At A-Spin our mantra;  GO BIG,  or go home.   We rolled back to Aspen just in time for Labor Day weekend, so we could ...GO BIG ....and go home.   After a long cold summer in SF networking with the tech-geeks it felt great to navigate through the S-Curves into Aspen.   The plush greenery, the peaks of the Rockies, the sharp mountain air, and the bluest Colorado sky of all-time greeted us like a Mother's loving embrace.  It's good to be back livin' the dream.

To see our Labor Day / Booty Call  pix  Click Here .

There was no time to acclimatize-- a HUGE weekend was on tap and we were thrown directly into the fire upon arrival.    So... we did what they pay us to do,  we cowboy-ed up and partied like a Mo-Fo.  We "toughed it  out" through 4 days of Jazz Aspen/Snowmass, (Dylan, Fogerty,  Yoakam, Widespread Panic),  the Bars, the Clubs, The 36th annual Mother Lode Volleyball Tourney, and many, many BBQ's and parties. For the past few months we've been interacting with mostly technical types, so mixing it up with the BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE in Aspen---well, it  felt ohhh sooooooo good. 

To see the pix, click  LABOR DAY / BOOTY CALL .       

          photo: Robert Fullerton

At AspenSpin.com, this is our version of political commentary. 

Theres 70 days until the election, but more importantly , only 90 days until openning day @ AJAX.

AspenSpin.com always says, Go BIG or go home.         

Nelson Ventures chose to go HUGE by openning Aspen's brand new hot spot, CRYSTAL PALACE GRILL.  With longtime local Vince Lahey running the front room and head chef, Brad Smith in the back of the house, the newly re-opened CPG is destined for greatness.

Vince Lahey pours a fine wine for Jay Fletcher during the earlybird shift.

Mead Metcalf loved and nurtured  the original Crystal Palace for the first 50 years and created the legend.   Upon Mead's retirement, Nelson Ventures stepped in to utilize "one of the best rooms in Aspen "  and write its own history in the historic space . 

CPG is a traditional American Steak House.    The menu features steaks made from 100% KOBE BEEF along with big thick juicy American cuts of USDA Prime beef.  Other highlights include grilled salmon, lamb chops, fresh cut veggies and all the sides.   Already a house favorite are the famous "David's cottage fries", named  in honor of  the late  Ambassador  David Hermelin.  " The fries are deeeelish", exclaimed one happy customer.  Head Chef Brad Smith serves up a massive steak and  succulent lamb chops. CPG features an extensive wine list from the private collection of Nelson Ventures CEO, Linden Nelson and the "smartly priced" bar menu has been attracting a lot of attention from Aspen Locals.

Monday night is open mike night @ CPG and the place has been thumpin' all summer.  Y'all know the location,  300 East Hyman (corner of  Hyman and Monarch)---get there---STAT.  and tell 'em AspenSpin.com sent you.  For reservations call 970-925-4900.

Angela Konap and Matt Yosten share a toast in front of the historic stained glass@ CPG.

     Sharp dressed man, Stowman L. Stiles II goes BIG@ CPG.  

Known world-wide, as "THE" road Rally for the international jet set,  the 2008 Gumball 3000 held its kick-off festivities in SF at the posh Fairmont Hotel atop Nob Hill.  Gumball is "not a race, its a road rally" explained founder Maximillion Cooper.  What makes this year's 3000 mile journey especially interesting are the rally stops in N. Korea and China.

2008 is the 10th Anniversary for Gumball 3000.  It's open to anyone willing to pluck down the $120,000 entry fee, plus expenses... to join in.  After that, "You need 8 days to drive it and 2 weeks to recover" joked one veteran participant.   The 121 car field took off from SF with huge "party stops" in LA, SD and Vegas, before everybody flies in a "decked out " 767 (also used by The Rolling Stones) to N. Korea followed by 3 days of hard driving in China.  The rally finishes up outside the "Bird's Nest "Olympic Stadium in Beijing.

Thousands of curious spectators crowded the streets of Nob Hill to catch a glimpse of the exotic, expensive and super-charged cars as they prepared to embark on their 3000 mile journey.  

Check the pix at GUMBALL 3000.

AspenSpin.com staffer Andy-Party is un-officially the world's oldest intern.  His time in 'tech-ville" is almost over so we gave him a high-profile assignment last weekend. His  "all access" report is contained below.

The national finals of The Cuervo Black  U.S. AIR GUITAR CHAMPIONSHIPS   (USAG) presented by TouchTunes was held in San Francisco's famed Grand Ballroom on 8/8/08.  Who needs the Olympics when you've got  world class competition right here?

Check the pix @  AIR GUITAR HERO .

Air Guitar is a full-contact sport.  The 25 hottest air-rockers in the U.S.A. , each a regional champ already, came to SF to find fame, fortune and "air-ness".  It's hard core., basically---- Go BIG, or go home. Performance related injuries ranged from Ricky Stinkfinger's broken face in Portland, to Betty B-Goode's severed toe in Brooklyn (which was later amputated) and Des Moines champ Joseph of Air-imathaia's "beer bottle" concussion.
2008 champion Hot Lixx Hulahan broke his thumb severely during the super-competitive pre-lims last Friday.

 It was 25 fully engaged air-strokers; and only 5 qualified for final round.   Hot Lixx "cowboy-ed up" and using his superior  technicality, took the top spot.  He also won the U.S. title in 2006.  When asked how he managed to shred through the pain to eventually conquer a very tight field, the newly re-crowned champ had a two-word response. "DUCT-TAPE" he cringed.  Luckily for him , his thumb was never prehensile to begin with. In the final minute, HLH launched an amp. to throw a HUGE summersault  /stage, dive bashing head-first into the front  rows.  The multitudes caught him on the fly and he "crowd-surfed"  back to the stage---very stylie.

It was quite a show.  Hard-driving rock and roll, enthusiastic performers and a rowdy mob fueled by Cuervo Black and cola.   Hot Lixx will be traveling to Oulu Finland in two weeks for the 2008 World Championships.  Go Hot Lixx.

To see more, click the pix @ AIR GUITAR HERO.