Silver Stage Lifestyles

RELATED STORIES

Let's Go Shopping!

Cowgirls & Indians

Girl's Night Out - full story

The San Juan Lifestyle

L I F E S T Y L E S C O V E R S T O R Y

By Kathryn Retzler
Photography by James Burke
Story and photography © San Juan Publishing Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

SO WHAT'S A GIRL TO DO when she’s shopped herself silly or she just needs a little break from the same ol’ same ol’?

Maybe her man’s out of town or out of sorts. Maybe work has her down, co-workers have her frustrated, or the pile on her desk seems unsurmountable. Or best of all, maybe she and the girls just want to celebrate. No excuses needed.

When it’s time to unwind and get in some girlfriend time, there are plenty of places to party in Montrose!

A word of caution, though. Avoid the unwanted attention of the party-pooper police. If you drink, eat. All of the restaurants pictured here have great “girl food.” (Innovative, atractive, nutricious and not fattening.) If you drink a lot (of alcohol), call someone
to drive you home!

FOOD

Food is fun. Food is our friend on a girls’ night out. We like it pretty, easy to eat, and definitely devoid of guilt. If it makes you think skinny, it’s OK to eat it. Doesn’t mean we can’t nibble on nachos, but, hey, nachos have meat, cheese and beans—lots of protein—and veggies, too (tomato, green chili). See what we mean?

One of our personal favorites is Antipasto de la Casa at Garlic Mike’s, a delicious combination of meats, cheeses, olives, peppers, capers, and artichoke hearts, nicely seasoned and sauced. Gigi Ann’s wraps, sliced to share, offer a great combo of protein and veggies—and in the spinach or tomato wrap, a no-guilt snack. Or, try her dipping trio (three different dips) with fresh veggies instead of chips or bread. Smugglers has good bar food, ribs, wings, shrimp, finger foods that go down easy with their own brews. Even if you’re not a beer drinker, you’ll like the taste.

Cazwellas, noted for “fine dining,” also has fine hors d’oeuvres, an incredible selection of
delectable offerings that go down perfectly with their great wines. Be sure to try the spring rolls, beautifully presented and a definite editorial favorite. “Women who Wine,” often meeting at Kendra Gallegos’ Canyon Creek B&B, often make forays into the community. A recent evening had them all enjoying (BYOB) wine and girl food at the new Montrose Center for the Arts where they all made a little art as well.

ENTERTAINMENT

Good food and good friends go with good music, and several of these spots offer that. Canyon Creek B&B does live music on Thursdays all year long. Smugglers brings in a band every week, some of them imported from fairly far away, and all of them good. Gigi Ann’s does music too, and has great shopping in the same building. If you want a non-alcoholic night out, there are two coffee houses in town that offer music and art, a nice way to end an evening after a movie or a play at the Magic Circle.

Photos
1. Camp Robber, Montrose, Colo. Doug Phillips bartending for (L-R): Sheree Wanner (owner, Camelot Gardens); Joyce Rime (Zion Lutheran Church); Carla Gartner (manager, Heirlooms for Hospice); Kendra Gallegos (owner, Canyon Creek B&B); Danielle Breteau (owner, Kagan & Baron Gallery), all of Montrose, Colo.

2. Garlic Mike, Montrose. Co-owner Brandon Foster with the girls (L-R); Dr. Coleen Modrell (Modrell Chiopractic); Tammy Carroll (Assoc. Broker, Premier Properties), all of Montrose, Colo., and Sherry O'Delle, Citizen's State Bank; Tamara Guilde (owner, Rocky Mountain Treasures and Gifts), both of Ouray, Colo.

3. Cocktail time at Gigi Ann's with Gia Porter, owner, Indulgence Salon and Kelly Masner, Timberline Bank, both of Montrose, Colo.