BooB Job (for the Cure)

The Aspen /Snowmass community kept the rubber on the road for the annual SUSAN G. KOMEN / Ride for the Cure.  Supporters showed off their "Save the Boobs" t-shirts and flashed strength to the 400 riders who pedaled the 100 mile century route. Weather-wise, it was one of the most spectacular days known to man.   Perfect conditions, a rowdy staff of volunteers, live music, great swag and plenty of delicious food and drinks contributed to the "best" RIDE for the CURE ever.  10, 30 and 64 mile options made it a great family event.  Many of Aspen's top bikers donned the pink jersey to raise money for the fight against breast cancer. I'm still not dead, click 4 pix

AspenSpin.com staked out near the start / finish line in Koch Park to capture some of the action.  Each rider was required to raise at least $500 for Komen.  Some, like cancer survivor RAIFIE BASS raised substantially more.  Bass, formed a team of cyclists named---I'm still not dead yet,--- and they raised more than $30,000.  Grand  totals for the event are still being tabulated, but A-Spin's finance department estimates that more than $250,000 will be contributed to help find the cure for breast cancer.  It's not to late to contribute---- dig deep, Save the Boobs --click  KomenAspen.ORG . After you've donated click our pix @  BOOB JOB.

AYPA @ CPG

Earlier in the week,  The Aspen Young Professionals Association (AYPA) gathered at the new Crystal Palace Grille (CPG) to network with 6 of Aspen's most powerful Women.   The panel discussion with the  lady power-brokers drew a SRO crowd to CPG, the new hot spot.  The event set an official record for the City of Aspen.  It was the best woman-to-man ratio in the history of Aspen (for groups over 100 people).  Again,  the official totals are not yet available, but we estimate that it was 8 to 1 gals-to-guys.   Even better, it was  professional women to boot----yeah,baby.  Where were you dude-bro? 

Check the pix;  hit BOOB JOB. 

Labor Day / Booty Call

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

Seperated @ Birth: Barak Obama & Tayshaun Prince

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.

Crystal Palace Grill

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. Stines II goes BIG@ CPG.  

Gumball 3000

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.