Get TIO in your Inbox!

December 2009

[click "Play" to hear Susan's conversation with Katy and Alex]

"Nutcracker" at Telluride's Palm Theatre, December 12 & 13

Nutcracker poster red Scrooge may complain of a whopper of a toothache from all that sugar, but for the rest of us sentimental saps, "The Nutcracker" remains as much a part of Christmas as evergreens and eggnog. The ballet's enduring appeal stems from the fact this coming-of-age story speaks to the child in us all.

Prima ballerina Valerie Madonia choreographs the Telluride Dance Academy's extravaganza which stars Ebba Green and Emma Spaulding, alternating as Clara, the girl on the edge of woman, Ashley Boling as Drosselmeier, the embodiment of the ballet's magic, Katy Bowlby as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Alex Kramer as her Cavalier. Dancer and teacher Shirley Fortenberry is the Snow Queen.

12 December, 2009 /

The Telluride Nordic Association is putting on a 2 kilometer sprint on Saturday, December 12, 2009. The start/finish is at Adams Ranch Road and Mountain Village Blvd in the Mountain Village. Registration begins at 11:30 am, and all abilities and ages are welcome to...

11 December, 2009 /

December 10 to 17, 2009
Visible Planets: Morning: Mars and Saturn  Evening: Mercury and Jupiter

Opening our Hearts to the Ultimate Truth of Spirit

HolidayGuad Two weeks ‘til Christmas and hearth-fires crackle with the goodwill and good wishes of the holiday season. The Sun, Mercury and Venus are now moving through Sagittarius, sign of idealistic thinking and philanthropic giving. It is here that spiritual generosity paves the way for high hopes, open hearts and adventurous minds.

Ruled by magnanimous planet Jupiter, Sagittarius calls upon us to look at the bigger picture – humanity, the world and universe – rise above the petty and embrace the divine. We are asked to find the good in ourselves and others, forgive trespasses, give from the heart and seek the ultimate truth – the truth of Spirit.

Religion and religious or spiritual beliefs are important pieces of the Sagittarian puzzle. Whether we are Christian, Jewish, Native American, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, pagan, atheist or agnostic, what we think, what we question and what we ultimately come to accept and believe about the world of spirit comes into play this time of year. Catholics celebrate el Dia de Guadalupe and Jews light Menorah candles on Dec. 12th. Nativity scenes commemorate the birth of Jesus. Winter Solstice honors the returning light of the Sun. And holiday parties pay homage to Bacchus, god of wine and revelry.

11 December, 2009 /

Earlier this week we published a video of a coyote hunting mice on Telluride's San Miguel valley floor. Our friend Don Mitchell sends us these photos of moose near his home in San Bernardo, at the foot of Lizard Head Pass. I don't...

11 December, 2009 /



The Telluride Dance Academy presents the unkillable ballet, the one that features a young girl on the verge, her handsome prince, a cornucopia of dancing delicacies, mad mice, determined toy soldiers, and a tree on growth hormones. The second annual production of "The Nutcracker" takes place this coming weekend, Saturday, December 12, 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 13, 3 p.m. at the Michael D. Palm Theatre.

The pure magic of "The Nutcracker" is etched into the evening almost as soon as the curtain goes up, when the magician, Herr Drosselmeier, godfather to Clara, makes a grand entrance at a Christmas party and gives little heroine Clara a Nutcracker doll.
10 December, 2009 /

Aseriousman_smallposter 2012_smallposter The Nugget Theatre in beautiful downtown Telluride is showing "2012" the week of December 11-17.

What are your plans for 2013? Oh, you didn't make any? Just as well, as this movie posits the end of the world in 2012. Buildings, bridges, monuments: all fall down. There is plenty of selfishness involved- who gets on the lifeboat? Anyway, it should be entertaining. (Rated PG-13)

The Telluride Film Festival presents "A Serious Man" (Rated R) on Thursday evening, December 17. For showtimes, see below. See the Nugget website for reviews and trailers.

10 December, 2009 /
[click "Play" to listen to Susan talking with Bertrand Marchal]

Bertrand Longtime Telluride locals referred to them as  les deux Bertrands, the two Bertrands: Bertrand Lepel-Cointet, now deceased, worked the front of the house. Bertrand Marchal was the chef. Together, the two owners turned La Marmotte Restaurant into a local institution.

Bertrand Marchal spent his youth studying under some of the best chefs in France, at Michelin-rated restaurants such as Le Crocodile in Strasbourg and Boyer in Reims. Today, he operates his own catering company, Bertrand's Catering.
09 December, 2009 /
[click "Play" to hear Susan's conversation with Beth Roberts and Sasha Cuciniello]

DSCN1381 In the early 1870s, miners first came to the Telluride region in search of silver and gold,  but the settlement wasn't called "Telluride." It was named Columbia. But Columbia's post office application was turned down on the grounds a town in California with the same name beat the settlers to the punch. The U.S. Postmaster General resolved the problem in 1880: we got our post office, but it came with a new name:"Telluride."

"Telluride"might have been derived from "tellurium," an element often associated with gold seams. Was the moniker just a crass marketing ploy to lure prospectors to the region? Some subscribe to the idea "Telluride" was code among outlaws. Was the name simple contraction of the phrase "to hell you ride," because way back when Telluride was wild and wooly.

08 December, 2009 /

by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer More than these greens tossed with toasted pecans, I want to serve you the hymn I sung into the wooden bowlas I blended the oil and white vinegar. More than honey ice cream beside the warm pie, I want to serve...

08 December, 2009 /