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Stock up for next season

Steamboat Springs — If you're not willing to wait for the Christie Sports tent sale or the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club Ski Swap in the fall shoulder season, now's the time to get deals on ski and snowboard gear from this season. The full-body paisley suit might not still be in style by the time November rolls around, but it will be cheap. One Stop Ski Shop, Ski Haus and Sports Authority are running big sales through the weekend, as are most other gear suppliers in town. Also check in on the businesses in Ski Time Square that have kept their doors open - The Wine Rack is selling bottles at up to 45 percent off through the last week in April.

Take up a hobby

For outdoorsy types who don't want to brave wildly shifting temperatures, the six weeks or so after the mountain closes can be a time to pick up a new skill. Diane Davis recommends taking a class at her Steamboat Arts & Crafts Gym - offerings for late April and early May include how-to courses for all ages in pottery, beaded jewelry, ceramic tiling and batik.

For the musically inclined, First String Music offers lessons in guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin, piano, violin, drums and voice. And for those who like to dance and drum, the Steamboat Springs African Dance & Drum Ensemble hosts a workshop with Titos Sampa, a noted Congolese performer, on April 22. African dance classes for Colorado Mountain College's summer session get going May 12, and are held Tuesday and Thursday nights at the Depot Art Center.

Stay inside

If chilly rain really isn't your thing, there's no time like miserable weather time to catch up on books, movies, TV shows and all things cultural that can be enjoyed in solitude. Betse Grassby, operations and nonclassical programming director for Strings Music Festival, recommends renting current TV series from Bud Werner Memorial Library.

"If you can't get outdoors because the weather is terrible, this is a great time to catch up on entire seasons of television programs you never have a chance to watch. You can even do this while you catch up on projects that you have ignored throughout the winter because you have been skiing all weekend," Grassby said.

Early spring is notoriously shabby for theatrical movie releases, - "this film was not screened in advance for critics" appears on at least one title a week - so catching a wave of freshly written, back-from-strike shows might not be a bad idea.

It all fits into taking it easy for the short time that downtown Steamboat Springs and the mountain area stop being so hectic.

"Practice the beautiful and difficult art of doing nothing," said David Caddell, a local music writer. "Or lay on the floor and listen to the Beatles discography."

Ignore the weather, or enjoy it

When things get miserable, there's always the option of pretending summer is here already. "Hang your hammock up inside and wait until the snow in your yard melts below 3 feet," said local author Jill Murphy Long, a professional relaxer and writer of the "Permission to Nap" and "Permission to Party" books.

Kelly Anzalone, who owns Steamboat Mountain Theater, said he doesn't mind the sometimes blustery weather.

"Kick back under some shelter and watch the thunderclouds roll by. I always enjoy watching spring storms. They usually produce rainbows," Anzalone said.

Embrace restaurant specials

Now that they're not on a two-hour wait starting every day at 5 p.m., local eateries are ready to break out the discounts. Sometimes labeled "local appreciation nights," these are an exciting chance to get a decent deal on ski town dinners:

- Burger Night Thursdays at Old Town Pub. All burgers are half-price from 5 to 10 p.m. Served at one temperature, with fries.

- Two-for-one dinners Wednesdays at Mambo Italiano. Dinner starts at 5 p.m., dine-in only.

- Date Night Sundays at Cafe Diva. This special kicks off at 5:30 p.m. today with appetizer, dinner and dessert for a flat fee of $27.95 per person.

- Keep an eye out for extended happy hours and revised schedules at downtown bars and restaurants.

Beware of restaurant closings

A number of locally-owned businesses give their staff a breather and gear up for the summer in April and early May. Look for new menus and new faces when they come back, but local spots such as Riggio's Ristorante, The Tugboat Grill & Pub, The Ore House at Pine Grove, Cottonwood Grill, Three Peaks Grill, Antares Restaurant and La Montana will be on break for the next few weeks.