Colorado Podcasts Restaurants Telluride: Colorado Podcasts Restaurants Telluride
by maribeth
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The Village Table: Bringing Global Soul Food to Telluride
Johnny G on Opening Night
It couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.
“What’s that?” you ask.
Having the opportunity to open up a dining establishment in Telluride, Colorado, and having it be so warmly received by visitors and residents alike. John, or Johnny (as he is so affectionately called), Gerona, is the nice guy I’m referring to here. He and his wife, Janice, took the leap in May by opening up The Village Table, a fresh and inviting dining establishment in Telluride Mountain Village where everyone feels much at home.
It’s no wonder, since Johnny, a longtime Telluride local, puts a lot of love into his food. He learned to cook initially from his mama, an Italian, who, like most Italian mothers, devoted her time to making sure that everyone within her reach was well-fed and happy. After going to school to learn classical French culinary practices and working in some of the top restaurants in New York, the ski bum in Johnny finally landed in our beautiful mountain town of Telluride. He’s owned restaurants before in T-ride, worked for others and also operated a catering company for primarily loyal clients that have called upon his fine culinary services for years. And then the call came again to operate his own place, a restaurant where people could gather for lunch, tapas and dinner and enjoy the heartwarming European tradition of gathering for a delicious meal around the table; in this case, The Village Table.
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Colorado Hotels & Lodging Podcasts Restaurants Telluride: Colorado Hotels & Lodging Podcasts Restaurants Telluride
by maribeth
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Telluride Tourism’s Top Dogs
Telluride on the Fourth of July
Telluride Celebrating America’s Birthday
Phew! What a holiday weekend it was! Tourism here in Telluride, Colorado, was cranking. I think half of Texas and Arizona found their way here at some point this past week. Not to mention all the east coasters that were surely breathing a sigh of relief when they found themselves away from the humidity and hubbub of their densely populated places of residence. And who could blame them? It has been hot, dry and sunny here in Telluride but our warmth is nothing compared with what most of the rest of the country has been experiencing. During the summer, we still enjoy cool interiors without the need for air conditioning. Evenings require a blanket—perhaps two, if you’re camping.
I’d like to take this opportunity to salute all those that work in the hospitality world in Telluride and other big vacations spots around our country. Here, as in many other locales, the period surrounding the Fourth of July ranks as crazy-busy as the week between Christmas and New Year’s. What’s even more of a challenge for Telluride hospitality workers is that our season goes from just a smattering of business to sold-out-status within just a few week’s time. Finding good, reliable help in such a seasonable environment is always a challenge but somehow most establishments—from a high-end hotel to the local pizza place—pull it off, for the most part flawlessly. Unfortunately I think a lot of the stress and strain of doing business in such a fickle environment falls on the ownership and most definitely the management.
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Art & Culture Colorado Four Corners Hotels & Lodging Telluride The Southwest Travel Utah: Art & Culture Colorado Four Corners Hotels & Lodging Telluride The Southwest Travel Utah
by maribeth
Comments Off on The Lone Ranger Showcases Monument Valley, Southwest Colorado and More
The Lone Ranger Showcases Monument Valley, Southwest Colorado and More
The Lone Ranger and Tonto in Monument Valley
“Hi-Yo, Silver! Away!”
Such are the famous words shouted by the Lone Ranger as this masked man gallops off on Silver, his handsome white stallion, the same words shouted by kids throughout the decades as they head off on an adventure. Ever since the original radio show aired in 1933, through the popular TV series of the forties and fifties, across the pages of comic books and then highlighted in films, “Hi-Yo Silver!” has captured the excitement and dashing spirit of the West for the better part of a century.
Colorado Mountain Living Outdoor Adventures Telluride Festivals: Colorado Mountain Living Outdoor Adventures Telluride Telluride Festivals
by maribeth
Comments Off on More Mountainfilm 2013 Highlights: High & Hallowed and Running Blind
More Mountainfilm 2013 Highlights: High & Hallowed and Running Blind
High & Hallowed: Everest 1963
Mountaineering and remarkable physical achievements have been a big part of Mountainfilm, a world renowned festival in Telluride, Colorado, since its origin in 1979. In addition to watching films that raise social awareness, I love taking in adventure films that thrill and inspire me on many levels. This year was no different and the two that stood out for me the most were “High & Hallowed: Everest 1963” and “Running Blind,” both of which made their world premiere at the festival.
“High & Hallowed,” a visually stunning film, juxtaposes the first American summiting of Mt. Everest in 1963 with a recent attempt. Filmmakers David Morton and Jake Norton skillfully tell the story of Everest past and present by marrying old footage with new. It’s also the tale of the West Ridge route, an Everest ascent that has only been achieved once back in 1963 by Tom Hornbein and Willi Unsoeld, two members of the original American team. Jim Whittaker was the first to plant the American flag on Everest on the already then-established South Col route, yet even more remarkably, Hornbein and Unsoeld followed up on the same expedition with the West Ridge ascent. Some consider this to have been an even more astounding feat than putting a man on the moon; all acknowledge this as having been one of the most daring climbs in history. And it hasn’t been successfully repeated since.
Being Green Colorado Outdoor Adventures Podcasts Telluride Telluride Festivals Travel: Being Green Colorado Outdoor Adventures Podcasts Telluride Telluride Festivals Travel
by maribeth
Comments Off on Mountainfilm, The Last Ocean and Travel to Antarctica
Mountainfilm, The Last Ocean and Travel to Antarctica
The Last Ocean Penguin
I’m grateful to live in Telluride, Colorado, a town that’s both environmentally aware and full of social consciousness. We’re far from perfect, although as I travel to other parts of the world, I realize how down-to-earth and forward-thinking most of us Telluriders are and how that effects the way in which we live. From our desire to embrace the outdoors on a daily basis to championing a cause such as eliminating the use of plastic bags, most of us live more tuned in to our little slice of paradise—as well as the rest of the world—each and every day.
Mountainfilm, an important Telluride festival founded thirty-five years ago, is perhaps part of the reason for this awareness. Or, maybe it’s the reverse in that Mountainfilm is able to flourish in Telluride, a community that greatly values the outdoors and being a steward of your surroundings. Regardless, Mountainfilm and Telluride go hand-in-hand and whether here in T-ride or on the road, Mountainfilm is dedicated to educating and inspiring audiences about issues that matter both in Telluride, Colorado and all over the planet.
There’s so much to glean from Mountainfilm that it’s hard to zero in on one particular film, talk or art exhibit. I typically do, however, and this year “The Last Ocean,” a documentary about the last most pristine body of water on earth, touched me the most. From the opening scene of a penguin scampering across the blinding-white ice to glorious views of whales, seals and other remarkable creatures frolicking in crystal-clear water, I dove into this film with great enthusiasm. As the film played on, I became increasingly heartbroken about how man is impacting this seemingly unspoiled sea, known as the Ross Sea, located in the Southern Ocean. I learned that although Antarctica, the land mass that borders the Ross Sea, is protected by international accords, the water surrounding it is not. Sadly, commercial fishing has made its mark in recent years, so much so, in fact, that this remarkable marine ecosystem is now in peril.
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Colorado Outdoor Adventures Podcasts Telluride Telluride Festivals Travel: Colorado Outdoor Adventures Podcasts Telluride Telluride Festivals Travel
by maribeth
Comments Off on Hawkeye Johnson: Guide, Hiker, Filmmaker and Telluride Adaptive Sports Program Fundraiser Extraordinaire
Hawkeye Johnson: Guide, Hiker, Filmmaker and Telluride Adaptive Sports Program Fundraiser Extraordinaire
Hawkeye AKA Michael Johnson
“Working as a prison guard makes you appreciate life’s freedoms even more,” says Michael AKA Hawkeye Johnson. Hawkeye’s job as a prison guard for over two decades drives him in both his work with TASP (Telluride Adaptive Sports Program) as well as in his creative and outdoor endeavors. Clearly, he’s a guy that’s determined to help people make the best use of their lives, no matter what’s thrown their way.
Is it possible to embrace the great outdoors after you’ve suffered a life-changing injury? Damn right it is and through Hawkeye’s work with TASP and his two films, “Off the Hook” and “Load Bearing,” we see that people can live fully regardless of their special needs. Hawkeye teamed up with fellow filmmaker and TASP volunteer Craig Stein for both films, shorts which premiered on separate occasions at Mountainfilm Festival in Telluride, Colorado.
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Colorado Outdoor Adventures Podcasts Telluride Travel: Colorado Outdoor Adventures Podcasts Telluride Travel
by maribeth
Comments Off on Telluride Adaptive Sports Program Provides Outdoor Fun for All
Telluride Adaptive Sports Program Provides Outdoor Fun for All
TASP Road Runners
Ahhhhhh, the great outdoors. Experiencing the mountains is what people love to do here in Colorado. Winter, spring, summer and fall, visitors and residents alike are forever seeking opportunities to embrace nature. It’s not enough to just sit there and gaze out at our spectacular vistas; in the West we get out and play in our mountains, valleys and streams. It’s about the activities—whether you’re a fierce competitor or a city slicker in search of fresh air—the best fun is had by doing a mountain sport.
But for people dealing with disabilities, this can seem like a near insurmountable task. Thankfully most of our mountain towns offer programs that make access to the great outdoors possible for all. Often affiliated with the ski resorts, most of these organizations arrange year-round activities for people facing particular challenges.
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Colorado Mountain Living Outdoor Adventures Telluride The Rockies The Southwest Utah: Colorado Mountain Living Outdoor Adventures Telluride The Rockies The Southwest Utah
by maribeth
Comments Off on Take Me to the River Especially on a Rafting Adventure
Take Me to the River Especially on a Rafting Adventure
Little Duckie You’re So Fine (Note the Snow-Capped Peaks in the Distance)
The rivers are running hard and fast in Colorado and other parts of the West right now. As our snowpack melts, creeks and streams swell and massive quantities of water surge into rivers, splicing through red rock canyons and verdant riverbanks. Rivers such as the Gunnison and the Colorado render near barren lands fertile thanks to clever irrigation systems, many of which were created over a half century ago. Western states such as Utah, Nevada and California delight in and depend on Colorado’s winter snowfall. Indeed, the appetite for this pristine supply of water has become so great that by the time the mighty Colorado arrives in the Gulf of Mexico, it is nothing but a trickle.
Before this happens, however, our rivers provide fabulous recreation for river runners—from serious oarsmen to casual day trippers—all in search of a good time. Whether you’re looking for a jaw-dropping adventure over gnarly rapids or a casual float along a wide swath of still waters (often possible late summer), rafting on the river promises some of the best fun around. And you can bet that views from the water are often more glorious than those appreciated from land.
I try to get out on the river at least once a year, not much in comparison to many people that head out on week-long river trips as soon as ski season ends. But for some, a river rafting expedition represents a once-in-a-lifetime occurence. Either way, river trip memories rank as some of the best.
