ASPEN’S 75TH ANNIVERSARY AS A SKI RESORT, ASPEN ART MUSEUM, ANDY WARHOL EXHIBIT & MORE NEW & NOTABLE

ASPEN, Colo. (Jan. 18, 2022) –The winter season kicked off on Nov. 25, and the ski lifts will run until Apr. 17. During the winter season, Aspen is the ultimate destination for connecting with the outdoors with a vibrant town atmosphere - skiing, dining, shopping, and soaking in the mountain beauty. Travelers will benefit from Aspen’s stunning landscapes, endless slopes, and Nordic skiing trails easily accessible from downtown Aspen.

For information or reservations, visit www.aspenchamber.org or call (970) 925-1940. For media updates, visit www.aspenchamber.com/media. 

• For COVID-19 updates before and during the season, visit www.aspenchamber.org/covid-19. 
• AIRLINE UPDATES: 
  • Delta returns: Beginning Dec. 18, Delta Airlines returned to servicing the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport with daily nonstop flights from Atlanta and Salt Lake.
  • Austin Direct: American Airlines started non-stop flights from Austin, Texas on Saturdays in summer 2020, and weekly flights will continue this winter.
  • Orange County Direct: United added a non-stop flight from Orange County, CA  to Aspen. The daily, seasonal service began on Dec. 16 and will run through March 26, 2022.

BIG NEWS

• 75th Anniversary - Aspen Snowmass celebrates 75 years of skiing in Aspen. This historic milestone will celebrate the heritage and history of skiing in Aspen as well as provide a look forward to the future of skiing with a series of activities throughout the season. The season will highlight how innovation in ski racing, sustainability, athletic achievement, inclusion, art, and other areas have led to future possibilities in each of these areas. 
  • Aspen Snowmass is offering $75 adult lift tickets on lodging/lift/equipment rental packages booked through Stay Aspen Snowmass as well as $75 lift tickets during the late season (Apr. 3 - 17).
• The Aspen Art Museum is the sole U.S. venue for a major international retrospective on the work of Andy Warhol.  Andy Warhol: Lifetimes which opened on Dec. 3, breaks new ground by casting a queer eye on the artist as an outsider and disruptor, who remade America’s image to resonate with a queer sensibility. This presentation is particularly exciting, as it marks a homecoming for the artist, who maintained a close, long-standing connection with the city of Aspen and the many creatives who have called it home. 
• In collaboration with the Aspen Art Museum, The Powers Art Center in Carbondale opened an exhibit on Dec. 1 featuring some of Warhol’s more celebrated works. “Warhol in Colorado, The Artist’s Relationship with John and Kimiko Powers,” will be on display through Apr. 30 and features the complete portfolios of “Marilyn” and “Flowers”. 
• Coming Soon/Spring 2022 (After April 1/Date TBC) - Aspen Art Museum (AAM) will unveil My Dear Mountains, a new large-scale, site-specific project by Gaetano Pesce (b. Italy, 1939), in spring 2022. Conceived for the AAM, the project will cover the museum’s entire façade with a monumental inflatable structure with an image of the sun setting over a mountain landscape. This ambitious outdoor project is the artist’s first façade intervention and will be accompanied by a display of Pesce’s furniture and sculptures within the museum’s ground-floor gallery. For details and final dates, visit www.aspenartmuseum.org. 

SPECIAL EVENTS

• Aspen Gay Ski Week (Jan. 16 - 23, 2022) - Celebrating its 45th anniversary, Aspen Gay Ski Week is the premier LGBTQ+ winter event with a full schedule of events on-and-off the Aspen Snowmass mountains.
• X-Games Aspen (Jan. 21 – 23, 2022) Returning for its 21st consecutive year, Winter X Games will take place in Buttermilk, just prior to the Beijing Winter Olympics.

HOTEL NEWS

• Open Dec. 12, 2022 - The Limelight Aspen has undergone an eight-month renovation, enhancing all of the hotel’s public spaces, including the Limelight Lounge, lobby, and bar, as well as the 126 guest rooms and suites. The renovation design by Stonehill Taylor injected the hotel with high-quality furnishings and finishes with a nod to Aspen’s skiing history.
• As of May 2022 - The Aspen Institute, a global nonprofit organization, announced that it has selected Salamander Hotels & Resorts to manage and elevate its iconic Aspen Meadows Resort in Aspen, CO. Set in a prime mountain location just minutes from Aspen’s downtown, the 40-acre property was The Aspen Institute’s original headquarters, and today welcomes guests from across the world. The Institute selected Salamander, which was founded by renowned businesswoman Sheila C. Johnson, because of its proven track record for achieving high standards of service, excellence, and financial success for one-of-a-kind destination hotels and resorts. 
• New! The Aspen Mountain Residences is a reintroduction and rebranding of the property formerly known as the Hyatt Grand Aspen.  Located in the center of Aspen, steps from Aspen Mountain and its gondola, The Aspen Mountain Residences are private fractional condominium accommodations ranging from studios through four-bedroom units, all with fireplaces and private balconies offering panoramic mountain views. Guest services include dedicated concierge, ski valet, bike rentals, amenities include an outdoor pool, shared and private hot tubs, and Aspen’s Silver Circle ice rink. The property is being managed by East West Hospitality.
• New/Jan. 2021 -  Aspen Street Lodge - Nestled in the heart of downtown Aspen, this new luxury retreat has nine lodge rooms and a two-bedroom penthouse suite with a warm, refined contemporary mountain décor. Featuring expansive terraces with views of Aspen Mountain and the surrounding townscape and parks, a penthouse pool and hot tub, a fully equipped game room and bar for après enjoyment, Aspen Street Lodge is open to groups and families for buyouts. For reservations and information, www.aspenstreetlodge.com; 970.989.3090; 200 South Aspen Street.
• The Residences at Aspen Valley Ranch (AVR) Opened Summer 2021, AVR features spacious modern ranch retreats available for buyouts on an 813-acre gated ranch community in Woody Creek, 10 minutes away from Aspen. Ranging from 5,700 to 13,000 square feet with four-and five-bedrooms, the luxury homesteads include private amenities including the Ranch House, Gym/Pool House, Horse Barn, and Historic Barn/Toy Garage. A variety of winter activities on the ranch will also be available, including electric snowmobiles, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing. www.avrresidences.com/
• Coming soon - RH Hotel - RH has shared plans to open its first boutique hotel, bathhouse, and spa on the site of the former Crystal Palace in Aspen. They will also open an RH gallery at the iconic corner of Galena Street and Cooper Avenue, which will reportedly include a glass rooftop restaurant, wine and barista bar, and two private dining rooms with fireplaces and retractable roofs.
• Future Development The Mountain Chalet Aspen, the oldest owner-built lodge in Aspen, has been sold to McGuire Moorman Hospitality, a partnership that specializes in boutique hotels and high-end restaurants (including Aspen’s Clark’s Oyster Bar). It will be renamed the Aspen Mountain Chalet, and it will undergo a full future renovation, with at least two new restaurants. The ownership group is led by Zach Kupperman and Larry McGuire, of the McGuire Moorman Hospitality (owner of Clark’s Oyster Bar in Aspen), and includes Kupperman, McGuire, the Melvilles and partners Elle Florescu, Tom Moorman and Liz Lambert. “We want to keep the heart and soul of it being a European-inspired chalet,” McGuire said in an Aspen Times story. McGuire said the plan is a renovation and rejuvenation of the property that will keep the key count the same.

DINING NEWS

Aspen is known for its’ remarkable dining scene with dozens of fine dining restaurants, brewpubs, and cafes. Following are notable new openings for the upcoming season:

• New! Rooftop Café at the Aspen Art Museum launched Dec. 3. The Café has partnered with nearby farms and community partners in the rooftop setting with sweeping 360-degree mountain views and premier outdoor art installations. The Slippery Slope, a functioning sculpture by LA-based artist Adam Stamp is poised to be the spot for Aspen après-ski from 3 – 6 pm featuring specialty cocktails generously provided by local spirits from Woody Creek Distillers. Open Tuesday - Sunday from 10 – 6 pm.
• New! Curling & Cocktails in The Garden at Hotel Jerome - Hotel Jerome has opened a curling court at The Winter Garden from Dec. 15 – Mar. 31 open daily from 11 am - 7 pm. Reserve a time with friends to enjoy some friendly competition paired with a festive menu.
• Opened December 5 - Chica, with locations in Miami and Las Vegas, has opened at the Residences at the Little Nell, adjacent to the Silver Queen Gondola at the base of Aspen Mountain. A “celebration of Latin Flavors” by Celebrity Chef Lorena Garcia, Chica’s menu offers the vibrant flavors of Latin American cuisine combined with a dynamic wine and mixology program and Instagram-worthy desserts.
• Opened Dec. 15  - Catch Steak has opened an indoor/outdoor venue with sweeping views of Aspen Mountain. Catch Steak is a lighter take on the classic steakhouse experience with a curated collection of the world’s best steak cuts along with shareable dishes. Open daily for dinner. Located upstairs at the corner of East Hopkins and Galena Street with the entrance at 515 E. Hopkins Ave. 
• New!  Casa D’Angelo - Opened in late July 2021 to rave reviews, this authentic Italian restaurant, under the direction of Chef/Owner Angelo Elia and Executive Chef Mark Connell, is located in a light-filled second-floor space with sculptural light fixtures and panoramic views of Aspen Mountain and downtown Aspen. (105 S. Mill St.)
• Opened Sept. 2021 - Felix Roasting Co., founded by Matt Moinian and interior designer Ken Fulk, opened their first location outside of NYC in the Hotel Jerome, in a light-filled space at the corner of Main & Mill Streets. The space retains its original architectural integrity with layered natural textures atop custom décor, plush velvet seating, and floral wallpaper-coated walls. Open to the public daily from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• The Snow Lodge Supper Club, the sister property of The Surf Lodge in Montauk, is open inside the St. Regis Aspen Resort. The space has been designed with a lush setting of deep velvets and local art sourced from Aspen galleries and through Snow Lodge’s artist-in-residence program. The residency kicked off for the season with artist and musician Brandon Boyd and photographer Brian Bowen Smith, followed by visual artist Heart Evangelista and others including Richard Phillips, Zoe Buckman, Tonia Calderon, Anthony James, and Brandon Ralph. Chef Mark Connell, formerly of Casa D'Angelo, is spearheading the menu which includes both shareable and large plates featuring contemporary and classic Italian preparations. For reservations, visit  Resy. For the Lounge, reservations will be held directly via email at [email protected]; 315 East Dean St. 
• Duemani Ristorante & Bar and Acquolina Trattoria & Pizzeria have reopened with new ownership under the direction of 12-year-local Carlos Solarzano-Smith with new Chef Jason Franey as culinary director.  Solarzano-Smith is a Master Sommelier who has worked at The Little Nell, Matsuhisa and more. Franey was a 2011 Food & Wine’s Best New Chef and worked with Daniel Humm at Eleven Madison Park among other notable restaurants. 
• Re-Opened July 2021 - The iconic Woody Creek Tavern reopened under new owners Samantha and Craig Cordts-Pearce. The new owners kept the funky design of the iconic tavern as well as some favorites like the margarita but upgraded the kitchen, flooring, and tables as well as most of the food. Open daily from 11:30 am; www.woodycreektavern.com

COVID19 dining pivots

With COVID19, many restaurants were given permission to open into the sidewalk or street right-of-way to offer expanded outdoor dining. Here are some of the notable pivots that will be available this winter: 

• “The Chalet” at French Alpine Bistro - Best known for their fondues and French alpine cuisine, the French Alpine Bistro built a well ventilated, heated “ski chalet” as expanded outdoor seating space for the pandemic. Complete with furry blankets, vintage paintings adorning the walls, and romantic French music, this venue will remain at its location for the 2021/22 winter season.
• Igloos at Plato’s - Guests can enjoy fresh, seasonal ingredients from local and regional farmers. Served with impeccable mountain views that can be safely enjoyed from the well ventilated, private igloos on the outside deck.  
• Yurt at Duemani - New for the 21/22 winter season, Duemani has launched a luxury yurt - which seats up to 10 people, featuring decor inspired by Aspen ski culture, history, and design. Reservations at [email protected].
•  The Gant Aspen 75th Anniversary Rooftop Diamond Dome perched on the rooftop terrace gazing out to Aspen’s Silver Queen Gondola offers a rooftop bubble experience for private après with chic décor available three-hour increments at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Reservations required with a $250 minimum; Imagery here.

RETAIL NEWS 

Aspen has more than 200 engaging boutiques and galleries for browsing or serious retail therapy, and here’s a link to Aspen’s shopping.  Here are some new shops - and pop-ups - that have opened since Summer 2021.

• New! POSSESSION Obsession is a specially curated store, conceived alongside the exhibition Andy Warhol: Lifetimes at Aspen Art Museum. This newly launched shop brings together the expensive with the inexpensive, playfully engaging with associations between collecting and mass culture, and cultural definitions of taste and kitsch. 
• HUMANITY  is the first retail experience from Citizens of Humanity and offers a curated assortment of products from brands and artists around the world; 520 E. Hyman Ave., Unit 1B; 970.429.8679.  
• Re/Done, the latest outpost of the L.A.-based sustainable clothing company best known for reconstructing vintage jeans, has opened on Galena St. in a space with interiors inspired by John Lautner's mid-century Schaffer House, with Douglas fir wood-paneled walls and a palate of green, mustard, and burnt red. 
• Henry Beguelin, an Italian leather brand with jackets, bags, shoes, home furniture, and accessories, reopens in Aspen after an absence of several years; 406 S. Galena St. 
• Audemars Piguet, the Swiss luxury watchmaker, has opened at 435 E. Hyman Ave. 
• Naked Cashmere, the direct-to-consumer brand, has opened at 555 E Durant Ave, at the corner of Galena St.
• Opened Dec. 22 AspenX  - Aspen Skiing Company has opened a new retail concept off the Gondola Plaza, that will present AspenX, its first line of custom-built, premium, outerwear, the new AspenX Prada collaboration, as well as apres-ski wear, accessories, and home goods; Gondola Plaza
• Miron Crosby, a Dallas retailer offering women’s and men’s high-end cowboy boots as well as home and lifestyle accessories. (520 E. Cooper Ave.)
• Kith has returned to Aspen with a holiday-themed pop-up store and an apparel and lifestyle accessories collection dubbed “kithmas” featuring co-branded items created in collaboration with Monopoly, Swarovski, Medicom Toy, Eastpak, and Coca-Cola. (228 S. Mill )
• Opened Dec. 2022 -  National home furnishings retailer ARHAUS has opened on Hyman Avenue adjacent to the Aspen Art Museum. (625 East Hyman Ave.)
• Balenciaga has opened a new boutique offering the label’s luxury apparel, bags, and accessories; (204 S Galena St.)
• Tecovas, an Austin, Texas-based cowboy boot and leather goods store, has opened its 17th retail location carrying boots, bags, apparel, and accessories. They also offer personalization through custom leather debossing and boot shines. (416 E. Cooper Ave.)
• Open June 2021 - Hexton Gallery, a modern contemporary gallery from New York founded by Robert Chase has opened a location in Aspen with a program reflecting on the silver linings of the last twelve months and suggesting a transformative path forward. (447 E. Cooper Ave.)
• Open June 2021 - Eden Fine Art Gallery is a contemporary art gallery headquartered in New York with locations around the world, which recently opened in the former’s Boogie’s location in Aspen with a long-term, two-story gallery space. (534 East Cooper Ave.)

RETAIL POP-UPS 

• LoveShackFancy: The New York City-based lifestyle brand known for its whimsical hand-dyed fabrics and enchanting vintage-inspired romantic floral prints has opened a retail pop-up in the Mountain Plaza space that is adjacent to the St. Regis Aspen pool. Up until the end of March, the retail boutique is currently open from Wednesday to Saturday.
• Gabriella Hearst is taking up the residency space at MAX, Max Martinez’s local specialty retail store on Hopkins Ave., which will include pieces from Hearst’s women’s and men’s collections, including ready-to-wear, merino wool and cashmere knitwear, footwear, fine jewelry and home accessories as well as the handbag collection.
• Mackage - This contemporary outerwear company from Canada has opened a pop-up location for the winter season. (516 E. Hyman Ave)

NEW SUSTAINABLE INITIATIVES

• Woody Creek Solar Farm - Construction of a 35-Acre solar farm near Woody Creek has been completed and began producing energy in October 2021. Operated by California-based Primergy Solar, to generate power from Aspen sunshine that will flow to Holy Cross Energy and power local homes. Holy Cross, which has pledged to make 100% of the energy that it provides come from renewable sources by 2030, will have an option to buy the solar farm in 10 years.
• The Aspen Chamber Resort Association (ACRA) has launched an Aspen edition of Field Notes which features local artists and is available for purchase at a selection of local retailers, including the Ute Mountaineer, 02 Aspen, ACES Hallam Lake, Pitkin County Dry Goods, the Red Brick Center for the Arts, and Kemo Sabe. A portion of each purchase of the Aspen Field Notes will benefit Pledge for the Wild.

ON-MOUNTAIN NEWS                                                                                                                         

• The legendary Aspen Mountain Club at the top of Aspen Mountain, a private members-only club, will re-open for the Winter 2021/22 season and be rebranded AspenX Mountain Club after undergoing a complete renovation and expansion, the first major redesign since its opening in 2000. Luis Bustamante Interior Design, who also renovated the living room and lobby at The Little Nell hotel in Nov. 2020.New Alpin Room Restaurant on Snowmass -  The new Alpin Room sit-down restaurant (which did not open during the 2020/2021 season due to COVID) will serve breakfast and dinner and will pay homage to the ski culture and mountain dining traditions of the French, Swiss, and Austrian Alps.  
• Snow Beach by ASPENX and Gray Malin - With Gray’s direction and ideation, Snow Beach will offer the ultimate slopeside experience starting President’s Day Weekend. Offering beach-style loungers, bottle service and multi-course food pairings, Snow Beach is a one-of-a-kind “club” on top of Aspen Mountain. The pop-up experience will be available for a limited six-weekend run from Friday, February 18, and ending on Sunday, March 27.

About Aspen, Colorado – Aspen, Colorado is an authentic, historic mountain town that is renowned for its year-round outdoor lifestyle, cosmopolitan cultural calendar, and bustling downtown ambiance. With an endless array of arts, culture, dining, and nightlife, Aspen is defined by an urbane feel that belies its small-town charm. An Aspen vacation is an experience that energizes the mind, body, spirit, whether soaking in mountain beauty and 300 days of annual sunshine, learning a new skill, feeding a fascination, or simply absorbing the mountain spirit. Located 18 miles east of Independence Pass, Aspen is nestled in the heart of the White River National Forest at the confluence of the Roaring Fork River, Hunter Creek, Maroon Creek, and Castle Creek, and encircled by the peaks of the Elk Mountain Range in the central Rocky Mountains. Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE) is conveniently located only three miles from downtown Aspen. For COVID19 updates, click here. For visitor information, a complete calendar of events, or to book an Aspen vacation, visit www.aspenchamber.org, or call 1.888.290.1324 or 970.925.1940.