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August 2010

IMG_5308 Despite its relatively small crowd size –  about 3,000 attendees versus, say,10,000 for events such as Telluride Bluegrass -  Telluride Film Festival, September 3 – September 6, brings in more sales tax revenue to both Telluride and the Mountain Village than any other single event. And it does so with minimal environmental impact.

Equally important, the Telluride Film Festival has developed a worldwide reputation as to go-to spot for the unhyped celebration of the art of filmmaking. Telluride's reputation as the place to be results in hundreds of articles across the country and beyond each year, which reinforces the brand like no other festival can.

Finally, the Telluride Film Festival itself pumps well over $1 million into the local economy in staff salaries, lodging, food and other expenses. It is an economic engine without parallel. Neither the Festival nor the greater community would be the same without the other.
31 August, 2010 /
[click "Play" to hear Susan's conversation with GM Ray Farnsworth]

Parlor This week, Telluride is positively a-glitter with gems, on screen and off.

Critics often describe Telluride Film Festival, this long Labor Day weekend, September 3 – September 6, as a "gem," even a "crown jewel" among the roughly 1,700 similar events around the world.

There are real gems at local galleries too: The Telluride Gallery of Fine Art (Hollywood fav Lori Rodkin for one), Lustre (Gurhan) and Dolce (Pamela Froman and Katey Brunini, also Tinseltown queens).

The historic New Sheridan Hotel is another sparkler. The Grande Dame of the town –  the heart and soul of the social scene 118 years ago, back in the days Telluride's streets were paved with gold –  was restored to her Victorian splendor by world-famous interior designer Nina Campbell a little over a year ago. And this year, once again, the New Sheridan is the place to be and be seen over the Telluride Film Festival weekend.
30 August, 2010 /
[for Kate Sibley's conversation with Susan, click "Play"]

IMG_6722 The Telluride Film Festival is renowned as much for what it is not as what it is.

The Telluride Film Festival is not about prizes or juries or press screenings or booty or paparazzi or yachts or swag. No one wins, so everyone wins.

The Telluride Film Festival is a celebration of the art of filmmaking, not the Industry. It is also the great equalizer: everyone talks to everyone on the streets and in the lines. And it is about location: Telluride has to be one of the greatest sets in the world. The Telluride Film Festival's education initiatives also put it at the head of class among the roughly 2,000 film festivals around the globe.
30 August, 2010 /
[click "Play", Susan speaks to "Auntie Graffiti" (Jane Goren)]

Janegorencardhoriz-3 Think of Auntie Graffiti as Telluride's answer to Auntie Mame: madcap, irreverent, fun-loving, funny, and free-spirited. Her thing is traveling the world painting portraits on paper toilet seat covers, though, like Mame, she is a scandalizer, not a vandalizer.

Part-time Telluride local Auntie Graffiti has presented her bathroom art at renegade exhibitions in the toilets and WCs of renowned museums and galleries around the world. Now she returns to town with her offbeat body of work.

Sapsucker Studios, 299 South Spruce, opens the first exhibit of works by Auntie Graffiti September 2, 5 - 8 p.m., in conjunction with the Telluride Council for the Arts & Humanities' First Thursday Art Walk, a walkabout to show off Telluride's art scene, when local galleries, studios and retail shops stay open late until 8 p.m.
30 August, 2010 /
[click "Play" to hear David Bangert speak about forest health in the Telluride region]

IMG_4030 Join Telluride-based The New Community Coalition for a short hike around the Nature Center, Ridge area and top of Lift 7 in the Mountain Village to see what's happening with our trees and forests and the nasty things that love them: budworms, bark beetles, elk, and fungi.

The event takes place, rain or shine, Tuesday, August 31, 10 a.m. – 12:30ish. Meet at the Top of Lift 7 and bring water, sunscreen, bug repellent, snacks, rain gear and good walking shoes. Dave Bangert, Mountain Village Forester/Recreation Supervisor leads.
30 August, 2010 /

The seventh annual Mountains to the Desert bike ride is set for Saturday, September 25, 2010. Riders can start from Telluride or Norwood, and there are two options for routing from each start. Early registration is $100, fee increases to $125 on September 1....

30 August, 2010 /


The Ah Haa School for the Arts in Telluride has classes for all ages, on any number of subjects. Along with our enthusiastic fellow students, Telluride Inside... and Out was getting smart about making bread (no, not an investing class) at the home of Larry and Sally Simpson on Saturday, August 28.

Our "professors" were Carole and Milt Quam, long-time breadmakers from California. As Milt puts it, "Carole and I regard ourselves as 'serious home bakers'.  We’ve been baking seriously for the last 15 or so years. Originally we identified with a group of whole grain bakers, most doing their baking in wood-fired ovens. There were some very talented bakers, as well as oven builders in that group."

29 August, 2010 /

Sidebar_poster The official website of the Telluride Film Festival claims there is no better way to attend the event than as a passholder. Further, it states there is "no hassle" with a pass. True. Sorta kinda.

Here's why: Your pass entitles you to seating on a first-come, first-served basis. Even then, not so much, because passholders are not created equal.

Especially for big buzz movies in the smaller venues (the Sheridan Opera House, the Masons and The Nugget) first-come, first-served means if you are a plain vanilla passholder, your lanyard may not get in unless you arrive super early, as much as 1 1/2 – 2 hours in advance of the scheduled screening. Even then, remember you are behind sponsors, patrons, students, and Hollywood entourages, who can show up when they wish and jump the queue. When that happens, your treasured numbered Q becomes just another piece of paper to recycle.
29 August, 2010 /