Durango Area Tourism Office

No one sends me emails with the joke of the day or angel wishes that I am required to forward to 10 friends and then something good will happen in 10 minutes. Instead, my friends email me weekly Durango dining specials….  From me to you, here are my favorites for the month of January. If you find your own favorite, please let me know. Bon appétit.

Cyprus Café: Tapas menu on M-Th nights from 5pm -6pm.  It’s a great value.  $10 choose 3 tapas/wine from the menu.  Guests on the mailing list get 2-4-1 specials.

Oh Fudge!  Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory: Buy 1 lb Fudge and get a free Plain Caramel Apple

Edgewater Grille at the Doubletree Hotel

Family Night:  Every Sunday from 5p-10p; a 3 course meal for $15 and children 6 and under eat free.  Plat du jour: Monday through Saturday a featured 3-course meal ranging from $19-$25.

Friday Night Seafood Buffet at the Sky Ute Casino. Dine on crab legs, a variety of seafood dishes (chicken and beef too), side dishes, a fresh salad bar, homemade soups, I LOVE THIS: a kid’s only buffet, and desserts!

For some of us, there’s nothing quite like curling up with a really great read after a day of playing in the snow.  Long winter nights, or even chilly days by the fire, create just the right excuse for digging deep into a new book.  I recently read Lorrie Moore’s A Gate at the Stairs—listed in the New York Times as one of the 10 Best Books of 2009, * and loved, loved, loved it.  Moore, mostly known as a short-story writer, brings us twenty-year-old Tassie Keltjin, a college student on winter break in the Midwest, looking for work.  She finds it as a nanny for a quirky white couple who have adopted a black baby girl.  Beautifully written, A Gate at the Stairs tackles big issues—racism, family, love and war–with humor, grace and wisdom.  On my bedside table now?  The Girl Who Fell From the Sky by Heidi Durrow (due out February 16)**.  Flying through it, curled up under a warm blanket.   Stop by Maria’s Bookshop to ask me or any of my well-read colleagues for more recommendations of books we love!  We’re at 960 Main Avenue from 9:00 to 9:00 every day, or at www.mariasbookshop.com day or night, whatever the season.

I needed an easy intro to family skiing this year. I wanted to test my ski legs and get the kid-logistics set as we hit the slopes. With flakes falling, we headed to Ski Hesperus for a first day—what a blast!  A short drive from Durango—11 miles if you are counting. We parked, skied from our car and enjoyed 5 hours of simple fun in the snow. When our legs tired, we opted for inner tubing. The slopes will be lit come January—thank heavens not today as we all were tired. Hot cocoa and nachos for lunch and we could have packed our own picnic. Our plans for dinner at Kennebec Café were dashed as we opted for pizza at home. A bargain price worth every penny in smiles. Good night.

Snow Town, USA—Durango, Colorado…sixteen inches of fresh powder fell over night. At Durango Mountain Resort that means fresh tracks. On my driveway, it means snow shoveling. School was cancelled so I translated that joyous message to my snow-frolicking kids:  grab a shovel! Tired of shoveling, I called my sister and we walked (snuck away) into town for a massage at Spaaah! Nothing could have felt better than a warm massage for my aching shoulders. Instead of heading home, we headed to the Red Snapper for lunch and a glass of wine. Temps are mid 30s so the walk home wasn’t cold. I turned down my driveway and was greeted by 2 quirky snowmen and a snowball fight with my kids. Maybe I shouldn’t have made them shovel while I was relaxing?

Our early Durango snow storm and the release of the Rhythms of Durango music CD nudged me into the holiday mood. I hung lights on my house; unpacked the Christmas decoration boxes; stereo is playing holiday tunes.  With my home a la festive, I headed downtown to Main Avenue for some shopping. Captivated by the twinkle lights on the trees and festive window displays, I switched into shopping mode only to find that I left my list at home.  Not to be set back, I strolled Main and grabbled an apple-cider latte. Random shopping and browsing lead to some of my discovery of the most unique and thought filled presents! “Have-to-purchase” presents became inspired gifts.  Next year, I may leave my list at home again! Note to self to keep in the mood:  Noel Night on December 10, Bar D Wrangler Christmas Jubilee on December 12.

Located inside the historic Strater hotel, the theater is a perfect date night! They have a huge variety of shows and are so accommodating when it comes to making sure you have an enjoyable experience. I am excited to, hopefully, be a part of the team performing the cult classic, Rocky Horror Picture Show this fall. They remembered me by name and made a special call to me to let me know the information about auditioning. Many of the performers have come from exciting places all over the country and some are even from our own infamous Durango High School theater program! If ever I am looking for something out of the ordinary to do for the night, the theater is always a hit choice.

Just outside Durango and across from the amazing Dalton Ranch golf course, is a little piece of heaven. Trimble Hot Springs is the perfect one day get away for locals and tourists alike. They have great deals for students as well. Getting there at 10 A.M. and leaving at around 4 P.M. leaves you time to get a great tan and a good swim in and a relaxing soak in the hot springs. If you are looking for a serene place though, this may not be it. Trimble is a popular place for families too. I wasn’t at all bothered by the children and parents running around, but I could see how one might be. Also, remember to bring your own lawn chair and towel, as Trimble does not provide these. They do, however, have a great grassy lawn to just lay a towel out on. They provide food and smoothies, too. Trimble has other great services such as a lodge, massages, yoga classes, etc. Trimble is easily one of my favorite things to do on a lazy day.

I love being able to step outside and know that I am part of a piece of history. Walking down Main, you can actually feel the ghosts of the past clinging to the historic buildings and hotels. The Strater and the General Palmer hotel especially have a very old world feel to them. You can only imagine the ghosts and stories lurking in every room and every stairwell. The architecture in Durango remains untouched and rustic in the midst of sky scrapers and mini malls. I love walking into the local shops and knowing the owners and how much they love their shops and being a part of Durango. You know you’ve escaped when you enter the town.

People always say to me “it must be so fun owning a spa, I bet you get massages every day!”   This could not be further from the truth!  Relaxing in one of my own massage rooms is impossible for me, because I am always worried about the noise, the tempature, the music, the water fountain, and on and on and on.  So where does a spa owner go in Durango to relax?  One of my favorite places in town is Amaya on College.  I love a good soak in the redwood tub and the quietness of the place.  They have a sauna that helps me get out stored toxins that come from the Durango socialite lifestyle.  Amaya also has interesting body treatments to take advantage of.  If I have more time and it is a sunny day or a cool crisp night, I head out to Trimble Hot Springs.  I usually take a friend and we enjoy gabbing the night away in the soaking pools, or maybe catch the fire dancing show! The large grass area is great for sunbathing or star watching.  If I get really motivated I might even do a few laps in the big pool!  There are so many great places to relax right here in Durango!

It isn’t a harvest moon over Durango—last night it was a crisp crescent wedge in a star-lit night reflecting in the Animas River. It reminded me of summer harvest,  late-night, carefree  dinners and a Caprese Salad. I had a plan— Guido’s for fresh mozzarella and my favorite fresh olives. Saturday was Farmer’s Market and there would be plenty of basil and vine-ripened heirloom tomatoes. I had delightful Queens Creek olive oil and balsamic vinegar from the Christmas bazaar (soon sold at Bella on Main Avenue).  Bread has baguettes to delight a Boulanger. I found a summer wine at the Wine Merchant that we had sipped in France—La Vielle Ferme.  Tomorrow I would call Elizabeth to join me on my patio for this summer treat. I woke refreshed. My lab Flower was eager for a hike on the Hogsback. Coffee first. We hiked to the highest point. The scent of wild sage snaps me to attention. Then I spotted it—The Farmer’s Market.  My plan was foiled. It closed at noon and I couldn’t make it in time. I was rewarded on hike down with wild apricots growing on the hillside near Manna Kitchen. They were tiny and fragrant like other fruits grown at high altitude—packed with intense flavor.  I would wait until Wednesday for the market and local epicurean favorites.  I arrived home….and made reservations….at Guido’s… for Caprese Salad and a glass of summer wine.