LIFE + CULTURE
MEET DURANGO’S INFLUENCERS
LIFESTYLE LETTER
Putting together our gentlemen’s issue has made me think of the important men in my life. There are several men who have made an impact on my life, but dad is the first to come to mind.
Father figures can make countless differences in their home and family. My dad gave me the gifts of sharing his wisdom, his life experiences, his smiles and most of all his laughter. He was well known for his joke telling abilities.
As we reflect on fatherhood this month, here are just a few of the ways our father figures can impact our lives.
• His strength can be powerful
• His words can be fueling and inspirational
• Embraces from him can be deeply comforting
• His smiles can instill joy and confidence
• Time with him can be fun and productive
• His guidance can be life-changing and foundational
• His correction can be life-saving and life-giving
• Adventures with him can be exciting and memorable
Our father figures won’t be around forever, so don’t wait to let the important men in your life know how much they matter to you. And if you are a dad, let us be the first to say - thank you. You are invaluable to the people who know and need you as well as the community around you.
Happy Father’s Day!
BRANDEN (BRANDY) MURRAY, PUBLISHER @DURANGOCITYLIFESTYLE
PUBLISHER
Branden (Brandy) Murray branden.murray@citylifestyle.com
EDITORIAL COORDINATORS
Rachel Rosenthal | rachel.rosenthal@citylifestyle.com
Chelsey Juarez | chelsey.juarez@citylifestyle.com
Jennifer Mason | jennifer.mason@citylifestyle.com
ACCOUNT MANAGER
Morgan Murray | morgan.murray@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Brandon Mathis, Josh Cannon
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Rachel Chrisman
LAYOUT DESIGNER Jamie Housh
Zach is the owner of Legacy Properties West, founded with his father, Tom, in 2006. Zach focuses on high-end real estate and is an expert when it comes to handling complexities related to these transactions. The agency has received recognition as being one of the top 250 real estate brokers in the US as well as the #5 broker in Colorado. Zach is an avid supporter of the Durango Arts Center and the Community Foundation.
Wagon Wheel Liquors was established in Durango 75 years before James and his wife Christi took over in 2021. Their staff have over 100 years combined restaurant and retail experience. James passionately supports the community, including The Women’s Resource Center, Durango High School, SASO and the Durango Education Foundation, amongst others. They offer tastings on Wednesdays from 4 to 6 PM. If they don’t have it, they will get it for you. Ask about free delivery via the app!
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Richie and Matt started Wild Durango in 2023, providing guided backpack adventures and unforgettable experiences for guests of all ability levels. They strive to provide transformative wilderness experiences that promote personal growth, resilience, and connection to nature. They prioritize safety and individual attention for their clients, while fostering a supportive community atmosphere to ensure their customers have a profound and meaningful experience. They offer an all women’s series led by two amazing ladies in June.
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WINE. SPIRTIS. CHEF DRIVEN COCKTAILS.
CULINARY ADVENTURE
LUNCH, DINNER & SUNDAY BRUNCH
We are not just a RESTAURANT. We are an EXPERIENCE. Come, Fall in love.
Our mission is to cultivate lasting change in our own lives and in the lives of everyone we know & meet by radiating loving service, joy, peace, wisdom, prosperity, health, & gratitude. We are devoted to making the world better, the world around us better by touching the life of someone every single day.
has expanded to include 25 staff members in Durango, Pagosa Springs, Alamosa, and Phoenix. They do a wide range of Projects residential to large developments. The company is well known for its custom homes Traci is active in numerous workforce housing projects in Durango. Tracy has been a member of the Durango Historic Preservation Board and also helps design develop and build projects in this arena.
Dr. Minor has been practicing dentistry in Durango since 2004, adding facial aesthetics in 2013. He dove into laser dentistry in 2014 knowing he could offer more to his patients than traditional dentistry. He is the only Master Certified Laser Dentist in the four corners area. Dr. Minor wants to do all he can to provide a comfortable and pleasant experience for his patients, and help them achieve and maintain their dream smile and look.
ARTICLE BY JENNY MASON
Sunshine gilds the river’s rills and runnels in silver lamé. Birds chatter. Buggy clouds swirl over the water. Birds swoop and snatch these snacks. The cold current shoves your bare legs with steady pressure. A similar pressure shoves your hunter’s instincts to fool nature.
Your relaxed wrists and shoulders flick the long rod. Your line loops as it dances with the air. Your fly hovers, daubs, and drifts until—bang! The line yanks taut and heavy. The exuberant fish, lipped on the hook, leaps from the water. Its scales glint and wink—a firing squad of paparazzi cameras.
You reel. The fish fights with a colossal tug, and then…the line goes slack. The soggy fly returns, dripping not with your prey but water.
“The lost [fish] are the ones far more remembered than the ones you catch,” says Andy McKinley, a longtime employee with Duranglers, the local source for flies, supplies, and guides since 1983.
McKinley discovered fly fishing at age 11 when a dazzling fly-tying demonstration caught his fancy. The men deftly spiraled colorful craft supplies around tiny hooks. Threads, fine wires, chenille yarn, marabou feathers, tiny crystalline beads—these items, when twisted, imitate the food that fish like to nosh. Wooly Buggers. Lucky-B’s. Jigged Mini Leeches. Rat-Faced McDougals. Whatever the nickname, dry flies are most commonly designed to mimic caddis flies, stone flies, and mayflies. Wet flies will resemble the nymph or underwater adolescent insect. Streamers are flies that imitate smaller fish such as minnows.
“Some people will say it's art, but it's like functional art—the idea that you can create something and wow, you've fooled a fish!” McKinley notes.
Anglers, or fisherpersons who use hooks rather than nets to catch fish, have been fly fishing since at least the 2nd century, according to Roman historical records. McKinley loves the challenges fly fishing presents. Good anglers are also skilled entomologists; they know their bugs and how to present them as natural food to the fish. They have keen water literacy, too. As McKinley explains it, “Reading water, meaning…there's riffles, runs, pools, boulders, rapids, all sorts of stuff. You know where that fish is going to be sitting based on the type of water, maybe the water temperature, and time of year.”
McKinley pushes back against misperceptions of fly fishing as a men’s-only sport. He states, “I think women pick it up faster. Especially with the fly cast—it's not about strength and power. It's actually about just letting the rod do the work. Same with being patient, for sure.”
That fly fishing is an elitist pastime is yet another myth McKinley strives to debunk. “There’s a perception of fly fishing that it's a high-dollar, very expensive sport. When it comes down to it, it isn't. Fly fishing is just the next level up rather than just sitting by a lake throwing bait out.”
That said, all anglers, be they snobs or noobs, pros or hobbyists, can rely on Duranglers for a wealth of resources. In addition to a well-stocked shop on Main Avenue, they also offer guided fishing expeditions on local lakes and rivers, courses on casting and fly-tying, and various other summer clinics. They can also help curate and coordinate far-flung fly-fishing trips to Belize, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Argentina, and the Christmas Islands.
Pulsing at the heart of the hobby is deep appreciation for and an understanding of natural habitats. Honing the angler’s mindset over many years has altered McKinley’s personality and outlook for the better. “I would say it helps me with patience in learning, patience in trying to get something right,” he says. Fly fishing has also spurred him to be more adventurous. He is more willing to explore new trails should they lure him to trout or bass. Any vacation is suddenly more enticing should it promise the chance to fish new waters. McKinley admits, “I start to look at areas differently. I'm like: Oh, so we're going to go visit Idaho. What's up there to fish? And I start researching that and learning about different regions and what's available.”
No doubt, you may be itchin’ to go anglin’ and before you take up the rod and reel, keep in mind McKinley’s sober safety warning: if you’re going to fly fish, you’re going to get hooked. He doesn’t mean snagging a hook on your finger (though that does happen); rather, he means beware of the obsession.
“Some people are obsessed with the numbers of fish they catch. Some people are obsessed with just catching a giant fish,” McKinley says. But all fishermen crave the same moment. “Feeling something on the end of your line…feeling a fish get hooked.”
“THE LOST [FISH] ARE THE ONES FAR MORE REMEMBERED THAN THE ONES YOU CATCH.”
Featherweight Gear that Keeps Guys
Traveling Light and Fast on the Trail
Today’s modern mountain man knows that lighter weight adds up to more comfort on the trail. Here are three products that will change the way you see trail essentials and allow you to travel farther faster.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRANDON MATHIS
This is a very light, compact and self-contained backcountry cooking system offering everything you need to boil water quickly and efficiently. Paired with any IsoPro Fuel canister ( not included), it’s perfect for dehydrated, pouched camp meals or that must-have cup of coffee in the morning. The small kit comes in under 10 ounces and includes the renowned Pocket Rocket 2 Stove, a .75 liter aluminum pot, a handy polypropylene lid/strainer, and 16 16-volume-ounce ounce bowl, plus a pot lifter. We appreciate the pot’s insulated grip ring, making handling a breeze.
The Be Free Water Filtration System is about as simple as it gets for treating water on the go. Just scope and drink. Good for a remarkable 1,000 liters of water, the Be Free Filter uses a cluster of hollow fiber filters to strain out microorganisms like bacteria and protozoa. With a collapsible soft flask and just over 1 ounce, the Be Free is easy to carry and keep handy on the trail. It’s also easy to clean at home or in the backcountry.
Long celebrated for their out-of-the-box comfort and certified orthotic insert, Montana-based Obōz Footwear draws their inspiration from the surrounding mountains of their Bozeman, Montana headquarters (the brand name itself, Obōz, is derived from outdoors Bozeman). Their leather boots are favorites of hikers around the world, but the all-synthetic Katabactic Series is a new line of lightweight hikers for light-minded adventurers. The Katabatics offer supple cushioning great for longer days on the trail in tougher terrain and provide significant traction and support under foot. A rocker shape from heel to toe helps you roll forward with each step.
The items described can be found at Backcountry Experience.
GET TUNED! LEARN TO TUNE!
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June Specials: Saturday Sound Tune-Up - June 8 Live Potent Point - Learn to Tune class - June 9
carentruske.com | 614.406.3612 125 East 32nd St., Durango, CO Book at www.vagaro.com/alignedliving
Meet Dr. Cameron L. Clarke, MD
Dr. Clarke is a board-eligible, fellowship-trained glaucoma and cataract surgeon. He is trained extensively in the latest technological innovations within glaucoma care, including Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT), sustained-release drug implants, Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS), Cyclophotocoagulation (CPC), and traditional incisional glaucoma surgeries. He is an expert in complex cataract surgery and multifocal and toric intraocular lenses. Dr. Clarke and his wife have a Bernedoodle dog and enjoy backpacking, mountain biking, and trail running.
Adventure and history await. The park is home to Ancestral Puebloan sites, and makes for a fun, educational family day.
Gathering for a family BBQ is a great way to connect and feed your soul.
There are trails aplenty winding throughout San Juan and La Plata Counties ranging from desert to forest scenery.
Five Father’s Day Ideas to Connect and Have Fun
You can have it all! Relaxation, fun, and beautiful views.
Dressed up caramel apples are a crowd pleaser for dads and kids alike!
1. MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK
Close to home and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this park offers so much to see and do as a family.
2. HIKE OUR AMAZING TRAILS
It’s free and fun for all ages!
3. BACKYARD BBQ
Family, food, and laughs. Hit up Jack's at Nature's Oasis for their quality meat selection.
4. SWEET TREATS
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory will satisfy any dad's sweet tooth.
5. DURANGO HOT SPRINGS
Soak, relax, and destress. It's the perfect gift for Dad. I 2 3 4 5
The Board of the Durango Arts Center (“DAC”) has unanimously voted to elevate Artistic Director, Jason Lythgoe as its new Executive Director. Lythgoe’s background with the DAC over the past nine years, coupled with his wealth of theater experience in Durango and nationally, will advance the mission of the DAC to foster the arts in Durango During Lythgoe’s tenure as Artistic Director, he impacted hundreds of young actors through innovative programs, plays, and summer camps Lythgoe was also the driving force behind the creation of the Durango Arts Repertory Theater in 2022
If you'd like to help contribute to the DAC and support the success of the Arts in the region, please consider donating, sponsoring or becoming a member of the DAC.
We all have men in our lives who have shaped us in many ways, and the lessons they teach us have a lasting impact on how we walk through life. Durango is a community which prides itself on the many influential figures who call it ‘home’. Here is just a small sampling of some of those influential men who inspire others through their work.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START YOUR PATH OR EVEN CATAPULTED YOU INTO IT?
I moved to Durango to follow my dreams of being a pro cyclist. Durango was the mecca, and the pros seemed to be thriving, but no locals were coming up, and there was no developmental pathway to go from kid to junior, to high school rider, to collegiate, and on. I dove into the scene and saw how I could make it better.
WHAT STRATEGIES DID YOU EMPLOY TO GROW AND ACHIEVE SUCCESS AS A COACH?
I brought mindful practice and consistency to Devo, Fort Lewis College Cycling, and Bend Endurance Academy programming. I focused on getting to know the riders and what they wanted and needed and then developing their season and training to match the goals.
CAN YOU SHARE ANY PIVOTAL MOMENTS THAT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED YOUR CAREER TRAJECTORY?
Part of being successful is being able to pivot and attack from different directions. This happened hundreds of times in the early stages of my career. If I had not loved what I was doing during all those early failures, I would have quit and shifted to something else. My passion was strong and carried me through all the hard times.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START YOUR PATH OR EVEN CATAPULTED YOU INTO IT?
I grew up in the 80s and 90s when computers became smaller and more available to the public. My family got our first home computer when I was six, and I have always had one since then. As a young adult, I built my own computers and connected to the Internet. One summer, I got a job as tech support for an internet provider in Tempe, AZ, which led to my becoming a systems administrator at 19 years old.
WHAT ROLE HAS MENTORSHIP PLAYED IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY?
I have had many mentors in my professional journey. My years of volunteer work in non-profits meant spending hundreds of hours with people from all walks of life. While my day job involved more contact with a keyboard than humans, this outlet enabled me to learn from their successes and identify my weaknesses.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE ASPIRING TO BECOME LEADERS?
As business communication becomes more digital, there is less physical interaction between peers. Today’s remote/hybrid workplaces accelerated this physical disconnect. We must keep that “water cooler time” with our peers and direct reports. Almost every interaction allows you to connect and acknowledge each other’s lives outside work.
Jack Llewellyn
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR PATH TO LEADING THE CHAMBER.
I graduated from FLC and was the last student station manager for KDUR. After graduation, I spent approximately 12 years in local media (radio and primarily television ad sales and management) and seven years fundraising for Fort Lewis Athletics; various people encouraged me to apply.
WHAT WERE SOME OF YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES EARLY ON, AND HOW DID YOU NAVIGATE THEM?
Navigating unchartered waters during the pandemic was THE biggest challenge. Trying to find the balance between people’s health and the health of businesses that could not open at capacity was contentious. Understanding why one business was considered essential and another was not was frustrating and confusing.
TO WHAT EXTENT HAS YOUR SUCCESS BEEN FOUNDED ON A GOOD TEAM?
My old college roommate once told me, “Your staff is there to make you look good, and you’re there to remove the barriers so they can accomplish that.” An organization’s number one asset is the people who work there. I have been so fortunate to have a great team in place; none of my accomplishments would have been possible without them.
WHAT WERE SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU FACED IN YOUR EARLY STAGES?
One major challenge I faced early in my career was keeping up with the pace of play. I was promoted rapidly, and the training, coaching, and mentorship were either nonexistent, not accessible, or not relevant. The biggest lesson I learned was that no one cares if you have the tools or not. I quickly became well-versed in finding answers by surrounding myself with people far wiser than myself and leveraging relationships and networks to work smarter, not harder.
CAN YOU SHARE ANY PIVOTAL MOMENTS OR DECISIONS THAT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED YOUR CAREER TRAJECTORY?
While working at a Boys & Girls Club in Arizona, I had the opportunity to change careers and become a community manager for Del Webb. I was offered the position, and the smartest person I know (my wife Shannon) asked me if it was what I wanted to do. I explained that this would be a huge promotion and would be great for the family. She simply said, "Being happy is more important than all that other stuff." She has never been more right. I declined the position and returned to Durango, where I have happily served kids and families for the past 17 years.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE ASPIRING TO BECOME LEADERS?
My advice for someone aspiring to become a leader is to focus on continuous learning, self-awareness, and empathy. Leadership is not just about giving orders or being in charge; it's about inspiring and empowering others to achieve their full potential.
Ben Rogers Creates a Balance Between Nature and Urban Living
A new mural has bloomed on the corner of 8th and Main in Downtown Durango. It doesn't take a sleuth to see the amount of detail that has gone into creating the majestic creatures emblazoned on the side of one of Durango's longstanding establishments. "The wall immediately struck me as a perfect place for a mural -- the location, the texture of the stucco, the shape, and the beauty of the surrounding buildings," explains artist Ben Rogers. "I knew I wanted something with bold colors that mirrored the vibrant colors of downtown Durango, to pair with its historic color palette."
As the city opens its arms to public art and murals, artists like Rogers are creating pieces of art that embody the spirit of the community. Moose, elk, and mule deer illuminate the powerful, majestic, and resilient creatures that we call our neighbors and greet visitors as they stroll down Main Street.
ARTICLE BY RACHEL ROSENTHAL |
Dreaming of a brand new home, a stunning renovation, or a fabulous interior makeover? Now is the perfect time to start planning your dream project! Don't let the clock tick away and miss the chance to have your project completed in 2024.
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