Around Telluride

VR-display-blog The Velvet Ribbon exchange is an original fundraising idea, a chance to give to the Sheridan Arts Foundation, at the same time receive something fabulous for yourself in return. Quid pro quo in action.

Throughout the month of December, the lobby of the Opera House doubles for the inside of a gift store, white gift boxes tied with red velvet ribbons throughout. The boxes, numbered 1 – 50, are all on sale for $250, but the individual contents are a secret until the donor opens the box associated with the number he picks.

Prizes range in value from $100 – $8,000+, but the majority of items are valued over $100. In addition to his prize, each purchaser receives a $150 tax deduction letter for the donation made to the Sheridan Arts Foundation, a 501(C)(3) nonprofit.

[click "Play" to hear Beth Roberts talk about the Telluride museum's Winter program]

 

 

Musuem_000 Once upon a time, the doctor on duty performed an appendectomy –  on himself. At the Telluride Historical Museum. But it was not a museum then. The building, built  in 1896, was a community hospital back in the days the likes of Butch Cassidy hung out on Main Street.

Today the Telluride Historical Museum contains a collection of about 9,000 artifacts and 1,500 historic photographs. Exhibits focus on hard rock mining (displays of equipment, models of mines and mills), the Ute Indian heritage, the development of AC electric to honor the fact Nikola Tesla built the world's first AC-generating plant in town. There is a replica of the mining cabin that once belonged to the "Tomboy Bride," Harriet Backus, and tributes to Victorian architecture and fashion, including fancy dresses worn by Big Billie, Telluride's top madam at the turn of the century, when red lights had nothing to do with Christmas.

[click "Play" to hear vintage Roger Mason on painting and book covers]

 

Gatsby_CVRdj_front_300 If you live in the R-1 school district, you know the name "Rubadeau." But I am not talking about her. I am talking about him. After a nine month publishing odyssey tracked closely by Telluride Inside... and Out, author Bob Rubadeau just completed his latest mystery, Gatsby’s Last Resort: A Telluride Murder Mystery. And the author picked the work of another Telluride celebrity, Roger Mason, for the cover art.

On Tuesday, December 7, 6 p.m. in the Program Room of the Wilkinson Public Library the final chapters in Wit Thorpe’s trials to find the real killer will be unveiled - along with Mason's deliciously dark image.

(Ed. note: Telluride TV sent the following press release.)

Executive Director:

Katie Karow, an accomplished sales and marketing executive and Telluride local became Telluride TV's new Executive Director effective December 1. Karow replaces Susan Lilly who, in April, as a member of the Board of Directors, agreed to serve as the Interim Executive Director until a permanent successor could be identified.

Karow most recently worked as administrator and board president for Mountain Sprouts Preschool, where she initiated new fundraising strategies, including successful grant writing. Karow led the school through the Planning and Zoning process to secure a new home for the Sprouts, strengthened the Board of Directors and teaching staff.

“We had a tremendously talented pool of applicants for this job, but ultimately Katie was the most well-rounded and best fit for our organization,” said Mary Jo Guarrero, board president.

 Jen Julia, director of Telluride's Sheridan Arts Foundation's Young People's Theatre is one twisted sister– and that's a good thing. Generally speaking, when it comes to adapting chestnuts for her actors, Jen goes her own way. This time, she is following the crowd. Sort of...

Take Disney's latest (the 50th) animation,"Tangled," the story of Rapunzel, about an exiled princess who has never been to a hairdresser. In this version, the girl has been shut up in a castle by the evilest of evil stepmoms in the Disney pantheon, Mother Gothel, because her golden hair has the power to heal wounds, cure disease and reverse the aging process. (Hmm, hair as Botox.) Throw Pixar's bravura effects into the mix and voila, everything old is brand spanking new.

Bazaar at Telluride High School, December 3-5

 In her poem "One Perfect Rose," the acerbic writer Dorothy Parker bemoans the fact it's her bad luck to always get "one perfect rose," not "one perfect limousine, do you suppose?" from her true love. With money to burn, finding the perfect gift during the holiday season shop off – for your true love or anyone else on the list – is a cinch. On the other hand, most of have to make the thought count big time.

In Telluride, one of the ways to find gifts from the heart is to make them: the Ah Haa School for the Arts is running Xmas classes for adults and kids all month long. However, if you are not inclined to channel your inner Santa's helper, this weekend, in the Telluride High School Cafeteria, the Telluride Council for the Arts & Humanities presents the 2010 Telluride Holiday Arts Bazaar. Hours of operation: Friday, December 3, 5 - 8 p.m., Saturday, December 4,10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sunday, December 5, 11 a.m.  – 3 p.m.

The Bazaar, a local tradition dating back nearly 40 years, has grown to feature the work of about 40 regional artisans. The following is a list of the kinds of items you can check off your shopping list:

[click "Play" to listen to Dr. Brugge's conversation with Susan]

 

Brugge-doug A Three Mile Island in Colorado?

Probably nothing that Hollywood – or lethal.

Well, maybe not.

The infamous accident  took place March 28, 1979, a partial core meltdown in a unit of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station in Pennsylvania. Three Mile Island crystallized anti-nuclear safety concerns and resulted in new regulations for the nuclear industry. According to Dr. Douglas M. Brugge, the nuclear release at Three Mile Island may explain why there is "public and policy interest in the high-technology, highly visible end of the nuclear cycle."

At the same time, he continues: "The environmental and health consequences of the early steps in the cycle – mining, milling, and processing of uranium ore – may be less appreciated."

 "Bag It," TAB fashion show tix, green gifts, llamas, Daiva's birthday, great discounts (Yoga Center too), lotsa fun

IMG_8172 One down. Two to go. Just about everywhere, the parade of cooking, shopping and wrapping continues. The holiday season that began last week with Thanksgiving picks up a head of speed this week with the Christmas chapter, starting Wednesday, December 1, Noel Nite in Telluride.

Christmas may be time for  a nostalgic wallow in our tinsel-strewn past. The usual suspects on that list include Salvation Army Santas, mistletoe kisses, eggnog toasts, chestnuts roasting, "White Christmas," and twinkling trees. It's also about shop 'til you drop.

Here's an overview of what to expect around town.