Tickets Go On Sale For Annual Food & Wine Magazine Classic Next Month

June 19-21, 2009

Tickets are ON SALE NOW!

• Consumer Passes $1185. after 3/15/09

• Restaurant Trade Passes $1185. after 3/15/09

• Green Pass $3100.

• NEW! Grand Tasting Day Pass Friday $250.

• NEW! Grand Tasting Day Pass Saturday $250.
  

For more information on pass types please visit www.foodandwine.com/classic or BUY NOW.

No one under the age of 21 permitted, including infants and small children in child carriers. This policy pertains to all events including seminars and Grand Tastings.

VOLUNTEERS:
Register online today to volunteer at the 2009 FOOD & WINE Classic.
Volunteer requirements are as follows:
• Applicant has volunteered in the recent past.
• Applicant is a resident of the Roaring Fork Valley.*
• How many years an applicant has volunteered.
• Applicant's past performance as a volunteer.
• How early the applicant submits his / her online volunteer application
• Applicants must be 21 years of age or older.

* Roaring Fork Valley is defined as Aspen to Rifle. Residents may be asked to supply one of the following to verify residency: Driver's License, Passport, Utility Bill, Paycheck Stub, Etc.

Upcoming Summer Events In Aspen & Snowmass

Check out a sampling of 2009 summer events below, or click here for a complete schedule of summer events.

May:
16 - Ride for the Pass
17 - Aspen Cycling Criterium

June:
5-6 - Chili Pepper & Brew Fest
18-27 - Jazz Aspen Snowmass June Festival
19-21 - Food & Wine Magazine Classic in Aspen
21 - Bluegrass Sundays on Aspen Mountain featuring TBD
28 - Bluegrass Sundays on Aspen Mountain featuring TBD
21-26 - Aspen Summer Words, Aspen Writers’ Foundation
29-July 5 - Aspen Ideas Festival

July:
4 - Aspen’s Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration
4 - Boogie's Diner Buddy 5 Mile Race, downtown Aspen
TBD - Boogie's Bash Gala
5- Bluegrass Sundays on Aspen Mountain featuring TBD
12 - Bluegrass Sundays on Aspen Mountain featuring TBD
18 - The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Race for the Cure®
19 - Bluegrass Sundays on Aspen Mountain featuring TBD
23 - JASummer Night Swing, Highlands Village
26 - Bluegrass Sundays on Aspen Mountain featuring TBD

August:
2 - Bluegrass Sundays on Aspen Mountain featuring TBD
3-4 - Vince Gill/Amy Grant Snowmass Club Charity Classic
7-9 - Blast the Mass, Snowmass Village
8 - Aspen High Country Triathlon and Duathlon
9 - Bluegrass Sundays on Aspen Mountain featuring TBD
16 - Bluegrass Sundays on Aspen Mountain featuring TBD
22 - The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Aspen/Snowmass Ride for the Cure®
23 - Bluegrass Sundays on Aspen Mountain featuring TBD
30 - Bluegrass Sundays on Aspen Mountain featuring TBD

September:
3-7 - The 37th Annual Motherlode Volleyball Tournament
4-6 - Jazz Aspen Snowmass Labor Day Festival
12 - 12 Hours of Snowmass Mountain Bike Race
17-20 - Snowmass Balloon Festival
17-20 - The 42nd Annual Aspen Ruggerfest
24-27 - The Meeting - A Celebration of Snow Film & Culture in Aspen
26 - Golden Leaf Half-Marathon Classic
30-October 4 - Aspen FilmFest

October:
7-12 - John Denver Week


Ongoing Summer Events:
Aspen Music Festival and School, June 25 - August 23
Bluegrass Sundays on Aspen Mountain, June 21 - September 6
Snowmass Rodeo, Wednesdays June 17 - August 19
Snowmass Summer of Free Music Series, Thursdays, July 2 - August 6
Aspen Saturday Market, June 19 - October 17, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., downtown Aspen

Highlands Extends Season Again This Year; Base Still 109"

Highlands announced this week it will again re-open for two weekends this month. (Why let all that lovely 36 inches that fell last week go to waste?)

Base snow is still at 109 inches, according to Aspen Ski. Co.'s website. Nine foot base!

Like last year, the four mountains received record snowfalls, even late in to the season, to everyone's delight! This year snow totals were equally impressive, if not down right record-setting.

Thus, keep on skiing, folks!

Here's the official statement from Skico's website with dates and lift rates.

Aspen Highlands will REOPEN for the weekends of April 18-19 and April 25-26! The Exhibition, Loge, Cloud Nine and Deep Temerity lifts will run daily from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. providing access to the entire mountain including Highland Bowl (conditions permitting).

The Merry-Go-Round restaurant will have a limited lunch menu and outdoor bar (weather permitting). Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro will also be open for lunch, reservations required.

With more than 25 feet of snowfall this season, the conditions at Aspen/Snowmass are the best they have been in many years. In addition to great skiing and riding, there will be live music, events and special packages available. More details will be announced shortly.

All Aspen/Snowmass season passes are valid as they are during the regular season. Adult lift tickets will be $39 per day, youth and seniors will pay $29 and children's tickets will be $19. As always children six and under ski for free. Current season passholders from any other resort in the U.S. will pay just $19 for their lift ticket.

Cool Spring Packages From Aspen Ski Co.

Aspen Skiing Co. is now offering some pretty enticing Spring skiing packages.
Aspen has received over two feet of fresh powder in the last 24 hours. The question is: Will this season's snowfall trump last year's record?
Looks like it!


From aspensnowmass.com:

A great winter - with over 20 feet of snow - demands a great send-off! And we’ve got just the thing – the SPRING MVP! This mini-vacation package boasts unheard of deals on lodging & lifts.

Four-night/four-day lodge & lift packages start as low as $250 per person in Snowmass or $420 per person in Aspen!

See AspenSnowmass.com for more details under packages.

"Big Air Deals" to Aspen Snowmass Are Bigger Than Ever

"Big Air Deals" This Year to Aspen Snowmass Are Amazing!

Here are some great air deals into Aspen/Snowmass. Check back often as rates change daily. Get all of your questions answered with one toll-free call to our Stay Aspen Snowmass Vacation Experts at 888.649.5982 or book online. http://www.stayaspensnowmass.com/bigairdeals

Updated on: 02/25/09 at 8.45am
Round Trip Air Deals into Aspen, Colorado
United Delta Frontier
San Francisco $238.00* $238.00* $238.00*
LaGuardia $278.00* $278.00* $278.00*
Los Angeles $299.00* $299.00* $238.00*
Chicago $219.00* $219.00* $219.00*
Fort Lauderdale $409.00* $409.00*
Denver $108.00* $108.00*

For more great airfares from other cities, please call 888.649.5982 or book online.

Flights from San Francisco
Delta Air Lines
$238.00 * round trip plus applicable taxes, pfc’s and surcharges **
*Subject to T class availability
*For travel up to 20MAY
*Advance purchase 10 days
*Blackout dates may apply
*Non refundable tkt
United Airlines
$238.00* round trip plus applicable taxes, pfc’s and surcharges **
*Subject to S class availability
*For travel up to 20MAY
*Advance purchase 10 days
*Non refundable ticket
*Blackout dates may apply
Frontier
$238.00* round trip plus applicable taxes, pfc’s and surcharges **
*For travel up to 20MAY
*Book by 25FEB
*Subject to Q class availability
*Advance purchase 10 days
*Non refundable ticket

Flights from LaGuardia
United Airlines
$378.00* each way plus applicable taxes, pfc’s and surcharges **
*For travel up to 20MAY
*Subject to T class availability
*Advance purchase 10 days
*Non refundable tkt
Delta Air Lines
$278.00* round trip plus applicable taxes, pfc’s and surcharges **
*For travel up to 20MAY
*Advance purchase 10 days
*Subject to T class availability
*Routing through ATL
Frontier
$278.00* each way plus applicable taxes, pfc’s and surcharges **
*For travel up to 20MAY
*Subject to G class availability
*Advance purchase 10 days
*Non refundable tkt
*Book by 25FEB

Flights from Los Angeles
United Airlines
$299.00* round trip plus applicable taxes, pfc’s and surcharges **
*For travel up to 31MAR
*Subject to W class availability
*Advance purchase 14 days
*Min stay: subject to outbound day of the week
*Non refundable ticket
Delta Air Lines
$299.00* round trip plus applicable taxes, pfc’s and surcharges **
*For travel up to 31MAR
*Subject to T class availability
*Min stay is subject to outbound day of the week
*Advance purchase 14 days
*Book by 27FEB
*Blackout dates may apply
*Ticket is non refundable
Frontier
$119.00* each way plus applicable taxes, pfc’s and surcharges **
*For travel up to 20MAY
*Subject to Q class availability
*Advance purchase 10 days
*Book by 25FEB
*Routing via DEN
* Non refundable ticket

Flights from Chicago
United Airlines
$219.00* round trip plus applicable taxes, pfc’s and surcharges **
*For travel up to 31MAR
*Advance purchase 14days
*Subject to T class of service
*Ticket is non refundable
*Min stay subject to outbound day of the week
Delta Air Lines
$219.00* round trip plus applicable taxes, pfc’s and surcharges **
*For travel up to 31MAR
*Advance purchase 14 days
*Subject to T class availability
*Min stay subject to outbound day of the week
*Ticket is non refundable
*Blackout dates may apply
*Book by 27FEB
Frontier
$109.50* each way plus applicable taxes, pfc’s and surcharges **
*For travel up to 31MAR
*Subject to Q class availability
*Advance purchase 14 days
*Ticket is non refundable
*Book by 27FEB

Flights from Fort Lauderdale
Delta
$409.00*each way plus applicable taxes, pfc’s and surcharges
*For travel up to 31MAR
*Subject to T class availability
*Advance purchase 14 days
*Routing through ATL
*Book by 27FEB
*Non refundable tkt
Frontier
$204.50* each way plus applicable taxes, pfc’s and surcharges
*Subject to M class availability
*Advance purchase 14 days
*For travel 01JAN-31MAR
*Book by 27FEB
*Ticket is non refundable

Flights from Denver
Frontier
$54.00* each way plus applicable taxes, pfc’s and surcharges Book by 25FEB
Complete travel by May 20, 2009
Subject to T class of service
10 day advance purchase
Can upgrade to classic and classic plus levels
Non refundable tkt except on classic plus level
Blackout dates may apply
United
$54.00* each way plus applicable taxes, pfc’s and surcharges Complete travel by May 20, 2009
Subject to L class of service
10 day advance purchase
Non refundable ticket

**All air fares are based on availability at the time of booking. Fares and schedules are subject to change without notice and other restrictions may apply. Checked baggage policies vary by airline, specific information is available from your travel consultant.

Source & link: http://www.stayaspensnowmass.com/bigairdeals

The Perfect Storm Package Offers Great Lodging Deals, Discounts

Great snow, low airfares, fantastic lodging deals and exclusive in-resort discounts have all combined to create THE PERFECT STORM at Aspen/Snowmass! With over 10 feet of snow in December alone, yet another record-setting season has begun. Consider this your official invitation to enjoy over 5,000 acres of skiing/riding and #1-rated dining and nightlife at the world's most renowned winter destination.

In order to book this special you must call 888.649.5982.
The Perfect Storm Package – Book by March 19, 2009 and Buy 4, Get More!

Buy 4, Get 5 on lift tickets (valid for the remainder of the season must be purchased by March 19, 2009)
Buy 4, Get 5 on lodging
Buy 4, Get 5 on equipment rental through Four Mountain Sports and D & E
The Perfect Storm Card - good for in-resort discounts including:
10% off lunches at select on-mountain restaurants
15% off up to two adult group ski school lessons
25% off any retail at any of our Four Mountain Sports or D & E locations
25% off tuning and repairs at any of our Four Mountain Sports or D & E locations
Terms and conditions:

Package must be booked by March 19, 2009. Promotion also valid on longer stays. All offers subject to availability at time of booking. Only available with participating properties, some properties may have blackout dates. Offer not valid on existing reservations. May not be combined with other offers.

Source: Aspen Skiing Company

We Missed This One But It's Too Good Not To Post; Only In Aspen!

Aspen's Wintersköl's
CANINE FASHION SHOW was held
January 10, but we thought it amusing enough to post despite being long gone (for this year).

From Aspen Chamber's Calendar:

Aspen's four-legged friends will be stepping out in style at the Canine Fashion Show, part of the 58th Annual Wintersköl Celebration.

Registration will start at 10:00 a.m. on the corner of Cooper Avenue and Galena Street, across from Paradise Bakery and the Canine Fashion Show will begin at 11:00 a.m. There are no fees to particpate and the event is open to everyone. All entrants will receive a doggy bag participation bag for coming out to play!

Dogs will be judged on the following categories. The overall winner for each category will recieve a grand prize.

MOST ADORABLE - 11:00
They may not be glamorous, but they are loving and sweet.

BEST THEME - 11:10
Based on the 2009 Wintersköl theme - "Powder Days & Stellar Nights"

BEST MULTIPLE - 11:20
Multiply your pleasure with a pair or more of dogs being shown together.

BEST CELEBRITY
LOOK-ALIKE - 11:30
If your dog looks like Lassie or even a human star (Brittany or Sarah Palin),
this can be your stage. Don't be surprised if someone wants an autograph.

FUNNIEST - 11:40
A class to judge the dog and / or handler on their entertaining attire

BEST IN SHOW - 11:50
This is not a category you enter.
Judges will choose the overall most fashionable pooch.

If you are interested in supporting these fashion conscious pups, please make a donation today!