Activism and Altitude Junkies in Aspen

Mountain Summit Aspen.Click 4 PixActivists, Artists and Altitude Junkies gathered in Aspen for the inaugural MOUNTAIN SUMMIT Film festival and Symposium.  MOUNTAIN SUMMITwas a joint venture between Mountainfilm (Telluride), The Wheeler Opera House (Aspen) and Eddie Bauer's  First Ascent.  Everyone in attendance was riveted, entertained, excited and awed by an incredible slate of films, presentations and seminars. Mountainfilm, which has been "celebrating indomitable spirit" in Telluride since 1979 brought their "uniquely fresh & funky" show to Aspen.  Aspen's historic Wheeler Opera House provided an intimate setting for a "FANTASTIC" weekend.  Host Hotel, Limelight Lodge was abuzz all weekend with a powerful message of fixing the planet, changing the world and finding your voice. The conversation has started as attendees rapped about ecology, the economy, altitude, attitude, activisim, conservation, hope, volunteerism, friendship, education, the surf, art, science sport etc. ect.  All that and a food symposium and gallery tour too.   One love--Mountain Summit.

See our pix. Click:  Activism and Altitude.Mountain Summit Aspen Click 4 Pix

Highlights from Mountain Summit were numerous.  Legendary American Alpinists Jim Whittaker and Ed Viesturs were on hand to share tales from their adventures.  Whittaker was the first American to summit Mt. Everest. He also led the famous Peace Climb in 1990. He talked about his career on top of the world, "29028 ft above the sea".  Viesturswho has summited all the 8,000 meter peaks on earth (without O2) reminded us that "summiting is optional, getting down safely is mandatory".  Environmentalist Tim DeChristophersingle handily took on the Bush Administration and the BLM to save thousands of acres of pristine land in Utah.  He risked his liberty to do so and brought the SRO crowd to tears, literally.  Conceptual artist Chris Jordan displayed his passion for saving the earth and shocked the Wheeler audience with a primal scream.  His point was well taken.

Mountain Summit 09 Aspen Click for pixMountain Summit films included: THE COVE an ultra-powerful look at dolphin slaughter in Japan.  ROCK PROPHECIES, a documentary about famed Rock & Roll photographer Robert M. Knight.  BIG RIVER MAN the story of the guy who swam the entire Amazon River ( 3375 miles). CARTS of DARKNESS, an inside look at the extreme street people who race shopping carts down the steep concrete hills of Vancouver at speeds over 40 mph --- giving gnarly, a new definition.  Two super-siiiiiiiiiick ski films from Japan's Masaki Sekiguchi.  THE FARM: 10 DOWN the story of Louisiana's infamous Angola Prison. THE YES MEN FIX THE WORLD and crowd favorite SURFING 50 STATES a travel-log in which 2 Aussie mates surf in each of the 50 United States.

AspenSpin wants to personally thank our new friends from MountainFilm and Eddie Bauer and our old friends from The Wheeler (City of Aspen) and LimeLight Lodge for creating such an important, meaningful and AWESOME festival.  Save us an aisle seat for next year, and we'll see ya'll in T-Ride for Mountainfilm, May 28-31, 2010.

ACRA in ACTION

Mike Kaplan, Michael Fox, Shlomo and Mayor Mick Ireland @ ACRA's Summer Lunch. Click for more pix.The Aspen Chamber Resort Association (ACRA) hosted their annual Summer Luncheon atop Aspen Mountain.  A who's who of Aspen's business leaders commuted 3,267 vertical feet on the Silver Queen Gondola to the summit of Ajax.  The Sundeck was filled with movers and shakers for a glorious Summer session in the best office in the world. 

See the pix, Click: ACRA in ACTION.

ACRA President, Debbie Braun, Board Chair Warren Klug and a full slate of Aspen Ski Co. representatives presented a quick preview for SKI SEASON 2009/10.  David Perry and Mike Kaplan both addressed "pass-gate" and provided insite on their re-vamped pricing schedule. A Recent controversy erupted in Aspen about Ski Co.'s decision to eliminate certain pass categories. Some locals are up in arms, while others are thrilled.   Despite last years economic tsunami,  ACRA, Ski Co. and the ACRA members seemed cautiously upbeat about the upcoming ski season.  Click to see the ACRA in ACTION pix.

The benefits of ACRA membership are numerous.  Paramount to many is the discounted ski passes that ACRA members and their employees have access to.  At A-Spin we love the networking and our ACRA membership helps us stay on the pulse of everything A-Town.  Click ACRA to review the benefits, join and take advantage of the "super-early" pricing on premier passes until Sept. 18.

Backstage with Blondie

Deborah Harry & Blondie in Aspen.Blondie, the iconic 70's new wave band from NYC made their triumphant return to Aspen tonight. 

Founding members Deborah Harry, Chris Stein and Clem Burke brought their A-Game to A-town as the band never sounded tighter.  Ms. Harry, the lead singer looked great, sounded phenomenal and embraced the SRO crowd @ Belly Up.  Debbie, a former Playboy Bunny and waitress at Max's Kansas City in NYC, and the band has sold more than 40 million records during their illustrious career.  In 2006, Blondie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Check the history; click BLONDIE

Our old pal, drummer Clem Burke arranged for complimentary tix for A-Spin's entire editorial staff.  We first met Clem in NYC via our late home-boy Sheldon Lubin (R.I.P).   As if free tix weren't enough, Clem stickered us up w/ all access passes to the VIP after-party in the Green Room where unlimited booze, and copious amounts of sushi awaited. 

T.I.A. bi-atchs, This is Aspen.  Geoff, Mo,Mike & Chester pre-game. Click to enlarge.

Swiller the Thriller gettin' bizzy w/ Neff, TC and Drita. 

 Geoff Lubin (Shel's son) intros his posse to Clem Burke.  Clem & the Boyz from Blondie in the Green Room after party. Blondie. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Call Me !! Debbie Harry.

  Da Girlz tryin' to get backstage @ Blondie.

Teddy Kennedy 1932-2009

Edward Moore Kennedy the esteemed Senator from Massachusetts has died at 77.  Ted Kennedy held his office in the U.S. Senate since November of 1962. He honorably served 9 terms and was the third longest serving Senator of all time.  He was a champion of liberal causes, his voice will be missed.  Click here for ABC's coverage.

Edward Moore Kennedy 1932-2009

Dickey Betts in Aspen

Dickey Betts / Great SouthernSouthern rocker Dickey Betts and his band, Great Southern jammed at 8,000 feet tonight in Aspen.  Best known as a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, Betts is one of the greatest rock guitarists in history.  He is ranked #58 on the all-time list by Rolling Stone Mag. His incendiary riffs are some of the most recognizable in R & R. For many, his licks define Southern Rock.Dickey Betts / Blue Sky

Betts who will turn 66 in December, attracted a rowdy crowd composed mostly of his contemporaries. "It's an over 50 show" quipped one of the partiers in the mosh pit.  AARP member or not DB can still "kill it" on the axe.  He played all his classics like Blue Sky, In Memory of Eliz. Reed and Ramblin' Man along with several sustained jams featuring his son Duane Betts on lead.  (Guess who the kid is named after?).

It was a return to action for AspenSpin, and it felt gooooooooooood.

 Belli, Jules, Stewie and DG in da front row.Born on the back seat of a greyhound bus, rollin' down Hwy 41.Big shoes to fill; Duane Betts