The Roaring Fork Valley's Must-Haves Of The Month

As we edge closer to Aspen’s warmer days, indulge in a smorgasbord of the season’s freshest finds—complete with art, style and sweet sips.

BUNDLE UP

North Drinkware’s Maroon Bells blanket

Whether it’s a cozy night on the couch or an adventurous picnic hike, North Drinkware’s Colorado collection has you covered. Joining a lineup of handblown glassware displaying Aspen’s most iconic topography, the high-quality wool blanket takes a look at the Maroon Bells from a colorful bird’s-eye view in shades of gold and blue, inspired by the region’s aspen trees and rivers. Blankets are processed, dyed and finished from start to finish by Pendleton in the Pacific Northwest using a Jacquard-weaving technique that produces vibrant inverse images. All three peaks—Maroon, Sleeping Sexton and Pyramid—are visible on the surface of the blanket, bringing the best of the Roaring Fork Valley wrapped around you.

CIN-CIN

Bad Harriet’s Ode to Marcovaldo cocktail, mixed with green chartreuse, velvet falernum, pineapple and lime

Nestled underneath the historic Aspen Times building lives Aspen’s hottest cocktail destination and reimagined speakeasy, Bad Harriet. As the newest member to the Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection team, it elevates Aspen’s social scene and sets a spectacularly high bar for the modern cocktail experience. “We are thrilled to introduce the reimagined Bad Harriet and welcome Aspen back to a full sensory experience at Hotel Jerome,” says general manager of Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection Patrick Davila. “We are excited for guests to experience the venue’s playfully mischievous personality and ambiance—offering a hideaway to sip on innovative cocktails and savory bites.” Paying homage to powerful women throughout history, Bad Harriet features a lineup of artfully crafted cocktails with unique flavor profiles like the D Lady (for Lady Diana Spencer) mixed with Empress gin, elderflower, English Breakfast, lemon and white egg, and the Atlantic Cross (for Amelia Earhart) with Aviation gin, creme de violette, Luxardo maraschino, Lillet blanc and lemon. Can’t decide on what to sip? Davila adds, “I encourage all of our guests to put themselves in our hands and let us curate their experience through The Soiree, a multicourse cocktail journey paired with wonderful bites.”

TREASURE TROVE

Interior design of Henry Beguelin’s Aspen location.

Bringing a breath of fresh air to the shopping scene, Henry Beguelin makes its way back to Aspen after eight long years. “We are super excited for this unique opportunity to relaunch Henry Beguelin in the U.S. starting with Aspen,” says co-owner Virgile Verellen. “It has always been the quintessential place where the Beguelin tribe originated in the U.S. in search for authenticity.” Sitting in the heart of downtown, the bespoke boutique boasts handbags, shoes, home decor, furniture and accessories that are all handmade one by one in Milano by generations of true master artisans. With no detail overlooked, each and every product embodies the low-tech concept, avoiding all chemical treatments and embracing traditional skills. Shop from fan favorites like the sprayed sneaker, woven crossbody bags, embellished leather belts and more. 406 S. Galena St., 970.429.4549

TICK, TOCK

Tondagraph GT in steel brown by Oliver Smith

Celebrating its monumental 40th anniversary, Oliver Smith Jeweler has teamed with independent Swiss watchmaker Parmigiani Fleurier to curate the Tonda GT and Tondagraph GT watches. Inspired by nature, the timepieces are a testament to both brands’ attention to detail, with cunning yet bold details like its 42 mm stainless-steel cases with a sapphire caseback, in-house calibers and a host of fine decorations. “Oliver Smith’s reputation as a premier retailer of luxury watches aligns with the Parmigiani Fleurier philosophy of rich craft smanship,” says Managing Director for Parmigiani Fleurier Americas Gustavo Calzadilla. “Th e limited editions we created maintain the versatile and refined nature of the Tonda GT collection, while reflecting his creativity in stylistic choices.” 400 E. Hyman Ave., 970.544.1868

SLOPE STYLE

From left : Down half-zip in leopard camo; short down parka in black; long down parka in navy wave dye.

Skiing between the lines of city life and outdoor adventure, Holden’s winter collection combines the best of outerwear and winter sports for a chic line of modern performance-fashion. Inspired by world-class outdoor activities and culture, the line boasts luxury materials, cutting edge technology, modern proportions, and sustainable principles. Shop the collection locally at Performance Ski or Radio Board Shop and slip into crowd-favorites like the hybrid down jogger, cropped down alpine jacket, high waisted soft shell pants, cashmere cuff beanie and so much more.

GOLDEN GIRL

Get your skis ready! Ski racing legend Tamara McKinney has officially joined the Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club team as the latest U12 Alpine Team ski coach. Bringing her flair and talent to Aspen, McKinney has competed throughout the 1980s, winning 18 World Cup races, including one victory in Aspen in 1981, raced in three Olympics, and became the first American woman to win the World Cup overall in 1983. The AVSC is the Roaring Fork Valley’s largest and oldest youth nonprofit and has established itself as an exceptional source for recreational, foundational and competitive winter sports—and it’s the sense of community and friendly atmosphere that drew McKinney to the outstanding organization.

OUTSIDE THE LINES

Gaetano Pesce’s architectural model for “My Dear Mountains” at the Aspen Art Museum, 2021.

This spring, the innovative Italian artist Gaetano Pesce gives the Aspen Art Museum a whimsical face-lift. “My Dear Mountains,” a new large-scale, site-specific project for the AAM, will cover the museum’s entire facade with a monumental inflatable structure that depicts an image of the sun setting over a mountain landscape. “The legacy of the International Style of architecture continues to produce buildings that avoid documenting the realities they inhabit, each of which has its specific identity and geographic location,” says Pesce. “For the Aspen Art Museum, I have risked creating a kitschy image for the sake of replacing the building’s gridlike facade with a view that is close to the one I admired during the memorable time I have spent in Aspen, the first city I visited in the United States and a place to which I have returned with pleasure over the years.” Alongside the piece, the museum will feature Pesce’s furniture and sculptures within the museum’s ground-floor gallery, which will further highlight the multifaceted, artistic nature of his practice. 637 E. Hyman Ave., 970.925.8050

CHEERS!

Sommelier Jay Fletcher

They are both iconic players on the Aspen wine and dine scene, so when it was announced last fall that Jay Fletcher would be pouring wines for guests at the venerable Matsuhisa, it created a buzz. Fletcher, perhaps the most important figure in the maturation of Aspen as a significant wine town, brings his considerable talent and wine bona fides to one of Aspen’s most beloved restaurants. A former president of the esteemed Court of Master Sommeliers, Fletcher worked the floor at renowned Aspen classics, including Krabloonik and Syzygy, before leaving for a near 20-year stint as executive director of fine wine for Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. But now he is back on the block. “Matsuhisa has such an important place in this community,” says Fletcher. “It’s just an honor to entertain guests, pour the best wines and sake and spirits in the world, and work with this team.” 303 E. Main St.