***Telluride Photography's Merrick Chase covered the entire process of how Phish came to play in Telluride in August of 2010, from the first questionable town council meeting right on up to the opening notes of the concerts in Town Park. His coverage appeared everywhere from JamBase.com to the Denver Post and countless places in between, in addition to being featured in The Telluride Daily Planet and here on Telluride Photography's site. This page remains as an archive of that coverage.
THIS PHISH TELLURIDE SURVIVAL GUIDE HAS BEEN PUT TOGETHER TO HELP YOU MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TIME HERE!*
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PHOTO ALBUM, WHEN PHISH CAME TO TELLURIDE
Telluride is a very fun, eclectic, and beautiful place. If you've never been here before, you're in for the treat of your life. Things come easy here if you let them. The energy of the place is extremely conducive to explosions of creativity and inspiration as well as spontaneous ecstatic experiences. There are also going to be about a million things to do while Phish is here. This guide will help you navigate through all of the choices.
If you're looking for photographs of the area you will find some at the bottom of this page as well as all over this site in the 'Albums pages.' If you're looking for PHOTOS OF PHISH you will find a LINK AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE to EVERYTHING 'Phish Telluride,' including photos of the venue (Town Park), info and stories about the process of how Phish came to be playing in Telluride, and also many photos of Phish from Festival 8 and more.
*** NOW... WHAT TO DO WHILE YOU'RE IN TELLURIDE FOR PHISH:
First things first. Main Street is better known as Colorado Avenue. They are the same street and this is good to know for orientation purposes.
Next off, You're here to see Phish and you're going to need to eat- and often. The FIVE BEST RESTAURANTS IN TOWN ARE:
HONGA'S- 135 E Colorado Ave, (970) 728-5134. GREAT SUSHI , PAN-ASIAN AND ECLECTIC EASTERN FARE. Fine Dining. Very hip atmosphere, great drinks. Call ahead for reservations when possible.
NEW SHERIDAN CHOP HOUSE- 233 West Colorado Avenue, (970) 728-9100. EXCELLENT STEAK HOUSE, FINE WINES, ELEGANT ATMOSPHERE IN AN AUTHENTIC AND VERY CLASSY OLD [AND COMPLTETELY BREATHTAKINGLY RENOVATED] WESTERN HOTEL. Fine Dining. Also serving a great breakfast and lunch with outdoor seating. Call ahead for reservations when possible.
LA MARMOTTE- 150 West San Juan Avenue, (970) 728-6232. FRENCH. SEASONAL ELEGANT BISTRO FARE, FINE WINES, THREE COURSE PREFIX. Fine dining, and limited seating. Always call ahead for reservations.
SIAM TELLURIDE-200 South Davis Street, (970) 728-6886. SIMPLY PUT, THE BEST THAI FOOD YOU WILL EVER EAT. Full bar, porch special until 6:30pm with live music on the deck most evenings (weather permitting) until until 7 or 8pm.
RUSTICO RISTORANTE- 114 East Colorado Avenue, (970) 728-4046. VERY GOOD ITALIAN FOOD, EXTENSIVE WINE LIST, OUTDOOR PATIO SEATING THAT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN ITALY, REAL GELATO. Call ahead for reservations.
*Even at 'fine dining' establishments, casual dress is completely acceptable. This is Telluride after all.
OTHER RESTAURANTS, AND THESE ARE ALL OPEN FOR LUNCH AS WELL:
LA COCINA- 123 East Colorado Avenue, (970) 728-9355. ORGANIC, OFTEN LOCALLY GROWN (OR CLOSE TO IT) MEETS MEXICAN- WITH A FANTASTIC OUTDOOR PATIO WITH UMBRELLAS, TOO. PROBABLY THE BEST MEXICAN FOOD YOU'VE EVER EATEN OR EVER WILL EAT, AND THEY ALSO MAKE THEIR OWN MARGARITAS AND SERVE A HOST OF MEXICAN BEERS. YOU CAN ALSO EAT YOUR BREAKFAST, LUNCH, OR DINNER HERE INSIDE OF AN OLD BANK VAULT, WHICH IS A NOVEL PART OF THE RESTAURANT'S INNARDS. FANTASTIC BREAKFASTS, TOO. A GREAT IDEA AT ANY TIME OF DAY.
FLORADORA SALOON- 103 West Colorado Avenue, (970) 728-8884. WESTERN-STYLE SALOON SERVING GREAT BURGERS, SALADS, AND SANDWICHES, AND MORE. FULL BAR, FUNKY OLD WEST FEEL.
BAR FOOD:
THE BROWN DOG- 110 East Colorado Avenue, (970) 728-8046. PIZZA, WINGS, BURGERS, A SPORTS BAR WITH PLENTY OF TV'S AND A GALAGA AND MS. PAC-MAN MACHINE. A FAVORITE LOCALS SPOT, OPEN LATE AND SERVING PIZZA SLICES LATE, TOO.
THE CORNERHOUSE GRILL- 131 North Fir Street, (970) 728-6207. SPORTS BAR, WINGS, BURGERS, GREAT TATER TOTS, OPEN LATE.
SMUGGLER'S BREW PUB 225 South Pine Street, (970) 728-0919. TELLURIDE'S ONLY LOCAL BREWERY, SERVING EVERYTHING FROM BURGERS AND MILKSHAKES TO CALAMARI, NACHOS, CHICKEN STRIPS, AND SO MUCH MORE. ALSO A SPORTS BAR WITH PLENTY OF TV'S AND OPEN LATE.
COFFEE, BREAKFAST AND 'IN BETWEEN' TIMES:
THE STEAMING BEAN COFFEE SHOP TELLURIDE- 221 West Colorado Avenue, (970) 369-5575. THE HIPPEST LOCALS HANGOUT IN TOWN. Come here for coffee, fresh pastries, fresh-made waffles and mimosas or bloody mary's, fantastic New York Jewish deli style bagels and cream cheese- and regular nightly live entertainment- with a full bar to boot. The Bean also has an upright piano and a stage that hosts musical talent of all kinds, super fast [and free] wireless internet, outdoor seating, a kind and knowledgable staff, and, it is also the place where you'll spontaneously run into anyone that you happen to be looking for- whether they live in Telluride or are just passing through. Open early 'til late and they will be hosting late-night [music] events, too. A great place to discuss the Phish Telluride setlists...
THE BUTCHER AND THE BAKER 217 East Colorado Avenue (970) 728-2899. GOURMET DELI SERVING UP FRESH PASTRIES, SANDWICHES, AND MADE FRESH DAILY DELI SALADS OF EVERY VARIETY- AND BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR TO BOOT. Feels like a little European deli, try their fantastic breakfast burritos and their outdoor seating. Open earlier than you'll be up for sure.
MAGGIE'S BAKERY & CAFE 217 East Colorado Avenue, (970) 728-3334. TELLURIDE'S GREASY SPOON DINER, A TELLURIDE CLASSIC, IN A NEW AND SPACIOUS LOCATION. Also serving lunch and always free coffee refills.
THE COFFEE COWBOY- 123 East Colorado Avenue, (970) 369-4946. A COFFEE CART ON MAIN STREET SERVING UP FANTASTIC COFFEE DRINKS AND PASTRIES- FAST. ANOTHER LOCAL'S FAVORITE.
AS SOON AS THE CONCERTS END EACH NIGHT (INCLUDING SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ)- On your way out of the show on Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday nights, head over to either the Will Call area near the post office or else the Bus Stop in Town Park that takes campers out to the campground (just tune in and listen for the music- you'll know where to go) to catch ONE OF THE HOTTEST YOUNG PLAYERS IN COLORADO TODAY. 12-YEAR-OLD TELLURIDE LOCAL AND MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST SOL CHASE (CHECK OUT HIS FACEBOOK MUSICIAN'S PAGE HERE) WILL THROW DOWN AN INVIGORATING SET ON THE MANDOLIN EACH NIGHT POST-SHOW, PLAYING EVERYTHING FROM PHISH, TRADITIONAL BLUEGRASS AND YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND COVERS TO HIS OWN ORIGINALS AND LADY GAGA OR BLACK SABBATH- AND LOTS IN BETWEEN. Many of the 'headies' rock out to him just like he's a little Trey or Jerry- see for yourself- a true Telluride experience that you don't want to miss. Look out for him playing around town during the daytimes, too, AND TIP HIM WELL- HE DESERVES IT. HE IS A BETTER MUSICIAN THAN ANY OF US... SOL CHASE VIDEO LINKS BELOW:
VIDEO OF SOL ROCKING THE CROWD AT PHISH HAMPTON AND TELLURIDE BLUES AND BREWS FESTIVAL
MARMOTSTOCK: DAYTIME MUSIC FESTIVAL MONDAY AND TUESDAY: Taking place next to La Marmotte restaurant at 150 West San Juan Avenue, quite close to the Gondola. AN ALL DAY, PRE-PHISH 'TAILGATE' PARTY running from 11:30 am to 5pm (just before the gates open at Town Park for Phish) on Monday and Tuesday that benefits the Telluride Adaptive Sports Program and will feature music from CORNMEAL with DREW EMMIT, PETER PRINCE AND FRIENDS with DJ LOGIC and JOSH CLARK, THE TELLURIDE BLUEGRASS ALL-STARS WITH DREW EMMITT and some other performers yet to be announced, including the possibility of 12-year-old Telluride mandolin prodigy Sol Chase. Tickets for Marmotstock can be purchased HERE.
*** NIGHTLIFE (AFTER PHISH)
WHERE TO BEGIN? Some of the late night shows are already sold-out, but don't let that discourage you. You'll get in somewhere. If not where you first thought, then just walk a couple of blocks to the next venue and you'll be sure to get in there:
FLY ME TO THE MOON SALOON- 132 East Colorado Avenue, (970) 728-6666. This is of course one of the famed venues where Phish played in Telluride so many years ago. MARCO BENEVENTO, as many of you know, will be playing three sold-out late-night shows at the Moon on Sunday through Tuesday nights. Last I saw, there were a couple of tickets being sold on E-bay for $500 each. I wouldn't hold your breath about getting into this show and the speculation that Trey or Mike may choose to sit in with Benevento, who both have played with him before, is EXTENSIVE, although as you can also guess, completely uncomfirmed.
THE SHERIDAN OPERA HOUSE- 110 North Oak Street, 970.728.6363. ONE OF THE COOLEST PLACES TO SEE A SHOW EVER. ANYWHERE. PERIOD. A true historic theater from the days of Vaudeville, TEA LEAF GREEN and CORNMEAL are both playing SOLD OUT late-night shows on Monday and Tuesday nights. The Opera House has stated that it is possible that unclaimed will call tickets will be released at the doors the night of each event. Bear this in mind!
THE TELLURIDE CONFERENCE CENTER- 580 Mountain Village Boulevard Mountain Village, CO, (970) 369-5120. The Conference Center is a great venue with really soft carpet to dance on and very competent bartenders that serve up plenty of alcohol. It's an easy gondola ride from the downtown Telluride station at the bottom of Oak Street and you can also ride the gondola back down to town after the show. On Sunday night JEFF AUSTIN & FRIENDS (Of Yonder Mountain String Band) will be playing a 9pm show at the Conference Center AND TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE (As of August 4th). KARL DENSON will be playing late-night shows at the Conference Center on Monday and Tuesday nights beginning at 11 pm and TICKETS ARE ALSO STILL AVAILABLE FOR THESE SHOWS (Also as of August 4th).
THE STEAMING BEAN COFFEE SHOP TELLURIDE- 221 West Colorado Avenue, (970) 369-5575. As mentioned, the Bean has a bustling nightlife scene as it turns into a hip nightspot after dark complete with a full bar and very comfortable seating (picture velvety couches and quiet nooks). Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night beginning at 10pm you can catch Telluride favorites THE TURKEY CREEK RAMBLERS/THE TELLURIDE BLUEGRASS ALL-STARS, which will be shows that you don't want to miss. The famous DJ HARRY will be spinning records on Sunday night beginning at 10pm and also on Monday night post-Phish beginning at 10pm and you probably don't want to miss it. Get there early, it's going to be packed. Other events will also be going on at the Bean day and night, so be sure and check in for the latest updates!
THE BUBBLE LOUNGE- 200 West Colorado Avenue, (970) 728-9653. Having trouble breathing? Saddle up to the Bubble Lounge's neon oxygen bar and refuel on air just like you were at sea level while you're sipping on your whiskey sour or any of a host of draft beers or other mixed drinks. Live music will be happening in this down home local's favorite every night, including the aforementioned TURKEY CREEK RAMBLERS/THE TELLURIDE BLUEGRASS ALL-STARS on Sunday night beginning at 10pm. You can dance on the dance floor, sit at the bar, or in the cozy back section on leather sofas. Stop by the Bubble to find out about other scheduled acts.
THE LLAMA, 100 W. Colorado Avenue, 970.728.5114. The Llama is a bar that gets pretty crazy with a dance floor that gets so packed that revelers often come outside to get a bit of fresh air and suck down cigarettes by the pack. Another locals favorite spot. A host of different events will be going on each night here- check around town- or at the Llama itself for details. Starting off on Sunday night at 10pm, DJ'S SOULATOMIC AND VINYL MENINGITIS will be throwing down dj beats for the crowd that packs the place.
HIKING AND MOUNTAIN BIKING
Weather permitting, Telluride has some of the finest hiking and mountain biking trails around. Your best bet is to stop into one of the gear shops or bike stores and chat with some of the people working in there who will be more than happy to steer you in the right direction for your ability level and the kind of hike or bike ride that you'd like to experience. They will also be happy to sell or rent you some really fantastic gear (yes you can rent a bike to ride if you didn't bring your own to town with you!).
JAGGED EDGE TELLURIDE- 223 East Colorado Avenue, (970) 728-9307
TELLURIDE SPORTS- 150 West Colorado Avenue, (970) 728-4477
PARAGON BOOTDOCTORS- 213 W. Colorado Ave, (970) 728-4525
That notwithstanding, I recommend the BEAR CREEK TRAIL for an easy hour-and-a-half hike up into the forest to a beautiful waterfall, or else THE JUDD WIEBE TRAIL. A great intermediate hour-plus mountain bike ride on the mountain (free gondola ride up with your bike) is the PROSPECT TRAIL, and if you're feeling a bit more adventurous you may want to try the 20 mile LOCAL'S LOOP that begins from town. PENELOPE'S and MILL CREEK are also locals favorites that begin from town, and both considerably shorter, clocking in at about an hour-and-a-quarter from start to finish, maybe a bit longer. Again, ask at the local bike shops and even pick up a little waterproof trail map of the area to have perhaps the best experience.
DISPENSARIES
If you've got your Colorado Medical Marijuana card, you'll find a host of dispensaries in Telluride to meet your medicinal needs. My favorite is THE TELLURIDE GREEN ROOM, located upstairs in the big stone building at 135 W. Colorado Ave (On the corner of Colorado and Fir Streets right across the street from Telluride Sports). Just look for the green sign on the door. Their phone number is (970) 728-8853 and they're usually open. The Green Room is run by a longtime local and offers courteous and extremely well-informed service, and great prices on many varieties of medicine including gourmet edibles (chocolate truffles, etc) and hard candies, tinctures and massage oils as well as smoking edifices, storage containers, and vaporizers- to name just a few of their products.
LIQUOR
There are three liquor stores in town and you will find them. Easily. Just ask anyone.
LATE-NIGHT SNACKS
Food is not served all that late in Telluride, and both grocery stores close at 9pm. That means that you should stock up on snackables for the late nights when you get back to your hotel room/condo/tent/camp/truck/van/car parked up on the side of some road somewhere so that you're not starving. You can also go to the DIGGITY DOG hot dog stand located right in front of the Court House at 305 W. Colorado Ave, just down from the Sheridan Opera House on Main Street. You won't miss it because there is a line there at least twenty people deep from about midnight until 3am every night. They also serve all day long beginning sometime in the afternoon and offer Polish sausages and vegetarian dogs as well. DIGGITY DOG is the locals life saver, and it will be yours too in the middle of the night.
MUSIC STORE
THE TELLURIDE MUSIC COMPANY- 201 East Colorado Avenue, (970) 728-9592 is a classic homegrown music store offering vintage instruments for sale as well as new Martin and Collings guitars and mandolins, and a host of other fine musical instruments. Need strings for your guitar or banjo while you're in town, or a few new picks? They sell them here. They also do instrument repairs and sell a unique collection of [all types of] music on cd as well as concert videos, music instruction books, most kind of instrument strings, and assorted odds and ends, and also assorted electronic musical accessories like headphones, y-splitters, ipod adapter cords, and so forth. Owned by Dave and Karen Lamb, you won't meet two nicer people who know more about music, and who are more willing to help you find what you need. If you are a music lover, stop in and say "Hello," and buy something while you're at it.
OTHER
On your way out of town, be sure and stop at ORVIS HOT SPRINGS in Ridgway, a clothing optional natural hot springs resort that does not heat or treat their water in any way. There are several pools to choose from, and they offer massage and a small number of overnight accommodations including camping spots. You'll be sure to recognize most everyone you see there, as half of the people who come to town for Phish will probably be there soaking with you, but it's worth a stop in anyway.
That's about all that I can think of to suggest at the moment. Have a great time in Telluride, although you will regardless of me encouraging you to do so. If this is your first visit, then you're in for a real treat. If you have any questions about having me shoot your wedding when you return to Telluride after falling in love with the place, feel free to send me an e-mail and I'll get back to you sometime after the shows are over as I'm going to be pretty busy during the time that Phish is here! Otherwise I'll see you at the shows... ENJOY YOURSELF !!!
CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO THE ROAD TO PHISH IN TELLURIDE including photos, stories, info, videos, and related media; essentially ALL THINGS PHISH TELLURIDE.
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