FOUR LOCAL ARTISTS. One Legend. Infinite creative sparks ignite.
THE RIGHT AGENT CAN ASSIST YOU IN FIGURING OUT WHAT’S GOING ON AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND IN YOUR LOCAL AREA.
WHY YOU NEED A TRUE EXPERT IN
The housing market continues to shift and change, and in a fast-moving landscape like we’re in right now, it’s more important than ever to have a trusted real estate agent on your side Whether you’re buying your first home or selling once again, it’s mission critical to work with an expert who can guide you through each unique step of the process
The r eality is, not all agents operate the same way To truly make a powerful and confident decision as you buy or sell a home, you need a real estate expert who uses their knowledge of what’s really happening with home prices, housing supply, industry projections, and more to give you the best possible advice Someone who can provide clarity and trust like that is essential to your success
They can debunk headlines using data you can trust Experts have in-depth knowledge of the industry and can provide context, so you know how current trends compare to the normal ebbs and flows in the housing market, historical data, and more
After all, making a move is a potentially life-changing milestone It should be something you feel ready for and excited about And that’s where a trusted expert comes in
BOTTOM LINE
If you want sound advice and trusted information about our local housing market, let’s connect
BIG HEAD TODD AND THE MONSTERS
June 4, 7:30 pm | $65.00 / $55.00 / $45.00
Thursdays, June 26 - August 7, 5:30 pm
Will Overman Band | July 3
THE YOUNG FABLES
June 10, 7:30 pm |$38
NOSOTROS | June 26
Nefesh Mountain | July 10 A Tribute to JT featuring Brice Beaird with the Dallas All Star Band | July 17
Afrosonics | July 24
After Midnight | July 31 Leon Timbone | August 7
June is the Men's Issue
The men of Durango have always helped shape this town, with steady hands, creative minds, and a deep connection to the mountains that surround us.
In this Men’s Issue, we’re highlighting local men who bring something real to the table. You’ll meet four standout male artists making their mark, take a look back at the legacy of Ben Nighthorse, and spend some time with a local barber who’s redefining men’s grooming with smalltown charm and big-skill precision.
From the studio to the barbershop to the backcountry, this issue is a nod to the many ways men live, work, and create in Durango.
See you on the trail.
June 2025
PUBLISHER
Branden (Brandy) Murray branden.murray@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
James Leonard | james.leonard@citylifestyle.com
PUBLICATION DIRECTOR
Denise Leslie | denise.leslie@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Rachel Rosenthal | rachel.rosenthal@citylifestyle.com,
Jennifer Mason | jennifer.mason@citylifestyle.com, Kalista Pena, Denise Leslie
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
COO Matthew Perry
CRO Jamie Pentz
VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson
VP OF SALES Andrew Leaders
AD DESIGNER Rachel Chrisman
LAYOUT DESIGNER Andi Foster
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Hannah Leimkuhler Learn
Furnishing a home in a small mountain town can feel overwhelming. From sourcing high-quality pieces to managing complex deliveries and installations, the process often brings more stress than serenity.
At Mountain Luxe Interiors, we make it easy to create the mountain retreat you’ve been dreaming of—without the hassle. Our full-service interior design takes care of every detail from concept to completion, so you can relax and focus on enjoying your mountain life! moving
1: Community Foundation rolling out another delicious Durango Wine Experience. 2: Thom Chacon, Matt Blake, and Jeff Munger after Community Concert Hall Concert featuring Matt Blake 3: Fort Lewis College graduating class of 2025 with President Heather Shotten. 4:
Small Business Conference organizers Steven Elias, Mary Shepherd, and Elizabeth Calagias.
JEFF MUNGER
Photo: Otto
CH I SEL, BLING , STRUM , GIGGLE
Some people know they are artists from a young age. For others, art arrives like a rescue rope dropped into the dark pit where they’ve been trapped. Regardless of how it emerged, creative expression enabled these innovators to share morsels of magic—one creation, one note, one laugh at a time.
FOUR ARTISTS REVEAL HOW, THROUGH CREATIVITY, THEY HEAL HEARTS, TIME-TRAVEL, SLAKE PASSION, AND FIND MEANING
ARTICLE BY JENNIFER MASON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDY WINGERD
Mike Jordan
Therapeutic Improv Instructor, Drama Coach
Everything changed for Mike Jordan the day he put a microwave in his classroom. The Escalante Middle School students were told to put their completed assignments in it. Baffled yet intrigued, they complied. In the ensuing weeks, participation, engagement, grades, and giggles rose.
Injecting comedy into the classroom was equal parts teaching tactic and self-help strategy. Jordan explains, “I ended up depressed and anxious. And what got me through a lot of it was my friends in the improv group. It didn’t necessarily solve anything, but it helped.”
The improv group was Durango Dot Comedy, which Jordan co-founded with Darrin Stevens and Jonathan Hunt. The group provoked chuckles and guffaws for 16 years. Knowing he lived in a place where people struggled with mental health in the Rocky Mountains, Jordan designed a therapeutic improv class in 2019. Six years later, it’s a fixture at the school. Key components include listening, yesand attitudes, building relationships—and laughter.
The class alleviates anxiety and depression. Neurodivergent students thrive as they acquire skillful social and learning tools. Forced to improvise, Jordan notes, “You go places you’ve never gone before. You create things you never thought you would. You can impress yourself.”
John Baxendale
Luthier, Owner of JC Baxendale Guitars
When John Baxendale crafts a handmade, traditional-style guitar, he’s actually time-traveling. First, he dives 100 years backwards to replicate luthier techniques honed before the Second World War.
Baxendale began woodworking as a teen. “Through high school, I actually wanted to be a furniture maker. But my dad was a luthier, so I just kinda fell into it.”
Twenty years later, Baxendale boasts a two-year waitlist on custom orders—these in addition to guitars brought to the shop for repairs. The work is meticulous and painstaking. Baxendale explains, “Nothing on a guitar is flat. The top is domed, and the back is domed even more. There are angles to everything. If you have [the back and top] perfectly parallel, the sound will bounce back and forth and not travel. You kind of want it more erratic so it’s going out of the hole as fast as it can.”
If built correctly, Baxendale’s time travel will launch him a century forward. He notes, “I really want to make something that lasts longer than me. I wanna make something someone will see 100 years from now and think: That’s really good craftsmanship.”
Jason Lemon
Guitarist, iAM Music Instructor
Jason Lemon is a unique musician because he is a patisserie-trained guitarist. He states, “I spent many years working in professional kitchens and playing music mostly as a hobby.” Now, the tables have turned. Between teaching at iAM Music and performing with The Quarks and The Bulldoggers, music takes center stage.
High-end patisserie taught Lemon the difference between artistic craft and artistic expression. Arranging elements and ingredients for maximum intrigue and excitement is artistry; whereas replicating the arrangement on 200 more plates is craft.
And if music be the food of love, Lemon is currently enjoying a wildly diverse diet. He delves into funk, soul, and rhythm and blues with one band before switching to swing and swamp country for another. Thanks to his students, Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift are in his repertoire.
Despite belonging to a musical family, music never struck a chord with Lemon—not all the oldtimey stuff his elders adored. But then, a guitar instructor showed him how to play the genres that he loved. The more he played what he loved, the more he embraced new styles. Lemon aims to pass that infectious musical awakening to his audiences, noting, “I hope that it makes them want to open up to a variety of sounds.”
Adam Caver
Jeweler, Owner of Caver Jewelry
It happens like water. Flowing currents. Zero tension. That is what making jewelry feels like for Adam Caver.
“When I was doing ceramics—I loved ceramics because it was a challenge and I wasn’t good at it. I was like: Oh my god, I want to be able to do this! And then with jewelry, it’s just natural. There’s no resistance. I can look down, look back up, and it’ll be eight hours later.”
Caver began making beaded bracelets as a boy. He dabbled in watercolor painting, ceramics, and woodworking as a teen. He explains that after graduation, “I went searching for my medium. I went to a community college and took a jewelry class and was like: Okay, this is what I’m doing. I found my passion.”
Caver received a degree from the Gemological Institute of America and is a certified jeweler, gemologist, and stone setter. From his new shop and gallery on Main Avenue, Caver provides custom-designed wedding rings, prêt-à-porter pieces ready to buy, hat bling, and repairs.
Caver hopes his creations can wash away people’s inhibitions. “I hope [my jewelry] makes them feel more comfortable in their own skin. Make yourself feel better. Amplify your energy,” he says.
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Durango • Southwest Colorado
Gluzman Artistic Director
Vadim
Photo: Otto
SPIRIT FORGING
ARTICLE BY JENNIFER MASON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SORREL SKY GALLERY
BEN NIGHTHORSE CAMPBELL REVEALS HOW TO CRAFT A SINGULAR, EXTRAORDINARY EXISTENCE
BY MERGING MANY ARTS—JEWELRY, JUDO, AND SERVICE
Ben Nighthorse Campbell’s jewelry is not merely pretty—it’s hypnotic. It doesn’t just gleam; it radiates life. Rather than a composition of metals, the medium of his craft seems composed of actual starlight, tapped directly from the source. Inlaid into this silvery syrup are not just gemstones, shells, or crystals, but supernovas and comet streaks, tweezed directly from the cosmos. Ben painstakingly smelts and hammers these elements into cuff bracelets, earrings, pendants, buckles, and more.
“You need to learn the fundamentals of mechanical skills— pounding, shaping, bending, so on, but when you get all done—if you did it right—there’s an imprint of you,” he explains while nestled into his favorite armchair.
At 92, Ben is more stationary than he would prefer. Innately animated with boundless energy, Ben seems to have lived thousands of distinct lives within the span of a single lifetime—a decorated soldier, a judo master who competed internationally, a pilot, a motorcyclist, a Colorado state legislator and multi-term U.S. Representative and Senator who contributed to the creation of different national parks and monuments, Indigenous museums, and Lake Nighthorse, a water preserve in a dangerously drying southwest region.
Miraculously, Ben crafted a rather illustrious life from childhood poverty. Born in California, Ben and his sister moved in and out of orphanages while their mother battled tuberculosis. Sporadically, Ben’s father, a member of the Cheyenne Nation, passed on the rudiments of crafting jewelry. They’d set silver coins on railroad tracks and let passing trains smash them before transforming the softened material into adornments.
“We didn’t make it for fun in those days. We used to trade it for food,” Ben explains.
As a teen, Ben took up judo to fend off bullies. The martial training would prove pivotal in shaping the unlikely trajectory of his life.
Ben dropped out of high school and enlisted to fight in the Korean War. He was decorated for his service. Back home, he earned his GED and attended college on the G.I. Bill. He entered competitive judo and won several national titles.
He recalls, “When we found out that judo was going to be included in [the 1964 Olympics] for the first time, man, I wanted to be on that team! So, I sold everything I owned and bought a oneway ticket to Japan!”
He witnessed stunning acts of discipline and dedication in the dojo. Once, a student submitted to a chokehold and refused to tap out until he was on the brink of blackout. After he was released, Ben asked him, “What are you doing?” he asked. “I’m practicing not giving up.” Whoever heard of that? Of course, I understand it now. You just don’t quit,” Ben says with a firm nod. “I think the important thing of any Japanese martial art is that it’s not an end in itself. There’s a metaphysical means to it where you better your soul by that training.”
He’s right about that. Core tenets of traditional martial training are likened to the metalsmithing process. Incessant practice repeatedly heats and hammers a person’s spirit to refine, sharpen, and polish it. This is seishin tanren , or spirit forging. Test your mettle we say in the West—where mettle is the metal , or material, composing one’s soul.
This forging taught Ben to focus. “That’s a very important part of Japanese culture, focusing and dedication. Quietness. That produces interesting things,” he says. He used this quiet dedication to learn mokume-gane metalsmithing, a traditional Japanese technique of “marrying” different metals to create the appearance of wood grain. “I used to use that style,” Ben attests. “I think I might have been the first American to use it in Native American-style jewelry.”
Back in the states, Ben’s unique artistry stood out in major art competitions. Time and again, he took top honors. Soon, the world’s leading celebrities and jewelry stores were commissioning pieces from him. Ben credits his wife, Linda, for directing his steps to ever-greater achievements. “In our marriage I sometimes say I’m the engine and she’s the brakes! And if I didn’t have any brakes, I’d be in a wreck every other day!” he chuckles.
And while he likes to joke that he was tricked into entering state politics (because no one else would run for office), Ben’s real legislative accomplishments—passing more public laws than any member of the 106th Congress—suggest a genuine desire to make an impact.
Perhaps impact—the byproduct of careful hammering and heating—is not just how an artist leaves an imprint of himself on a finished piece, but also how a spirit forger combines so many arts into a single life that is a masterpiece.
-15TH ANNUAL 10-MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL
MAY 30TH - JUNE 1ST, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AT 7:30, SUNDAY 2 PM.
-5 LESBIANS EATING A QUICHE
JULY 18TH-27TH, THURSDAY, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AT 7:30 PM, SUNDAY AT 2 PM.
-THE SPITFIRE GRILL: A MUSICAL
AUGUST 15TH-30TH, FRIDAY & SATURDAY AT 7:30 PM, SUNDAY AT 2 PM.
-HI HO SILVER!
SEPTEMBER 19TH - OCTOBER 5TH, FRIDAY & SATURDAY AT 7:30 PM, SUNDAY AT 2 PM.
SPECIAL PWC MONDAY PEFORMANCE 9/29 AT 2PM
-RICHARD O'BRIEN'S THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW
OCTOBER 24TH - NOVEMBER 1ST, THURSDAY & FRIDAY AT
7:30 PM, SATURDAY AT 7:30 PM AND 10 PM, SUNDAY AT 2 PM
-5TH ANNUAL 24 HR THEATRE NOVEMBER 22ND AT 7:30 PM.
This innovative therapy involves using salt to promote respiratory health, reduce inflammation, and support overall well-being. Given that it poses no medical restrictions for competition, it can be seamlessly integrated into the routine of your contestants and athletes, offering a competitive edge without compromising compliance. Salt therapy prepares the respiratory system for the demands of the event and provides immediate benefits without any downtime.
Bacon Jam
FROM CHEF WALKER AT EOLUS
BAR & DINING
Jamin’ with Bacon
Get ready to meet your new obsession: Bacon Jam— smoky, sweet, tangy, and totally irresistible. This flavor-packed spread is courtesy of Chef Benjamin Walker
at Eolus Bar & Dining in Downtown Durango, and it’s here to transform your burgers, grilled cheese, charcuterie boards, and BLTs into something legendary.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
• 3 cups diced, house-made bacon (store-bought works, but homemade? Next level.
• 1 large white onion, finely diced
• 10 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups fresh-brewed strong coffee
• 1 cup ketchup (trust us)
• 2 tablespoon brown sugar
• ½ cup apple cider vinegar
Let’s Get Jammin’:
SAUTÉ TO START:
Cook the onion and garlic low and slow in reserved bacon fat until soft, translucent, and fragrant enough to attract a following.
STIR IN THE MAGIC:
Add the bacon, coffee, ketchup, brown sugar, and vinegar. Simmer for about 5 minutes until everything melds into one happy, savory family.
BLEND IT SMOOTH:
Remove from heat and blend until thick and spreadable — think luxurious, spoonable bacon goodness with just enough texture to keep things interesting.
SERVE IT UP:
• Slather on burgers for next-level savory flavor
• Pair with cheese and crusty bread for instant gourmet
• Elevate your BLT to mythic proportions
• Or just eat it by the spoonful (we don’t blame you)
Store in the fridge and serve at room temperature for max flavor.
Bacon Jam—smoky, sweet, tangy, and totally irresistible.
ARTICLE BY DENISE LESLIE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY EOLUS BAR AND DINING
DURANGO BARBERS
GET A FRESH CUT AND TRAVEL BACK IN TIME
ARTICLE BY KALISTA PEÑA | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDY WINGERD
Joe Damonte, the owner of Durango Barbers, was a chef for 35 years before stumbling upon barbering. He catered major events like Super Bowl XXX and taught culinary classes through Colorado Mountain College.
After selling his restaurant, Damonte attended Emily Griffith College and earned his barbering license. The first barbershop he cut at was the Gentleman’s Barber Shop in Frisco, CO. He found that beards were pretty popular in mountain towns and began to specialize in beard shaping, straight razor shaves, and men’s haircuts.
He first visited Durango for a motorcycle rally and grew to love the community. A year and a half later, he moved to Durango and opened his own shop in 2022. With services catering to old-fashioned barber experiences, he has built up a loyal client base—so much so that he was able to add another chair to his space and welcome Bianca Drebenstedt to the shop.
Durango Barbers offers an array of services, from traditional men’s haircuts to bald fades, pompadours, undercuts, mohawks, and mullets. Each service is finished with a straight razor shave—a lost art among many barbers, but a crucial part of the experience. “I call it the men’s spa treatment,” said Damonte.
Damonte and Drebenstedt deliver the highest quality service to the community. Google reviews rave about their great haircuts and fantastic customer care. Damonte said, “We make people feel good about themselves. They leave stoked and feel good when they get their haircut.”
Inspired by the Gentleman’s Barbershop, Damonte has created a classic vintage aesthetic blended with ’70s and ’80s vibes. “I got that whole gangster theme that rolls into the musicians and movie stars that have all been arrested. It just gives it that rougher gangster feel—it’s fun.”
Barbering is all about crisp lines, tight cuts, and straight razors.
Damonte feels very fortunate to be part of the Durango community. He was a member of the Durango Chamber and attended multiple meetings and events. Meeting new faces and forming new connections, he saw people show up to the shop eager to support him and his business. He said, “This community is really strong and great in that way. They want to support all the local businesses—they really do. We are lucky to have that.”
Located underneath the balcony on College and Main, be sure to check out Durango Barbers and schedule an appointment!
Animas Valley Arborist Inc.
“THANK
A NATURAL MEDICAL TREATMENT
events
JUNE 4TH
Community Concert Series ft. The Funk Express w/ Shianna Allen
Carver Family Plaza, 1333 Camino del Rio, Durango, CO 81301 | 5:30 PM
Boogie on down and join the Powerhouse for live music by The Funk Express with Shianna Allen outside the Carver Family Plaza! This Summer Community Concert Series is presented by Visit Durango and Carver Brewing. Food and drinks will be available for purchase, and all ticket proceeds from this show support iAM Music. Hope to see you there!
JUNE 7TH
Steamworks Half Marathon
Durango Fitness Club 1600 Florida Rd, Durango, CO 81301 | 7:30 AM
June 7th is the annual Streamworks Half Marathon! Runners will race down County Rd 250 alongside the Animas River, finishing at the Durango Fitness Club. Be sure to stick around after the race for food and drinks from Steamworks Brewing and Homeslice Pizza. Sign ups end June 3rd, visit runsignup.com/Race/CO/Durango/steamworkshalf for more information.
JUNE 14TH-15TH
Father's Day Gym to Crag Course
Gravity Labs, 732 CR 233 Durango, CO, 81301
Give the gift of adventure this Father’s Day and celebrate with Gravity Labs! This 2-day clinic is designed to teach and practice the skills to transition to outdoor climbing. Day 1 will focus on building necessary skills and day 2 will put those skills to use at X-Rock north of town on the way to Hermosa.
JUNE 19TH
Mesa Verde Entrance Fee-Free Day
Mesa Verde National Park • Mile .7 Headquarters Loop Road, Mesa Verde National Park, CO 81330 | 8:00 AM
Need a bit of fresh air? Perhaps a short drive? Cruise on down to Mesa Verde National Park on Thursday June 19th during the entrance fee-free day. Mesa Verde is a sacred place, protecting the rich cultural heritage of 27 Pueblos and Tribes. Several times a year, Mesa Verde waives their entry fee in hopes to encourage everyone to visit.
JUNE 21ST
Durango Botantical Gardens Tour
Durango Botanic Gardens | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Join us for the Annual Gardens on Tour being held on June 21st with seven private gardens at the Hot Springs and our own Durango Botanic Gardens! Online registration opens May 1st. Explore this website or see more on https://GardensOnTour.org!
JUNE 27TH
Suncatchers and Sangria: A Summer Glass Night
Sun Sapphires 640 Main Ave, Suite 201, Durango, CO 81301 | 5:00 PM
Step into the summer with Suncatchers & Sangria, a relaxed evening of art, color, and creativity. Create your own vibrant fused glass suncatcher, perfect for catching the light on your windowsill or porch. No experience is necessary, Sun Sapphires will lead you through the entire process. While you work, sip on a refreshing sangria or a local beer, and enjoy!
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