Winter X Games 13 blew the roof off of Aspen in late January and broke records for TV viewership worldwide. ESPN announced plans to keep Winter X in Aspen through 2012.
After starting off with a record pace snow fall, Aspen has been getting a bit slushy of late, but the skies have been sunny and skiing conditions are still decent for this time of year.
Off the slops, the inaugural Aspen Fashion Week took place recently - an event that featured four days of fashion shows, parties and featured a screening of the documentary film, Valentino, the last Emperor, which the legendary designer himself attended. There were the requisite glitches of a first-year event of this size, but as a whole, AFW was well attended and well received by local and visiting attendees from all around the globe.
Sickest parties of the season include Shaun White's bashes up at the "Target House," Billabong's X Games Party, and the Aspen Extreme Anniversary Party.
Aspen Entertainment Company is filming Cougar Hunting, the Movie in Aspen right now. Thus far, it looks to be your usual low budget ski town comedy. Should be usable for a 4:20 afternoon lounge, if nothing else.
Two relatively new Aspen-based brands have been getting hot in the local market and both expect to start expanding beyond Aspen soon. Joka Vodka and Aspen Brewery have both gained quick popularity in Aspen and both brands are being served in most of the top hotels, lounges, restaurants and bars around the area. Aspen Brewery's beer is fresh, natural and being brewed using clean Aspen water certainly doesn't hurt. Joka Vodka is a corn based vodka with a smooth flavor and they donate all profits to support military veterans.
