Dead Presidents

da Girlz. Click 4 pix.Wow, the bullsh*t being slung on the gondy this week is thick and juicy.  In case you forgot ---President's Week in Aspen is perhaps the most affluent week of the season.  It's a more upscale crowd than the posers who show up for New Years?  The narcissism is palpable.

Whateva?

We find it hilarious that everyone on the Gondola is "from here", even though they're obviously not.  Face it people,--- if your house, job, family, school, dog & car aren't in Aspen---then you don't "really" live here.   Everybody's wants to be a local, especially this week.  Just to clarify, fractional ownership does not constitute "having a place" in Aspen.  SCOREBOARD!! If you're here 2 weeks a year or less, you don't live here.   

More Girlz. Click 4 PixThe people from L.A. throw out the most smack----is everybody a MAJOR playa in LALA land?   The Noooo Yawkers complain about the economy as they shop, dine and spend like drunken sailors.  You gotta love the cougars who have five ski outfits, but never ski a run. They ride the gondy up for lunch, ride it down for their spa treatments. Its all good clean fun. T.I.A. This is Aspen.

 Click DEAD PRESIDENTS to see the PIX.

Art, Chocolate & POWDER

Another big night in Aspen, Colorado:

The 18th Annual Chocolate Classic was held to benefit RESPONSE.   Response is an organization that helps victims of domestic violence. For the past 25 years Response has been providing confidential, non-judgmental support and education to survivors of sexual assault and interpersonal violence.   Last night, about 50 chefs, bakers and desert specialists provided Chocolate treats to a SRO crowd at The Hotel Jerome.  It was an orgy of CHOCOLATE, more chocolate choices than you can shake a stick at.  Decadent mousses, succulent souffle, bad-a$$ brownies.  White, dark, milk, gluten free---you name it it was there for the tasting, and  it was siiiick---all to benefit Response.  Click the pix to enlarge.

Chocolate was everywhere, but first place went to Pinons.

                                                                                    Annie and Noelle dancin' to Dan Forde & High Country    The highly trained ladies of Response.    The Aspen Art Museum hosted an opening reception for conceptual artist Jim Hodges and his work "you will see these things". You've seen Hodges' art  which is recreated on this year's lift ticket, "give more than you take".  Based in NYC , but internationally known, Hodges created a site specific sculpture in AAM's main gallery that defies description. The piece is huge in scope and size, its made of plywood and consists of a series of locks and hinges. We highly recommend that you view it and form your own conclusions.  Feel free to touch and walk on the art, as the interactive nature of the work is unique. It'll be @ AAM until 5/3/09.Hodges (2nd from left) with fans Paul Viola and The Wesners of Austin. Art Patrons Ellen Speers, Laura Kaplan and Soledad Hurst were dwarfed by the art.

Ski Co. PR team Meredith and Lea with CEO Mike Kaplan in front of a giant lift ticket.

                                                                                                                            Aspen was all set up for a huge POW day on Friday the 13th. Unlucky!!  The storm that was shaping up nicely on radar turned into just a small flurry.  We'll make due with one more perfect bluebird day in paradise before the President's Day rush begins.  C-ya out there.

LOVE: Aspen Style

Janine & Debbie paid big bucks for a date with Aspen Mayor Mick Ireland.The dollars were flying last night as a conglomerate of Aspen's most influential entities combined to present,  Love: Aspen Style.  Fly Lounge, Tasha (the Love Coach) and the Qittle team joined forces to host LOVE CONNECTION, a singles event to benefit Challenge Aspen.  The highlight of the evening was a super-sexy slave auction with all the proceeds going to Challenge Aspen.  Aspenites were encouraged to bid up, and buy a date with their favorite "single"  Both men & women dressed to impress on the catwalk @ Fly. 

30 of Aspen's most eligible bachelors and bachelorettes were auctioned off Michael broke the bank for a date with sexy Andrea.just in time for Valentine's day.  The bidding was frantic.  Whether you wanted a date with a hot young thing, a more mature politician-type, or a professional athlete it was all available at Fly Lounge.

We're quite sure that several new couples were formed last night as Love was clearly in the air.   Tasha's love coaching, the viral SMS power of Qittle and copious amounts of drinks from Fly Lounge combined in a "perfect storm" of love to raise thousands of dollars for Challenge Aspen.

Click the pix to ENLARGE. (glitch will be fixed soon).

The Aspen Club girlz bid it up for a date with Clint.

Wright Visions CEO, Jesse Wright shook his money maker for the crowd.A date with Kassie: Only $700. No biggie for Pat.Edite & Luciana got dibs on DJ Max.With Tasha's coaching, Oliver fetched a huge sum. 

Rink Rats vs. Politicians

Hockey Night in Aspen is something special.  When the buzzer sounds people from all walks of life show up at the Aspen Ice Garden to "skate it".  Like most athletes in Aspen,the hockey community @ Aspen Ice Garden takes themselves pretty seriously.  Its a diverse group, united by their love of Hockey.  Skating hard at 8,000 ft is not for the feint of heart.

We understand that budget cuts must be made by the City of Aspen.  We understand that development fees collected by the City may decrease by 50% from the recent peak. Closing the smelly but beloved Ice Garden is not the solution.

The smartest guy i know says "if you have an asset that's not utilized, it becomes a liability".  If the Aspen Ice Garden is closed for half the year, as proposed, it will become a liability.  Maybe that's by design.  Is it a part of the City's "master plan"?  Maybe its the first step on the way to converting the recreational facility (enjoyed by hundreds of adults & kids) into employee housing or free-market condos, or a big daddy Hotel or something that will generate more development fees.  Something smells funny; & its not just the incredibly sweaty hockey gear housed in the Ice Garden's groady locker rooms.

Privatization of the Aspen Ice Garden is a good idea, lets make it work.

Caribou Club

Caribou's Billy Stolz and Brenda Barna keepin' it real at the door.Aspen's night life is legendary. The undisputed champion of Aspen After Dark is the extremely private, CARIBOU CLUB.  Aspen has a few contenders and several pretenders, but "the bou" is clearly the "King of the Night".

The super-posh Caribou Club has been a fixture in Aspen for decades. Caribou's longevity is amazing, given that the typical lifecycle for a nightclub in Aspen is about 2 seasons, . Conceived by mythic developer Harley Baldwin who turned lower level "dead space" on the Collins block into the most exclusive club between NYC and LA.  Membership has its privileges @ Caribou. The dining room is renown for its cuisine and can accommodate private parties of any size.  Members can have a cozy dinner for two in one of the elegant banquettes or they can go HUGE in a private dining room.

Vlad has the game to handle Zanna & Jen.After dinner, the Bou turns into the best night-club in America.  Around 11 pm, the tables are cleared, the music begins to pulse and all the beautiful people start to "get after it". The storied dance floor fills up fast with fabulous women and antique men (just kidding guys). Its a party scene that should not be missed. Caribou members always have first priority of course, but temporary members and guests can sometimes make the cut. Proprietor Billy Stolz and his right hand lady, Brenda Barna run an extremely tight ship @ the door. So dress sharp, tip big and if you're  really a playa, maybe, just maybe, you too can experience Aspen after dark the way it should be experienced--- ------at the legendary CARIBOU CLUB.HollyWood playa Pete Berg and reality star Kat Saari feeling the beat @ Caribou. 

Laura Hoffman and Nancy Ho gettin it done-- late night @ the Bou.