Editor’s Note: On the evening of December 5, 2025, just ahead of a heavy snowfall, Cliff Dweller Michael Burke emceed a blizzard of talent performing At The Cliff Dwellers. Mike introduced no less than nine acts that proceeded to entertain a full house. Kicking things off was violinist and teacher Martin Lopez. Martin played and directed a talented group of his students ranging in age from young child to young adult who played the Canon in D, Czardas, and Silent Night. Aspen Reiner and her accompanist on guitar Charlie Debski were up next playing Georgia on My Mind. We Three Kings was brought to life in an unusual way by pianist Julian Pujols Quall and tap dancer extraordinaire Lane Alexander. Julian then returned to accompany opera singers Ron Watkins and James Ryan singing Au Fond du Temple Saint from the opera Les Pecheurs de Peries.

Burke next called attention to Bill Bowe’s Annals of a Bygone Era, a short history of The Cliff Dwellers and then introduced the magic act of Robert Charles. True to form, Robert left the crowd wondering, “How did he do that?” In the spirit of the season, pianist and singer Eddie Torrez played Donde Esta Santa Claus? and Feliz Navidad, accompanied by Trish Ricketts on maracas. Next up was opera singer Sherry Watkins, accompanied by Jullian Pujols Quall again, to sing Mozart’s Das Veilchen and Dans un Bois. Poet Rosina Neginsky then read one of her own poems.

The evening was rounded out with novelist Trish Ricketts and photographer Peter Hurley playing guitar and singing Cryin’ Train, Lone Jack Traveler, and Walk Right Back.” With that, the evening finished up with performers and audience all joining in a rousing Christmas song wrap up.