Aspen Weekend Agenda: January 12-14, 2018
The Temporary welcomes award-winning journalist and longtime host of Democracy Now! on Friday night.
Image: Courtesy: The Temporary
Friday, January 12
Wintersköl
Dates and times vary through Sunday, Aspen
We’re in the midst of the 67th annual Wintersköl, a beloved local tradition which celebrates our favorite season in Aspen. The weekend is packed with happenings from an ice skating exhibition, snow sculpting contest, and block party to first tracks, fat bike races, and a canine fashion show. Between it all, duck into the Men’s Health & Women’s Health Village for free swag, product testing, and complimentary coffee and juice. Free, aspenchamber.org.
2018 Toyota U.S. Grand Prix
Times vary through Sunday, Snowmass Mountain
Aspen Snowmass plays host to this official Olympic selection competiton, which includes five qualification events for U.S. Snowboard Team and U.S. Freeski Team athletes as part of the season tour in—held for the first time since 1998 in the award-winning terrain park and halfpipe at Snowmass. The event is open to the public and spectators are encouraged to come out and check out the action at our mid-mountain venue near the Spider Sabich Picnic Palace. Free to spectate (lift ticket required), aspensnowmass.com
Friday Morning Uphill Breakfast Club
8:45–10 a.m., Cliffhouse Restaurant, Buttermilk
New this year, uphill skiers are able to enjoy breakfast in the restaurant after hiking up the mountain every Friday. The Cliffhouse breakfast will be available for purchase with coffee, tea and hot chocolate, an oatmeal and yogurt station featuring dry quick oats in a mason jar and a toppings bar filled with healthy add-ons. Two hot breakfast options will also be available. $12 (hot items), $8 (oatmeal bar), aspensnowmass.com
History Ski Tour
11 a.m., & 1 p.m., Aspen Mountain
Learn about the amazing mining and ski history lying literally beneath your feet as you tour Aspen Mountain with a long time local historian. Meets at Guest Services cabin below the gondola at the top. Free with lift ticket ($94), aspenhistory.org
Ullr Nights
5–9 p.m., Snowmass
Bundle up and ride the Snowmass gondola ($10) to some family-friendly snow play, including the new Breathtaker mountain coaster and lift-served tubing ($49 for a two-hour activities pass to access both; reserve in advance), free ice skating, free snowshoe tours with a guide from the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (6 and 7:30 p.m.), snowbiking ($72 guided rides for ages 12 and up, free minibikes for younger kids), and climbing and sliding on a massive snow sculpture. Elk Camp restaurant serves dinner with live music, followed by s’mores and hot cocoa by the bonfire. aspensnowmass.com
Retro Film Series: Decades of Skiing Aspen/Snowmass
5:30 p.m., Limelight Hotel
Join Aspen Historical Society for this new series that explore skiing’s illustrious past in the Aspen/Snowmass area featuring a wide range of vintage films from the AHS archives. Spanning four decades, the visual histories bring retro skiing to life on the big screen with food and beverage specials that may be enjoyed during the screenings. $10 suggested donation at the door, aspenhistory.org
38th Annual Valley Visual Art Show Opening Reception
6–8 p.m., The Launchpad, Carbondale
The Valley Visual Art Show features 50 Roaring Fork artists and includes two and three dimensional work created in with wide variety of media. Vote for your favorite artwork for the People’s Choice Awards. The exhibition will be open to the public Monday through Friday (9 a.m.–5 p.m.) and Saturdays (10 a.m.–2 p.m.) through February 16. Free, carbondalearts.com
Amy Goodman
7 p.m., The Temporary, Basalt
The award-winning American broadcast journalist, syndicated columnist, investigative reporter, and author will talk about how the unprecedented resistance to President Donald Trump’s rise to power did not materialize overnight, but emerged from grassroots movements that have been challenging the establishment for years. As the host of Democracy Now! since 1996, Goodman reports on the most pressing issues of our time, which airs locally at 6 p.m. on KDNK daily. $24 (advance), $29 (door), tacaw.org
JAS Café
7 & 9:15 p.m., The Little Nell
Jazz Aspen Snowmass presents this winter-long series of intimate shows by leading musicians and vocalists, with performances this weekend from the Avalon Jazz Band, a renowned ambassador of vocal French swing in the United States and beyond. $40, $105 (with dinner), jazzaspensnowmass.org
Library Cinema: Big Sonia
7:30 p.m., Pitkin County Library
Sonia Warshawski is a Holocaust survivor, but when she's served an eviction notice, the specter of retirement prompts Sonia to resist her harrowing past as a refugee and witness to genocide. A poignant story of generational trauma and healing, Big Sonia also offers a laugh-out-loud-funny portrait of the power of love to triumph over bigotry, and the power of truth-telling to heal us all. $10 (free popcorn included!), pitcolib.org
Aspen Laugh Festival Presents: Matt Iseman
7:30 p.m., Wheeler Opera House
“Life is short, do what makes you happy.” That’s the advice that comedian and American Ninja Warrior host Matt Iseman got from his Dad—a world-renowned physician—when Matt quit medicine to pursue stand up comedy. And those words still guide Iseman today. He talks ninjas, tells jokes around the world and, in general, proves laughter is the best medicine. wheeleroperahouse.com
The Spazmatics
10 p.m., Belly Up Aspen
Aspen’s favorite 80’s cover band returns with favorites like “Come on Eileen,” “Video Killed the Radio Star,” and “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”… all played in their signature key of nerd! $25, bellyupaspen.com
Snowmass hosts the 2018 Toyota U.S. Grand Prix for the first time since 1998, an Olympic qualifying event.
Image: Jeremy Swanson
Saturday, January 13
Wintersköl
Dates and times vary through Sunday, Aspen
We’re in the midst of the 67th annual Wintersköl, a beloved local tradition which celebrates our favorite season in Aspen. The weekend is packed with happenings from an ice skating exhibition, snow sculpting contest, and block party to first tracks, fat bike races, and a canine fashion show. Between it all, duck into the Men’s Health & Women’s Health Village for free swag, product testing, and complimentary coffee and juice. Free, aspenchamber.org.
2018 Toyota U.S. Grand Prix
Times vary through Sunday, Snowmass Mountain
Aspen Snowmass plays host to this official Olympic selection competiton, which includes five qualification events for U.S. Snowboard Team and U.S. Freeski Team athletes as part of the season tour in—held for the first time since 1998 in the award-winning terrain park and halfpipe at Snowmass. The event is open to the public and spectators are encouraged to come out and check out the action at our mid-mountain venue near the Spider Sabich Picnic Palace. Free to spectate (lift ticket required), aspensnowmass.com
Family Workshop
10 a.m. Aspen Art Museum
This month’s them is "Dream Lands.” The session begins in the Education Workshop, giving families choices for self-guided or educator-led activities and art-making stations. Free, aspenartumuseum.org
Guided Tour
1 p.m., Aspen Art Museum
Drop-in for a spotlight tour of the latest exhibitions led by museum staff. Free, aspenartmuseum.org
Après at 11,212’
2:30–6:45 p.m., Sundeck Restaurant, Aspen Mountain
This Saturday, The Sundeck Restaurant atop Aspen Mountain will host an après at 11,212’ from 2:30 pm – 6:30 pm. Hang out at the Sundeck after a day of skiing/riding or purchase a $10 ticket to ride the Silver Queen Gondola after 3:30 pm for après-ski drink specials, DJ, and food. Food will be served until 5:00 pm. Last call for drinks at 6 p.m (no skiing down after 3:30 p.m.). Free (with lift ticket), $10 foot pass, aspensnowmass.com
The Flamingo
5:30 p.m., The St. Regis Aspen
The Aspen Education Foundation’s annual fundraising bash is a highlight of winter’s social calendar, with dinner, live and silent auctions, and dancing to pop hits played by Funkiphino. $200, aspenaef.org
JAS Café
7 & 9:15 p.m., The Little Nell
Jazz Aspen Snowmass presents this winter-long series of intimate shows by leading musicians and vocalists, with performances this weekend from the Avalon Jazz Band, a renowned ambassador of vocal French swing in the United States and beyond. $40, $105 (with dinner), jazzaspensnowmass.org
Birdtalker
7:30 p.m., Wheeler Opera House
Melding the melodic sense of indie rock with the intimate sound of acoustic folk music, Birdtalker is a Nashville-based group whose won a loyal following for their evocative, organic approach. Birdtalker was formed in 2012 by guitarist and singer Zack Green and his wife, keyboardist and singer Dani Green. Now, after adding a few friends to the band (including Andy Hubright, Brian Seligman and Jesse Baker), this acoustic folk group’s hope is simply that the more music they write and share, the more true and vulnerable interactions may be born from it. The Greens write songs as a way to share ideas they care about and sentiments they feel deeply. wheeleroperahouse.com
Library Cinema: Big Sonia
7:30 p.m., Pitkin County Library
Sonia Warshawski is a Holocaust survivor, but when she's served an eviction notice, the specter of retirement prompts Sonia to resist her harrowing past as a refugee and witness to genocide. A poignant story of generational trauma and healing, Big Sonia also offers a laugh-out-loud-funny portrait of the power of love to triumph over bigotry, and the power of truth-telling to heal us all. $10 (free popcorn included!), pitcolib.org
Brett Dennen
8 p.m., Belly Up Aspen
The ski-town lover and Belly Up Aspen regular returns to the stage as part of his latest tour, “The Lift Series 2017,” to perform old favorites plus new songs from his recent pop-folk album, Por Favor. $25, bellyupaspen.com
Space Orphan
8 p.m., The Temporary, Basalt
Space Orphan creates a soulful, funky sound that is heavily based on groove, just as bands like The Meters and James Brown did in years past. They also love taking classic, danceable elements and tracks and adding a few new tricks. Space Orphan will hit you in your soul and keep you dancing at the same time. $12 (advance), $17 (door), tacaw.org
Wintersköl Torchlight Descent & Fireworks Extravaganza
8 p.m., Aspen Mountain
Bundle up, pack a thermos and/or flask, and take in the beauty of this annual tradition from one of the parks around town. Free, aspensnowmass.com
KSPN presents The Motet at the Belly Up Aspen on Sunday night.
Image: Courtesy: Belly Up Aspen
Sunday, January 14
2018 Toyota U.S. Grand Prix
Times vary through Sunday, Snowmass Mountain
Aspen Snowmass plays host to this official Olympic selection competiton, which includes five qualification events for U.S. Snowboard Team and U.S. Freeski Team athletes as part of the season tour in—held for the first time since 1998 in the award-winning terrain park and halfpipe at Snowmass. The event is open to the public and spectators are encouraged to come out and check out the action at our mid-mountain venue near the Spider Sabich Picnic Palace. Free to spectate (lift ticket required), aspensnowmass.com
Wintersköl
Dates and times vary through Sunday, Aspen
We’re in the midst of the 67th annual Wintersköl, a beloved local tradition which celebrates our favorite season in Aspen. The weekend is packed with happenings from an ice skating exhibition, snow sculpting contest, and block party to first tracks, fat bike races, and a canine fashion show. Between it all, duck into the Men’s Health & Women’s Health Village for free swag, product testing, and complimentary coffee and juice. Free, aspenchamber.org.
Aspen Gay Ski Week
Times & locations vary
Celebrating its 41st anniversary this winter, Aspen’s premier LGBT event takes over the town and slopes with infectious energy. A packed schedule of friendship dinners, ski days, après-ski gatherings, late-night dance parties, benefits, and, of course, the infamous Downhill Drag Costume Competition and Party on Aspen Mountain’s Little Nell run makes the week one heck of a celebration. But it’s not just fun and games: beneficiaries this year are the Tyler Clementi Foundation and the grant-making Roaring Fork Gay & Lesbian Community Fund. Passes from $375, gayskiweek.com
Alliance Film Series: The Way He Looks
3:30 p.m., The Temporary, Basalt
Leonardo is a blind teenager dealing with an overprotective mother while trying to live a more independent life. To the disappointment of his best friend, Giovana, he plans to go on an exchange program abroad. When Gabriel, a new student in town, arrives at their classroom, new feelings blossom in Leonardo making him question his plans. $10 (adults), free (students), tacaw.org
Library Cinema: Big Sonia
7:30 p.m., Pitkin County Library
Sonia Warshawski is a Holocaust survivor, but when she's served an eviction notice, the specter of retirement prompts Sonia to resist her harrowing past as a refugee and witness to genocide. A poignant story of generational trauma and healing, Big Sonia also offers a laugh-out-loud-funny portrait of the power of love to triumph over bigotry, and the power of truth-telling to heal us all. $10 (free popcorn included!), pitcolib.org
The Motet
9:30 p.m., Belly Up Aspen
KSPN presents an evening with infamous, Denver-based funk ensemble for an all-out dance party to get your weekend started. $35 (advance), $40 (door), bellyupaspen.com
