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Dining in the river?

The Steamboat Yacht Club took riverside dining to a whole new level this weekend when one of the restaurant's white tents uprooted during Sunday's fast-moving thunderstorms. The tent planted into the Yampa River, after taking out portions of the deck railing, making it appear as if the Yacht Club was offering tubers and kayakers the chance to dine while still in their crafts. After some makeshift repairs, the restaurant was open for business Monday -- the busy Fourth of July holiday.

Music for the masses

Mambo Italiano has been popular since it was constructed, but the combination of live music and DJs the restaurant has brought in -- scheduled or impromptu -- has made the downtown spot one of the better ones in Steamboat. On Sunday night, reggae music could be heard on the hills overlooking Lincoln Avenue, as the newly put together Three O'Clock Roadblock sang and played on the deck beneath an early fireworks show. Some residents couldn't wait until Monday.

Plethora of talents in parade

Instead of an alarm clock, downtown residents had the delight of awaking to patriotic music on the Fourth of July, as parade organizers prepared for Monday's events downtown. As usual, Steamboat's annual parade did not disappoint. Congrats to the Routt National Forest and F.M. Light & Sons on your historic birthdays. No parade would be complete without performances from Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School and Camp, and new this year, the dancing librarians.

Poop is poop, so scoop!

Here's a quick thought: Why do hikers have to pick up after their dogs on Emerald Mountain, but horseback riders don't need to pick up after their animals?

Difference is in the air

The harmful effects of smoking and secondhand smoke are not a joke, and for the most part, restaurants, bars and smokers were abiding by the new rule passed by the Steamboat Springs City Council. Lupo's and Levelz drew a gigantic white line with arrows directing smoking traffic. Business owners got out the tape measures in jest to make sure smokers were 10 feet from the entrance. The difference was certainly noticeable in the air, and it will be interesting to see how the enforcement of this continues.

-- Melinda Mawdsley