Off-Season in Aspen – What to do?

Posted by Jilly3 on Apr 23, 2011 in Personal, What to do | 0 comments

(Photo Credit: Michele Cardamone)

Winter is hanging on up here with 10 – 20 inches of snow expected in the forecast between now and Monday and more snow coming every day of next week…Don’t get me wrong, once in it, it’s a blast, it’s just getting the motivation to get there.

With Wade’s ribs still broken, and no partner to play with in the snow, depression is beginning to set in. I’m thinking tomorrow, closing day on Highlands Bowl will change that.

It’s the end of April after all and the beautiful flowers are intermittently bursting open to show off their bright colors, between snowfalls.

Everywhere I go locals are also ready to burst, with spring fever. Memories of desert trips with Wade infiltrate my mind, but he reminds me that I’m thinking back over twelve years to a time where we couldn’t keep our hands off of each other. A time where we hiked all day holding hands, stopping often to take photographs of each other, returning to our campsite for appetizers and alcohol. A time where we did our best to not fall off the rock as we rolled around in magical light cast by the setting suns rays. And a time where we found my glasses ground into the dirt, next to the empty bottle of Jeager. That’s the time I daydream of often, a time where I could play all night with my man and my Jaeger, under the stars. That’s the time I miss.

Now, Lacrosse prevails and so I turn to my girlfriends to break open our calendars and see if we can make the great escape happen. I’m ready to play on my mountain bike and wake up my dormant muscles as I test my skills, or lack thereof, on steady climbs and single tracks that twist and turn over deep canyons. I’m ready for that, the physical exertion rejuvenating my body and clearing my mind as I deeply inhale the sweet scent of pinion.

Screeech to reality. It ain’t gonna happen. So, I did some research to find what my options are here…in the snow:

(Sweet Angel Dancing to Slightly White)

Go Sledding! get out your Swiss Bobsled and go sledding in the high country. Please be careful and wear helmets.

April 28 – May 1^ST:

5 Point Film Festival: The 5Point Film Festival is on a mission to inspire adventure of all kinds, to connect generations through shared experience and respect, to engage passion with a conscience, and to educate through film. Tickets can be purchased online, in person or via telephone at the Carbondale Recreation Center at 970.704.4190

Beginning May 2nd:

Town of Snowmass Village Recreation Center: Take the kids to my favorite pool, really, I love it, and you know I’m not much of a pool person. This one is outdoors and not only is it heated to the perfect temperature but it’s also salt water and it’s never been too crowded when I’ve been there. If your kids are swimmers, trust them to Rosie, the only lifeguard in the valley who seems to watch the pool as well as I do. Go work out in the gym while the kids have a blast playing in all of the water features, including the gentle water slide.

There is also a great ramp in the pool for the toddlers to crawl up and down like alligators, but stay with them please. When the kids tire of swimming, they can stretch their limbs in the cave-like climbing gym or run outside to shoot some hoops and/or skateboard in one of our favorite parks.

Snacks and Pizza from Tasters are available for purchase but unfortunately, no more sandwiches.

FACILITY WILL BE CLOSED for maintenance for one week only, April 24 – Monday May 2nd. For hours/prices and pass information, visit their website.

Saturday, May 7th Anderson Ranch Hands Presents Mother’s Day Tea Party Schermer Hall & Cafe 5263 Owl Creek Road, Snowmass, CO
Celebrate Your Mom! Cardmaking/Cookie Decorating & Tea/Tshirt Screen Printing
(bring your own or purchase a Ranch Tshirt)/RSVP by May 1/Ranch Hand Members Free
$20 per non-member family/tshepard@andersonranch.org/Trish Shepard 970-923-3181 X208

Sunday, May 8^th: Mother’s Day. Take your mama out to a champagne brunch, bring her flowers, make her a card, whatever it takes, DO IT! My favorite place for brunch? The Sonnenalp in Vail. There I said it!!!

Thursday, MAY 5^TH: CINCO de MAY

Hunter Bar: Celebrate El Grito al Hunter Bar w/ DJ Angel. Corona, Modelo, Tequila & Margarita Specials.Worst hung over of the year, EVERY YEAR!!!

MAY 9^TH: My ummmm…30 something b-day??? Place and time tbd.

May 12th: Aspen Art Museum. 6pm

The Anxiety of Photography: artist Mario Garcia Torres discusses his work and the important role photographic processes play in his practice.

May 13, 14 & 15th The Aspen Community School Garage Sale.

The school’s annual fundraiser is being held at the Willits Town Center (next to Kitchen Collage). The school is now accepting donations for the sale. Items to drop off for sale include bikes, furniture, sporting goods, spring-cleaning finds, etc. — For free pickup of items; call Hunt at 309-2268. Or, bring items by and make pre-sale purchases on Sundays from 2-5 p.m. The collection is under way on Sundays through May 15 at the Willits Town Center space. Any clothes can be dropped off in Carbondale to Alexa’s Closet, mark bags as payable to ACS Garage Sale —

8th Annual Roaring Fork Valley Studio Tour. First Friday Kick-Off Event, June 3 at the Third Street Center. Studio Tour Saturday, June 4th.

Aspen Fly Fishing Summer Camps for Kids. Offering two day fly fishing camps for the age range of 8 – 18 years of age. Get kids interested in fly fishing while in Aspen.As well as the free, that right FREE fly fishing clinics on Wednesday nigths @ 6pm in Basalt.

Limelight Lodge: Music every Friday night. 5:30-8:30pm.

Fridays April Paine and John Sommers of the Defiance Strinb. Saturdays Rich Ganson performs live

Carbondale Clay Center. Check in with them before you miss any more fun events like their Carbondale Beer Works held this past Thursday.

Basalt Wine Shop. Get on their mailing list and join them every other Wednesday evening for fun wine tastings.

Winepiper. Go visit them in Carbondale for their Friday evening wine tastings, and have fun learning all about wines by the great and dynamic Rudolph Pieper .
792 & 798 Highway 133, 81623

Visit the Glenwood Caverns for 4D Motion Theater, Awesome Laser Tag, The Giant Canyon Swing, The Alpine Coaster, The Soaring Eagle Zip Ride, Wild and/or Walking Cave Tours, Bungee Trampoline, Fort WhereAmI Maze, Doc’s Rock climbing wall, Wild West Wagon simulated Conestoga Ride and, my favorite, The Mechanical Bull!! They’re open 10-5 Mon-Fri, 10-6 Sat & Sun through May 26, but check website first to check what is open and what is not.

Visit the Glenwood Hot Springs while you’re there.

Campo de Fiori, a local hot spot, is open Wed-Sun 6pm. 25% off on entire bill in the dining room.

Viceroy Snowmass opens on May 26h with Colorado rates starting at $95. Let’s lounge out, eat amazing food and have a pool party?!

EATASPEN’S RESTAURANT OFF-SEASON HOURS list:

April – May 2011

Restaurants	Phone #	Closing – Opening Dates

39 Degrees	925-6760	Close April 10th, Open weekends, Closed all May
520 Grill	925-9788	Closed Sundays, Closed May 12 – 20
Ajax Tavern	920-6334	Closed April 15 – May 12
Asie	920-9988	Open
Aspen Brewery	920-2739	Open
BB’s Kitchen	429-8284	Open Tue.-Sat. Brunch, Lunch, & Dinner
Big Wrap	544-1700	Closed April 22 -May 16
Boogie’s Diner	925-6610	Open Lunch & Dinner daily
Brexi	925-2838	Closed April 16, reopen around Memorial Day
Brunelleschi’s Dome Pizza	544-4644	Open
Butcher’s Block	925-7554	Open (Closed Easter Sunday)
CP Burger	925-3056	Open
Cache Cache	925-3835	Closed April 10 – May 27
Campo de Fiori	920-7717	Closed Mon. and Tues. beginning April 18
Cantina	925-3663	Open
Caribou Club	925-2929	Closed April 10-June 8
Casa Tua	920-7277	Closed April 17 – June 6 (approx.)
Domino’s	925-3230	Open
Elevation	544-5166	Open
Ellina	925-2976	Open all April Closed in May
Elkhorn Bar and Grill	925-1500	Open Fri. Sat. Sun. 3PM-9PM w. limited menu
French Pastry Café	925-3569	Open Mon. – Sat.
Garden Terrace		Closed during winter season
Gisella	925-8222	Open 6 PM Tues. – Sat. after April 17
Grape Bar	429-9108	Open Thur.-Sat. only
Grateful Deli	925-6647	Open, Closed Sun.
Hickory House	925-2313	Closed Mon. and Tues. beginning April 11
Highlands Pizza Co.	920-3747	Closed April 25 – June 10
Hunter Bar	920-0009	Open lunch & dinner
Il Mulino	205-1000	Open Wed-Sun. Lunch & Dinner
Ink Coffee	544-0588	Open
J Bar	429-7674	Open
Jacob’s Corner	920-1000	Closed
Jimmy’s	925-6020	Open 4:30-11pm nightly. Closed 5/15-19
Johnny McGuire’s Deli	920-9255	Open
Jour De Fete	925-5055	Open Mon.-Fri. 7am-4pm, Sat&Sun-3pm
Junk	925-5865	Open Tues. – Sat. 12PM
Kenichi	920-2212	Closed Sun & Mon starting April 24
L’Hostaria	925-9022	Closed Sun & Mon, starting April 18
La Palapa	544-8479	Closed April 11 – May 13
Little Annie’s	925-1098	Open
Little Nell (Montagna)	920-6330	Closed April 11 – May 11
Little Ollie’s	544-9888	Open
Louis’ Swiss Pastry	925-8592	Open
Lulu Wilson	920-1893	Closed April 10 – ?
Main Street Bakery & Café	925-6446	Closed May 2 – 9
Matsuhisa	544-6628	lounge open nightly, dining room thurs.-Sat.
Mezzaluna	925-5882	Closed Sun starting April 17
N9NE Steakhouse	920-1090	LAST DAY SAT. APRIL 9
New York Pizza	920-3088	Closed May 8 – 15
Oy Vey Café	544-1722	Open
Nutrition	925-8900	Open may close 2 weeks in May
Pacifica	920-9775	Closed April 10 – Memorial Day Weekend
Papa Johns	920-1494	Close till mid May
Paradise Bakery	925-7585	Open
Parallell 15	920-3730	Open through May
Peaches	544-9866	Open, Closed Sun.
Pine Creek	925-1044	last lunch April 9 & 10 until June
Pinons	920-2021	Closed April 10 – ?
Pitkin County Steakhouse	544-6328	Open Thurs.-Sat.
Pitkin County Tavern	544-6328	Open Thur. – Sat.
Plato’s @ Aspen Meadows	925-4240	Closed April 11 – ?, bar open 11am – 11pm
Poppycocks	925-1245	Open
Pyramid Bistro	925-5338	Starting April 17 lunch only
Red Mountain Grill	544-6336	Closed for Spring – ?
Red Onion	925-9955	Open
Rustique	920-2555	Open Tues. – Sat.
Sabra’s Deli	920-3489	Open 10AM – 8PM (beg. Mid April)
Silver Queen	920-3616	Open Wed-Sat. at 5:30pm
Specialty Foods of Aspen	544-6656	Open
Starbucks	544-6830	Starting April 11 7am – noon
Su Casa	920-1488	Closed April 30 , reopen May 18
Syzygy	925-3700	Closed April 10 until June
Takah Sushi	925-8588	Closed April 24 – Memorial Day Weekend
Taster’s	925-1952	Open
The Restaurant	920-3300	Closed April 4 – June 14
Ute City	925-2900	Open
Victoria’s Espresso	920-3001	Open daily 8AM – 8PM
Wild Fig	925-5160	Beg. April 10, closed Sun., Mon. Open 5:30PM Tue.- Sat.
Willow Creek Bistro	429-2327	Open for lunch Sat. & Sun thru April 24
Woody Creek Tavern	923-4585	Open 11AM – 10PM
Zane’s Tavern	544-9263	Open
Zocalito	920-1991	Closed April 26 – May 12

Thanks to the Aspen Chamber Resort Association for compiling this list.

Eateries already closed (April 9th & 10th 2011) until summer are Montagna, Ajax Tavern, La Palapa, Syzygy, Pacifica, Plato’s, Pinons, Garnish,Cache Cache, LuLu Wilson, The Restaurant, Pine Creek, and the very last night for N9NE on the 9th.

If you are a local and would like to post any specials or events you are having in April/May, than I invite you to join in on Jilly3′s Chat Room by clicking LIKE and sharing your information there.

(Ajax Tavern: Spring Parties)