Monday, December 29, 2014

Annual Colorado Winter Festivals – Let the Fun Begin!

Aspen Winterskol Ice Musician
Aspen Winterskol Ice Musician (Photo Credit: Rich Pearce)
When people think about Colorado, they think about the outdoors, and during the winter they often think about skiing, snowboarding and the countless other winter activities the state has to offer.

Of course, this time of year, locals and visitors alike are focused largely on all the festive holiday events and activities going on, but there are many other entertaining and fun annual Colorado winter festivals at other times as well.

Here are a few of the more notable annual Colorado winter celebrations:

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Things to do in Aspen besides Skiing

Aspen Mountain Fireworks during Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert Series
Fireworks over Aspen Mountain (Photo Credit: Rich Pearce)
One of my favorite things to do in Aspen besides skiing is taking in the Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert Series shows, co-sponsored by the Aspen Skiing Company.

The FREE Bud Light Hi-Fi outdoor concerts are among the more popular nighttime, off-hill winter events in Aspen, entertaining  young and old and visitors and locals alike. The series features an eclectic mix of musical genres, such as folk and bluegrass, reggae, jazz, dance rock and roll, and country. It has showcased such acts as Elephant Revival, Savoy, Cash’d Out, Black Uhuru, The Magnificent 7, and Reverend Horton Heat.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Early Skiing in Aspen! He's Ready - Are You?

Stylish Snowman ready for early skiing in Aspen
He's Ready - Are You!

We may not be getting as much snow as Buffalo is, but we definitely have enough to get the season rolling! The Aspen Skiing Company has announced early skiing in Aspen this year, with the lifts on Aspen Mountain opening up this Saturday, November 22.

The Silver Queen Gondola and Ajax Express lift will be running, allowing top-to-bottom access to "...the most vertical feet in the country...". Ajax Tavern and the Sundeck will be open for food and drink as well.

Have fun - we will!


Friday, October 17, 2014

A Fun Aspen Activity that’s not Actually in Aspen

Aspen certainly offers an abundance of fun things to do, winter, summer and in between, but sometimes one just has to “get out of Dodge” for an evening of fun, especially when you can’t really find anything like it Aspen (anymore). There are a lot of great fun/entertainment opportunities nearby in the greater Roaring Fork Valley as well.

Activities near Aspen, Co - Glenwood Vaudeville Theater Review
Glenwood Vaudeville Theater (Photo Credit: Rich Pearce)
Many in town remember the Crystal Palace, the zany, often irreverent dinner theater that had Aspen audiences rolling in the aisles for some 51 years. We certainly had our share of great times there. Sadly, it’s no longer in existence, but we discovered a great replacement in Glenwood Springs, the Glenwood Vaudeville Theater.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

About Aspen and Snowmass – Why I’m Grateful I Live Here

Aspen Art Galleries
Aspen Art Galleries (Photo credit: richpalpine)
I’m a little biased because I grew up here, but all of a sudden I find myself in the middle of the summer season in Aspen and I realize how truly grateful I am that I live here. First, a little background about Aspen and Snowmass:

Where is Aspen?

Aspen, Colorado is nestled in the Elk Mountain Range of the central Colorado Rockies, approximately 218 miles southwest of Denver. The town is known internationally as a high-end destination resort, luxurious vacation home locale and “Rocky Mountain playground for the rich and famous”.

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Upcoming Aspen Community Social Dance - July 19, 2014

Like to dance salsa? Haven't tried it yet? Looking for something different to do in Aspen this summer? Check out the fun at the next Aspen Community Social Dance - Rio Grande Plaza (above Tasters in Aspen), July 19, 2014.

Lessons for beginners start at 6:30pm, followed by an intermediate lesson at 7:15pm and open dancing from 8:00pm - ?

For more information, please call 970-925-8536. Lots of fun!


Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Having a laugh or two in Aspen – Things to Do Besides Skiing

Having a few laughs in Aspen Colorado
It’s been awhile since I’ve had a really good laugh – and I needed one. Even though I had really been enjoying the skiing in all of the great snow we’ve had this year, having to shovel all of it was making me grumpy. I needed something else to do besides skiing to get out of my funk, and the Aspen Laff Festival was just the “ticket”.


Thursday, January 23, 2014

Aspen Cross-Country Skiing Extravaganza

Aspen Events - Cross-Country Ski Extravaganza ...
Aspen Events - Cross-Country Ski Extravaganza - Lesson Time (Photo credit: richpalpine)
Cross-country skiing is a hot, cold weather topic in Aspen these days. Locals Simi Hamilton and Noah Hoffman have just been named to the 2014 Sochi Olympics cross-country ski team, and the Owl Creek Chase (self-proclaimed as “Colorado’s largest x-country ski race”), just took place.

Additionally, for the rest of us merely recreational cross-country skiers, the recent annual Aspen Cross Country Center’s free Aspen Cross-Country Ski Extravaganza event once again ignited fantasies of reaching those levels of cross-country skiing prowess.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Winterskol - Aspen Event’s Rich History

Aspen Winterskol 2007 - Blowing Off Some Steam!
Aspen Winterskol 2007 - Blowing Off Some Steam! (Photo credit: richpalpine)
Now that the winter holidays have officially passed, it’s time to look forward to one of the most anticipated and fun Aspen events of the entire ski season, Winterskol - a celebration of "Aspen's unique Nordic lifestyle".

This exciting annual winter carnival in the internationally renowned ski resort town of Aspen, Colorado, started as an attempt to bring people into the town during an annual lull in business during the 3 weeks after Christmas.