OK, every party needs to take a breather for the grand finale, and that’s kind of what Steampunk Snowdown 2015 did Thursday night.
The limbo contest was canceled: too few competitors.
Zero, zilch, nada: That’s how many big-time eaters in the Four Corners could handle the challenge of 6 pounds of burger presented to them in the Phat Phat Phat Burger Eat Off. But Thursday’s action had its moments:
Steampunks looking for love
People of all ages looking for love gathered in the Rochester Hotel on Thursday night for two rounds of speed dating.
The 40 slots filled up fast, and the onlookers who came to participate gathered to watch the romantic sparks fly.
“Who knows, I might find Mrs. Right,” Dana Hodge said before the event started.
A few love birds were new to both the speed dating scene and the town.
“I moved to Durango last March, and there’s slim pickings in this small town,” said Colleen Johnson, who came fashionably dressed in her steampunk best.
As the aristocratically dressed gathered to watch the participants, Max Robinson, the emcee, kept conversations moving at a heart-stopping pace.
“This is speed dating; this isn’t casual dating folks,” he called over the din of voices.
Was there a love connection? Time will tell.
Mary Shinn
That’s one phat burger, partner
Pedro Cordova came so, so terribly close to eating-contest legend Thursday. He said he felt like he ate 4.5 pounds in 30 minutes of intense eating.
He competed against 10 others, some with eating-contest experience. But after many pained bites he arose victorious.
According to the rules, only the one who finished his burger first would win a trip to Mexico. The judge relented.
Lisa Gibson granted Cordova a trip to the roaring approval of the crowd.
The victor said he felt “stuffed,” and he didn’t plan on eating another burger soon, unless it was a Big Mac.
At the end of the night, Gibson passed around take-out boxes for the losers.
“We’re bringing you guys to-go boxes so you can feed your family for the next week,” she said.
Mary Shinn
Oyster slurpin’ showdown
The oysters were smaller this year at the Shuckin’ Suckin’ Oyster Slurping Contest, and Chris Feely and C.J. Wise were champions under Thursday’s performance-enhancing conditions.
Feely ate 43 oysters in 45 seconds, while Wise ate 59 oysters in 60 seconds. One last oyster slipped out of her hand. Could she have eaten 60?
“Totally,” Wise said.
Wise, a nurse at La Plata Family Medicine, is the women’s defending champion. She grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. “I’m a seafood eater,” she said.
Feely was a first-time competitor. “I can eat a lot. It’s a real skill,” he joked.
Feely is a butcher at Albertsons. “I sell oysters every day,” he said.
Host Chuck Norton, owner of the Highway 3 Roadhouse, said the oysters came from Chesapeake Bay. His restaurant served more than 54,000 oysters last year.
Chuck Slothower
Beards Battle at Carver’s
Nathan Hammond was impressed by the level of talent at Snowdown’s Beard Competition.
“I do have a decent beard, and I was really cocky coming into this,” he said. “I am humbled.”
Some of Durango’s fuzziest faces fought for honor Thursday. This is the sixth year Carver Brewing Co. has hosted the event.
Three ladies judged the beards on three categories – length, color and overall. A fourth category, absorption, was judged by dunking the beard into a bowl filled with Carver’s beer, then wringing it out into a second bowl placed on a scale.
The men showed up Nov. 7 clean-shaven. Since then, their follicles have been in silent battle.
One of the judges, Mary Hodge, a Carver’s employee, praised Jason Dzikowski’s effort. “This is my favorite beard,” she said. “I’m going to give it a nine for color.”
Dzikowski’s beard was more of a bushy build than a ZZ Top, measuring 2¼ inches.
“Size, in this arena, does matter,” he said.
Dzikowski’s beard won best overall, while Rick Harman won for absorption with 13.3 ounces in 20 seconds.
Chuck Slothower
Reader Comments