Every Monday, we post The Five Best Things to enjoy in the upcoming week. These things are selected by the Plum TV staff and often times by you.

They range from humble to haute and include exciting events, festivals and performances as well as dining, shopping and playing at various treasured spots, shops and institutions.

This week we're looking forward to...

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PLAY

1) Let loose your inner explorer this Columbus Day and take a hike up to see the brilliant fall colors begin to appear. Telluride and the surrounding area is full of beautiful day trails, that will wind you up the Mountains to breathtaking views of the fall foliage!

- Take a Hike: Jud Wiebe Trail (Watch Video)

- Bridal Veil Falls (Watch Video)

- Hiking Sneffels with Ben Clark (Watch Video)

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SEE

2) Catch a beat-the English Beat that is! See The English Beat live at the Sheridan Opera House at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, October 6. This band hails from working-class Birmingham, England and entered the music scene in 1979. The six-member group can be described as a graceful mix of soul, reggae, pop and punk, a unique combination that is great for dancing! Even though the music festivals have passed for the year doesn't mean that there's not still great local music happening in Telluride! Check out this footage of the Sheridan Opera House:

- Sister Carol in Concert (Watch Video)

- Henry Butler and Friends (Watch Video)

3) The Metropolitan Opera's Award-winning series The Met: Live in HD kicks off it's season at the Michael D. Palm Theatre with Tosca, on Saturday, October 10. Head over to the Palm Theatre for an 11 a.m. live performance and 6 p.m. encore performance by composer Giacomo Puccini.

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SAVOR

4) Grab a bite to eat at Telluride's newest restaurant - the Telluride Pizza Kitchen and Bistro! This delicious and much talked about new eatery has a menu that is largely Mediterranean, Italian, and a bit of Mexican. Try the classic pizza titled "TPK", and grab an appetizer of fresh bruschetta! YUM!

- Telluride Pizza Kitchen & Bistro (Read Review)

- Map & Directions for Telluride Pizza Kitchen & Bistro

5) Eat, drink, and be enlightened at this year's Walking Words Dinner! This progressive dinner features three courses, each at a different restaurant, accompanied by a reading of poetry, fiction or nonfiction. Join us this Friday, October 9 from 6-9 p.m. for this exquisite annual event, but be quick, it sells out fast, as there are only 32 spots available! If you miss the Walking Words Dinner, you can still catch the authors' short workshops on Saturday, October 10, at the Ah Haa School.

- 2009 Ah Haa Art Auction (Watch Video)

- Ah Haa's Mountainfilm Reading Frenzy (Watch Video)

- Oil Painting with Karen Weihs (Watch Video)

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If you attend any of these events or activities, please report back to Plum with your thoughts on our suggestions and photos of your adventures! We want the good & the bad!

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Ideas for next week? e-mail Mike @ editors@plumtv.com