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December 2009

December 3 to 10, 2009

Visible Planets: Morning: Mars and Saturn  Evening: Mercury and Jupiter

Good thoughts, good vibes, good food, good deeds...

BlueSanta As the Sun moves through the middle degrees of Sagittarius, see if you can feel the optimistic, philanthropic energy of the Archer taking hold. The holiday season is quintessentially Sagittarius and we can’t help but be affected by the ho-ho-hos and merry-merrys. A distinct generosity of spirit permeates the ethers and we are called to open our hearts and let the joy in.

Ruled by magnanimous planet Jupiter, Sagittarius energy tends toward grandiosity and largesse. It’s the classic golden touch, the benevolent ruler, the guardian angel and the lucky charm. It’s good luck; good fortune and all things that are and make us feel “good.”  Enthusiastic optimism fuels the Sagittarian fire and the flexible, adaptable quality of its modality keep the flames of hope, faith and truth flickering in the eternal hearth of Spirit.

Giving to others – especially those less fortunate – sharing the wealth and focusing on the goodness of the world rather than its darkness are characteristics of this very magnanimous sign. Holiday spirit, holiday cheer and holiday hustle are all classically Sag. And, of course, on the flip side of all this grandeur, we have over-indulgence, never-say-no and devil-may-care attitudes that can put us over the top or off the cliff.

04 December, 2009 /


Follow the Yellow Brick Road to the historic Sheridan Opera House, where the Sheridan Arts Foundation's Young People's Theater presents "The Wizard of Oz," this weekend, December 4 – December 6, 6 p.m. nightly.

Director Jen Julia's Telluride production is based on the classic MGM musical "The Wizard of Oz," and features 33 locals, grades 6 – 8.

04 December, 2009 /


Everything old is new again. Turns out the Telluride Artisans Guild (TAG) is right in step with the times. According to The New York Times, (Home section, 11/26): "The human touch rules this year."  TAG, under the auspices of the Telluride Council for the Arts and Humanities, hosts its annual holiday bazaar featuring homegrown work by popular regional artists. Over 30 booths are set up for irritainment-free shopping in the Telluride High School cafeteria. The event takes place Friday, December 4, 5 –8 p.m., Saturday, December 5, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., and Sunday, December 6,11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

The TAG bazaar, now close to 40 years old, offers one of the best places around to find gifts more from the heart than from the wallet. Clint's iMovie offers a sneak peak at the wide variety of items for sale.

The following is a list of participating artists and craftspeople.

03 December, 2009 /

Pirateradio_smallposter Disneysachristmascarol_smallposter Telluride's Nugget Theatre is showing "A Christmas Carol" and "Pirate Radio" Friday-Tuesday, December 4-8. There will be three FREE screenings of "Astroboy" on Wednesday and Thursday, December 9-10.

From Disney comes an animation of Dickens' timeless "A Christmas Carol" with Jim Carey as the voice of Scrooge.

In the 1960s, the BBC would only schedule a minimum of popular music. To fill the void Radio Caroline (the Pirate Radio of this movie) was broadcasting rock 'n' roll from a ship offshore, and therein lies the tale. Come for the music if nothing else.

Astroboy_smallposter "Astroboy" is a robot with super-human powers. What's left to want? Acceptance, of course. And that's the nature of this story.

See showtimes below, and the Nugget website for trailers and reviews.

03 December, 2009 /

You may have seen them last Fall on Letterman, but if you missed the show at Telluride's Sheridan Opera House on December 2 with Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, you missed one hell of a show. And right there in the front...

03 December, 2009 /


[click "Play" to hear Sally Davis speak about her Ah Haa class]

Art_heart Telluride is no different. As contact sports go, there is nothing quite like the four weeks before Christmas. The games begin tomorrow night, December 2, Noel Nite, when stores in town officially open for the winter season. Not looking forward to the crowds (or the debt)? You can say "no" to consumerism and "yes" to creative and original presents from your imagination and heart. A 2005 study by the Center for a New American Dream showed that almost 80 percent of Americans wished the holidays were "less materialistic." And that was then, this is now. For meaningful alternatives to ready, aim, shop, sign up for classes at the Ah Haa School for the Arts.


02 December, 2009 /

[click "Play" to hear Dr. Webster talk about pre-European Southwestern textiles] Telluride Unearthed, a lectures series at the Telluride Historical Museum, continues on Thursday, December 3, with guest speaker Dr. Laurie Webster. The subject: "The Telluride Blanket in Context: An Overview of...

02 December, 2009 /

by Kris Holstrom

Tn_EnglewoodSmall (1) The night was cold, but a small crowd gathered in Telluride at the east end of Colorado Avenue last night. Hot chocolate (the best!) was provided by Telluride Truffles. Conversations were wide ranging. What was this crowd gathered for? To spread the light.

Telluride downtown merchants have been meeting for the last several weeks and last night, the  tangible result: lights. Merchants really wanted to see the town lit up for the holidays, because bright lights equal upbeat, cheery. And we’ve always had the beautiful big tree full of colored lights at the West End of the commercial district to set the mood. But what about the East End of town? Nothing, nada, zilch, until Monday night, thanks to many who are lending a hand: business owners, council members, and people on the street are donating to purchase and fund new LED lights on the town lampposts and newly lit trees on the East end of Telluride's Main Street. These lights, purchased both through Timberline Hardware and the Telluride High School Y.E.S. Club, are LEDs or Light Emitting Diodes, and highly energy efficient.

02 December, 2009 /

Wiz of Oz Telluride's Sheridan Arts Foundation's Young People's Theater begins its 11th season with director Jen Julia's adaptation of the MGM classic (1939) "The Wizard of Oz," one of the most popular musicals of all time.

"Everyone can identify with Dorothy, the bewildered yet brave farm girl, on her journey through Oz," explained Jen.  "What's more, the songs are catchy, and the lyrics, almost tongue twisters, are extremely clever."

The production, performed by 33 students, grades 6, 7, and 8, includes all the usual suspects: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "If I Only Had a Brain," "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead," "We’re  Off to See the Wizard." But in keeping with the YPT tradition Julia established, the show has some non-traditional elements, including a few songs from the musical, "The Wiz," to spice up the action.

01 December, 2009 /