Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Let's just get this out of the way: I don't know anything about Steamboat Springs.

Immediately, that is what you, the reader, need to know about me, your new 4 Points writer.

I should clarify that a little bit: I didn't, when I moved here a week ago from Chapel Hill, N.C., know anything about Steamboat Springs - other than its reputation for winter sports. But, I'm working on it. I went to see the opera, interviewed all the arts figures featured in this issue, even spent a few hours in the emergency room (not related, but be careful when cleaning cooking knives).

What I've gathered so far, other than the knife safety issue, is that although Steamboat is small, it does have an active arts and entertainment community. Which is great - hopefully, those of you who care about the music, visual arts, theater, bars and restaurants that give the town a character outside of the mountain will clue me in to what's important to you.

So, let's try building some trust with a little about-me time. I minored in music performance at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I play the clarinet, and refuse to believe that playing the clarinet is not cool, even though I haven't picked it up in about six months.

Last year, I ran a weekly arts section for my student newspaper, and I still write about music for the Triangle's alternative newsweekly, the Independent. Both publications can be pretty harsh on music criticism - so watch out, I guess. I worked in a record store/restaurant/bar in Chapel Hill that specialized in noise shows. It was at the back of an alley.

And now, to break it: I plan to change, during the course of a few months or however long it takes, almost everything (well, about half of everything) about 4 Points.

I want to move away from solely preview event coverage (it can get boring).

I want to get some more non-wire movie and CD reviews.

There will be, instead of a second music story each week, a Q&A with a band that's playing in town.

The scene section will, hopefully, focus on the more common use of the word "scene" - so, nightlife.

The concert and music calendars will get a small makeover.

A 4 Points blog and other technological marvels shouldn't be far behind.

I want people to read this thing.

So, when you're done reading this, let me know everything you've got about arts and entertainment in the Yampa Valley. It won't all get written about, but the quicker I can get to know the town, the quicker 4 Points can cover it relevantly.

It might take a while for me to shift out of the jerk-face-indie-kid gear I used to cover in the Chapel Hill (read: saturated and loveable) music scene, but I'm looking to embrace the arts in Steamboat just as much as you do.

Maybe I'll even start playing my clarinet again.