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Top 10 North American Train Trips – Travel – National Geographic.

July 22& 23 CAMPING SKILLS:  Voyager Youth Group: Fishing, hiking and water activities with overnight camping at Ridgway State Park.Youth ages 8-12.  Sponsored by SOLA.  Call 626-4279 for more information

 July 25, 26, 29 & 30- Diamond W Wranglers –Cowboy western singing group, 7pm, Wright Opera House. Western Music Album of the Year!  Info, call John – 970-325-7255

 July 26^th -24th Annual Charity Horseback Ride Sponsored by Ouray Elks Lodge 10 AM at Portland Trailhead, two hour ride for charity sponsored by Ouray Livery.  Rental horses available, lunch provided at the lodge.  Minimum $100 donation requested for Elks charity programs.  Information from Manette 970-325-0095 or Kris 970-626-4383.

 July 27 at 7 pm: If you are interested in America’s Got Talent, wait until you see what Ouray has. The WISE Club(Women in Support of Education) is initiating a second fund raising event to subsidize the scholarship fund supported by the popular melodrama produced every other year. WISE is encouraging residents of Ouray County to strut their stuff in Ouray’s Got Talent!! Tryouts will be held on July 27 at 7 pm to help determine the order of the acts for maximum entertainment. The entry fee is $25 per act. The talent show itself will be held on August 7& 8 at 7:30 pm on the Ouray school stage. Entrance fee is $5.00 and audience members will be able to vote as many times as they wish for their particular favorite at $1.00 per vote. The Emma Lou Wylie Scholarship is awarded annually to a local female college student. Smaller awards are presented to each of the county’s high school valedictorians.

 July 27-30 OURAY ROCKS! Intensive rock climbing camp for youth ages 11-15.  Sponsored by SOLA. Voyager Youth Group Call 626-4289 for more information.

 July 31 – Artists Alpine Holiday – 49^th Annual National Juried art show. Enjoy the creative and unique art work of artists in various mediums–oils, watercolors, photography www.ourayarts.org

Restaurant Info:

Declaimer: This is information that restaurant members have asked OCRA to share with other members.  This is a consolidated list or reports and has not been solicited.

The Bistro at Billy Goat Gruff’s will be opening for lunches at 11am, Thursday-Sunday. Our lunch menu will feature our fabulous burgers, salads and appetizers, as well as our slow-smoked BBQ Ribs. If you are looking for a great gathering place outside, try the Biergarten, which opens at 11am daily, and offers our indoor seating area with pool table, shuffleboard and foosball.  

Are you Gluten Free or is your diet as such?

-Spangler House B&B- Call ahead and let them know (vegan and gluten free)

-Ducketts Market : has lots of available products which are wheat and gluten free.  We are also open to bringing in new Wheat free or Gluten Free products on your faves list.  Let us know we always welcome your feedback and we’re all about happy tummies. 970-325-4397

-Ago Gallery has a new cook book that will be out this May 28th that has 200 gluten free recipes in it as well as art work by Romagean.  This book will be for sale through Ago Gallery and San Juan Pottery. 

August:

Announcing the First Annual Colorado Peace Ride
August 9 – 12, 2009 Colorado Peace Ride: Join this amazing tour along one of the 10 most scenic routes in the country! The Colorado Peace Ride is a 4-day, 238-mile tour along the entire San Juan Skyway loop: Peace Ride Route . Ride limited to 500 cyclists! For more information: Colorado Peace Ride.

 August 29: 2^nd Annual Grillin Chillin Thrillin Festival. 12 Western Slope Breweries,$20 to drink beer, all others free! Live music, zip and slack lines,  kickball,  kids puppet show, BBQ food and Grilled desserts! Picnic in Fellin Park with some of the best brews Colorado has to offer! Vegetarian food and NA beverages available. This event is sponsored by the Ouray Chamber and the Festival Committee for CHANGE! 970-325-4746 for more info.

 Fall Activities:

September 25-27: Autumn Color Workshop
&
Photoshop Elements.
$359. Join Steve for a magical photo experience in Ouray at the height of autumn color. See www.synvis.com
for details. 

October 3, 2009, 2nd Annual La Sportiva Ouray Mountain Trail Run

10am – 2pm, Hot Springs Park, Ouray. 2 nd Annual La Sportiva Ouray Mountain Trail Run - This run circumnavigates a 13.9 mile loop around the City of Ouray on USFS trails. The run is scheduled to coincide with the Ouray Oktoberfest for even more enjoyment! Pre-registration required. For information, visit www.ouraytrailrun.com

October 3, 2009: 45th Annual Jeep Raffle Drawing and Oktoberfest celebration! Beer, Brats and Bavarian Music: Return of the popular Bavarian band, The Austrian Connection!!!!!!!!  Ouray Community Center 5-10 pm! Join us for spectacular San Juan Mnt Color then stop in for an evening celebration with live music, local brews and more! Sponsored by the Ouray Chamber Resort Association.


 Miss a feature?

WEDNESDAYS until Aug 26 OURAY ELKS BINGO, 7 PM at the Ouray Elks lodge.  Open to the public.

6/22/09 Ouray Mule and Carriage: starting this weekend will provide Stage Coach        Rides on MAIN St!!! Call to arrange a guest pick up from your hotel to dinner!

New Service offered by River Side Inn and Cabins in collaboration with Peak to Peak Bikes! Bike rentals, Bike shuttle service and more! Contact River Side Inn or Peak to Peak for more info!

Ouray Massage Therapy has a new location at 8th & Main. (in the Cutting Edge building)
 

A pleasant healing decor with a Balinese theme. Offering Therapeutic Massage, Spa Treatments and retail Chinese Therapeutic Oils, Homemade Organic Lotion & Aromatherapy Sprays. I will also be teaching some workshops as well. More info on my website: www.bodybybeej.com. ls get $10 off all sessions all year. Contact: 318-1113 

Dog Care for the day and for your yard! Little Paws and Dog Watch can help!  Little Paws will take care of your pup when you are working or gone on a trip! Daily, overnight or weekly care @ $15/day per dog. For families with multiple dogs, a discounted price of $12.50/day per dog is given for visits longer than 3 days. Daily walks, playtimes, and any basic grooming needed are included in the fee. Pick-up and drop-off services are available for a small fee.

The Biergarten is now serving lunch daily, opening at 11am! Our indoor seating and game room are also open, and we have pool, foosball and shuffleboard available. We’ll also be featuring our slow-smoked pork ribs every Monday night in the Biergarten, and of course “Thirsty Thursdays” are up and running

I’m hungry and it’s late… what to do:

Ouray Convenience is opened late.                                                                                   
Papillon on Main:  Join us for Happy Hour Monday through Friday, 2 – 5pm: Half price beer, wine, & well drinks!  Enjoy our full bar and appetizers each night 9pm till Midnight!

Outlaw kitchen is open until 10: 00 pm. Begins Fri. 6/19 Happy Hour 3 pm -4:30 Dinner begins, 4:30.  325-4366                   
Billy Goats Gruff: 325-4370

Trail Update: Sneffels trailhead is closed!!! Fallen trees have been removed by Ouray County R&B.  The upper portion of the road to the Sneffels Hiking trailhead is closed due to snow.

June 19 & 20 – ANNUAL RUMMAGE SALE!! Sponsored by the Ouray Woman’s Club.  Friday, 10am-5pm; Saturday, 9am-2pm.  Fantastic bargains!  Clothing, antiques, furniture, books, and many more treasures.  Ouray Community Center.

June 21:
Free Concert in the Park! On Sunday afternoon, June 21, the Jeff Solon Jazz Trio will perform a concert at Ouray’s Fellin Park starting at 4:00 p.m.  This concert will be the first free Summer 2009 concert sponsored for the community by the Ouray County Performing Arts Guild.  Jeff Solon and his Durango-based group perform classic jazz composition, blues, boogie woogie, and also original compositions.  Their instruments include guitar and keyboard as well as Jeff Solon on tenor saxophone, harmonica and flute. The Jeff Solon Trio has produced several CDs, which are available for purchase on their web site, www.jeffsolon.com.  So bring your lawn chairs or blankets and picnic (no alcohol permitted) to the park in Ouray for what is sure to be a lively and entertaining concert by this regional band.  If needed, the rain venue will be the Ouray School.

June 23 – Tom Hillhouse, Evening of History
“The Mesker Iron Fronts on Ouray’s Main Street”

June 26 – Trio Solesti – world renowned chamber music trio from New York, 7:30pm, 4-H Event Center, Ridgway, CO  Info: www.ocpag.org

June 30 – Karen Griffiths, Evening of History “Lake Lenore”, Ouray Historical Society

Papillon on Main Daily Specials

Monday Red Beans & Rice     $9.95

Tuesday Liver & Onions     $9.99

Wednesday Rocky Mountain Trout     $12.95

Thursday Chicken Fried Steak     $9.99

Friday All You Can Eat Catfish     14.95

WEDNESDAYS until Aug 26 OURAY ELKS BINGO, 7 PM at the Ouray Elks lodge.  Open to the public.

July 4 – Old Fashioned 4^th of July Celebration – Parades, kids games, fire hose water fights, Elks Club BBQ, and spectacular fireworks display!  Fun for the whole family!

*Painting Marmot:  Make your own T-shirt $12.00 and face painting all day.

*San Juan Mnt. Guides: offering zip-line rides again on the 4th of July.  We will be offering the rides from 11:30 am til 1:30 pm.  After the parade and before the water fights.  The cost is $10per ride.

July 7 – Don Paulson, Evening of History – “Late 19th and Early 20th Century Ouray Photographers”

July 10-12 – Hardrock Hundred Endurance Run in the scenic, rough mountains of SW CO.

Summer in the San Juans 2009 Work Shop

July 11 and 12:  Robert Parham
Photography Workshop Contact Ago Gallery for more information.

July 11 and 12: Plein Air Painting in the Beautiful San Juan Mountains  Cost is 285.00. Romagean Personne: phone 970-252-0241 or visit www.montroseartcentert.com Minimum students 4 maximum 12.   Contact Ago Gallery for more information.

July 13: A Painter's Photography Class by Romagean Personne, Cost 75.00   Contact Ago Gallery for more information.

July 14 – Carolyn  Kelly, Evening of History – “Historic Ouray Homes” Ouray Community Center 7:30

July 15-18: FJ Cruiser Summit: Friday night is their “Ouray night.. 6-9 pm agendas for shopping and dinning!

July 18^th – “Paws for Art” :  Formerly the Fur Ball, this new Fun-raiser has been upscaled to a casually elegant early evening event featuring a Live Art Auction, complimentary wine, beer, appetizers and live music. Pet lover or not – you won’t want to miss this Art Auction – with artist contributions of all genres this will be a uniquely fun evening at the Telluride Conference Center in Mountain Village.

July 18^th 1-5: Paint whimsical Horses with Alice Billings at the Painting Marmot Cost: $60.00  (please sign up at the store and) Deposit $15.00.  Sketch your horse live at the Ouray Livery and Paint it with acrylic paint.  Instructor is longtime Ridgway artist Alice Billings.  Alice is known for her paintings of horses and is an avid horse woman. She works with therapy horses and rescued horses, 612 Main St.. 970-325-7232

July 21 – Tom Rosemeyer, Evening of History – “The Camp Bird Mine”

July 24-26:

Summer Wildflower & Landscape Workshop & Photoshop Elements July 24-26, 2009. $339. Join professional photographer Steve Traudt for an exciting photo workshop timed for the famous wildflower explosion. 612 Main St.. 970-325-7232. Workshop details at: www.synvis.com

July 25, 26, 29 & 30- Diamond W Wranglers –Cowboy western singing group, 7pm, Wright Opera House. Western Music Album of the Year!  Info, call John – 970-325-7255

July 31 – Artists Alpine Holiday – 49^th Annual National Juried art show. Enjoy the creative and unique art work of artists in various mediums–oils, watercolors, photography www.ourayarts.org

August 29: 2^nd Annual Grillin Chillin Thrillin Festival. 13 Western Slope Breweries, live music, BBQ food and Grilled desserts! This event is sponsored by the Ouray Chamber and the Festival Committee for CHANGE! 970-325-4746 for more info.

October 3, 2009: 45^th Annual Jeep Raffle Drawing and Oktoberfest celebration!

Ouray Community Center 5-10 pm! Join us for spectacular San Juan Mnt Color then stop in for an evening celebration with live music, local brews and more! Sponsored by the Ouray Chamber Resort Association.

June 27^th 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

July 4^th 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM

Come get a new perspective on the gorge!

Come up to the Ice Park Upper Bridge on county RD 361 (Camp Bird Road)

On Thursday, Mary and I hiked up to where Silvershield Trail, Twin Peaks Trail and Oak Creek Trail meet, about 2.5 miles up the west side of the valley.  it was a bit on the cool side and there was fresh snow on the peaks.  On Friday I met up with the girls and did a quick loop around the Ice Park Trail.  The mosquitoes are quite bad along the trail so bug spray is highly recommended.  It was a beautiful morning that included a bit of sun….we were very happy to see it!!

Jeff Solon and his Durango-based group perform classic jazz composition, blues, boogie woogie, and also original compositions. Their instruments include guitar and keyboard as well as Jeff Solon on tenor saxophone, harmonica and flute. The Jeff Solon Trio has produced several CDs, which are available for purchase on their web site, www.jeffsolon.com.

So bring your lawn chairs or blankets and picnic (no alcohol permitted) to the park in Ouray for what is sure to be a lively and entertaining concert by this regional band. If needed, the rain venue will be the Ouray School.

View from Sutton Trail

We were able to head up the Sutton Trail just before Memorial Day.  The weather was perfect and the sun warm!!

View from Sutton Trail