Plastic Bags are BANNED in Aspen.

Aspen, Colorado bans single use plastic bags at grocery stores. The ban is effective 5/1/12Solana Beach, California voted to ban single use plastic bags at grocery and retail stores and restaurants. The ban will go into effect in approximately 3 months. s

 Act Locallly / Think Globally

On May 1, 2012 Aspen's three grocery stores will ban single use plastic bags. Plastic bags will no longer be an option.   City Market, Roxy's and Clark's Market will also impose a 20 cent fee for paper bags.  Carbondale is banning single use palstic bags too.  The City of Aspen is offering free cloth bags (while they last).  Click 4 details and other environmental tips from The CITY of ASPEN

Last week the Solana Beach, California City Council voted to ban the use of plastic bags in Grocery Stores, Restaurants and Retailers. A 10 cent fee will apply to each paper bag used.  Click here for the story.  Solana Beach bans Plastic Bags

Upon first glance a required ban of plastic bags in Aspen (population 6,658) and Solana Beach (population 12,867) seems like a drop in the bucket.    These are two very small towns...one in the Rocky Mountains and one in So. Cal. on the Pacific Coast. What they have in common is, both cities heavily rely on the environment for recreation, tourism and lifestyle.  In Aspen its the skiing and riding, the hiking, biking, fishing, camping etc. that make it happen.  In Solana Beach its the surfing and sponging and SUPing and fishing etc. that carry the day.  

According to the WorldWatch Institute a plastic bag ban in China has reduced usage by 66% and saved 40 billion bags and 1.6 million tons of petroleum.  Before the ban China was using 3 billion bags a day

It took me a while to realize how these "baby steps" can help and how important they are. Start in your own backyard, in your own neighborhood, in your own town.  Everybody needs to change their behavior immediately because climate change is upon us.  I'm not a scientist or a meteorologist, but I can see the weather changing right before my eyes....and I don't like it.  The entire World needs to react and take care of business.  Acting locally can have a tremendous impact on a Global problem.

Don't delay, start today.  It's not B.S. Take baby steps in your own house.

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Best Closing Day of All Time (and I don't mean the Party)

Aspen: Closing Day = POW Day.For the entire ski season in Aspen we've been Jones-ing for the POW.  Sure we got a little taste. A foot dropped directly on the ground in early December, and we did get those 4 snowy days in a row in February....pretty siiiiick. Other than that, not much  more than a dusting in the snow department.

THE POW PIX    and    THE PARTY PIX

Today is closing day in Aspen. Most people had already hung up their sticks weeks ago.  Temps had been 60 degrees or warmer for like 40 straight days.  In what seems like a true irony, last night it nuked continuously.  12"-15" up top was the call and almost a foot in town.  Whaaaaaaaaaaaat???   Your're kidding me, right?? It was the second dryest March in Colorado history and I had already packed away all my warm gear...and my ski quiver (including my fatties) was tuned and ready for next year.  Yesterday on Aspen Mountain there were more brown spots and exposed rock beds than I had ever seen during any ski season.  There were even a couple "stop and walks" on the cat tracks. But today, on closing day....a legit POW Day???

Click 4 pix.  THE POW PIX

The Bond of the POW.When I went to bed it was full-on dumping. This morning I awoke very early in anticipation.  I broke out the Carmelo-meter (my dog) to accurately determine the snow depth and POW quality.  Turns out it was siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick.  My dog and I got some serious POW time at the base.  She was freaking out with joy and eventually (after an hour) Carmelo agreed to get back on her leash.  I then geared up quickly and pulled out my new side-stashes and hit the Gondy. All the usual suspects were there.  I tried not to think about the turf that was oh so close underneath.  It was no time for an injury.  Freshies and copious face shots were claimed.  It was a fabulous way to finish off a less than awesome season.  105 days...not a bad score.

THE PARTY at Aspen Highlands...it was decent.  Not like in years past.  If you ask me..something was off a beat.  Maybe it was the early closing (originally AH was to close on April 22).  Maybe it has evolved into such a BIG event that the expectations are unobtainable.  Maybe its just the party people and many of the hard core skiers and riders skipped it?  Maybe it has jumped the shark?   Sure, everyone was drinking their faces off and had their onesies on, but it just wasn't on par with past years. 

I did what I do...I took tons of sick pix.  

Click 4 Pix:  THE PARTY PIX.

!2"-15" of Fresh snow on Closing Day in Aspen. Click 4 POW pix.

4 miles high. The bus ride to Aspen Highlands. click 4 PARTY PIX.The Aspen Highlands Closing Day Party. Has it jumped the shark? Click 4 PARTY PIX.Wiggle, Wiggle, Wiggle at Aspen Highlands. Click 4 PARTY PIX.

(Almost) Off Season.

Art Start at The Red Brick Click 4 pix.Ski Season 2011/12;  Measured in inches....it was pretty sh*tty....but measured in fun....pretty darn good.  The ski season is coming  to a close in Aspen,but AspenSpin is sprinting to finish and still snapping pix like crazy.  Click the links to see our handiwork.

ART START:  It's the annual kids art show. Original artwork from children at all four Aspen Schools (K-8) is selected by their teachers for display at The Red Brick Community Art Center in conjunction with Art Start.  Witnessing the excitement of a young child when they find their own work on the wall and then showing it off to their parents is a wonderful experience.  All the kids were there for the glory as well as the pizza, soda and art.  Click ART START for more pix.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP of SYNCHRONIZED SKIING:  Every year Synchro teams from all over the World come to Aspen to vie for the title of World Champion.   Teams of 8...(men and women) ski in formation looking for the perfect combo of style, speed and synchronicity.  The year the team from BEAVER CREEK took home top honors defeating the 2-Time defending champs.. Aspen Demo Team.  The competitors are mostly high-level ski instuctors who train together vigorously all year.  Aspen mountain can barely contain all the egos at one time...but it's definately fun to watch.  CLICK: ASPEN SYNCHRO

ASPEN JUNIOR HOCKEY 40th Anniversary.   Aspen is a hockey town.  Kids and adults keep the two rinks going 24/7.  Aspen Junior Hockey was started in 1972 by local legend John McBride.  McBride who played for Princeton and was a member of the U.S. National Team back in the day started the program with just 12 kids.  This past season 323 children played with AJH.  Aspen has produced State Champs and some excellent players over the years.  The 40th Anniversary Alumni Game was a raucous, fast paced affair that ended in a tie.   Mr. McBride, now 74, laced up his skates to play for the Green squad, but he was taken out of the game by the goon tactics of the Yellows. In what is the most bone-headed play of all-time, McBride suffered a fractured fibula and dislocated hip when he was taken to the ice on the opening faceoff.  Everybody in Aspen wishes him a speedy and full recovery.  The after-party for parents and coaches took on a life of its own. CLICK 4 PIX: ASPEN JUNIOR HOCKEY 40th Anniversary.

The BEST 2 INCH POW DAY of ALL TIME.  After getting skunked for snow in March, April is showing off its POW.   We got 2 legit inches on Thursday Night and it turned the skiing into a super-fun thrill ride on Friday.  We got a dusting on top of the concrete-like base that had been melting and freezing for weeks.  The combination worked and several die-hards (AspenSpin being one) were seen shredding the gnar.  In fact its snowing right now.  5"-9" are expected for closing day.  CLICK:  2 INCHES of HEAVEN.

Aspen Junior Hockey celebrated 40 Years with an Alumni game and HUGE Party. click 4 pix.Aspen Demo Team trying to three-peat, came in a close 2nd. Featuring extreme athlete Nick Hill. Click for pix.Aspen Junior Hockey Squirt B parents. Clcik for more pix.The BEST 2 inch POW Day of ALL-TIME on Aspen Mountain. click 4 pix.Eco-Fashionistas at Art Start at the Red Brick. Click 4 pix.

Schatz Family BLOWS up in Aspen.

(Dateline):  Aspen, Colorado

Schatz and Allison in Aspen. Click 2 ENLARGEMichael Schatz is a modern day Mike Brady.  He and his fiancée Allison and their matched set of kids hit the BIG Time in Aspen.  They did it all, they were skiing and boarding and biking and hiking, and fishing and dishing...and that's just during the day.  I'm guessing the Go Pro footy from Schatz' head-cam is siiiiiiiiiick.  Tasting a little of the Snowmass Nightlife never hurt anybody either....right?.  Alas, on Monday,  Schatz headed back to the Merc. where he slings futures around like they were Krispy Kremes.  Everyone at AspenSpin is "Tebowing" for a bull market.

Go. Shatz Go.Avery, Aaron and Alden...The A Team in Aspen.Schatz and his posse.In the Fort at SnowmassAspenSpin wants to see that Go Pro footage. I'm guessing its compelling video content.

The Fishing is siiiiiiiiiick in Aspen.

Back 2 Back Parties

AspenWeather.net. Plan your POW Day. Click 4 pix.It was a nice little Tuesday during the off season (almost). 2 parties in one night at the same place, Sky Bar.

The first soiree was in honor of Phil Le Roux, a 10 year Aspen vet and one of the top ski instructors at Aspen / Snowmass.  He's pulling the plug.  Guernsey's heading to Verbier to start his own ski and guiding company.  We wish him the best of luck on his new entrepreneurial adventure.   Click the pix to see yourself on FaceBook;  BACK 2 BACK Parties.

Thew second bash was the unofficial kick-off for AspenWeather.net.   Ryan Boudreau and Cory Gates are blowing it up BIG time on the internet.  Their weather site is stroming Aspen.  good luck to those guys as they try to predict the weather and help "plan your POW Day". 

Some of you may have seen my comment on FB about Wagner Park being closed for 3 months as an accommodation for The Food and Wine Classic (a 3 day event).  I'm calling bullsh*t on that.  I remember when people came to Aspen for the NATURAL BEAUTY, the RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES and the LAID BACK VIBE.   Now we need to offer Veuve Cliquot and Fireworks to attract the crowds.  I've opined before about the economic impact of some of our special events.  I keep hearing how "great" they are for the community. Tell me,  how great are they?  Let's put a number on it.  How many room nights, how many growlers of beer, how many fly fishing trips.   What's the true economic value?   No one loves events more than AspenSpin...but at what cost?  And for whose benefit. Follow the dollars.  Do the numbers, City of Aspen, before you tell us how "great" the events are and use our resources...you should measure the impact.

I give Aspen / Snowmass credit for tweeting honestly about today's high winds, lightening and the Gondy being on hold. When I saw the Limelight tweeting about the snow...I had to laugh. 

37The Limelight Hotel ‏ @LimelightAspen

"A little birdie just told us that it's snowing on top of #Aspen Mtn right now. There's a bit more winter out there yet! @AspenSnowmass "

Maybe it will snow this weekend?  We're counting on it.

Phil "Guernsey" Le Roux and his boys. Good luck in Verbier, mate.Amanda showing her Aussie Mates...how its done Aspen Style. Click 4 pix.