Elisabeth Brigham, Fiona Good-Sirota and Melanie Medrano Elisabeth Brigham, Fiona Good-Sirota and Melanie Medrano | December 4, 2020 | Lifestyle,
Baubles and boots are divine, but so are these experiential gifts—they deliver memories, emotions and fun throughout the year.
Some of the world’s best chefs converge on the Food & Wine Classic June 18 to 20.
2021 ASPEN FOOD & WINE CLASSIC
The 38th annual summer festival brings together exceptional wines from around the world, along with food from world-renowned and up-and-coming chefs. Guests also can sit in on special panels to get the inside scoop from celebrity chefs and restaurateurs. For VIPs, get up close and personal with people like Ayesha Curry and Rick Bayless, share drinks and eat prize-winning food. June 18-20, VIP package prices upon request
Learn how to make exquisite tableware at Anderson Ranch Arts Center—then take culinary classes from chef David Wang.
ANDERSON RANCH CLASS WITH CHEF DAVID WANG
Anderson Ranch Arts Center has been teaching people how to create their own ceramic art since its 1966 founding. Over the course of two half-day workshops, staff will guide up to 10 participants in the ceramic studio on how to form utilitarian pots and perfect glazing techniques. Guests will also design the tableware for the multicourse meal with acclaimed chef David Wang. Plus, they’ll receive hands-on tutorials throughout the cooking process as they learn the tips and tricks of constructing tasty and photoworthy dishes. From $6,500
Bringing luxury to the slopes for its 11th year, the Audi Ajax Cup is a fundamental component of Aspen Valley’s rich history and an event that lovers of adventure can’t miss. VIP guests will be treated to the unprecedented opportunity to train with AVSC coaches and enjoy a day with a pro skier. The famed après-ski party at Shlomo’s (adjacent to Gondola Plaza) offers exceptional sips and hors d’oeuvres. Dec. 28-30, team purchase $35,000
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A curated compilation of Oscar-qualifying films, Aspen ShortsFest is an event created for lovers of diverse, captivating works of cinema. For serious cinephiles, VIP members get admission to the festival and all monthly Indie Showcases at Metropolitan’s Isis Theater. Offering an exclusive window into the methodologies of award-winning filmmakers from around the globe, this year’s film festival will feature never-before-seen conversations with the minds that bring art to the silver screen. April 6-11, Visionary membership $10,000, Benefactor $6,000, Star membership $1,700, Producer membership $675, Flex membership $350
Guests of the Caribou Club can reserve the private rooms.
PRIVATE MEMBERSHIP AND WINE ROOM AT THE CARIBOU CLUB
Nestled in the heart of Aspen is one of the town’s most prestigious members-only clubs. Candlelit dinners and rustic chandeliers spark the intimate feel of the club, which features eight private rooms. The club offers a weeklong temporary membership that grants full access to the nightclub, bar and dining amenities. For an even more romantic memory, request a private dinner in the Wine Room. After all, cuddling up among 3,500 bottles of famous Châteaus and rare vintage wines has its romance. From $500, 411 E. Hopkins Ave.
Consider a spa buyout at The St. Regis for the day—for a minimum of six hours.
After this whirlwind year, Remède Spa has just the treatment to get our souls back on track. Located in The St. Regis hotel, this luxurious safe haven includes everything from the CBD Restorative Facial to its Rocky Mountain Vibes Signature Massage. For a more soul-awakening therapy, consider the Mala Experience. This spiritually charged journey heals and embraces the mind, body and soul with energy and connection. Spa buyouts from $5,000 per hour (six-hour minimum), 315 E. Dean St.
Grab your skis and get ready for a night of candlelit enchantment, natural beauty and decadent food from local Aspen eateries. The annual Nordic Bonfire Dinner is an event like no other: Dinner will be served slopeside. Each ticket purchased benefits the Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboarding Club’s Nordic programming. The course, approximately 1.5 kilometers long, is dotted with bonfires to keep guests warm and toasty along the way. Feb. 1, 6-8pm, $30 per person
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PRIVATE EVENT AT THE WHEELER OPERA HOUSE
As one of the most popular entertainment landmarks in Aspen, the Wheeler Opera House has hosted outstanding performances for years. Rather than taking in someone else’s show, stage your own: The venue now offers the opportunity to rent out the entire theater—play a concert, screen the latest flick (privately, of course) or host an unforgettable cocktail hour in the auditorium for up to 500 of your nearest and dearest. And if you’re not in the mood for a grand ball, skip the spectacle and rent the newly renovated bar lobby, where you can dazzle up to 105 of your close family and friends. Not enough? Put the auditorium and bar lobby together for the ultimate, exclusive private celebration. From $1,700 for private events
For the Traveler
Sometimes an escape from the world is just what the doctor ordered. What better way than with a weekend break—at a distillery, no less. Marble Distilling’s Distillery Inn, located in Carbondale, provides five deluxe suites within the distillery itself. Roll out of bed and enjoy its on-site tasting room, or partake in a nightcap for two before retiring to your chamber. And if you don’t want to abandon the comforts of your suite, sip cocktails delivered to your room for an intimate night by the fireplace. When you’re ready for the fresh air, join the Colorado Spirits Trail for a walk and drinks—or venture to the hot springs for an afternoon of relaxation. Suite prices upon request
The perfect setting for some of the most outstanding athletes on the planet—the X Games is back Jan. 28 to 31.
Give a friend or loved one the opportunity to ring in the New Year with Aspen’s most action-packed thrill ride. The X Games celebrates its 20th anniversary with the return to Buttermilk Mountain this January for four days of head-to-head competition from the best ski, snowboard and snowmobile athletes. Skip the slopes and head into the Diamond Club Lounge for the ultimate outdoor concert experience with stageside heated patios and a private bar. Want to be closer to the action? The XIP Pass is the one for you with perfect watch spots for all the competitions as well as behind-the-scenes looks and athlete meet-and-greets. For a more intimate experience, finish the weekend with the X Games Athlete Experience Panel Pass for a chance to meet with some of the most decorated competitors from the games. Jan. 28-31, VIP package prices upon request
The San Juan Mountains are the setting for big-time thrills during the Telluride Helitrax experience.
Make the San Juan Mountains your snowy playground while skiing down their best slopes with Telluride Helitrax’s custom day trip. This extreme-ski experience begins with a 45-minute charter flight from Aspen to Telluride in a fixed-wing aircraft fit for four. Before takeoff, the Helitrax team will create a custom trip that exceeds expectations and complements personal skiing expertise. Helitrax will provide all ski equipment, plus lunch based on a guest’s personal tastes. With access to high-elevation, blanketed tracks, this is an unforgettable, hair-raising journey. Custom trips from $7,500 per hour (minimum of two hours), charter flights from $2,800
Photography by: From top: Brooke Lark/Unsplash; courtesy of Anderson Ranch; Stories/Unsplash; Anthony Tran/Unsplash; Jacalyn Beales/Unsplash; courtesy of X Games; Jeff Cricco