Beaver Creek Magazine by Colorado Mountain News Media

2015 ANNUAL

WINTER

play

JACK AFFLECK

HIT LIST BEYOND SKIING FESTIVE FETES Parties in the Plaza

FIERCE CREATURES Mountain Wildlife

DINING ADVENTURES Via hike, snowshoe or horseback

BEAVER CREEK | 52 HIGHLINE DRIVE

BEAVER CREEK | 97 BORDERS ROAD

BEAVER CREEK IRONWOOD 1 AT BEAVER CREEK

BACHELOR GULCH HUMMINGBIRD LODGE B101

BEAVER CREEK | OXFORD COURT CONDOMINIUM 207

16 OFFICES | 100 BROKERS

Helping People LIVE LOCAL for Over 50 Years

EDWARDS | 240 CASTEEL RIDGE

LIONSHEAD | LANDMARK VAIL 511

BEAVER CREEK | 407 HOLDEN ROAD

BEAVER CREEK | 323 BORDERS ROAD

WOLCOTT | 21900 HIGHWAY 6

We live here, we work here, we play here. Find your place at:

VAILREALESTATE.COM

PLAY WELL

ÂŠ2014â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2015 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Preferred Guest, SPG, Westin and their logos are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates. For full terms & conditions visit westin.com

Experience Rocky Mountain renewal all year long at Beaver Creek’s award-winning Westin Riverfront. Dedicated to guest wellness, the resort is home to: SPA ANJALI with unique healing spa treatments

ATHLETIC CLUB at The Westin with Gold Medalist member, Mikaela Shiffrin

HOWARD HEAD Sports Medicine Annex with on-staff physical therapists

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A VARIETY OF SHOPS & CAFES including Starbucks

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FEATURES

BORN TO BE A CELEBRATION CENTERPIECE

Beaver Creek Resort exists because the terrain lends itself to mountain adventures. But the plaza is situated in such a way as to create an alpine village ready to roll out the red carpet for all sorts of festival guests, from Old Man Winter to musicians, artists and more. By Shauna Farnell

THE BC LISTS

Beaver Creek loves families. The resort offers a variety of adventures and activities for every member of the family, whether it’s Mom, Dad, Sister or Brother. Explore the insider’s guide to the best bets for everyone. By Phil Lindeman

72 78

ANIMAL TRACKS TELL A WILD STORY

Despite the full fleet of groomers and personnel, Beaver Creek is — and always will be — a natural habitat for all sorts of creatures. From furtive foxes to waddling porcupines, learn what to look for to spot wildlife. By Traci J. Macnamara

MORE THAN A SKI HILL

Skiing started the show, but Beaver Creek is a year-round resort with all types of activities. From mountain biking to cross-country skiing to golfing, the mountain is a beautiful playground. Alpine vistas and open meadows add to the setting. By Wren Bova

BEAVER CREEK MAGAZINE ✧ 2 015 A N N UA L

JACK AFFLECK / VAIL RESORTS

21 14 CONTRIBUTORS

16 EDITOR’S LETTER

35 THE ATHLETE’S APRÈS Treat yourself to an afternoon of delights in Beaver Creek.

18 NEW + NOTEWORTHY 85 CALENDAR OF EVENTS Where to go. What to do. When to do it. 96 LAST LOOK “Afternoon at the Beaver Creek Ice Rink,”

By Anton Arkhipov

HOOFIN’ IT Bold exploration In Beaver Creek begins with adventure rides and destination dining. By Kim Fuller

26 IT’S A KID’S WORLD Why families love Beaver Creek.

DEPARTMENTS 38

By Shauna Farnell

30 GOING FOR THE GOLDEN STANDARD Responsible for every inch of the course as well as the safety of the competitors, Beaver Creek’s race crews are dedicated to making the Birds of Prey and Raptor courses the best in the world.

By Traci J. Macnamara

By Kim Fuller

40 THE LITTLE THINGS From patios and parks to a world-class stage, Beaver Creek has many one-of-a-kind venues that help make it special.

m o u n ta i n l i f e

BC Insider

By Phil Lindeman

44 CHEFS ABROAD Sometimes the world comes to Beaver Creek, and sometimes Beaver Creek goes to the world.

By Katie Coakley

48 LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TAKE YOUR SEATS Welcome to the Vilar: How a little performing arts center in the mountains became a hotspot for huge names and intimate performances.

By Phil Lindeman

52 THEATER LOVERS Nancy Gage and Allen Finney support the Vilar Center, which is how they ended up in Rwanda with an animal expert. By Brenda Himelfarb

56 BEAVER CREEK STYLE The village offers a little something for everyone.

By Polina LaConte

BEAVER CREEK MAGAZINE ✧ 2 015 A N N UA L

ANTHONY THORNTON, JESSE STARR / VAIL RESORTS, DOMINIQUE TAYLOR

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Contributors

Vail Daily Magazine Group GM SUSAN LUDLOW | sludlow@vaildaily.com Editor WREN BOVA | wren@vaildaily.com Art Director CARLY ARNOLD | carnold@cmnm.org Photo Editor ANTHONY THORNTON | athornton@vaildaily.com

In this issue, Traci J. Macnamara writes about animal tracks and about Beaver Creek’s highly respected race crews. “Foxes are my favorite animals,” she says, “Seeing a silver fox in the snow is a special thing, but it’s totally possible to spot one if you take the time to look.”

Zach Mahone is a full time freelance photographer based out of Vail and is the house photographer of the Vilar Performing Arts Center. Music photography one of Zach’s original inspirations into the world of photography, so to be able to continue this work with such a prestigious venue and variety of artists really means a lot to him. Feel free to follow Zach’s work @ Zach_Photo.

Katie Coakley is a freelance writer who enjoys eating good food and drinking tasty beer while exploring new destinations. Calling a worldclass destination home is just the cherry on top of a behemoth ice cream sundae. You can follow her adventures at katieonthemap. com

A child at heart, Shauna Farnell enjoys all manner of mountain play, whether it’s grinding uphill on a bicycle or tearing downhill in the snow. A frequent festival attendee, she writes about Beaver Creek’s many festive offerings. Still, at the end of the day, nothing really makes her happier than a fresh cookie.

Growing up in and traveling throughout Europe, Polina LaConte's taste for fashion was developed in urban environs. Upon moving to Vail in '08, her attraction to the area laid partly in the fact that high fashion was available in an active community so far from the city. It didn't take her long to develop a mental inventory of some of the hottest items in the Vail Valley.

Marketing Director MARK BRICKLIN | mbricklin@vaildaily.com Ad Director PATRICK CONNOLLY | pconnolly@vaildaily.com National Sales Director CYNTHIA BRUGGEMAN | cbruggeman@vaildaily.com Contributing Writers KIM FULLER, SHAUNA FARNELL, POLINA LACONTE, TRACI J. MACNAMARA, BRENDA HIMELFARB, PHIL LINDEMAN Photo Curator JESSE STARR, Vail Resorts Photographer Contributing Photographers & Illustrators JACK AFFLECK, KRISTIN ANDERSON KEVIN BANKER, BJORN BAUER, DAWN BEACON SEAN BOGGS, DANN COFFEE CODY DOWNARD, THOMAS GREEN JUSTIN MCCARTY, CHRIS MCLENNAN RICHARD SPITZER, RIC STOVALL Copy Editors ROSS LEONHART, ALI MURRAY, KAYLEE PORTER Design Team Supervisor AFTON POSPÍŠILOVÁ Design Team ASHLEY DETMERING, DARIN BLISS, MALISA SAMSEL Sales Manager KIP TINGLE | ktingle@vaildaily.com

Townsend Bessent is a photographer based in Vail, Colorado focusing on the documentation of planet earth and all of her eccentricities. He is eternally glued to a camera no matter where in the world the wind has blown him. Although he calls the Rocky Mountains home, he is equally comfortable living in a hammock or crashing on your couch.

Kim Fuller is a freelance writer based in Minturn, the small mountain town that constantly inspires cozy Colorado mornings. When a powder day is not calling, find Kim buried in her writing, or occasionally “recovering” from a plethora of mountain adventures by visiting the spa.

Anthony Thornton approaches his photography almost like a graphic designer, looking at shapes and textures as much as people and places. A former photo editor for the Vail Daily, he is now a freelancer based in San Francisco.

Brenda Himelfarb has been enamored with writing since she penned her first column, “This n’ That,” for her middle-school newspaper. A freelance journalist, Brenda enjoys researching her subject and is always anxious to find that one little “something” that brings surprise. The challenge of writing is what makes her tick; that’s why she does what she does.

Phil Lindeman never expected to fall in love with Beaver Creek. The Front Range native spent his childhood closer to home on the slopes of Breckenridge. In 2011, it all changed. He ventured over Vail Pass for his first newspaper gig and discovered the hidden side of Beaver Creek: jaw-dropping glades, meandering singletrack, après at The Dusty Boot and much, much more. He hasn't turned back since.

Account Managers HEIDI BRICKLIN | hbricklin@vaildaily.com CAROLE BUKOVICH | cbukovich@vaildaily.com ERIC BURGUND | eburgund@vaildaily.com CHRIS JACOBSON | cjacobson@vaildaily.com BETH MCKENZIE | bmckenzie@vaildaily.com Circulation Manager DAVID HAKES | dhakes@vaildaily.com Swift Communications President BOB BROWN | rbrown@swiftcom.com Colorado Mountain News Media GM JIM MORGAN | jmorgan@cmnm.org Vail Daily Publisher DON ROGERS | drogers@vaildaily.com Colorado Mountain News Media Production Director BILL WALKER | bwalker@cmnm.org Colorado Mountain News Media sets high standards to ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable manner. Printed in Denver, Colorado by Publication Printers on recycled fibers containing 10% post consumer waste, with inks containing a blend of soy base. Our printer is a certified member of the Forestry Stewardship Council, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and additionally meets or exceeds all federal Resource Conservation Recovery Act standards. When you are finished with this issue, please pass it on to a friend or recycle it. We can have a better world if we choose it together. The Vail Daily is a wholly owned subsidiary of Colorado Mountain News Media 200 Lindbergh Drive | P.O. Box 1500 Gypsum, Colorado 81637 p. 970.328.6333 f. 970.328.6409 Copyright ©2014 Colorado Mountain News Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited.

BEAVER CREEK MAGAZINE ✧ 2 015 A N N UA L

QUALITY MOUNTAIN DINING

Talons™ Restaurant: Savor a European-inspired menu and full bar at our newest on-mountain dining location.

Broken Arrow™ Restaurant: Fresh and wholesome breakfast, lunch and après in Arrowhead Village.

Spruce Saddle™ Restaurant: Enjoy hearty soups, fresh salads, pizza, burgers and more at this mid-mountain favorite.

Mamie’s™ Mountain Grill: Grill your own menu items at our new umbrella bar at the top of the Bachelor Gulch Express Lift.

b e av e r c r e e k . c o m

Editor's Letter WORLD CLASS, WORLD CHAMPION

Plan Your Luxury Vacation With Us Today Leave The Details To Us. When you stay with Luxury Home Rentals, service is our specialty. All of our guests receive their own personal Vacation Consultant to help plan before, during and after their vacation.

Three BC Perks 1

Ringing in summer with Blues, Brews and BBQ, and ringing it out with Oktoberfest.

Date night with dinner and a show at the Vilar Performing Arts Center.

It’s all eyes on Beaver Creek this year. Switzerland, Italy, Austria, France and the rest of the world will be setting up shop in our backyard not once but twice, first for Birds of Prey and then with the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. It’s a big deal — thousands of racers, crew members, media personnel, volunteers and spectators will overtake the valley. They’ll be here for a couple of weeks, finding every available nook and cranny to explore. And then they’ll leave — but we’ll still be here, doing what we do: eating, drinking, cavorting. The resort shines in the limelight, but that’s not what makes it special. Beaver Creek is what it is: a private slice of Rocky Mountain paradise with all the trimmings. Scrumptious dining, daily snowmaking, intuitive service, events galore — the resort is packed with opportunities to play, to be pampered and to conquer. Set against the backdrop of pristine terrain and wide-open spaces, there’s really nothing better.

Welcome to Beaver Creek,

Wren Bova

editor

Quiet days trekking around McCoy Park, soaking up the views.

866.628.0574 eastwestluxuryhomerentals.com

BEAVER CREEK MAGAZINE ✧ 2 015 A N N UA L

DOMINIQUE TAYLOR

Office 970.926.8462, Mobile 970.376.2560 0105 Edwards Village Blvd. • Bldg. D, Suite 206 P.O. Box 369 • Edwards, CO 81632-0369 laureenhopkins.com

New & Noteworthy Choices, choices The centerpiece of the Beaver Creek Village base area — the busiest part of the mountain — is a new combination chairlift/ gondola that replaces the Centennial Express Chairlift. The only one of its kind anywhere in the region, skiers and snowboarders will be able to choose to either keep their boards attached to their feet to ride a six-passenger chair or to walk with their gear onto a 10-passenger gondola cabin. The combo lift can carry as many as 3,400 people up the mountain per hour and will be a natural way to divide up the crowd and various ability levels. Hardier, more experienced skiers looking to get to terrain fast can opt for the chairlift while beginners, families and individuals more comfortable walking into and out of a gondola cabin can do so at their leisure. Chairs and gondola cabins alternate on the lift cable and are accessed via separate lines.

CA NDY CABIN

Much like Hansel and Gretel come across the sweetly irresistible dwelling in the woods, the Beaver Creek Candy Cabin offers an oasis to delight kids of all ages and assuage their sweet tooths … minus the evil witch, of course. Set up like an old-fashioned candy store, bulk bins are filled high with every size, shape, color and variety of candy imaginable, as well as an array of chocolate treats and classic Pepsi beverages. Small and big kids alike can use a little blood sugar boost from time to time on the mountain. The Candy Cabin is located at the top of Strawberry Park Express and Upper Beaver Creek Mountain Express chairlifts and is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily in the winter.

MORE SNOW!

B K

jus and Burton opened shops in Beaver Creek this year. Both are filled with functional and fashionable clothes for mountain play.

BEAVER CREEK MAGAZINE ✧ 2 015 A N N UA L

eaver Creek’s commitment to providing a high-quality snow surface continues this winter, thanks to an investment in a snowmaking refresh program which will sprinkle white gold (also known as fresh snow) on Gold Dust trail. The intermediate trail that serves as one of the resort’s main arteries down to the base area will receive fresh snow multiple nights a week (meaning freshies every day!) on top of fresh corduroy, thanks to 24 new fully-automated snow guns added to Beaver Creek’s state-ofthe-art snowmaking system, which encompasses 650 acres across the mountain.

Welcome to the World They're already Olympians and World Cup winners, but every other year, the best ski racers on Earth compete for the most illustrious of titles: World Champion. It has been a decade and a half since the World Alpine Ski Championships have been on U.S. snow, and American fans have never had a home team to cheer for with as great of chances of earning a spot atop that podium as the current U.S. Ski Team roster. Taking place at Beaver Creek Feb. 2-15, the 2015 World Alpine Ski Championships races are poised to be the biggest event in the history of the sport for the U.S. The races will air live on television both here and in Europe, where the time difference will make the action happen in prime time. The eyes of the world will be on Beaver Creek (where the races occur) and Vail (where the awards ceremonies will follow), and American racers are depending on fans to pack in the new stadium at the finish line. Here's your chance to be a part of history!

JACK AFFLECK / VAIL RESORTS

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SING-ALONG December 21 4pm-6pm Complimentary

TREE LIGHTING November 29th 4pm- 6pm Complimentary

CHRISTMAS DINNER Buffalos Holiday Buffet & Spago Holiday Dinner

THANKSGIVING DINNER at Spago & Buffalos

NEW YEAR’S CELEBRATIONS Spago two seating’s available Bachelors Lounge Party 8pm- 1am Fire and Ice Show at Ash 9pm-1am

TO LAST A LIFETIME

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VIEW FROM THE TOP

MOUNTAIN Life

HOOFIN’ IT Bold exploration in Beaver Creek begins with adventure rides and destination dining

SEAN BOGGS / VAIL RESORTS

2 015 A N N UA L ✧ BEAVER CREEK MAGAZINE

MOUNTAIN

ADVENTURE

BEAVER CREEK WAS BUILT ON

the wide-open space of the West, where bold homesteaders laid roots and wild horses roamed freely. Decades later, the area still attracts an adventurous spirit — be it on foot, skis or steed. The Beaver Creek Stables are a staple on the mountain, located near the top of the Buckaroo Gondola. The stables host Adventure Rides during the summer months, offering visitors and locals a chance to settle in via saddle.

BEAVER CREEK MAGAZINE ✧ 2 015 A N N UA L

Keddie Estes, manager of the stables, says horseback adventures give anyone the ability to explore the beauty of a beaten path through the woods. The almost-two-hour ride up to Beaver Lake brings riders to a high-elevation destination that few folks make on foot. “We take up fishing gear so you can do some catchand-release fishing,” says Estes. “Or you can go for a hike, and a lot of people take books up and just relax.” The stables also have a

longer picnic ride that leaves late morning and returns in the early afternoon. This adventure includes lunch, which is enjoyed at the top of the mountain in a meadow filled with wildflowers. “We have a picnic at the top, and then give people a chance to look around and enjoy the views,” explains Estes, “and then we come back down.” Three hours on a horse can often mean a bit of saddle soreness, but getting off mid-way for a bit

of stretching really helps keep leg and back muscles limber. Stretch on your own at the lake or in the meadow, or check out the Horseback Yoga — a ride up to an outdoor yoga session, followed by a ride back — offered by the stables on Sunday evenings in the summer. One-hour and two-hour touring rides are available, and lessons are an option as well. Horse rides are for all guests ages seven and older, and pony rides are offered for younger wranglers.

JACK AFFLECK / VAIL RESORTS

Embrace adventure — WITH A DASH OF DECADENCE

Walk & Wine

The Beaver Creek Wine & Sprits Festival in August brings guests on a journey from trail to table. A guided hike led by the Beaver Creek Hiking Center winds up, around and down to the base of the mountain, where a local chef hosts a truly local culinary experience.

Hike, Wine & Dine

Every September, the annual fundraiser for Jack’s Place and Shaw Regional Cancer Center capitalizes on the gold rush of fall. Restaurants offer gourmet snacks along the way.

Trek to Zach’s

Zach’s Cabin sits in the trees above Bachelor Gulch, and is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday during the winter season. Although most guests opt to arrive by snow cat-drawn sleigh, snowshoeing to the cabin by moonlight is the way the locals do it.

Snowshoe & Gourmet Lunch

Beaver Creek FOOD & WINE Weekend in January hosts a morning snowshoe adventure, followed by a multi-course lunch with wine pairings. All snowshoe equipment and foot passenger lift access is provided with a ticket to the event.

CHRIS MCLENNAN / VAIL RESORTS, ANTHONY THORNTON

2 015 A N N UA L ✧ BEAVER CREEK MAGAZINE

MOUNTAIN

ADVENTURE

GOURMET LUNCH Serving mountain gourmet fare in the tradition of Beano's and Zach's Cabins, SaddleRidge offers fine-dining lunch to the public. Ski in to the Western showpiece, don plush slippers and relax with delicious food. Reservations are required; lunch service begins December 20, snow conditions pending. 970.754.5456.

DESTINATION DINING Modern horseback rides remind guests of how rustic Beaver Creek once was, especially when they end at the site of an original homesteader. The Sunset Ride to Beano’s Cabin takes guests up to the base of Grouse Mountain, where the original settler, Frank Bienkowski, hung his hat. Don’t miss the small building (the original trapper’s cabin), that sits in the shadow of the large log structure of Beano’s — the must-go of local mountain dining. Chef Bill Greenwood has crafted a beautiful vegetable garden next to the homesteader hut. In the summer, this plot of produce is Greenwood’s muse, providing month after month of seasonal varieties. The dusk-drawn adventure takes riders from the stables on a traverse across Beaver Creek on trails through groves of quaking aspen trees. The horseback ride takes about an hour, and

BEAVER CREEK MAGAZINE ✧ 2 015 A N N UA L

deposits you right at the cabin's front entrance. (During the winter months, arrive via sleigh ride.) The high-beamed space is warmed by an open kitchen, illuminated by its own wood stove and the soft light that shines through floor-to-ceiling windows. Keep your gaze through the glass, and you’re likely

to see deer, foxes and maybe even a porcupine. Garden-inspired cuisine comes through in every dish, with most courses adorned with beautifully delicate, edible flowers. While the five-course offering will inevitably evolve and change throughout each season, specialties with indigenous

In the summer months, Beano's chef Bill Greenwood grows some of the restaurant's produce on site.

ingredients such as elk, boar and lamb, locally foraged mushrooms and pine-smoked flavor accents always make their way to the plate. – KIM FULLER

ANTHONY THORNTON

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H OWA R D H E A D.C O M

9 C O LO R A D O LO C AT I O N S

MOUNTAIN

CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS

IT’S A KID’S WORLD WHY FAMILIES LOVE BEAVER CREEK

CONSIDERING THAT FAMILIES

are the No. 1 target demographic for most resorts, it’s no surprise that each offers a wide variety of kid-centered activities and entertainment. But Beaver Creek blows them all away with one powerful huff from Old Man Winter or with the flap of a giant butterfly wing.

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During Winterfest, Beaver Creek Plaza transforms into a magical world of ice sculptures, sparkling lights and festivity ruled by costumed characters — Bearogon the polar bear, Old Man Winter, Snow Princess, Prince Chestnut — who wander through the village befriending children. At Springfest, it’s Mother Nature and her crew surrounded by giant flowers, caterpillars and butterflies. Then there’s Buckaroo Bonanza Bunch — Buckaroo Bob, Jackrabbit Joe and J.B. Tucker — who tell stories all winter and perform on the Plaza throughout the summer. “At Beaver Creek, the families that come from all over the world and the local kids become a community.

What we’ve created is something that consistently makes people feel good and engaged as a family,” says Brian Hall, the mastermind behind Beaver Creek Children’s Theatre Company, Winterfest and Springfest and the Buckaroo Bonanza Bunch, which he launched at Beaver Creek 29 years ago. The magic Hall and his crew has created for children and families at Beaver Creek can’t, as he points out, be measured on a spreadsheet, but the returning families and their lasting sentimentality for the performances is resounding evidence of their success. “I had a mom with her 4-year-old in the Children’s Theatre this summer. She said, ‘When I was 5, I used

to come to your shows. I sat here and did this same thing.’ That to me is an incredible testament. How can you beat that? You’re working generations,” Hall says. Keep an eye out for the Buckaroo Bonanza Bunch on the hill and join them for free Story Time every Tuesday and Sunday at 2:15 p.m. at the top of the Buckaroo Express Gondola during the ski season. Beaver Creek Children’s Theatre also performs every weekend and several days a week on the Plaza during the afternoon all summer. During the entire winter, however, not a day goes by that Beaver Creek doesn’t have something special on tap for families. Oh, and they’re all free.

DANIEL MILCHEV / VAIL RESORTS

MOUNTAIN

CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS

Standup paddle boarding, playing in one of the resort's two interactive fountains and rock climbing (preceding page) are all favorite activities at the Kids Day Camp.

Free daily winter family programs Cocoa & Corduroy Pairing what are likely two of your kid’s favorite things while skiing, you can get free hot cocoa and then make turns down freshly groomed runs at 9:30 a.m. every morning at the top of Centennial Combination Lift. Tours for intermediate to advanced Skiers and Snowboarders If you’re new to the area, you’ll be the first to benefit from these free, two-hour tours of the mountain leaving at 11 a.m. daily from the top of Centennial Combination Lift.

You don’t have to be a kid to love hot, freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Obviously. At 3 p.m. every day — both winter and summer — a team of chefs wanders around the base area handing out free cookies fresh out of the oven.

BEAVER CREEK MAGAZINE ✧ 2 015 A N N UA L

Winter weekly programs Mondays Meet at the top of Cinch Express lift at 1:30 p.m. for a free 45-minute tour with a Forest Service ranger or meet at the top of Buckaroo Gondola at 2:30 p.m. to form a parade down the bunny hill behind Beaver Creek doggie mascot Ripperoo. Tuesdays Don’t forget — Story Time with the Bonanza Bunch at the top of Buckaroo Gondola at 2:15 p.m. Also, take a break from skiing on a free snowshoe tour (shoes provided!) from 4 to 5:30 p.m. from Beaver Creek Nordic Sports Center. It finishes with hot cocoa and cookies. Wednesdays and Saturdays It’s the big chance for aspiring freestylers — young skiers and snowboarders — to practice and display their rail skills in the free Rail Jam in front of Children's Ski & Snowboard School at 4 p.m. An instructor will supervise and offer tips.

Thursdays Thursday Night Lights is a glow stick ski-down set to music with a grand fireworks finale! Open to intermediate and above level skiers and riders. For information, times and registration, call or visit Children’s Ski & Snowboard School at 970.754.5464. Fridays Win a prize at the #FotoFriday scavenger hunt! Look for what you need to photograph at beavercreek.com/fotofriday, take a bunch of shots, then send your favorite to bcfotofriday@gmail.com. From 4 to 5 p.m. you can pick up your prize and a print of your shot at the photo booth next to Beaver Creek Sports. Saturdays The Plaza turns into a fullblown carnival with free face painting, caricature drawings, friendly games and competitions — prizes and all — from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sundays Enjoy the music of the decades as you and your family dance and skate around the ice rink to tunes from the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s for American Jukebox Skate Night.

Summer family activities

On Tuesday evenings at 8:30 in July and August, the enormous, 16-foot screen rolls down for the free Movies Under the Stars in Centennial behind the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek. The resort runs Kids Day Camp for children from ages 5 to 13 years old. It’s a day of adventure featuring a variety of activities including whitewater rafting, rock climbing, swimming, face painting, arts and crafts, panning for gold and exploring the Matawin Teepee Village. For families, there are more than two dozen miles of hiking trails to explore on Beaver Creek Mountain, fly fishing, Jeep tours, horseback riding, wagon rides, scenic chairlift rides or dinner at Beano’s Cabin. The base area becomes a mini amusement park with a bungee trampoline, mini golf and a climbing wall. The Beaver Creek Music Experience series is a six-week schedule of free concerts every Wednesday evening starting on the first Wednesday after July 4. All shows start at 6 p.m. and offer a new venue and genre each week. – BY SHAUNA FARNELL

DANIEL MILCHEV / VAIL RESORTS

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RACE CREW

GOING FOR THE GOLDEN STANDARD IF YOU’RE A FAN OF SKI RACING, THEN

being out on the course when the 2015 Alpine World Ski Championships are underway is like being courtside at the NBA Championships for basketball fans. You want to be where you can hear the whooshing sound of the world’s best skiers careening down the icy slope in front of you, and you want to feel the electric tension of an enthused crowd. You don’t just want to see the speed and grace and beauty of it all from a flat-screen television inside your warm-comfy home; no, you want to experience it up close and in person, despite the toe-numbing cold or the length of time you’ll have to wait

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Responsible for every inch of the course as well as the safety of the competitors, Beaver Creek’s race crews are dedicated to making the Birds of Prey and Raptor courses the best in the world

before your personal hero flies past. This motivation to be a part of the action also drives Beaver Creek’s race crews to get up long before sunrise and to embrace a world-class work ethic while dedicating themselves to a job that often involves long hours outdoors in grueling weather conditions and on difficult terrain. Like the athletes who have trained themselves to compete at the highest level, those who work with Beaver Creek’s race department —including race crew members, race patrol and volunteers — have developed their skills through years of dedication and preparation to meet the world’s best athletes on their home turf for 2015.

FRONT AND CENTER: THE BEAVER CREEK RACE DEPARTMENT Beaver Creek’s core race crew consists of around 25 members led by Ellen Galbraith, Beaver Creek’s Manager of Racing and Chief of Course for Raptor, the women’s venue for the 2015 Alpine World Ski Championships. For the 2015 events, Beaver Creek’s race crew will double in size as workers come and join them from other U.S. and foreign ski areas to build, protect and maintain the men’s Birds of Prey and women’s Raptor courses to World Cup standards. The Beaver Creek Race Department is a highly connected team of on-mountain race crew personnel,

COURTESY TALON CREW

including snow makers and equipment operators, and they’re responsible for every aspect of the course, from the start line to the finish line. In order to create protection systems for ski racers on the Birds of Prey and Raptor courses, race crews must haul and install approximately 25 miles of netting, which is designed to slow racers down, offer protection from obstacles, and lessen impacts in the event of a crash. While mechanical systems are used whenever possible to help crews carry loads that are as awkward as they are heavy, physical labor is often required to access steep and varied terrain, where the netting gets anchored and installed. Beaver Creek race manager Ellen Galbraith grew up ski racing in Alaska, and she has been involved in ski racing in a variety of roles from coaching to course inspecting to operating the equipment that shapes the courses. As parabolic ski technology transformed courses and ski racing techniques at the turn of the century, new course protection systems were developed to accommodate course changes and speeds, and Galbraith credits her race crew work at the 2002 Olympics, along with 2015 men’s Chief of Course Ron Rupert, as instrumental in helping her learn new skills during the sport’s more recent evolution. Galbraith began working as a member of Beaver Creek’s race crew in 2003, and in 2011, she accepted the lead position in her department. Since then, she’s been looking forward to building an unrivaled 2015 course that will be remembered for years to come by skiers and spectators alike. Despite the depth and variety of experience Galbraith brings to her role at Beaver Creek, her proudest accomplishment to date is being a part of a team that’s poised and ready to perform at the highest level possible for 2015. “I knew that gearing up for 2015 would be a lot about having the right team in place, and I’m completely confident in this crew,” says Galbraith, “We’re personally invested in what we do, and the past several years have been about building our experience and building the relationships that will make this event a success.” While Galbraith is confident that

Beaver Creek’s race crew is more than prepared to face the challenges and logistics of this international event, huge in its scope and size, many other ski professionals and volunteers have also been training for this moment in time, too, and when they join Galbraith’s team for 2015, expect the result to be turbocharged.

incur expenses, such as plane tickets and lodging costs, in order to be a part of this 100-percent volunteer-led support crew, which has a long history of involvement in Beaver Creek’s annual Birds of Prey men’s World Cup event. When the Talon Crew, organized by the VVF, joins members of Beaver Creek's race department, teamwork

SHE’S BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO BUILDING AN UNRIVALED 2015 COURSE THAT WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR YEARS TO COME BY SKIERS AND SPECTATORS ALIKE.

Beaver Creek race manager Ellen Galbraith grew up ski racing in Alaska.

BEYOND FLUFF AND BUFF: THE TALON CREW While hard physical work and a demanding schedule might seem beyond what most people would want to embrace in the process of loving a sport, the 700-plus people on Beaver Creek’s 2015 Talon Crew will volunteer their time, talent, and energy without any expectation of monetary reward. In fact, many of them will actually

takes on a whole new meaning. With a passion for ski racing as the common language, volunteer and paid race crews come together with a shared mission to create the best course that any World Cup crowd has ever seen. And that’s no small mission. While the Talon Crew assists Beaver Creek’s race crew in many aspects of course preparation, their primary role involves maintaining the snow surface. On some days, they might only have to do a bit of fluff and buff to keep the surface in top shape, but on most days, the Talon Crew members are out there on the course raking, shoveling, digging, and moving snow to ensure that each skier gets a fair chance at racing on the best surface possible. “The excitement of being in the middle of the action and the gift of camaraderie are the things that keep us coming back year after year,” says Talon Crew Communications

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Members of the Race Patrol are trained to be first responders if anything goes wrong. But members of the Talon Crew help make sure that doesn't happen.

Director Steve Prawdzik. “And the reward often comes after an event with the realization that we took on a challenging job and came out with a personal best, knowing that we performed at a higher level than maybe we even thought possible.” Enthusiasm for volunteering in this way is unheard of at most other World Cup venues, and the Talon Crew members know that they’ve got something special going on. Their pride and joy in doing a job well done is infectious, and as Prawdzik says, it’s difficult to avoid being part of such a positive culture when you live in a valley where ski racing is part of a rich local heritage. READY RESPONDERS: THE BEAVER CREEK RACE PATROL When race day arrives, there’s another highly respected crew that the racers out on the course greatly appreciate but never hope to need: Beaver Creek’s Race Patrol. The ski patrollers on this crew have honed their skills as emergency medical responders, and when anything goes wrong on the course, they’re prepared to be the first on scene. But long before race day, they’ve developed medical logistics plans that include doctors, communications, and emergency transportation, which can range from skis and sleds to ambulances and even helicopters, if needed. Beaver Creek’s Race Patrol works alongside other on-mountain crews to build and protect the race course, and when racing is in session, patrollers

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are strategically positioned throughout the course to be within sight of racers at all times. Race patrollers are also responsible for securing the course perimeter and for maintaining spectator areas outside of the course. Race Patrol Supervisor Tyler Chapman likens the level of ski athlete competing in 2015 to that of basketball star LeBron James or baseball legend Derek Jeter. While ski racing might not receive as much national media attention as other sports, the local population of race crews, volunteers and patrollers take great pride supporting these elite athletes who are competing at the top of their game. “We’re proud of the ski racing tradition at Beaver Creek, and we love what we do to support it,” says Chapman. “While we thrive on the opportunity to watch the best skiers in the world race this course, we also do for them what we’re trained to do for anyone who is injured on this mountain.” Chapman has been a race patroller for 13 of his 15 years working with Beaver Creek Ski Patrol, and he was

one of the first patrollers on scene when Norwegian skier Aksel Lund Svindal suffered a horrific crash on the Birds of Prey course in 2007. When the skier’s dad came up and gave Chapman a hug the following year, thanking him with tears in his eyes for taking care of his son, Chapman felt completely moved and inspired by his gratitude, even though he didn’t expect it. “Being thanked isn’t what I was thinking about in the moments following the crash. I responded and did what I was trained to do,” he says. When you’re trained to be the best in the world at what you do, like Chapman and the others on Beaver Creek’s race crews, it’s not surprising that something magical happens when the world’s best athletes show up and also do what they’re trained to do best. And long after those athletes return home, a golden standard remains to be experienced by locals and visitors alike, whether it’s their first day ever on the mountain or their hundredth day out this season. - BY TRACI J. MACNAMARA

COURTESY TALON CREW

LIFE IN THE VILLAGE

INSIDER

THE ATHLETE’S APRÈS Treat yourself to afternoon delights in Beaver Creek

COURTESY THE RITZ-CARLTON, BACHELOR GULCH

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SPAS

SPEND A DAY (OR SEVERAL)

playing in the Colorado mountains, and your body will be begging for some TLC. Athletes know how post-activity rest and hydration is even more vital than a libation, so head to a spa for some herbal tea and a rejuvenating treatment. FIX YOUR FEET Even the most plush, heated ski boots can leave feet feeling cramped, and solid treads on hiking boots don’t stop hot spots from bubbling into blisters. After a full day on your feet, plan a visit to Spa Anjali at the Westin Riverfront in Avon for a Matterhorn Foot Massage. Slip into a cozy robe and allow some extra time to spend in Anjali’s recently renovated sanctuary, or in one of the outdoor hot tubs, before you begin the treatment. It’s designed to restore sore and tired feet — a perfect post-hike or après-ski treat. Feet are first wrapped and cleansed, then exfoliated with an invigorating foot scrub. A hydrating cream is applied for a final foot rub, and the experience is completed with a head, neck and shoulder massage. MASSAGE YOUR MUSCLES There’s no better place for your muscles to be after moving and shaking than Aqua Sanitas at Allegria Spa in the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek. Modeled after ancient Roman baths, the “healing waters” host a self-guided water ritual for every guest. The five-step process takes you through thermal pools and into a steam room, and then wraps

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Allegria massage therapists are versed in a variety of massage styles. Arrive early in order to use the Aqua Sanitas water sanctuary.

up in an aromatherapyinfused sanctuary. The water treatment is available to all who use the spa, so book a massage to get all the work out of your muscles. The Thai Fusion massage is meant to promote overall wellness, combining techniques from the East and the West. The 105-minute service starts with a traditional Thai massage, performed on a futon mat, and includes a Thai basil foot scrub. Since you wear loose clothing for this portion, the therapist is able to access deeper stretching, creating

COURTESY ALLEGRIA SPA

$65 Session • Where the Local’s Go 9 505 S. Main St. Station, Breckenridge 970.547.0900

8 25 Hurd Lane Avon, CO 970.748.1600

Holiday Inn West Vail, CO 970.476.7223

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SPAS

Treatment rooms at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch are warm and quiet. The grotto (pictured on page 35) is a beautiful place to unwind.

HIT THE MOUNTAIN A LITTLE TOO HARD? SpaStruck's Athlete’s Relief Sports Body Full Massage is designed to reduce your body's lactic acids and toxins by employing muscle-flushing strokes and light stretching techniques.

movement through pressure from the therapist’s hands and the feet. The treatment moves up onto a table for the second half, and includes a Swedish, sports or deep tissue massage focusing on pressure points, highlighted with citrus essential oils. REPLENISH YOUR SKIN If your skin is exposed here, summer or winter, you better believe it’s getting lots of golden kisses from the sun. While the glow feels so good, be sure to protect your skin and to replenish it with proper cleansing and hydration. The 90-minute Platinum Restore Facial with Shirodhara, offered at the Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch uses Colorado-based products designed to give skin a luscious radiance. The treatment includes deep cleansing and an anti-aging peel. While

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moisture moves back into the skin, a soothing Ayurvedic Shirodhara scalp massage gives hair the oil-based hydration it’s craving. Complete your spa experience in the men’s, women’s or coed rock-lined grottos, featuring a steam, sauna, and hot and cold plunge area. - BY KIM FULLER

The Westin Riverfront Resort commands beautiful views, especially from the outdoor saline pool.

COURTESY WESTIN RIVERFRONT RESORT & SPA

WAKE • PLAY • REVIVE • APRÉS • REPEAT Start your day with a hearty breakfast at The Terrace or in the comfort of your full-service condo. Hit the slopes with rentals from Charter Sports or stay and play in the pool, hot tubs or game room. Treat yourself at Spa Struck or revitalize at the fitness center. Top off the day with après-ski and dinner at Black Diamond Bistro.

Welcome to The Charter at Beaver Creek The Black Diamond Bistro features contemporary American fare in a relaxed setting with sweeping mountain views. Join us in the dining room or at the bar to for a quick meal before a Vilar Center performance or to watch the big game. Enjoy 10% off your entire bill at The Terrace or Black Diamond Bistro when you mention this ad. 120 Offerson Road | Beaver Creek CO 81620 | 970-949-6660 | www.thecharter.com

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VENUES

FIRE PIT ON THE PLAZA

THE LITTLE THINGS FROM PATIOS AND PARKS TO A WORLD-CLASS STAGE, BEAVER CREEK HAS MANY ONE-OF-A-KIND VENUES THAT HELP MAKE IT SPECIAL.

IT SOUNDS A TAD BASIC,

but Beaver Creek is much more than a ski hill. Think on it: Assuming Beaver Creek is just a collection of spider-webbed trails is like saying the Rocky Mountains are just a mountain range, or the ocean is just a sprawling body of water. You get the gist, but leaving out the

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juicy details hardly does justice to the little things. And Beaver Creek is teeming with little things, particularly for guests and locals who thrive on live entertainment. Here’s a look at the finest venues BC has to offer, from the village to the mountain and back. After all, this is more than a ski hill — it’s Beaver Creek.

FIRE PITS The Park Hyatt Beaver Creek started it all with its slopeside fire pits and s’mores traditions. Now, fire pits dot the Plaza, too, providing warm spots and cushy seats to anybody who wants to kick back and rest a while. VILAR PERFORMING ARTS CENTER With 538 seats, the Vilar Performing Arts Center in the heart of Beaver Creek village is much smaller than Red Rocks Amphitheater or even the nearby State Bridge venue on the banks of the Colorado River. But size has little to do with the Vilar’s

cultural cache: Alison Krauss, Ringo Starr, Brian Regan and Robin Williams all have held sway over packed houses, along with regional acts like Denver’s The Motet and Boulder’s Dark Star Orchestra. It’s rare to feel disconnected from performers when the audience is never more than 18 rows back and treated to a lush lobby, intimate stage and cozy, sound-friendly concert hall. The atmosphere is a tantalizing draw for the type of world-class entertainment the resort does so well, from elite ballet dancers with the Vail International Dance Festival

JESSE STARR / VAIL RESORTS

THE COVERED BRIDGE AND ESCALATORS Yes, those are escalators leading from a cobbled sidewalk to the base of a World Cup mountain. And yes, you’ll often find Helmut Fricker near the first set, dressed in lederhosen to serenade passersby as they walk between the escalators and neighboring covered bridge. It’s a modest home for the traditional German yodeler/alpenhorn player, yes, but it’s home nonetheless. The longtime local goes out of his way to greet visitors with a tune and a bellowing chuckle, not to mention a yarn about his childhood in WWII-era Europe. Welcome home.

craving tree lines, just point your skis down Stickline.) And much like the Park Hyatt, Broken Arrow at the base of Arrowhead is a must for après faithful. The patio faces the crowd-free slopes of Golden Bear to the south and the towering, floor-to-ceiling windows of the restaurant dining room to the south. The entertainment is stellar — just about every member from local legends The Laughing Bones has played there over the years — and the patio has fast become a go-to hangout for young families. And why not? Kids have room to roam, parents have room to relax and both are close enough — yet alluringly secluded — to return Sunday after Sunday after Sunday.

BROKEN ARROW PATIO Arrowhead is arguably Beaver Creek’s diamond in the rough for slopeside distractions. (If you’re

MAMIE'S MOUNTAIN GRILL It’s unlike any backyard barbecue you’ve ever had. From the south-facing deck

to full-scale versions of touring Broadway shows like "Mama Mia!"

MAMIE'S MOUNTAIN GRILL

MCCOY PARK

at Mamie’s Mountain Grill, a small on-mountain lunch spot at the top of Bachelor Gulch Express, hungry skiers get the old-school treatment with views of McCoy Park and the surrounding aspen stands.

The pared-down menu is of the grill-your-own variety — handmade Angus burgers, Euro hot dogs — and at the recently remodeled Umbrella Bar, an afternoon drink tends to easily lead into several hours of chatting and mingling. On a pristine, bluebird day, there’s no better hideaway this side of Belle’s Camp at Blue Sky Basin. MCCOY PARK The 20-mile trail system at McCoy Park isn’t a traditional venue, but if you prefer to let Mother Nature take center stage, it’s astounding. The park extends from the top of Strawberry Park into the woods, meadows and rolling hills just south of Beaver Creek, with more than a dozen trails for any ability level. TheNordic Sports Center near the base of Strawberry Park Express is loaded with gear to rent or buy.

CHRIS MCLENNAN / VAIL RESORTS, JACK AFFLECK / VAIL RESORTS

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VENUES

TALONS RESTAURANT Formerly known as Red Tail Camp, the year-old Talons Restaurant is the rally point for Beaver Creek’s most adventurous powder hounds. Part of the appeal is the revamped kitchen — look for a new Europeaninspired menu, plus smokehouse meats to please the Red Tail faithful — but for regulars and newcomers alike, the real appeal is location. It’s found at the shared base of Larskpur Bowl, Grouse Mountain and the Birds of Prey downhill course, placing it smack-dab in the middle of double-diamond bumps and World Cup racing action. That’s the kind of entertainment even touring troubadours can’t match. THE WEDDING DECK Found between Spruce Saddle Restaurant and the entrance to Rose Bowl, the wedding deck is Beaver Creek’s answer to Vail’s collection of consistently popular — and consistently crowded — on-mountain decks. And what an answer it is. The wedding deck is one of only a half-dozen at Beaver Creek, but between nonexistent crowds and gorgeous views of the Gore Range, it’s the pictureperfect setting for a beer and a brat with buddies — or for an actual wedding.

Stickline is an old-school deck with little more than a few wooden benches and tables. It’s the kind of deck you only seek out in a certain mood, but if you’re in that mood, you won’t be disappointed.

TALONS RESTAURANT

CREEKSIDE PARK Here’s a secret: the quieter side of Beaver Creek doesn’t hibernate come winter. Take Creekside Park, the small, secluded playground nestled along the resort’s titular creek. Thanks in large part to a coveted location — it’s minutes from The Pines, The Charter, the Park Hyatt and just about every lodge in the village — the park is home to live concerts and trail race finishes in the summer. Snowpack cuts back on wintertime events, but location alone makes it a quick-and-simple for children, parents and pets. – BY PHIL LINDEMAN

THE WEDDING DECK

THE "STICKLINE DECK" Ah, the “Stickline deck.” In lieu of an official moniker, the deck at the very top of Stickline run (the tree-lined parallel to Harrier) is known by dozens of names, most of which pay homage to the trails and hidden stashes found a few turns from the unadorned patio. It’s an old-school tactic, just as

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JACK AFFLECK / VAIL RESORTS, HARPER POINT PHOTOGRAPHY

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DINING

CHEFS ABROAD Sometimes the world comes to Beaver Creek, and sometimes Beaver Creek goes to the world WITH VAIL AND BEAVER

Creek hosting the 2015 FIS World Championships, it seems as if the eyes of the world will be firmly fixed on the Vail Valley. In the culinary world, however, the chefs who live and work in our idyllic home have been spreading the good word about Colorado and its many charms through competitions, festivals and events for many years. These chefs, invited to journey to far-off destinations to share the flavors of Colorado, are ambassadors for the life and lifestyle of the valley, creating a flavor profile that is unique to the area. THE NATIVE SON Daniel Joly, chef and owner of Mirabelle, is no stranger to both participating in and

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judging culinary festivals and competitions around the world. Joly travels in the off-season, using the time to stay involved in the culinary field through festivals, charity events, wine dinners and judging competitions in Europe. “It’s fun to see and meet new people,” he says. “In the restaurant, I mostly stay in my kitchen and make sure that our guests have a great experience.” In October, the Belgianborn Joly was a judge for the semi-finals of the 48th Annual Taittinger Champagne Culinary Challenge in Belgium and, in November, he was chosen to travel to Paris to judge the final round of competition. “I was the only American

chef that was part of the judging panel; it was a great honor,” Joly explains. “Though I was told I speak French with an American accent!” He’s currently lobbying the organizers of this prestigious competition to host the semi-finals in the United States. “It’s of great satisfaction for a chef to take part in a culinary challenge or event,” Joly says. “I believe that every action gets a reaction; it’s a benefit to the whole community for chefs to get out and about.” Joly has lived and worked in Beaver Creek since 1991 and, though he enjoys traveling to various events around the world as a judge or participant, Beaver Creek is now decidedly home.

Daniel Joly, pictured above with Mirabelle team members, is a Belgian master chef, deftly creating such dishes as the seafood trio.

“I feel good here,” Joly explains. “I sleep great in my bed and am so happy when I wake up and drink my coffee and see the Colorado blue sky. “Sometimes, because of my European accent, people ask me where my home is,” he continues. “They do not realize that people in Beaver Creek come from the four corners of the world to make a world-class resort.”

ANTHONY THORNTON & DOMINIQUE TAYLOR

THE RELUCTANT COWBOY Chef Paul Wade has had the opportunity to represent Colorado in the culinary world for the past 20 years, working in both Beaver Creek and Aspen. From New York to Australia to Italy, he’s met a lot of people that have a recurring idea of what “Colorado” is supposed to look like. “You meet a mix of people around the world, and you always get a reaction when they learn that you just flew in from Colorado,” Wade explains. “Some think you should be dressed as a cowboy.” Of course, not everyone thinks that Colorado is the end of the world.

I TELL THEM BEAVER CREEK AND THEY GET ALL EXCITED,” WADE SAYS. “IT REALLY IS GOD’S COUNTRY.” “Other people, they think it’s so cool. I say Colorado, and they ask whereabouts. I tell them Beaver Creek and they get all excited,” Wade says. “It really is God’s country.” Wade had his choice of paradises — he moved to Beaver Creek from

Maui. Newly married and looking for adventure, he said found it in Beaver Creek and in Colorado. Though he moved to other locations, he always found his way back to Colorado. After working at the Little Nell in Aspen, Wade

came back to the Vail Valley, launching The 10th restaurant, located on Vail Mountain. He has now taken the reins at Toscanini in Beaver Creek and also launched the new Beaver Creek Cookie and Crepe Company. But, no matter if a restaurant is serving Italian fare or French crepes, there is still a notion of what Colorado cuisine should be. “I’ve cooked at the James Beard House a number

Chef Paul Wade revamped the Toscanini menu, including dishes such as shrimp scampi with ricotta gnocchi and asparagus with fried egg.

of times,” Ward explains. “One time I did a dinner where elk was the entrée, and Jacques Pépin was the host. We were plating and he said, ‘Did you shoot that yourself?’ It’s the whole Colorado thing again. They think Ted Nugent in their mind, wearing a chef ’s hat.”

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DINING

MOUNTAINS TO MANHATTAN When a chef is invited to cook in Manhattan, at the James Beard House, no less, there are many decisions to make. For Chef David Gutowski of Grouse Mountain Grill in Beaver Creek, at least one decision was easy — at first. “I knew right away, we’re going to have everything come from here — 100 percent Colorado ingredients,” Gutowski says. “I felt like it was our job to showcase Colorado. Everyone knows lamb, but there’s so much here that I think people don’t really know.” So Gutowski decided to pack up the Olathe corn and Hotchkiss cherries and Alamosa striped bass and wild chanterelles — all of the products that he knows and loves from the farmers and purveyors with whom he has relationships. It was a bit more difficult than he planned. “It turned into a disaster for me — we had to bring everything. It was a nightmare that I created, and it was super stressful, just trying to get these four massive coolers across the country,” Gutowski says. “But it was totally worth it.” Gutowski believes that the ingredients that are found in Colorado and the people that are passionate about them really set the cuisine — and the experience — apart. “That was our whole idea for the James Beard

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House,” he says. “I didn’t make it about us, but about Colorado in general, and we had a really positive response. But, at the end of the day, we were really proud of what we served and, for someone in New York to eat this mushroom

that this guy that you know picked in the woods outside of Glenwood Springs is really cool. There’s a connection there. “ The connection between the ingredients and the dishes that are found at Grouse Mountain Grill are tighter than some Facebook relationships. Gutowski believes in letting the product speak for itself and focusing on simple presentations. Though it may seem basic, the quality of the ingredients and the passion put into them by the purveyors is evident. “We can tell you where it’s from — what the person

Chef David Gutowski's menu at Grouse Mountain Grill is filled with Colorado products, including roasted local carrots with crispy quinoa.

looks like who grew it,” Gutowski says. “Customers and guests are more savvy and more interested — they want to know where it’s from and how it was raised. It’s important to them and important to us.” Chefs from every part of the valley are competing in various events around the world and with each competition, each presentation, each bite, they’re creating new fans for this little slice of paradise.

ANTHONY THORNTON

INSIDER

E N T E R TA I N M E N T

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TAKE YOUR SEATS WELCOME TO THE VILAR: HOW A LITTLE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IN THE MOUNTAINS BECAME A HOTSPOT FOR HUGE NAMES AND INTIMATE PERFORMANCES

OH MAN, YOU SHOULD’VE SEEN

The Motet play the Vilar. Then again, you also should’ve seen Alison Krauss. Or Robin Williams. Or the full traveling version of “Mama Mia!,” straight from Broadway. Or the modern-circus troupe Cirque Mechanics, with a show named “Pedal Punk” built around custom wheeled contraptions. Or any of the thousand-plus national and international acts to take the small, intimate stage since it first welcomed dancers and musicians and comedians for the 1997-1998 ski season. But first, back to The Motet. Over the past two years, the Denver-based funk band has brought a rollicking show to the Vilar for Halloween. It’s

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dubbed the “Mixtape” series, and for October 2014, the band honed in on the year 1975 — the near-epicenter of the funk movement — with covers of everything from Parliament Funkadelic and Brecker Brothers to odd ducks like the theme song from “S.W.A.T.” And man, the sellout crowd ate up every minute of the throwback set. At just around 500 seats, the Vilar is far removed from the sprawling, mud-lined fields where The Motet plays for thousands upon thousands of fans at summer outdoor festivals. In comparison, the Vilar can feel small. It can also feel a bit too posh for a funk band, with balcony seating and wood-paneled walls and an elegant front lobby, complete with

an offset lounge for private parties. But the trappings hardly mattered, at least for The Motet crowd. Concertgoers in banana suits and “Alice in Wonderland” leggings swayed to wah-wah guitar and funk-ified bass lines, eventually hopping out of their seats to gather around the front of the main stage. And if the crowd is happy, the band is happy. Take it from Dave Watts, The Motet’s longtime drummer and musical director: As the band has evolved to play dozens of high-end venues across the country — think Brooklyn Bowl in New York City, or the cruise ship MSC Divina in Miami — the Vilar has remained one of his favorite stops.

ZACH MAHONE

“The Vilar is incredible,” Watts says. “It’s gorgeous — easily one of the best venues in the state, if not the country." A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE Shortly before The Motet played, Kris Sabel came under the stage lights to ask the pulsating audience for a minute of its time. The Vilar’s executive director does this before each performance, no matter how large or how small, ascending the small side stairs to stand alone on the suddenly vast stage. It’s been a tradition for the past 13 seasons: Sabel welcomes the crowd, goes over house rules (especially no cell phones), introduces the act and then disappears, usually to the balcony with theater director Gena Buhler. From there, the two melt back into the audience to enjoy roughly 75 performances each year, along with a slate of community shows from local theater companies and high school drama clubs. Buhler occasionally gets called away for one thing or another — she oversees the stage crew, along with programming and marketing — but Sabel tends to watch every performance from start to finish. As a lifelong addict of the arts, he knows it’s the best way to show appreciation for any performer. It’s the only way, really. “For me, it’s about supporting

From music to theater to comedy, the Vilar Center's offerings are diverse.

different artists and different types of art forms, giving people a way to experience something different for a few hours,” says Sabel, who was raised on dance and opera in the Midwest before traveling the country as a stage actor, director and manager. “It’s important for us as a culture to not let that die. Just because we can augment or download or Netflix anything we want, it’s still important for people to get out. That might sound like a lofty goal, but it’s what we believe.” It’s part of why Sabel fights tooth and nail against cell phones at the Vilar. Every venue tries to pooh-pooh bootleg footage, but he sees it as more than a contractual obligation. For him, watching a show through a cell phone is no different than watching TV from a comfy couch: It’s impersonal, and when forces of nature like The Motet or Cirque Mechanics or Russian soprano Anna Netrebko take to the Vilar stage, they deserve full attention. Then again, the Vilar occasionally feels like TV, at least in rough terms. Sabel’s programming philosophy is “a little something for everyone,” just like cable TV. Yet unlike cable TV, there’s never any filler. Big-name acts tend to draw sellout crowds and lofty ticket prices — Netrebko’s Feb. 5 performance tops out at $225

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E N T E R TA I N M E N T

per seat — but they pave the way for smaller acts, like the New Orleans jazz band The Hot Sardines. When the group made its first appearance at the Vilar this October as part of the Underground Sounds series, Buhler was blown away by its energy and enthusiasm. She tells the story of a young child who ran and danced through the aisles, gushing about his favorite band — and it was the first time he’d ever seen the Hot Sardines. “It’s a lot of long hours, but at the end of the day with an amazing show on the stage and a packed house, it’s really all worth it,” Buhler says. “You reflect on the other experiences you’ve had that made you love theater or want to try dance or anything, and I definitely see those at least a few times every season.” “There hasn’t been a performance where someone didn’t come up to me afterwards and say, ‘That’s the best performance yet,’” Sabel says. “And that’s not just blowing smoke. It means we’re doing something right.”

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STAY FOR THE SEASON The Vilar’s knack for drawing top performers continues this season. After wowing crowds in fall, Cirque Mechanics returns with the “Pedal Punk” show for a block of performances between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Chris Lashua, the company founder and artistic director, says the Vilar is a yearround highlight for his troupe. It only helps they’re coming to the snowy mountains during the holidays. “There’s no perfect theater. There will always be challenges, but there are places where many of these little things come together in the right way, and for us, that’s been the Vilar,” says Lashua, who compares the venue to the Off-Broadway New Victory Theater. “It’s less common to play in houses that are smaller like that, but the artists love it. That’s really up our alley. If economics were out of the picture, this is the size venue we’d love to play every single night.”

The Vilar makes any show feel intimate, though seasoned performers such as John Legend help.

But economics are never out of the picture. Luckily, the Vilar has won a strong enough following with audiences and performers to overcome little hiccups, like the fact ticket sales don’t even cover the fee for an act like Robin Williams, let alone to turn on the lights and sound system. (That credit often goes to donors, sponsors and the resort company, but that’s another story.) Still, the Vilar is as much a part of the village as the ice rink and art galleries it sits beneath. Take it from that fun, funky, neon-hued concert right before Halloween: this place is one of the few venues in the world where banana suits and coattails feel at home. And it’s only in Beaver Creek. – BY PHIL LINDEMAN

ZACH MAHONE

INSIDER

PERFORMING ARTS

THEATER LOVERS NANCY GAGE AND ALLEN FINNEY SUPPORT THE VILAR CENTER, WHICH IS HOW THEY ENDED UP IN RWANDA WITH AN ANIMAL EXPERT.

SERENDIPITY. HAPPENSTANCE.

Coincidence. Call it what you may — some things are just meant to be. Thirty years ago, Nancy Gage, from Madison, Wisconsin met Allen Finney, from Stoke-onTrent, England while on a cruise. Finney, a professional musician, was performing with the ship’s band. Gage was on the trip with her family. It’s no surprise that Gage would be smitten with a musician. “My mother was a newspaper publisher,” she explains. “The arts and entertainment editor was older and didn’t want to go to a lot of the concerts, so I’d get the tickets and go instead. And my father

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owned a radio station, and I worked there filing records.” Finney’s father was a big band musician. “I was a trombone player until I was 12 years old,” he recalls. “But my life changed after my father took me to see Buddy Rich. He just blew me away! I decided, then, that I wanted to play the drums.” In addition to music, the couple has always had a love of nature and animals and, since their marriage — almost 30 years ago — has traveled to Africa on a plethora of photographic safaris. So, when they were approached to underwrite animal expert Jack Hanna’s appearance at the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek, it was

a given. They were in. “The night Jack performed,” says Gage, “he was all over the place signing autographs. So we invited his wife, Suzi, to sit with us.” And, at the end of the evening the couples said their goodbyes. The next morning, Gage was at the Avon Starbucks. “In walks Jack,” Gage reflects, “and says, ‘Hi, Nancy, I understand that Africa is a passion of yours.’ Then he told me that he was putting together a trip to see the gorillas in Rwanda and asked if we would like to join him.” “We had been to Rwanda in 1989 — and we thought that we would never go again, since the genocide

happened in 1994. But, his was a great opportunity, so we decided to take the trip. We knew that the Hannas had a home in Rwanda and that they were passionate about helping with building its economy.” The trip was much more than Gage and Finney could imagine. The group met with small businesses, like local beekeepers. They went to a school, an orphanage, culminating with a visit to the genocide museum, which Gage says “can absolutely bring you to your knees.” “The Hannas have really walked the walk and talked the talk,” says Gage, enthusiastically. “We’d stop in a little village and,

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Playing host to competitive events for over 50 years, ‘The Racer’ is a celebration of the Vail Valley’s commitment to the world of local, regional, and International ski racing.

There’s nothing like sunrise over Beaver Creek. Though tricky to find, this trail exists and welcomes any winter adventurer willing to put in the effort for spectacular views.

The Racer

Village Sunrise

Introducing two new Limited Edition Lithographs by renowned local artist Dawn Beacon.

Turning heads (and MAGAZINES) everywhere.

of proceeds will be donated to Ski & Snowboard Club Vail. Signature Colorado makes no claims of association, sponsorship, or affiliation with the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships.

INSIDER

PERFORMING ARTS

It takes a savvy staff to keep the Vilar Center running smoothly.

everyone would walk out and hug Jack and Suzi to thank them. And on our last day in Rwanda, Jack got a call from President Paul Kagame who wanted to us to ‘meet him at his residence in 10 minutes.’ It was an incredible trip. “We initially took the trip because of our interest in wildlife. But there’s something about Rwanda that’s very special.” “It’s really because of our involvement with the Vilar that we went on this trip,” says Finney. “Talk

AND ON OUR LAST DAY IN RWANDA, JACK GOT A CALL FROM PRESIDENT PAUL KAGAME WHO WANTED TO US TO ‘MEET HIM AT HIS RESIDENCE IN 10 MINUTES.’” about one thing leading to another — from the Vilar to Starbucks to an African safari to meeting the president of a country and having a life-changing trip.” In fact, Gage and Finney have helped to underwrite many of the Vilar’s performances, including Al Jarreau, Michael McDonald, Boz Skaggs,

Kenny Loggins with the Blue Sky Riders, Peter Frampton, Chris Botti and Robin Williams, to name a few. “I always like to know something about the performers before I meet them. And, I had read that Al Jarreau was from Wisconsin and had grown up over a polka hall,” says Gage, with a laugh. “So when I met

him I told him about what I had read and that I was a fellow cheesehead. And with that, he grabbed me and we did the polka backstage.” And, as a member of the Vail Jazz Board, Finney, after meeting Chris Botti, was able to bring him together with Howard Stone to arrange Botti’s appearances at the Vail Jazz Festival. “Certainly everyone who supports the Vilar is not going to wind up on a safari,” jokes Finney. “But, because of our involvement with the theater, we’ve had some incredible experiences.” “A couple of years ago, I was in the front row for a Bonnie Raitt show at Red Rocks, and it was like being in the 25th row of the Vilar,” Jack Hanna, center, with Gage and Finney.

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continues Finney. “Even in the back row of the Vilar — the experience is incredible. Red Rocks certainly isn’t the Vilar. It’s very impersonal, even in a supposed ‘good seat’ at very big bucks. You still have a huge disconnect from the stage and from the music, and it’s a very impersonal experience. “But, really, the eclectic mix of shows that are brought in to the Vilar rivals any theater of its size in the country. And the theater is like a private club for an intimate group.” Recently Finney came across a Buddy Rich video on YouTube in which Rich, Finney’s idol, was playing the West Side Story Suite. “It was from 1965, “ says Finney, “and the guy on the piano was Bill Cunliffe, who has been on the Vail Jazz Foundation’s faculty for the last 20 years. And this year, I was playing with Bill Cunliffe at the Vail Jazz Festival.” Serendipity? Coincidence? Seems meant to be. - BY BRENDA HIMELFARB

TOWNSEND BESSENT

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SHOPPING

Colorado Footwear

With a selection that can please anybody from the savviest trendsetters to the comfort-seeking mountain adventurers, Colorado Footwear in Beaver Creek has been attracting returning clients from around the world for years. And it's no surprise. Colorado Footwear has an array of original products designed exclusively for the Vail Valley stores. A classic example is the Ski Buckle Boots, modeled after the 1960s-era ski boots worn by Vail's founding residents. Though fashionable, they offer a historical element to your outfit. They also feature a vintage unisex look, which is very trendy right now. Flashback ever farther than the days of leather ski boots in Colorado, and you'll find leather cowboy boots dotting the landscape. To capture a slice of that culture, a visit to the Beaver Creek Rodeo is a must. "Mayra," made by Old Gringo, is a great pair of kneehigh boots, handcrafted from high-quality leather with a design that perfectly blends the vintage Western style with modern fashion.

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BEAVER

CREEK

STYLE

The village offers a little something for everyone BY POLINA LACONTE

Frinje

Now under new ownership, what was formerly a girl's favorite mountain boutique in Roxy will now be known as "Frinje." But while the name is brand new, the owners intend to keep the same trendy, mountain-casual look for which the Roxy boutique was known. It’s the sort of store where you can see three generations of fashionistas shopping together. Look for fashionable resort clothing, shoes and accessories for girls of all ages. Kids love Frinje's printed leggings made by Zara Tereze for their bright colors and vibrant prints, while grown-up girls are excited about the new brand names the owners have brought to the store including ladies' favorite, Free People. A denim and plaid shirt from Free People illustrates what this international brand is all about — blending high fashion and comfort for vacation-style dressing.

DOMINIQUE TAYLOR

WORLD’S

BIGGEST

SKI DAY

presented by

TO CONQUER CANCER

l Costume Contest, Live Music,

Incredible Prizes & Celebration Ski Down

l Proceeds benefit Shaw Regional Cancer Center a service of Vail Valley Medical Center, a nonprofit 501(c)(3)

MARCH 21, 2015

WWW.PINKVAIL.COM

SAVE THE DATE FOR NEXT YEAR: APRIL 2, 2016 THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS:

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SHOPPING

Eyepieces

Think optical boutique. Offering onsite eye exams, customers can have prescription eyeglasses, contacts, sunglasses and goggles — perfect for life in the mountains. This is no standard-options store, but the place to find the hottest trends in eyewear. Gone are the days of over-the-glasses goggles. The store’s inventory includes brands such as Maybach, Cartier, Chrome Hearts, Chanel, Oakley, Smith, Maui Jim, Mykita, Salt., Zero G, Dita, David Yurman and others. Eye Pieces has been in business for more than 30 years. With six locations throughout the Vail Valley, Beaver Creek has always been one of its signature shops.

Avalon

Avalon and Mistral in Beaver Creek have always been stores that need no introduction. This season, however, they've merged, and the recently expanded Avalon is going to be the new home for many of the beloved designer labels from Mistral. In business since 1987, Avalon has become a go-to place for welltraveled resort guests looking to buy designer outerwear, one-of-a-kind furs, superbly crafted Italian leather goods and Parisian fashion that cannot be found anywhere else in Colorado. Shoppers love items like the lamb leather jacket from Gimo's, which is made in Italy. An extremely comfortable paper-weight leather piece, it has a classic, yet modern look and it is perfect for mild, southern winters or cool summer evenings in the Rocky Mountains. Indeed, during the summer months at Beaver Creek, with the ice rink still open daily, it will feel quite normal to shop for a fur coat in July. And that is exactly why Avalon carries a fabulous selection of furs year-round. To make sure that your outfit is complete, Avalon has a variety of accessories to offer, including items like the leather with python trim small tote. Made by Carlos Falchi, it's a timeless creation from a legendary Italian designer.

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DOMINIQUE TAYLOR

Enjoy festive holiday shopping along the Beaver Creek Village mall and ice rink.

Enjoy festive shopping along the Beaver Creek Village mall and ice rink.

Beaver Creek is the perfect place for big festivals by s h au n a fa r n e l l

PHOTO BY ZACH MAHONE

uch in the way certain mountains possess a natural propensity for providing phenomenal ski terrain, Beaver Creek Plaza is intrinsically cut out for hosting festivals. Hence why it plays host to so many of the valley’s biggest gatherings every year. Whether it’s a winter parade full of princesses and penguins or a barbecue extravaganza, the Plaza, with the ice rink as a centerpiece creating a circular walkway, lends the ideal spot for dropping a stage or two, a myriad of booths, and several vantage points to take it all in.

WinterFest Celebrating the height of the season and the magic of the holidays, Beaver Creek Village undergoes a Narnialike transformation into a magic wonderland ruled by a cast of zany characters – the Snow Princess, Old Man Winter and silly penguins named Scurry and Snowflake who trot through Beaver Creek Plaza every afternoon cracking jokes and posing for pictures. The crew rounds up young marchers for a daily Winter Wonder Parade at 4 p.m. Anyone with a hankering to twirl and step is welcome to join in. Of course, Santa Claus is also on hand with his elves taking special note of holiday wishes from 3 to 5:30 p.m. An inspiring live soundtrack reverberating around the village is provided by Denver’s Original Dickens Carolers. Throughout the festival there will be holiday figure skating performances, ice sculpture demonstrations and fire jugglers. It all culminates on New Year’s Eve with a torchlight ski down the mountain, parade and fireworks.

FOOD & WINE Weekend Foodies, listen up. This is the ultimate opportunity to bond with your favorite celebrity chef and indulge in a series of separate eating and drinking opportunities unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. The weekend begins with a reception featuring carefully crafted cocktails and specialty food items and the opportunity to mix and mingle with celebrity chefs who have just rolled

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COURTESY VAIL RESORTS AND KRISTIN ANDERSON

into town. The weekend unfolds with snowshoe and ski adventures ending with multi-course, gourmet lunches, specialty sipping and sampling events, on-mountain sitdown dinners at SaddleRidge, après ski indulgences and a grand tasting in which every chef offers up his or her carefully crafted masterpiece. The grand finale is Sunday’s Celebrity Chef Ski Race, a charity fundraiser in which you can team up with a chef and take to the gates, checking out how much talent and speed these culinary geniuses have on skis, followed by a blowout brunch.

SpringFest As much as we all love winter, warming temps and signs of thaw are definitely something to celebrate. Beaver Creek Village transforms into a blossoming oasis of color, replete with a garden of giant flowers and bugs that gives you the vague sensation of being on the movie set of "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids." A cast of characters makes its way around the Plaza — Mother Nature, aspen trees, caterpillars — befriending children and sharing stories. Also included: a variety of jugglers, magicians and free entertainment along with kidcentered games and arts and crafts. The festival continues with an Egg Hunt in Creekside Park on Saturday, April 4.

Blues, Brews and BBQ The unofficial start of summer for most locals, Memorial Day Weekend brings a selection of Colorado’s best barbecue chefs and a number of the state’s top microbreweries to Beaver Creek for a taste extravaganza unsurpassed by any other event of its kind. The weekend includes two days of upbeat live music, a barbecue competition, an opportunity to ramp up your own grilling skills with several free barbecue culinary demonstrations, and for pint-sized guests who can’t enjoy a pint, a Kid’s Zone featuring games, face painting and arts and crafts.

COURTESY VAIL RESORTS

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Independence Day Celebration While the crowds are flocking to Vail for the parade and Avon for fireworks, Beaver Creek is abuzz with an Independence Day celebration all its own. Geared toward kids and families, the Plaza is decorated in Stars, Stripes and Slides — an array of inflatable playground items and bouncy castles — along with children’s face painting, games and crafts. The party gets going in the evening with a number of food tents and live music followed by Beaver Creek’s own fireworks display on the mountain once night falls.

Oktoberfest Beaver Creek is typically among the first in the valley — and the world — to bust out its lederhosen and dirndls as the Plaza becomes a throbbing mass of Bavarian revelry. Resident musician Helmut Fricker will provide the soundtrack on his accordion and alpenhorn along with internationally renowned artists. Weekend estivities include a Bavarian costume contest, 10K, 5K and Family Fun 1K race event, a kids’ Alpenhorn contest, European-specific culinary demonstrations from local chefs and of course, bratwurst and pretzels galore and a beer garden featuring German brews. ZACH MAHONE, DANIEL MILCHEV / VAIL RESORTS

Wine and Spirits Festival Celebrate the pleasures of the palate in Beaver Creek for a summertime throw down of intimate and interesting liquor, wine and food pairings, hiking and sipping excursions, tapas socials, culinary demonstrations by seasoned pros, a grand tasting, and gourmet dinners. Events sell out quickly, so advanced booking is recommended.

Rendezvous music festival Anyone who believes September is a sleepy time in the mountains had better pencil in this rendezvous. Just in time for the peak of fall foliage, amid the surrounding glow of yellow, orange and red aspen leaves, a handful of incredible, poised-to-break-into-the-big-time musicians descend upon the village for a weekend of indoor and outdoor concerts. Genres range from rock to folk, soul to country and hiphop to bluegrass. For September 2014, Rendezvous talent included Jason Isbell, Patty Griffin, Jackopierce, Michaelis and more. Check rendezvousbc.com for this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lineup.

Arts Festival Transforming seamlessly into an outdoor art gallery, 150 artists from around the region set up their unique displays of fine art including vibrant paintings, bronze sculptures, jewelry, and pottery and handmade, one-ofa-kind trinkets. Browsing is free.

German auto festival Knowing that a mere glimpse of a particular model of Porsche or Mercedes can make certain car fanatics drool, Beaver Creek becomes the base for scenic driving tours leading to gourmet lunches, an auto expo during which you can vote on your favorite four-wheeled beauty and a friendly obstacle race. Entrance is free and an assortment of food and drinks are available to purchase.

DANIEL MILCHEV / VAIL RESORTS, DOMINIQUE TAYLOR, JOHN-RYAN LOCKMAN / SHOWLOVE MEDIA

the BC

Lists

Vacation is a family affair: Insiderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s guides to Beaver Creek for mom, dad, brother and sister, plus everyone in between By Phil Lindeman

JACK AFFLECK / VAIL RESORTS

For mom B

eaver Creek has it all: luxury, refinement, alpine charm. And when you’re on vacation, you shouldn’t have to scour the snowy sidewalks for any of it. Here’s a guide to 10 stores, eateries, trails and diversions that set Beaver Creek apart from the rest.

1. Après tapas at The Osprey Lounge

Not all après is created equal. Enter The Osprey Lounge, an overlooked little hangout and tapas bar found no more than 15 steps from the base of Strawberry Park Express lift. Go for the highalpine atmosphere — the chic yet cozy décor is made for a leisurely afternoon with girlfriends – and stay for signature tapas, like the smoked sage Brussels sprouts with sage pesto, toasted pumpkin seeds and parmesan.

2. Wine night at The Metropolitan

It’s the dilemma of wine addicts everywhere: You want a true taste of a restaurant’s alluring wine cellar, but you only have the cash for one, maybe two bottles. The Metropolitan has a remedy. Modeled after a sleek urban wine bar, The Met’s low-lying booths and local art installations are built around the Enomatic Wine Dispenser. It’s a tubular rack – feel free to call it a wine vending machine – filled with 16 whites and reds kept at the perfect temperature. Enjoy an on-demand glass (or two) with your friends or husband, then top it off with $7 tapas.

3. An evening at the Vilar

Since 1997, the Vilar Performing Arts Center has been the resort’s cultural epicenter. You’d expect a Phish or Grateful Dead tribute act in the wild, wooly mountains, but acts like the ANTHONY THORNTON, DOMINIQUE TAYLOR

acrobatic “Cirque Mechanics: Pedal Punk” or world-renowned soprano Anna Netrebko? Only at the Vilar. Tickets range from $20 to $200-plus, and with at least once show per week, you'll find one in your price range.

4. Art gallery crawl

Leave pub crawls to the boys. Beaver Creek is home to nearly a dozen art galleries, many of which tout work from local and regional artists, along with international masters. Begin on the east end of the village with Walt Horton Fine Art, named for the famed wildlife sculptor, then move west toward the covered bridge for a taste of jewelry (J. Cotter Gallery), Native American art (Mudhead Gallery), fossilized oddities (By Nature Gallery) and more.

5. Spa day at Allegria

The only thing better than a full day of charging powder? Taking a day off to pamper yourself at a luxurious slope-side spa. Allegria in the Park Hyatt is a thoroughly modern space, with warm décor, a top-notch staff and all the amenities, including a co-ed mineral pool and a slew of seasonal treatments (think a wildflower body scrub). But the most enticing perk? Allegria regularly makes the Condé Nast Traveler list of top 25 spas in the world. Luxury, meet your match.

6. Morning at Larkspur Bowl

You came here to ski, but where to begin? Bid adieu to the crowds at Rose Bowl and Gold Dust for a few warm-ups runs through Larkspur Bowl, found at the base of Redtail trail. Even on so-so snow days, the bowl’s mix of wide-open greens, blues and blacks is a family favorite, and the early-morning sun is a welcome blessing.

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For dad

7. Afternoon on the Larkspur bumps

When the kids get antsy to explore, let them — you’re warmed up and ready for the same. Larkspur is home to much more than wide-open bowls, particularly on the southern face. Black diamond runs like Lupine and Loco are an adrenalinepumping introduction to the endless moguls on neighboring Grouse Mountain, minus the misery of steep pitches and lengthy run-outs.

8. A Rocky Mountain shopping spree

It’s like a fashionista’s Nirvana: Once you enter Beaver Creek village, there’s nary a Target or Walmart or strip mall in sight. Instead, the village is teeming with dozens of local shops, from fine jewelry at Armadani Jewels to high-end après fashions at Arriesgado, Giovanny Alexander and Gorsuch, Ltd., founded by U.S. Ski Team veterans Renie and David Gorsuch.

9. Beaver Creek Food and Wine Weekend

Beaver Creek and fine cuisine go together like, well, Beaver Creek and snow. For the fourth year, the resort welcomes FOOD & WINE magazine to town Jan. 22 to 25 for a full weekend of cooking demos, wine events, nightly pairing dinners and much, much more. Daily tickets range from $50 to $200, but events like “Ski.Eat.Ski” ingeniously meld gourmet grub with expert-led ski excursions. Delicious.

10. Epic Mix photo session

Epic Mix is made for mothers. Even if the family disappears between breakfast and dinner, at some point — maybe lunch? — gather near the top of Centennial Express for a quick photo session with the Epic Mix photographers. The free photos are uploaded instantly to the Epic Mix app for social media sharing. It’s nothing short of a virtual vacation scrapbook. 68

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he term “local” means so many things. If you’re on Yelp, it means authentic. If you’re buying a ski pass, it means affordable — as long as you don’t mind restrictions and blackout dates. At Beaver Creek, local is just another person ready to swap powder tales over a cold, crisp beer at one of the village bars. Here’s a guide to those bars and the rest, from one local to another.

1. Happy hour at Dusty Boot

It’s Super Bowl Sunday. There’s a foot of fresh snow on the ground. You’d be crazy to snub your thirst for powder, but you’d also be crazy to miss the big game. Welcome to the Dusty Boot, a bona fide sports bar where daily happy hour (yes, daily) gets you scrumptious bar food like sliders or fish tacos, a heap

of fries and a craft draught for $6. Pinch yourself — yep, you’re still in Beaver Creek.

2. The other side of Vilar

The Vilar Center, Beaver Creek’s renowned performing arts venue, has a dark and twisted side. Sure, it hosts Broadway shows and full ballets, but it also attracts the entertainment underbelly. Comic Lewis Black brings his belligerent, angry uncle act to the stage on Jan. 31, following in the footsteps of past gut-busters such as Brian Regan. Just keep your eye on the Vilar lineup, no matter the season. It may surprise you.

3. Escape to Strawberry Park When the main mountain gets tracked up, grab the gang and head to Strawberry Park, found across the main

ski bridge from Centennial Express. Not only is it quiet on busy days — a regular miracle — the mellow main run, Bitterroot, is perfect for teaching youngsters to link turns, while connected trails like Stacker and President Ford’s take full advantage of fast, cantered slopes.

4. Dig deep into Strawberry Park If trees are more your style than race gates, don’t leave Strawberry Park just yet. On the far side of President Ford’s is Thresher Glade, where the powder is steep and deep, but the aspens are nice and mellow. For something a bit different, take a lap or two through the tree stands off Bitterroot and let the kids meet you at the bottom. It’s for experts only.

COURTESY RITZ-CARLTON, BEAVER CREEK

5. A round of 18 at Beaver Creek Golf Club

The Beaver Creek Golf Club is one hell of a challenge. The fairways are narrow, the elevations are tricky and the occasional creek has a way of punishing risk-takers. But it’s worth a round early or late in the season, when tee times are readily available. Better yet, green fees dip into the local’s appreciation range: a round of 18 costs no more than $105, down from $195 in the heart of summer.

6. A day at McCoy Park

It’s been a few days and a dozen rich meals since you last hit the gym. While the kids are off at ski school, head to McCoy Park at the top of Strawberry Park for a day of Nordic skiing. More than 20 miles of trails weave through open meadows and aspen stands, leading to stunning views of Grouse Mountain and the Eagle Valley. That should take your mind off the lung-burning elevation (8,000-plus feet).

7. The Blues, Brews and BBQ Festival

Is there a better way to welcome summer than with local beer and barbecue? Held over Memorial Day Weekend, the annual festival is simmering to

5 the core. There’s a microbrew fest with Colorado’s hottest craft breweries, pulled pork and brisket sandwiches from a cadre of local smokehouses, and live tunes from greats like Charlie Musselwhite.

8. German Auto Festival weekend For luxury motor heads — you know you’re out there — the German Auto Festival in September is a genuine spectacle. Hundreds of auto enthusiasts from across the

country rev into Beaver Creek for a free car show, held in the very center of the village. It’s a smaller affair than Vail Automotive Classic, but for a vintage Mercedes or Porsche, there’s no better venue.

9. Singlebarrel whiskey tasting at Bachelors Lounge

(with cigars!)

8 CARL SCOFIELD / VAIL RESORTS, ZACH MAHONE, AUSTIN DAY / VAIL RESORTS

After undergoing a facelift, Bachelors Lounge inside the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch won a coveted title: Eagle County’s first cigar bar. The posh interior is half cigar bar, half alpine club, featuring a heated terrace, plenty of flat screens and daily après events throughout the year. This winter, bring friends to the complimentary bourbon tastings each Monday for Bachelors Bourbon, the lounge’s singlebarrel private reserve from Breckenridge Distillery.

10. The Summer Solstice Trail Run Beaver Creek plays host to a handful of trail events during the year, including one of the most brutal XTERRA off-road triathlons in the nation. If trail running and masochism don’t quite mesh for you, try the Summer Solstice Trail Run, hosted by the Vail Recreation District on June 21. The route weaves across the front side of the mountain before dropping into Creekside Park for a huge post-race barbecue.

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For brother B

oys can be boys at Beaver Creek. From winter to summer, the resort has a little something for kids, teens and, yes, even big boys. The youngsters can’t have all the fun.

1. Top-to-bottom terrain park lap

With four terrain parks, Beaver Creek has a little something for any shredder or skier. Test your presses and spins on the easy boxes in Park 101, found at the top of Cinch Express, then head down Centennial run to Zoom Room (medium boxes, rails and jumps) and Rodeo (bigger and badder boxes, rails and jumps). When you’re done, do it all over again.

2. The Rail Jam Playground

For the smallest rippers, even Park 101 is a bit too intimidating. That’s where the Rail Jam Playground comes in. Beginning at 4

p.m. in late December, ski school instructors hold a free, kid-friendly clinic on small boxes and rails near the base of Centennial Express.

3. Have a Beaver Creek Loves Teens night

Your friends couldn’t come with you on vacation — and that’s why you’re going to love this. The Beaver Creek teen crew puts together nights made just for visiting high schoolers (13 to 17 years old), featuring twilight snowshoe hikes, teen-only tubing and a trick class at the anti-gravity center in Edwards. Can you say trampolines?

4. Take the Talons Challenge Held on March 7, the legendary Talons Challenge is the perfect time to show Dad how much better you are in the bumps. The rules are simple: Winners need to ski or ride all 14 black and double-black trails on Birds of Prey, Grouse Mountain and Larkspur Bowl. That’s nearly 26,000 vertical feet in one day. Game on, Dad.

5. Join Epic Mix academy

You’ve already taken two ski lessons. You’ve already fallen in love with the Red Buffalo rollers. Now hop on the Epic Mix Academy app to get updates from your teacher, including tips, skills and hard-earned pins. You’ll be Level 5 in no time! (Just remember to share your progress with mom and dad.)

6. Thursday Night Lights with the ski school It’s time to join a Beaver Creek tradition with Thursday Night Lights. When the sun goes down, intermediate skiers and riders follow ski instructors in a glow-stick parade down the side of the mountain.

7. Try the bungee trampoline

Before you even think about catching air on the snow, head to the summertime bungee and trampoline at the base of Centennial Express. Bounce and swing up to 15 feet in the air, and when you're done, let Mom or Dad try. Everyone wins!

8. New Year’s Eve Family Bash

The slope-side New Year’s Eve Bash returns this winter with a full evening of revelry made just for families. There are fireworks, carnival games, dancing, prizes and

two balloon drops, one for kiddos with early bedtimes and one for older siblings.

9. Movies under the stars

Treat your family to a night at the movies, alpine-style, with the Movies Under the Stars program. In summertime, head to the base of Centennial Express for a selection of kid-friendly films, all shown on a huge screen. Why huddle in the hotel when there’s a huge, sprawling mountain right out the back door? Just remember to bring blankets.

10. Hike to Beaver Lake

When the snow melts, Beaver Creek is still filled with trails. Drop by the Beaver Creek Hiking Center for maps and details on the summertime trail system. One of the favorites is Beaver Lake, a nearby hike that winds roughly three miles through the forest before reaching the lake. It’s an uphill hike, but skipping stones at altitude is worth it.

THOMAS GREEN / VAIL RESORTS, JACK AFFLECK / VAIL RESORTS

For sister A

t Beaver Creek, the excitement doesn’t begin and end with skiing. There are selfie scavenger hunts, Olympic ski racer sightings, free cookies every day and, of course, plenty of skiing. But where to start? Here’s a girlfriendly guide to everything cool and unusual at Beaver Creek.

1. Disappear into the Bachelor Gulch trees

It’s your umpteenth visit to Beaver Creek, and even though you can’t get enough of the Double Diamond trees, it’s time for a change. Leave the main mountain (and your clingy little bro) to disappear deep into the gorgeous, gently rolling aspen glades of Bachelor Gulch. Warm up with Coyote Glade, then slowly work your way to Cabin Fever. To get there, take the laid-back catwalk track from the top of Strawberry Park to the Ritz-Carlton, or skip the lift lines altogether and ride Lower Beaver Creek Mountain Express from Beaver Creek Landing.

2. Ski lunch at Mamie’s

After charging the Bachelor Gulch trees, take a breather at Mamie’s Mountain Grill. The quaint little hideaway is home to a sunny deck and plenty of skiers unwinding between tree laps. Not only is it convenient – the Bachelor Gulch Express lift practically unloads you at the front door – the deck is the perfect spot to work on your goggle tan. Believe us, it’s a badge of pride around here.

JACK AFFLECK / VAIL RESORTS

3. End the day on Leave the Beav

Remember the bus from the parking lot to the mountain village this morning? Here’s a secret: By the middle of winter, that’s not the only way home. When you wrap up at Bachelor Gulch, ski toward the Ritz-Carlton patio and look for trail signs leading to Leave the Beav. It’s a meandering catwalk that runs from the bottom of Bachelor Gulch to Beaver Creek Landing — just a short bus ride from the lots. Boarders, there could be flat sections.

4. Cookie time, 3 p.m.

Fresh powder and fresh cookies — it’s a match made in heaven. But even when Mother Nature doesn’t serve up new snow, the chefs at Beaver Creek serve up gooey, fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies every day at 3 p.m. They’re free, so don’t feel bad about taking one or two for mom and dad (wink, wink).

5. Afternoon racing at Haymaker Tubing Hill Skiing is a blast, but sometimes, barreling down the mountain with no edges, no poles and

little more than a rubber tube for comfort is just as fun. Found at the top of Buckaroo Express Gondola, the Haymaker Tubing Hill is a wicked fast (and wickedly safe) set of snowy lanes, complete with a magic carpet to carry people and tubes back up the hill.

6. Selfie scavenger hunt on #BCFotoFriday

Hey shutterbugs, Beaver Creek will give you a prize for taking selfies at the mountain. No, really — the #BCFotoFriday Scavenger Hunt is a simple way to win free swag and make your friends envious. Every Friday beginning Dec. 20, visit beavercreek.com/fotofriday for the latest round of scavenger hunt clues. Snap as many photos with as many clues as possible, then share them through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to win a $100 gift card and, with luck, a featured photo on the Beaver Creek website.

7. Ice skating in the village

It’s not a natural pond, but the ice rink in the middle of Beaver Creek Village still feels like a winter wonderland — even in summer. The rink is open from noon to 9 p.m. daily during the ski season and after Memorial Day, with skate and helmet rentals for kids and adults. Drop by after dark on Sundays for family night and rest tired legs with a cup of cocoa at the rink-side fire pit.

8. Ladies’ training at the 2015 Alpine World Ski Championships

For the first time since 1999, each and every star skier will come to Vail and Beaver Creek for the 2015 Alpine World Ski Championships. The finish line at Redtail Stadium (near Talons Restaurant) will be crazy on race day, but if you want to get up close and personal with Olympic champs like Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn, see the training runs from Feb. 2 to Feb. 9. You can ski in, watch the racers, and ski back out, all before it’s time to meet mom and dad for lunch.

9. Autumn aspens on horseback

Even though Beaver Creek is a ski resort, when the aspen trees start glowing in late September, the neon-yellow leaves almost put white-capped peaks to shame. Stop by Beaver Creek Stables to arrange a mellow ride through the foliage with friends, your family or a veteran guide. One thing’s for sure: The views are made for Instagram.

10. Gelato pit stop at Rimini

At Rimini, a gourmet gelato and chocolate shop in the middle of Beaver Creek Village, your sweet tooth knows no seasons. The gelato comes plain or with mix-ins like dark chocolate. If you don’t have cash, don’t fret — just casually tell your parents there is salted caramel gelato. You might return every night.

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Animal Tracks Tell a Wild Story beaver creek BY TRACI J. MACNAMARA

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atching a silver fox slink across a snowcovered mountain slope might seem like such a magical thing that you’d only expect to see it happen on a movie screen. But rare wildlife encounters such as these are possible at Beaver Creek Resort, and once you begin seeking them out, don’t be surprised that the frequency of sighting animals in their natural habitats will actually increase as you hone your skills. Spotting wildlife at Beaver Creek in winter and summer seasons alike sometimes simply requires luck. You might finally be relaxed enough as you’re skiing through Jack Rabbit Alley to catch the sight of a mule deer bounding out of sight. But more often than not, viewing mountain animals requires patience, knowledge and experience. Understanding how to interpret animal tracks, scats and signs can help give you clues about wildlife in the area, and even if you don’t see the actual animal, you’ll at least gain a heightened sense of awareness that could lead to a greater overall appreciation of the natural world around you. “One of the coolest things about animal tracks is that they tell a story,” says Peter Suneson, Adult Programs Instructor at Walking Mountains Science Center in Avon. “Sure, tracks can give you clues about which animals are in the area, but it’s even more exciting when track patterns can help you see how animals forage for food or how a predator might be tracking its prey.”

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In his current role, Suneson is developing a new partnership between Walking Mountains Science Center and Beaver Creek hotels and property management groups set to launch in December of 2014. The new adult community program will connect adults with opportunities to learn more about local wildlife on guided snowshoe trips and hikes in areas where they can take the time to explore, ask questions, and otherwise just enjoy the animal stories they discover along the way. Walking Mountains Science Center also offers ongoing opportunities for locals and visitors of all ages to become engaged in learning about nature and wildlife. If you plan on sharpening your wildlife viewing skills, then Walking Mountains Science Center is a great place to begin before going out in Beaver Creek Resort and seeing what you can find. Inside the facility’s state-of-the-art nature center in Avon, you’ll find one area that’s particularly useful. It’s a set of drawers full of rubbery molded animal tracks and scats, based on their originals and reproduced in actual size. You can hold your hand up next to a mountain lion’s paw, for example, and contemplate this local big cat’s power and mystique. Touching even fake scat might make you shudder, but identifying scats in addition to tracks can help you decipher more details in a wildlife story. “When you find hoof tracks, you might not immediately know if they belong to deer, elk, or a moose,” Suneson says. “But if you find scat near those tracks, there’s an easy way to tell. If it’s a size that will fit inside of your nose, you’re probably tracking a deer. If that scat would get stuck in your nose, you’re probably on the track of an elk. But if it’s too big to fit in your nose, then you’re likely on the track of a moose.” Of course, Suneson doesn’t expect people to try fitting scat into their noses, but his identification hint is an easy one to remember. Once you’ve added to your background knowledge, then begin testing your abilities by going outside and looking for animal tracks. Suneson advises that the best place to find animal tracks is on an established trail, where wildlife tends to travel especially in the winter when it’s important for them to conserve energy during a time when food is scarce. Plus, their tracks are easier to identify on a packed trail than in deep snow. Early morning or early evening are the best times of the day to search for wildlife, and you’ll have better luck if you choose a quiet location and remain quiet yourself. If you do find yourself within eyeshot of wildlife, view from a distance. You’re too close if an animal changes its behavior in response to your presence. Animals might be on edge during the winter months, and frightening them into a response at this time of the year can cause them to expend precious energy reserves unnecessarily. Startling or encountering some animals can also put you at risk of injury or even death, so always proceed cautiously as you track wildlife. Begin learning more about local wildlife and their tracks by reviewing the following field notes, and then spend some time exploring in the upcoming seasons to experience the thrill of seeing these majestic animals in their natural settings. 74

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FIELD NOTES: BEAR Black bears have been around since long before the valley’s first explorers, and they’re often seen in the summer season. Contrary to their name, they can also have blonde, reddish or brown coloring. Black bears aren’t naturally aggressive and will often run away from a perceived threat, but they can be dangerous if startled or if cubs are in the area.

TRACKS

Black bears have short, non-retractable claws, and they walk on their whole foot, heel to toe. The hind foot track resembles a human foot, and the round front heel pad doesn’t always show up in tracks.

HABITAT

Dense forests with thick ground vegetation.

EATING HABITS

Most bears hibernate during the winter months but are active in the summer, when they feed on plants, grasses, berries, fruits, nuts, insects and carrion.

MOUNTAIN LION

DEER, ELK AND MOOSE

The largest wildcat in North America, the mountain lion has powerful limbs and can jump as high as 15 feet and as far as 40 feet. Mountain lions are active hunters and attack prey from behind, but they’re quiet, elusive, and rarely seen. Be aware that mountain country is mountain lion country, and while humans are not among their natural prey, a mountain lion encounter is always a possibility.

Mule deer, elk and moose are the area’s most common hoofed mammals, and while deer are frequently sighted on Beaver Creek Mountain all year, elk can be seen in summer and winter as well. Moose are more of a rare sight, but they’re impressive to behold. Don’t be tempted to approach moose, as they can become aggressive and charge unexpectedly if startled or threatened.

TRACKS

Mountain lions have retractable claws that don’t show in their tracks and have a distinctive “M”-shaped pad with three lobes on the rear of the heel. Four toe prints and a central pad print will show up in their front and hind foot tracks, which can be greater than four inches in length.

HABITAT

Mountain lions favor Colorado’s rocky, mountainous areas protected with dense brush. Colorado’s Department of Wildlife deems 57 percent of the state suitable mountain lion habit, from the Front Range westward to the Utah border.

EATING HABITS

TRACKS

Deer, elk, and moose basically walk on their toenails, or hooves, and have similar track shapes, though they differ in size. Look for a heart-shaped hoof pattern that has a split down the middle; the narrower heart tip points in the animal’s direction of travel.

HABITAT

Mountain forests and alpine meadows.

EATING HABITS

Herbivores, these animals primarily feed on grasses, shrubs, bark, leaves and twigs.

Mountain lions are carnivores that primarily feed on deer and smaller animals including rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, porcupines and mice. 2 015 A N N UA L ✧ BEAVER CREEK MAGAZINE

PORCUPINE

Ski

WITH A RANGER Beaver Creek’s Ski With a Ranger Program is a unique partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and Beaver Creek Mountain. Mid-December through the first week in April, forest service rangers offer complimentary 45-minute ski tours on beginner and intermediate trails. The tour includes an exploration of Beaver Creek’s nature center and a ski expedition into wooded areas, where guests learn more about the mountain forest habitat and the animals that live there. “The Ski With a Ranger Program is a great adventure for kids,” says Beaver Creek Environmental Manager Fritz Bratschie, but more importantly, it provides an opportunity for kids and adults to learn about the public land they’re skiing on, as well as the importance of protecting it for years to come.” The Ski With a Ranger Program will give you some practice in applying your animal tracking skills, and you’ll no doubt gain appreciation for the wildlife that make Beaver Creek Resort their home.

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The porcupine is a medium-sized rodent known for its ability to dislodge barbed quills into attackers. They’re naturally shy animals that will flee when threatened, and — contrary to popular belief — they can’t launch their quills in defense. Porcupines are active on Beaver Creek Mountain in the summer and winter months, but they’re more likely to be seen in the evening, as they like to search for food at night.

TRACKS

Porcupine tracks usually display a central foot pad with four toes on the front foot and five toes on the rear. Porcupines have claws that usually show up in their tracks, and sometimes it’s possible to see the swoosh of a dragging tail.

HABITAT

Porcupines usually live on the ground in forested areas and can sometimes be seen high in pine and aspen trees.

EATING HABITS

Porcupines have a healthy appetite for wood, and they also eat bark, twigs, fruit, leaves, buds and stems.

FOX Red-tailed foxes are commonly seen on Beaver Creek Mountain, but silver and black foxes are known to have dens in the area as well. Foxes are resourceful animals admired for their intelligence, beauty and free-flowing ability to move over mountain terrain.

TRACKS

Foxes have four toes on their front and hind feet, and their tracks often show the presence of claws. Foxes have fur on their feet, so toes don’t always appear distinctly.

HABITAT

Foxes dig and live in dens in mountain areas; they’re active all year but are more often sighted in the summer.

EATING HABITS

Omnivores, foxes eat small animals such as mice, rabbits, and birds, but they can also eat fruits, berries and grasses.

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MORE THAN A

SKI HILL

BEAVER CREEK ISN’T ALL GROOMERS AND CORDUROY — THE RESORT OFFERS A FULL RANGE OF ACTIVITIES, WINTER AND SUMMER

BY WR E N BOVA

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Whether it’s racing downhill on a wide road or a carefully groomed, narrow singletrack, Beaver Creek has a little bit of everything for everybody. Grind uphill of your own accord, or take the fast track and catch a ride on the lift. 2 015 A N N UA L ✧ BEAVER CREEK MAGAZINE

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Though the mountain’s most classic of hikes is the trek up to Beaver Lake, there are trails galore. Wind up and around through pine forests, aspen glades and open meadows, with the occasional stream.

Snowshoeing at high elevation gives you an extra workout, but the views are so sweet you won’t notice. Home to the Snowshoe Adventure Race Series as well as miles of trails, Beaver Creek’s powder isn’t just for skiers.

While most ski areas relegate their cross-country courses to the golf course — and hence the valley floor — McCoy Park is at the top of the mountain. The pristine, well-groomed trails loop through pine forests, punctuated by terrific views.

Every Thursday during the height of the summer season, discover the Wild West. The Beaver Creek Rodeo brings cowboys, rodeo queens, tasty eats and more to Traer Creek. Kids can participate in the calf scramble and mutton bustin’, or just enjoy the show.

Beaver Creek’s long, narrow course is the epitome of alpine golf. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., it’s one of the valley’s originals. Dotted with barns and other historic structures, it’s a beautiful centerpiece for the drive up to the village. 82

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Snowboarding has been a part of Beaver Creek since the sport’s inception, as evidenced by the multitude of snowboardfriendly terrain parks and tree runs. The snowboard school, like the ski school, is one of the best in the world.

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2014 – 2015

WORLD-CL AS S E VENT S

November

April

August

Beaver Creek Mountain Opening Day

Beaver Creek Loves Kids – SpringFest

Beaver Creek Rodeo Series

World’s Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Competition

Beaver Creek Loves Teens Too

Culinary Demonstration Series

34th Annual Tree Lighting Celebration

Easter Egg Hung @ Creekside Park

Movies Under the Stars

Beaver Creek Mountain Closing Day

Beaver Creek Music Experience Beaver Creek Art Festival

December World-Class Village Festival Birds of Prey Men’s World Cup Races Beaver Creek Loves Kids – WinterFest Beaver Creek Loves Teens Too New Year’s Eve Family Bash!

January Beaver Creek Loves Kids – WinterFest Beaver Creek Loves Teens Too Beaver Creek Running Series: Snowshoe Edition Beaver Creek FOOD & WINE Weekend

February 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2015 International Experience

May

Wine & Spirits Festival

Blues, Brews & BBQ

Ragnar Relay

Microbrew Festival

Beaver Creek Half Marathon

Cut & Slice Golf Event

Trans Rockies Trail Run

Culinary Demonstration Series

Beaver Creek Blast Bike Race

June

September

Beaver Creek Rodeo Series

Beaver Creek Oktoberfest & Shuffle

Culinary Demonstration Series Suzuki Music Institute Camp Summer Solstice Trail Run

July

Rendezvous Music Festival Hike, Wine and Dine

Beaver Creek Rodeo Series Culinary Demonstration Series Movies Under the Stars

March

Beaver Creek Music Experience

Beaver Creek Running Series: Snowshoe Edition

Independence Day Celebration

Talons Challenge

Beaver Creek German Auto Festival

Triple Bypass Bicycle Ride

Vail Global Entry Forum at Beaver Creek

XTERRA Mountain Championships & XTERRA Trail Run

Beaver Creek Loves Kids – SpringFest

Colorado Eagle River Ride

Beaver Creek Loves Teens Too

b e av e r c r e e k . c o m / e v e n t s

STAY CONNECTED! Download the App: Visit www.BeaverCreekApp.com Receive Family Fun Text Alerts: Text BeaverCreek to 313131 Vilar PAC Information: Call 970 845 TIXS (8497)

GO & DO

CALENDAR

DAYBOOK NOVEMBER

ANNA NETREBKO February 5

NOVEMBER 26 BEAVER CREEK OPENING DAY AND WORLD’S BEST CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE COMPETITION Beaver Creek starts the lifts on opening day with the 11th annual World’s Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Competition. Five finalists serve up cookie creations, but just one will walk away with the title of “World’s Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe” of Beaver Creek for the 2014-2015 season. 9 a.m., lifts open; 2 p.m., cookie tasting. Beaver Creek Mountain. Beavercreek.com NOVEMBER 28 BEAVER CREEK’S 34TH ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY The 34th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony ushers in the beginning of holiday season in Beaver Creek with an ice skating show, live musical performances and an appearance by Santa; the evening ends with a spectacular fireworks show. 5 p.m. Ice Skating Show, 6 p.m. Tree Lighting Ceremony with fireworks following. Beavercreek.com NOVEMBER 28 & 29 WARREN MILLER’S NO TURNING BACK Warren Miller Entertainment presents its 65th ski film, “No Turning Back.” This newest installment pays homage to the 65 years of mountain culture and adventure filmmaking that has lead athletes and audiences to every end of the winter world. An annual kick-off to the winter season, the Warren Miller premier is an eagerly anticipated event each year. On the 28th at 3 and 8 p.m., on the 29th at 6 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497).

DECEMBER DECEMBER 5-7 AUDI BIRDS OF PREY MEN’S WORLD CUP RACES Get a preview of the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships course as the fastest men of winter compete in the Audi Birds of Prey World Cup. Featuring Downhill, Super G and Giant Slalom, Birds of Prey is the only men’s World Cup stop in the United States and is one of the toughest courses in the world. vvf. org/athletics/birds-of-prey-world-cup.aspx DECEMBER 5 – 6 WORLD-CLASS VILLAGE FESTIVAL Experience the culture of ski racing in Beaver Creek’s alpine village during World Cup. Fashion shows, après parties and family activities continue the action on the slopes during World Cup. Beavercreek.com

DARIO ACOSTA

DECEMBER 20 - JANUARY 3 BEAVER CREEK LOVES KIDS - WINTERFEST Enjoy free activities that are fun for kids of all ages during Beaver Creek Loves Kids “WinterFest.” Featuring performances, interactive activities, WinterFest characters, parades, contests, holiday lights and more, all activities occur each day on the Village Plaza during après ski hours. beavercreek.com/winterfest. DECEMBER 20 - JANUARY 3 BEAVER CREEK LOVES TEENS TOO Designed for guests aged 13-17, the Beaver Creek Loves Teens Too programs entertain and engage teens in all things Beaver Creek and beyond. Activities include a twilight snowshoe trek, tubing at Adventure Ridge in Vail or testing one’s limits at the Ski & Snowboard Trick class at the trampoline center in Edwards. beavercreek.com/teens. DECEMBER 22 MICHAEL MCDONALD Distinctive and soulful, Michael McDonald’s voice is one of the most evocative sounds of a generation. Singing holiday classics and hits, it’s a performance not to miss. 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497)

DECEMBER 23 A CHRISTMAS CAROL The Nebraska Theatre Caravan brings to life this popular holiday classic with incredible music in a performance that will make you feel as if you’re seeing it for the first time. 6:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497) DECEMBER 26 TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE Led by New Orleans native and trombone impresario Trombone Shorty, this hard-edged funk band combines hip-hop, rock and jazz, creating a sound like no other during a performance that can’t be beat. 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497) DECEMBER 27 - 28 CIRQUE MECHANICS-PEDAL PUNK A rowdy circus where the focus is on the wheels, Cirque Mechanics employs a dynamic and quirky ensemble of high-flying unicyclists, death-defying wheel acrobats, soaring pole climbers and floating trapeze artists. 6:30 p.m.; 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497) DECEMBER 29 NEIL BERG'S "101 YEARS OF BROADWAY" Neil Berg, who has produced more than 1000 Broadway shows worldwide,

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CALENDAR

GO & DO

brings a joyous revue of Broadway’s most adored songs to Beaver Creek, recreating some of the finest moments on stage. 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497) DECEMBER 30 THE ARTFUL DECEIVER: ARTHUR TRACE Combining original magic, audience participation and imaginatively humorous scenarios, Arthur Trace’s show is innovative, artful and fun for all ages. 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497)

JANUARY 10 TAKÁCS QUARTET Considered one of the world’s greatest ensembles, the Takács Quartet brings warmth and drama to the stage with their performance of Schubert’s "Death and the Maiden" and Beethoven’s Opus 59 No. 1. 6:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497)

DECEMBER 31 NEW YEAR’S EVE FAMILY BASH Start New Year’s Eve in Beaver Creek with a public glow stick ski down, a torchlight parade and fireworks over the village. At 8 p.m. the New Year’s Eve Family Bash gets underway with a DJ, games, dancing, raffle prizes and two balloon drops. Ski down and fireworks are complimentary, tickets are required for the New Year’s Eve Family Bash. beavercreek.com/newyearseve

JANUARY 12 MARCH FOURTH MARCHING BAND One of the most entertaining musical performance groups, March Fourth combines instrumental theatrics with the energy and antics of a big top circus. A one-of-a-kind experience, any performance by March Fourth is a memorable one. 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497)

JANUARY JANUARY 1 - 3 BEAVER CREEK LOVES KIDS - WINTERFEST Enjoy free activities that are fun for kids of all ages during Beaver Creek Loves Kids “WinterFest.” Featuring performances, interactive activities, WinterFest characters, parades, contests, holiday lights and more, all activities occur each day on the Village Plaza during après ski hours. beavercreek.com/winterfest. JANUARY 1 - 3 BEAVER CREEK LOVES TEENS TOO Designed for guests aged 13-17, the Beaver Creek Loves Teens Too programs entertain and engage teens in all things Beaver Creek and beyond. Activities include a twilight snowshoe trek, tubing at Adventure Ridge in Vail or testing one’s limits at the Ski & Snowboard Trick class at the trampoline center in Edwards. beavercreek.com/teens. JANUARY 2 SUPER DIAMOND: THE NEIL DIAMOND TRIBUTE A high octane Neil Diamond-tribute show, Super Diamond takes guests back to a time when “Sweet Caroline” reigned supreme. 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497) JANUARY 4 BEAVER CREEK RUNNING SERIES: SNOWSHOE EDITION Don’t let snow get in your way; Keep on running this winter at our 5k, 10k or kids k snowshoe races. The Beaver Creek Running Series includes free snowshoe demos, great swag, sponsor booths and a post-race party in the Village. 11 a.m. Beaver Creek. beavercreekrunningseries.com JANUARY 9 TEDX VAIL AT BEAVER CREEK The 5th annual TEDxVail Conference will present a dynamic blend of TEDx Talks, Workshops, Social Spaces, food, live entertainment and

Adventures. Together, these interactive elements are designed to inspire a collective impact in and from the Vail Valley. 3 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. tedxvailwomen.com

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JANUARY 14 VILAR GUILD 9TH ANNUAL FOODIE EVENT: A TASTE FOR THE ARTS Enjoy culinary specialties from some of the Valley’s finest chefs in addition to signature drinks and foodie auction items. All proceeds benefit the community programs sponsored by the Vilar Guild. 6:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497) JANUARY 17 RALPHIE MAY With his relatable humor tinged with just enough shock to make you gasp, comic Ralphie May has been exciting critics and audiences alike for years. 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497) JANUARY 18 ST. PETERSBURG STATE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Visiting from Russia, the performance by the St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra features Bernstein's "Candide" Overture, Scheherazade (Rimsky-Korsakov) and a special performance of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 by special guest pianist Adrei Gavrilov, all under the baton of conductor Vladimir Lande. 6:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497) JANUARY 19 BÉLA FLECK AND ABIGAIL WASHBURN You’ve never heard banjos like this. Performing selections from their newly released self-titled album, banjo virtuosos Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn weave bluegrass melodies laced with Appalachian melodies and rhythms. 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497) JANUARY 22 DANCING PROS LIVE For the first time together on stage, professional dancers from “Dancing with the Stars,” “So You Think You Can Dance” and dance champions from around the world compete to the delight of the audience. 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497)

JAN. 22-25 BEAVER CREEK FOOD & WINE WEEKEND Top culinary talent from Beaver Creek and around the country gather for four unforgettable days of food, wine and fun. The 4th annual Beaver Creek FOOD & WINE Weekend offers interactive cooking demonstrations, innovative wine and spirits events and gourmet wine pairings. Beaver Creek. beavercreek.com/foodandwine. JANUARY 25 ASPEN SANTA FE BALLET With top global choreographers, distinctive groundbreaking works, and virtuoso dancers, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet is a gem of a performance group for the American West. 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497) JANUARY 26 NEW YORK GILBERT AND SULLIVAN PLAYERS: I'VE GOT A LITTLE TWIST Celebrating the legacy of Gilbert & Sullivan in American musical theater, this cabaret show proves that some music never looses its cool. 6:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497) JANUARY 29 STARS: THE MUSICAL ADVENTURES OF FLAT STANLEY In this whirlwind musical travelogue based on the bestselling children’s story, Flat Stanley - the ultimate exchange student - explores the globe and learns that heroes come in all shapes and sizes. 10:00am and 12:30pm Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497) JANUARY 31 LEWIS BLACK A passionate performer, Lewis Black is one of the rare comics who can simultaneously entertain while educating an audience about the absurdity of our world. Not suitable for children under 13 years of age. 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497)

FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 2 FIS ALPINE WORLD SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS OPENING CEREMONY Join in the celebrations and festivities as the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships kick off in Vail. Celebrate and cheer on athletes from more than 70 nations as they join together for the opening ceremony. 7 p.m. Solaris Plaza, Vail. vailbeavercreek2015.com/ FEBRUARY 2 – 15 FIS ALPINE WORLD SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS The World Championships represent the largest and most impressive collection of ski racing talent in the world, second only to the Olympics, with approximately 700 athletes from more than 70 nations. While Vail is set to serve as the official hub of the ceremonies and nightly festival events Beaver Creek will host the majority of the competition, all of which is free to spectators. Vail and Beaver Creek. vailbeavercreek2015.com

FEBRUARY 2 – 15 2015 INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE As the world comes to Beaver Creek, guests can celebrate the athletes and their home countries at the International Experience celebration. Festivities occur daily in the International Experience tent during the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. Each day will feature a different country or region participating in the races and will showcase cultural food, beverages, entertainment and more. 12- 5 p.m. Beaver Creek. Beavercreek.com

restaurant

FEBRUARY 5 ANNA NETREBKO This Russian soprano is one of opera’s international superstars with a dark, distinctive voice and an alluring stage presence. 6:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497) FEBRUARY 9 AND 10 MOMIX A company of dancer-illusionists, MOMIX creates an unforgettable performance that incorporates magical lighting and imagery paired with athletic dance movement. 12:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497) FEBRUARY 15 FIS ALPINE WORLD SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS CLOSING CEREMONY After two weeks of worldclass ski racing competition, the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships will conclude at Red Tail Stadium with all of the pomp and fanfare this event deserves. 4:30 p.m. Red Tail Stadium, Beaver Creek. Vailbeavercreek2015.com

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FEBRUARY 15 SEE JANE SING! WITH JANE LYNCH Prepare for a side-splitting evening of musical comedy with a substantial portion of humor as Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Jane Lynch explores her love of the beauty and absurdity of the American standard and show tune. 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497) FEBRUARY 16 WYNONNA AND FRIENDS: STORIES AND SONG Wynonna Judd is one of the most influential and important voices of a generation. Experience the timeless tales of her unparalleled vocal and musical artistry as she details a 30 year platinum career. 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497) FEBRUARY 17 GREAT VOICES: FROM BROADWAY TO OPERA Featuring international soloists, backed by a full orchestra and chorus singing wellloved songs from the Broadway hits to opera’s greatest scores, this evening is a treat for all lovers of the stage. 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497)

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FEBRUARY 18 TEATRO LIRICO D'EUROPA: LA BOHEME One of the most beloved operas of all time, Puccini's masterpiece is a quintessential portrait of romance, highspirited friendship and the idealistic pursuit of love and art. 6:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497) FEBRUARY 26 AN EVENING WITH MOLLY RINGWALD Famous for her roles in iconic 80s films like The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink and Sixteen Candles, Molly Ringwald will share a different side of her vastly varied talent with an evening of jazz. 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497) FEBRUARY 28 ESTONIAN PHILHARMONIC CHAMBER CHOIR One of the most well-known Estonian music groups in the world, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir will present a program of all Estonian-region composers who have anniversaries next year: 80, 85 and 150: Part I, with Pärt and Part II, split between Veljo Tormis and Jean Sibelius. 6:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497)

MARCH MARCH 1 BEAVER CREEK RUNNING SERIES: SNOWSHOE EDITION Don’t let snow get in your way; Keep on running this winter at our 5k, 10k or kids k snowshoe races. The Beaver Creek Running Series includes free snowshoe demos, great swag, sponsor booths and a post-race party in the Village. 11 a.m. Beaver Creek. beavercreekrunningseries.com MARCH 1 PETER AND THE STARCATCHER The winner of 5 Tony Awards®, this swashbuckling prequel to Peter Pan leads audiences on a journey to discover how Peter Pan became the boy who never grew up. 6:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497) MARCH 3 AILEY II: THE NEXT GENERATION OF DANCE Merging the spirit and energy of the country’s best young dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s most outstanding emerging choreographers, Ailey II embodies Alvin Ailey’s pioneering mission. 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497)

Grouse Mountain and in Larkspur Bowl. Conquer all 14 runs and earn your spot on the Talons Wallof-Fame. Beaver Creek. beavercreek.com/talons MARCH 7 MIKE MARSHALL AND EDGAR MEYER Mike and Edgar present a repertoire that spans the globe from Bach duets and Brazilian choros to funky original pieces and their own twisted fiddle tunes. 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497) MARCH 12 THE WAILIN’ JENNYS With three distinct voices that create an achingly perfect vocal sound, the Wailin’ Jennys have emerged over the years into one of today’s most beloved international folk acts. 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497) MARCH 13 – 15 VAIL GLOBAL ENERGY FORUM Now in its fourth year, the Vail Global Energy Forum, hosted by Stanford University, Precourt Institute for Energy and the Vail Valley Foundation, brings global leaders together for a discussion on how to best provide the energy necessary to support a productive global economy in an increasingly green, secure and affordable manner. Beaver Creek Resort. vvf. org/education/vail-global-energy-forum MARCH 14-APRIL 11 BEAVER CREEK LOVES KIDS - SPRINGFEST Performers of all kinds will light up the spring-themed stage throughout these four fun-filled weeks. Kids can enter contests, take photos with the spring characters, join in parades and more, including the 23rd Annual Easter Egg Hunt in Creekside Park. Beaver Creek. beavercreek.com/springfest MARCH 14-APRIL 11 BEAVER CREEK LOVES TEENS TOO Designed for guests aged 13-17, the Beaver Creek Loves Teens Too programs entertain and engage teens in all things Beaver Creek and beyond. Activities include a twilight snowshoe trek, tubing at Adventure Ridge in Vail or testing one’s limits at the Ski & Snowboard Trick class at the trampoline center in Edwards. beavercreek.com/teens. MARCH 16 CAMELOT The story of King Arthur, Lancelot and Guinevere—as you’ve never seen them before. This Broadway classic has a modern sensibility, taking something familiar and making it new and exciting. 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497)

MARCH 6 DIRTY, SEXY, FUNNY FEATURING JENNY MCCARTHY Joined by an eclectic cast of female comediennes, Jenny McCarthy will offer up an outrageous look into the lives of modern day women, covering topics from casual sex to single motherhood. 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497)

MARCH 18 WOMEN OF IRELAND This spectacular stage show showcases Ireland’s finest talent with stunning vocalists, a world-class band and a troupe of world champion Irish step dancers. 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497)

MARCH 7 TALONS CHALLENGE More than 26,000 vertical feet of Black Diamond and Double Black Diamond runs await on Beaver Creek’s legendary World Cup race courses,

MARCH 20 LES VIOLONS DU ROY Specializing in the vast repertoire of music for chamber orchestra, Les Violons Du Roy performs each piece in the stylistic manner most appropriate

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to each era. 6:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497) MARCH 22 THE BLUES HALL OF FAME TOUR FEATURING CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE AND JOHN HAMMOND Don’t miss this opportunity for an opportunity to see two living Blues Legends and Hall of Fame inductees on one stage as they celebrate the history of the Blues. 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497) MARCH 23 SISTER ACT—THE MUSICAL Based on the movie with Whoopi Goldberg, Sister Act is the Broadway hit that tells the story of wanna-be diva Deloris Van Cartier, who ends up in a convent after witnessing a murder. Mayhem— and fun—ensues. 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497) MARCH 24 WHO’S BAD: MICHAEL JACKSON TRIBUTE BAND This jawdropping, musical must-see is a powerpacked tribute to Michael Jackson that has ignited crowds on every continent. Don’t miss this opportunity to see, once and for all, who’s bad. 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497) MARCH 28 ARLO GUTHRIE: ALICE’S RESTAURANT 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the event that inspired one of Arlo Guthrie’s most treasured songs, “Alice’s Restaurant Massacre,” this performance will feature not only the rarely performed title song, but also other classics from Guthrie’s catalog. 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497) MARCH 29 BEAVER CREEK RUNNING SERIES: SNOWSHOE EDITION Don’t let snow get in your way; Keep on running this winter at our 5k, 10k or kids k snowshoe races. The Beaver Creek Running Series includes free snowshoe demos, great swag, sponsor booths and a post-race party in the Village. 11 a.m. Beaver Creek. beavercreekrunningseries.com

APRIL APRIL 1- 11 BEAVER CREEK LOVES KIDS SPRINGFEST Performers of all kinds will light up the spring-themed stage throughout these four fun-filled weeks. Kids can enter contests, take photos with the spring characters, join in parades and more, including the 23rd Annual Easter Egg Hunt in Creekside Park. Beaver Creek. beavercreek.com/springfest APRIL 1- APRIL 11 BEAVER CREEK LOVES TEENS TOO Designed for guests aged 13-17, the Beaver Creek Loves Teens Too programs entertain and engage teens in all things Beaver Creek and beyond. Activities include a twilight snowshoe trek, tubing at Adventure Ridge

in Vail or testing one’s limits at the Ski & Snowboard Trick class at the trampoline center in Edwards. beavercreek.com/teens.

APRIL 4 23RD ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT AT CREEKSIDE PARK Join the Easter Bunny for Beaver Creek’s 23rd Annual Easter Egg Hunt, which includes 4,000 eggs followed by a photo opportunity with the Easter Bunny. Kids 12 and under can take part in the Easter Egg Hunt in waves according to age group. 10:30 a.m. Creekside Park, Beaver Creek. Beavercreek.com APRIL 4 NATALIE MERCHANT For more than 30 years, Natalie Merchant has been delivering stellar performances in both solo settings and with 10,000 Maniacs. One of the country’s most respected recording artists and songwriters, she will deliver an intimate performance that highlights her decades of music. 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497) APRIL 6 IVY + BEAN THE MUSICAL Based on the bestselling children’s book, this lively musical tells the story of two very different second graders who become unlikely friends. 10 a.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497)

Now renting ski & snow-board lockers available by the year or by the week with no initiation fees. Strategically located in the Beaver Creek Lodge; only steps from the Centennial Ski Lift 6. • Each family locker is designed to hold all relevant personal ski-gear like helmets, goggles, gloves, jackets, pants, ski poles, skis/snowboards and boot holders which are customized to hold, dry and warm your ski boots. • Facility access 24/7 with personal security codes

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APRIL 2 STRAIGHT NO CHASER Making a capella cool before shows like The Sing-Off came along, Straight No Chaser has been entertaining audiences with extraordinary music laced with a contagious sense of humor; they now bring their incredible harmonies to Beaver Creek. 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497)

Open to the public in Beaver Creek Village

APRIL 1 MIKE SUPER: MAGIC AND ILLUSION Combine the side-splitting hilarity of a headlining comedian with mind-blowing illusions and you have a performance from Mike Super. Hailed as the Dane Cook of Magic, this show will literally reach out and touch you. 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497)

APRIL 8 AND 9 SNOWKUS-POCUS Magic abounds in the whimsical world of Snowkus-Pocus, where circus spectacle and icy derring-do collide in a whirlwind of fun and fantasy. Snowy, blowy fun to be enjoyed by the whole family, from ages 4 to 104. 6:30 p.m. Vilar Center, Beaver Creek. Vilarpac.org 970.845.TIXS (8497) APRIL 12 BEAVER CREEK MOUNTAIN 2014-15 SEASON CLOSING DAY

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MAY MAY 23 – 25 BLUES, BREWS AND BBQ FESTIVAL Join in for the unofficial launch of summertime in the mountains during the 12th annual Blues, Brews and BBQ Festival. Top barbecue chefs from around the state join local chefs in serving up mouth-watering barbecue complemented by thirst-quenching microbrews at one of the largest Colorado Microbrewery beer tastings in the state, augmented by fabulous musical performances on the grandstand. The weekend wraps up with the Cut & Slice Golf Event at the Beaver Creek Golf Club. Beaver Creek. Beavercreek.com CULINARY DEMONSTRATION SERIES Join chefs from all over Beaver Creek in the Culinary Experience tent in Beaver Creek plaza as they share tips and tricks. At the end of each seminar, guests get to try the dishes, ask questions and take home recipes. These free demos take place on Fridays and Saturdays during the summer with extended dates and times during festival weekends. Beaver Creek Plaza. Beavercreek.com

JUNE BEAVER CREEK RODEO AT TRAER CREEK From team roping to barrel racing, bull riding to mutton bustin’, there’s always something to see and experience at the Beaver Creek Rodeo Series, which takes place every Thursday at the rodeo grounds in Avon. In addition to the rodeo performances, enjoy face painting, pony rides, mechanical bull rides and more. Avon. Beavercreek.com CULINARY DEMONSTRATION SERIES Join chefs from all over Beaver Creek in the Culinary Experience tent in Beaver Creek plaza as they share tips and tricks. At the end of each seminer. guests have a chance to try the dishes, ask questions and take home recipes. These free demos take place on Fridays and Saturdays during the summer with extended dates and times during festival weekends. Beaver Creek Plaza. Beavercreek.com

JULY MOVIES UNDER THE STARS On select Tuesdays in July and August, Beaver Creek hosts Movies Under the Stars - free family movies on the big screen. Selections are rated G or PG and start as soon as the sun sets. Bring a blanket, your favorite movie snacks and enjoy the show. Movies start at approximately 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Beavercreek.com JULY 1 BEAVER CREEK MUSIC EXPERIENCE Tap your feet and move to the beat during the Beaver Creek Music Experience, which

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takes place on Wednesday nights during the summer. This free concert series features a wide range of performers in a variety of styles, from bluegrass to jazz to acoustic rock, all with the spectacular backdrop of Beaver Creek resort. Beaver Creek. Beavercreek.com JULY 4 INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION Celebrate the Nation's Birthday with great food, drinks, free concerts and, of course, an amazing fireworks display, on the back lawn of Beaver Creek village. Beaver Creek. Beavercreek.com JULY 8 BEAVER CREEK MUSIC EXPERIENCE Tap your feet and move to the beat during the Beaver Creek Music Experience, which takes place on Wednesday nights during the summer. This free concert series features a wide range of performers in a variety of styles, from bluegrass to jazz to acoustic rock, all with the spectacular backdrop of Beaver Creek resort. Beaver Creek. Beavercreek.com JULY 15 BEAVER CREEK MUSIC EXPERIENCE Tap your feet and move to the beat during the Beaver Creek Music Experience, which takes place on Wednesday nights during the summer. This free concert series features a wide range of performers in a variety of styles, from bluegrass to jazz to acoustic rock, all with the spectacular backdrop of Beaver Creek resort. Beaver Creek. Beavercreek.com JULY 22 BEAVER CREEK MUSIC EXPERIENCE Tap your feet and move to the beat during the Beaver Creek Music Experience, which takes place on Wednesday nights during the summer. This free concert series features a wide range of performers in a variety of styles, from bluegrass to jazz to acoustic rock, all with the spectacular backdrop of Beaver Creek resort. Beaver Creek. Beavercreek.com BEAVER CREEK RODEO SERIES AT TRAER CREEK From team roping to barrel racing, bull riding to mutton bustin’, there’s always something to see and experience at the Beaver Creek Rodeo Series, which takes place every Thursday at the rodeo grounds in Avon. In addition to the rodeo performances, enjoy face painting, pony rides, mechanical bull rides and more. Avon. Beavercreek.com CULINARY DEMONSTRATION SERIES Join chefs from all over Beaver Creek in the Culinary Experience tent in Beaver Creek plaza as they share tips and tricks. At the end of each seminar, guests have a chance to try the dishes, ask questions and take home recipes. These free demos take place on Fridays and Saturdays during the summerwith extended dates and times during festival weekends. Beaver Creek Plaza. Beavercreek.com XTERRA MOUNTAIN CHAMPIONSHIP & XTERRA TRAIL RUN XTERRA returns

to Beaver Creek and Avon, CO for the 2015 XTERRA Mountain Championship. XTERRA Mountain Championship events include a full-length XTERRA championship race and a shorter distance XTERRA Sprint race as well as 5, 10 and 21km trail runs. Beaver Creek. Xterraplanet.com JULY 27 – AUGUST 9 VAIL INTERNATIONAL DANCE FESTIVAL The 27th season of the Vail International Dance Festival will once again present the best dancers in the world on a variety of stages, including the intimate performance space in the Vilar Performing Arts Center. Vail and Beaver Creek. Vvf.org JULY 29 BEAVER CREEK MUSIC EXPERIENCE Tap your feet and move to the beat during the Beaver Creek Music Experience, which takes place on Wednesday nights during the summer. This free concert series features a wide range of performers in a variety of styles, from bluegrass to jazz to acoustic rock, all with the spectacular backdrop of Beaver Creek resort. Beaver Creek. Beavercreek.com

AUGUST AUGUST 7 – 9 BEAVER CREEK WINE & SPIRITS FESTIVAL Celebrate the pleasures of the palate at the annual Beaver Creek Wine & Spirits Festival. Combining Beaver Creek’s very own culinary talent, exclusive wines and outdoor venues, the Beaver Creek Wine & Spirits Festival is the perfect blend of summertime in the mountains. From wine pairings to cocktail seminars and cooking classes the festival features culinary delights and unique libations for a variety of palates. Beaver Creek. Beavercreek.com MOVIES UNDER THE STARS Tuesdays in July and August, Beaver Creek hosts Movies Under the Stars - free family movies on the big screen. Selections are rated G or PG and start as soon as the sun sets. Bring a blanket,your favorite movie snacks and enjoy the show. Movies start at approximately 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Beavercreek.com BEAVER CREEK RODEO SERIES AT TRAER CREEK From team roping to barrel racing, bull riding to mutton bustin’, there’s always something to see and experience at the Beaver Creek Rodeo Series, which takes place every Thursday at the rodeo grounds in Avon. In addition to the rodeo performances, enjoy face painting, pony rides, mechanical bull rides and more. Avon. Beavercreek.com CULINARY DEMONSTRATION SERIES Join chefs from all over Beaver Creek in the Culinary Experience tent in Beaver Creek plaza as they share tips and tricks. At the end of each seminar, guests have a chance to try the dishes, ask questions and take home recipes.

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These free demos take place on Fridays and Saturdays during the summerwith extended dates and times during festival weekends. Beaver Creek Plaza. Beavercreek.com BEAVER CREEK MUSIC EXPERIENCE Tap your feet and move to the beat during the Beaver Creek Music Experience, which takes place on Wednesday nights during the summer. This free concert series features a wide range of performers in a variety of styles, from bluegrass to jazz to acoustic rock, all with the spectacular backdrop of Beaver Creek resort. Beaver Creek. Beavercreek.com

Open 7 Days A Week 27 MAIN STREET THE RIVERWALK, EDWARDS 970.926.0777

SOUL MOUNTAIN MUSIC FESTIVAL Treat Yourself to a Healthy Dose of All Things Soul! Soul Mountain Music Festival celebrates the heart of Soul Music with top musicians, empowerment events and cultural activities over three days and two nights of performances by some of the greatest R&B, conscious Hip Hop, alternative Rock, Blues & Neo Soul artists from around the world. Beaver Creek. Beavercreek.com

SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 5 - 6 OKTOBERFEST Celebrate Labor Day weekend with a Bavarian flare. Beaver Creek's annual Oktoberfest returns with foot stompin' oom-pah-pah music, unbeatable beer and wunderbar wurst. Beaver Creek. Beavercreek.com SEPTEMBER 11-12RENDEZVOUS MUSIC FESTIVAL Rendezvous Music Festival at Beaver Creek is a unique and intimate music experience set against a beautiful fall background. The event brings award winning musicians to the village with outdoor stages, VIP events and intimate house concerts. Blending music, food, wine and entertainment, Rendezvous Music Festival is truly a one-of-a-kind experience.

CO NTE M PO R ARY I TALI AN I N TH E R O CKY M O UNTA IN S

Celebrating

years!

SEPTEMBER 18 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 20 GERMAN AUTO FESTIVAL Join auto enthusiasts to celebrate the engineering, design, quality, history and exclusivity of the German automobile at the second annual Beaver Creek German Auto Festival. Beaver Creek. Beavercreek.com SEPTEMBER HIKE WINE AND DINE The great restaurants of Beaver Creek set up shop along the trails of Beaver Creek, delighting participating hikers with tasty bites. The event starts at Centennial Park behind the Beaver Creek Chophouse with mimosas and breakfast and loops back for wine.

970.845.8808 www.SplendidoBeaverCreek.com

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AFTERNOON AT BEAVER CREEK ICE RINK BY A N TON A R K H I P OV *

BEAVER CREEK MAGAZINE ✧ 2 014 A N N UA L

*C. ANTHONY GALLERY ARTIST

“A home is one of the most important assets that most people will ever buy. Homes are also where memories are made and you want to work with someone you can trust.” - Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO, Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

43 Borders Road | $8,995,000

153 Village Walk | $7,200,000 153 Village Walk | $7,200,000

Two Beaver Creek Office Locations

Villa Montane - across from the Vilar Center 970-845-8700 | Beaver Creek Lodge - adjacent to the Covered Bridge 970-845-8440 Two Beaver Creek Office Locations

Villa Montane - across from the Vilar Center 970-845-8700 - adjacent to the| Covered Bridge 970-845-8440 Scott Bandoni | Jim Green | Marla Hillerich||Beaver CrystalCreek “CJ” Lodge Jay | Andrew Keiser Jeffrey Cloonan

BHHSColoradoProperties.com BHHSColoradoProperties.com || 77 Offices Offices || 90 90 Brokers Brokers || Vacation Vacation Rentals Rentals || Since Since 1971 1971