Aspen Weekend Agenda: March 16–18
Through the VOICES colLABoratory theater program, 30 Basalt High School students have worked with eight artist mentors to create two entirely original performances.
Friday, March 16
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 every Friday after hiking up the mountain. Offerings include coffee, tea, and hot chocolate; an oatmeal and yogurt station featuring dry quick oats in a mason jar and a toppings bar of healthy add-ons; and two hot breakfast items. $12 (hot items), $8 (oatmeal bar), aspensnowmass.com
The Foot and Ankle in Ski Boots
12 p.m., Oden Conference Center, Aspen Valley Hospital
As part of the six-week OrthoAspen Winter Lecture Series, which features Aspen Valley Hospital’s team of orthopedic specialists, this talk is all about the stresses that ski boots put on our feet and the ways in which we can protect them from injury while on the hill. Dr. Khan-Farooqi, who specializes in foot, ankle and trauma care, is today's expert. Free, orthoaspen.org
History Ski Tour
11 a.m. & 1 p.m., Aspen Mountain
Learn about the amazing mining and ski history lying beneath your feet as you tour Aspen Mountain with a long-time local historian. The tour meets at the mountaintop Guest Services cabin below the gondola. Free with lift ticket, aspenhistory.org
Family Energy Extravaganza
3–5 p.m., Aspen Sports, Snowmass Mall
The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies hosts this family-friendly community event to support the nonprofit’s Children’s Education Fund. Kids and their parents can participate in activities and demonstrations related to various energy sources, such as hydropower, wind power, and solar power. Plus, mix up your own smoothie using ACES’ bike blender. During March, Aspen Sports will match by 50 percent any donation you make to the Children's Education Fund at any of its 11 locations in Aspen and Snowmass Village. Free, aspennature.org
Celebration for Olympic Silver Medalist Alex Ferreira
5:30 p.m., Sundeck, Aspen Mountain
Welcome home the Aspen native, world-renowned freeskier, who place second second in the men's halfpipe event last month at the Winter Games in Pyongchang. After presentations that will include Ferreira's long-time coach, Elana Chase, a ski-along with the champ will descend Aspen Mountain. $10 for foot pass if you're not skiing, aspensnowmass.com
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
Rise
6 p.m., The Bird’s Nest Gallery
This exhibition celebrates the feminine spirit with female artists, both local and global, including Vagina China, Laina Pinchuck, Chelsea Leigh Jade, Yez Tutic, Fatima Curiel, Alexis Ahrling, Cassandra Holden, Elyssa Edgerly, Agustina Mistretta, Maia Chozas, and Skye Weinglass. The opening reception includes live music, food, and drinks. The show runs until April 14. Free, thebirdsnestgallery.com
David Spade
7 p.m., Belly Up
The funnyman's known for his stint on Saturday Night Live in the 1990s and role in the sitcom Just Shoot Me, as well as more recent productions like Joe Dirt 2, The Do-Over, and Grown Ups 2. Spade's stand-up routine draws from his sarcastic and self-deprecating styles, techniques that have made him a hit for three decades. $75 general admission, $130 seated dance floor, $205 reserved, bellyupaspen.com
Lean on Me: José James Celebrates Bill Withers
7 & 9:15 p.m., Cooking School of Aspen
Singer José James, best known for his blend of jazz and hip-hop, honors legendary singer-songwriter Bill Withers on this national tribute tour, accompanied by band members Sullivan Fortner, Brad Allen Williams, Ben Williams, and Nate Smith. The group makes a two-night stop as part of the JAS Café Winter Series. JAS President Jim Horowitz will discuss Withers's legacy with James in a special presentation at 5:30 p.m., which is open to ticket holders for the early show. $45 (performance), $110 (with dinner), jazzaspensnowmass.org
Aspen Laugh Festival presents Iliza Shlesinger
7:30 p.m., Wheeler Opera House
The only woman and youngest comedian to win NBC’s Last Comic Standing, in 2008, Shlesinger’s second Netflix special, Freezing Hot, was recorded in Denver. In addition to hosting her own talk show on Freeform, she wrote a book, Girl Logic, that came out last year. $45, wheeleroperahouse.com
Library Cinema: The Darkest Hour
7:30 p.m., Pitkin County Library
Gary Oldman just won a Golden Globe and Oscar for his stunning depiction of Winston Churchill in this film. Inspired by true events, The Darkest Hour looks at the first few weeks after Churchill is elected prime minister of Great Britain in the early stages of the country’s involvement in World War II. $10 (free popcorn included!), pitcolib.org
The Voices Project
7:30 p.m., Thunder River Theatre
Over the past month, 30 Basalt High School students have worked with eight artist mentors to create two entirely original performances. The productions, which include everything from music and spoken word to mime and puppetry, were made through the Voices "colLABoratory" theater program. Voices is an arts nonprofit founded two years ago by local Barbara Reese and based out of the Third Street Center in Carbondale. $10 suggested donation, amplifyingvoices.org
St. Patrick's Day Eve with Potcheen
8 p.m., The Temporary, Basalt
Named after Ireland’s original moonshine whiskey, this Evergreen, Colorado–based band formed in the early 2000s. For more than 120 weeks, the group has been Colorado's top Celtic act, according to ReverbNation charts. $17 in advance, $22 day of, tacaw.org
General Vibe
9 p.m., Slow Groovin' BBQ, Snowmass Mall
Local musicians Brad Manosevitz, Rob Dasaro, John Carlin, and Erin Gallagher have formed this new classic rock project. Free, slowgroovinbbq.com
G. Love & Special Sauce
9:30 p.m., Belly Up
Aspen favorite Garrett Dutton (aka G. Love) returns with his band to perform their unique blend of blues, jazz and hip-hop. $35 general admission, $65 reserved, bellyupaspen.com
The Snowmass Village Mall will be filled with St. Patrick Day revelers this Saturday for the town's legendary festivities.
Image: Courtesy: Snowmass Tourism
Saturday, March 17
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
St. Patrick’s Day at Snowmass
1 p.m.–9 p.m., Snowmass
Celebrate the luck o’ the Irish with dining specials both on and off mountain, live music, and, natch, plenty of green beer. gosnowmass.com, 970-923-0929
The Icy Adventures of Trolls and Shrek
2:30 & 6 p.m., Aspen Recreation Center
This year’s annual figure skating show includes 50 local skaters, as well as special appearances by Olympic medalist Jason Brown and encore performances by 1992 figure skating Olympic medalist Paul Wylie and national competitor Alex Johnson. $10 for kids, $25 for adults, $50 VIP seating, aspenfigureskatingclub.com
The Voices Project
3:30 & 7:30 p.m., Thunder River Theatre
Over the past month, 30 Basalt High School students have worked with eight artist mentors to create two entirely original performances. The productions, which include everything from music and spoken word to mime and puppetry, were made through the Voices "colLABoratory" theater program. Voices is an arts nonprofit founded two years ago by local Barbara Reese and based out of the Third Street Center in Carbondale. $10 suggested donation, amplifyingvoices.org
The Dave Notor Band
4–7 p.m., Aspen Tap
Celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Aspen Brewing Company with this local, classic-grass group as they jam out at the brewery’s new downtown location. Free, aspenbrewingcompany.com
David Spade
7 p.m., Belly Up
The funnyman's known for his stint on Saturday Night Live in the 1990s and role in the sitcom Just Shoot Me, as well as more recent productions like Joe Dirt 2, The Do-Over, and Grown Ups 2. Spade's stand-up routine draws from his sarcastic and self-deprecating styles, techniques that have made him a hit for three decades. $75 general admission, $130 seated dance floor, $205 reserved, bellyupaspen.com
Lean on Me: José James Celebrates Bill Withers
7 & 9:15 p.m., Cooking School of Aspen
Singer José James, best known for his blend of jazz and hip-hop, honors legendary singer-songwriter Bill Withers on this national tribute tour, accompanied by band members Sullivan Fortner, Brad Allen Williams, Ben Williams, and Nate Smith. The group makes a two-night stop as part of the JAS Café Winter Series. $45 (performance), $110 (with dinner), jazzaspensnowmass.org
Library Cinema: The Darkest Hour
7:30 p.m., Pitkin County Library
Gary Oldman just won a Golden Globe and Oscar for his stunning depiction of Winston Churchill in this film. Inspired by true events, The Darkest Hour looks at the first few weeks after Churchill is elected prime minister of Great Britain in the early stages of the country’s involvement in World War II. $10 (free popcorn included!), pitcolib.org
Jes Grew St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
8 p.m., The Temporary, Basalt
This longtime favorite local rock band will lay down its grooves for what promises to be a packed show. $10 in advance, $14 day of, tacaw.org
The Naked and Famous
9:30 p.m., Belly Up
The five-member band from New Zealand, now based in Los Angeles, delves into indie electronic rock with hits like “Young Blood” and “Punching in a Dream.” The group's most recent release came out in the US on March 9 and features acoustic versions of songs. $45 general admission, $80 reserved, bellyupaspen.com
The mandolin player Sam Bush is known as one of the founding fathers of Newgrass. He plays at the Wheeler Opera House Sunday night.
Sunday, March 18
Free Family Craft Afternoons
10 a.m., The Art Base, Basalt
Get creative with the whole family during this monthly arts and crafts time at the gallery space. Each month features a different art project. Free, theartbase.org
An Evening with Sam Bush
7:30 p.m., Wheeler Opera House
Often referred to as “the Father of Newgrass” and “King of Telluride,” Bush has racked up numerous accolades for his virtuoso mandolin playing, including an Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award, multiple Grammys, and several trophies from the International Bluegrass Music Association. His most recent album, Storyman, came out in June 2016. $35 general admission, $60 reserved, wheeleroperahouse.com
Library Cinema: The Darkest Hour
7:30 p.m., Pitkin County Library
Gary Oldman just won a Golden Globe and Oscar for his stunning depiction of Winston Churchill in this film. Inspired by true events, The Darkest Hour looks at the first few weeks after Churchill is elected prime minister of Great Britain in the early stages of the country’s involvement in World War II. $10 (free popcorn included!), pitcolib.org
An Evening with Galactic
9 p.m., Belly Up
Always a Belly Up favorite, the six-member jam-band from New Orleans is known for pushing the boundaries of funk and jazz since starting in the mid-1990s. $40 advance general admission, $45 day of general admission, $65 reserved, bellyupaspen.com
