Benchtalk: January 25, 2019

CB Avalanche Center Fireside Chat

Join the CBAC for the 3rd installment of the Fireside Chat series at Synergy Athlete (123 Elk Ave) this Thursday, January 24 from 6 to 7 p.m. This is an informal gathering where we will start with a snowpack summary from early January to present, and then explore the nuances of putting out public avalanche forecasts and the intricacies of moderate danger. BYOB and camp chairs to guarantee yourself a seat!

Art Center activities this week

The week begins stiffly with the second Whisk(e)y School installment of “Strictly Scotch” – a tasting and learning seminar (Thursday, January 24). If you’re feeling the spirits, then don’t stop there – continue on and join the Homebrewing class and get the specs on brewing your own beer (Sunday, January 27). The Art Studio offers two courses to add depth and skill to your artistic endeavors with Watercolor Painting with Energy & Freedom with master watercolorist Steve Griggs (Saturday, January 26), or join the four-week Drawing Skills class (Wednesday, January 30). Wild about words? Drop into the free Literary Salon Series at the Eldo featuring Brian Calvert, editor of High Country News, for discussion, networking and making friends with other word nerds. And if you’re missing the feel of the earth in the depths of winter, the Wheel Throwing Workshop lets you get your hands dirty with clay (Friday, January 25).

Dance for local food February 7

Afrobeat band Atomga will play on Thursday, February 7, at 8 p.m. at the Public House in a benefit concert for Mountain Roots Food Project. With a three-member horn section and three percussionists, Denver’s premier Afrobeat band Atomga is known for inspiring sweaty dance parties. Throw in keys and a couple of guitarists, and you’ve got a recipe to boogie. In addition to the music, Mountain Roots will raffle off one of its CSA shares. A $650 value, a CSA share is a weekly box of fresh, produce from local farms, including Mountain Roots own farm, for 16 weeks of summer. Other prizes include tickets to music and wine festivals. To purchase tickets or to sign up for a membership, visit www.mountainrootsfoodproject.org. Tickets can also be purchased at Rumors in Crested Butte.

Vandenbusche to teach history class this winter

Duane Vandenbusche will teach a Colorado history class at the Crested Butte Community School Thursday evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m. beginning on January 31. The class will run 12 sessions and will end on April 18. The exciting history of Colorado will include the following topics: Mesa Verde; mountain men and the fur trade; explorers; the gold rush; the silver camps; narrow gauge railroads; ranching; sustainability; polka music and dancing with Pete Dunda; and water and recreation.Register online at western.edu/es or call the Western Colorado University Extended Studies office at (970) 943-2885.

Meet local author Purvis at CB Museum

The Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum will host local author Susan Purvis and her new release, Go Find: My Journey to Find the Lost—and Myself, at the Museum on Tuesday, February 5 at 6:30 p.m. Meet the author with a short reading from her book, a slide show, and Q&A session. Purvis is a former Crested Butte Ski Patrol member and comes to believe that a puppy and working on ski patrol at the last great ski town in Colorado will improve her life. After learning of avalanches that bury people, she begins a quest that propels her to train the best possible search dog, vowing to never leave anyone behind.

Birthdays:

January 24- Pete Nichols, Tyler Largo, Guthrie Moore, Mike Horn, Taylor Norton

January 25- Tucker Roberts, John Napier, Camden Scales, Chloe Hillman

January 26- Ken Cloud, Sophie Tetler

January 27-John “Smalls” Lumadue, Crista Shaffer, Blake Courtney

January 28- Nancy Vogel, Jim Truettner, Katie Kupcinski, Ofra Reynolds, Dave Dlugasch

January 29- Julia Kortz, Siena Truex, Anika Jobson, Paul Andersen

January 30- Melissa and Sara Ruch, Erika Hosier, Joel Reycraft

Cameos: How have you been enjoying all of the recent snow?