SneakPEAK - December 26, 2013 by Sneak Peak Vail Newspaper

The New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Issue sneakpeakvail.com

Thursday, December 26 - January 1, 2014

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Feliz Navidad... and A Merry Christmas!

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Thursday, December 26 - January 1, 2014

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The New Year’s Issue Thursday, December 26 - January 1, 2014

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cover, uncut For a complete list of images and photographers, see page 25. inside 4 | Cirque Mechanics at Vilar 5 | Mtn Marketplace 6 | Entrepreneurs BaseCamp all-inclusive guide to revelry and recovery P10 | An for New Year’s Eve in Eagle County

P16 | shop P11 | Talking with DJ legend

Find the best local gym to make good on your New Year’s resolutions

21 22 24 26

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52 Weeks SneakSPORTS Calendar of events Dining guide (mid-valley)

SneakPEAK Vail is a locally owned arts, entertainment and lifestyle magazine, published weekly throughout the year for the Colorado mountain communities of Eagle County.

Mix Master Mike

{ the boss }

{ the words }

{ the glue }

{ the look }

Erinn Hoban publisher

phil lindeman editor

Shana larsen office manager

kristina johnson marketing & design

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© 2013 AT&T Intellectual Property. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners. Thursday, December 26 - January 1, 2014

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Cirque Mechanics at Vilar Center 12.28-12.29.2013

CULTURE Wheeled wonders

With human-powered stages and winches, “Birdhouse Factory” brings an unorthodox take on the traveling circus to Vilar. Interview by Phil Lindeman. The trapeze from “Birdhouse Factory,” powered by the giant wheel at the center of the industrialinspired story. Photo special to SneakPEAK.

tension is the wrong word. For Lashua, a former BMX athlete who toured with Cirque du Soleil in the early ‘90s, the flagship show and his company as a whole revel in the comingling of men and their machines. He’s an avid tinkerer, and after leaving Cirque du Soleil to pursue a personal project, he began building all manner of weird and surprisingly functional machines. Unlike most live shows, “Birdhouse Factory” purposely shows off its inner workings. Trapeze artists hang from bars connected to unadorned winches while acrobats perform on a wheeled stage powered by improvised bike cranks, chains and pedals. The centerpiece is a massive mechanical wheel Lashua modeled on the German Wheel he manned while with Cirque du Soleil. It powers nearly everything, from the winches to the narrative. Between Christmas and New Year’s, “Birdhouse Factory” comes to the Vilar Center for a two-night stand before heading to Telluride. Lashua spoke with SneakPEAK about his BMX beginnings, building a troupe from the ground-up and how the show owes as much to Charlie Chaplin as Diego Rivera.

Shortly after the first act of “Birdhouse Factory,” a grimy, industrial take on the circus by Las Vegas-based troupe Cirque Mechanics, the world of the nameSneakPEAK: We’ll get to the acrobatics in sake factory is in danger of crum- Cirque Mechanics soon enough, but your background is in bicycles, not the circus. How did you bling. As described by Cirque Mechanics Director Chris Lashua, the factory workers – all intensely physical acrobats in the vein of Cirque du Soleil – have rebelled against their superiors. They’re no longer interested in the faceless, nameless products they were tasked with making. They’d rather craft birdhouses: elegant, delicate and, in the fastmoving world of 1930’s America, utterly useless. That tension between the fantastical and the industrial, the wonderful and the functional, is at the churning heart of “Birdhouse Factory.” But maybe

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move from one to the other? Chris Lashua: I started when I was really young. I was on a bike every waking moment of the day and joined the first wave of freestyle BMX in the’ 80s. It was a new sport at the time, and I ended up on a national touring team sponsored by Haro and all those. We did bike shows around the country, so as a teenage boy being paid to ride my bike, there was nothing better in the world. I was approached in ‘92 to go to Japan for a Cirque (du Soleil) show and we were treated like rocks stars. We had our long hair and the California beach-

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bum vibe – it was incredible, but very different. SP: Onto the show itself. It steers clear of the overtly fantastical elements found in similar productions like Cirque du Soleil. Why? CL: It was a conscious decision to break away from the fantasy world of Cirque. We wanted to find our own way instead of doing a knock-off. The other thing is the mechanics are at the heart of the show. We built those machines first, so as we saw how they could be used, the show evolved. SP: But you found a middle-ground. And unlike a traditional circus, cohesive storytelling is a major part of “Birdhouse Factory.” What was the inspiration there? CL: Those devices we built looked industrial and mechanical, so we settled on a factory setting pretty soon. We looked at Charlie Chaplin’s “Modern Times,” then we looked at Diego Rivera, the famous Mexican muralist who was commissioned by Ford. We like the idea of this 1930’s look – that Rosie the RivWhat: “Birdhouse Factory” eter period, with by Cirque Mechanics very cool imagWhen: Saturday, Dec. 28 es and thoughts at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday, of working Dec. 29 at 4:30 p.m. and together in a 7:30 p.m. Where: Vilar Center, factory. It was Beaver Creek glamorous then. Cost: $30 to $65 for We also wanted adults, $45 for children the Chaplin comedy, the abPricing is based on seatsurdity of a man ing and show times. To becoming a cog purchase tickets, see in the wheel of a vilarpac.org. factory.

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Chris K. McDonnell

During this period we discuss numerous wants and needs, such as budget, bedrooms, bathrooms, location and amenities. Often an immediate objection that comes up in qualifying buyers’ needs is the lack of or desire to participate in a homeowners association. In the Vail area this is hard to avoid, but not impossible. Buyers initially object based on finances, or they may often find fault with the idea that they will be told how to manage and operate their private property. Typically, fees associated with homeowners associations are based on services rendered and the reserves required to operate a complex on a yearly basis. Often a homeowners association will include property management, trash, snow removal, water, sewer services, common area maintenance and insurance. Typically in Eagle County, a basic homeowners association will charge approximately $200 to $400 per month, but this is contingent on services rendered, property value and frequency of charge. Often, homeowners associations can pay for and provide additional services, such as short-term rental operations, in-home maintenance, community pools/hot tubs, fitness centers, onsite concierge/ front desk personal, guarded gate security and resort transportation. Additional services provided could increase a property’s value or be viewed as a negative by potential investors in the future. What home buyers often do not realize is that a homeowners association can help protect your investment. They pay for and provide services to contracted maintenance personnel for the

upkeep of the complex. For property owners who are often second -home owners, this could be an added benefit, knowing that your home away from home is well taken care of. Homeowners associations allocate certain budgetary dollars each year for specific maintenance projects and upkeep to prevent structural decay and functional obsolescence for the greater good of the property owners and association members. In periods of financial distress this could be a positive, as other owners walk away from their investments after falling into foreclosure. Lending in complexes with homeowners associations has become complicated. During the housing bubble and burst, homeowners associations found that foreclosures hurt their bottom-line budgets and they quickly dipped into reserves. This has since become less of an issue, as our market has turned around. However, new regulatory standards set forth by the United States government have made it difficult to lend in select condominium complexes throughout the valley. Condo complexes with a front desk or short-term rental program have become some of the hardest for financing. New requirements made it mandatory for homeowners associations to have a minimum of 20 percent of their gross annual budget in reserves before a lender could finalize a loan on a particular property associated with an HOA. If you are interested in a particular property where a homeowners association exists, it might behoove you to pull the latest financials before applying for and proceeding with an offer on a particular residence. Fees associated with homeowners associations rarely, if ever, go down in price. As inflation grows, homeowners associations often come with higher fees for services rendered. [See MTN MARKET, page 23]

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Thursday, December 26 - January 1, 2014

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Vail Leadership Institute unveils co-working space

PROGRESS A space to call home Vail Leadership Institute introduces Entrepreneurs BaseCamp, a co-working space for small businesses and local start-ups. By Phil Lindeman. Things didn’t quite go as planned for the grand opening of Avon’s new Entrepreneurs BaseCamp.

Held on a snowy and brutally cold Wednesday in early December, the event Above: Timothy Haley (left) and Ross Iverson of the Vail Leadership was a showcase for the Vail Leadership Institute inside the organization’s new co-working space in Avon. Institute’s newest brainchild. Over the Left: Entrepreneurs BaseCamp tenant and go-to man Rich Staats. past several months, director of commuPhotos: Katie Anderson. nity relations Timothy Haley and the team at VLI had been working nonstop to convert several empty, aging offices above Loaded Joe’s into a single workspace. The idea was More than offices hotbeds like San Francisco, Seattle and Denver. Alsimple: Give homebound freelancers and small-busiAs more and more people telecommute, commu- though he was only at the grand opening for a short ness owners a place to meet, collaborate and work, nal workspaces like the Entrepreneurs BaseCamp time, Town of Avon Mayor Rich Carroll sensed that without the added distractions of a coffee shop or are becoming wildly popular throughout the United VLI was tapping into a burgeoning community hunhome office. States. Most cater to the tech industry, popping up in gry for a shared space to call its own. But the snow had other plans, at least for keynote “We’re jumping up and down for joy speaker Chris Onan from Galvanize, a wildly sucthat Ross and his team were able to bring cessful and likeminded space just outside of downa nice cross-section of people into town,” town Denver. Nasty weather kept Onan hunkered on said Carroll, noting the town played no the Front Range, leaving VLI Chief Executive Offipart in attracting the project. “The wonderAt the moment, more than half of all available spaces at the new Entrepreneurs BaseCamp in cer Ross Iverson to cut the ribbon with little fanfare. ful thing about this place is it’s utilitarian Avon are taken. Don’t let past leasing experiencAnd yet, the appeal of the space can hardly be – you can just imagine how well this will es scare you off – with no multi-year commitsummed up by a ribbon-cutting ceremony or entrework with many people coming together. ments and a slew of office amenities, it’s worth preneurial celebrity. With minimal marketing and The energy and vitality is incredible.” even a month-long investment. The workspace even less fanfare, VLI managed to rent nearly half Although the space caters to anyone is found above Loaded Joe’s. To secure a spot of the drop-in desks, permanent workspaces and and everyone, Haley and Iverson have a and check on availability, see vailleadership.org. lock-off offices before the space even opened. In slightly different end-goal than their techfact, as a handful of local business owners and town minded cousins at Galvanize. The convertRates (per month) officials milled about the attractive interior, Haley ed Delaware Street location in downtown - Drop-in member: $225 - Permanent desk: $325 was already talking about Phase II. Over the next Denver can house hundreds of permanent - Locked office: $475 few months, VLI officials hope to knock down yet and temporary tenants, from small start- Corner office: $700 another wall to build shared office space for estabups like online marketing developers lished companies of three to seven people. Closely to members of the Pandora team. Amenities “If you go anyplace with WiFi in the valley, you’ll Most folks arrive, plug in a laptop, toss in - Wireless Internet (100 Mbps download, 20 see people sitting down and getting things done,” headphones and enter their own world. Mbps upload) Haley said as visitors sipped on complimentary beer “Galvanize is definitely tech-centric,” - Scanner/copier/fax machine, paid per page and toured the wide-open main room. “We saw that Haley said. “Their individual workspaces - Private conference room with flatscreen TV and knew there is a community here that needs a are much smaller than ours, but we wanted - Free coffee from Vail Mountain Coffee and Tea Co. connection point, a way to come together in a space a place that’s more applicable for business made just for them.” [See AVON WORKSPACE, page 23]

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Thursday, December 26 - January 1, 2014

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Know the ins and outs of Colorado’s main artery

FEATURES I-70 survival guide

Holiday traffic, skier traffic, snow traffic – don’t let it be your traffic. By John O’Neill. Like Lewis and Clark, many of us spend a good deal of time venturing east and west. Today, the trek is mostly to and fro the big city: Denver. Sometimes it’s a painless haul. Other times you’d think the old-time explorers made better time tackling treacherous mountain passes on horseback led by their good friend Sacagawea. During the holiday season, visiting family and friends, shopping for and returning gifts on the Front Range is as much a part of a local’s Christmas in Vail as the influx of Texas license plates. The roads in and out of town are clogged with cars and semis, and the holiday traffic only adds to the blocking of our roads and our arteries with stress and frustration. For the out of town guests, getting to the mountains from DIA can be hellacious. Snow is a tricky medium in a car and we highly recommend that you either rent something that can handle the conditions or hire a driving service such as Vail Coach. But just because the roads might be white and slippery, and just because the entire states of Texas, New York and California want to descend upon the beauty of Vail at once, doesn’t mean you can’t find some clear roads and smooth sailing, er, driving. Consider this your holiday and winter low-stress, breezy-commute I70 survival guide. We are no Sacagawea, but here are the tips on getting east and west. Westbound – Denver to Vail Given our distribution from East Vail to Gypsum, if you’re reading this, you’ve made it to the mountain. Congratulations! We hope you had a lovely drive. In the case you didn’t, listen up.

A lesson in etiquette This section of the article is dedicated to all the drivers who don’t know how to drive in the snow or over a pass. For the sake of sanity and reduced road rage: pay attention. When driving toward the uphill side of a pass, gain some speed – within reason, obviously – to carry up the hill. Be proactive – if you are in the right lane and there is a slow moving semi up ahead, don’t wait until you are right on it to make a pass. Get in the left lane and continue to hold your speed. Should you get stuck in the right lane behind a semi because you’ve made the mistake of driving reactively instead of proactively, be conscious of when you are going to make the pass. Wait until you are sure that you can make the pass without impeding traffic before you do so. Jumping lanes on a whim sucks and people will hate you. Also, when crossing lanes with snow on the road, be careful of the median bit of snow. It is slippery, slushy and pulls the car. It isn’t fun to drive over and you should avoid it. But, should you need to change lanes, make that jump with careful authority. Do not hover between two lanes. In descending a hill, don’t be afraid to go slow. It can be scary driving down a slippery road and slower speeds make for safer travel. But, in going slow, make sure you are in the right lane. The left lane might look less slippery at times, but if you’re cruising along at 20 mph in a 60 mph zone, you have no business being in the left lane. We wish everyone safe travel and a wonderful holiday season.

Coming into the holidays, the worst travel days to the mountains are predicted to be Dec. 26-28, says Brad Fanger, owner of Vail Coach - a transportation service company that makes this trip multiple times a day during the holidays. Fanger says that the worst time to be coming into the mountains is between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. on any day during the winter. This is amplified on Saturdays and Sundays and further complicated around the holidays. Add snow into the mix and you might as well pack a picnic, because you’ll be spending the lion’s share of your morning in traffic reading bumper stickers and wondering why we don’t have better radio. “It’s stopped up almost the whole way during the holidays,” Fanger says about the morning commute. “Everybody has an Epic Pass. The kids are off (school). The daytrippers multiply. Add in the destinations skiers and some snow and it’s a mess.” Traffic can come to a stop along the entire route, but speeds most often slow around Idaho Springs where the speed limit drops to 55 mph. Also, at Georgetown leading up to the tunnel cars stack up heavily. Once you hit Summit County, some of the traffic lessens as those with a lesser taste for great skiing stop before Vail and Beaver Creek. But don’t be fooled. Vail Pass can be nightmare Eastbound – Vail to Denver for traffic, also for safety. With some of the congesGetting to Denver can be just as bad. For out-oftion traffic gone in Frisco, speeds elevate going into towners trying to get home via DIA, it can be made Vail Pass. This usually, and sadly, means more ac- worse by the stress of a probable missed flight. cidents. Jumping the last pass on your journey, we Fanger and the folks at Vail Coach recommend recommend you take it slow and try not to make up allowing an extra one to two hours of time to make for lost time. [See I-70 SURVIVAL, page 21]

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Thursday, December 26 - January 1, 2014

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“100 Years of Broadway” at Vilar 12.30.2013

CULTURE Broadway through the decades

The cast of “100 Years of Broadway.” Photo special to SneakPEAK.

Neil Berg’s “100 Years of Broadway” takes the Vilar Center stage with tunes from “South Pacific,” “Wicked” and “West Side Story.” By Laura Lieff.

IF YOU GO

If your favorite part of musicals is the actual music, then the Vilar Performing Arts Center is where you want to be Dec. 30. This holiday season you don’t have to travel to New York City to experience Broadway. Instead, head over to the Vilar for Neil Berg’s “100 Years of Broadway,” which will present the talent, the sounds and the bright lights of the biggest live stage in the country. Direct from New York, five of Broadway’s biggest stars and an all-star New York band will take audiences on a journey through Broadway history with the music of Kander and Ebb, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Loewe, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and many more. The number one touring Broadway concert in America, what sets this show apart from other classic Broadway shows is the medley of music from some of the most popular shows ever performed. Featuring hits from award-winning shows like “My Fair Lady,” “South Pacific,” “West Side Story,” “Chicago,” “Jersey Boys”and “Wicked,” the musical revue of Broadway’s most celebrated shows has something for everyone. Because these shows are so popular, patrons will recognize most of the songs performed. The evening will also recreate the greatest moments from the finest shows of the century featuring the actual stars from favorites such as “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Les Miserables,” “Cats,” “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Jekyll & Hyde.” Although the set list is subject to change, some of the songs audiences can look forward to hearing may include: “All That Jazz” – Chicago “Stars” – Les Miserables “Sherry” - Jersey Boys “Cell Block Tango” – Chicago “All I Care About” – Chicago

“Wizard and I” – Wicked

What: Neil Berg’s “100 Years of Broadway” When: Monday, Dec. 30 at 7:30 p.m. Where: Vilar Center, Beaver Creek Cost: $35/$78 (pricing depends on seating)

Impressive background Award-winning composer/lyricist/producer Neil Berg brings a long résumé of Broadway triumphs including “Grumpy Old Men” and “The Twelve.” As a film composer, Berg scored and was the muDetails and tickets sical supervisor for the 2013 released available online at film “Once upon a Time in Brooklyn,” vilarpac.org. starring Armand Assante, Ice-T, William DeMeo and Cathy Moriarity. He also the one of the lead producers of the recent acclaimed off-Broadway revival Maltby and Shire’s “Closer Than Ever.” Reviews were some of the strongest in the 2012-2013 season and lead to a nomination for Best Revival for the off-Broadway Alliance Awards. He has also produced concert versions of “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” “Chess” and “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Berg’s latest musical, “The Man Who Would Be King,” will have its world premiere at the Rudder Auditorium in College Station, Texas in 2014. In May 2012, Berg was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for his artistry and dedication to community service, including helping to raise more than $15 million dollars for the homeless youth at Covenant House with his Broadway Concerts. He was also honored in 2001 as The American Red Cross Man of the Year and was honored again in 2003 by The United Hospice Foundation. In 2008, he was awarded Artist of the Year by the Arts Council of Rockland County. Berg is the owner of Leftfield Productions, Inc., based in Nyack, New York, and has produced more than a thousand Broadway concerts worldwide. SneakPEAK writer Laura Lieff can be reached at info@sneakpeakvail.com

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Thursday, December 26 - January 1, 2014

A chat with the local philanthropist and education advocate

ORAL HISTORY PROJECT Ann Smead

The fervent philanthropist weighs in on her 2013 Vail Valley Citizen of the Year award and the future of education in Eagle County. Interview by Phil Lindeman. As a first-time visitor to Vail in the late ‘60s, Ann Smead was met with frozen pipes at a tiny, cramped duplex in what was then the small offshoot of West Vail.

Ann Smead after receiving the Citizen of the Year award at Vail Valley Foundation’s Black Diamond Ball on Dec. 6. Photo: Kent Pettit.

Smead recalls that first ski vacation with disarming good humor and trademark honesty. At first she thinks it was in the early ‘70s, but she mulls it over a bit and lands a few years earlier, less than a decade after Vail Mountain was founded and the town around it began to take shape.

duction to Vail shows how resilient Smead can be. For decades she returned to the area with her husband, Joe Smead, taking longer and longer vacations until the two finally decided to call the town home in 1999. Shortly after her husband passed away in 2003, Smead turned her love for philanthropy into a thensmall housing project for the Shaw Regional Cancer Center. She and handful of local women founded the Shaw Outreach Team, which soon turned the small project into a multi-million dollar fundraising initiative for the center’s 10,000-square-foot living facility, Jack’s Place. It now gives dozens of visiting patients and their caregivers a place to rest, recover and relax after treatment. Although Smead sits on several local boards, her true calling is education. She and current husband Michael Byram founded the University of Colorado-Boulder’s Smead Fellows program, a Ph.D. mentorship program in honor of her late husband, and she played a major role in the recent merger between VVF and The Youth Foundation. In early December, Smead was named the VVF’s 2013 Vail Valley Citizen of the Year, joining movers and shakers like Pepi Gramshammer, Oscar Tang, Diana Donovan and former president Gerald R. Ford. Smead has come a long way from frozen pipes and ski-bum duplexes, but her thoughtful, selfless approach to issues in Eagle County is just as humble. SneakPEAK spoke with the philanthropist (and avid football fan) about the allure of Vail, the future of education and her pick for the Super Bowl.

Although Smead was born and raised in the Midwest, she has grown in time with her adopted hometown in the Colorado mountains. For most of her professional career she traveled the country, living in Southern California before moving to Portaland, Ore. and finally to the Bay Area. Her career evolved as well, shifting SneakPEAK: Before we dig into your accomfrom technology to real estate development to asset plishments, first things first: You’re a huge football management for Kaiser Aerospace and Electronics. fan. Give me your Super Bowl prediction. Professional résumé aside, that ill-fated introAnn Smead: (Laughs) I have to go for the Bron-

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Want more? To read an extended version of the interview with Vail local Ann Smead, go to SneakPeakVail.com.

cos, no question. SP: Have you always been a Broncos fan, or did that come after moving to Colorado? AS: I’m a football fan, but I just have to respect what the Broncos did this year. They’ve overcome adversity and they’ve certainly overcome a lot of injuries. I think that’s all related to leadership from top to bottom. So do I want the Broncos to win? Absolutely. But I grew up around Chicago, so my first experience with football came through the Bears. SP: How is Eagle County different from other communities you’ve lived in over the years? AS: Well, it’s a much, much smaller community than San Francisco or Chicago or wherever else. But I think also this community attracts a certain kind of person – it’s a spirit, if you will. There’s an entrepreneurial spirit and an outdoors spirit, and people here really do care about their neighbors. It’s a wonderful place to retire, and it’s really becoming a wonderful place for the younger generation to raise their children. SP: Did your interest in philanthropy come from your professional experiences? AS: No, I don’t think so. I see them as dual paths. First of all, a lot of us, as our kids were growing up, we got thrown into philanthropy because the baseball team needed a scoreboard or whatever. Joe [See ANN SMEAD, page 25]

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Bring on

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Thursday, December 26 - January 1, 2014

The REST

The recovery

The revelry

2014 An exclusive interview with Mix Master Mike before the Vail NYE bash Inside Larkspur’s nightclub-inspired Shake, Shimmer and Shine party New Year’s resolutions with Dogma Athletica, The Westin and more local gyms

The REST

New Year’s Eve 2013 The ball drop at the annual Vail NYE party. Photo: Zach Mahone.

2014 with the Master A chat with turntable heavyweight and Beastie Boys member Mix Master Mike before his headlining set at the Vail NYE bash. Interview by Phil Lindeman.

In the late ‘80s, when Michael Schwartz was scratching old jazz and funk records in a San Francisco garage, few people would’ve predicted those grimy rhythms could lead to a concert at the fabled Kennedy Center.

on turntables with that same kind of feel they brought to what they did.

SP: All those musicians are rooted in jazz and improvisation. Was scratching just another form of improv to you? MMM: Of course. Look at all the different genres of music: Improvising media is a key element to my Then, nearly 25 years later, it happened. success and style. When you get up there on stage, Schwartz – known to most as Mix Master Mike it’s never a set thing. There has to be a plan B and a – recently played a set of remixed Herbie Hancock plan C. If you aren’t doing that, you’re just robotic, tunes for Barack Obama during the Kennedy Center you know? Honors concert. Held around Christmas each year, the 36-year-old series has paid tribute to legends like SP: Is it fair to compare the early world of those Chuck Berry, B.B. King, Bob Dylan and Led Zeppe- garage-based DJ competitions to the world of freelin, all through performances by their musical prog- style rapping? enies. MMM: I mean, those were the golden days, the And Mix Master Mike has earned his place with golden era. Now, it’s a lot more complex. Of all the the greats, or at least earned the right to play in their things I’ve learned over the years, it’s that a lot of honor. He’s easily one of the most influential DJs those things stay in your blood. The things you grow in history, known for winning the DMC World DJ up with are a part of you, they stay there forever. HipChampionships and scratching for now-classic Beas- hop is a way of life for me, and if it weren’t for hiptie Boys albums like “Hello Nasty.” His aggressively hop I don’t know what I’d be doing. Being able to original style takes the soulful grooves of Parliament- communicate through music and that lifestyle is very Funkadelic, Michael Jackson and Thelonious Monk, real – when it’s in your blood, it’s in your blood. then re-imagines them in a kinetic style all his own. There are a lot of aspiring DJs out there, but it’s Like improvisational masters since the days of early hard to really understand that culture if you weren’t jazz, his sets are constantly in flux, but the gut-level part of it. You can’t blame youth for their ignorance, impact is unmistakably timeless. (Need proof? Ask a though – it’s about teach one, reach one. If we don’t friend to hum the tune of “Intergalactic.”) pass it on, it’s not their fault. Fresh off the Kennedy Center performance, Mix Master Mike comes to town for the annual Vail NYE SP: You won your first DMC World DJ Championparty/concert/extravaganza at Dobson Arena. Local ships in 1992, but you really broke into mainstream favorite DJ Logic plays the opening set, then hands with the Beastie Boys. How did that come together? the turntables over to the godfather for an hour or two MMM: I talked about Hendrix and Miles Davis of scratching. Before ringing in the New Year, Sneak- and those artists, but I also looked up to the Beastie PEAK spoke with Mix Master Mike about his early Boys. They were my favorite rap act or hip-hop act, influences, the evolution of DJ culture and how he and I felt like I was a part of them before I actually managed to shock the Beastie Boys. joined them. They really found me through winning all the DMC competitions, and when they put the two SneakPEAK: Talk about the first time you stood and two together, they realized I could be an asset. It behind a turntable. What appealed to you about mak- was pretty life-changing. ing music that way? Mix Master Mike: I mean, for me, I grew up with SP: The Beastie Boys was a well-established group heroes like Hendrix and Miles Davis and Thelonious by the time you joined. Was it intimidating to play Monk. You could say I’m an offspring of those guys with those guys? – I grew up studying them, so my aspiration was to be MMM: Of course (laughs). I mean, I’d be lying

IF YOU GO What: Vail NYE 2014 with Mix Master Mike and opener DJ Logic When: Tuesday, Dec. 31 at 9 p.m. Where: Dobson Arena, Vail Cost: $99 for general admission A basic ticket includes entry and party favors, with a cash bar available throughout the night. An ATM is on site. For info on VIP packages, read our New Year’s Party guide on page 12. To purchase tickets, see vailnye.com.

Want more? To read an extended version of the interview with Mix Master Mike, go to SneakPeakVail.com.

if I said it wasn’t. At the same time, I wanted to show these guys I had what they were looking for. It was more of me enjoying the group and turning them on to what they weren’t used to, as far as someone viciously killing the turntables. It was kind of meant to be. SP: Hip-hop and scratching have changed incredibly since you first started playing, and laptops are the go-to instrument for a lot of modern DJs. Do you think that’s somehow diminished the music, or is it just a different approach? MMM: You know, I really think it’s a different approach. There are pros and cons to it – people are able to keep all their records on their laptop now. I have 20,000 songs on my laptop, just this mega-crate of music. The thing that’s a bummer is I miss the days of record shopping. As an artist, that’s how you made a living. People bought your albums and took in the cover art and loved the whole experience. Now, people just download singles. But it is what it is – we’re in the future now, and in a 15-year span we’ve seen technology just constantly move forward at such a fast pace. Being able to have an entire studio on your laptop and in your backpack is incredible.

Thursday, December 26 - January 1, 2014

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New Year’s Eve roundup The area’s best parties and music for the younger crowd come Dec. 31. By Elizabeth Escobar.

It’ll be here in T-minus five days – or fewer, depending on when you pick this up – and you know you’re going to be asked that question: What are you doing for New Year’s Eve? But don’t panic if you aren’t quite sure yet – the valley has a wealth of amazing options that are ideal for the 20 to 30-year-old crowd. Here, we’ve got the rundown on the best confetti-filled celebrations and places for you to dance your way into 2014.

Clockwise from upper right My Brother’s Keeper with John Popper of Blues Traveler. Photo: Zach Mahone. DJ Koncept. Photo: Snow Love Media. DJ Carve. Photo special to SneakPEAK.

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Thursday, December 26 - January 1, 2014

The revelry

New Year’s Eve 2013

Agave in Avon Vail-based DJ F will play a variety of hip hop and electronic music at Agave’s Keep it Real Party on New Year’s Eve. Doors open at 9 p.m. and as long as you arrive before 11 you’ll be clear of a cover fee. Along with other drink specials, take advantage of the $1.50 Bud drafts between 9 p.m. and midnight. No official champagne toast here, but the bubbly will be available for purchase all evening so there’s no reason why you can’t have your own. One of the nicest parts of the whole celebration is the free transportation offered between Edwards and Vail courtesy of the local shuttle. So enjoy yourself at the party and then enjoy a free ride home. Contact: 970.748.8666, agaveavon.com

Minturn Saloon in Minturn Bid farewell to 2013 at the historic Minturn Saloon located between Vail and Beaver Creek. Resident rockers Min’urn Express will liven up the party with their mix of soul and rock classics that will get you moving as you don a snazzy party hat. The hats are just one of the favors guests will receive as part of the $15 cover. As well as these goodies, the money gets you champagne for a midnight toast and an array of drink specials (specifics TBA). The band comes on at 9 p.m., but feel free to arrive when the doors open at 8:30 and enjoy some of the restaurant’s legendary Colorado cuisine beforehand. Contact: 970.827.5954, minturnsaloon.com

Samana Lounge in Vail Ring in the next year in one of Vail’s best nightclubs with the help of local artist DJ Koncept. Having played clubs from New York to San Francisco, he’s well-versed in keeping crowds moving to eclectic dance hits all night long – something you want on New Year’s Eve. Doors will open at 8:30 p.m. and tickets to the bash can be found on the lounge’s website for $20. Care for bottle service? It’s available on request by contacting Ross at Samana. Contact: 970.476.3433, samanalounge.com

Manor Vail Lodge in Vail Glitz in the Fritz is one of the best kept New Year’s Eve secrets around. The lodge’s Fitz Lounge will open its doors to one and all, guest or not, on the evening of Dec. 31 for a classy night to remember. From the patio, watch a fireworks show on Golden Peak, then step inside to enjoy the après music of Scotty Kabel, among other artists. There’s no cover for this annual event and yet champagne is still provided. Raise a complimentary glass for a midnight toast following the group countdown to 2014. Pull out the bow ties and glitter for this one--cocktail attire is preferred, and will make the whole night feel more New Year’s-ish. Contact: 970.476.4959, manorvail.com

Shakedown Bar in Vail Party-goers will enjoy the musical stylings of longtime locals Phil Long and the band, Brothers Keeper at Shakedown’s annual Rock N Roll New Year’s Eve. Long, who played at the Red Lion for 23 years, is a true après musician and provides lively entertainment with his keyboard, guitar, and constantly refreshed supply of songs. Brother’s Keeper core members Michael Jude, John Michel and Scott Rednor will also be featured. They’ll provide their all-star Americana and rock-n-roll music all the way up until a champagne toast at midnight. Tickets for the event are $50 on eventbrite. com and doors will open at 9 p.m. Contact: 970.479.0556, shakedownbarvail.com E Town in Edwards Could you turn down unlimited drinks? We didn’t think so. Combine this with DJ Carve, and E Town is quickly becoming one of the valley’s New Year’s Eve hot spots. Tickets are $50 bought ahead of the day and $60 at the door, but either way you’ll enjoy an unlimited amount of any and all drinks that your heart desires from 9 p.m. until close. DJ Carve will come on at 10 p.m. ready to play whatever will keep people dancing. His specialty is a mix of hip hop and house, with influences from the likes of Jay-Z, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and even Frank Sinatra. E Town says to wear something swanky and come ready to party. Contact: 970.926.4080, etowncolorado.com

Vail New Year’s Eve at Dobson Arena in Vail If the biggest bash of the night is what you’re looking for, you’ve found it. Dobson Arena will boast an enormous dance floor complete with special effects as you party and dance to Mix Master Mike and DJ Logic. This 21-and-up event is complete with a champagne toast, balloon drop and confetti blizzard, but depending on which package you pick, there’s far more in store for your evening. General admission: $99 includes sweet party favors and all of the night’s entertainment. Gold VIP: Want more? For $249 you’ll have access to the VIP lounge, an open bar beginning at 9 p.m., the champagne toast at midnight, complimentary food throughout the night, upgraded party favors, coat check, entertainment and private entry into the venue. Platinum VIP: $399 gets you the best of the best. Enjoy everything from the previous packages in addition to exclusive access to backstage VIP areas, a private wait staff, drinks from the premium bar, and fast-track private entry into the venue at 9 p.m. sharp. If you’re going to do New Year’s big, you might as well do it right. Contact: vailnye.com SneakPEAK writer Elizabeth Escobar can be reached at info@sneakpeakvail.com

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First brunch of the New Year Rest and recover on day one of 2014 with scratch-made grub at local diners and cafés. By Laura Lieff.

Brunch is both a great way to meld two meals into one and have an excuse to drink booze before noon. And when it comes to starting off the New Year right and shaking a hangover, brunch in the valley is definitely the best way to go. Luckily there are many brunch options to rehydrate and quench your yearn for delicious food to start off 2014. And the best news is that everyone is serving breakfast all day.

Café Milano in Edwards Boasting menu items that are both classic and creative, Cafe Milano is an Italian eatery that has garnered a strong local following. Featuring a small kitchen and a cozy atmosphere, this family owned and operated valley favorite is known for their breakfast menu. Menu highlights: The local favorite is the Hot Mess, which starts off with hash browns and scrambled eggs. Add as many ingredients as desired, which include a variety of meats, cheeses and veggies. Café Milano also features six different types of benedicts including eggs, crab and Amsterdam Hash. Drink specials: $6 wine glass-sized mimosas and Bloody Mary’s, which come with a skewer of meats, veggies and cheeses. The details: Since Café Milano usually attracts a big brunch crowd, New Year’s Day will be a busy day. They will be serving their breakfast menu until 3 p.m. and the bar seats will most likely be filled with locals.

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Route 6 Café in EagleVail A local favorite for years, Route 6 Café will be serving breakfast all day and night on New Year’s Day giving those who sleep in late the option to literally have breakfast for dinner. Menu highlights: The Full Monty Eggs Benedict, Huevos Rancheros with homemade green chili and the breakfast burrito with homemade green chili are local favorites. Drink specials: Homemade Bloody Mary’s, mimosas and poinsettias will all be $3.95 each and house champagne will be $3 per glass. The details: Starting at 7 a.m., the breakfast menu and the drink specials will run all day and night. Since the Eagle Vail eatery attracts a large brunch crowd on the weekends, New Year’s Day should be very busy as well.

Westside Café in West Vail New Year’s Day is the busiest day of the year at Westside Café – they usually serve more than 1,000 people. Since everything is made from scratch, people from all over the valley will make their way to this popular location. Menu highlights: The menu includes eight of “The World’s Best Benes” and the breakfast Café 163 in Edwards burrito which includes homemade pork green With a strong local following, Café 163 will chili. Two new menu items include the Hang- draw a crowd of Edwards and Cordillera locals

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over Cure, which starts with crispy tater tots and a hamburger patty and is topped with two eggs, diced green chili sauce and cheese sauce. The Complete Cure is that dish with a Bloody Mary. Drink specials: Their three “Word Famous Bloody Mary’s” include the Westside Bloody Mary, the Bacon Bloody and the Spicy Mary and are all served in 20-ounce goblets and include veggie skewers. The Westside and Spicy Bloody drinks both feature their own infused vodka. The details: Patrons will enjoy home-cooked comfort food, available from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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The recovery

New Year’s Eve 2013

& Gravy. They also have over 20 options for sides and the gluten-free pancakes make a great breakfast appetizer. Drink specials: Be sure to try the Habanero, basil and garlic-infused vodka they will use for their new Spicy Bloody Mary. The details: A later rush of people is likely as breakfast is served from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. The bartenders will be sure to keep your glasses full.

opposite page The scene at The Little Diner in Lionshead, one of Vail’s most popular brunch stops despite bar-only seating. this page The huevos rancheros at The Little Diner. Photos special to SneakPEAK. who look forward to the fun atmosphere and made-from-scratch menu items. Menu highlights: Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict and the house Eggs Benedict are favorites. The House Specialties include the Breakfast Burrito, 163 Corned Beef Hash and Biscuits

Eagle Diner in Eagle Traditional diner food usually means a hardy meal that will last you through most of the day and the Eagle Diner has a wide variety of choices. They are also the only place in Eagle open for breakfast on New Year’s Day. Menu highlights: The Eagle Diner has all of the classic breakfast menu items including Scrambled Eggs and Diced Ham, Biscuits and Sausage Gravy and the Eagle Breakfast Burrito. There is also the Breakfast Combination Platter, Chicken Fried Steak, pancakes and French toast, four types of breakfast sandwiches and eight different kinds of omelets. Drink specials: Bloody Mary’s and Screwdrivers will be $5 on New Year’s Day. The details: Breakfast starts at 6:30 a.m. and is served until noon but there will also be an allday limited breakfast menu available.

The Little Diner in Vail Although the restaurant is small, the menu features 74 individually plated items with big tastes. Everything on the menu is made from scratch and most of the recipes are family recipes that have been enjoyed for generations. Menu highlights: Offering many unique and popular breakfast items, The Little Diner’s Menu is full of choices created by family including Jim Little’s Famous Eggs Benedict, Biscuits & Gravy, Joe’s Special Crepe and Creamed Chipped Beef on Rye. Other favorites include the Pannekoeken (aka Dutch Baby or German Pancake), the Taxi Driver Special (Pork Green Chile platter) and the Florentine Omelet. Drink specials: Although The Little Diner doesn’t serve anything alcoholic, New Year’s Day is typically the joint’s busiest day of the year. The details: Boasting traditional favorites and regional specialties, the menu offers items the owners loved and grew up with, along with different things from all over the country. The Little Diner serves breakfast from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. SneakPEAK writer Laura Lieff can be reached at info@sneakpeakvail.com

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The valley’s workout hot spots A roundup of local gyms and athletic clubs to help make the most of your New Year’s resolution to get fit, which you will – you always do. By John O’Neill.

Fitness is life. Well, maybe not in the Midwest or buffet line in Las Vegas, but certainly in our town. Folks in the Vail Valley tend to wake up for morning workouts and go to bed breathing heavy… from working out. From the downstairs fitness Mecca of Dogma Athletica to the top of the climbing wall at the Vail Athletic Club, from The Westin Athletic Club’s saline pool to the basketball courts at the Cascade Club, the fitness options are all there. It’s just a matter of deciding where to go, why you’re going there and how much you’re willing to spend. As the New Year’s resolutions form and new gym memberships swell like the gorgeous muscles of a soon-to-be training partner, SneakPEAK rounded up information on the hottest local gyms to join.

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Thursday, December 26 - January 1, 2014

Dogma Athletica in Edwards Cost: $150 one-time initiation, $145 per month Upsides: Cardio room, weight room, yoga classes, varying fitness classes, CompuTrainer studio, personal training, coaching, free covered parking Downsides: Small locker rooms, no pool/hot tub Best amenity: CompuTrainer cycling classes Our words: Located in Riverwalk, Dogma Athletica features the who’s who of cyclists in the valley, but the gym is so much more than that. Focusing on quality over quantity, Dogma Athletica packs a lot of talent into a small space. The trainers are world-class and the programs are progressive. Unlike most gyms, you won’t find medievallooking machines or hordes of folks trying to out-lift their buddies between swigs of GNC protein shakes. Rather, Dogma focuses on functional strength for the outdoor activities most people in the valley enjoy. The staff is friendly and in touch with all members on a personal level. Their words: “We don’t really consider ourselves a gym so much as a training center for anyone who does outdoor sports and activities,” says Bryan Maroney, the gym’s manager and a personal trainer. “We aren’t cluttered with machines and focus on an open space, with great trainers who can help people with function-specific training movements.” Workout to describe the fitness atmosphere: Intervals

The Westin Athletic Club in Avon Cost: $100 one-time initiation fee, $120 per month Upsides: 25-yard saline lap pool and infinity hot tubs, eclectic class schedule, steam rooms, friendly front desk staff, knowledgeable trainers, working professional members Downside: Difficult parking Best amenity: Pool Our words: Scratched bumpers are trending in the Vail Valley, but the tight parking is made worthwhile by a world-class gym that somehow integrates a fitness culture and luxury. Nothing beats grinding on the treadmill and getting handed a cold citrus towel. Beyond the shiny surface, the gym offers much. A saline, 25-yard pool with a strong master’s swim program has made it the place to swim, even during the cold outdoor months. Inside, yoga classes and barre classes are popular. The CompuTrainer studio poses as the only – yet strong – rival to nearby Dogma. The trainers are great with one-on-one work. Perhaps more than anyplace else, The Westin makes your workout the best part of your day. Their words: “We have everyone from the fit, world-class athlete to the families or professionals who want to stay in shape,” says Missy Lacy, the club’s manager. “We have four studios specializing in different things: CompuTrainer for cyclists, yoga, pilates and the flow studio. The pool and tubs

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New Year’s Eve 2013 are also a favorite of our members.” Workout to describe the fitness atmosphere: Barre

OPPOSITE PAGE Personal trainer Brett Donelson moves through the triangle pose with help from yoga director Suzanne Oliver. The Westin Athletic Club features weights, a yoga room, a heated lap pool and more. Photo special to SneakPEAK.

ing Structure. On a powder day or weekend, you might rethink your visit the gym. The Athletic Club is part of the The Vitality Center, meaning Cascade Club in West Vail members also have access to professional sports testing, nutriCost: $250 one-time initiation fee, $100 to $140 per month tion and spa services. Those cost extra. depending on contract Their words: “We have the only indoor climbing wall in Upsides: West Vail location, 78,000 square feet, indoor bas- the valley,” says Anne Cote, the club’s sales and service manketball court, three indoor tennis courts, squash and racquet- ager. “We have professionals on-hand at all times to help you ball courts, indoor track, locker-room hot tubs, childcare through classes or your personal workout. Our classes vary Downside: Age and are popular among the members.” Best amenity: Courts Workout to describe the fitness atmosphere: Pull-ups Our words: As the only athletic club to offer recreational basketball, tennis and other courts, the Cascade is a favorite for Avon Recreation Center in Avon those living up-valley. The gym is huge, and while the member Cost: No initiation, $76 month-to-month, $398 six-month, base is also large, rarely is the gym crowded. Members are $687 year privy to childcare for $7 per hour so mommy and daddy can Upsides: Affordable, centrally located, water slides, diving work off all that stress caused by kids in the first place. board, indoor pool, varying classes, machines, lifeguards The gym hosts the U.S. Ski Team from time to time, so proDownside: Heavily used athlete sightings are frequent. The hot tubs and pool might not Best amenity: Indoor pool be hugely functional for working out, but they are nice for reOur words: The Avon Rec Center is affordable and boasts laxing afterward. most everything you could want for a workout. On really cold Their words: “We have pro athletes that love working out days, you’ll be happy the pool is indoors. There is always a here. We have families and older folks who have kept their wide range of people lifting, running and taking a handful of membership here forever,” says Shawn Evans, one of the classes like Tai Chi. Folks tend to show up, get their work done club’s managers. “We have high ceilings, skylights, parking is and head out. easy – our members really like it here.” It isn’t a place for great relaxation. Downstairs in the pool Workout to describe the fitness atmosphere: Ballin’ area, the hot tub is often crowded and loud, with a waterslide coming down overhead (maybe an upside for families with Vail Athletic Club inside Vail Mountain Lodge young kids). The diving board is the only year-round, publiCost: $75 initiation, $100 per month cally accessible one in the valley. The equipment upstairs is Upsides: Unlimited classes, climbing wall, locker rooms, nice, but if you stop by right after work, good luck finding an cold plunge, whirlpool hot tubs, generational classes, class va- open bench or machine. Weight room traffic is heavy from 5 riety p.m. until close. Downside: Subject to Vail Village Parking Structure availWorkout to describe the fitness atmosphere: Bench press SneakPEAK writer John O’Neill can be reached at ability and costs info@sneakpeakvail.com Best amenity: Climbing wall Our words: The Vail Athletic Club is a nice place to work out and certainly the only place for serious climbers (the WECMRD Fieldhouse in Edwards only offers bouldering). The wall is tall and the routes range from easy and fun to fingertip-screaming difficult. The cold plunge is unfortunately only available in the men’s locker room and parking is found only at the Vail Village Park-

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The REST

New Year’s Eve 2013

Shine on

Larkspur brings the atmosphere of a metropolitan nightclub to Vail with the annual Shake, Shimmer and Shine party. By Phil Lindeman. If people-watching is your thing, the Shake, Shimmer and Shine party at Larkspur Restaurant in Vail is a feast for the eyes. True to its name, the annual extravaganza is all about the glitz and glamour of an admittedly debaucherous holiday: Larkspur hired Las Vegas-based consultant Macro Management Company to turn the high-end eatery into a bona fide nightclub – lighting outfitters Pink Monkey of Vail will even truck in a slew of crystal chandeliers – while the party lineup includes custom cocktails, bottle service with house-made mixers, a “shine” outfit contest, hors d’oeuvres from the upscale kitchen and tunes by local entertainment guru Erik Vienneau, owner of Greatime DJs. But all the shimmery trappings are just window-dressings for the partygoers. Over the years, the 300-capacity bash has managed to draw groups of European 20somethings, vacationing Argentineans and the occasional Middle Eastern royal. No wonder a Vegas consultant is needed – Shake, Shimmer and Shine could easily be the private backroom party for Tryst at the Wynn or Tao at the Venetian. That international appeal is in-line with Vail at the holidays, but the guest list is far from unapproachably exclusive. A healthy corps of Vail locals and visitors from across Colorado come year after year, usually to catch the well-known restaurant shed its gourmet veneer and let down its proverbial hair for a night. “I think Larkspur really likes to take things to the next level,” says Vienneau, who goes by DJ Erik and has played the New Year’s party three of the last 10 years. “I’d say it’ll be one of the top parties in town that night.”

IF YOU GO

What: The Shake, Shimmer and Shine party with DJ Erik When: Tuesday, Dec. 31 at 9 p.m. Where: Larkspur Restaurant, Vail Cost: $85 for general admission General entry includes one free cocktail, hors d’ouevres and a midnight champagne toast. Bottle service, free transportation and other extras are available. The event is 21 and older. To reserve a spot or find out more, contact event manager Nathalia Souza-Chinn at nathalia@larkspurvail.com.

just about anything on the spot. He also knows how to please party-hungry clientele: Over the years, he’s managed music for holiday bashes, high-end weddings and Cosmopolitan magazine events. While Vienneau only takes care of the music on New Year’s – “Larkspur brings in the experts, so I just worry about bringing great music,” he says – his favorite perk of the gig is finger food. The kitchen hardly slows down throughout the night, moving directly from an early-evening dinner service to munchies for Shake, Shimmer and Shine. “It really does feel like they convert it into a nightclub and that’s amazing, but the food is still as good as always,” Vienneau says. “It’s not nightclub food.”

The Shooting Star Barring an Alcoholics Anonymous get-together, few New Year’s Eve parties are complete without libations. For the past few years, partiers have been greeted with the Shooting Star, and easy-to-drink cocktail crafted by Larkspur bar manager Chris Eckert. As Eckert describes it, the drink is a winter-ready twist on a Larkspur bar manager Chris Eckert crafted a light, Moscow Mule, with Grey Goose palatable cocktail for the New Year’s Eve party, his Cherry Noir vodka, Gosling’s festive take on a Moscow Mule. Even if you can’t Ginger Beer and a dash of citrus enjoy it in person, Eckert shared the recipe with juice. It’s a nice alternative to SneakPEAK. champagne, with just the right - 2 ounces Grey Goose Cherry Noir mix of fruity carbonation and bit- 1/2 ounces fresh-squeezed citrus juice ter tang. Then there’s the fitting - 3 ounces Gosling’s Ginger Beer Global tunes visual flair. - Candied-orange sugar (for the rim) Thanks to his experience with past New Year’s bashes, Vien“You really can’t beat the neau knows Larkspur draws a wildly diverse crowd. His playlist color,” Eckert says. “If you want Coat the rim of a Collins glass in the candied-orange is made to match, filled with hits from South and Central Amerisomething for the Shake, Shimsugar. Combine all ingredients over ice and stir. ca, Europe and the Middle East. For a few weeks before the party, mer and Shine party, it has to he tracks down top songs from overseas metros to mix with the be flashy. It’s an easy-drinking, typical U.S. chart toppers. palatable, light, crisp drink. It’s “People get to feel at home when they come to this party,” Vienneau says. “They’re almost like walking into a party and being handed a glass of champagne.” in a totally different place, so to hear a song that’s popular back in their home counEckert and his crew also made a handful of premium mixers, including a hibiscus try makes them really feel special. They also really enjoy hearing music from the ginger blend with agave nectar, lime juice and cranberry juice, which goes surpriscountry they’re visiting, so I play the entire range.” ingly well with the mandarin orange and jalapeno mix. With any luck, you’ll still see In case a song manages to slip though the cracks, Vienneau is able to download straight when the ball drops at midnight.

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Free youth basketball program with the Avon PD

FEATURES Cops and ballers

Avon’s new program offers youth a chance to play basketball with cops. By Nicholas Van Dyke. Let’s face it: every adolescent has wanted to show a cop who is boss at some point in his or her life. Well, now there is a way that you can.

IF YOU GO What: Basketball with the Avon Police Department cops When: Every Monday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Where: Avon Elementary School Gym Cost: Free

No, I’m not talking about running around causing mayhem or making a police officer repay you for a speeding violation. I’m talking about beating Although the program is made them in a game of good old-fashioned basketball. for school-aged kids, people of For the third year in a row, the Avon Police Deall ages are invited. To find out partment will be hosting their “Basketball with the more, contact the Avon Police Cops” program. The program runs every Monday Department at 970.748.4040. night beginning Dec. 2 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Avon Elementary School gymnasium. One of the best aspects of the program: it’s free. As long as parents or guardians are willing to sign a youth ance to the gym – allowing kids to see that even activity waiver then any child is free to particiwhen in uniform, they care for the community and pate, from first graders to high school seniors. its youth. “When I think about how you’re going to reThe police that involve themselves in the produce crimes, or anything of that nature, you have gram, taking time out of their busy schedules to to start with the youth. At risk youth and also not connect to the community and its youth, are nothso at risk youth,” says Chief of Police Robert Ticing but sincere. Not only do they want to show er, founder of the program. the children that they are there for them, they also The “Basketball with the Cops” program ofwant to be their friends. fers children a fun, active way to get out and play “My hope is that every kid that comes and without any chance of getting into trouble or doplays basketball with us in the gym goes into a Emma Stamp and her father, Brad, shoot hoops ing something wrong. Not only that, but it offers life where they’re not involved in crime. I look during the free basketball program in Avon. the children and parents a chance to meet the peoat it this way, I hope that these kids that play ball Photo: Katie Anderson ple patrolling their streets everyday. Chances are, with us, if they ever think about doing something you’ll find out they’re not so different from you. wrong, they think, ‘Oh if I do that I’m going to “It’s a great way for the community to meet the cops that are serving and pro- disappoint my friends at the police department,” says Chief Ticer. tecting them. It’s also a great way for the cops to meet the people and the kids Don’t believe this works? In three years of working with the program, Ticer that they protect,” says longtime Town of Avon employee and valley resident says he has yet to see one of the children he has balled with in trouble. Mat Devito. Not every child has access to a gym where they are able to go out and play ball Not only is this program a meet and greet, but participants get to try to show with their buddies, and even less kids have a place where they can go to be active the police officers that cops aren’t so tough – at least on the basketball court. in the winter. This is just another of the program’s great attributes. It allows the This program isn’t just for adolescents, though – it is open to ballers of all youth to have a place to play and stay in shape, keeping them healthy the way ages. That means if you have a youngster that just won’t stop yapping about Coloradans should be. growing up to be a cop, then he or she is welcome to join in on the fun. They’ll Stop by any Monday night to see the Avon Police and what the program’s be able to meet one of their heroes and maybe even learn a thing or two about about. Remember – it’s free, so you’ve got nothing to lose and plenty to gain. SneakPEAK writer Nicholas Van Dyke can be reached at basketball as a sport. info@sneakpeakvail.com Whenever they have a chance, on duty officers are known to make an appear-

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CU Freestyle Ski Team ends Italy trip with gold and bronze

ATHLETICS Early Christmas

Local skiers from CU Boulder take gold and bronze at Winter University Games in Italy. By Michael Suleiman.

The flower ceremony at the Winter World University Games in Italy, with slopestyle winners (left to right) Fabienne of Switzerland, Alexis Keeney and Katie Souza, both from the U.S. Photo: Michael Suleiman.

Editor’s note: Writer Michael Suleiman is the park and halfpipe coach for the University of Colorado Freestyle Ski Team.

After two hospital trips and hours of training, the big show finally arrived. The group representing the U.S. team at the Winter World University Games in Italy eagerly awaited their chance to shine on worldwide television in skiing slopestyle. The EagleVail race, which will happen oThis is what they were here for. Although the pressure was serious, the scene was not. Other teams joked in an array of languages. Contagious grins and laughter saw no lan-

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guage barriers. We were primarily there to have fun and represent our country. Winning a gold and bronze medal was just the icing on the cake. “I think skiing is a sport where you are supposed to be laughing and smiling all the time, so it was nice to see that everyone wanted to go out and have fun on the course. Competitors were cheering everyone on and there was no one who was really too serious about it, which made it a blast,” said U.S. slopestyle winner Alexis Keeney. Two days of training leading into the competition resulted in neck braces and 40-minute ambulance rides down the windy road to the nearest major city of Trento. The first injury came on day one of training when Jessica Webb landed backseat on the first icy jump. Although in little pain, xrays confirmed a broken vertebra. She was unable to compete and flew home to have surgery. Ambulance ride number two came when Ben Hitchcock landed sideways and had the air knocked out of him. Within three minutes he was braced up, tied down and moved to an ambulance. After a pricey (thank you, insurance) ride to the hospital, doctors confirmed he was ok. Four hours on a back board and valuable time missed training left Hitchcock feeling less than fully prepared for the competition. “I basically missed the entire second day of training due to the crash. I along with everyone who could speak English thought I was fine but ski patrol didn’t. They had me in a neck brace before I could catch my breath. With the circumstances from the day before I

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guess it was better to be safe than sorry,” said Hitchcock. After a good night’s rest, Hitchcock competed but was just short of the 12-person finals and ended in the middle of the pack at 15th overall. Colorado has better snow this year than Italy, but we made do with what we had. Two smaller than average sized jumps built from dirt and two basic rails made style imperative. Even with the lacking snow, the jumps were well built and perfectly shaped. Katie Souza from the U.S. team skied to a third place finish. “I was happy to end up where I did. There were no U.S. judges at the event, which made for a bit of a challenge,” said Souza. “I was really excited to be able to represent the U.S. and come home with a medal.” With a technical run spinning both ways, Keeney was well above the rest of the female competition for the day. “I loved the course. I loved the setup of rail, jump, jump, rail because it helped to break things up a little bit,” said Keeney. Immediately following the competition all podium athletes were taken in for a doping test. “I can understand the drug testing thing less for doping but more for the common freestyle skier stereotype. I didn’t mind it at all because I didn’t have anything to worry about, it just took forever,” said Keeney. “I really enjoyed the fact that I could share the flower and medal ceremony with one of my teammates. I was impressed with how big of a deal and how choreographed everything was. It was a big show, which was kind of cool because a lot of times they just say ‘this girl won and this [See UNI GAMES, page 20]

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CAPTION Vail native Abby Ghent powers around a gate during the ladies’ giant slalom at last week’s MacDermid NorAm Cup in Vail, which hosted dozens of young male and female ski racers from Austria, Norway and the U.S. Ghent took fifth, while fellow Ski and Snowboard Club Vail alum Paula Moltzan took second in GS and first in slalom.

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I-70 SURVIVAL the trek out of the mountains, particularly if your flight is in the afternoon. The worst times to be on the roads are anytime after 12 p.m. and worse after 2 p.m. Again, this is exaggerated on the weekends and further exacerbated around the holidays. Fanger predicts the toughest days to be Jan. 3-5. “If you have a flight at 7 p.m., you can’t hit the road at 3 p.m. and expect to make it,” Fanger says. “At the latest you should be leaving at 1 p.m. or 1:30 p.m.” On the way back, Fanger points at Vail Pass and the Eisenhower Tunnel as being choke points. Also Idaho Springs, where the speed limit is reduced. Add in snow and the commute becomes all the more terrible. When the snow is falling or the wind is blowing heavily, the folks at the Colorado Department of

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Transportation shut down Loveland pass. This means that hazardous materials trucks have to travel through the tunnel. Given the nature of their cargo, they must travel through the tunnel without other cars should anything go wrong. CDOT closes the tunnel to traffic to send the trucks through, thus turning either side of the tunnel into a parking lot. “The holiday and skier traffic can be enough as is,” says Fanger. “But check the weather in advance and always, always plan more time if it’s going to be a snowy drive.” SneakPEAK writer John O’Neill can be reached at info@sneakpeakvail.com

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Perspectives on holiday match-ups from resident sports expert

SNEAKSPORTS

The ghosts of sports past, present and yet to come While 2013 was a very memorable year in sports, 2014 is shaping up to be even better.

Patrick Whitehurst Minturn-based sports lover Patrick Whitehurst writes for fanrag.com. Tune in weekly for his musings on the wild and complicated love affair between American fans and their most cherished pastimes. He can be contacted through fanrag.com.

Highs and lows are constants in life and sports. In any given sport fans hold a few ideas to be 100 percent certain and foolproof. First and foremost, this list revolves around one simple principle: Anything is always possible. The “Miracle on Ice,” Doug Flutie’s Hail Mary against the University of Miami, and the Red Sox coming back from a three games to zero hole against their hated rivals in the 2004 ALCS are merely tiny samples of this truth. We love powerhouse programs and praise dynasties all while rooting for underdogs to prevail. Secondly – stars make us love the events more. This is true in movies and sports. The top-grossing films have star power and the best (or most popular) teams usually feature premiere players. Not every great movie is loaded with Oscar winners and even the best players and teams lose. Fans place stars and top performers on a pedestal. This can be a double-edged sword – just as we expect any film starring Tom Hanks or Leonardo DiCaprio to be nominated for Academy Awards we’re in disbelief if the Miami Heat drop a “winnable game,” or when Sidney Crosby fails to convert a penalty shot into a goal. Often

times we expect these athletes to be superhuman and constantly come through in the clutch. As viewers and fans we’re in awe of Tom Brady’s incredible comebacks and expect Kobe Bryant to nail the game-winning shot, but David Ortiz has struck out with the game on the line and Lionel Messi has gone a few games or more without putting the ball in the back of the net. Finally – it’s impossible to realistically compare players and teams from different eras – but that never stops sports fans from trying. We celebrate the undefeated ‘72 Dolphins (a team without a true superstar), and refer to Joe Montana as the greatest quarterback ever because sports captures our imaginations and the debate never ends. Perhaps Jim Brown and Barry Sanders would be just as great in today’s NFL and Wilt Chamberlain would dominate the current crop of finesse big men in the NBA. Peyton Manning set the NFL record with 51 touchdown passes and almost immediately I received a number of texts and tweets from fellow fans (and foes) saying the record is great but won’t mean anything if Denver doesn’t win the Super Bowl this season. I’m not even a true Denver fan, but Patriots fans were giving me a hard time and reminding me that Brady has three rings. Of course in good fun, I reminded them that Mr. Bundchen and The Hoodie have zero rings without Adam Vinatieri and since SpyGate. Could the ‘85 Bears shut down Peyton Manning and the Broncos of-

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fense? It’s fun to talk about, but we’ll never know. One thing that I do know is that 2013 will go out with a bang and 2014 will begin with an incredible flurry of sports action. The final week of the NFL regular season features two winner-take-all division matchups that cannot be missed. The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears have squared off more times than any teams in NFL history and the latest installment will determine the NFC North crown along with the right to host a first round playoff game (and be most likely be slaughtered by a red hot team like the 49ers). While it looks like neither underachieving team is capable of making a Super Bowl run at this time, please refer to Sports Truth No. 1 and realize that while it is improbable, it’s not impossible. Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys fall into the reverse of Sports Truth No. 2. Normally we expect Romo to cave to the pressure and come up short when it matters most, but reports are that he’ll miss the remainder of the season with an injury and won’t have the opportunity to disappoint Cowboys fans again this season. Dallas has lost the last two do-or-die season finales and now it will be up to Kyle Orton and a dismal defense to beat the Philadelphia Eagles. For the record, I am taking both road teams in these divisional title tilts, but wouldn’t be surprised if I’m way off. As the calendar turns, sports fans will be treated to loads of can’t-miss action. Before the Rose Bowl kicks off on New Year’s Day, the NHL’s Winter Classic will be played in front of 100,000 people in the Big House. The BCS title game will be entertaining, the NFL playoffs will take our breath away before New York’s Super Bowl (hope for snow), while the Sochi Winter Olympics and the World Cup in Brazil will be celebrations of sport and culture where new heroes and unforgettable moments will be forged into our minds. There’s no time like the present, but the future is very bright.

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What you should know to avoid high HOA fees: • Try to buy in a new or recently built complex where major maintenance requirements might be differed at first. However, make sure the homeowners association is collecting some kind of income so that you don’t get stuck with a big capital assessment in a few years. • Buy in smaller complexes where amenities

such as on-site concierge, front desk agents, pools and hot tubs are not always readily available. Remember, the more amenities, the larger your risk of special assessment for repair. Labor and fitness facilities are often a major expense. • Work with your attorney to determine a comfortable financial level and how much a particular complex needs in reserves.

Your agent can assist you in finding real estate available with low HOA dues. Determine goals and objectives for your particular investment, as you may want to participate in an amenity-rich community to optimize or simplify your investment. A homeowners association may be a gift or a shortcoming for your investment.

AVON WORKSPACE meetings and events. This space is about community.” That communal feel is build into the walls. The large main room houses large permanent desks and smaller come-and-go desks, with no cubicles or other barriers. Nearby is a kitchen, several lockers and combo copy/fax/print machine. Several interior windows reveal a large conference room with an oblong table and flatscreen TV. Further down the hall are a slew of private offices with desks and windows looking out on Beaver Creek. No matter the location, tenants have 80 to 100 square feet of personal workspace, but the entire communal area is open to anyone. As people began to file in, Todd DeJong, owner of Lone Star Security, walked between the dark-wood permanent desks. He founded one of VLI’s RoundTable Groups, now home to business leaders from The Vitality Center, Conundrum Technology, Sotheby’s International Realty and more. “They’re been talking about a space like this since I’ve been around,” DeJong said. “It’s nice to see it come to fruition, come together. I know all the people

[From page 5]

[From page 6]

who sit in these seats are going to create new things for in is a community that can help you grow,” Staats said. this valley.” “So many people make it to year three without a business plan, but you can’t grow beyond that without the A long time coming traditional business route.” As DeJong alludes to, the concept behind EntreStaats gives the example of a business owner who preneurs BasCamp has been in the works for years. knows the ins and outs of an industry, but has no expeA group in Telluride recently launched the Telluride rience with accounting or web development or graphic Venture Accelerator, a mentoring community similar design. By renting a desk at the BaseCamp, that owner to TechStars in Boulder, but the VLI space is slightly has access to dozens of likeminded, locally based exdifferent. It doesn’t require a RoundTable Group mem- perts who can push the business above and beyond. bership or a business pitch, making it one of the only “If you were to extract the DNA of an entrepreneur true co-working spaces in a Colorado mountain town. and the DNA of a person who lives here, they share One of the first tenants, Rich Staats of web marketing a lot in common,” Staats said. “Very few people are and interactive media consultant Secret Stache Media, actually from here and they often move here for the thinks it can give rise to a new wave of entrepreneur- lifestyle. They’re go-getters and hungry in the sense ship in Eagle County. He believes the area is teeming that they take the same kind of risks that don’t require with young, hungry businesspeople, and a communal a regular job. The institute has always been good at exspace could stoke creative fires. It could also be the tracting that out of people and this is just an extension incentive growing businesses need to succeed far into of that mentality.” the future. “It’s a space, technically, but what you’re investing

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The annual Holidaze New Year’s Eve fireworks show and torchlight parade returns to Vail on Dec. 31, beginning shortly after sundown. Photo: Thomas H. Green.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Have an event for the SneakPEAK calendar? Email your blurb to info@sneakpeakvail.com

Tricia’s Top 8

Thursday, Dec. 26 An Evening with George Winston at Vilar Center

Grammy Award-winning pianist George Winston brings his wide-ranging style to the Vilar Center for a special holiday concert. Along with selections from his seasonal album “December,” he’ll also play R&B and jazz classics, including the immediately recognizable “Peanuts” theme by Vince Guaradi. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $38 for all ages. To buy tickets or find out more, see vilarpac.org.

Thursday, Dec. 26 Drums of the Mountain at Beaver Creek

As part of Beaver Creek’s season-ending Winterfest celebration, the folks from Peak Rhythms bring percussion instruments straight to the stage in Beaver Creek Village. The kid-friendly event runs from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and is free for all participants. Head over and get your banging-on-things fix, or just let off any extra steam not spent on the mountain. For more info, see beavercreek.com.

Tricia Swenson

1. Thursday Night Lights is back at Beaver Creek! The skiing glow-stick parade includes glow sticks, skier participation, music and fireworks. See the Beaver Creek Children’s Ski School to participate. 2. The Vilar Performing Arts Center brings many great programs to the valley this holiday, including George Winston on Dec. 26, Cirque Mechanics on Dec. 28 and 29, and Broadway hits on Dec. 30. 3. Head on up to Adventure Ridge at Vail and try nighttime ski-biking. Adults, leave the little ones at home – this is for the kid in you! 4. Treat yourself to a handcrafted cocktail at the newly remodeled Buffalo Restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch. 5. Grab lunch at Mamie’s Mountain Grill at the top of the Bachelor Gulch Express. They have delicious menu items, great views and now the “Umbrella Bar,” which used to belong to the old Red Tail Restaurant. 6. If you head to Vail, pack your own lunch and visit Blue Sky Basin! The backcountry playground has grills all ready for ya – just bring the grub, your friends and a camera. The views are spectacular out there. 7. Make it a great, safe New Year’s Eve, whether you are going big and dancing the night away at the Vail NYE bash or just snowshoeing to the top of a mountain to wish upon a star. 8. Speaking of New Year’s, try to pick one thing – just one small thing – you can stick with this year. Happy holidays, and the best of luck in 2014!

bronze statues in the village to trail signs across the mountain. Post your photos to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with the #FotoFriday hashtag to win goodies each Wednesday. You can also stop by the photo booth at Beaver Creek Sports from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. to print your best photos for free and earn prizes on the spot. There aren’t many rules, but participants must snap at Thursday, Dec. 26 least five photos from the scavenger hunt list to win prizes. For this week’s clues, see beavercreek.com and Zoso: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin search for #FotoFriday under the events and activities Exerpeince at Agave Like Dark Star Orchestra for Led Zeppelin faithful, tab. Now go and get your hunt on. Zoso formed in 1995 to bring the glory days of Robert Plant and Jimmy Page back to life. The group treats Friday, Dec. 26 its approach to Zeppelin classics as much more than The Drunken Hearts at Vail Ale House a tribute: Shows feature vintage instruments, equipColorado originals The Drunken Hearts join with loment and clothing, crafting an atmosphere no differ- cal favorite Sean Healy for a night of folk, bluegrass ent than the rock band’s “Led Zeppelin III” heyday. and high-energy country at Vail Ale House in West What’s more, fans at Agave in Avon will enjoy that Vail. Like the best acts from Texas and Tennessee, the retro experience for far less than any actual Zeppelin six-piece group is known for heart-wrenching vocals concert in four decades. Tickets to the show are $12 and rollicking strings. Healy begins the night with pre-sale or $15 at the door. Music begins at 9:30 p.m. trademark acoustic work along, followed by Fort Coland entry is 21 and up. To buy tickets or find out more, lins bluegrass group Von Stomper before The Drunken see agaveavon.com. Hearts take the stage. Music begins at 10 p.m. Entry is 21 and older only. For more info, see vailalehouse. com. Friday, Dec. 27

#FotoFriday scavenger hunt at Beaver Creek

Thursday, Dec. 26

Put that brand-new, hi-def smartphone camera to Good Luck Spider at Bonfire Brewing good use with Beaver Creek’s #FotoFriday scavenger taproom hunt. Every Friday during ski season, the resort releasAfter Christmas and before New Year’s, catch Good es a handful of clues at 8 a.m. Guests have until 4 p.m. Luck Spider (the band, not some magical insect) at the to find, frame and capture objects in the clues, from Bonfire Brewing Taproom in Eagle for the latest in-

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Thursday, December 26 - January 1, 2014

stallment in Bonfire’s free Friday music series. Things kick off around 8 p.m. at the brewery’s Eagle taproom, but swing by earlier in the day for $3 pints from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Music ends at 11 p.m. – just in time for the beer to stop flowing. For more info, see bonfirebrewing.com.

Saturday, Dec. 28 Phil Long après at Shakdown Bar

Join Phil Long, one of Vail’s most iconic après musicians, for an afternoon set at his new home of Shakedown Bar in Vail Village. After more than 25 years entertaining locals and visitors alike, Long has put together an impressive set-list that ranges from Bob Dylan and The Beatles to Journey and The White Stripes. Even when the music isn’t playing, Long is known for quick wit and plenty of banter with the crowd. Shows often require reservations beforehand by calling a reservation hotline at 303.415.0160. Give the dates you’d like to attend and your spot will be saved. Music begins at 5 p.m. most afternoons and runs until 9 p.m. For more info or an online reservation form, see shakedownbarvail.com.

Saturday, Dec. 28 Town Cavalry at Agave

Local supergroups don’t get much more super than Town Cavalry. Catch members of Frogs Gone Fishin’, MTHDS and The Congress for a mish-mash of rock, electrifying guitar work and high-energy percussion, performed by the valley’s most respected musicians while they’re in town for the holidays. It’s also the

group’s debut show, period – it’s not to be missed. Doors open at 9:30 p.m. with music beginning at 10 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the door. Underagers, you’ll have to wait until you hit 21 years old. For more info, see agaveavon.com.

Sunday, Dec. 29 Après with Dave Tucket at Pepi’s Restaurant

tion – but the teen party is perhaps the highlight. Held at the Bachelor Gulch Spa, the free shindig kicks off at 10 p.m. with a DJ and dancing on the private grotto. You might even make a few friends to ski with the following day (hint: it means you can leave mom and dad at the lodge for half a day). To find out more, see the Bachelor Gulch concierge or visit ritzcarlton.com.

Tuesday, Dec. 31 Head to historic Hotel Gastof-Gramshammer – one New Year’s Even Family Bash at of Vail Village’s original lodges – for après entertain- Beaver Creek ment by local acoustic musician Dave Tucker. From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Tucker plays a set of pop hits and crowd requests from the small stage at Pepi’s Restaurant, named for Austrian ski legend and hotel namesake Pepi Gramshammer. Keep an eye out for specials on European drafts and finger food. The restaurant hosts après music throughout the holidays. For more info, see pepis.com.

Tuesday, Dec. 31 New Year’s Eve Family Bash in Beaver Creek True to its reputation, Beaver Creek takes care of families on New Year’s Eve with its annual bash. The schedule is jam-packed: Fireworks over the village at 6:45 p.m., dancing and games in McCoy’s beginning at 8 p.m., a first balloon drop at 10 p.m. for little ones and a second at midnight for the rest. Admission to the inside party is $40 and includes one raffle ticket, party favors, the games and balloon drops, with a portion of Monday, Dec. 30 all proceeds going to the Vail Valley Salvation Army. S.I.N. with Alex Detour at Samana It’s just as fun as it sounds: Every Monday during A cash bar is also available and kids younger than 5 the ski season is Service Industry Night at Samana in years old are free. For more info, see beavercreek.com. Vail Village. Beginning at 9 p.m., head to the basement club for $6 Coors Light Pitchers, $2 Coors Light pints Tuesday, Dec. 31 and $3 you-call-it drinks, along with hourly rotating Caribou Mountain Collective at specials until close at 2 a.m. Local DJ Alex Detour Bonfire Brewing Taproom spins dance tunes throughout the night. For more info, Don’t want to pay a cover on New Year’s Eve? see samanalounge.com. Head to the Bonfire Brewing Taproom in Eagle for free music by Caribou Mountain Collective, a group Tuesday, Dec. 31 from the Colorado bluegrass haven of Nederland. The Teen New Year’s Eve party at Ritz- party runs from 8 p.m. to midnight, with drink specials throughout the night. Did we happen to mention it’s Carlton Bachelor Gulch Parents, need a night away from the kids? Teens, free? need a night away from the parents? The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch offers a slew of activities and age- Wednesday, Jan. 1 specific parties for New Year’s Eve – 5 to 12 year olds Gentle yoga in Avon are invited to the Ritz Kids lounge, while parents can Chase away the head-throbbing aftermath of New sip cocktails at the laid-back Buffalos NYE celebra- Year’s Eve with a gentle yoga class at the Athletic

Club at The Westin in Avon. From noon to 1 p.m., yoga director Suzanne Oliver leads a simple, easy class with gentle flows and rejuvenating postures. Trust us – it’s better than gorging on corned beef hash and Bloody Marys. The drop-in rate is $20. The Athletic Club and yoga studio is found on the bottom level of the hotel. For more info or to reserve your spot online, see spaanjali.com.

Front cover credits (clockwise from upper left)

The USA Pro Challenge. Photo: Zach Mahone. The Wheels and Wings Airshow. Photo special to SneakPEAK. Battle Mountain High School cross-country runner Val Constein. Photo: Anthony Thornton. The weekend lumberjacks from Man of the Cliff. Photo: Ryan McCombs. The Rocky Horror Show by Vail Valley Theatre Company. Photo: Anthony Thornton. SSCV Executive Director Aldo Radamus. Photo: Anthony Thornton. The first-annual Eagle YogaFest. Photo: Ryan McCombs. GoPro Mountain Games in Vail. Photo: Zach Mahone. Matsuhisa Vail Executive Chef Brian Busker. Photo: Kent Pettit. Vail-based Bloom Outerwear. Photo: Anthony Thornton. Freeski Olympic hopeful Taylor Seaton. Photo: Anthony Thornton. The Vail snowmaking department. Photo: Anthony Thornton. Birds of Prey World Cup downhill at Beaver Creek. Photo: Keith Ruebsam. Skinning up Vail Mountain. Photo: Bjorn Bauer. Local freestyle tele skier Christopher Ewart. Photo: Daniel Milchev. The new Vail Yeti Hockey Club. Photo: Anthony Thornton.

ANN SMEAD (Smead) knew that his success was only due to the good graces of others. When he became successful, he said he knew he wanted to give back – he had a Ph.D. in electrical engineering that was paid for by scholarships and nothing more. When I met my current husband, we both shared a passion for giving back and the importance of education. It’s very simply said, but if you give a kid an education, no one can take that from them. It’s an absolute shame in our country to have brain power locked away in kids who are never given the opportunity to use it. SP: Talk about education – has that become your primary focus over the past few years? AS: The reason I got involved with education came about 12 years ago, when Oscar Tang and Erik Borgen wanted to fund their vision for full-time kindergarten in the area. They saw that vision through, and the Vail Valley Foundation has supported that in conjunction with the school district ever since. Now, we still don’t have a publically provided full-time kindergarten, not just in

this valley, but across the state. That is so important, and I’ll tell you why: If kids don’t work at grade level by first grade – if they don’t have things like the (Youth Foundation’s) Magic Bus or pre-kindergarten or even fulltime kindergarten – they only have a 12 percent chance of being at grade level as they move forward. That’s the importance of early childhood education and that’s what we’re addressing in the valley. SP: Is that 12 percent stat particular to the U.S.? AS: That’s a good question – it was actually Melisa (Rewold-Thuon, principal at Avon Elementary School) who gave me that figure. Where the U.S. fits in the world in terms of education is a whole different question. If you want to look at good education models, you can look at Asia or a country like Finland, but there are also countries that don’t quite match what we do. The important thing is that we can be much better than we are at the moment. We have those resources and the drive.

UNI GAMES girl won…yay.’” In total Keeney’s and Souza’s first and third place medals accounted for half of all the medals earned by the U.S. in every event. Russia had an impressive 50 medals, Poland was in second with a total of 23 medals and Korea ended in a close third with 24 medals (primarily third place medals as opposed to Poland’s first and second place medals). Three-time U.S. national champion Jeremy Brown came into the competition with hopes of landing on the podium. Unfortunately, the high caliber event brought other pro level athletes who edged Brown out putting him in a still impressive seventh overall. “I think I prepared to the best of my ability. I feel like I could have done better in this competition with a bigger course and if I hadn’t made a simple mistake in the finals,” said Brown. “I think for the rest of the season I will do a few comps but I’m more interested in getting back-

[From page 9]

country footage. I plan on getting out to East Vail a lot this season now that the snow is there.” It was interesting to see the level of athletes that some countries brought to the competition in skiing and other sports. The event is for college competitors, yet some countries like Kazakhstan were able to bring their national hockey team. Schoolwork and competition played a delicate balance at the Games. Dozens of final exams were administered. If the athletes weren’t busy skiing or meeting people from across the world, they were studying or taking exams. “It worked out to take all my finals while on the trip in the end but I know my professors weren’t as happy as they could have been. It was challenging because we were always doing something. It was really go go go. In the end it all worked out. This trip has been amazing and I’m really thankful to have been part of it,” said U.S. competitor Ian Simpson. Simpson

[From page 20]

placed 21st in the event and teammate Connor O’Brien placed 17th. On the girls’ side Katie Hitchcock landed in fifth. After an impressive hockey game where the Canadians took the big win, closing ceremonies took place on the ice with dancers, singers and a number of translated speeches. The University of Colorado is hugely to thank for helping us come up with some of the $50,000 needed to compete in the event. Granada Spain will host the next Winter World University Games in February 2015. See you then. facturers. Everything from socks and booties to headlamps and gift certificates. “It is one of the best local winter events of the year,” says Kelly. “There is something there for everyone to come and enjoy.” SneakPEAK writer Michael Suleiman can be reached at info@sneakpeakvail.com Thursday, December 26 - January 1, 2014

sneakpeak

DINING GUIDE AVON

EAGLEVAIL Golden Eagle Inn 118 Beaver Creek Plaza 970.949.1940 Contemporary American B | L | D | $$$

Ristorante Ti Amo 40928 U.S. Hwy. 6 970.845.8153 Italian L | D | $$

Loaded Joe’s 82 E. Beaver Creek Blvd. 970.748.1480 Coffee, upscale bar food B|L|D|$

Taqueria No Se Hagan Bolas 91 Beaver Creek Place 970.845.7959 Mexican L|D|$ Ticino 100 W. Beaver Creek Blvd. 970.748.6792 Italian and gourmet pizza L|D|$

Grouse Mountain Grill 141 Scott Hill Rd. 970.949.0600 Seasonal ﬁne dining D | $$$

Route 6 Café 41290 U.S. Hwy. 6 970.949.6393 American comfort food B|L|D|$

Blue Plate Bistro 47 E. Beaver Creek Blvd. 970.845.2252 Contemporary American B | L | D | $$

Maya 126 Riverfront Lane 970.790.5500 Upscale taqueria L | D | $$

Vin 48 48 E. Beaver Creek Blvd. 970.748.9463 Rustic American L | D | $$

Hooked 112 Beaver Creek Plaza 970.949.4321 Seafood and sushi L | D | $$

MINTURN

Bob’s Place 100 W. Beaver Creek Blvd. 970.845.8566 Bar/Pub fare B|L|D|$

Montana’s Smokehouse 82 E. Beaver Creek Blvd. 970.949.7019 American barbecue 8100 Mountainside Bar B|L|D|$ and Grill Park Hyatt Beaver Creek 970.949.1234 Northside Kitchen Organic/local American 20 Nottingham Rd. B | L | D | $$$ 970.949.9900

Agave 1060 W. Beaver Creek Blvd. 970.748.8666 Mexican/Tex-Mex L|D|$

Gondola Pizza 240 Chapel Place 970.845.6000 Pizza L|D|$

Avon Bakery & Deli 25 Hurd Lane 970.949.3354 Organic Deli B|L|$

Castle Peak Grille 101 Fawcett Rd. 970.748.4848 New American L | D| $

BEAVER CREEK

Coffee, American fare B|L|D|$

Columbine Bakery 51 Beaver Creek Place 970.949.1400 European café and bakery B | L | $$ Domino’s Pizza 51 Beaver Creek Place 970.949.3230 Pizza L|D|$ Fiesta Jalisco 240 Chapel Place 970.845.8088 Mexican L|D|$ FOOD! by Marc 137 Benchmark Rd. 970.688.5037 Healthy contemporary fare L|D|$ Geno’s Sandwiches 100 W. Beaver Creek Blvd. 970.949.0529 Italian sandwiches L|$ $ = $10-$20 $$ = $20-$40 $$$=$40+

Nozawa Sushi 240 Chapel Place 970.949.0330 Sushi L | D | $$

Beano’s Cabin Beaver Creek Mountain 970.754.3463 Contemporary American D | $$$

Beaver Creek Chophouse Beaver Creek Lodge Pazzo’s Pizzeria 970.845.0555 82 E. Beaver Creek Blvd. Steakhouse 970.949.6093 L | D | $$$ Pizza and pasta L|D|$ Blue Moose Pizza 76 Avondale Lane Red Mountain Grill 970.845.8666 240 Chapel Place Pizza 970.748.1010 L|D|$ Eclectic pub fare B|L|D|$ Coyote Café Upper Beaver Creek Plaza Subway Avon 47 E. Beaver Creek Blvd. 970.845.9030 Tex-Mex 970.949.1312 B|L|D|$ Sandwiches B|L|D|$

Swiss Hot Dog Co. 101 Fawcett Rd. 970.467.2013 Gourmet hot dogs L|$

Dusty Boot Saloon and Steakhouse 210 Offerson Rd. 970.748.1146 Steakhouse L | D | $$

The Metropolitan 210 Offerson Rd. 970.748.3123 Coffee, tapas, wine bar B | L | D | $$ Mirabelle Restaurant 55 Village Rd. 970.949.7728 French cuisine D | $$$ Osprey Lounge 10 Elk Track Lane 970.754.7400 Tapas bar L | D | $$ Rimini Café 45 W. Thomas Place 970.949.6157 Gelato, chocolate, wine B|L|$ Rock’s Modern Grill 27 Avondale Lane 970.845.9800 Classic American B | D | $$ Saddleridge Beaver Creek Mountain 970.754.5450 On-mountain dining B | L | $$ Spago The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch 970.343.1555 Seasonal American D | $$$

Kirby Cosmo’s BBQ 474 Main St. 970.827.9027 Barbecue L|D|$ Magusto’s 101 Main St. 970.827.5450 Pizza and pub fare L|D|$ Minturn Country Club 131 Main St. 970.827.4114 Steakhouse D|$ Nicky’s Quickie 151 Main St. 970.827.5616 Gyros, Greek cuisine B|L|D|$ Sticky Fingers Café and Bakery 132 Main St. 970.827.5353 Coffee and sandwiches B|L|$ Minturn Saloon 146 Main St. 970.827.5954 Mexican/American L | D | $$ The Turntable Restaurant 160 Railroad Ave. 970.827.4164 American diner B|L|$

B = Breakfast L = Lunch D = Dinner

For more dining options across Eagle County, see the next issue of SneakPEAK 26

sneakpeak

Thursday, December 26 - January 1, 2014

HAVE YOU EVER FELT RUG LOVE? Come to Ruggs Benedict & fall in love with a rug.

Check out rugs like library books - Come to our store and choose some rugs you like. If needed we will deliver them to your home in the Vail Valley for free. See how they look in your home, then keep the ones you love. 1000 beautiful area rugs in stock - Our selection of imported, hand made rugs is unmatched. Over the past 25 years, we have built relationships with the best rug makers around the world. We buy direct and sell directly to you at wholesale prices. 200 choices under $200 - We have area rugs to fit any room and any budget. Stop by and check them out!

“The right rug can make the room.” Mandy & Roger Benedict

Serving the Vail Valley since 1972 Ruggs Benedict - Voted 2009 Business of the Year

810 Nottingham Road, Avon • 970-949-5390 • www.ruggsbenedict.com

New Winter Dinner Menu! Devoted To The Craft

White Trash Wednesday’: 10pm. $3 Beer & Shot specials. DJ P-Rock spins Vails favorite dance music.

Thursday Night: FREE Live Music w/ Jake Wolf & Friends re-creating Guns n’ Roses Appetite for Destruction in its entirety featuring Johnny Schleper as Slash, Nick Steingardt as Axel Rose, Alex Scott as Duff Mckagen and Jake Wolf as Stephen Adler! $3 Colorado Native drafts & $3 Fireside Whiskey! Friday Night: Live Music w/ The Drunken Hearts, Sean Healey & Von Stomper. 9pm! Catch all College Bowl Games on 16hdtv’s and two 10ft projection screens. Open at 10am Saturday & Sunday: Serving breakfast Sunday Night Industry Night: 1/2 OFF Your Entire Tab after 10pm and FREE Monday Night: Burger Night. $10 Burger & Craft Beer. Open Mic Night at 9pm

Check out www.VailAleHouse.com for upcoming evnets 2161 N.Frontage Rd. West Vail • 970-476-4314 Thursday, December 26 - January 1, 2014

sneakpeak

Thursday, December 26 - January 1, 2014