SneakPEAK - December 12, 2013 by Sneak Peak Vail Newspaper

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Thursday, December 12 - December 18, 2013

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A handpicked guide to stocking stuffers from Recollect Threads, Otter Box, the Bookworm, Melanzana and a dozen of Colorado’s hottest brands

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“The Nutcracker” at Vilar Local ballet dancers bring the beloved holiday classic to a new generation this weekend

A new face for Matisyahu An exclusive interview with hip-hop’s spiritual superstar before Snow Daze

Vendetta’s 2.0

The popular pizza bar and ski patrol hangout gets a much-needed expansion

Thursday, December 12 - December 18, 2013

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

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Thursday, December 12 - December 18, 2013

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Show Colorado love this holiday with gifts by tech startups, clothing outfitters and more

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“We Help Injured People” Auto & Motorcycle Accidents • Slip & Fall Other Serious Injuries • Ski & Snowboard Accidents Free Consult • Percentage Fee

21 | Calendar of events 22 | Dining guide in Vail P18 | Vendetta’s Village gets a chat with Snow P4 | ADaze headliner

Editor’s note: Palmer Hoyt’s weekly “Powder Turns” column is on temporary hiatus. Check back the second week of January for a new column.

facelift 30 years in the making SneakPEAK Vail is a locally owned arts, entertainment and lifestyle magazine, published weekly throughout the year for the Colorado mountain communities of Eagle County.

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Matisyahu plays Snow Daze 12.14.2013

TUNES lighting the spark

An interview with lyricist, beatboxer and spiritual oddball Matisyahu before his Snow Daze concert in Vail this Saturday. Interview by Phil Lindeman. Before hip-hop maestro Matisyahu began performing for ski bums across the country, he was one of them.

Matisyahu, sans his trademark beard at a recent concert.

When the 34-year-old New York native was a teen, he worked as a liftie for a few seasons at Mt. Bachelor in Oregon. He soaked up the easy-going vibe of the mountains – particularly artists like Phish, Bob Marley and every figure in the underground hiphop universe – to help craft a sound that’s unlike anything else in modern music. To put it very, very simply, he’s a devout Jew making hip-hop for the jam-and-reggae-loving masses. As fans know, Matisyahu is a formidable wordsmith and beatboxer because of his religion, not in spite of it. He’s one of a select few devout artists to find relatively widespread success, releasing an album or EP almost every year since he began performing as Matisyahu in 2004. He even balanced a new album, “Spark Seeker,” with a surprisingly nuanced turn in the 2012 horror film “The Possession,” playing – what else? – a Jew with the nerve to skirt rules and get away with it. To read an extended version of the interview Before co-headlining Saturday’s Snow Daze conwith Matisyahu, go to SneakPeakVail.com cert with Colorado legends Big Head Todd and the and find Snow Daze under “Sneak Beats.” Monsters (they of “Bittersweet” fame), Matisyahu spoke with SneakPEAK about his early musical leanings, the comingling of rhythm and religion, and SP: How about Rastafarianism? When first dighow Bob Marley continues to be a major influence. ging into reggae, were you also interested in the religion behind it, or was the interest more about the SP: You grew up listening to tons of jam music. music alone? What first drew you to bands like Phish? M: It was both. I was fascinated by the whole M: It was really the first concert I went to. When I thing – initially it was the music, the charisma, the was 16 years old, it just changed my whole perspec- aura of Bob Marley. He was the initial artist I listive on music and the power and effect it had on me. tened to for years. Then they have the Old TestaIt was that moment when I knew I wanted to create ment references, and given my Jewish background music and dedicate myself to performing. and quest to understand my identity, I began to learn about those pieces through reggae, through a RastaSP: You’ve always fit reggae rhythms and vibes farian lens. into your music. Why does that sound speak to you? I guess I was just taken by the whole thing – I M: Again, like jam bands, it was sort of the “first wanted dreadlocks, and so I had them. At a certain love” thing. As I was forming as a teenager, devel- point I moved beyond that phase and was able to oping my voice, that was the music that inspired enjoy the music, the culture, and fit that into my own me. Just from a musical perspective, which is totally identity. When I found the crossover between the non-intellectual, it appealed to me. two, I almost appreciated the music more.

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Photo: Dave Smith.

Vail snow daze The annual Vail Snow Daze celebration runs from now to Dec. 15, with free events spread between Lionshead and Vail Village. For a complete schedule, see vail.com. Thursday, Dec. 12 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Bud Light après party, Vendetta’s Friday, Dec. 13 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Bud Light après party, Red Lion 6 p.m. – Rebelution with MiMOSA, Ford Park (free concert) 10 p.m. – Bud Light after-dark party, The George Saturday, Dec. 14 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Bud Light après party, Vendetta’s 6 p.m. – Big Head Todd and the Monsters with Matisyahu, Ford Park (free concert)

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The valley’s first table tennis club debuts in Vail

CULTURE Fundraiser or fun-raiser?

Vail Symposium and Happy Valley Grill organize the Vail area’s first and only pingpong club. By John O’Neill. Vail Symposium donor Laurie Kleisinger plays at Happy Valley Grill as her husband, Terry, looks on. Photo special to SneakPEAK.

Backhands, chops, domes and deuces.

Back to pingpong. There are five tables in total and all are available for reservation. It should be noted that pingpong was added as an Olympic sport in 1988. While Sylvan Ellefson trains on the Nordic track just outside the grill in an effort to nail down his Sochi spot, a new local standout may emerge on the tables inside. While the tables are being used for recreation at the moment, the Symposium plans to organize tournaments and bring up pingpong pros from Denver. The Happy Valley Grill is also home to an abundance of big screen TVs showing whatever game might be on (cough – college football – cough – NFL Sunday) rounding out a great après activity for friends or families. Marc DesRosaries, owner of Happy Valley Grill and Big Delicious Catering, the Symposium’s catering partner, will have drink and food specials for the pingpong players, said Flower. The Happy Valley Grill is located in East Vail on the Vail Golf Course. It is on the free bus system route and there is a large – free – parking lot.

Vail’s only table tennis club is up and operational at the Happy Valley Grill in East Vail on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays as an après activity to warm up after a day on the slopes. The ping pong tables were provided by the Vail Symposium. The Symposium has hosted a number of table tennis tournaments over the years and had come to acquire an abundance of pingpong tables. “This is Vail’s only table tennis club,” says Tracey Flower, the Symposium’s development officer. “We just set it up last month. The tables were in our basement collecting dust and we figured we could put them to better use.” Folks can reserve the tables for $10 for each hour per table. Seeing that solo pingpong-ing is an affair accomplished only by Forrest Gump and a wall, the cost between two people – or four if you’re playing pairs – becomes very affordable. All of the proceeds raised from the table tennis will go toward the Vail Symposium: a nonprofit that proSneakPEAK writer John O’Neill can be reached vides thought-provoking and affordable programming in the valley. They have been in operation since 1991. at info@sneakpeakvail.com

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Revisiting holiday traditions It’s that time of year again, and while everyone has different traditions and memories associated with the holidays, there are a few undeniable classics that everyone knows. “The Nutcracker” is one of those classics. Composed in 1892, the music for “The Nutracker” by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky was created as a commissioned piece for choreographer Marius Petipa. The completed work was world-premiered in Russia’s Mariinsky Theatre, home of the Kirov Ballet. The first American performance took place in 1944 by the San Francisco Ballet, with choreography by Willam Christensen. Bringing this tradition to the Vilar Center this weekend is the Friends of Dance with the Vail Youth Ballet Company (VYBC) and the Vail Valley Academy of Dance (VVAD). Founded by Anne Powell in 1989, VVAD is the place where girls and boys study the art form of dance. The Academy welcomes everyone who wishes to learn to dance and provides a schedule of classes for students of all ages and levels. The VYBC is a group of dancers who study at VVAD and audition for acceptance into the company. They are usually upper-level students who are interested in more opportunities to perform and grow in the art of dance and choose dance over most other activities. “Dancers must attend at least three ballet classes per week and be proficient in pointe work to be a part of the Vail Youth Ballet Company,” says Powell. “They must be willing to attend scheduled weekly rehearsals as well as Saturdays.”

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Thursday, December 12 - December 18, 2013

Helping hand Assisting with the financial side of both VVAD and VYBC is non-profit organization Friends of the Dance, which supports students who make the choice to make dance study their priority. Founded in 1984 by Joanne Morgan, Friends of the Dance’s mission is to offer financial assistance to dancers with their studies. The organization also provides master classes and performance opportunities with professional companies. “The VVAD and VYBC are important to this community because they give kids discipline, respect for themselves and for others,” says Friends of the Dance board member Linda Lampert. “They also learn group interaction, time management skills and how to work and dance together.” The VYBC kids put in 25 hours a week in addition to school as they are always working toward a performance, says Lampert. “Both the VVAD and VYBC teach teamwork, discipline and focus, and being a student of dance will stick with these kids forever,” says Friends of the Dance board member Susan Gruber. Friends of the Dance also encourages their students to give back, as they did on a recent trip to June Creek Elementary School and Homestake Peak where they did preview performances of “The Nutcracker”. “Can you imagine how wonderful that is,” says Morgan. “Sitting in the audiences were children who most likely know nothing about ballet. This was probably the first time most of them have seen anything like the Sugar Plum Fairy and the magical characters of ‘The Nutcracker.’ I am so touched by the possibility that a few might have loved it so much that a door has been opened to them.”

Following “The Nutcracker”, the VYBC will compete in the Youth America Grand Prix in February which will require weekly rehearsals and Saturday rehearsals. While some of the kids will perform a solo variation, others will perform in a group piece. Once the dancers graduate from VVAD and/or VYBC, some major in dance and attend a college program on a dance scholarship. “Our former student Jonathan Windham is currently dancing in New York and was chosen last December as one of the 25 Dancers to watch by Dance Magazine,” says Powell. “He returned home to dance last summer at the Vail International Dance Festival. Other students are also in pre-professional or professional training programs or schools.”

Left: The Sugarplum Fairy (Katherine Sayre) and the Cavalier (Tanner Blee) during rehearsal for the Vail Youth Ballet Company’s performance of “The Nutcracker.” Above: Jamie Barnett practices for Vail Youth Ballet Company’s annual performance of “The Nutcracker” as staff teacher Colin Meiring looks on. Photos: Katie Anderson.

Exceptional talent Although everyone involved in the ballet works hard, three Battle Mountain High School seniors to watch for during this weekend’s performance are Haley Hervert, Katherine Sayre (Lampert’s daughter) and Jamie Barnett. “Each one of these girls has been dancing for 10-plus years at VVAD,” says Powell. “They have been members of the VYBC for five or six years. They have all studied away at prestigious summer dance programs and they are excellent students not only in dance, but at school as well. They are all dancing leading roles in this production.” Sayre is playing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Hervert is Dewdrop in the Waltz of the Flowers and Barnett is the Arabian Princess. Another name to look for is Vail Mountain School junior Allie Gruber, who is playing the Snow Queen.

Important performances Because “The Nutcracker” is performed every other year, this weekend’s performances are the last for Hervert, Sayre, Barnett and Gruber. Audiences should look forward to “the joy and skill that these young dancers present as they dance ‘The Nutcracker’ at the Vilar,” says Powell. “We’re always excited for these performances because everyone is familiar with the music and it’s a holiday tradition,” adds Gruber. SneakPEAK writer Laura Lieff can be reached at info@sneakpeakvail.com

IF YOU GO What: “The Nutcracker,” performed by Friends of the Dance with the Vail Youth Ballet Company and Vail Valley Academy of Dance Where: Vilar Performing Arts Center, Beaver Creek When: Friday, Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. Tickets: $37 To purchase tickets to any performance of “The Nutcracker,” see vilarpac.org.

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VVP announces 2013 Success Awards finalists

PROGRESS Top of the class

SSCV, Group 970 and Red Ribbon Project join 30 finalists for the 2013 VVP Success Awards. By Phil Lindeman. The valley loves a good awards ceremony. For the 11th straight year, the Vail Valley Partnership combed through more than 100 glowing nominations to name finalists for its annual Success Awards. Among the lucky few are heavyweights like Crazy Mountain Brewery and Colorado Mountain Express, along with individuals from Antlers at Vail, Eat! Drink! and the Vail Valley Medical Center. This year’s batch of nominees are spread across 11 categories and represent the best Eagle County has to offer, all nominated by at least one peer or community member throughout the year. From there, a committee of past winners looked at valley-wide influence, overall economic impact and a slew of intangibles to arrive at the list of 33 finalists. To add a touch of intrigue, VVP introduces at least three new award categories each December. The 2013 additions pay homage to Eagle County’s backbone (Hospitality Professional of the Year), its promising future (Health and Wellness Leadership Award) and the reason thousands of transplants call it home (Best Place to Work). Finally comes the ceremony. VVP hosts a formal awards gala on Friday, Jan. 31 at the Vilar Center in Beaver Creek to unveil the winners. Tickets are $79 through vilarpac.org and should be on sale within a week of the mid-December announcement. An afterparty is slated for The Metropolitan tapas bar. Here’s a select look at the 2013 Success Awards nominees and why they’re in the running, presented catalogue-style: Business of the Year Group 970, which employs more than 250 employees at five area restaurants (the Vail and Beaver Creek Chophouses are popular après hangouts) and launched the successful Vail/Beaver Creek Restaurant Week to

Top: The welcome sign at Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy, a finalist for this year’s VVP Success Awards. Photo: Charles Townsend Bessent. Bottom: Kevin and Marisa Selvy, co-owners of nominee Crazy Mountain Brewery. Photo: Kent Pettit.

Nonprofit of the Year Habitat for Humanity of Eagle and Lake Counties, which recently completed a three-year construction and capital campaign, raising $4 million dollars to purchase new land and give more than a dozen inneed families a place to finally call home. Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, which entered a firstof-its-kind partnership with the Town of Minturn for a shared recreation facility, will send a handful of athletes to the Winter Olympics in Sochi and continues to attract dozens of talented, promising up-and-comers to its training facility at Golden Peak. Small Nonprofit of the Year Red Ribbon Project, which relies on one part-time employee and a small corps of volunteers to bring relevant education on AIDS, sexual health and teenage pregnancy to students at 15 local schools, particularly the Hispanic population through its ¡Cuidate! series. Starting Hearts, which travels the county in a custom-painted school bus to teach students, teachers and other community members the basics of CPR, including the signs of a heart attack and how to use an automated external defibrillator. Hospitality Professional of the Year Magda King, the assistant general manager at Antliven up the typically dead off-season. lers of Vail, who treats employees of every pay scale New Electric, which at 41 years old is the longest- like invaluable members of the lodge family, from a standing electrical contractor in the valley and, as of year-round book club for the Spanish-speaking housepress time, is committed to $10 million of backlog keeping staff to a soon-to-be-implemented GED prowork over the next year and a half. gram.

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Following the CU Freestyle Ski Team across the globe

ATHLETICS The other Olympics

Colorado-based athletes head to Winter World University Games in Italy. By Michael Suleiman. Editor’s note: Writer Michael Suleiman is the park and halfpipe coach for the University of Colorado Freestyle Ski Team.

Often called second to the Olympics, the 2013 Winter World University Games in Italy will host 3,000 athletes from 59 countries starting Dec. 11. The torch for the Games was lit by Pope Francis, and has been traveling across Italy for the past two months. Although the event has been going on since the 1950’s freestyle skiing is a relatively new addition. A team of local freestyle skiers will represent the United States in the competition’s slopestyle and skiercross events. For that 11-person team, the bumps and bruises that come along with high-speed sports have only marked the beginning of the challenges. Coming up with $50,000 was the first obstacle. “Having little financial support has been a huge difficulty for us. We still aren’t quite to our goal and will have to continue raising money when we return,” says U.S. competitor Jeremy Brown. The team has hosted a number of fundraisers, including an event sponsored by Icelantic Skis. The majority of the team is made up of athletes from the University of Colorado’s Freestyle Ski Team. Five-time national champions, the team will showcase their skills on an international level. Competitive skiing and school don’t always mesh. Thanks to professor flexibility, most of the athletes will take final exams while on the trip. “My biggest obstacle has been school. Not just getting good grades, but also doing all of the assigned work with a full course load in the engineering school. I haven’t seen any of my friends who aren’t on the ski team in over a month because when I’m not skiing I’m doing schoolwork or trying to catch up on sleep,” says U.S. competitor Connor O’Brien. Teammate Ian Simpson is in a similar position, “As soon as I found out I was invited to go, I contacted my professors and said this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and will you work with me on this. I have to take three finals while we are traveling and competing,” says Simpson. A majority of the team going to the Games competed and won Nationals this past spring. Building strength and dialing in tricks has been the main focus for the athletes over the past six months. “In terms of preparation, I started this summer. Although I didn’t have an opportunity to ski this summer because of school and work, I went to the gym every single chance I had. Throughout the summer and fall I got on the trampoline as much as possible and trained at Woodward when I could. I’m really looking forward to competing on an international level. Generally at Nationals we end up competing against the same schools. It will be interesting to see what other countries are going to bring to the table,” says Simpson. Freestyle skiing is a high-risk sport. Just before leaving for the trip, one of the team members suffered a concussion while training. She is determined to participate in the event regardless. She will be monitored closely to ensure that she stays healthy enough to compete. “The challenge of preparation has kept me busy. After taking a few weeks off the snow due to an ankle injury, I took a fall and hit my head,” says U.S. competitor Katie Hitchcock. Other dedicated athletes on the team are coming back from injuries that have only made them more determined.

Top: Jeremy Brown of the CU Freestyle Ski Team hits a box in spring 2013. Bottom: CU Freestyle Ski Team members (from left) Alexis Keeney, Katie Hitchcock and Connor O’Brien. Photos: Michael Suleiman.

Alexis Keeney suffered a broken neck late last season and has come back stronger than ever this year. “I had to recover all summer from a neck injury. When I got the go-ahead I was immediately back on the snow. I found out about the event through the coaches on the University of Colorado Team. I’m really excited to be competing in such a big event. I have been focusing on my jumping this season and locking in spins both ways. I have never been to Europe so it should be exciting,” says Keeney. Some of the athletes will focus solely on either skiercross or slopestyle at the event. Half of the athletes have alpine backgrounds and are there to cover skiercross. “Given the fact that I’m a relative beginner to freestyle skiing, this side of the sport has forced me to push beyond my alpine background. I was informed about this trip merely a month ago and since then have already seen myself skiing at new levels of intensity. Skiing is far more than a sport; it’s my life and its wonderful community inspires me,” says teammate Keeli Zigich. The team will be competing in skiercross on Dec.15 and slopestyle on the Dec.18. The events will be televised on CBS Sports. For more information or to make a donation go to cufst.com. SneakPEAK writer Michael Suleiman can be reached at info@sneakpeakvail.com Thursday, December 12 - December 18, 2013

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2013 Gift Guide | the best of colorado

hil Lindeman gear P y B ys, winterColorado to in tech ’s best brands born season to the x gifts from A guide and unorthodo

Deck halls the

In one of the most darkly humorous holiday films, a small, seemingly innocuous gift becomes the talk of an entire sleepy town. In one of the most darkly humorous holiday films, a small, seemingly innocuous gift becomes the talk of an entire sleepy town. It’s not the Red Ryder BB gun in “A Christmas Story,” the withered tree in “A Charlie Brown Christmas” or even the Christmas spirit itself in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” It’s the cute, loveable, schizophrenic Gizmo from “Gremlins.” Thanks to all the mayhem and madness that comes after midnight, people often forget the 1984 hit is set during Christmas. But what do Gizmo and his hooligan offspring have in common with a mountain-town gift guide? Boundless energy, with just a touch of rebelliousness. Dig beneath Vail’s skiresort trappings and you find a small, untamed slice of the Colorado wilderness. It’s the same brand of off-kilter joy “Gremlins” revels in from the first frame, not to mention the same joy that draws thousands of skiers to the Rocky Mountains every December. There’s something oddly exciting about watching a whole town rally behind a cause, whether it be stopping monstrous creatures or scouring the backcountry for fresh lines. For this year’s gift guide, we rallied behind the hometown cause with a Coloradoborn theme. These folks represent the most unusual and surprising in a state known for both: insanely popular hoodies from Leadville’s Melanzana, nearly indestructible phone cases from OtterBox in Fort Collins, a set of next-generation Legos from Boulder-based Modular Robotics and handknitted neckwarmers from a 14-year-old entrepreneur in Vail. An out-of-state GoPro competitor completes our tech roundup, but it’s balanced by a list of mountain-bound outfitters and enticing services found only in Eagle County. The “Gremlins” metaphor might be stretched a bit thin. Still, we hope at least one of these items draws your attention and, with any luck, becomes the perfect gift for someone on your holiday list. Maybe it’ll even be the talk of the town.

The view along Meadow Drive in Vail Village. Photo: Anthony Thornton.

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Thursday, December 12 - December 18, 2013

2013 Gift Guide | beyond the box

It’s easy enough to shop in your long johns during the holidays. With huge selections and free shipping on everything, online outlets like Amazon to Overstock.com nearly take the fun out of wading through the feverish, red-and-green throngs at shopping malls while Bing Crosby plays on repeat. It’s a yuletide scene nearly half of all Americans will avoid this year, “White Christmas” notwithstanding. Luckily, the Vail area is home to few heaving masses and even fewer malls. Yet online shopping also has its downsides: As more retailers offer their best discounts late into the season – sometimes a week or less before Christmas – the chances of gifts arriving on time in rural locations drops. When Vail Pass closes nothing gets by, not even a truckload of Xbox Ones. But don’t ditch the long johns just yet. Dozens of local businesses offer gifts only found in Eagle County, from discounted gym memberships and custom book clubs to secluded dining getaways. You may have to venture into the cold, but the rewards are worth it.

To buy: Gift certificates are available by calling the reservation number at 970.754.3463. Reservations are required, with discounts available for children younger than 11. You can also reserve a spot online through beanoscabinbeavercreek.com.

Give 15 program at the Bookworm Cost: $10 to $30 per month Now in its second year, the Give 15 program through the Bookworm in Edwards is nothing short of a personal literary concierge. (Take that, Kindle Fire.) Here’s how it works: Every month for a year, children’s book specialist Franny Gustafson handpicks a new title and mails it to recipients across the country. It may sound like a flavor-of-the-month book club, but the process is highly personalized. Gustafson selects books based on the recipient’s tastes and preferences, ranging from interactive picture books for toddlers to magical realism for well-read teens. As the gift giver, you’re charged once per month based on the price of the book (hardcover costs more). Shipping is included and the store sends additional books during the holidays and birthdays. The program is popular for children, but a handful of the 40-or-so current members are adults. Gustafson knows no age boundaries. To buy: Stop by the Bookworm and ask a bookseller for the Give 15 form. Be sure to know what your book lover enjoys – like a mixtape, it’s as much about your relationship as the final product.

“Out Living It” blends from Vail Mountain Coffee and Tea Co. Cost: $9.95 for 12-ounce bag

For more than a decade, First Descents has treated small groups of young cancer survivors to one-of-a-kind adventure camps, often using Vail as a base camp for kayaking, rock climbing and more. Now the Denver nonprofit has teamed with Vail Mountain Coffee and Tea Co. to raise money for more than 50 programs on two continents. Named after the First Descents motto, the “Out Living It” coffee series features light, medium and dark roast blends, all packaged in custom bags to showcase adrenaline-pumping activities. As if you need another reason to gift scrumptious, sustainably farmed coffee, 50 cents from each sale goes to the nonprofit. To buy: Available just about anywhere Vail Mountain Coffee is sold, including Eagle Diner, Dish!, Café 163, the Bookworm, City Market and Safeway.

Gym discounts and memberships Cost: Varies Without coming off as pushy, it’s never a bad idea to gently nudge, prod and poke loved ones into following through on New Year’s resolutions. Nearly a dozen local gyms specialize in everything from cycling to triathlon training, and the trick is finding a discount. Dogma Athletica in Edwards offers two holiday specials. The first is a “Gift of Health” gift card, which costs $150 and is good for one yoga or compu-trainer punch card (10 visits), two personal training sessions or a consultation with fitness plan. The gift card can only be used for one option, but each is worth $170 or more. The second Dogma deal looks at the long-term: If you register for a membership in December, the gym waives the initiation fee ($150 for individuals, $200 for families) and throws in two free training sessions, along with discounts on yoga classes and pro shop goodies. A bit further down-valley, the Gypsum Recreation Center came up with a three-month deal. For $89, current members get a pass good for unlimited classes (yoga, spin, the like) until April 1. Non-members are privy to the same deal for $149. To buy: Gym memberships can be on par with signing a lease – seriously – and we recommend visiting the gyms in person. Front desk employees can talk you through the membership process and find the best option for any giftee.

Dinner for two at Beano’s Cabin Cost: $115 per person Nestled in the woods across from Grouse Mountain at Beaver Creek, Beano’s Cabin is one of those places that goes largely unnoticed by locals. It’s one of several on-mountain restaurants operated by Vail Resorts – Game Creek Club at Vail is incredibly popular – and thanks to the secluded locale, it’s perfect for a romantic midwinter dinner. The price is steep, but it’s worth the experience. Service begins with an open-air sleigh ride via snowcat steeds, which wind their way from Beaver Creek Village to Beano’s front porch. The group then heads inside for gourmet dinner and live music. The menu has a Colorado bent, featuring dishes like fried rabbit and elk tartare to start and Colorado lamb or wild striped bass for entrées. Alcohol and tip aren’t included in the flat rate.

Down-valley pampering at High Altitude Spa Cost: Varies Vail and Beaver Creek are teeming with highend spas, but travel a few miles west to find the same treatment at High Altitude Spa. The fullservice spa and salon in downtown Eagle is home to three stylists and two massage therapist, along with everything needed for tanning, waxing and facials. Gift certificates are a must during the holidays – $100 easily covers a massage or two mani/pedi packages – but the spa also carries a slew of gift bags. Pricing ranges from $25 to $75 for bags with shampoo, conditioner, lotions and the like. Schedule an appointment before the end of December and get the monthly cut/color special for $125. To buy: Drop by the spa at 105 Capitol St. in downtown Eagle or call 970.328.2887. Thursday, December 12 - December 18, 2013

sneakpeak

2013 Gift Guide | Mountain outfitters

The finest clothing by Rocky Mountain originals, from hand-sewn hoodies to Vail-made neckwarmers

In the wide world of alpine gear and accessories, Colorado might as well be the cradle of invention. And why wouldn’t it be? The entire state is an enormous testing facility. Dozens of niche and boutique alpine outfitters have blossomed over the years, from heavyweights like Head and Obermeyer to small-time operations like Candygrind and Vail’s Bloom Outerwear. And that’s just the snow sports industry. While birthplace doesn’t always guarantee pedigree – just think of all the ho-hum microbreweries around the country – the majority of Colorado-based manufacturers share a feverish devotion to the state. SneakPEAK rounded up a handful of companies near and dear to the Vail Valley, including neighbors from Leadville and a hometown crew now nestled in Jackson Hole. One thing is for certain: When it comes to your gear, there really is no place like home.

The best of Etsy, Vail edition Without getting into small-business philosophy and such, Etsy is a web store just for hobbyists and small-time builders. It’s home to thousands of stores based in locations across the globe, including the Vail Valley. The site is easy to operate – just search by store name or location. But remember: transactions are handled directly by the seller, so check individual shipping and payment rules before making a purchase. All of the below stores can be found through etsy.com. KelyKwood – Handmade cribbage boards carved from locally sourced beetle-kill pine. Pricing around $80. Four13Designs – Personalized wedding or event invitations, menus, placeholders and other goodies, all with ski/mountain themes. Pricing range from $1.50 (per item) to $100. Shamrockfinewoodwork – High-end wooden furniture and home accents, including tables, chairs, beds, cradles and more. All made in Eagle by owner Tim O’Brien. Pricing ranges from $800 to $5,000-plus.

sneakpeak

Thursday, December 12 - December 18, 2013

Melanzana Born in: Leadville

The gist: Clothing companies don’t get much quirkier than Melanzana. Found in a converted storefront in downtown Leadville, the manufacturer shares the Italian word for eggplant and was founded by a man with hardly any experience in textiles. And yet, Fritz Howard – the goateed mastermind behind Melanzana – has turned his store into the indie equivalent of Patagonia, selling some 20,000 hoodies, pants, thermals and vests each year. Every item is crafted in-house by a team of nine sewers and one cutter. Hot product: Year after year, the micro-grid hoodie ($68) is the go-to item for men, women and children. It comes in nearly 14 different colorways and features Melanzana’s trademark “ninja hood”: a combination turtleneck/hood that’s as cool as it sounds. New this season is a high-loft version of the hoodie ($97), made with thicker, softer fabric. Material for both is highperformance polyester. Find it: Products are only available online at melanzana.com or through the storefront. If you have time, make the drive along U.S. Highway 24 to Leadville. It’s worth the trip when the weather is nice.

2013 Gift Guide | Mountain outfitters Recollect Threads Born in: Vail

Vail Hotties Born in: Vail

The gist: Why feature two facemasks in the same gift guide? Because Vail Hotties were invented by 14-year-old snowboarder Cameron Chaney and that alone deserves a mention. About two years back, the Ski and Snowboard Club athlete was looking for a new facemask when he noticed his mom crocheting scarves for friends. Those knitted goods looked oddly similar to the chunky, colorful mask he’d been after, and within a few months Vail Hotties was born. Chaney’s mom, Sounia, is his sole employee, and together they’ve sold more than 50 masks to family, friends and SSCV athletes. Hot product: The Vail Hotties masks come in a basic pullover design, but Chaney can tweak color and thickness by request. His favorites are plain white and a tri-color combo of yellow, green and purple. At $10 a pop, they’re practically a steal. Find it: Email Chaney (cameron.chaney.vssa@ gmail.com) with desired color and thickness. He’ll get working right away, but turnaround depends on his schedule. After all, he’s 14.

The gist: As more and more folks take to the Colorado backcountry, more and more folks want to proudly display their love for said backcountry. Enter Recollect Threads, a clothing company founded by avid tele skier and Edwards native Alex Biegler. RT (as it’s known) specializes in graphic tees and hats, along with a small selection of hoodies and vests. Most are still printed or embroidered at JBT’s Silk Screen in Eagle. Biegler wanted to champion the backcountry lifestyle over high-end gear and outerwear, so don’t expect jackets or pants anytime soon. That said, he’s done well enough to open a dedicated storefront in his adopted hometown of Jackson Hole – a first for the fledgling company. Hot product: Like former Vail outfitter Kind Designs, RT is known for catchy, understated graphics. The new Alpine Bootpacker mesh hat ($27.95) features a soon-to-be-iconic touring silhouette, while the Regal Flatbrim hat ($27.50) touts a bold, bright logo that’s more than appropriate for lapping the terrain park. The Vendetta vest ($55) is a favorite of team riders like Kjell Ellefson and his brother Sylvan, both from Vail. Find it: A handful of RT hats and shirts are available at Everyday Outfitters in Eagle, but the majority of products are found online at recollectthreads.com. If you’re lucky enough to visit Jackson this winter, drop by the store – Biegler keeps a healthy selection of exclusive items and colors on-hand.

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The gist: Next time you covetously spy some park rat sporting a facemask with the Colorado flag, chances are it was made just across Vail Pass by Phunkshunwear. Over the past three years, the three-year-old company’s ever-changing line has become the industry standard for pullovers, balaclavas and headbands. The difference between a Phunkshun mask and dollar-store knock-off is loving care: Each product is made with quality fabric that’s cut, sewn and sublimated in Silverthorne, all while distribution has slowly grown beyond humble roots to include stores in Canada, Europe and just about every U.S. state. A roster of grungy team riders simply adds to the cool factor, and in the end, isn’t that what really matters? Hot product: This season’s double-layer pullover ($19.50 to $24.99) is a must-have for just about anyone. Seriously. Even without the fullface protection of a Phunkshun “ballerclava” ($24.99), the DL has functionality to spare. The outer layer is water-repellent and breathable, while the inner layer is antimicrobial and moisture-wicking. Unlike thick fleece or thin Lycra, the DL is made for nearly anything Mother Nature throws at the Rockies. The mask comes in more than 70 colors and designs, from straight neon to tribal Maori prints. Find it: Until Phunkshun products make their way to Vail-area stores, the entire selection is available online at phunkshunwear.com.

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“We care about people... not just teeth.” Thursday, December 12 - December 18, 2013

sneakpeak

2013 Gift Guide | TECH toys

Embrace the future with intelligent Legos, an all-weather video camera, nearly indestructible cases and portable solar chargers Google Glass, the iPad Air and the Galaxy Gear Watch are must-have gadgets this holiday season, but megalith manufacturers don’t have a stranglehold on the industry. For every hot tech product is an equally hot accessory or upstart brand, and like boutique fashion, the unknowns are occasionally more enticing than the status quo. Unlike high fashion, the price point is often affordable – even in the overpriced tech world.

Cubelets by Modular Robotics

POV.HD by V.I.O. Cost: Cost: $399.99 Thanks to GoPro, point-of-view video cameras are nearly on par with bindings and helmets. The company’s wide-angle cameras almost singlehandedly created an industry for portable, all-weather video devices, and the POV.HD by Minnesota manufacturer V.I.O. is one of the most promising. For the price of a Hero 3+, the POV. HD offers similar specs (full 1080p at 30 frames per second and 720p at 60 frames per second) with a plethora of added features. The camera is weather resistant and features a two-inch LCD screen, perfect for replaying footage and tagging scenes on the fly with the included wireless remote control. It comes packaged with several mounts, as well as a 4GB SD card and four AA batteries. Despite the batteries, the whole setup still weighs about 14 ounces, although three separate pieces makes it clunkier than competitors. For tech junkies, the camera’s true appeal comes from image control: You can adjust the exposure for flat light and rapidly changing conditions. So long, washed-out cliff drops. Find it: The POV.HD is available online at vio-pov.com.

sneakpeak

Thursday, December 12 - December 18, 2013

Cost: $159.95 for a six-piece starter kit (individual cubes range from $24.95 to $48.95) For anyone who enjoyed Legos as a kid, the Cubelets line from Boulder startup Modular Robotics is like revisiting childhood through the eyes of a mechanical engineer. A basic construction kit comes with six small cubes, each of which has a special function. There are speaker cubes, light-sensitive cubes, Bluetooth compatible cubes, motorized cubes – just about anything needed to construct an interactive little robot with nearly infinite capabilities. The cubes connect via powerful magnets – there are no wires to fuse or complicated programming to learn – and each cube is built by hand at the Boulder factory. That simplicity also makes Cubelets a perfect (albeit expensive) gift for children with a penchant for science fair tinkering. Find it: Cubelets are only available through the online store at modrobotics.com.

2013 Gift Guide | TECH toys

Smartphone and tablet cases by Otter Box Cost: $89.95 (Preserver series iPhone 5 case), $89.95 (Defender series tablet case) Over the past 15 years, Otter Box has become the go-to case manufacturer for tech lovers who want gadgets to last longer than the next generation or far-off upgrade. The hefty cases may be bulky and pricy, but like Carhartt pants, they’re meant to be brutalized. The newest series for iPhone 5, Preserver, is two layers deep, with a screen protector and internal foam cushioning. The pieces connect seamlessly to guard against drops, dings and water. (Want to try? Submerse it for up to 30 minutes in six feet of water.) The company is preparing to

launch Preserver cases for the iPhone 5S and Galaxy S4, but they’re only available for pre-order during the holidays. On the tablet side, Otter Box makes cases for iPad, Kindle, the Galaxy note series and more, all for around the same price. The three-layer Defender series is the best – and priciest – but anyone who’s foolishly taken a smartphone on the hill or passed a tablet to a young nephew knows the value. Find it: Otter Box cases are sold through a number of online affiliates, but we recommend ordering direct from otterbox.com. The selection is better and each order comes with $5 two-day shipping or free standard shipping until Dec. 31.

Kickr solar chargers by Ascent Solar Cost: $39.99 to $129.99 Admit it: You hardly go anywhere without a

cell phone, whether it’s a short snowshoe hike or day-long backcountry trek. The scientists at Thornton-based Ascent Solar know this weakness well, and have perfected a portable solarpanel system to keep devices primed in the wilderness. The Kickr series features the company’s trademark EnerPlex technology: a lightweight series of photovoltaic cells made for travel. The cells can be rolled like a sleeping pad to fit in a backpack or pocket, then unrolled to lay flat on a tent, table or the top pouch of a bag while hiking. At $118.99 and 12 ounces, the Kickr IV has more than enough juice to charge phones, tablets or MP3 players in less than four hours – with enough sunlight. And there’s the rub: Like any solar technology, the Kickr is only as good as the current conditions. Find it: All Ascent Solar products (including snap-on phone cases) are sold online through goenerplex.com.

Thursday, December 12 - December 18, 2013

sneakpeak

Free showing of “Dive!” in Eagle 12.17.2013

HAPPENINGS

Diving into hot-button topics Community film series shows “Dive!” a movie about food waste. By Elizabeth Escobar.

In a season when we tend to be more aware of giving, helping and being a good neighbor, the film “Dive!” reminds us of one easy but crucial way to be better at these things year round. “Dive!” is the latest film in the community film series hosted by the Eagle Valley Alliance for Sustainability (EVAS) and Walking Mountains Science Center. The series, which is in its second year, features seven films (one each month) between November and May that are meant to expand minds and educate. Melissa Kirr, EVAS’ sustainability programs coordinator, explains that this year they’ve “enlarged the series to meet more of the community’s needs and interests,” by showing each film two times a month at different locations. The hope is that increased availability will give these films a greater impact. The series tries to feature films that touch on a variety of different environmental issues, which is why “Dive!” is a perfect fit. Created by filmmaker Jeremy Seifert, “Dive!” delves deep into America’s problem of food waste. The documentary follows Seifert and his friends as they dumpster dive their way across Los Angeles’ supermarkets recording the perfectly good food they find in – and subsequently rescue from – garbage cans. “I knew that most of the discarded food was ending up in landfills,” says Seifert. “I had to save as much of it as I could.” Channeling their guerilla journalism skills, the team exposes the shocking amount of food (263 million pounds) that is thrown away each day in the U.S., from bagels to bunches of bananas. In a single night they walk away with a year’s supply of meat. They also visit people for whom dumpster diving is as much a part of their daily routine as taking a shower. These are folks who plan their days around what time stores throw out their latest batch of food, and who don’t hesitate to cater their parties with steaks retrieved from a trash receptacle the night before. “There is a certain beauty [in] seeing garbage transformed into a meal with friends,” says Seifert. The Walking Mountains Science Center and EVAS felt that “Dive!” was an especially important film to include in their series, says Kirr. “It deals with the problem we have with the amount of food being thrown away, and also how many people grow up going hungry in the meantime.” While Seifert and his team draw viewers’ attention to the extreme waste going on, they also address the equally great problem of hunger. Seifert tells that “nearly a billion people are going hungry everyday,” and in Los Angeles – where the documentary is focused – the food bank is short 11 million pounds of food every year. Upon learning these numbers, Seifert’s team investigates why it is that the grocery stores whose dumpsters they recover nearly impeccable food from don’t donate that food to people who really need it. Seifert doesn’t leave the blame solely with supermarkets, though. As he reminds the audience that everyone throws out food on a daily basis, Seifert calls us all to action, saying that everyone is responsible for finding a solution

Above: Jeremy Seifert of the documentary “Dive!” digs through a dumpster to find wasted and uneaten food. His film comes to Dusty Boot in Eagle Ranch as part of a community film series. Photo: Jeremy Seifert.

IF YOU GO What: “Dive!” part of a community film series When: Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 6:30 p.m. Where: Dusty Boot at Eagle Ranch, Eagle Cost: Free For more information on “Dive!” and how you can help the food waste crisis, visit divethefilm.com.

to a problem that we’ve all helped to create. “There was a time when we viewed food as something precious,” says Seifert, “much more than a commodity, food was life itself.” As an important part to the argument he makes in the film, Seifert and his team cites people’s change in values and growing carelessness as being a major player in these problems. They identify Mother Earth herself as being a victim in a society of over-consumption and immense waste. As food is more easily discarded into trashcans, landfills are quicker to overflow and fill the ground under our feet. Besides lots of dumpster diving action shots, the film has plenty of footage of Seifert trying to decipher the murky regulations surrounding the waste and tracking down annoyed supermarket CEOs. However, at the heart of this movie is a simple call to action – a request for people to treat food with more respect. In turn, if we do this, Seifert argues, we will be treating each other and the planet we share much better, too. SneakPEAK writer Elizabeth Escobar can be reached at info@sneakpeakvail.com

“At the heart of this movie is a simple call to action – a request for people to treat food with more respect.”

sneakpeak

Thursday, December 12 - December 18, 2013

CAPTION The Vail Fire Department spreading cheer along Bridge Street in early December. PHOTO Alison C. Wadey Have an eye for indelible images? Email your photos (with a short caption) to philip@sneakpeakvail. com

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APPETITE 30 years later and three times bigger

Bigger means better for Vendetta’s, which reopened for business last Friday after a major expansion to the Vail Village pizza bar. By John O’Neill. Dec. 6, 1983 - Vendetta’s opens for business. Dec. 6, 2013 - Vendetta’s reopens for business.

Hangout culture

That doesn’t bode well for the cloudy-minded. “We used to be maxed out back there with two guys,” says Bone. “The other night we had six guys back there. I can see the day we are so busy that we could have up to seven guys working the pizza bar between dinner, lunch and après.” For the customers, the expansion tripled the size of their pizza bar dining area by overtaking the former Toy Store and part of the former Mug

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Thursday, December 12 - December 18, 2013

You, Only Better

During those 30 years, the Bridge Street pizza hotspot, bar and Italian restaurant has turned into a favorite hangout for locals, return visitors and even the Vail Ski Patrol. The years of growing popularity prompted a recent remodel and expansion that had closed Vendetta’s during the shoulder season. It is now open for business. The big news - and good news - is that with the expansion, the restaurant tripled the size of their pizza bar. The bad news? Well, there really isn’t any. The new remodel has cleared up a lot of space for the restaurant’s popular pizza bar, decreasing the wait on pies and increasing the area in which folks can enjoy them. “We’re saying there is more than 150 percent more space in there than there used to be,” said Dave “Bone” Chapin, a part-owner of Vendetta’s. “We used to be so busy that we’d have to tell people it was an hour wait for pizza. For a family of four after skiing – the kids starving – that wasn’t good. Now we won’t have to break that news.” It’s good for the bar crowd, too. From après skiers all the way to the après Bridge Street partiers, the old Vendetta’s forced hungry customers into a crowded space with an overworked duo behind the pizza bar trying to get orders out.

Fear not - while the restaurant has undergone some changes, the menu has not. “I’ve always felt that our menu is very strong,” says Vendetta’s co-owner Dave “Bone” Chapin. “All of our pizzas sell very well. You can make any pizza you want. People like our specialty pizzas, though.” Maybe it’s the menu, maybe the atmosphere, maybe the history. Either way, the restaurant attracts a loyal following and Bone can hardly make his way around the restaurant without getting stopped. Over the course of 25 minutes, Bone ordered a case of Jager, mourned the loss of a football team, chatted with some construction workers, nodded at the dishwashers, patted backs and shook hands. For 30 years, this has been the scene at Vendetta’s for himself and partner John “Popeye” Brennen. Between “Bone” and “Popeye,” the nicknames add a playful touch to a 30-year successful restaurant and bar. Where the nicknames came from? To learn that, you’ll have to partake in the hangout culture of Vendetta’s restaurant. “I think the best thing for that would be to come to the bar, sit down and have a beer,” says Bone. “We love our visiting customers and we love the Denver crowd. We’re a longtime hangout of the Vail Ski Patrol. We’re a Vail locals hangout.”

Shop. So far, business has been good to Bone and crew. “It has been great. We opened the doors at about 5 last Friday evening and we’ve been busy right on through,” says Bone. “Ultimately, it’s going to be the guest who benefits. Now there aren’t going to be those waits for pizza. There is much more seating. It is a better deal all the way around.”

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Vendetta’s in Vail Village reopens for the ski season with a new, improved dining space OPPOSITE PAGE Diners saddle up to the expanded pizza bar at Vendetta’s, part of a recent remodel to the 30-year-old Vail Village hotspot. THIS PAGE Pizza cooks (left to right) Shawn Meineke and Tanner Miller sling dough behind the bar at Vendetta’s. Photos: Anthony Thornton.

In addition to expanding the pizza bar, Vendetta’s increased the flow of the restaurant by knocking through the wall at the main upstairs and creating another archway. This creates an island with the pizza bar facing one direction and the main upstairs bar facing the other. Not to inspire any sort of future drinking games, but one could feasibly take laps alternating between the alcohol bar and the pizza bar. Adding to less wait times and more space, the remodel also improved the views of Bridge Street. What used to be walls, from one end of the pizza bar you can now see the covered bridge. From the other, you can see the mountain. Bone calls it “The Best View on Bridge Street.” SneakPEAK writer John O’Neill can be reached at info@sneakpeakvail.com

SneakPICKS at Vendetta’s Snow Pig ($17) – Pepperoni, sausage and Canadian bacon. Jack Attack ($18) – Pepperoni, pepperoncini, onion, garlic and basil. Popeye’s Passion ($19) – Pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, green peppers, onions and black olives. The Boneyard ($18) – “Willie’s white pizza” with spinach, mushrooms, tomato, garlic and feta. All pizzas come on hand-tossed dough. The restaurant also makes custom pies to order with a variety of fresh meats and veggies, along with single slices for the afterski and pre-party crowds. It shall be noted that the best pizza was hotly contested by the pizza-bar crowd during the interview.

Thursday, December 12 - December 18, 2013

sneakpeak

Perspectives on fantasy football from Patrick Whitehurst

SNEAKSPORTS

Fantasy football: Love and loathing As a sports fan, it’s entirely possible and perfectly acceptable to love and hate the same thing equally. The key is to find balance.

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

If Bill Belichick has taught us anything (other than cheaters sometimes actually prosper, or being rude and short with others commands their respect), it’s that you can never get too low or too high based on a single outcome. Take the good with the bad and enjoy the ride. I love fantasy football. Win or lose, when the season is over I look forward to next year’s draft. My list of sleepers and busts is ever evolving. I think about implementing different strategies and make a list of pros and cons relating to every potential keeper or early round draft pick. I do a mock draft on New Year’s Day and another on the first day of spring. By the time actual fantasy (the new oxymoron) drafts roll around in August, my notes look like John Nash’s chalkboard. I keep a mental log of the players that disappointed me or caused me hours of frustration and I vow to never roster any of them ever again. Forgive and forget? Not me – I play favorites and hold fantasy grudges. There’s very little that Priest Holmes or LaDanian Tomlinson could ever do to me or my loved ones that would change my positive outlook on them. I’m willing to look past the fact that Reggie Bush, one of my all-time favorites and “gotta-haves,” re-injured his calf during pregame warm ups this past week and registered zero points for my team because he’ll always be one of my guys. Of course it helps that despite a goose egg from my FLEX I was still able to scratch out a victory in the first round of the playoffs, but given the opportunity next year I’ll call his name again without a second thought. I have to have Marques Colston on my team because the mere thought of playing against him during one of his monster games would crush me. If Barry Sanders or Sterling Sharpe were to come back and play again I would still draft them. The only Buffalo Bills

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sneakpeak

Thursday, December 12 - December 18, 2013

quarterback that has ever started and will ever start for me was Jim Kelly. Yes, fantasy football existed before the internet and it was just as glorious and maddening back then. If I saw Byron Leftwich on the street I would give him the worst case of stinkeye ever because he cost me a fantasy title in 2004. Leftwich left the game after suffering a mild concussion and going 6-14 for 35 yards with an interception. Thanks for the single point Leftwich – I lost by one! That same week Willis McGahee sat on my bench because he didn’t practice and was supposed to be hurt. Three touchdowns and 126 yards later sounds like he was feeling fine. Sometimes I hate fantasy football, but I’m trying to put it in perspective. My girlfriend has told me countless times that it usually boils down to luck, and I tell myself not to allow a season-ending loss or a series of poor coaching decisions to get me down for long. While it’s easier said than done, I try to stay true to these basic fantasy principles: 1. Don’t overreact to early season losses. 2. Never start a guy immediately after picking him off the waiver wire. 3. Trust studs not matchups. 4. Select the best player available on draft day. (Don’t bypass Calvin Johnson) 5. Remember it’s a game and enjoy it. Facing a huge deficit heading into Monday night, my slim hopes hinged on Chicago’s Josh McCown, Brandon Marshall and a handful of Cowboys defenders producing outrageous numbers. In a different league, my team held what should have been an insurmountable lead with Dez Bryant left to play while my opponent had McCown and the Dallas kicker. (Another quick fantasy rule to live by for all you novices out there: Don’t bother learning kickers’ names or giving them much thought.) In fantasy and reality, things went wrong and right for me in a big way on Monday night. The Bears were crushing the Cowboys but Josh McCown had a career game. Dez Bryant scored a first half touchdown and when DeMarcus Ware recorded a late sack I took the lead. I was holding onto a razor-thin lead in the other league and if the Cowboys didn’t score or if Dez could record a catch I would be golden. Dallas pulled their starters but scored with seven ticks left on the clock. As the kicker trotted out and I realized my fate was sealed in one league while my season was saved in the other, all I could do was tell myself, “It’s just a game, enjoy it and take Megatron next season.”

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Colorado legends Big Head Todd and the Monsters play a free Snow Daze concert in Vail Dec. 14.

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

Tricia’s Top 8

Friday, Dec. 13 Santa’s Workshop program in Vail

Get in the holiday mood with a family-friendly craft workshop hosted by the Vail Recreation District. From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., VRD will supply glitter, glue, ornaments, picture frames and cookies for kids to decorate and take home. Better yet, the event is free. Yep, a free Christmas gift – imagine the odds, and in Vail no less. The workshop is on the second floor of the Lionshead Welcome Center, found in the Lionshead Transit Center.

Friday, Dec. 13 The Sessh at Vail Ale House

Local trio The Sessh follows the free Snow Daze concerts with a free show of their own at Vail Ale House on Friday. Beginning at 10 p.m., the electrofunk act takes to the stage for a few hours of New Orleans-inspired tunes, all filtered through bandleader Cristhian Basso’s MIDI bass. Entry is 21 and older only. See vailalehouse.com for more info.

Saturday, Dec. 14 Avalanche awareness class in Gypsum

Before charging all that glorious pow on your skis or sled, give yourself the gift of knowledge and head to Integra Motorsports in Gypsum for an affordable avalanche class. Presented by Tyler’s Backcountry Awareness, the $10 course (suggested donation) covers snowpack, slope identification and more. The course is approachable for backcountry riders of any age, so don’t leave the kids at home. The course runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Integra is found just east of Costco. For more info, see backcountryawareness.org.

Saturday, Dec. 14 Healthcare assistance in Edwards

Can’t quite figure out Obamacare? The West Mountain Region Health Assistance Network hosts an enrollment session from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday at Colorado Mountain College in Edwards. Along with tips on how to approach Connect for Health Colorado – the state’s healthcare portal – guides will be available to answer questions, schedule appointments and to assist with online applications. Open enrollment has been extended to Dec. 23 for Coloradans who want their health insurance to start Jan. 1, 2014. The full open enrollment period continues until March 31, 2014. For more info, call 970.328.8736.

Photo: Jim Mimna.

Tricia Swenson

1. Snow Daze here! Check out the concert line-up and get your weekend started with Rebelution and Mimosa on Friday, Dec. 13, outdoors at Ford Park. 2. The second night of Snow Daze concerts features Matisyahu and Big Head Todd on Saturday, Dec. 14. Like the first night, general admission free and VIP tickets are available at vail.com/snowdaze. 3. Support local dance: the Vail Valley Youth Ballet presents “The Nutcracker” at the Vilar Performing Arts Center from Dec. 13 to 15. 4. When’s the last time you’ve been skating…disco skating…under the lights? Beaver Creek takes you back and keeps you warm by spinning the disco tunes on the Black Family Ice Rink at 6 p.m. this Monday. 5. Want cocktails? Dinner? A live band for dancing? Attend the Fire and Ice Extravaganza at the Eagle River Center, held Dec. 14 at 6 p.m. The event benefits programs at Eagle Valley High School. 6. Just a few shopping days remain until Christmas, so make an impact on the local economy and buy in town! There are so many great shops – get out and explore! 7. How’s the Epic Race going? Check out this challenge for Epic Pass holders: ski every resort on the pass, a whopping 26 resorts in four countries! Watch the racers’ progress on epicrace.epicpass.com as many of them head to Europe. 8. It’s been chilly outside, but a good way to warm up is by snowshoeing your favorite biking or hiking trail. Routes like Meadow Mountain or throughout East Vail will get your heart rate moving and you’ll forget about the cold while burning off some of those holiday calories! So get out and play – and bring Fido along, too!

a reindeer petting zoo, Santa Claus and his elves, free hot cider and chili, ice skating with $1 skate rentals Event newcomers Speckled Hound Racing follows and much more. All events are free and open to the up its Halloween foot race with a Christmas-themed public, but be sure to leave Fido and the spiked cocoa 5K run and 1-mile walk this weekend in Minturn. Both at home. Activities run from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. races begin at 10 a.m. Dogs are invited on the course out-and-back course along dirt roads outside of town. Sunday, Dec. 15 Racing takes place at the same time as the second (and “A Christmas Carol” at the Vail Library final) Minturn Winter Market, with registration at the Scrooge, Bob Cratchet, Tiny Tim and the rest come Speckled Hound tent until race time. Cost is $25 for to the Vail Public Library for a free, intimate perforthe 5K ($30 day-of) and $15 for the 1-mile ($20 day- mance of Charles Dickens’ holiday fable. Presented by of). For more info or to register, see speckled-hound. New Hampshire-based Hampstead Stage Company, com. the live-action version features only two actors playing every part, complete with costume and scene changes. The production still stays true to the melancholy spirit Saturday, Dec. 14 of the original tale, but despite several scary moments, Santa Claus visit in Edwards This weekend is teeming with holiday events, but the performance is perfect for children who want an the Riverwalk holiday extravaganza is one of the few introduction to live theater. The show runs from 2 p.m. to include Santa as a storyteller. From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., to 3:30 p.m. and seating is first come, first served. For swing by various Riverwalk businesses for holiday- more info, see vaillibrary.com.

Saturday, Dec. 14 Holiday Fever 5K in Minturn

themed activities, free food and live caroling from Vail Valley Chorale. The Man in Red drops by the Bookworm at 4:45 p.m. for story time and free photos.

Saturday, Dec. 14 Icing in the Park in Avon

Avon greets the heart of holiday season in style this weekend with Icing in the Park, a winter-themed party for the entire family along the lake at Nottingham Park. This party has it all: snowmobile rides for kids,

Tuesday, Dec. 17 Desert Noises at Agave

Tacos Tuesdays are back in style at Agave in Avon. This week brings Utah-based rockers Desert Noises to the stage for a few hours of free music after $1.50 hard tacos all day. Music begins at 9 p.m., with drink specials throughout the night. Sorry underagers, but the show is 21 and older only. To find out more or see Agave’s complete winter lineup, see agaveavon.com. Thursday, December 12 - December 18, 2013

sneakpeak

DINING GUIDE EAGLE / GYPSUM

4 Eagle Ranch 4091 Highway #131, Wolcott 970.926.3372 Ranch Western Atmosphere L|D|$

Creekside 530 Cotton Ranch Dr. Gypsum 970.524.5160 American Fare B|L|D|$

Grand Avenue Grill 678 Grand Ave. Eagle 970.328.4043 Casual American L | D | $$

MagPies Bakery & Cafe 0065 Market Street #3 Eagle 970.331.4632 Pies & Desserts L|$

Adam’s Mountain Country Club 1094 Frost Creek Dr. Eagle 970.328.2326 Eclectic American & Sunday Brunch B | L | $$

Dusty Boot Steakhouse & Saloon 1099 Capitol St. Eagle 970.328.7002 Steakhouse / American Cuisine L | D | $$

Gypsum Grill Steakhouse 530 Cotton Ranch Dr. Gypsum 970.524.7365 Steakhouse L | D|$

Nicky’s Quickie 0422 McIntire Street Eagle 970.376.7307 Greek L|$

Baboune’s 0131 Chambers Ave. Eagle 970.328.2425 Omelettes, burritos & more B|L|$

Eagle Diner 112 Chambers Ave. Eagle 970.328.1919 Traditional American Diner B|L|D|$

HP’s Provisions 1160 Capitol Street Eagle 970.328.5280 Cafe/Grocery B|L|D|$

Old Kentucky Tavern 225 Broadway St Eagle (970) 328-5259 Funky Southern Food L | D | $$

Taco Bell 0774 Chambers Ave. Eagle 970.328.6877 Fast food, Mexican L|D|$

Bonﬁre Brewing 0127 W. 2nd St. Eagle 970.422.6258 Rustic Home Brew Pub/Muisc/Patio | $

El Pariente 0050 Chambers Ave. #E Eagle 970.328.4433 Mexican B|L|$

Heidi’s Brooklyn Deli 150 Cooley Mesa Rd. Eagle 970.777.3663 Soups & Sandwiches B|L|D|$

Paradigms Corner of 4th and Capital St. Eagle 970.328.7990 Creative American

Wendy’s 0101 Loren Lane Eagle 970.328.5062 Fast food, hamburgers L|D|$

Bowlmor Café 50 Chambers Ave. Eagle 970.328.BOWL American Cuisine/ Bowling L | D | $$

Fiesta Jalisco 0701 Chambers Ave. Eagle 970.328.9300 Mexican B|L|$

Luigi’s Pasta House 1143 Capitol St. Eagle 970.328.5400 Pasta & Pizza L | D | $$

Yeti|s Grind 330 Broadway Ave. Eagle 970.328.9384 Coffee & Sandwiches L|D|$

Brush Creek Saloon 241 Broadway Eagle 970.328.5279 TexMex L|D|$

Fusion Cafe 422 McIntire St. Eagle 970.328.1234 American B|L|D|$

Loncheria La Primavera 0348 Grand Ave. Eagle 970.328.0454 Mexican B|L|D|$

Pastatively Italian Cuisine & Deli 0094 Market Street Eagle 970.328.7324 Italian L | D $$ Pazzo’s Pizzeria 50 Chambers Ave. Eagle 970.337.9900 Italian & pizza L|D|$

Burger King 0093 Eby Creek Rd. Eagle 970.328.4406 American B|L|D|$

Gourmet China 0212 Chambers Ave. Eagle 970.328.0866 Chinese L|D|$

Moe’s Original BBQ 630 Grand Ave. Eagle 970.476.4314 BBQ B|L|D|$

Pizza One 0094 Market Street Eagle 970.328.5200 Pizza L|$

Red Canyon Cafe 128 Broadway Ave Eagle 970.328.2232 Breakfast & lunch sandwiches B|L|D|$

Starbucks in City Market 0103 Market Street Eagle 970.328.1302 Coffee B|L|$

Yummy Cafe 0313 Chambers Ave. #G Eagle 970.328.6060 American Cafe B|L| $

$ = $10-$20 $$ = $20-$40 $$$ = $40+ B = Breakfast L = Lunch D = Dinner

For more dining options, including restaurants in Avon, Minturn & EagleVail check next week’s issue, November 21

FREE, WEEKLY, LOCAL...Only the good stuff! Find each story or the entire paper online at sneakPEAKvail.com Or follow us on Facebook for updates all week long 22

sneakpeak

Thursday, December 12 - December 18, 2013

“

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GYPSUM

ANIMAL HOSPITAL IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH

TOP 10 REASONS TO JOIN DOGMA ATHLETICA IN DECEMBER

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1. Your Health and well being start your New Years resolution early 2. Unlimited Computrainer classes 3. Unlimited Yoga classes 4. Unlimited fitness classes and mat pilates classes 5. Full access to Dogma’s cardio and weight room 6. Initiation fee waived (join by 12/24) 7. Two Complimentary personal training sessions 8. 25% off private yoga sessions 9. 10% off in Dogma’s proshop 10. 10% off all In Your Face Skin Fitness studio facials and products

970-688-4433 Riverwalk, Edwards DogmaAthletica.com

25% off Sushi Menu & Drinks 15% gratuity will be added before discount Expires 12/15/13

Japanesse Style Steakhouse Sushi Bar & Asian Food

Reservations Recommended Open Daily 11:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.

970-476-1588

West of Solaris • Vail Village Thursday, December 12 - December 18, 2013

sneakpeak

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New Winter Dinner Menu! Devoted To The Craft

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

Thursday night: Football San Diego vs. Denver.$2.50 Bud & Bud Light drafts during the game. Following the game FREE Live Music w/ Jake Wolf & Friends $3 Colorado Native drafts & $3 Fireside Whiskey. Saturday & Sunday Football: Open at 10am serving breakfast. $2.50 Bud & Bud light drafts, $4 Mimosas and $5 Kettle One Bloody Marys. Saturday Night: Snowdaze after party with live music by The Sessh! Roots-Electro Funk-Rock”. Sunday Night: Industry Night. 1/2 OFF BAR TAB after 10pm and FREE pool. Monday Night: Football & Burger Night. $10 Burger & Craft Beer till 10pm. Open Mic Night following the game

Check out www.VailAleHouse.com for upcoming evnets 2161 N.Frontage Rd. West Vail • 970-476-4314 24

sneakpeak

Thursday, December 12 - December 18, 2013