then, miraculously, you meet an impeccably clean condo with character and charm. Utilities included?!

This is a place you’d show your mom. You know your non-smoking, full-time job with no pets and good credit is a perfect match for this two-story space in a great location. But you also know that every strumpet in the area will be all over your find. You don’t waste any time applying. You have sleepless nights knowing you haven’t made an official commitment yet. Then the landlord, Lynne, leaves you for someone who isn’t even as good as you are because she can move in a week sooner. It was too good to be true.

You start looking at profiles way out of your league, and daydream about hardwood floors, Viking appliances, and vaulted ceilings, when you can only afford dentist office lighting and cat-piss carpet.

You end up moving into the $950 per month outdated squatter space, the one with a stained bathtub and an unpleasant, ambiguous, lingering smell. You end up staying in this sad location for the rest of your life because you think it’s all you deserve. You’re trapped. Then you find out too late that asbestos is hiding in the walls, right before you die an unhappy, painful death, with no Prince Charming or Fairy Landlord-Mother to rescue you.

—— Jessie O’Brien

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[eat]

What the Fork | Lindsay Mattison

Why is my food so damn expensive?

Y

It may be costly, but these foods taste better and support the local community – making them an even worthier cause.

But not every restaurant is serving responsibly-sourced food, and even commodity food prices have increased. McDonald’s killed the dollar menu in 2014, and even today their value burger patties contain less than 2 ounces of meat. It’s not just the local guys who are struggling – the numbers just don’t work for cheap food anymore. In addition to the ingredients, the real cost of food is hidden behind the rent, lights, water, labor, and credit card transaction fees.

The long and the short of it: There’s a reason you see local restaurant owners working in their own establishments. It’s not just about the love of the craft – it’s also about keeping the costs low. Sure, there are certainly restauranteurs who have it made.

You see them on TV, judging cooking competitions, and hosting hit shows.

But, in reality, one out of every five restaurant owners can’t make it work within the first year, and the ones who do continue to struggle those first five years.

Failure isn’t just about food cost – there are bad reviews, mediocre food, employee turnover, poor service, increased rent, or a bad loca-

ou may have noticed that going out to eat is pretty damn expensive.

The $8 half-pound burger is a thing of the past, and casual chain restaurants that used to offer two-for-one dinners are dying.

Today, we’re bombarded with locally-sourced, organically grown, or non-GMO ingredients at every turn. Our beer is brewed around the corner, that vodka is distilled in town, and our wine is made from organic, biodynamic grapes. Even coffee isn’t just a bag of beans anymore – it’s fair trade, single origin, or responsibly grown. All of this drives the price tag up… and up… and up. If you’re wondering if these increased prices are worth it, it really just depends.

As a chef who regularly geeked out on food cost, I get it. I spent my career working in Excel, building spreadsheet after spreadsheet to understand the true cost of food. I chose to source sustainable ingredients over less expensive options because I believe in it. Heritage-breed, pasture-raised pigs couldn’t taste more distinct from the “other white meat” bred for fast growth, and organic radishes freshly picked out of the ground taste crisper and spicier than the kind that travels hundreds of miles to reach the grocery store.

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tion. It could be a myriad of things, but controlling the costs adds an extra layer of stress to the job. At the end of the day, can you sell your product for a value price while keeping your food and labor costs low?

It’s trickier to do than you might think.

For example: Let’s take a halfpound burger with the bun, cheese, toppings, and a side of fries. Theoretically, that brings us up to $3 in ingredient costs. Then, there are the all things you don’t charge for, like plastic straws, to-go containers, ketchup, sugar packets, hot sauce, and all those extra sides of ranch.

Sorry, but those things aren’t actually free. We’ll tack on an extra $0.30 to every plate to cover those costs, bringing us to $3.30 per burger. Keep in mind that this sale has to cover all of the expenses, from the fixed costs like rent, to the variable costs like labor. That means a menu price of $9.50 to $11 if you want to make things work.

Now, let’s assume that commodity food isn’t your bag. You start sourcing organic or local beef, and maybe you buy a better bun from a local bakery.

Trade in Mexican-grown tomatoes for local heirloom varieties and turn your mayonnaise into aioli. Top it all off with housemade icebox pickles and the cost of everything just went

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up. Since you can’t reasonably charge $18 to $20 for a regular cheeseburger, you price it at $16. You hope the burger will be so good that people will come back. Surely they’ll bring their friends, order more food, and perhaps the profit margins on booze can tide you over.

Maybe it works, and maybe it doesn’t, but now you know why so many restaurant burgers are priced between $14 to $16. You’ll be talking nostalgically about that $8 burger the way your grandpa talked about nickel candy. Is the increased price worth it? Think about it this way: In today’s economy, would you really trust a candy bar that only cost a nickel?

Wouldn’t you wonder what corners they cut to make it work?

The answer is truly personal. If you love that McDonald’s burger, then live your truth. But if you’re looking for good food that’s prepared by people who support the local economy and pay their employees a living wage, get ready to shell out the dough to back your endorsement.

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

Contact her at lindsaymattisonwriter@ gmail.com.

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[visual]

TWO WEEKS NEAR THE

MEXICAN-AMERICAN BORDER »» Local artist camps in the Sonoran Desert and captures it with her lens Jessie O’Brien DGO STAFF WRITER

Shouting “Build that wall” might have been invigorating for some, but the repercussions of building a barrier across the America-Mexico border are far more complicated than a three-word chant implies.

Local artist and photographer Michele Sensing wanted to investigate the potential repercussions for herself. She packed her camera equipment – and thankfully, an extra car battery – and set off for the Sonoran Desert. What she captured on the Southern border will be on display April 20 at the Durango Art Center opening of “The Wall.” The exhibit explores the implications of creating barriers. Sensing’s work is a representation of the two weeks she spent exploring Madera Canyon, the Santa Rita Mountains, and the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge. Her initial plan was to explore the environmental destruction that would take place if the wall was built, but she soon realized her focus was too narrow.

“Once I was down there, I couldn’t ignore the human aspect – it was a humanitarian crisis,” she said.

Sensing said that over 10,000 people have died crossing the border since 1994. Over 36,000 unaccompanied juveniles were either rescued or died in the Tucson sector where Sensing was located from 2011 to 2015.

“It’s not mostly criminals (crossing the border).

These are people who want to get out of a country that is dangerous and scary,” she said. Such is the case with a large caravan that was captured traveling through Mexico in early April. Two-thirds of the migrants were from Honduras, one of the most dangerous countries on the globe.

The images prompted President Trump to threaten to dismantle

the North American Free Trade Agreement, trade deals with Honduras, and send the National Guard to the border. Around 900 troops have deployed from Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico.

Lawmakers rejected Trump’s request for $25 billion for the wall in March, and instead supplied $1.6 billion for border security and fencing. On April 9, the groundbreaking for an overhaul to a 20-mile vehicle barrier in Santa Teresa took place. The Department of Homeland Security announced that it would be waiving over 30 environmental laws to execute the project. Sensing said with all the technology and surveillance monitoring the border, and with immigration at historic lows, the wall is more of a monument to the president.

“Walls are a false sense of security,” Sensing said.

“It’s not going to keep out the ‘bad hombres.’ In fact, the only thing it’s not going to keep out is humans.”

Sensing said every new piece of fence that is erected only pushes immigrants to more extreme, remote parts of the desert. Because of this, humanitarian groups such as No Mas Muertes (No More Deaths) scatter full water bottles throughout the desert.

“The Border Patrol is now slashing water bottles,” Sensing said. “They have destroyed 3,587 water bottles so far.” She said that Border Patrol has arrested humanitarian workers as well.

Sensing did not encounter any immigrants during her stay, but she did find evidence of their crossing.

Human trails, a broken cell phone, and a child’s sock stir the imagination about who has traveled through the empty desert and the physical challenges they faced, such as the extreme temperature fluctuation Sensing experienced during her stay.

In February, the temperature would be 31 degrees in the morning and 96 degrees by the afternoon, and the wind was relentless, she said. But more imposing than the ele-

GO! Friday: The Wall, 5 p.m., free, Durango Arts Center, 802 East Second Ave., durangoartscenter.org ments was the 24/7 surveillance.

“Every night, helicopters would shine a light on you,” Sensing said. Underground infrared sensors and towers allowed her to be seen at night and in her tent. “The feeling of constantly being watched was very uncomfortable.”

The film Sensing used for the project reflects the prominent surveillance on the border. She used discontinued Aerochrome film by Kodak, which was developed by the American government in the ’40s to expose camouflage. Greens show up as magentas, and reds are greens. She used trail cameras for wildlife, but was only able to capture a deer and a jackrabbit. “(A wall is) going to completely cut off nature, which doesn’t understand barriers,” Sensing said.

Sensing also recorded the animals and other sounds that she heard. She is hoping the exhibit gives people a full sense of what the border is really like.

She said some of the areas that are protected take millions of dollars and years of time to establish.

“I don’t think people understand what it cuts through. All the years of research on protecting these areas are lost,” Sensing said. “My fear is that this is all going to change and I am taking the photographs of the open space that will soon be (gone).”

Sensing said she plans to do a before and after project if the wall is built.

“I hope I don’t have to do that,” she said.

»» Michele Sensing at the American-Mexican border fence.

Courtesy of Michele Sensing

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[pages]

Radiation poisoning and angry elephants Anemia, bone fractures, necrosis of the jaw, and death – these were common ailments of the Radium Girls – real-life women who received radiation poisoning while painting watch dials in factories with self-luminous paint. In another horrifying flash of yesteryear, Topsy the Elephant was executed via electrocution, poisoning, and strangulation live at Cooney Island while spectators watched, and Edison Manufacturing’s movie company filmed it.

Brooke Bolander smashes these two vicious American moments together in her novella, “The Only Harmless Great Thing.” What you get is a near-100 page alt-history that spans points of view and centuries.

There’s the story of the Radium Girls, the sentient elephants who take over their hazardous work, and the scientist looking back on it all while searching for a way to deal with nuclear waste.

It’s a gut-punching, lyrical tale of ruthless want and the exploitation of workers – be they human or beast.

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[sound]

Downtown Lowdown | Bryant Liggett

Western Centuries are true musicians in an era of bro-country dipshittery

C

hris Stapleton and Sturgill Simpson are NOT the only musicians saving country music.

Sure, they dabble in the classic ideals of the era – outlaws abound in the lyrics – and songs of broken families, lost love, boozing, drugging, and everyday strife far outweigh songs about parties and trucks, but they’re not the sole proprietors and torch-bearers of the golden age of country music. Like all genres, there’s an independent circuit, chock full of bands far removed from the bro-country that gives the overall scene of country music a

bad name. Here you’ll find no high fives, no soundtracks to “Party Down South,” no country music dipshittery.

Whitey Morgan, J.P. Harris, and Western Centuries are a few that fly the true-country flag, with the latter of the aforementioned pulling into town this weekend for the Durango Bluegrass Meltdown.

Western Centuries’ sets are Saturday night at the Durango Arts Center, and Sunday at the Henry Strater Theatre.

Western Centuries is a band with an all-star cast of players and songwriters. Many bands may feature the song-

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»» Western Centuries ain’t bullshittin’ about their brand of country music. writing and vocal talents of just one member, and that person acts as leader of the outfit. In Western Centuries, you have three songwriters: Ethan Lawton, Jim Miller, and Cahalen Morrison, all of whom contribute songs and share vocal duties while swapping instruments. In a band with multiple songwriting personalities, one may assume friction rears its ugly head. Yet here, there’s little need for disciplined exercises of diplomatic talents.

“We all like each other a lot, and respect each other a lot, and we like each other’s music, so we’re all kind of excited when another person brings in a new song,” said Morrison. “They’re all pretty different, so it’s fun to just have stuff that you wouldn’t have come up with to be creative with something that’s out of your wheelhouse.”

It’s Morrison’s second time at the Meltdown – the first was back in 2012 when he performed with Eli West.

The band and event organizers are bending and breaking the traditional Meltdown rules of no drums, even though Western Centuries do the acoustic, bluegrass-heavy thing just as well as they do pedal-steel heavy.

They have the ability to appease traditional and modern bluegrass fans while taking on the sounds of straight-ahead traditional country.

“I grew up in New Mexico, playing country music and New Mexican dance music, so I’ve been playing in loud bands since 7th grade,” said Morrison. “But the thing about our band, Ethan is a great mandolin player, Jim is a great acoustic guitar player and banjo player, our bass player is a phenomenal fiddle player, so we all have roots in old time and blue-

GO! Friday through Sunday: 24th Annual Durango Bluegrass Meltdown, featuring music at the Henry Strater Theatre, Durango Arts Center, Wild Horse Saloon, and Animas City Theatre. Weekend pass: $90, Saturday only: $60, Sunday only: $40. Information: www.durangomeltdown.com. grass and folk music, so we play a lot of that, too. So we get our kicks.”

The music is timeless twang, where you’ll find road-worn weary and personal warmth in all of the songs. Be it shuffles, waltzes, or country rockers, all three singers have voices that ache despair and promise, while somehow remaining casual and inviting. Beneath the vocals is a band that drips with pedal steel and country at the heart, while also looking backward to explore multiple musical landscapes. It’s lyrically intelligent and musically swinging. The sawdust-covered dance floor is open, and the sound is just as much country as it is rootsrock and cosmic American music.

“I think the two big things that we share are Ralph Stanley and The Band. It’s somewhere in between those two, which is a long way, I realize,” said Morrison. “But it’s all based on songs and based on singing, and less on any sort of virtuosic breaks on instruments. So we like to play the song how the song should be played.

Whether or not we get there, I don’t know, but we’re trying.”

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

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[sound] What’s new Mike Donovan,“How to Get Your Record Played in Shops” Another Friday in the spring release cycle means another tough decision on what album to single out and cover. Stoner grunge sludge pioneers the Melvins return with “Pinkus Abortion Technician,” their first album with dual bassists. It highlights the inclusion of touring/ seemingly full-time member Jeff Pinkus, most notably of the Butthole Surfers. Cleveland-based brother duo Emmett and Cullen O’Connor, aka Archie and The Bunkers, release their sophomore full-length of raucous garage punk, self-described “hi-fi

New at

April 19 Pink Floyd,“Piper at the Gates of Dawn” Monophonic One of the quintessential psychedelic rock albums returns to its original mono mix, which up until this reissue has only been available as a bootleg or an original pressing that runs from $300-$1000. Though it was not the record to break Pink Floyd into the mainstream, this album features some classic cuts that arguably invented the genre of space rock and shoegaze, with “Interstellar Overdrive” being a highlight throughout their entire discography. Definitely check this one out if you are a fan of music history and want to hear a classic album the way it was meant to be heard.

Brian Eno and Kevin Shields, “Only Once Away My Son” If you’re not in the know, these names might not mean anything to you. But to me, and those like me that revel in the experimental music genre, seeing the names Brian Eno and Kevin Shields together is almost a heart-stopping experience. Brian Eno is a master of the ambient and the weird, and the pure sonic force that Kevin Shields brings in with his band that truly defines shoegaze – My Bloody Valentine – couples two masters of the weird. This 9-minute track, which originally premiered on the Adult Swim

organ punk.” Finally, Cate Le Bon and Tim Presley team up under the Drinks moniker for another record of absurdist anti-folk. And this barely scratches the surface of 4/20 releases. There are scores more, but those mentioned are some of my favorites. If any old codger has the gall to suggest good music is not being made anymore, send them my way.

Since the dissolution of Sic Alps in 2013, Mike Donovan has been a seemingly busy man. That said, “How to Get Your Record Played in Shops” is only his second full release of proper music under his own name. The entire record is keyboard and piano-heavy, as opposed to his general guitar-fo-

Singles Program, is an exercise in creative minimalism, which builds to a crescendo that, while subdued, has managed to give me goosebumps each time I hear it.

Rage Against the Machine, “Live At The Democratic National Convention” Rage Against the Machine continue to prove how relevant they are more and more each year, it seems. In the year 2000, across the street from the famed Staples Center and the Democratic National Convention, Zach De La Rocha and company played on a small stage to a massive amount of people. The energy onstage was palpable, and translates well on this vinyl release. The tracklist has all the songs a fan would want, and for new fans, this might be the best example to see, as it features the pure fire and fury of the band at their most politically incensed. In these tumultuous times, music like this is more valuable than ever.

Neil Young,“Roxy: Tonight’s the Night Live” When the Roxy first opened its doors in 1973, before it was the beacon of Los Angeles glitz and grit, Neil Young and the Santa Monica Flyers were invited to be the inaugural live act – the sacrificial champagne bottle on the club’s maiden voyage. When put to tape, the material of “Tonight’s the Night” is some of the darker stuff in Young’s catalog. When played live though, the songs are injected with a new vitality that really resonates with the crowd, and it comes across in this recording. Young as a songwriter has an ability to change the entire emotional resonance of his songs, just by switching

cused approach, but I’d have never given that a thought after multiple listens. Sure, both keyed instruments are apparent, but it’s the found sounds and lilting guitar that fill out the sonic breezeways of noir pop.

Styles shift in and out, but maintain a relative cohesiveness of introspective, heart-on-sleeve crafted songwriting.

Standout tracks are too many to single out, but include the swirling “3 Track Seizure,” and “Cold Shine,” with the lyrical refrain – “Is it really all…chemical…and cold?” – that gets stuck firmly in my head long after it is over. The most guitar-forward cut, and easily the best titled track, goes to the album closer, misspellings and all, “Fox News

Coverage ‘68 (Yea I Know It’s A Drag, Assasinating Billionaires Is Still A Radical Imperitive).”

the tracklist around, or by upping the speed just a few beats per minute.

Breathes;” Dylan and the Dead, Grateful Dead “Live Fillmore West 1969;” Jason Isbell “Live From Twist and Shout,” and hundreds more! Be sure to get to Southwest Sound early, we are opening at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 21.

Also releasing are David Bowie, “Welcome to the Blackout” 3 LP set; The Cure, “Mixed Up” picture disc; Led Zeppelin, “Rock & Roll/Friends” single (previously unreleased); Phish, “Billy

“How to Get Your Record Played in Shops” is available via Drag City on Friday, April 20, on cassette and standard black vinyl LP. Both physical versions come with a download code of the album in various high quality formats (MP3, FLAC and more).

Recommended for fans of Sic Alps, The Peacers, Atlas Sound, Elliott Smith, White Fence, Kevin Morby, or even moments of Mutations and “Sea Change”-era Beck.

—— Jon E. Lynch KDUR_PD@fortlewis.edu

—— Cooper Stapleton

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[beer] Beer and Loathing in Durango Sean Moriarty

Beer with a brewer: An interview with Carver’s Patrick Jose The best conversations happen over a couple of beers. I decided to continue my series of brewer interviews by sitting down with Carver Brewing Company’s Head Brewmaster Patrick Jose, who had some interesting points to share about the Bootlegger’s Society (comprised of all six breweries in town), Durango events, and his least favorite style of beer.

So, first of all, what is this tasty looking beer that you just poured for us?

“This is the Spring Tonic Elixir. It is our annual Bootlegger’s brew for the repeal of Prohibition. It contains some flaked maize – corn, which was a really popular ingredient at the time. It was a cheap source of fermentable sugar. It’s got some good, classic American hops in it, and kind of a leftover sweetness from that corn, like Corn Pops. As far as I know, this is one of the oldest collaboration brews in the country. The Bootlegger’s Society has been doing this for a long time.”

In today’s tumultuous craft beer landscape, how important do you think it is for organizations like the Bootlegger’s

Society to exist?

at the bar but it’s Durango.

It’s a tourist town. Everybody gets their share. I think we’ll all make great, world-class beer, and I think that if we didn’t, we’d call each other out on it, and that’s important: to be able to constructively criticize each other locally. The best policies and the best things start at a grass-roots local level.”

“I think it’s incredibly important, I mean – I guess to preface this, we don’t do as many things as I think we would all like to do as far as the Bootleggers go. But, symbolically it’s important because we all have always been good friends in Jose this town, particularly within the industry. The original four members of the Bootleggers is The sun is coming out and Dunow six members, and those two newer rango will soon begin doing a members were originally members, so it’s lot of beer drinking outdoors. like we’ve known each other long enough, What events or festivals are and we’ve all worked together at one you looking forward to the point or another. In our industry’s current most in the coming months? climate, I think just holding on to those “I guess I would have to start off with local ties, like we all work together for the same goal – yeah, we compete for seats Continued on Page 11

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[beer]

What’s in your sixer? »» Steamworks head brewer Ken Martin’s top six picks It’s impossible to try all the craft beer on the market, and taking a chance on an unknown label can be a crapshoot.

To help you out on your next trip to the beer store, we asked Steamworks Brewing Co.’s head brewer, Ken Martin, what he currently has packed in his sixer. From regional IPAs to a cask-aged Flemish Red, Martin’s sixer is as diverse as it is delicious. We’ve enjoyed quite a few pints from the Steamworks taps, and one thing is certain: We trust his taste.

Ballast Point Brewing, San Diego, CA “This is a classic German Helles-style lager. The light malt flavor and aroma is derived from the generous proportion of Pilsner malt that is perfectly balanced by a subtle noble hop (bitter tang) character. It’s a great easy-drinking, light lager.”

Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse Dunkel Spaten-Franziskaner-Brau, Germany “This is also a classic style. The Bavarian dark wheat is a predominently yeast-driven beer. This particular

From Page 10

the Taste, primarily because that was the first big Durango festival that I attended when I moved here, and that was when I was with Steamworks. I was pouring beer and kinda looking up and down the street going, “Wow. Okay – so this is how it is.” The San Juan Brewfest is another favorite because it’s a really good excuse to bring in breweries from out of town that we know or may not know yet. The Brew Train is also a lot of fun. This year it’s in September. Durango – beer and trains, and that’s a chance to enjoy both of them together. What could be better?”

What’s one seasonal beer on tap here at Carver’s that you would suggest people give a try before it’s gone?

“Right now – and this is one of our styles that we rotate in and out of throughout the year – the Pine River Double IPA. We use all Colorado malt

Bitch Creek American Brown Ale Grand Teton Brewing Co., Victor, ID “This is where I got my start in the brewing industry. We launched this beer during that time, so it has some sentimental value for me, but for all other beer drinkers, it provides a complex malt bill with flavors like toasted

Fishwater Double IPA

Martin

“My least favorite style of beer is the one that you guys made up. You know what I mean? I saw a, like, Black IPA Kölsch. That is not a thing. You cannot call a beer a Black IPA and a Kölsch in the same name. Come on down, everybody! I’ve got some Russian Imperial Blonde Raspberry Rye Stout Wit. Those are my least favorite. Just because you either A.) messed up or B.) thought that was a good idea, doesn’t make it a thing.”

The Bruery, Placentia, CA “This bourbon barrel-aged Imperial stout is an overindulgence by any measure. First of all, its ABV weighs in at over 19 percent. That tells you that it’s a huge beer. With the addition of vanilla beans and cacao nibs blending with the chocolate, roasted, and caramel malt qualities, this is more of a meal than a beer.”

Brouwerij Verhaeghe, Belgium “This unique beer is a Flemish Red

—— Jessie O’Brien

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Sean Moriarty has been drinking craft beer since before he was legally allowed to. He managed and bartended at Steamworks Brewing Co. from 2007-2017 and currently manages their digital marketing.

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and hops for that beer. The hops come from Pine River Hops in Bayfield and the malt comes from Alamosa. It’s dangerously easy to drink at 8 percent (ABV) and very well balanced.”

Lastly, what is your least favorite style of beer and why?

Telluride Brewing Co., Telluride

“This delicious hop bomb tastes and smells like fresh picked American hop varietals, adding pronounced notes of citrus fruit and piney essence. It’s nicely balanced with a strong malt backbone and at 8.5 percent, the beer gives a warming effect to its enjoy-er.”

E 8th St

Longfin Lager

strain of yeast, along with warm fermentation temperatures, allow for the esters (fruity) and phenols (spicy) to come out, resulting in a beer with flavors and aromas of banana and clove. The accompanying dark bready malt character makes it a perfect balance.”

from the Flanders region of Belgium.

The process involves blending young beer with beer aged in oak casks, which gives this mahogany-hued ale a blend of tart lactic acidity with a touch of an acetic (the bacteria used in vinegar production) character. While this description may turn some folks off, I urge you to give it a try. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.”

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Opiate TKO »» How

the nation’s heroin epidemic led to a new, drug-free fighting league

By Angelica Leicht

I

DGO EDITOR

n late 2016, UFC fighter Josh Samman was at the top of his game. The Des Moines, Iowa, native had managed to climb the rungs from amateur Mixed Martial Arts fighter (MMA) to a competitor in the middleweight division of the UFC, and had even landed a spot on the show “The Ultimate Fighter.”

The 28-year-old had what looked like a steady career ahead of him. But that all changed on September 29, 2016, when Samman and a friend, MMA announcer Troy Kirkingburg, were found unresponsive in a South Florida apartment.

Kirkingburg was pronounced dead from an overdose of cocaine, heroin, and pain killers upon arrival at the hospital. Samman, always the fighter, held on a few days longer, in critical condition and in a coma, before passing away.

Samman’s story is all too familiar for MMA athletes. Fighters’ bodies take severe beatings before they’re pumped with prescription opioids to help deal with the pain. In all too many cases, it leads down a dark road to addiction.

»» Nick Brockmeyer Photos by Jessie O’Brien; illustration by Colossal Sanders/ DGO

League of fighters It’s an issue that Legends of the Cage MMA, a Hall of Fame Museum and fightContinued on Page 14

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������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Thursday, April 19, 2018 | 13

[wellness] From Page 12

ing league, aims to change. What started out as a museum to honor the fighting greats has become a veritable octopus, with tentacles in any and everything related to mixed martial arts.

One of their major projects – led by recent Durango transplant Nick Brockmeyer and Richard Blunk, Brockmeyer’s Dallas-based attorney – has been to build a league “for the fighter.” Dubbed “Legends of the Cage MMA,” the league is comprised of athletes who agree not to use dangerous prescription painkillers like Fentanyl or OxyContin, and treat their bodies with a mix of natural remedies, such as CBD oil or cannabis, instead.

“If my fighter is on opiates, he leaves,” Brockmeyer, also known as the CBDj, said. “Nobody in my league is on opiates.

I do not push cannabis on anybody. I’m more than happy to find them a great (cannabis) company, but I don’t push anything.”

Opioid epidemic The holistic approach to treating MMA injuries may be a new concept, but it’s a necessary one. MMA fighters have a much shorter athletic shelf-life, thanks to constant head blows and the wear and tear from high-level fighting. With limited options for pain management, athletes are regularly prescribed strong prescription painkillers, drugs that have greatly contributed to the nation’s massive – and growing – heroin epidemic. Opioid addiction often begins with pharmaceuticals, and as the addiction grows, the cost of obtaining pills becomes prohibitive.

That leads people to seek out heroin, a cheaper, and incredibly deadly, way to get an opioid fix.

The number of opioid-related deaths nationwide is currently five times higher than it was in 1999, and more than 600,000 people died between 2000 and 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The exact number of fighters dealing with addiction issues is unclear, but doping in general – with performance-enhancing drugs or otherwise – is not uncommon in the MMA. Joe Riggs, Drew Fickett, and Karo Parisyan have all publicly battled addiction, and others, like Shane Del Rosario and Shelby Walker, have died in drug-related circumstances. A quick Google search returns dozens, if not hundreds, of MMA fighters who’ve been suspended for doping.

Part of the issue is that MMA fighters are treated much like racehorses – they’re pushed to the end of their athletic abili-

ties, regularly injured, and then dropped when they can’t perform any longer.

“A lot of leagues will use the fighters until they can no longer fight, and suddenly they’re no longer recognized for what they’ve contributed to the sport,” Blunk said. “We want these guys to get the recognition they deserve (with the Hall of Fame).

The other part is to try and help these guys with some of their medical conditions.”

It’s too late to help fighters like Josh Samman, but

Blunk and Brockmeyer are hopeful that the league’s focus on CBD and THC will set an example, and prompt other athletes and fans to research holistic healing before turning to prescription drugs.

“I want to offer our fighters a real way to heal.

Not a way to suffer,” Brockmeyer said.

Blunk and Brockmeyer also hope that in time, the league will help garner national recognition and more research on CBD oil, which can be derived from hemp or marijuana. A lot of ex-fighters already use the cannabinoid for aches and pains – it’s a great anti-inflammatory – but not many are vocal about their choice to do so.

“I’ve always been intrigued with promotion of this sport,” Blunk said. “It’s one of the last artforms to put on a spectacle like this. And we’re looking at how this could be used as a vehicle for CBD oil and do some good to address this opioid crisis.”

Cortez calling Legends of the Cage is also trying to address the opioid crisis right in Durango’s backyard. Brockmeyer and Blunk are in the process of securing funding for a youth-focused MMA gym in Cortez – a town that is home to both the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Reservation and Navajo Indian Reservation – to help inspire kids and fight back against addiction.

Programs like the one proposed in Cortez are a crucial part of the battle against opioid addiction. Statistics show that Native Americans fare the worst of all minority groups when it comes to addiction issues, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Statistics also show that Native Americans are at least two times as likely to become addicted to drugs or alcohol, and they die from opioid addictions at triple the rate of other populations.

“I came here to do these fights. I also ran into some people who told me how bad Cortez was (with opioid and heroin abuse),” Brockmeyer said.

“And I knew my fighters and I could bring power to wherever we’re at. So I figured I would set up a gym and start training people.”

Intervening at a young age may be the only way to stop the spread of opioid addiction, on reservations and otherwise. According to a 2014 study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the use of heroin and of the widely-abused opioid OxyContin by American Indian 12th-graders was about double the national average. And despite the harrowing statistics, American Indians are often overlooked in the addiction conversation.

“We brought them the devil – casinos, alContinued on Page 15

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From Page 14

cohol – we wrecked lives. We can help fight it,” Brockmeyer said.

Building a gym is an ambitious undertaking, but things may come to fruition for the Legends duo. They already have the land, and are working on securing grants and private funding to cover the cost of the facilities.

“The people there deserve this. We can spend some time and energy to do it right,” Blunk said.

A personal fight For Brockmeyer, the desire to fight back against opioid addiction is a personal one. He still remembers coming to the realization that prescription addiction can be devastating for MMA fighters.

“I watched a movie when I was a kid about Mark Coleman, who was in his older years and still a fighter, still a badass. This dude was like Mr Beautiful. Just ripped, just everything... His student, halfway through this documentary, it becomes obvious he has a drug problem, and he starts becoming relevant to the filmmakers,” Brockmeyer said. “He gets out of the ring and walks right into the doctor and said, ‘I need some opiates.’ The doc didn’t have any – this was in China. He started throwing things. Even the warriors – nobody is safe.”

Brockmeyer’s own brush with prescription painkillers came after an accident at his day job in 2008 rendered him bed-ridden for nearly a year, with prescription opioids his only option for relief.

“I was in bed for like a year. I was taking opiates and all that stuff. I don’t even know how to describe that pain,” he said. “When I was on opiates, I hated my life. I’ve trained my whole life, I’ve never been injured like that and now I can’t walk.”

Brockmeyer said he knew how dangerous opiates were. His dad was on heavy-duty prescription drugs toward the end of his life, and Brockmeyer watched firsthand the horrible reactions his dad had to the medicine.

“My dad died just a couple years ago... he was a vet and they wouldn’t let him come off of it or smoke, so he had to take it. My dad had to use Fentanyl, and as soon as he would take it, his face would puff up for like 20 minutes. It was like, ‘Dad. That’s f@$king poison, man!’”

Brockmeyer said.

But even with that knowledge, taking himself off of prescription painkillers was a harrowing thought.

“One of my coaches, Paul Jordan, came to me one day and said, ‘I can help you walk again. Quit taking that shit.’ And this guy is a preacher. I knew if he was saying ‘quit taking that shit,’ it was real. But I was like, ‘Man, I can’t do that. I need these pills or I’m gonna just jump out of this window.’ I went for about a year on those.”

Things changed the day Brockmeyer’s attorney pointed out he would likely be taking opiates for the rest of his life.

“I remember the day I changed my mind. I was sitting there and my lawyer said, ‘We’re gonna ask for another $250,000 or something,’ (for his injuries) and I was like, ‘Whoa, that’s a lot of money.’ He was like, ‘Well, they’re paying for your life, man. You’re going to be taking these opiates for the rest of your life.’ So as soon as he said that, I was like, I’m gonna die because the doctor’s giving me something? I’ll quit this shit right now.”

And he did. A lifelong cannabis smoker, Brockmeyer began replacing the pain meds with cannabis – a lot of cannabis, he said – and it helped, but not completely. It wasn’t until he realized the strength of CBD, the cannabinoid derived from hemp and marijuana, and added it in that he really began to feel whole. His doctors weren’t exactly stoked about his painkiller refusal, though.

“I was told that a refusal to take opioids was a refusal of treatment,” Brockmeyer said. What that meant was his doctor could discharge him for not following his treatment plan.

“The government by law is killing you. They’re f@$king killing you.

They’re taking away the things you need and making you put into your body things that are killing you,” Brockmeyer said.

But that’s all ancient history now.

Brockmeyer’s injuries are no longer debilitating, and these days, he has his hands in just about everything, from DJing to documentaries, along with the holistic MMA league and youth gym in Southwestern Colorado.

The end game is to create vehicles to improve lives, Brockmeyer said, because opioids just ain’t gonna cut it.

“I’m gonna save some fighters and promote some cannabis.”

TALES OF IMMIGRATION April 25 • 5:30 p.m.

Powerhouse Science Center 1333 Camino del Rio Local voices. Local stories.

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Rosa Sabido Facing deportation, living in sanctuary at a Mancos church

Sabine Davidson Immigrated to America in her 20s after living as a refugee in Germany after WWII

Kamran Afzal Durango’s police chief migrated to the U.S. from Pakistan at the age of 15.

Danny Quinlan Executive director of Compañeros: Four Corners Immigrant Resource Center

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[ weed ] Seeing Through the Smoke Christopher Gallagher

We’ve reached the “strange bedfellows” level with cannabis

I

t appears that we have reached the “strange bedfellows” portion of the cannabis legalization movement. The politicians – especially those from the party primarily responsible for the absurd state of cannabis laws – are jumping on the bandwagon.

Full disclosure: I do not trust any of them, from either party. I think that having guillotines – non-operational, of course, and take the blades out; I’m not a madman – sprinkled here and there throughout the country could serve as an adequate reminder of what can happen when a government’s representatives lose touch with the wants and needs of the population they are supposed to be standing in for. Maybe one in

each of the nation’s 10 or 20 largest cities.

The past few weeks, we have seen one fairly surprising development, with Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell petitioning to have hemp removed from the Controlled Substances Act, the 1970 legislation driven by Richard Nixon, cannabis’ archenemy. The CSA is the lynchpin that established the current scheduling system of illegal drugs in the United States and placed cannabis in Schedule I, the most restrictive category. It’s a category that also includes heroin and methamphetamine; precludes both the possibility of scientific research on the plant; the use of any non-drug materials taken from the plant; and logistically destroys the hemp industry.

Colossal Sanders for DGO; photo via Assoaciated Press

»» Former House Speaker John Boehner McConnell’s support of any cannabis plant is shocking when coupled with his voting record on marijuana-related legislation. He receives a solid F grade for his record from NORML, and no higher than a D from any other advocacy group I could find. He has previously supported the regulated legalization of hemp, provided its THC content remains under 0.6 percent, a position that makes sense considering his constituency resides in a state that could profit greatly from a rejuvenated hemp industry. His state could really use the boost as the American tobacco industry, formerly a substantial income source for Kentucky, fades.

April’s true case of Thi$ $hock$ Me (Not One $ingle Bit) involves the appointment of retired Republican legislator John Boehner – rhymes with “owner”? – and former Massachusetts governor, William Weld, joining the board of Acreage Holdings, a cannabis investment company operating in 11 states, but not Colorado. Weld’s decision to join Acreage is not overly surprising. He is one of those kooky libertarian types who thinks decisions like whether to use cannabis are best left out of the purview of government regulators.

On the other hand, Boner (did I get it right that time?), Speaker of the House from 2011 to 2015, is a dyed-inthe-wool Drug War Warrior, a man

who stated in a 2011 letter to one of his Ohio constituents, “I am unalterably opposed to the legalization of marijuana.” The former Speaker claims to have had a “come to Jah” moment, spurred by his observation of cannabis helping a friend to overcome a back injury – a dubious claim on the surface, but who am I to judge? He did bring a small smile to my lips by pushing for “descheduling,” as opposed to the pabulum that is “rescheduling.”

The real twist in this saga, for me, involves the fact that Boehner has long had ties to tobacco corporations, and is a current board member at Reynolds American. Let the monsters feed upon the monsters, I suppose.

This is, at the end of the day, positive news in the overall push for nationwide legalization. Polls show that the American public has changed their collective minds on cannabis over the last decade. Maybe the position change of the guys like McConnell and Boehner are reflective of this.

Maybe these are just more political games being played by men who have spent their lives playing such games.

Maybe it doesn’t matter.

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

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[review]

Riptide, a sativa as pleasant as the Vance Joy song My coworkers can thank the weed gods for the fact that I’ve been humming Vance Joy chords for the last 72 hours. This week, we’re going to chat about “Riptide,” a sativa strain with the same moniker as that earworm song.

Try to smoke it and not hum “running down to the riptide...” You can’t.

be coming to see the apartment. Lucky me, I had stuff everywhere. It made no sense to clean it up and then move it next weekend, so I opted to dive into moving a weekend early instead. My Friday night plans went from smoking Riptide to frantically stuffing boxes into my car. Womp-womp.

So, a little bit about this strain: Prohibition conjured up this sativa strain from their own genetics – a cross between Catpiss and Romulun – which means it’s unique to their dispensary.

Riptide clocks in at somewhere between 21 and 23 percent THC, and the buds are chunky with an earthy smell, a bit like a damp forest in the fall.

Once I’d finished moving, I looked around at the explosion of clothes, furniture, and kitchen gadgets in despair.

I had so much to put away but I could. not. do. it. My legs hurt, my brain hurt, and I opted to smoke a bowl of Riptide instead. For work reasons, of course.

I’d originally planned to slap this bad boy into a pipe on Friday night, but alas, life got in the way. I’m in the process of moving – i.e. I am paying rent on two places because I’m an idiot – and I hadn’t planned on schlepping my shit from one place to the other over the weekend.

That’s what I ended up doing anyway.

My plan went to hell when my current landlord told me someone would

Well, let me tell you... if relaxation is what you’re looking for, Riptide is not it. After a few puffs of ye old weed, I wasn’t overwhelmed, nor was I concerned about my Jell-O-legs. I was invigorated by a second wind, and even after a weekend of hard labor, I got right to work.

In between unpacking boxes, I took a few notes on Riptide that I’d like to share.

1. “I’m clearheaded other than this

f@$cking Spice Girls song stuck in my head.”

2. “Oh, damn. This is a creeper.” (I believe this was when the gentle body high kicked in, right about the time that I’d finished closet duty.)

3. “I love how I can remember words or other great things I don’t normally remember, like the word creeper.”

Those three thoughts describe Riptide in a proverbial nutshell. I didn’t feel obnoxiously high – I just felt like I’d had a good nap. My weekend didn’t seem to suck as much. And I ate, like, three apples, which made me feel healthy. So, it was a big win in an otherwise trash weekend.

If you’re looking for a strain that will kick you into high gear, Riptide is your jam. If you want to feel smart as hell and vacillate from humming the Spice Girls to Vance Joy, Riptide is your mf’in’ jam.

If you’re looking to pout and then sleep, Riptide is not your jam (and you should re-evaluate your life).

—— DGO Pufnstuf

Details Where to find Riptide: Prohibition Herb, 1185 Camino Del Rio, 970-385-8622, prohibitionherb.com Price: Currently $13.00 a gram, $45.50 an eighth on the rec side, but may change batch to batch.

Caveats: Prohibition Herb provided this sample for review purposes, but only gave us an earworm, not a bribe for our review.

We’re not that lucky.

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[advice]

Life Hax | Carolyn Hax

I’ve been single my entire 60 years. Am I bizarre?

I’m single. I’ve been single my entire 60 years. I travel alone most of the time, yes, even on vacation. I’m sick of people being shocked that I drove cross-country twice alone. I’m sick of people giving me odd looks and telling me, “Your day will come,” when I am alone on vacation, in the airport, on the plane, at the hotel, in the restaurant. I don’t have a question, I’m just tired of being regarded as bizarre.

Just Need to Vent Rightly so.

But I hope someday, if someone gives you the “Your day will come” line again, you say the same back to that person. Because, seriously, way more people manage to get married/paired off than have the courage to be alone with their thoughts, much less alone with their dinner, movie, long-distance drive or vacation.

Which makes you more badass than bizarre, for the record, even though I say this with fervent hope that time and progress will make you less of a badass and more just a person living a life.

I’m an only child in my late 30s, the daughter of doting, super-involved, loving parents, but I recently found out a secret.

In doing some genealogical research, I was shocked to learn that my father had a family before marrying my mother, which I knew nothing about.

I asked my aunt about it, and she was surprised I was never told. Apparently, he divorced his first wife and, soon after, allowed his two young children to be adopted by his ex-wife’s new husband. And he never saw his children again.

Being an only child is a big part of my identity, and I’m shocked to learn I have two half-siblings out in the world. As a mom myself, I’m also shocked my dad gave up those chil-

dren and agreed to never see them again.

I can’t decide whether to confront my parents about this. We’re very close, but I feel like broaching this subject might be painful for them.

Only Child No Longer R.I.P. the Dark Family Secret: born, beginning of time; died, 2018.

You know, and now we sort-of know, your story. Your parents have a story too – as they always did, obviously.

You’ve just learned it’s more complicated than you could possibly have imagined. That alone doesn’t say it’s a damning story.

So here’s what you need to ask yourself: Can you continue to have the same relationship with your parents as you always have, with only the information you now possess?

If yes, then you have the option of leaving this discovery right where you found it. I’m not saying you should or shouldn’t, just that you can.

If no, then you need to talk to your parents. It’s not fair to be the reason your relationship changes and not tell them this reason yourself.

Note, I didn’t say “confront.” It doesn’t have to be you versus your parents, the world, the truth. There are always choices. You can always opt to approach them with love and assurances, not poised to burn it all down.

They have choices too, of course, and among them is the option to respond as if you’re burning it all down no matter how lovingly you approach.

And I think we can safely agree this is one of the more exquisitely painful topics a person can raise, no matter how kindly you do it.

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

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[happening]

DGO’s picks in and around Durango Hey, shorty Fort Lewis College journalism and multimedia studies students will present a collection of student-made films for the biannual Shorts Fest. Stay after for a Q&A with the directors (and free food).

Details: April 20, free, 7 p.m., Fort Lewis College, Vallecito Room, 1000 Rim Drive, fortlewis.edu

Painted pot leaf The Art Experience and The Art Supply House are hosting a 4/20 Paint Party, where attendees (skilled or unskilled) can paint a cannabis leaf. All supplies will be provided. We can only hope that it includes holiday party favors, too.

Details: April 20, starting at $20, 7 p.m., The Art Experience, 1150 Main Ave., taedurango.com

Thursday Legal Issues in Multiunit Housing, 8:30

a.m., Strater Hotel, 699 Main Ave. San Juan Basin Public Health wellness screenings, 9 a.m.,

Pine River Library, 395 Bayfield Center Drive, Bayfield, 884-2222.

Cardio and strength interval class, 9 a.m.,

Edgemont Highlands Community Lodge, 40 Red Canyon Trail.

Sue Buchanan: A selection from 50 years of work, 10 a.m.,

Durango Arts Center, 802 East Second Ave., 2592606.

Friends of the Pine River Library meeting, 10 a.m., Pine River

Library, 395 Bayfield Center Drive, Bayfield, 884-2222.

Toddler story time,

grass Meltdown.

Melted banjos This weekend is the 24th Annual Durango Bluegrass Meltdown.

Hear local, regional, and national acts such as the Becky Buller Band, the Molly Tuttle Band, and the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys strum, harmonize, and fiddle. Bring your own instrument to join in on a jam sesh.

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

Laugh Therapy, 8

p.m., Irish Embassy Pub, 900 Main Ave., 403-1200.

Friday Durango Bluegrass Meltdown, all-day

event, $40-$100, various locations in Durango, 7992281, www.durangomeltdown.com.

Sue Buchanan: A selection from 50 years of work, 10 a.m.,

Durango Arts Center, 802 East Second Ave., 2592606.

Preschool story time, 10:30 a.m., Duran-

go Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave. BMX Extravaganza,

2 p.m., Cundiff Park, 480 Camino del Rio.

Measure What Matters: Colorado Challenge introduction,

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

noon, Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave. BMX Extravaganza,

»» The Becky Buller Band will play at the 24th Annual Durango Blue-

p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave.

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

2 p.m., Cundiff Park, 480 Camino del Rio. Courtesy of beckybuller.com

phy Club “Complete Critique” meeting, 7

Durango Performance Center grand opening, 3

BMX Extravaganza,

Patrick Crossing, 5

p.m., Irish Embassy Pub, 900 Main Ave., 403-1200.

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

Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave.

Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave.

Saturday

Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave. Durango Diaries: Tales of Immigration, 5:30 p.m., Power-

house Science Center, 1333 Camino del Rio.

Greg Ryder, 7 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave., 375-7260.

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

Durango Bluegrass Meltdown, all-day

event, $40-$100, various locations in Durango, 7992281, www.durangomeltdown.com.

Record Store Day, 9

event, $40-$100, various locations in Durango, 7992281, www.durangomeltdown.com.

Earth Day Festival,

10 a.m., Rotary Park, 1565 East Second Ave. Climate march and Earth Day parade,

10:30 a.m., Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, 479 Main Ave. Henry Stoy piano, 11

a.m., Jean Pierre Bakery and Wine Bar, 601 Main Ave. Durango ukulele jam, 4 p.m., Magpies

Newsstand Cafe, 707 Main Ave. The Bluemoon Ramblers, 7 p.m., Di-

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

Monday Cardio and strength interval class, 9 a.m.,

a.m., Southwest Sound, 922 Main Ave.

Open mic night, 6

“Bowl for Kids Sake”event, 9 a.m., Sky

Edgemont Highlands Community Lodge, 40 Red Canyon Trail.

Ute Casino Resort, Rolling Thunder Lanes, 14324 Highway 172, Ignacio.

Direct Primary Care: The Future of Health Care, 5:30 p.m.,

Durango Photogra-

T(w)een Time, 4 p.m.,

2 p.m., Cundiff Park, 480 Camino del Rio.

Community Library, 470 Goddard Ave., Ignacio. p.m., Eno Cocktail Lounge and Wine Bar, 723 East Second Ave., 385-0105.

Wednesday

Durango Bluegrass Meltdown, all-day

ADU proposal public meeting, 5 p.m.,

Details: April 25, $55 per person, 6:30 p.m., Mahogany Grille, 699 Main Ave., mahoganygrille.com

1 p.m., Pine River Library, 395 Bayfield Center Drive, Bayfield, 884-2222.

Steaming Bean, 900 Main Ave.

Sky Ute Casino Resort, Rolling Thunder Lanes, 14324 Highway 172, Ignacio.

Poetry punch

Head to Mahogany Grille for Beer Dinner Wednesday. The Old West restaurant will serve five courses, each paired with a Telluride Brewing Co. brew, for your edible pleasure.

Making organic compost at home,

Tuesday Jam, 6 p.m.,

p.m., Irish Embassy Pub, 900 Main Ave., 403-1200.

Details: April 20-22, $90 weekend pass, various times, various venues, durangomeltdown.com

A perfect pair

Durango Community Recreation Center, 2700 Main Ave.

Baby story time,

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

Sunday

Karaoke, 7 p.m., Durango Veterans of Foreign Wars, 1550 Main Ave.

Family Literacy Night, 5:30 p.m., Ignacio

Youth Voice Spotlight:Voice of Our Generation, 11 a.m.,

Tuesday

“Bowl for Kids Sake” event, 5 p.m.,

Read to Rover, 3:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave., 375-3380.

Embassy Pub, 900 Main Ave., 403-1200.

The Main Event,

11 a.m., Main Avenue, from 26th Street to 30th Street, www.themaineventdurango.com.

Library, 395 Bayfield Center Drive, Bayfield, 884-2222.

Citizens Climate Lobby meeting, 5:30

Durango Brewing Co., 3000 Main Ave., 2473396.

Details: April 21, free, 4 p.m., Fort Lewis College, Noble Hall, room 130, 1000 Rim Drive, fortlewis.edu

a.m., Jean Pierre Bakery and Wine Bar, 601 Main Ave.

Balcony Backstage, 600 Main Ave.

Matt Rupnow, 7 p.m.,

Five Rivers Trout Unlimited Chapter meeting, 5 p.m., Irish

Henry Stoy piano, 11

Classic Movie Mondays:“The Thomas Crown Affair” (1968), 7 p.m., Pine River

Suttle Street Clinic, 72 Suttle St., Suite M.

“Divine Love: The answer to universal health” Church of Christian Science talk, 7 p.m., Durango

Come hear what the young voices of Durango have to say at the 1st annual Poetry Slam finals at Fort Lewis College. High school and middle school students will perform original pieces to see who will reign supreme.

Durango Arts Center, 802 East Second Ave., 2592606.

Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave.

5 & Dimers, 9:30 p.m.,

STEAM Lab, 3:30 p.m.,

p.m., Fort Lewis College, Skyhawk Hall, Room 140, 1000 Rim Drive.

Lacey Black, 5 p.m.,

Sue Buchanan: A selection from 50 years of work, 10 a.m.,

Pete Neds and Friends, 6 p.m., Duran-

go Veterans of Foreign Wars, 1550 Main Ave. 2-D Modeling and Tool Strategy, 6 p.m.,

$15-$30, Powerhouse Science Center, MakerLab, 1295 Camino del Rio. Making a Difference Speaker Series presents Jenna Bush Hager, 6:30 p.m.,

$30-$55, Fort Lewis College, Community Concert Hall, 1000 Rim Drive.

Mahogany Grille and Telluride Brewing Co. beer dinner,

6:30 p.m., $55, Strater Hotel, 699 Main Ave.

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

swscene.com, click “Add Your Event,” enter the event info into the form and submit. Listings at www.swscene.com will appear on www.dgomag. com and in our weekly print edition. Posting an event on www.swscene. com is free and takes one day to process.

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April Special

DEALS

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

Buy one cat or dog toy and get a second toy HALF OFF!

21738 Hwy 160W, Durango

970.375.9700

Discount applies to the less expensive toy.

healthyhoundsandfatcats.com

Expires 04/30/18. Cannot be combined with any other offer.

Other restrictions may apply.

279812

CAN YOU BELIEVE THESE SPRING SERVICE SPECIALS? LUBE, OIL & FILTER

OPEN SATURDAYS FOR FULL SERVICE 8AM-5PM Any Make/Any Model (970) 259-3940 • 20704 Highway 160 West Durango

TIRE ROTATION SPECIAL

1295

995

$

$

REG. $39.95

REG. $19.95

ONLY ONE COUPON PER VISIT. MUST BE PRESENT AT TIME OF WRITE UP. EXCLUDES TAX AND SHOP SUPPLIES. UP TO 6 QTS SYNTHETIC BLEND CONVENTIONAL MOTOR OIL. INCLUDES OIL, FILTER & LABOR. EXCLUDES DIESELS. SEE DEAALER FOR DETAILS. CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS. EXPIRES 05/31/18

ONLY ONE COUPON PER VISIT. MUST BE PRESENT AT TIME OF WRITE UP. EXCLUDES TAX AND SHOP SUPPLIES. SEE DEALER FOR DETAILS. EXCLUDES DUALLYS. CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS. EXPIRES 05/31/18

D G O

RICHLAND RICHLAND LANDSCAPING LANDSCAPING All Phases of Landscaping & Design Sprinkler Installation • Flagstone Patios • Cedar Fencing • Veteran & Senior Discounts • •

40 years experience!

Free Estimates & Design 970-749-4288

3 COURSE DINNER 725 E 2nd Ave Durango, CO 81301 (970) 385-6884 Closed Sunday

for $25.00!

20%OFF

ALL LANDSCAPING SERVICES ALL PROJECTS UNDER $499

10%OFF

ALL PROJECTS OVER $500 RECEIVE 10% Expiration Date: 04/30/18

281273

BOGO!

Buy one get one Somm’s choice wine.

723 E 2nd Ave Durango, CO 81301 (970) 385-0105

Enjoy an appetizer, entree and dessert all for $25.00 Choose from our weekly selections.

Expiration Date: 04/30/18 Offer cannot be combined with other promotions.

Not valid on holidays.

Expiration Date: 04/30/18 Offer cannot be combined with other promotions.

Not valid on holidays.

To advertise in DGO Deals contact us at 970-247-3504 20 | Thursday, April 19, 2018 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

STARTING AT

$45/tire*

GET A FREE

ALIGNMENT OR OIL CHANGE* www.treadworks.com 1776 Main Ave · Durango, CO

Expiration Date: 05/15/2018 *Not valid with any other discount or promotion. Must present coupon at time of purchase.

Oil change-up to 5 quarts of standard oil. Diesels excluded. Excludes mounting, balancing & tax.

281262

EARLY BIRD SPECIALS

8'x12' - 1,599 • 10'x12' - $1,999• 12'x16' - $2,999 $

Everything built on site with a standard 7’ wall and metal roofing.

FIND US ON FACEBOOK!

LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED Expiration Date: 04/30/18

281269

Expires: 04/30/2018

GARDEN CENTER & GIFTS

CELEBRATE EARTH DAY!

APRIL 22

Expires: 04/30/2018

CLIFFROSE ON MARKET

Cliffrose Garden Center

15% OFF POTTERY OFF BUY 1, GET 1 FREE 15% FRUIT TREES SEED PACKS

LILACS & FORSYTHIA

DEALS

Cliffrose

D G O

BUY 4 TIRES

(970) 247-9068

*of equal or lesser value

101 N Market St • Cortez, CO

970.565.2099

Expiration Date: 04/30/18 Must present coupon at time of purchase. Not valid with any other offer.

27885 HW 160 • Cortez, CO

970.565.8994

Expiration Date: 04/30/18 Must present coupon at time of purchase. Not valid with any other offer.

To advertise in DGO Deals contact us at 970-247-3504 ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Thursday, April 19, 2018 | 21

Horoscope ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Don’t act on any decision this week unless you’re sure. It’s easy to be mildly confused because of daydreams, imaginary fantasies or misinformation.

Be careful.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) You love creature comforts and beautiful things, especially antiques, fine wood, pewter and gold. Do not be tempted to spend more money than you can afford this week.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) This week, the Moon is in your sign, at odds with fuzzy Neptune. This makes it easy to deceive yourself or talk yourself into something. Don’t kid yourself.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22)

LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22) You like your friends to be wonderful people, which is why you try to see the best in them. This week, you might even idealize a friend. (Don’t get carried away.)

VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22) Be careful when talking to bosses, parents and VIPs this week. Something might confuse you. If you think something fishy is going on, it probably is.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22) Don’t get sucked into someone else’s rhetoric or fancy talk about religion, politics or racial issues. Listen to your own common sense, and do the right thing. (Kindness is the most important thing.)

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21)

Be careful about decisions regarding inheritances, shared property or shared responsibilities for someone or something. Someone might deceive you. You might not have the full picture. Use caution.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21) Be clear in all your communications with partners and close friends today, because they are subject to confusion and misinterpretation. Some people just hear what they want to hear.

because it’s quite likely that this disappointment is only a misunderstanding.

Don’t jump to conclusions.

PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20) Your relationship with a female family member might be confused this week.

Do what you can to make sure that your communications with others are clear. Make sure you know what they want.

BORN THIS WEEK

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18)

You are energetic, positive and charming. You often look for a deeper meaning in life. You’re a risk-taker. It’s time to get a better understanding of who you are. Explore meditation, yoga or other disciplines. This also is a year of teaching and learning. What you learn this year will be crucial for your progress and success next year.

Romance might be disappointing this week. Don’t let this get you down

© 2018 King Features Syndicate Inc.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19) It’s hard to get excited about work this week because you would rather be playing, fishing, biking or – fill in the blank. Just do what you can.

Bizarro

Something might confuse you this week. If you feel this way, do not act.

Unless you know what you want and

you feel that you are on firm footing, do nothing.

22 | Thursday, April 19, 2018 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

[pics]

Spirits at the Spiritorium DGO photo contributor Lucy Schaefer spent her ​weekend in the midst of the debauchery at The Office Spiritorium and Main Ave. to bring you these photos.

For more photos, go to dgomag.com

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[24th Annual]

Where the latest home building and remodeling products and services are all under one roof!

Featured Artist:

Ron Hawkins sculptures and ceramics

Tiny Homes Tours Live Entertainment

Saturday, April 28th from 10am-5pm Sunday, April 29th from 10am-3pm La Plata County Fairgrounds $ 5 Admission | Children 12 and Under Free

More info at FourCornersExpos.com PRESENTED BY

SPONSORED BY