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FIND IT INSIDE GEAR | PAGE 11 CULTURE/CHARACTERS/COMMENTARY APRIL 10 - 16, 2014 ASPENTIMES.COM/WEEKLY FOOD MATTERS AHHHH, THE ARTICHOKE 14 || WINEINK AN EDUCATION IN L’ECOLE N º 41 12

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In this week's edition, we learn about Danielle Becker's quest to become a Master Cicerone and why the craft beer movement matter, get an education on L'Ecole No. 41, enjoy a little Family Fun at Aspen Shortsfest and more.

Transcript of Atw 04102014

FIND IT INSIDE

GEAR | PAGE 11CULTURE/CHARACTERS/COMMENTARY

APRIL 10 - 16, 2014 • ASPENTIMES.COM/WEEKLY

FOOD MATTERS AHHHH, THE ARTICHOKE 14 || WINEINK AN EDUCATION IN L’ECOLE Nº 41 12

A S P E N T I M E S W E E K L Y F Ap r i l 10 - Ap r i l 16 , 20 14 2

WELCOME MAT INSIDE this EDITION

20 COVER STORY

Got beer? Danielle Becker does — and a whole lot more. As manager of Nest at Viceroy

Snowmass, Becker is committed to making sure locals and guests get a true appreciation of

a good beer. And as an aspiring Master Cicerone, she also committed to learning all she can

about the craft of making, tasting and serving good beer. Aspen Times Weekly editor Jeanne

McGovern gives us a taste of what Becker’s got brewing these days.

DEPARTMENTS

06 THE WEEKLY CONVERSATION

08 LEGENDS & LEGACIES

11 FROM ASPEN, WITH LOVE

12 WINE INK

14 FOOD MATTERS

24 AROUND ASPEN

26 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

28 LOCAL CALENDAR

34 CROSSWORD

35 CLOSING ENCOUNTERS

ON THE COVERPhoto by Aubree Dallas

VOLUME 2 F ISSUE NUMBER 62

PublisherGunilla Asher

EditorJeanne McGovern

SubscriptionsDottie Wolcott

CirculationMaria Wimmer

Art DirectorAfton Groepper

Publication DesignerAshley Detmering

Production ManagerEvan Gibbard

Contributing WritersGunilla Asher

Amiee White BeazleyAmanda Rae Busch

John ColsonMary Eshbaugh Hayes

Kelly J. HayesCindy Hirschfeld

Barbara PlattsBob Ward

Tim WilloughbyHigh Country News

Aspen Historical Society

SalesDavid LaughrenAshton HewittWilliam Gross

David LaughrenMax Vadnais

Louise WalkerTim Kurnos

Read the eEditionhttp://issuu.com/theaspentimes

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A S P E N T I M E S W E E K L Y F Ap r i l 10 - Ap r i l 16 , 20 14 4

CURRENTEVENTS VISUAL ARTSPOPULAR MUSIC

ASPEN IS HOME to many visual artists, and its galleries and museum play host to countless world-class exhibitions. But with ArtStart at the Red Brick Center for the Arts, yet another side of our local visual arts scene comes alive. With more than 2,000 pieces of art — yes, 2,000 — created by elementary and middle school students from Aspen Country Day School, Aspen Community School, Aspen Elementary and Aspen Middle schools (every Aspen student in kindergarten through eighth-grade who takes an art class has at least one piece of art hanging on the walls), ArtStart is a kaleidoscope of creativity. The exhibition opens Thursday, April 10 with a reception from 4-6 p.m. and will continue through April 24.

In addition, the Red Brick also has on display its EcoArt exhibition, which comprises art made from 100 percent recycled materials representing 16 local and Colorado schools. As opposed to the non-juried ArtStart, EcoArt will offer first- and second-place cash prizes in the elementary, middle and high school categories (which are given to the art program of the respective school).

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Aside from the band’s marching band themed costumes, percussion corps and brass, M4 is far from a “marching band” in any traditional sense (though the band has been known to parade down a town’s main street before taking the stage). M4 is anchored by funky electric bass, and has been evolving into a more guitar- and vocal-driven musical experience. In one 90-minute set, the band takes the audience on a journey from the swamps of Louisiana to the gypsy camps of eastern Europe to the African jungle by way of Brazil, along the way stopping to sample the deepest grooves of the best of American funk, rock, jazz and boiling it all together in cinematic fashion with

MarchFourth Marching Band brings its unique blend of music and theatrics to Belly Up on Sunday, April 13.

COMPLETE LOCAL LISTINGS ON PAGE 28

THE WEEKLY CONVERSATION with JEANNE MCGOVERN

high-stepping stilt-acrobatics and sexy dancers. Usually the territory of DJs, this band is real people making music and art in real time — and every show is different, including this week’s Aspen appearance.

MarchFourth Marching Band parades through Belly Up on Sunday, April 13, Doors open at 8 p.m. Word to the wise: get your tickets ($25) early, this show has sold out in Aspen four times running.

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A S P E N T I M E S W E E K L Y F Ap r i l 10 - Ap r i l 16 , 20 14 6

THE WEEKLY CONVERSATION

OK, COLOR ME STUCK.I can’t seem to get the Koch

brothers out of my head, or off my mind, or whatever it is that they do to me.

For those who may not know, the billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch, who together run Koch Industries, have been spending millions of dollars every election cycle in an effort to … well, they have a long agenda, which apparently includes annihilating every and any positive legacy that President Barack Obama has managed to build up over his troubled two terms in office.

And chief among those accomplishments is the Affordable Care Act, the universal health coverage law that, while it doesn’t go far enough to ensure we all have access to decent medical care, has proven to be a pretty good deal for those who have signed up.

But the Koch brothers don’t care about that, since they probably have their own doctors and hospitals on retainer for every time they get a headache or their gout acts up.

Their company, by the bye, is listed as the second largest privately held company in the U.S. That means it’s a pretty damned big concern, by any measure, with a lot of money behind it.

And, as mentioned previously in this space, the brothers Koch have been using that money to influence the mid-term elections, the ones we will be voting in next November. Their opening shot has been a $20 million “advertising blitz” (as it was characterized in a New York Times editorial). The size of the blitz, according to the NYT, has grown to $30 million since mid-January, with the likelihood of much more to come as the months roll along.

Their outlook undoubtedly has brightened since last week, when the Republican-leaning U.S. Supreme Court struck down limits on the total amount of money that donors can give to candidates. The 5-4 decision means there is now no cap on the amount of money an individual can give, in total, during a single election cycle, though it left intact the $5,200 limit on individual donations to any single candidate in an election season.

Prior to the decision last week, the limit on any individual donor in any given election cycle was a little more than $123,000.

In a NYT page-one news story on April 6, reporters Jeremy Peters and Carl Hulse laid out the Democrats’ response to this blitz, or at least one aspect of the response, which is to draw public attention to the Koch-funded campaign by pointing out what nasty guys the brothers are.

The Dems are targeting a variety of

actions by Koch Industries and its subsidiaries, starting with layoffs at companies that include “a chemical plant in North Carolina, an oil refinery in Alaska, a lumber operation in Arkansas” and others.

In Alaska, for example, the Dems have trotted out some working-class types to criticize the brothers for their

rapine business practices, which were described as “coming into our town to buy our refinery [and] just running it into the ground.”

In North Carolina, the criticism of the Koch brothers’ shenanigans had to do with the layoff of 100 workers from a chemical plant along the Cape Fear River (I’ve always loved that name) just before the Christmas holidays last year.

The article also reported the concerns of U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, a Democrat from North Carolina, who has been the target of millions in negative campaign advertising from Americans for Prosperity (AFP), the Koch brothers’ political action organization.

“They’re spending millions of dollars to try to buy a United States Senate seat,” Hagan declared.

Predictably, a mouthpiece for Americans for Prosperity has denigrated the Democrats’ efforts by trying to make it seem pitiful and a waste of money.

“Their only plausible counter strategy is to try to cast as villains two individual Americans who 95 percent of Americans have never heard of?” asked Tim Phillips, president of AFP. “I think it’s such a stretch!”

Well, Mr. Phillips, we think it’s an even a worse stretch to think that elections should be open to the corrupting influence of money to the degree that they are. So there.

As for 95 percent of the country having never heard of the Koch brothers and their political activities, I’d say that’s as good an example of wishful thinking as I’ve ever encountered.

Granted, the brothers don’t step out into the limelight much, but people know they’re there.

Take the little town of Paonia, for example, where a lone citizen stepped out in front of a tank owned by another Koch brother — Bill. The tank was taking part in the town’s annual Cherry Days parade, and a former town council member was protesting, Tiananmen Square-style, brother Bill’s attempts to eliminate public access to public lands near Koch’s Bear Creek Ranch on Kebler Pass.

The upshot of all this is this: We know who you are, you brothers Koch, and we’re not going to go gently into the dark night of your political machinations (apology to Dylan Thomas).

We know who you are, Davey, Charlie and Billy

with JOHN COLSON

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A S P E N T I M E S W E E K L Y F Ap r i l 10 - Ap r i l 16 , 20 14 8

FROM the VAULTLEGENDS & LEGACIES

P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F T H E W I L L O U G H B Y C O L L E C T I O N

In 1897, 27 men’s organizations — not including volunteer fire departments, churches, or political organizations — offered membership. There was something for everyone and no doubt some men belonged to more than one.

Four chapters of Masons held all official meetings at the Masonic Temple. Although the large Elks membership used only one lodge (one of the more elegant meeting places that also had bowling lanes), many popular orders offered more than one lodge. Three groups of Odd Fellows met at different locations: the Armory Hall, the Wheeler Opera House, and a hall owned entirely by one group. The Knights of Pythias also had three chapters.

Several union groups met weekly: four lodges of the A.O.U.W, the United Workmen, The American Mechanics, and the Retail Clerks’ Union. The Knights of Honor,

Order of Chosen Friends, and the Woodmen — organizations best known for insurance and death benefit policies — also sponsored lodges.

Ethnic groups formed their own lodges. The Sons of Herman, a fraternal order of German Americans, broke with tradition by meeting on Sundays. Irish Protestants formed a small lodge, the Orangemen; Scotts met at the Robert Burns Caledonian Club.

The Improved Order of Red Men owned a hall. The group was called a “tribe,” with a sister group, Degree of Pocahontas, which attracted 200 members. Masons, Knights,

and Odd Fellows also had sister chapters. Two posts of the Grand Army of The Republic and a sisters circle met at the old courthouse on Mill Street.

Men and women who tolerated the company of the opposite sex yet disdained alcohol could join the

Gospel Temperance Union.Many meetings took place at what

was dubbed “Fraternal Hall,” the building that became the Armory Hall and is now Aspen’s City Hall. Juggled schedules allowed full use of the building most nights.

Most organizations required the same qualifications: known moral character; belief in God, meaning the applicant was Christian; and an economic test to prove the applicant was neither a debtor nor a deadbeat. These were the written rules, but many applicants gained acceptance by knowing someone who already was a member.

These days when someone says they have to go to a meeting, we think they have a tedious obligation and feel sorry for them. During Aspen’s mining days, if a man cared to be social, the abundance of opportunities was looked upon more favorably.

Tim Willoughby’s family story parallels Aspen’s. He began sharing folklore while teaching for Aspen Country Day School and Colorado Mountain College. Now a tourist in his native town, he views it with historical perspective. Reach him at [email protected].

Many hermits of mining-era Aspen had no need for companionship, but single men did not have to drink and dine alone; even married men who wanted to get away for an evening could find a gathering of like-minded friends. Fraternal orders met somewhere in town every night of the week except Sunday.

NO SHORTAGE OF MEN’S MEETINGS

MOST ORGANIZATIONS REQUIRED THE SAME QUALIFICATIONS: KNOWN MORAL CHARACTER; BELIEF IN GOD, MEANING THE APPLICANT WAS CHRISTIAN; AND AN ECONOMIC TEST TO PROVE THE APPLICANT WAS NEITHER A DEBTOR NOR A DEADBEAT. THESE WERE THE WRITTEN RULES, BUT MANY APPLICANTS GAINED ACCEPTANCE BY KNOWING SOMEONE WHO ALREADY WAS A MEMBER.

Men of mining-era Aspen sustained a nightly schedule of fraternal order gatherings.

by TIM WILLOUHGBY

9A S P E N T I M E S . C O M / W E E K L Y

FROM the VAULTLEGENDS & LEGACIES compiled by THE ASPEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY

P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F T H E A S P E N H I S T O R I C A L S O C I E T Y

H A P P Y H O U R

1951RED ON ION

IN OCTOBER 1951, the Red Onion was being prepared for a new winter season. According to the Aspen Daily Times on Oct. 4, “redecorating and remodeling are starting now in full tilt, and John C. Sihler, new owner of the 60-year-old Red Onion, hopes to have the internationally famous old Aspen landmark ready to reopen by Thanksgiving or early December. First opened during the boom days of silver mining in 1892, it was named ‘The Brick,’ and many old-time Aspen miners still call it that. But soon it gained the nickname of Red Onion, a term which in those days meant out-of-this-world, something wonderful. And the nickname gradually replaced the original… so the name of Red Onion is the one Aspen residents and visitors of the new generation always use.” The photo above shows Breezy Zordel and Bernie Popish drinking the very large beers that were available at the Red Onion.

This photo and more can be found in the Aspen Historical Society archives at aspenhistory.org.

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by SEBASTIAN FOLTZ

THE GUYS WITH THE BAMBOO STICKS

GEAR of the WEEKFROM ASPEN, WITH LOVE

FOR THE GUYS at Liberty Skis, it’s all about bamboo. It’s been at the core of the now Avon-based company’s skis for more than 10 years. Spawned from a discussion between co-founders Jim Satloff and Dan Chalfant over beers while in British Columbia — at a time when most small, independent ski companies were in their infancy — Liberty has since become one of the biggest producers in the independent ski market. So why bamboo? Because of the strong, lightweight and flexible nature of the wood. It offers a playful rebound from tip to tip while still maintaining strength and stiffness across the width of the skis.

We spent a morning a few weeks ago skiing with Liberty chief operating officer Chris Sears at Vail and had the chance to jump on a couple of pairs of Liberty’s signature model skis, the Helix, Variant 113 and Double Helix, as well as their Adrenalin Alpine touring bindings. Across the board, we were pretty impressed.

VARIANT 113 AND 97

Likely the next most versatile skis in Liberty’s extensive line of ski designs are the Variant 113 and 97 (widths underfoot). These puppies are geared for the skier looking to get their skis up on edge and carve up some groomers, but also looking to throw on some skins and tour the backcountry. The Variants add a strip of metal to the center of the ski’s bamboo core to make them a little more rigid for carving and holding an edge but still relatively lightweight at around 5 pounds — depending on length. The small notch in the tail of the ski is a nice added feature for anyone looking to secure climbing skins to them for Alpine touring. The Variant also has a special limited-edition Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) model, a portion of the sales of which go to CAIC. In addition to their mostly stiff base and cambered back to tail, the Variants also have Liberty’s Hammer Rocker tips, which provide a slight rise in the front to add flotation in deeper snow. The rockered tip is also subtle enough to not chatter significantly on groomers and engage well on edge.

I demo’d the 186 centimeter Variants that are 113 underfoot. At 5-foot-7 and about 150 pounds, I probably should have opted for the shorter 179 option, but the longer skis still handled impressively. With the width underfoot, they were still very nimble and did a great job of holding an edge on the groomer. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a deep powder day on them, but with a few fresh inches, they seemed to float very well. I didn’t get a chance to ride the narrower 97’s but imagine they’d be a great choice for someone looking for something a little narrower.

COMING SOON

HELIX AND DOUBLE HELIXConsidered their flagship ski, the Helix might

just be one of the most well-rounded all-mountain options out there. It’s no wonder it’s their best-selling model. At 105 millimeters underfoot with an aggressive side cut, the skis are narrow enough to make quick, sharp turns, but wide enough to provide some nice flotation when getting into the deep stuff. Liberty’s Stealth Rocker feature also puts just enough rise in the front of the ski to give the added benefit of a rockered ski in deep snow, without compromising performance on groomed terrain. Its flat tail and low-rise tip manage to hold an edge effectively on hardpack without creating the chatter of a more aggressively rockered ski. The twin tips also make it an appealing choice for the skier who spends some time riding or landing switch (backward). This ski is a great choice for someone looking for a one-ski quiver and for someone who is looking to get into a wider ski but is a little intimidated by full-on powder sticks.

At 121 underfoot, the skis’ bigger brother, the Double Helix, is a solid option for someone looking to spend a little more time in the deep stuff. While the Double Helix is described as the go-to ski for most of Liberty’s employees and still offers a short turn radius (around 25 meters), unlike the Helix, it’s probably a little burly for the average destination skier. Both skis come in a variety of lengths, from 167 to 190 centimeters. If there’s one flaw to the ski, it’s that the top sheets — at least in the 2013-14 model — may be somewhat prone to chipping along the edges. But that’s a purely aesthetic concern that applies to most skis ridden by a more aggressive skier.

Prices and other details are available at www.libertyskis.com.

GET IT

Like most ski and snowboard companies, next season Liberty will dip a little further into the Alpine touring market — the fastest growing segment in the ski industry, accord-ing to SIA. In addition to its heel-release Adrenalin A/T bindings, Liberty will be of-fering its own line of climbing skins. Unlike most skins, Liberty’s new Transport skins are glue-less and use a proprietary vacuum technology that works like tiny suction cups. Liberty boasts that they are easier to sep-arate than traditional skins while still able to firmly attach to the skis. They are also solvent-free and eco-friendly. I got a look at them and noticed they were clearly less sticky but didn’t get a chance to field test.

While a number of their current 2013-14 models won’t change beyond top-sheet de-signs for next season, Liberty will introduce

a few new models of skis, along with their skins. One ski to look for will be the new Liberty Origins. With a full rocker design and 116 underfoot, these guys look like they’ll be a really fun and playful ski without the intimidation factor of some of Liberty’s really wide powder skis such as the Mutant and Genome (149 and 140 underfoot). Softer in the tail than the Helix and wider underfoot, the Origins should be just as fun with a little more deep powder flotation.

As to the future of Liberty, in a market where independent ski companies come and go, Liberty has clearly established themselves as one of the big boys. With con-tinued growth projected and a market that now extends from Europe to Asia, the little guys that started in Edwards don’t look like they’ll be going anywhere any time soon.

A S P E N T I M E S W E E K L Y F Ap r i l 10 - Ap r i l 16 , 20 14 12

WINEINKFROM ASPEN, WITH LOVE

A HEAVY SNOW FELL on an April morning. Through the mist, as if on cue for a ski film shoot, Marty and Megan Clubb, accompanied by their daughter

Becca, emerged through the haze, smiling as they skied down Snowmass in perfect unison. These were winemakers at play.

The Clubbs, along with son Riley, are the second and third generations of the

family that created and operate the Walla Walla, Wash.,-based L’Ecole Nº 41 winery. While they play hard (Marty was rocking a snowboard on this snowy day while Megan and Becca both rode skis), the family’s legacy will forever be forged from the fruits, literally, of their labors. Since 1983, when patriarchs Jean and Baker Ferguson founded the winery, the family has been at the forefront of a wine revolution that has changed the economics, the culture and the community of the Western Washington farm town, now wine town, that they call home.

While once a largely anonymous hub for the wheat, apple and onion fields of southeastern Washington, Walla Walla (pop. 31,000) is now synonymous with the explosion in Washington wines. Many of the states most sought-after wines from the likes of Leonetti, Charles Smith and Cayuse hail from a place that is in the midst of a transformation to becoming a globally recognized wine region. In recent months there has been an infusion of California, Canadian and Asian capital to Washington as many of the most well-heeled wine investors have discovered that both value and quality can still be found in the state.

“When Baker and Jean (Megan’s parents) started the winery in the early ’80s, there were just three wineries in the region and less than 20 in the entire state of Washington,” Marty told me on a chairlift ride up to High Alpine. “Baker had developed a love for

Bordeaux and he thought that with all of the farmland around Walla Walla already growing great fruit this had to be a good place to grow grapes.” Baker began doing soils tests and climate studies of the fruit orchards in the region about the same time that Gary Figgins of Leonetti (the first commercial winery established in the region in 1977) and Rick Small of Woodward Canyon began to identify sites that would be conducive to planting vineyards and making wine.

While the opportunities were obvious, so too were the challenges. Walla Walla swelters under extreme summers (annual rainfall in some areas is less then 10 inches) and the winters are brutally cold. Winds rush across the sage brush on the land that is really a part of a vast desert complex that extends north into Canada and covers much of southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon. But the land also benefits from impressive soils, the gift of the massive Missoula flood, which covered much of the Pacific Northwest with rocks and dirt 13,000 or so years ago, and, to this day, give the vineyards character and uniquely varied terroir.

When I walked a number of vineyards this past fall in and around Walla Walla, I was amazed at the diversity of the earth. Large basalt stones blasted heat from the sun back onto the undersides of the Syrah vines in one vineyard. Earthy black soils marked another planted to Merlot and a third, this one with Chardonnay, was planted in what looked like dust so loose that it could barely support the vines. All of these soils types are a candy store for vineyard managers, who can experiment with different varietals and planting schemes.

Marty and Megan are both graduates of MIT’s Sloan School of Management who began their careers in high-powered engineering and finance positions in San Francisco. Marty was on the fast track at Bechtel while Megan was at Wells Fargo. But in 1989, the pair decided that a life in wine beckoned and they came to Walla

Walla to raise their family, grow grapes and make wine.

Today, L’Ecole Nº 41 produces more than 40,000 cases of wine a year. While much of the wine is made from fruit grown in the Columbia Valley to the west, increasingly more emanates from single-vineyard estate growths in the Walla Walla wine appellation. The winery and tasting room lie to the west of the city, housed in a charming, circa 1915, former schoolhouse in the Frenchtown section of the region, hence the name.

The wines of L’Ecole Nº 41 are crafted by winemaker Mike Sharon, who has worked at the winery for close to 20 years and was named the estate’s winemaker in 2006. There is an emphasis on the Bordeaux varietals and blends, especially in the wines from the Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge and Ferguson vineyards in Walla Walla, including the acclaimed Perigee and Apogee blends that consistently score more than 90 points in tastings. A specialty and a family favorite is a wine called Luminesce, a blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc that is sourced from the Seven Hills Vineyard. Seven Hills, which is in the Walla Walla AVA, uniquely crosses the

border between Washington and Oregon.

Personally, it was their 2010 Estate Syrah from the same Seven Hills Vineyard, which I was able to sample at the tasting room during my visit, that made the biggest impression on me. Earthy, but well-balanced, the fruit and flavors resonated and tasted like the land that surrounded us.

This is just the beginning of the Washington wine revolution and the Clubbs have already made a significant contribution to not just the region, but to American winemaking as well.

I’ll look forward to both skiing with them and drinking their wines for years to come.

Kelly J. Hayes lives in the soon-to-be-designated appellation of Old Snowmass with his wife, Linda, and black Lab named Vino. He can be reached at [email protected].

SCHOOL HOLIDAY FOR L’ECOLE Nº 41

KELLY J.HAYES

P H O T O S C O U R T E S Y O F L ’ E C O L E N º 4 1

While Marty, Megan and Riley all live in Walla Walla, daughter Becca lives here in Aspen. A veteran of the much missed Pacifica Restaurant, she can be found currently working at Snowmass’ Bia Hoi.

MEET THE CLUBBS

13A S P E N T I M E S . C O M / W E E K L Y

by KELLY J. HAYES

As owner and managing winemaker, Marty Clubb (opposite page) has helped put L’Ecole N° 41 on the map in Walla Walla, Wash., and around the world.

L’ECOLE Nº 4141 Lowden School Road Lowden, WA 99360P: 509.525.0940E: [email protected]

IF YOU GO...

UNDER THE INFLUENCEL’ECOLE Nº 41 2011 COLUMBIA VALLEY SYRAHA steal of a deal at around $25 a bottle, this Northern Rhone style blend

of 80 percent Syrah and 20 percent Grenache is rich and earthy, with great dark fruit flavors. While released as a Columbia Valley wine, the fruit is from a collection of vineyards including Seven Hills (Walla Walla) and Candy Mountain (Columbia Valley). Though listed at a healthy 15 percent alcohol, the wine feels balanced and lush in the mouth.

A S P E N T I M E S W E E K L Y F Ap r i l 10 - Ap r i l 16 , 20 14 14

FOOD MATTERS

WANDERING THE PRODUCE department of Whole Foods in Basalt last week, I felt an invisible pull toward one display that seemed to dwarf all the rest. Globe

artichokes the size of bocce balls were stacked into a vertical jigsaw puzzle. But only half of the leafy specimens were the traditional olive green; the others were marked with deep purple striations. Since it’s my personal mission to pick up at least

one oddball fruit or vegetable — pummelo and turmeric root were two past successes; black radish, not so much — on every rare visit to the natural emporium, I had to scoop one up. My mom, who lived in Sausalito, Calif., long ago, would occasionally cook artichokes for my brother and I when we were growing up in New England. To me, they represent the beginning of summer, and I still love the slow ritual of peeling away silvery layer after layer to reveal hidden treasure: a fuzz-covered heart.

At home that night, following a 45-minute steam bath, I plucked the tender plum-colored artichoke leaves one by one, dragging each through a quick whip of yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, and herbs before teeth-scraping each clean. They were meaty and creamy — I later learned they may be of the Italian “Violetto” variety — some of the best I’ve ever enjoyed.

But the tastiest artichokes, by far, were had in Castroville, a small farming town about 15 miles north of Monterey Bay. I was on a road trip, tracing all 1,540 coastal miles of U.S. Route 101, when I veered off course and found myself cruising beneath a banner proclaiming, “Artichoke Center of the World.” (Whole Foods artichokes are no doubt trucked in from here, too, but all food tastes better on its native soil, doesn’t it?)

After passing a half-dozen

roadside stands with hand-painted signs, including one weather-ravaged watercraft, and the unfortunately named Artichoke Inn, I spied it: an enormous green artichoke sculpture (pictured right) jutting skyward from a farm market strip mall.

The hollow, domed structure is the crown jewel of the Giant Artichoke Family Restaurant, a mom-and-pop roadside diner serving up the freshest, juiciest artichokes in every preparation imaginable. Though best know for sinfully crispy fried artichoke hearts, the eatery offers a four-course artichoke tasting for about $20. Restaurants in neighboring towns showcase artichoke soups, stews, casseroles — even sweet breads — during peak season from March to May.

Castroville has celebrated its agricultural claim to fame since the Mediterranean-native perennial thistle was first planted there by Swiss-Italian vintners in 1922. The spiny, fern-like artichoke is actually an edible bud, harvested at an immature stage from plants that grow up to 4-feet tall and spread up to twice that in diameter. Baby artichokes are not, in fact, young, but stunted in growth because of being blocked from the sun by uppermost leaves.

In May 1959, the inaugural Castroville Artichoke Festival (see opposite page) began the tradition of hosting a “weird little party involving all manner of ’choke recipes, wares, and goods,” says a pal who lived in neighboring Marina for four years. “Artichoke fields around my house, actually. I walked them all the time.”

Thanks to frost-free winters and cool, foggy summers, California grows nearly all of the artichokes consumed in America, and of those, an estimated 85 percent hail from Castroville.

“‘Rippers’ were thieves who would enter fields at night and steal produce off of the stalk,” my friend continues. “A farmer told

me stories of fields being stripped. The artichoke fields are wide open, unfenced for the most part. Agricultural theft is a big problem in California: Huge industry covering eminence grounds, hard to protect financially. Like, a truck full of picked nuts is worth $300,000.”

Artichokes may not hold a garden hoe to California’s top cash crops, such as grapes, almonds, and, now bigger than both of those, marijuana, but a vegetable that reaps $50 million annually is not small potatoes. (Potatoes would likely be Colorado’s state “vegetable,” if we had one.)

Another consideration lately: lack of water. Artichokes require plenty of moisture to produce succulent, tender buds; dehydrated plants become unpalatable, depleting marketable inventory and causing national prices to skyrocket. (A single artichoke at Whole Foods is currently $2.99; in Castroville last year they were 10 for $1.) In January, California Gov. Jerry

Brown declared a drought state of emergency — the worst in history. If the trend continues, the agricultural industry could lose $5 billion in revenue this year alone. Artichokes may become scarce.

Some happy news: in April 2013, state officials finally tackled a long-overdue agenda item, proclaiming the artichoke California’s official vegetable.

“In Marina it was common for us to meet at the beach and have grilled artichoke halves and drinks before heading out for actual dinner,” my friend says with a whisper of nostalgia. “The texture and flavor are so unlikely coming from a hardened, pointed, cactus-like plant. The petals are totally bitter raw. But put some heat to them and they turn to the perfect thing to run your teeth over, like a natural potato chip.”

Amanda Rae considers the artichoke symbolic of the human heart. [email protected]

‘CHOKED UPAN ODE TO CALIFORNIA’S NOBLE GLOBES, NOW AT PEAK SEASON

AMANDARAE

FROM ASPEN, WITH LOVE FOOD MATTERS

15A S P E N T I M E S . C O M / W E E K L Y

by AMANDA RAE

P H O T O S B Y A M A N D A R A E

55TH ANNUAL CASTROVILLE ARTICHOKE FESTIVAL

A longstanding celebration of California’s newly minted state vegetable, including tastings, cooking demos, a farmers’ market, field tours, and quirky Agro Art competition, in which amateurs and professionals sculpt 3D masterpieces from fresh produce.

May 31 & June 1 Artichoke Festival Parade, May 18Castroville, Calif.831-633-2465artichoke-festival.org

IF YOU GO ...

A S P E N T I M E S W E E K L Y F Ap r i l 10 - Ap r i l 16 , 20 14 16 P H O T O B Y A U B R E E D A L L A S

ChI love an ice cream float; it’s a treat in my household

when we have them for dessert. But who knew they

could also be an adult beverage? In “researching” this

week’s cover story on Danielle Becker and her journey

toward becoming a Master Cicerone, I learned a lot

about beer. One such tasty tidbit: the beer float. On

one occasion at Viceroy Snowmass, I was wowed by

the flavorful contrast of a Breckenridge Vanilla Porter

served up with scoop of house-made Chai chocolate ice

cream. And at a recent Boulder Beer pairing dinner,

the dessert course was a decadent Shake Chocolate

Porter with a scoop of rich chocolate porter ice cream.

Honestly, it was as good as any luscious chocolate

cake for topping off an excellent dinner — and easily

replicated at home.

GUNILLA ASHER DIDN’T MAKE IT TO THE BARS THIS

WEEKEND, BUT SHE’LL SHARE ANOTHER FAVORITE DRINK

WITH US SOON. IN THE MEANTNIME, EMAIL JMCGOVERN@

ASPENTIMES.COM WITH WHAT COCKTAILS YOU’RE MIXING,

WHAT LIBATIONS YOU’RE DRINKING, WHAT TASTES HAVE

TEMPTED YOUR TASTEBUDS AND WE’LL SHARE THEM WITH

OUR READERS. CHEERS!

Boulder Beer Shake PorterChocolate porter ice cream(Or whatever beer-and-ice-cream

combination you can dream up)

MAKE IT

BOULDER SHAKE BEER FLOAT

FROM ASPEN, WITH LOVE by JEANNE MCGOVERNGUNNER’S LIBATIONS

| NEXT TO WHOLE FOODSFREE DELIVERY!ANYWHERE IN THE ROARING FORK VALLEY ($50 MIN) 970.927.2002

Perfect for:Birthday’s • Holidays

Teacher Appreciation • College Graduation

Did you know…We have Gift Certificates available!

Ask our friendly Sales Staff to purchase yours today!

17A S P E N T I M E S . C O M / W E E K L Y

APRIL INCENTIVES

A S P E N T I M E S W E E K L Y F Ap r i l 10 - Ap r i l 16 , 20 14 18

Aspen | 970.925.6060 Snowmass | 970.923.2006 Basalt | 970.927.8080 Carbondale | 970.963.4536

AspenSnowmassSIR.comA rtfully uniting extraordinary homes with extraordinary lives.

4 bedroom, 5.5 bath, 5,445 sq ft ski-in/ ski-out Thunderbowl TownhomeStacked stone, wood beams, granite, & marbleIncludes use of the Ritz-Carlton Club$4,750,000 Turn-Key FurnishedEd Foran | 970.948.5704

Slopeside Luxury at Highlands

Exquisite views from Mountain Valley home4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, den, 2 car garageOversized yard, great deckConveniently located in east Aspen$3,600,000 $3,400,000 FurnishedPenney Evans Carruth | 970.379.9133

Nature’s Show

4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 4,492 sq ftDeck, vaulted ceilings, mountain viewsOn-site management, worry free ownershipClose to slopes of Tiehack & Buttermilk$4,750,000 $4,495,000 FurnishedLlwyd Ecclestone | 970.456.6031AspenSkiMaroonCreek.com

Exceptional Views from Maroon Greens

4 bedrooms + den, 5.5 baths, 3,515 sq ftRemodeled with beautiful finishesExpansive decks, sweeping ski area viewsAdjacent to Snowmass Club amenities$3,995,000 $3,795,000 FurnishedTerry Rogers | 970.379.2443

Country Club Living at Its Finest

Ski-In/Ski-Out Luxury

5 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, 6,458 sq ftSleeps 18, elevator, media room, wet barRitz Carlton amenities covered by HOAUnbeatable value at $797/sq ft!$5,150,000 $4,950,000 FurnishedMatt Holstein | 970.948.6868

Mountain contemporary with elegant interior4 bedrooms, 4 full, 2 half baths, 5,150 sq ftSpectacular 180º mountain viewsMature landscaping, expansive patio, hot tub$6,400,000Raifie Bass | 970.948.7424Wendy Wogan-Williams | 970.948.8948

Coveted Ridge of Red Mountain

Best view lot in Mountain ValleyLight & bright, 4 bedroom, 4.5 bath, 3,895 sq ft mountain contemporary homeSpacious floor plan, huge volume, views$4,350,000 FurnishedMark Haldeman | 970.379.3372

Mountain Magnificence

Live The Dream

• European-style mountain retreat located just over the bridge on Aspen’s east side• 3+ bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 5,003 sq ft• Easily add a fourth bedroom• 19th century Pennsylvania barnwood floors, antique built-ins, and other elegant details and refined spaces• High ceilings, custom-paned windows• Perfect for intimate gatherings inside & out• At the end of a private cul-de-sac

$6,490,000Andrew Ernemann | 970.379.8125

LacetLaneHome.com

The Perfect Mountain Retreat

• 5 bedrooms, 5 baths, 5,845 sq ft• Open floor plan with vaulted ceilings• 4 fireplaces• Sauna and outdoor hot tub• Direct ski-in/ski-out right to the house• Best views of any home in the Pines• South-facing for all day sun• Dead on views of High Alpine and the

Cirque Headwall• Abuts the National Forest for miles of

hiking, biking and cross country skiing

$7,750,000 FurnishedLarry Jones | 970.379.8757

Katie Grange | 970.948.2598

New Listing

5 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, 5,381 sq ftImpeccably maintained, updated interiorPerched above the signature 7th hole of the Nicklaus golf course at Aspen Glen$2,450,000 FurnishedSue Hess | 970.309.5455

WOW River Views & Beautiful Spaces3-level townhome with contemporary flair3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2,702 sq ft end unitOpen floor plan, expansive decks, fireplaceShort walk to the core – well priced!$2,475,000 $2,275,000AnneAdare Wood | 970.274.8989

Light, Spacious Aspen TownhomeRarely available 4 bedroom, 3 bath, 1,594 sq ft, 2 level Chateau Roaring Fork condoAn easy 4 block walk to the GondolaComplex pool, hot tub, & ample parking$2,695,000 FurnishedSally Shiekman-Miller | 970.948.7530

In Town Riverfront 4 Bedroom

Ski access just steps from the door3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 1,762 sq ftStunning contemporary designComplex pool, tennis court, & exercise room$3,895,000 FurnishedCraig Morris | 970.379.9795Tory Thomas | 970.948.1341

Ski-In/Ski-Out Downtown Condo

Exquisite 60 acre homestead with streamVested rights to build 14,750 sq ft dream homeIncl. 2 stalls in state-of-the-art barnIn the Aspen School District$3,900,000Carol Dopkin | 970.618.0187ChaparralRanch.info

Discover Chaparral Aspen

19A S P E N T I M E S . C O M / W E E K L Y

Aspen | 970.925.6060 Snowmass | 970.923.2006 Basalt | 970.927.8080 Carbondale | 970.963.4536

AspenSnowmassSIR.comA rtfully uniting extraordinary homes with extraordinary lives.

4 bedroom, 5.5 bath, 5,445 sq ft ski-in/ ski-out Thunderbowl TownhomeStacked stone, wood beams, granite, & marbleIncludes use of the Ritz-Carlton Club$4,750,000 Turn-Key FurnishedEd Foran | 970.948.5704

Slopeside Luxury at Highlands

Exquisite views from Mountain Valley home4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, den, 2 car garageOversized yard, great deckConveniently located in east Aspen$3,600,000 $3,400,000 FurnishedPenney Evans Carruth | 970.379.9133

Nature’s Show

4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 4,492 sq ftDeck, vaulted ceilings, mountain viewsOn-site management, worry free ownershipClose to slopes of Tiehack & Buttermilk$4,750,000 $4,495,000 FurnishedLlwyd Ecclestone | 970.456.6031AspenSkiMaroonCreek.com

Exceptional Views from Maroon Greens

4 bedrooms + den, 5.5 baths, 3,515 sq ftRemodeled with beautiful finishesExpansive decks, sweeping ski area viewsAdjacent to Snowmass Club amenities$3,995,000 $3,795,000 FurnishedTerry Rogers | 970.379.2443

Country Club Living at Its Finest

Ski-In/Ski-Out Luxury

5 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, 6,458 sq ftSleeps 18, elevator, media room, wet barRitz Carlton amenities covered by HOAUnbeatable value at $797/sq ft!$5,150,000 $4,950,000 FurnishedMatt Holstein | 970.948.6868

Mountain contemporary with elegant interior4 bedrooms, 4 full, 2 half baths, 5,150 sq ftSpectacular 180º mountain viewsMature landscaping, expansive patio, hot tub$6,400,000Raifie Bass | 970.948.7424Wendy Wogan-Williams | 970.948.8948

Coveted Ridge of Red Mountain

Best view lot in Mountain ValleyLight & bright, 4 bedroom, 4.5 bath, 3,895 sq ft mountain contemporary homeSpacious floor plan, huge volume, views$4,350,000 FurnishedMark Haldeman | 970.379.3372

Mountain Magnificence

Live The Dream

• European-style mountain retreat located just over the bridge on Aspen’s east side• 3+ bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 5,003 sq ft• Easily add a fourth bedroom• 19th century Pennsylvania barnwood floors, antique built-ins, and other elegant details and refined spaces• High ceilings, custom-paned windows• Perfect for intimate gatherings inside & out• At the end of a private cul-de-sac

$6,490,000Andrew Ernemann | 970.379.8125

LacetLaneHome.com

The Perfect Mountain Retreat

• 5 bedrooms, 5 baths, 5,845 sq ft• Open floor plan with vaulted ceilings• 4 fireplaces• Sauna and outdoor hot tub• Direct ski-in/ski-out right to the house• Best views of any home in the Pines• South-facing for all day sun• Dead on views of High Alpine and the

Cirque Headwall• Abuts the National Forest for miles of

hiking, biking and cross country skiing

$7,750,000 FurnishedLarry Jones | 970.379.8757

Katie Grange | 970.948.2598

New Listing

5 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, 5,381 sq ftImpeccably maintained, updated interiorPerched above the signature 7th hole of the Nicklaus golf course at Aspen Glen$2,450,000 FurnishedSue Hess | 970.309.5455

WOW River Views & Beautiful Spaces3-level townhome with contemporary flair3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2,702 sq ft end unitOpen floor plan, expansive decks, fireplaceShort walk to the core – well priced!$2,475,000 $2,275,000AnneAdare Wood | 970.274.8989

Light, Spacious Aspen TownhomeRarely available 4 bedroom, 3 bath, 1,594 sq ft, 2 level Chateau Roaring Fork condoAn easy 4 block walk to the GondolaComplex pool, hot tub, & ample parking$2,695,000 FurnishedSally Shiekman-Miller | 970.948.7530

In Town Riverfront 4 Bedroom

Ski access just steps from the door3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 1,762 sq ftStunning contemporary designComplex pool, tennis court, & exercise room$3,895,000 FurnishedCraig Morris | 970.379.9795Tory Thomas | 970.948.1341

Ski-In/Ski-Out Downtown Condo

Exquisite 60 acre homestead with streamVested rights to build 14,750 sq ft dream homeIncl. 2 stalls in state-of-the-art barnIn the Aspen School District$3,900,000Carol Dopkin | 970.618.0187ChaparralRanch.info

Discover Chaparral Aspen

A S P E N T I M E S W E E K L Y F Ap r i l 10 - Ap r i l 16 , 20 14 20

“Beer is the great equalizer,” declares Danielle Becker, manager of Nest at Viceroy Snowmass. “Not everyone enjoys wine or wants to drink spirits, but everyone will sit down and have a beer with you. It’s the ‘Cheers’ thing – beer is something pretty much everyone can go into a bar and enjoy.”

BEHOLD, THE POWER OF BEER

(AND VICEROY SNOWMASS’ DANIELLE BECKER’S QUEST TO BECOME A MASTER CICERONE)

by JEANNE MCGOVERN

P H O T O S B Y A U B R E E D A L L A S

21A S P E N T I M E S . C O M / W E E K L Y

THE MAKING OF A MASTEREveryone knows — and admires — the sommelier. That master of wine who knows

exactly which wine to pour with each course; that person who knows just what you’re seeking when you say, “crisp” or “dry,” “fruity” or “earthy.”

But what about beer? Who knows which beer to pair with, say, confit of prime ribeye cap, lobster poutine and debris gravy? The Master Cicerone, that’s who. (And the answer, by the way, is Boulder Beer’s Never Summer winter ale.)

So what is a Master Cicerone? According to the Craft Beer Institute, Cicerone is an English word referring to “one who

conducts visitors and sightseers to museums and explains matters of archaeological, antiquarian, historic or artistic interest.” A Certified (one level below a Master) or Master Cicerone is a person who “possesses the knowledge and skills to guide those interested in beer culture, including its historic and artistic aspects. These titles now designate a person with demonstrated expertise in beer who can guide consumers to enjoyable and high-quality experiences with great beer.”

A Master Cicerone is, in a nutshell, what Danielle Becker sees herself as in just a few short months.

“I’ve been in the food and beverage business so long that I have thought about becoming a sommelier or going further with spirits,” says Becker, manager of Nest at Viceroy Snowmass, who has hopes of achieving her Master Cicerone designation by year’s end.

“But once I found out about the Cicerone program, I knew that was for me; I love beer,” she says. “And it’s a challenge; there are more than 70 different styles of beer and you have to know everything about them all, do blind tastings and so forth. It’s not easy.”

Indeed. According to cicerone.org, there are currently only six Master Cicerones in the United States. Becker hopes to be lucky No. 7. “I am excited about the future,” she says.

Yet, at the same time, beer can be just complex as wine or spirits. And this might be what Becker loves the most.

“Beer has been around for centuries, and it’s finally getting the respect it deserves,” says Becker, who hopes to attain her Master Cicerone designation this year (see “The Making of a Master,” this page.). “Those water-beers are no longer the standard; craft beers are raising the bar.”

At Nest — and breweries, taverns and even fine-dining restaurants across the country — raising the bar means bellying up to the bar for beer tastings and beer pairing dinners. In fact, a recent dinner at Nest featured a selection of Boulder Beers paired with the creative cuisine of Viceroy Snowmass chef Will Nolan.

And we’re not talking hot dogs and Budweisers here.The five-course dinner included offerings such as an

appetizer of Buffalo Gold and Hazed and Infused beer served with charbroiled oysters, cheese and pork belly coquette and smoked tomato relish, followed by a main

dish featuring Mojo Risin’ double IPA alongside Char Siu pork with kimchee, fried avocado and yuzu vinaigrette.

“When you can hold in your hand a beer from an amazing Abbey and pair it with a fine dish, that’s just incredible. It proves it’s not just about the wine,” says Becker, whose long career in the food and beverage industry landed her in the Roaring Fork Valley some four years ago, where she’s now firmly established in her role as beer master at the Viceroy (while raising a 9-year-old and twins, aged 5).

P H O T O S B Y A U B R E E D A L L A S

Danielle Becker (in red) hosts a recent beer pairing dinner at Nest at Viceroy Snowmass. The five-course meal included a selection of Boulder Beers paired with the creations of Viceroy chef Will Nolan, as well as s brief education on what goes into a good beer — such as the hops, barley, etc. (pictured above).

A S P E N T I M E S W E E K L Y F Ap r i l 10 - Ap r i l 16 , 20 14 22

In fact, Becker sees a world where beer — and those who are educated in how to brew, taste, serve and enjoy it — is as highly regarded as wine or spirits.

“The brewery movement is here; people are embracing it,” she says. “That’s the cool thing...beer can be really delicious — and diverse — and people are beginning to learn that.”

Take Nest’s recent Boulder Beer pairing dinner. In just a couple of hours, six styles of beer were served and sampled. They ranged from the well-known Buffalo Gold to the seasonal Never Summer Ale to the rich dessert beer Shake Chocolate Porter (see Gunner’s Libations, page 16). The evening also included an education in beer and beer making, with a variety of hops, barley and other essentials on the table for diners to investigate.

“We’ve definitely seen a change in the craft beer market,” Boulder Beers’ Laura McLane told the assembled guests. “What we have for you tonight is some traditional beers and a few new ones — all paired perfectly with chef Will’s dishes.”

Indeed it was like a winemaker’s dinner. But, like beer itself, a bit more casual. A bit more fun.

“Speaking personally, I love that my passion for beer can also be my career,” says Becker. “The beer crowd is a fun crowd, so how could I not love what I do?”

Moving forward, what Becker does — and what Viceroy Snowmass will do for beer lovers everywhere — will include a variety of beer-centric events, from pairing dinners to beer training courses to entire weekends dedicated to the suds.

“Viceroy has always had a great mixology program, but now whatever your angle, you can find it,” says Becker. “I’m just glad that my hobby is something worth sharing, something others want to enjoy with me.”

DANIELLE BECKER’S ABSOLUTE FAVORITE BEER?“PORTER, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY I COULD NEVER NAME A SPECIFIC ONE. JUST GIVEME A NICE, GOOD PORTER AND I’M HAPPY.”

P H O T O S B Y A U B R E E D A L L A S

Boulder Beers’ Laura McLane (top) describes a pairing, such as Honey of a Saison Ale served with BBQ grilled octopus, gritz and grilled cabbage (above) during a recent pairing dinner (right).

23A S P E N T I M E S . C O M / W E E K L Y

VOYAGES ESCAPE ARTIST | FLORIDA

FLORIDA. YOU EITHER love it or hate it. For the haters, it is a crowded, overdeveloped evil consequence of commercialism, for others it is a relatively easy-

to-access paradise. I’ve been traveling to Florida and many of its coastal communities for almost four decades, and have seen the best (deserted Sanibel beaches in the 80s) and the worst (Fort Meyers on a Friday night). But if you take the time, there

are still plenty of quiet beachfront communities left to discover that have worked hard to maintain and preserve the feeling of this one-time quiet paradise.

For me, the beauty of “Old Florida” is found on the Atlantic Coast between the cities of Melbourne Beach and Vero Beach. This stretch of barrier island is separated from mainland Florida by the Indian River, where on a recent visit, I watched a pod of dolphins relentlessly tease a flock of floating pelicans in the warm water. This 121-mile long lagoon is

host to many different species, and protects the land to the east from the sprawl of humanity.

The beaches along this coast 90 minutes southeast of Orlando are where the “Space Coast” meets the “Treasure Coast.” By morning you can watch rockets take off from the Cape Canaveral peninsula, then comb the beaches later in the day for pristine shells or remnant shells of loggerhead turtle hatches.

At the northern end of this stretch is the Port d’Hiver Bed and Breakfast. A beautiful example of renovated, historic Floridian architecture, with 10 impeccably designed rooms, filled with beautiful touches in a tranquil setting. While serene and private, it is just footsteps from the beach, great small restaurants and lots of local characters.

One great thing about Florida is that access to the beaches is a right for all. Here is the exact site where historians now believe Ponce de Leon actually landed, not St. Augustine, where he named Florida for “land of flowers.” He would not be disappointed to return to his landing point, which

has been protected and where wild vegetation still grows.

Moving south along A1A, there is the Barrier Island Sanctuary, a beautiful modern eco-education facility right on the beach where there are hands-on exhibits on the barrier island environment, animals – think ACES at the ocean. I bring my children here on every trip. And when they are ready for something new, there is Sebastian Inlet, where world-class surfers and novice fishermen mingle. A state park on the west side of the bridge has a mellow spot for small kids to swim, take a hike, enjoy a picnic or you can walk out onto the jetty and watch the watersports. Did I mention there are no crowds or strip malls anywhere in sight?

Traveling over the Sebastian Inlet Bridge toward Vero Beach, there is the understated, but fun McLarty Treasure Museum. Inside is an impressive collection of findings from the 1715 Plate Fleet Wreck that took place on the shores adjacent to the museum. It also shows the

hardships of life in early Florida, where the surviving Spanish families lived and learned from the local native tribes.

The end of this beautiful stretch is at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort. Before you roll your eyes, remember this, if you are looking for a beautiful, easy and entertaining beach vacation for you and your children, this is a balanced combination of both. It has none of the Disney crowds, but still a bit of Disney magic in a beautiful “Old Florida” setting.

Visit now, before the protected lands of this special area suddenly become exposed or vulnerable to development. You know how it goes, every special place is always soon discovered.

Amiee White Beazley writes about travel for the Aspen Times Weekly. Reach her at [email protected] or follow her @awbeazley1.

DISCOVERING THE CHARM OF ‘OLD FLORIDA’

by AMIEE WHITE BEAZLEY

P H O T O S B Y A M I E E W H I T E B E A Z L E Y

AMIEE WHITE BEAZLEY

A S P E N T I M E S W E E K L Y F Ap r i l 10 - Ap r i l 16 , 20 14 24

AROUNDASPEN The SOCIAL SIDE of TOWN by MARY ESHBAUGH HAYES

MORE ST. PAT’S AT ST. MARY’S

THE ST. PATRICK’S DAY DINNER at St. Mary Catholic Church in Aspen always draws a big crowd!

Undercurrent...This has been the winter of all winters and how the skiers have loved it!

MARY ESHBAUGH

HAYES

ST. PADDY’SKaren Woodard with her grandchildren Zala and Luke Smalls.

ST. PADDY’SJulia DeBacker with her children Halsten, Dominic, Lucia, Greta and Saffron.

ST. PADDY’SLee Mulcahy, Norma Avila and Terry Schaefer.

ST. PADDY’SClaire Howard and Carol Dussault.

ST. PADDY’SBecket Howard, Chantal Howard and Elia Howard.

ST. PADDY’SMike Foley and Jarrod Hollinger.

ST. PADDY’SVince Savage and Dasa Bausova.

25A S P E N T I M E S . C O M / W E E K L Y

A S P E N T I M E S W E E K L Y F Ap r i l 10 - Ap r i l 16 , 20 14 26

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT MUSIC/ART/FILM/LITERATURE

IF THERE’S ONE THING the folks at Aspen Film accomplish year after year with the Aspen Shortsfest, it’s that they certainly know how to pick a wide assortment of subject matter to offer audiences.

Variety comes naturally when choosing 70 films from more than 3,000 selections. Because the festival offers such a broad range of topics, a program of shorts was put together for viewers looking for films the entire family can enjoy.

The festival offers a “Family Fun” program (5 p.m. Saturday in Carbondale and 2 p.m. Sunday in Aspen) where the themes of the films offered are lighter and hold appeal to both adults and children.

Laura Thielen, artistic director of Aspen Film, sees the Family Fun program as a great way to introduce younger viewers to films from different countries.

“Kids have elastic minds,” she said. “They also have lots of imagination. This is a great venue for kids of all ages to see situations that maybe they can relate to and will make them think differently about what

they experience.”The family program includes

seven animated shorts and two documentaries. The nine films come from seven different countries with a wide range of subject matter.

For example, “Flor de Toloache,” directed by New York-based filmmaker Jenny Schweitzer, is a documentary about a group of women who formed a mariachi band called Flor de Toloache, despite mariachi musicians traditionally being men. Mariachi music is described by one member of Flor de Toloache as, “gypsy, Mexican music passed on from generation to generation.”

The film opens with several of the ladies preparing their outfits and makeup as the viewer watches the subtle transformation into the black and white mariachi costumes. When the music begins, there’s no doubt these women can perform.

They expertly play traditional mariachi instruments like violins, trumpets, guitar, guitarron (which is like a large bass guitar), and vihuela (which is a smaller guitar). The

music in the film is crisp, lively and tight. As the director pans around the performance, you can see the different reactions from the New York crowd that range from curiosity to delight to skepticism.

“We’re making a statement,” one of the women says as the group goes beyond breaking the macho stereotypes of mariachi bands and literally introduces a new variation on a traditional art form.

“Flor de Toloache” is making its world premiere in Aspen.

“The Gallant Captain” comes from Australia and is co-directed by Graeme Base and Katrina Mathers. The film centers on a boy whose father was lost at sea. The boy obviously misses his father and decides to go on a sailing adventure of his own, albeit mostly through his vivid imagination. With his cat by his side, the two sailors embark to find treasure, only to encounter a massive pirate ship that the boy somehow has to fight or risk the consequences.

In the end, the boy prevails, but then discovers the real boat he’s in has sprung a leak and is sinking. Like

a true captain, he saves his crew and prepares to go down with his ship, much like he believes his father would have.

The story is heartwarming as there’s an obvious connection between the boy and the cat that seems to fill a void left by his missing father. The film ends on a touching, symbolic note that includes a ship in a bottle that the boy’s father gave him. The animation is crisp and colorful with a majestic soundtrack likely to make audience members feel like they’re sailing the high seas.

“The Gallant Captain” was named Best Animated Short Film at the 2014 Omaha International Film Festival.

“Mia” is a delightful animated short directed by Wouter Bongaerts and produced in both Belgium and the Netherlands.

Seven-year-old Mia creates a picture of happier times for her overworked mother, a picture that, even for a quick moment, lifts her mother out of the monotony of the overcrowded metropolis she works in. To Mia, the picture is an important savior capable of making

SHORTSFEST APPEALS TO THE KID (IN ALL OF US)

P H O T O S C O U R T E S Y O F A S P E N F I L M

27A S P E N T I M E S . C O M / W E E K L Y

by MICHAEL MCLAUGHLIN

With 70 films making up the 2014 Aspen Shortsfest, picking one short as an audience favorite can be challenging — especially considering how each movie is subject to different personal interpretations.

One film has already been singled out as the best animated short in the past year by a fairly reliable source, if you happen to agree with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the group of nearly 6,000 voting members that chose the Academy Awards winners.

“Mr. Hublot” (7 p.m. Tuesday and 2 p.m. Sunday in Aspen; 5 p.m. Saturday in Carbondale) is a 12-minute animated short film by Laurent Witz and Alexandre Espigares, using character models based from the Belgian sculpture Stephane Halleux. “Mr. Hublot” won the 2014 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.

The film was submitted to Shortsfest several months before it was nominated by the academy and it didn’t take winning an Academy Award to convince Aspen Film artistic director Laura Thielen and program director George Eldred that the film was special.

“Some of the films we’re showing this year are a year or so old,” Eldred said. “Some are brand new. ‘Mr. Hublot’ is one of the most remarkable shorts of the year and it was submitted to us last fall.”

“Mr. Hublot” appeals to viewers on many levels. The animation detail and coloring is captivating. The subtle soundtrack of music and sound effects fills in a running dialogue without the use of speech.

The directors use facial expressions and physicality in place of sentences. They tell a story of an obsessive recluse who makes a choice to connect with the outside world in order to accomplish a selfless deed and rescue a helpless creature.

As the film nears its ending, the directors lead the audience to believe Mr. Hublot can only go so far with his new relationship with this creature, but what looks like an insurmountable conflict ends up becoming another sign that Hublot is able to adjust beyond his lonely, compulsive behavior.

“‘Mr. Hublot’ has a universal appeal,” Thielen said. “It’s wordless, yet delivers so much emotion. There’s a kind of courage in mining that emotional landscape that’s one of the things that’s really refreshing about shorts. ‘Mr. Hublot’ is wonderful on so many levels.”

“‘Mr. Hublot’ is an animated short that has a real human element,” Eldred said. “It has pretty much everything we look for in all the movies we chose for the festival. It touches our hearts and our minds in ways we may not have expected.”

— Michael McLaughlin

THE UNIVERSAL APPEAL OF ‘MR. HUBLOT’

her mother happy.When the picture is lost temporarily, Mia

chases and finds it. The picture then transforms the world Mia knows into two distinct areas: one is the awful two-dimensional metropolis that her mother is stuck in, the other is a three-dimensional world of life, color and beauty, the world Mia wants to be in with her mother.

With the help of a four-legged friend, Mia and her picture are reunited with her mother. The ending will surely leave many audience members smiling with admiration from the determination displayed by Mia.

“Rare Bird” is a French animated short directed by Leslie Pandelakis about Augustin, a man stuck in the doldrums of his solitary life. Fate leads him to a feathered companion that changes his outlook on life.

The soundtrack in “Rare Bird” takes the place of dialogue. In the beginning, the music repeats the same two verses, representing the monotony of Augustin’s day-to-day existence. When the rare bird is introduced, the music changes to an uplifting tune that matches Augustin’s new outlook.

Man and bird bond in friendship, but nature calls Augustin’s friend away.

The moods created by the director are enchanting and the ending is uplifting as Augustin realizes the outcome worked out best for everyone.

“Rare Bird” makes its U.S. premiere at the Shortsfest.

“The Family Fun program is wonderful for kids,” Thielen said. “It’s great to bring in the tradition of the matinee, which has always been part of the movie-going experience. We have a wonderful lineup that has a lot of different appeal with a real international flavor.”

OPPOSITE PAGE: “Flor de Toloache.”THIS PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM: “Mr. Hublot,” “The Gallant Captain,” and “Rare Bird.”

A S P E N T I M E S W E E K L Y F Ap r i l 10 - Ap r i l 16 , 20 14 28

APRIL 10 - 16, 2014THELISTINGS

ONGOINGAMY SILLMAN — 10 a.m., Aspen Art Museum, 590 N. Mill St., Aspen. 970-925-8050

TERESITA FERNNDEZ — All day, Elk Camp Restaurant, Snowmass Ski Area, Snowmass Village.

MIFFY FOUNTAIN AND MY MEL-ODY — All day, The Overlook at The Westin Snowmass Resort, 100 Elbert Lane, Snowmass.

THURSDAY, APRIL 10ASPEN SHORTSFEST: FILMMAK-ER TALK BACK — noon, The Red Onion, 420 E. Cooper Ave., Aspen.

ASPEN SHORTSFEST — 5:30 p.m., Wheeler Opera House, 320 E. Hy-man Ave., Aspen.

BOMBINO — 8 p.m., Belly Up As-pen, 450 S. Galena St,. Aspen.

ASPEN SHORTSFEST — 8:30 p.m., Wheeler Opera House, 320 E. Hy-man Ave., Aspen.

LIVE MUSIC — 9 p.m., BB’s Lounge, 525 E. Cooper Ave. Suite 201, As-pen. $5 wines and wells, $4 draft beers.

THURSDAY NIGHT KARAOKE — 10 p.m., The Red Onion, 420 E. Cooper Ave., Aspen. Head out to the Red Onion every Thursday night for our Karaoke Night.

THOMAS JACK — 10:30 p.m., Belly Up Aspen, 450 S. Galena St., Aspen.

FRIDAY, APRIL 11ASPEN SHORTSFEST: FILMMAK-ER TALK BACK — noon, The Red Onion, 420 E. Cooper Ave., Aspen.

VID WEATHERWAX — 4:30 p.m., 8K Lounge Viceroy Snowmass, 130 Wood Road, Snowmass Village.

ASPEN SHORTSFEST — 5:30 p.m., Wheeler Opera House, 320 E. Hy-man Ave., Aspen.

BRADMAN’S ONE MAN BAND — 6:30 p.m., Aspen Brewing Compa-ny, 304 E. Hopkins Ave., Aspen.

ASPEN SHORTSFEST — 8:30 p.m., Wheeler Opera House, 320 E. Hy-man Ave., Aspen.

SHAKEDOWN STREET PERFORMS EUROPE ‘72 — 9:30 p.m., Belly Up Aspen, 450 S. Galena St., Aspen.

SATURDAY, APRIL 1219TH ANNUAL SUN DOG’S K-9 UPHILL — The event benefits The Friends of the Aspen Animal Shelter and Valley Dog Rescue. 970-925-2849

ASPEN SHORTSFEST: CROWD-SOURCED FILMMAKING — noon, The Limelight Hotel, 355 S. Mon-arch St., Aspen.

ASPEN SHORTSFEST: WRITING FOR THE SCREEN — 3:30 p.m., Wheeler Opera House, 320 E. Hy-man Ave., Aspen. Check aspenfilm.org for updates.

LIVE MUSIC FOR APRES SKI WITH THE TRUE STORY BAND — 4 p.m., The Bar at Wildwood Hotel, 100 Elbert Lane, Snowmass Village.

LIVE MUSIC WEEKENDS — 4 p.m., The Red Onion, 420 East Cooper Ave, Aspen. Come out for live mu-sic at the historic Red Onion.

BRADMAN’S ONE MAN BAND — 4 p.m., Chair 9, 675 E. Durant Ave., Aspen.

VID WEATHERWAX — 4:30 p.m., 8K Lounge Viceroy Snowmass, 130 Wood Road, Snowmass Village.

ASPEN SHORTSFEST — 5:45 p.m., Wheeler Opera House, 320 E. Hy-man Ave., Aspen.

JOHN’S FAREWELL TOUR MAR-GARITAVILLE PARTY — 6:30 p.m., Bumps at Buttermilk. Tickets are $150 per person. RSVP at www.aspencountryday.org/johnparty 970-920-0991

ASPEN SHORTSFEST — 8:45 p.m., Wheeler Opera House, 320 E. Hy-man Ave., Aspen.

THE DRUNKEN HEARTS — 9 p.m., Belly Up Aspen, 450 S Galena St, Aspen.

SUNDAY, APRIL 13ASPEN SHORTSFEST: FAMILY FUN! — 2 p.m., Wheeler Opera House, 320 E. Hyman Ave., Aspen.

LITERATURE OUT LOUD — 3 p.m., Pitkin County Library, 120 North Mill Street, Aspen. Spon-sored by Friends of the Library. 970-429-1900

LIVE MUSIC WEEKENDS — 4 p.m., The Red Onion, 420 E. Cooper Ave., Aspen.

VID WEATHERWAX — 4:30 p.m.,

8K LOUNGE VICEROY SNOWMASS, 130 WOOD ROAD, SNOWMASS VILLAGE.

MARCHFOURTH MARCHING BAND — 9 p.m., Belly Up Aspen, 450 S. Galena St., Aspen.

THE NO JOES — 9 p.m., Justice Snow’s, 328 E Hyman Ave, Aspen.

MONDAY, APRIL 14LINDSEY SAUNDERS IN THE PAR-LOR — 7 p.m., Justice Snow’s, 328 E Hyman Ave, Aspen.

EMPIRE OF THE SUN — 9 p.m., Belly Up Aspen, 450 S. Galena St., Aspen.

OPEN MIC — 10 p.m., The Red Onion, 420 E. Cooper Ave., Aspen. Head down to the Red Onion every Monday night for Open Mic Night starting at 10 p.m.

TUESDAY, APRIL 15EMPIRE OF THE SUN — 9 p.m., Belly Up Aspen, 450 S. Galena St., Aspen.

LIVE ACOUSTIC MUSIC — 10 p.m., The Red Onion, 420 E. Cooper Ave., Aspen.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16DAMIAN SMITH & TERRY BANNON — 4 p.m., The New Belgium Ranger Station, 100 Elbert Lane, Snow-mass Village.

LIVE MUSIC: DJ DYLAN & FRIENDS — 4 p.m., Chair 9, 675 East Durant Ave, Aspen.

AXIS LP — 7 p.m., Little Mammoth Steakhouse, 315 Gateway Building, Snowmass Village. Live Music with Patty & Larry Herd

HEAR Lindsey Saunders performs in the Parlor at Justice Snow’s on Monday, April 14.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

Thank you so much to everyone who

came to our YAPPY HOUR event

and made it a success!

A huge debt of gratitude to

FINBARR’S and their staff

for being such wonderful hosts.

We would also like to thank our sponsors:

Look for it around town or online at:

www.snowmasssun.com/insnowmass

Late Winter Edition is on the streets!

www.snowmasssun.com

970-925-3414

A S P E N T I M E S W E E K L Y F Ap r i l 10 - Ap r i l 16 , 20 14 34

by ANN EUSTON for HIGH COUNTRY NEWS

WELCOME TO OAKPINE, a fictional small town on Wyoming’s eastern plains where four high school pals reunite in 1999, after 30 years spent leading very separate lives. In his latest novel, “Return to Oakpine,” award-winning author Ron Carlson tells a moving but quiet tale about a group of regular guys who don’t say much to each other as they try to figure out where their lives have gone to so far and where they’re headed now.

Two of the characters have never left Oakpine: Craig, a second-generation hardware store owner; and Frank, proprietor of the Antlers bar and a novice microbrewer. Two are returning: Mason, a disillusioned Denver lawyer; and Jimmy, an accomplished New York City writer with AIDS who’s come home to die. In a subtle, bittersweet farewell

to Jimmy, the friends decide to reconstitute “Life on Earth,” their not-so-hot high school garage band, in order to enter a Battle of the Bands in nearby Gillette. The teenagers who still live inside their middle-aged bodies are deftly mirrored in Larry, Craig’s 17-year-old son.

In Oakpine, big events like divorce and death are dealt with matter-of-factly. High school football, power tools, beer and adolescent love shake hands with busted-up marriages, frightening diseases and unresolved issues, painting an uncannily accurate portrait of “just folks” muddling through bewildering times. As one of the friends ruefully remarks, “You go along knowing, but when you do know, it still is a surprise.”

Instead of the ruined anti-hero loners who often star in Carlson’s stories, these men are immediately

recognizable, making “Return to Oakpine” perhaps his most universally appealing novel. And as always in Carlson’s work, landscape plays a pivotal role: “Over everything in the West, the sky was purple at the horizon, blowing up to gray. It was a comic book version of a storm. ...”

While the book isn’t perfect — the women at times verge on stereotypes and Larry is occasionally a slightly too-perfect high school senior — Carlson employs his elegantly spare prose to tell a complete and satisfying tale in less than 300 pages.

‘RETURN TO OAKPINE’BOOK REVIEW

‘Return to Oakpine’Ron Carlson272 pages, hardcover: $18.90Viking Press, 2013

NOTEWORTHY

WORDPLAY INTELLIGENT EXERCISE

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26

27 28 29

30 31 32 33 34 35

36 37 38 39 40

41 42 43 44 45 46

47 48 49 50 51 52

53 54 55 56 57

58 59 60 61

62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69

70 71 72 73

74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81

82 83 84 85 86

87 88 89 90 91

92 93 94 95 96

97 98 99 100 101 102

103 104 105 106 107 108

109 110 111 112 113

114 115 116 117

118 119 120 121

A M I N D E T N A S B C C B A T O NS A N T O T W I C E L A U D A T O R YS U B S I S T E N C E O U T E R M O S TO R A T I E R T H E C L O C K C O OC A D E N T K I N E R K F C D A N L

S M O K E N O R S E F A D E RT H E W A T E R E A R N S O M E N S

G E A R A X E D T A O L O O F A SM R P I B B O V I T Z S T A R D U S TT O E L O O P I K E S E A T B E L T

L O A T E E N A G E R V EB E D S T R A W E F T S I L V E R S

T I M E T I M E S T A B S A L L D A YS E P T E T B A H R I P A A I R SP R I O R Y O U I N L A M B A S T E

R U S S O S N O O K P O L I OA M I R T U E T O R O S S A C R A LD O C B A R R O O M S A P O D I N ED R I V E N M A D D I C K A N D J A N EI S S U E D A T E A N G E L I L L E RT E T E S N O D B O I S E N O S E S

AT TIMESby PATRICK BERRY / edited by WILL SHORTZ

— Last week’s puzzle answers —

ACROSS

1 Improvisational music

4 Brick color10 Bibliographical

abbr.14 Indigenous people

known for their tattoos

19 NPR journalist Shapiro

20 1986 girl’s-name song by Boston

21 “Catch-22” profiteer Minderbinder

22 DuPont trademark of 1941

23 Clumsy pharmacist, at times?

26 Easily misled27 String section

members28 Dressage rider, at

times?30 Smidgen31 Suffix with social34 ___ suit35 Maintain36 Grant for a

filmmaker?38 Indonesian tourist

haven39 London ___ (British

Ferris wheel)40 Reminiscent of41 Tucked away42 Some supplies for

Hershey’s44 Overzealous sorts47 Old-fashioned

barber, at times?49 Missile launched at

Goliath51 National Book Mo.53 Circus performer

Kelly54 Inexperienced

shucker, at times?

58 Low pair60 Out of fashion61 Subject of a van

Gogh series62 Software user’s

shortcut65 No-limit Texas

hold’em player, at times?

69 People may be down on them

70 TWA competitor71 Dual-sport athlete

Sanders72 Answers that may

anger74 Farmer, at times?78 Unfettered82 Knowledge83 “Shall we proceed?”84 Sleeping sunbather,

at times?87 Buyer’s final figure90 Spirits in

Scandinavia91 New Haven alum92 Breaks down93 Stanford rival,

informally95 Job everyone wants96 Sound at a horror

film97 Florentine dynasty

name100 “Cut that out!”101 West African

vegetable102 Double-handed

cooking vessel103 Dieter, at times?106 Fall stopper109 French : merci ::

German : ___110 Person getting out

of a tub, at times?114 Transpire115 Memo opener116 Detestable117 Something that may

be amalgamated118 Manual parts?119 Giants or Titans120 Porcelain purchase,

perhaps121 As matters stand

DOWN 1 Entrance side2 Department3 Current location?4 Brought to tears,

possibly5 “Time’s Arrow”

novelist Martin6 Took off7 Wedded8 Unconventional9 Person moving

against traffic?10 Bring on11 Go quietly12 Fully attentive13 Some hand-me-

downs?14 Snowboard relative15 Polluted Asian lake16 Peridot color17 Vehicle on Mars18 Lifeless24 “Goodness me!”25 Exudes29 Less humble31 One of four in “As

I Was Going to St. Ives”

32 Problematic roomie33 Sal of “Rebel

Without a Cause”36 Lunch spot37 Thing that might

decay38 Bearded comic strip

bully40 Old cavalrymen42 Illustrations, e.g.43 In need of spicing

up, say

44 -- --- .-. ... .45 News analyst

Roberts46 Word on a

clapperboard48 Like some

measuring units49 Right away50 It’s got problems52 Valéry’s “very”55 Disburse56 Goes to court?57 Offensive line

striker59 Melancholy62 Flood residue63 Ghostly64 “The Ipcress File”

star, 196566 “___ c’est moi”67 Told stories68 Way too thin73 Not a single thing?75 Blue76 Diminish77 Opposite of smooth79 Take by surprise80 Mud ___ (bottom-

dwelling fish)81 Total bore85 Slurpee flavor86 Supermodel Heidi88 Dress in fancy duds89 Long-eared dogs,

informally90 Reshape93 Fuerza Democrática

Nicaragüense member

94 It’s played in ballparks

96 Viscous substance97 PC platform of old98 Ratify99 The Harlem Shake

or the Dougie100 One of the Allman

Brothers102 Flick site?

104 Expiration notice105 Fundamental part106 Modelist’s need107 Julio-Claudian

dynasty ruler108 Attracted111 Horatian ___112 Hamm of soccer113 Signal that replaced

“CQD”

35A S P E N T I M E S . C O M / W E E K L Y

Have a great photo taken in or around Aspen? Send your high resolution images our way along with the date, location and caption information.Send entries to [email protected]

IMAGE of the WEEKCLOSING ENCOUNTERS by AUBREE DALLAS

A FLY-FISHERMAN CASTS A LINES ON

GERBAZ WAY ON A RECENT WINTER DAY.

April . 2014Roaring Fork Valley

OPEN 7am-6pmEVERY DAY

970.544.0206Aspen/Pitkin Animal Shelter

101 Animal Shelter Road ◆◆◆◆◆ www.dogsaspen.com

Your BEST FRIEND is waiting for YOU!

ZOEThis sweet, mostlyblind, 9-year-old

miniature Schnauzerfemale was turned in

to the shelterbecause her ownerwas ill and could nolonger take care ofher. Very deservingof a home at thispoint in her life.

ALLIE4.5-year-old

gorgeous Lab/PitBull mix female.

Such a sweet girl.Allie is happy,

friendly, affectionateand energetic.

Turned in becauseof housing.

SAMStrong, energetic,

black/white5.5-year-old femaleBoston Terrier mixwith a splash of PitBull—larger than a

typical Boston.Outgoing + LOVES

people. Best asonly pet.

CHICKENChicken is a gentle,timid, ten-year-old,retired sled dog whogets along well withother dogs. She is

shy with people, andwill require love andpatience in order toslowly come out of

her shell.

CLEOBeautiful, friendly,

soft-spoken10-year-old Husky

mix female. She is aretired sled dog

looking for a lovinghome. She is very

outgoingwith people. What a

cute face she has.

TIMBERSoft-spoken, sleek,

friendly, 10-year oldHusky mix who gets

along well withpeople and other

dogs. She is a retiredsled dog who

deserves acomfortable,loving home.

RONNIESweet, affectionate,

two-year-old Shihtzumix who was

released to theshelter so dirty,

scared and mattedthat the groomerspent three hoursgrooming him in

order to ultimatelyreveal a clean,

beautiful,lovable mutt.

MOWGLISensitive, 2-year-old

husky who wasretired early from

dog sleddingbecause he suffersfrom seizures. Finewith people + otherdogs, but nervouswith new people.Needs an under-standing, loving

home.

ROXYLarge, beautiful

9-year-old Sharpei/Rottweiler/Houndmix. Not for the

novice owner. Veryprotective of home.Blossoms once sheknows you. Will be

great withresponsible owner.

JACK6-year-old domestic

short-hair, tabbymarkings + whitefeet. He would dobest in an indoor/

outdoor home.Enjoys people. Veryengaging. Must be

ONLY pet.

AGUILLA AND LEAAguilla, Lea and their two siblings (since

adopted) came to the shelter in earlyFebruary from Texas where they were found

abandoned. They are one-year-oldChiweenies (Chihuahua/Dachshund mixes).Aguilla is super friendly and loving—full to

the brim with kisses. Bounces around on yourlap like crazy at first but then settles down

for a nice back rub and scratch.Lea is quite tall and pretty shy. Once you

hold her she is fine and very affectionate. Sheis getting better every day as with gentle

handling, she learns to trust people.

YO YOA behemoth

6-year-old domesticshort-haired

all-black cat. Hewould do best in anadult environmentwhere he will be agreat companion

and mouser.Gorgeous cat.

PAMELABeautiful, long-haired, black +white colored,

10-year-old cat.Turned in due to adeath in the family,

she came to theshelter in October.

Members of herprevious home havereported that she isgood with people

and other pets. Sucha sweet cat.

PINKShy, but sweet, 4.5-

month-old AustralianCattle Dog mix whogets along well with

people and otherpets. She came to usfrom New Mexico

with her sisters whohave since been

adopted. She is sucha sweetie--give her a

chance. She lovestreats and that bringsher out of her shell.

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