Monday, May 4, 2009

Culinary Retreat Offered in Ouray

Weehawken Creative Arts Presents
A Culinary Retreat in Ouray, Colorado
with Sara Sharpe and the Box Canyon Lodge


June 9, 10 & 11, 2009

Learn Incredible Recipes in the Kitchen While Enjoying Ouray’s Scenic Beauty and Diverse Adventure Options!

Come to Ouray for a culinary retreat and experience you won’t soon forget. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery and the smells and sights of spring while staying at the Box Canyon Lodge and learning from Weehawken Creative Arts’ most popular culinary instructor and chef, Sara Sharpe during a three-day culinary retreat! We leave plenty of time for you to head-out on your own to enjoy the sights and shops.

Day 1: Tuesday - June 9, 2009
5pm at A Secret Garden Bed and Breakfast in Ouray
Hors d’oeuvres You Won’t Soon Forget
On Tuesday night, you will enjoy libations, meet your classmates and enjoy a meal-sized portion of six different hors d’oeuvres. You will get the inside scoop from Sara on each of the items you will be enjoying. Students can expect to learn and see a demonstration of 4 of the 6 hors d’oeuvres they will be enjoying and will get a verbal instruction and recipe for the remaining 2 hors d’oeuvres. Recipes for every item on the menu will be shared and distributed.
Meal-sized sampling and reception from 5-6:20 / Class from 6:30 – 8:30
The menu will consist of:
*1) Maryland Crab Cakes with Chipotle Remoulade - demonstrated
*2) Raspberry Brie in Puff Pastry - demonstrated
*3) Spinach Boursin Pizzas - demonstrated
*4) Tenderloin of Beef Canapes with Artichoke-Arugula Garnish - demonstrated
5) Indonesian Chicken Sate – Recipes Given
6) Tilapia Sesame with Dill Sauce – Recipes Given

Day 2: Wednesday - June 10, 2009
Morning until 12:15 pm – Optional Jeep Tour ($54 + applicable taxes)
12:30 pm at A Secret Garden Bed & Breakfast in Ouray
Summer Fun – The Secrets of Great Summer Grilling
On Wednesday afternoon, join Sara on her beautiful patio for lessons in all of her favorite grilling techniques. Refreshments and meal sized portions included. Recipes on all menu items will be shared and distributed.
Instruction from 12:30 - 2:20 / Sit-Down Meal served at 2:30
The menu will consist of:
*1) Grilled Chicken Breasts with Sara’s special marinade
*2) Chipotle Sweet Red Pepper Sauce
3) Grilled Vegetable Pizza
4) Corn and Black Bean Salad
5) Roasted Asparagus
6) Lemon Mousse
*Sara will not demonstrate the marinade or the chipotle sauce due to time constraints but recipes will be shared

5 pm – 9 pm
Optional In-Town Community Event – Culinary Related – “A Taste of Ouray”
Tantalizing, delicious samplings of local cuisine with music and beverages – Nominally Priced!
Ouray Community Center, 320 6th Ave
Info: www.ouraycolorado.com or 1-800-228-1876

Day 3: Thursday - June 11, 2009
9 am – 12:30 pm - at A Secret Garden Bed & Breakfast in Ouray
Secrets of A Secret Garden Brunch
On Thursday, students will gather at A Secret Garden to learn Sara’s signature B&B brunch dishes. Sara will prepare a range of her famous brunch dishes served at her B&B and recipes and demonstrations will be provided. Meal-sized portions included. Recipes on all menu items will be shared and distributed.
Instruction from 9 am – 11 am / Sit-Down Meal Served at 11 am
The menu will consist of (all demonstrated):
1) Ham and Cheese Hashbrown Quiche
2) Oven-Baked French Toast
3) Apple-Oat-Oatbran Pancakes
4) Lavender Heart cookies
5) Champagne Punch
*Fruit and Juice are also on the menu

About the Instructor
Sara Sharpe began her culinary career as Director of the Cuisinart Test Kitchen in Stamford, Connecticut. She played a leading role in demonstrating the food processors that would soon find their way into American kitchens. Sara founded Sara Sharpe Catering in Miami, FL in 1978 and continues to own and run that company today. She has studied with French master chefs Michel Guerard, Jean Troisgros and Roger Verge.
Sara opened Secret Garden Bed and Breakfast and Fine Catering in Ouray in 2005. Her lovely home and gardens have been the site of many weddings retreats, reunions, and other events in the gorgeous setting of Ouray. Sara is one of Weehawken's most-popular and highest-rated instructors. Students who attend any of her classes rave about the experience and oftentimes come back again and again for more!

COST for this Experience:
Includes 3 learning workshops & meals -- 1 pool pass & 2 nights lodging & taxes
*Spouse Meal Rate: invite your spouse or partner to the meal portion of each class for $25/meal – *Must be arranged in advance (meal only – no instruction)
• Members Registering and Paying by May 25: $375
• Non-Members Registering and Paying by May 25: $380
• Members Registering or Paying after May 25: $380
• Non-Members Registering or Paying after May 25: $385
• LOCAL? Call WCA for local’s pricing.

Lodging at the Box Canyon Lodge:

*2 Nights Lodging (Additional nights can be arranged upon request at $89 + taxes)
With its peaceful location, clean, comfortable, nicely decorated rooms, meticulously-maintained grounds and warm, personal service, the Box Canyon Lodge & Hot Springs has become the home away from home for many of Ouray’s visitors. In addition to being a AAA three-diamond property, the Box Canyon Lodge & Hot Springs has been recognized by a variety of publications, receiving the “Award of Excellence” by the Colorado Connoisseur and Travel Holiday Magazine and was recognized in Sunset Magazine’s “Best of the West”.

The Box Canyon Lodge offers outdoor mineral hot springs tubs terraced on the mountainside immediately behind the lodge. Each of their redwood tubs offers a spectacular 360-degree view of the surrounding mountains. Revitalizing in these hot springs in this scenic setting is popular year-round. The temperatures in the hot tubs range between 103 and 108 degrees. Since the hot springs water is constantly flowing in and out, there is no need to use chemicals in our hot springs. Since children are usually present at the lodge, bathing suits are required when using the hot tubs.


Optional Day Trip:
Jeep Tour on the morning of Wednesday, June 10
$54 per person + applicable taxes
*Arrange with Weehawken in Advance, please!

Class Size is Limited!
Register today to save your space.

Small Town, Big Dining

Here is a great article on gocolorado.com on all the fantastic fare for those eating in Ouray. Check out the link.

http://www.gocolorado.com/Article.aspx?articleId=e62bd04d-dff9-4a70-ab84-04629725c261&type=Article

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Great Article from the Tampa Bay Tribune on Wild Flowers

The Tampa Bay Tribune wrote a whole bunch of great stuff on viewing Wild Flowers in and around Ouray and had great things to say about San Juan Scenic Jeep Tours. Read all about it in this article that mentions both Telluride and Ouray.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/may/03/tr-wildflower-power/life/

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Bachelor Syracuse Mine Tour Gets Mentioned

In a story appearing in the Dallas Morning News about exploring the Colorado gold rush, the Bachelor Syracuse Mine Tour received a nice plug. Read about it here

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Ouray has a new Interactive Travel Brochure

The Ouray Chamber Resort Association has put together a virtual brochure with help from VacationFun.com.

Visit the Ouray interactive travel brochure now!

Browsing the interactive travel guide is easy and fun. It showcases all the attractions and activities that the destination has to offer.

Enjoy!

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Ouray Chamber Chat

April 15, 2009

IN THIS ISSUE:       

  • Feature: Hungry? Backstreet Bagel OPEN  7am-6pm and Timberline Deli OPEN 11am-7pm ! The Buen and Bon Ton are your dinner hot spots!
  • MOVIE NIGHT! The Reader - Presented by the Ouray Movie Club this Friday
  • "Inspirational and Awareness" Documentary Film Series
  • The Hot Springs Pool closed April 13 -19, Weisbaden & Orvis OPEN!
  • Parent Prevention Night
  • After-Prom Party at the Western Hotel
  • "Photoshop Elements 6/7 WOW!" Class
  • Local Business Expo featuring YOU?… Registration information and more!
  • "Paws for Music" 
  • 2nd Annual Shred Event in Ridgway and Ouray!
  • "Favorite Music from the Movies" special performance at the Wright Opera House
  • Free training offered for non-profit organizations and board development.
  • Who is CLOSED and OPEN...Peak to Peak Bicycles Tuesday-Saturday 9-6
  • May and Summer Days! Mark your calendars: State Liquor License Workshop
  • Members links... if you are not listed and would like to be, just let us know!

Feature:   The Ouray Chamber in partnership with the Ridgway Chamber are hosting a Business Expo at the 4H Center in Ridgway.  It runs from 8:00am to 4:00 pm and let's business owners showcase their business or service. Mark your calendar to participate or to attend!

Friday, April 17th, The Reader - Presented by the Ouray Movie Club                   
Showtime: 7 p.m.
Doors: 6:30 p.m.
Place: San Juan Room - Ouray Community Center, Ouray, CO
Starring: Kate Winslet & Ralph Fiennes
Director: Stephen Daldry
Runtime: 124 min.
MPAA Rating: R|Parental Guide

Academy Award-Won-Best Actress-Kate Winslet
Golden Globe-Won-Best Supporting Actress-Kate Winslet
    "[Winslet's] fierce, unerring portrayal goes beyond acting, becoming a provocation that will keep you up nights." - Pete Travers - Rolling Stone

Synopsis: When Michael is fifteen he has a brief but heated affair with Hanna, a woman in her mid-30's who finds him sick and feverish in the street and cares for him. Nearly a decade later in Post-WWII Germany, Michael has become a law student and is astonished to find Hanna had become a Nazi prison guard and was on trial for murder. He discovers a secret that might affect her sentencing but is too ashamed of their affair to come forward.
[Official Site]
[Trailer/Short Featurehttp://www.apple.com/trailers/weinstein/thereader/
Note: Everyone is welcome at $7.50 per ticket. 2009 Movie Club members may use their punch cards.

Thurs. April 18th, 2009 Top of the Pines presents an "Inspirational and Awareness" Documentary Film Series
"Power Paths"
 Power Paths is an inspiring documentary about how Native American communities are creating new ways to produce clean power as the Tribes attempt to restore lands devastated from the impacts of coal mining.
for more info on film, visit  www.powerpaths.org. All shows will be held at the Sherbino Theater 6:30-9:30. film starts at 7:15  $8 donation.

The Hot Springs Pool will be
closed for cleaning and general maintenanceApril 13 through April 19, 2009 , June 23, 2009 , August 25, 2009 , October 19 through October 25, 2009

THURSDAY April 23, Parent Prevention Night, Learn how to talk with your kids about substance use.  Ouray Community Center 6:30pm.  Sponsored by Voyager Youth Program and Juvenile Diversion.  For more info: 626-4279  

SATURDAY April 25, After-Prom Party at the Western Hotel, Ouray, 11:30pm-2:00am Casino night for students with food, drinks, games and give-aways.  Sponsored by Voyager Youth Program and Juvenile Diversion.  For more info: 626-4279 

Saturday, April 25: Steve Traudt's "Photoshop Elements 6/7 WOW!" Class - April 25 
 Sign-up by Monday the 13th to get into the class at a discounted rate!  Photoshop Elements 6/7 WOW! Saturday, April 25, 2009  9 am - 4:30 pm. Price for those registering by April 13: $126 for Weehawken members or $140 for non-members, After April 13, $140 member /$154 non-member. For more information contact Ashley King: 970-318-0150
wcaouray@yahoo.com 

Saturday, April 25:  -- Business Expo
The Ouray Chamber in partnership with the Ridgway Chamber are hosting a Business Expo at the 4H Center in Ridgway.  It runs from 8:00am to 4:00 pm and let's business owners showcase their business or service.  Admission is free to the general public.  There is limited booth space available so contact the Ridgway Chamber at 626.5181 or racc@ridgwaycolorado.com to reserve your spot. NO FORMS NECESSARY! This event that will showcase our diverse local businesses and services.  The cost to participate is $45 for RACC members, $100 for non-members!  This secures a 10'X10' space for your presentation.  The event will be held from 8 am-4 pm at the 4-H Event Center.  Yet another benefit of being a OCRA or RACC member!  This event will be free to the public.

We are going to ask folks to come and attend and learn about all the products and services that we have in our county ...  Think LOCAL in all your purchasing decisions!

April 25th  - "Paws for Music" Canceled!

April 25th  2nd Annual Shred Event……
Protect yourself from Identity Theft! We will be providing a shred truck for anyone who has paperwork they would like to shred.  

Alpine Bank in Ridgway Saturday, April 25, 2009

119 Liddell Drive • Ridgway  8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

917 Main Street • Ouray        10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

April 26: THE MONTROSE COMMUNITY BAND AND FRIENDS OF THE WRIGHT OPERA HOUSE PRESENT

 "Favorite Music from the Movies"

Sun., April 26, 2009, 3 PM,

Wright Opera House, Ouray, CO

Director                         Emcee

Toby King                   Jim Opdahl

 Tickets: $10 (Fundraiser for FWOH & MCB)

Available at Buckskin Booksellers, Ouray

Cimarron Books & Coffeehouse, Ridgway

Or call John Ast, 325-7255/901-8455

 
 

Wednesday, April 22: Free training offered for non-profit organizations and board development. Area non-profits are invited to attend a free Board Development Seminar. Event is to be held at the Montrose Regional Library 1:30pm. Brown Bag Luncheon with guest speaker Noel Hagan. To register or for more info, please call Melanie Hall 901-6575, montrosecommunityfoundation@gmail.com

April Closures… and… who IS open:

Retail: The Blue Pear will be closed from Easter Sunday, April 12 through April 30 to freshen up and rejuvenate for the upcoming season.

OPEN: Peak to Peak Bicycles OPEN Tuesday thru Saturday 9-6

The Coachlight
Tavern

will remain OPEN thru the month of April on Friday,

Saturday, & Sundays at 5:00 p.m.  The Coachlight Restaurant will then open 7 days a week starting in May.

Restaurants Closed:                                                                                                               Bistro at Billy Goat Gruffs  Closed Sunday April 12th thru Monday April 27th.

Bulow's Bistro
  Closed March 30- May 7.                                                  
O'Briens
Closed April 6- April 29.

Outlaw
is Closed from Monday the 13th -Thursday the 16th                                          
Open
Friday the 17th regular days and hours.                                                            

Historic Western Hotel: Open May 15 details coming soon!

Bistro at Billy Goat Gruffs: We are going to a 5 day schedule until summer (when we'll go back to at least 6).  So, we will be open Tuesday thru Saturday, closed on Sunday and Monday. We're open at 5pm daily, and we have gone back to our one weekly special "Thirsty Thursdays" with $2 drafts all night (we aren't running any of the other specials we were doing during the winter).  For this summer, we are planning to do lunch and dinner in the Bistro, as well as extended hours for the Biergarten. I'll get you that information when we get a bit closer, but I wanted to put a bug in your ear! We may also be adding a 'play' area in the Biergarten to be a bit more family-friendly down there, and give the kids somewhere to stay busy while their parents have a Liter :)

 
 

May and Summer  Days:

May 1, 2 at 7 p.m. &  May 3 at 2 p.m. Ouray High School presents: Little Shop of Horrors a musical comedy by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken Rated PG13.   Tickets are $7.00 adults and $4.00 students
Ouray School Stage.   For more information call Director Nancy Nixon, 970-325-4505 ext 46.

Monday, May 11, 2009: State Liquor License Workshop 11 am -3 pm, Ouray Community Center. Please register by May 1. for State Liquor Workshop!

Who should attend: special events permitees, local gov. staff, bartenders, servers and liquor licensees.  To register or for more information please contact Kathy Elmont, 325-7061 or elmontk@ci.ouray.co.us.

 Ouray Beautification Committee:

·        "Spruce-up Ouray": Saturday, May 16, 2009; from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM AND Sunday, May 17, 2009; from Noon to 4:00 PM.

·        Committee meetings - monthly, the second Wednesday, beginning at 3:30 PM in the Community Center's San Juan Room. 

Monday, May 11, 2009: State Liquor License Workshop
11 am -3 pm, Ouray Community Center. Who should attend: special events permitees, local gov. staff, bartenders, servers and liquor licensees.  To register or for more information please contact Kathy Elmont, 325-7061 or elmontk@ci.ouray.co.us.

May 12:  Job Fair to be hosted at the Ouray School! Details coming soon! This event is open to the public and we encourage you all to recruit or look for a job at this event. Hosted in part by Ouray School,  Community Development Committee, OCRA and the Ridgway Chamber of Commerce.

Ouray Trail Group: Work days: Every Monday and Thursday beginning Monday, May 18, 2009 and ending Thursday, September 17, 2009. Contact: Phil Wolkin @ 325-4368. Meetings monthly (April – September) – the third Tuesday, beginning at  9:30AM in the Community Center's San Juan Room.

Wed, May 20: Business After Hours: The Blue Pear and the Friends of the Wright Opera House. 5:30-7:30. This event is open to all chamber and citizen members.

May 30: Adoptathon at the SCHS shelter in Ridgway.

Thursday, June 4, Ouray Farmers Market, 2-6 pm. Contact  Ouray Farmers Market:
Details coming soon! For more information or to participate in the planning, serving on the board, volunteering, etc.  please contact: ourayfarmersmarket@ gmail.com

June 17, Business After Hours: Ouray Mule and Carriage. 5:30-7:30. This event is open to all chamber and citizen members.

July 18th - "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. Although this event is to benefit homeless dogs (and cats), dogs will not be attending this year as they tend to get unruly when they drink too much wine. However, 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 24-26: The Ouray Chalet Inn & Synergistic Visions Present...

San Juan Majesty Digital Photography Workshops with
Steve Traudt

and
Assistant
Dick Colby

Inspiration & Instruction in Ouray, Colorado!

 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. We begin Friday at 6 pm with a classroom session. Saturday is a full day of field trips, review sessions and more training, including some bonus Photoshop Elements work in the evening (bring your PC or Mac laptop computer loaded with Elements 6 or 7). We are back in the field Sunday morning with the workshop concluding about noon. Subjects covered include exposure control, close-ups/macro, panoramas, high dynamic range HDR, lighting, composition, depth of field and much more. Need a room too? Book at the Chalet Inn for special discounted workshop prices. You won't find a better value or more exciting workshop. Small class size for more one-on-one time including constructive reviews by Steve. More workshop details at: www.synvis.com

 
 

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 . Think sweeping vistas, epic climbs topping 10,000 feet and sweet stretches of downhill, beginning in historic Durango, with overnight stops at the hot springs of Ouray, the legendary town of Telluride and the grounds of the Sophia Peace Center in Dolores. This eco-friendly ride funds services for a wide range of causes, providing unique support in strategic planning, project facilitation, team building, and worker rejuvenation. The Peace Ride is a fully supported tour with an affordable entry fee of just $200, and Olympic rider and coach, Colby Pearce, has designed the training schedule. Ride limited to 500 cyclists so register online now! For more information: Colorado Peace Ride

September 25-27: Autumn Color Workshop
&
Photoshop Elements.

$359. Join Steve for a magical photo experience in Ouray at the height of autumn color. We begin Friday night at 6 pm with a lecture. Saturday features field trips and review sessions. Sunday morning is another field trip and after lunch is a special bonus of a hands-on Photoshop Elements class with some of Steve's favorite techniques. We conclude about 4pm. You'll learn composition, panoramas, HDR, exposure control, lighting and much more. Bring your laptop computer (PC or Mac) loaded with Elements 6 or 7. Need a room? Book at the Chalet Inn for special discounted prices. Small class size; less is more! See www.synvis.com
for details.

 
 

Requested links for the chamber chat:

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Ouray Colorado Away.com article

http://away.com/features/top-ten-active-baby-boomer-vacations-colorado-hiking.html features the Beaumont Hotel, the Ouray Hot Springs pool and the Box Canon Falls as a favorite for active vacations.

There are many more hiking trails and you can see details at http://www.ouraytrails.org or contact the Visitor Center in Ouray for more details.