What's New in Aspen Winter 08/09
ASPEN, Colo. (December 2008) – Aspen welcomes winter with a flurry of openings, including epic skiing on Aspen Mountain commencing Nov. 27, 2008. While the nation’s headlines are dominated by the economic downturn, Aspen appears to be a hotbed for success as several new and renovated restaurants, boutiques, and a hotel open their doors this winter. From successful, local restaurateurs unveiling yet another stellar eatery, to world-renowned brands establishing an Aspen outpost, locals and visitors will experience exceptional dining, shopping, nightlife and, of course, skiing all starting Thanksgiving.

For information, special offers or to book an Aspen vacation, visit www.aspenchamber.org, or call 1.888.290.1324 or 970.925.1940.

Following are highlights of recent openings and highly anticipated developments unfolding this winter in Aspen.

DINING AND NIGHTLIFE
• The world-renowned Italian restaurant Il Mulino New York is opening a location in the new Residences at The Little Nell during the 2008/2009 holiday season. Known as one of New York’s landmark dining institutions, Zagat readers have rated Il Mulino the top NYC Italian restaurant for more than two decades. (520 East Durant Ave.; 970.920.7272; www.rlnaspen.com)

• Brexi, opening January 2008 in the Dancing Bear Aspen, is the fourth restaurant venture for owners Craig and Samantha Cordts-Pearce, who also operate the highly successful LuLu Wilson and The Wild Fig. Brexi will feature French-bistro fare. (620 East Hyman Ave.; 970.920.2510)

• Junk at the Red Onion will open February 2009 under the ownership of Scott DeGraff of the renowned N9NE Group (creators of the nightlife attractions at the Palms Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas). The refurbished Red Onion space showcases the original bar and returns to its roots as an upscale steakhouse with its mainstay burger-and-beer fare served for lunch, après ski and dinner until 2 a.m. With plush booth seating, two built-in DJ booths, and a show-stopping chandelier made with hundreds of LED-lit beer bottles, Junk promises to return the Red Onion space to its glory days. (420 East Cooper Ave.; www.funworldwide.net)

• Ajax Tavern, steps from the Silver Queen Gondola at the base of Aspen Mountain, reopens its doors following a renovation and is once again serving dinner. With an expanded bar area inside and a larger deck outside, Ajax Tavern menu features French bistro-inspired fare from James Beard nominee Executive Chef Ryan Hardy. (685 East Durant Ave.; 970.920.4600)

• Cache Cache re-opens its doors with an expanded bar area. Cache Cache’s bar menu is a favorite among Aspen locals and visitors. Owned by long-time Aspenites Jodi Larner and Chef Chris Lanter, Cache Cache features French-bistro style cuisine and an elegant yet comfortable ambiance. (205 South Mill St.; 970.544.8248; www.cachecache.com)

• Owners of sushi hotspot Kenichi are enlivening the former Cooper Street Pier space with Bad Billy’s, a new restaurant and bar. Set to open in December, Bad Billy’s will preserve Cooper Street’s cheap-burger-and-beer ethos while serving Asian noodle dishes and salads. (508 East Cooper Ave.)

• Parallel 15 is known geographically as the coffee bean belt, and it’s where owner Keith Goode sources his flavorful beans. With a Parallel 15 location already established in Explore Booksellers on Main Street, Goode expands his caffeine commerce to another location on the downstairs corner of Hyman Avenue and Mill Street. Parallel 15 coffee and espresso drinks are made with manually operated machines and complemented by organic milk, half-and-half, and other accoutrements. (970.309.6883)

• Victoria’s Wine & Espresso Bar, neighboring Wagner Park, is a new venue for early morning lattes or evening wine and hors d’oeuvres. Victoria’s will feature an espresso bar, an extensive wine list, and a large selection of delectable cheeses and cured meats. Open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. (312 South Mill St.; 970.920.3001; www.aspenespressobar.com)

• Fun Worldwide Lab, located in the former Cooking School of Aspen, features a sleek redesign with a state-of-the-art demonstration kitchen and contemporary finishes. Offering public and private cooking classes and themed, private dinners with more than 200 menu suggestions, Fun Worldwide Lab promises to be a prominent Aspen destination for a dining adventure. (414 East Hyman Ave.; 970.920.1094; www.funworldwide.net)

• Highlands Pizza Company, recently purchase by Aspen locals Ryan Sweeney and Bill Johnson, is the new après-ski hotspot after a hard day of schussing down Highlands Bowl. Replacing Crust Pizza, Highlands Pizza Company will be serving thin crust pizza along with a signature deep dish pizza, wine and beer. (133 Prospector Lane; Aspen Highlands Base Village; 970.920.3747)

• Buenos Aires Fusion adds new international fare to Aspen’s dining roster. The authentic South American eatery serves up traditional Argentinean food with classic meat dishes, empanadas, and seafood. (308 South Hunter St.; 970.920.7722; www.bafusion.com)

• Aspen Brewery. A full production micro-brewery which opened spring 2008, serves up frosty pints to local patrons. Duncan Clauss, a homebrewer who has frequented Aspen for the last 15 years, opened the brewery and tasting room with partners Brad Veltman and Rory Douthit. ( 557 North Mill St..; 970.274.9998; http://www.aspenbrewery.com)

• The new Crystal Palace Grille, located in the historic Crystal Palace Theatre building, opened June 2008 and features the same décor as the original Crystal Palace Theatre, including the trademark stained glass windows and crystal chandelier. Live music and open-mic nights still draw cheerful crowds. (300 East Hyman Ave.; 970.925.1455)

• The Wienerstube Restaurant is under new ownership. Still serving Aspen’s favorite breakfast, the Wienerstube now offers après ski fare and an Austrian dinner menu. (633 East Hyman Ave.; 970.925.3357)

BOUTIQUES & ART GALLERIES
• Italian winter fashion icon Moncler opens its first U.S. boutique in Aspen. From technically constructed outerwear to chic, après-ski designs, Moncler is where the jet set shops for their high-fashion, high-function winter-wear. (432 East Hyman Ave.; www.moncler.com)

• J. Crew at the Mountains. This nationally known retailer opened a new concept store called “J Crew at the Mountains” to cater to the Aspen crowd. Modeled after the brand’s first concept store “J Crew at the Beach” located in the Hamptons, the Aspen J. Crew neighbors Louis Vuitton and Fendi. (205 South Mill St., 970.544.1631; www.jcrew.com)

• Burberry. Opened summer 2008, the London-based, 150-year-old luxury brand is sold throughout the world and known internationally for its cutting-edge-meets-classic fashion niche. Currently showcasing the winter 2009/2010 line, Burberry occupies the historic Ute City Bank Building at the corner of Galena Street and Hyman Avenue. (501 East Hyman Ave.; 970.920.3119; www.burberry.com)

• Master photographer, Peter Lik opened a gallery featuring his famous work next to the Isis movie theater in spring 2008. The Peter Lik Gallery in Aspen is one of his five new U.S. galleries, and Lik’s Aspen gallery showcases his photography that aims to translate the power and beauty of the earth into a tangible record of a moment in time. (406 East Hopkins Ave.; 970.925.1531; www.peterlik.com)

• Forré & Co. Fine Art. This new fine-art gallery specializes in museum-quality works from internationally renowned artists and features weekly shows of diverse mediums ranging from glass sculptures to oil paintings. (426 East Hyman Ave.; 970.544.1607; www.forrefineart.com)

• Trilogy. This new boutique features the works of three local artists/clothing designers, who attract crowds to their booths at Aspen’s Saturday market, are combining their talents in one store. Trilogy will sell children’s indoor and outerwear made of fleece, corduroy and velvet by Cyndy Love of Cyndy Love Designs. Missen Brucker will sell handmade jewelry with an emphasis on Italian glass beads, and Jeanie Norris will sell handmade knitted apparel for children and adults. (533 Hopkins Ave.; 970.963.2117)

NEW HOTELS
• Limelight Lodge – The new Limelight Lodge is located in the heart of downtown Aspen, at the corner of Monarch Street and Cooper Avenue, and offers a range of accommodations from standard rooms with king-sized beds to the deluxe two-bedroom, two-bathroom penthouse suite with a fireplace and terrace. Each morning, guests enjoy an expanded continental breakfast, and during the ski season, they are welcomed back to the hotel with après-ski wine, hot drinks, and delectable treats. The Limelight Lodge has been an Aspen lodging staple for nearly 50 years, and the new 125-room inn of this locally owned hotel will offer the same moderately priced accommodations in an updated, contemporary setting. Winter 2008/09 rates range from $155 to $740 a night. (228 East Cooper Ave.; 970.925.3025; www.limelightlodge.com)

NEW AIRLINE SERVICE
• Delta Air Lines is offering new daily service between Aspen/Pitkin County Airport and Atlanta, the world’s largest airline hub, beginning Dec. 20, 2008. Delta Connection carrier SkyWest Airlines will operate the new flights to Aspen using the Bombardier CRJ 700 aircraft. (www.delta.com)

• Winter 2008/2009 is the first ski season that Frontier Airlines is operating four daily non-stop flights from Denver International Airport to Aspen, with connections to Frontier’s national network. Flights operate on quiet, fuel-efficient Bombardier Q400 regional aircraft (operated for Frontier by Lynx Aviation). (www.frontierairlines.com)

NEW ASPEN/SNOWMASS GROUND TRANSPORTATION
• Gray Line, is the new luxury ground transportation service from Denver International Airport (DIA) and Eagle County Airport (EGE), to the four mountains of Aspen/Snowmass. The new, year-round operation is featuring scheduled non-stop motor coach service with VIP check in at Gray Line’s concierge facility, guaranteed window/aisle seating, GPS tracking, on board entertainment and customized amenities. (970.544.2057 or email requests to aspensnowmass@coloradograyline.com; www.ridegrayline.com)

FRACTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
• Dancing Bear Aspen – Twenty luxury fractional residences in Dancing Bear Parkside building are opening by January 2009, and the adjacent Dancing Bear Mountainside building are slated to be completed by early winter 2009. The Parkside 1/8 deeded interests are nearly sold out, and Mountainside interests are currently available for purchase. Just steps from Wagner Park and downtown Aspen, with a 4,500-square-foot rooftop deck, Dancing Bear offers owners the very best of mountain living. Two new restaurants will include Brexi, opening December 2008 and another restaurant opening winter 2009 by Chef Mark Fischer and Lari Goode, owners of Carbondale’s renowned Six89 and Phat Thai. (620 East Hyman Ave.; 970.920.2510; www.dancingbearaspen.com)

• Residences at The Little Nell – Opening early winter 2009, this collection of 26 luxury, ski-in, ski-out residences located at the base of Aspen Mountain, adjacent to the Silver Queen Gondola, will be under the management and operation of the world-renowned Little Nell hotel, Aspen’s only Mobil Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond-recognized hotel. Three and four-bedroom residences are offered at 1/8 fee simple deeded interests that are 95 percent sold-out. Il Mulino restaurant and a new après-ski patio will be open to the public. (520 East Durant Ave.; 970.920.7272; www.rlnaspen.com)

For more information, visit the Aspen Chamber Resort Association at www.aspenchamber.org, or call 1.888.290.1324 or 970.925.1940.

Media Contact: Promo Communications
Maureen Poschman; maureen@promoinc.net
Alex de L’Arbre; alex@promoinc.net
970.925.8480
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