2017, A Year of Highs and Lows, of Loss, Entertainment, and Travel

2017 has been quite a ride for me – emotionally and spiritually. This past year, I experienced some of the lowest and highest points of my life so far.

2017 Butterflies (Photo by Rich Pearce)

First, the lows - the big low: My brother and I sadly, and somewhat unexpectedly, lost our 89-year-old mother in early May. Although we get some consolation from the fact that she lived a wonderful, full life in her nearly nine decades, and even though gradual health declines made her passing not too much of a surprise, I am still sad and miss her terribly.

With all of the logistics and paperwork that follow the death of one’s parent, especially the last parent, I sometimes feel that I haven’t even had the chance to mourn properly. I am working on that, even within this post.

But, the point of this piece is not to focus on the lows, the negatives, because part of mourning is getting through it and moving on. It is what our mother would want – she told us so. So, I will move on to the high points of 2017 for me – and these revolve around entertainment and travel.

5 Fun Ways to Celebrate the New Year in Aspen (without the hangover)

New Year's Eve Fireworks

New Year’s Day is approaching quickly, and as always, Aspen is ready to celebrate!

Of course, holiday activities in this little “party town” ski resort abound. And as you might guess, many of them revolve around New Year’s Eve nighttime revelry and libatious good times. Many locals and visitors spend New Year’s day nursing anything from a mild, dehydrated headache to a vicious, full-blown hangover, perhaps emerging only late in the day into the bright, burning sunshine of the new year.

Aspen News Follow-Up – Internet Service Issues in Pitkin County

A wireless icon (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A March 27, 2015, story in the local Aspen news media about internet service issues in Pitkin County caught our attention recently.

On that date, Aspen Public Radio (APR) aired a story about the inadequacies and unreliability of rural internet service in Pitkin County:  “Rural residents say unreliable internet impacting business, academics”. In particular, it appears that some residents in Old Snowmass are having issues with slow internet speeds in that area.

Loose Moose Near Aspen

English: Cow moose (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

With an early spring rearing its unseasonable head in the Aspen area this year, local’s thoughts are already turning to the return of summer activities like gardening, biking, hiking and generally just getting out and about in the outdoors.

The coming of spring and summer also means the increased wildlife activity, and of human-wildlife encounters in the area as well. While bear-human interactions tend to capture most of the headlines in this arena, I was reminded by Aspen Public Radio recently that human-moose encounters near Aspen also have been increasing over the years.

Annual Colorado Winter Festivals – Let the Fun Begin!

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:

Things to do in Aspen besides Skiing

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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

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”.

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!

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

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”.

Aspen Cross-Country Skiing 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.

Winterskol - Aspen Event’s Rich History

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. 

 

Aspen Holiday Events - Annual Traditions Make the Season Special

Aspen holiday tree lighting event with Dan Sheridan (Photo credit: richpalpine)

Last Sunday, I once again took advantage of the opportunity to enjoy one of the most cherished annual Aspen holiday events – the annual Sardy House holiday tree lighting.

Occurring before the big winter holiday tourist rush, this festive event kicks off the holiday season in Aspen for the locals. It features free homemade cookies and hot chocolate, live music, and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. It, of course, culminates in the lighting of what is believed to be one of the tallest live Christmas trees in the nation.

Things to do in Aspen (Besides Skiing) – Community Theatre’s a Hit!

The Producers (1968 film) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ok, I know the buzz around Aspen last weekend revolved around all of that great snow arriving just in time for the lifts to open for the season, but this did not overshadow some of the other much-anticipated things to do in Aspen in November.

One of those other things to do in Aspen before the ski season begins in earnest, is to take in the Aspen Community Theatre’s annual fall production. We did this for the first time last year and were so thrilled with the experience that we just had to do it again.

Last year, I was going to do a post about the theatre’s presentation of the romantic love musical,  “Crazy For You, but I got lazy and didn’t write the post, This year, I was determined to hammer one out.

Halloween Activities in Aspen and Beyond

Halloween Activities Near Aspen - Luigi (Photo credit: Amanda Ciccone)

I just finished downloading photos of a great pre-Halloween weekend with my step-kids and their kids in Palisade and Grand Junction, Colorado. Suddenly, it dawned on me that Halloween itself is coming up fast, and I have been so caught up with other things that I hadn’t even checked out all of the upcoming Halloween activities in Aspen itself.

A quick search on the internet led me to the Aspen Chamber’s website. Here’s what’s going on in Aspen for Halloween this year:

Cross-Country Running Event in Aspen, Co - Chris Severy Invitational

Aspen Cross Country Running Event 2013 - Boy's Varsity Start (Photo credit: richpalpine)

One doesn’t always have the opportunity to watch a cross-country running event in October in Aspen, Colorado. And, one especially doesn’t always get to see one run in the snow – but a couple of Saturdays ago, we did.

This annual event is named and run in memory of local aspen cross-country phenom, Chris Severy, who sadly died at the young age of 22 in a bicycle accident on Boulder, Colorado’s Flagstaff Road in 1998. Some years it has taken place in the warm Aspen fall sunshine, sometimes there has been rain - but this year we got snow!

Events in Aspen – USA Pro Challenge | Taj Mahal | Science Street Fair

Dr. Kaboom Aspen Science Street Fair 2013 (Photo credit: richpalpine)

As if one’s schedule of summer activities in Aspen wasn’t already filled to the brim with the “usual” outdoor pursuits, and cultural activities such as the Food & Wine Classic, art shows, the Aspen Music Festival and Aspen Institute events, when August arrives there are still more events in Aspen that await!

There was so much to choose from and work was taking up a lot of my time (I hate it when that happens), but I was fortunate to squeeze the annual Aspen Science Street Fair and the USA Pro Challenge into my busy schedule.

One of the lesser-known annual events in Aspen is the Science Street Fair, hosted by the AspenScienceCenter.

Stargazing Event in Aspen – My Telescope, Saturn and Me

Aspen Event - Aspen Science Center Fun (Photo credit: richpalpine)

Ok, it wasn’t really just Saturn, my telescope and me. I was actually among a few hundred other people, a couple of other planets and gazillions of stars; and it wasn’t really MY telescope, but I did get to operate it at the recent Stargazing event in Aspen near the sundeck on Aspen Mountain,

The event, co-hosted by the  Aspen Ideas Festival  and the Aspen Science Center, provided great science-oriented entertainment on the top of Aspen Mountain. It featured ice cream made using liquid nitrogen, several other interesting science demonstrations, tales of the stars from Spellbinders storytellers and a surprise guest appearance by retired astronaut and gun control advocate, Mark Kelly. The activities were capped off by amazing star gazing of the Colorado night sky.

Aspen Summer Events – Eco Food Wine Music Ideas Science

Aspen Summer Events - Eco-Fest Street View (Photo credit: richpalpine)

The snow has finally completely disappeared from the slopes, the annual burst of spring flowers is already dwindling, the vegetable gardens have emerged, the bikes and hiking boots have been dusted off, and all of a sudden Aspen summer events are in full swing.

I can’t believe it, but the Aspen Eco-Fest has already made its annual appearance, the Food & Wine Classic has blown through town, and before I could complete this post, the Jazz Aspen Snowmass June Jazz Festival once again entertained and energized visitors and locals alike.