A Different Look at Snowmass

Great skiing? Check.

Gorgeous mountains? Check.

An amazing family resort? Check.

Terrain for all abilities from double-blacks to greens? Check.

I’ve written all of those things and more about Snowmass, and you can read them here:

• Perfect Timing at Buttermilk and Snowmass, January 8, 2012.
• Spring Break Guide to Snowmass, Colorado: A Top Ten List for Skiing Families, March, 17, 2011.
• Snowmass, Colorado: Family Friendly at Any Age, September 22, 2010.

Today, however, I’ve got some off-the-beaten ski trail information: fine dining, fine art and live music.

Make a Date: On Mountain Fine Dining at The Lynn Britt Cabin

If your kids are old enough to ski on their own, or are in ski school, skip date night in favor of a delicious, relaxing meal at the on-mountain Lynn Britt Cabin. Kids are more than welcome, and the Cabin offers a much better than average children’s menu. But sometimes its more fun to escape on your own, even if just for an hour.

My husband and I visited the Lynn Britt Cabin on Sunday, February 19th. I was doing “research” for an upcoming post at the Liftopia.com blog. It was cold and cloudy, so we couldn’t dine outside. Inside, the Cabin was cozy and warm with a mountain-cowboy theme, and a rustic-elegant attitude. The menu is Colorado-inspired, with classics such as Steak Au Poivre and Colorado Trout.

There are also daily specials and I had the Sunday special: Cassoulet with white beans, pork sausage and duck confit. It was unbelievably delicious and warming. For my first course, I had a fabulous roasted tomato soup with just enough spicy-zing to make it unique. My husband had a Caesar salad (with anchovies!) and the Bison Stew. After two courses, he still had room and concluded his meal with a chocolate-infused bread pudding. Of course, we both had wine. We were on a date, right?

All lunch options are prix fixe for two courses: soup or salad and entrée. Beverages and dessert are not included (but you might as well splurge!).

The Lynn Britt Cabin serves snowcat dinners on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Cats pick up from the base village and take guests up to the Cabin for dinner. A family friendly event, these are five course dinners, with specific options for kids, and include live music.  Menus for lunch and dinner are available on-line.

For something really special, on February 29th (yes, in two days), the Lynn Britt Cabin is offering a Snow Cat Wine Dinner. For more information, and to make reservations (highly recommended at all times) for lunch or dinner, please call 970.923.8715.

Art In Unexpected Places

Seven years ago, the Aspen Skiing Company and Aspen Art Museum began a collaboration to bring art to unexpected places on the four ski mountains and on ski passes. This season, five faces by artist Mark Grotjahn are featured on passes and on mountain. The face installed at Snowmass is at the top of Long Shot, a hike-to trail off of the Elk Camp Express Quad.

I’m not going to lie: I think that I could have made the face at Snowmass. Of course, I didn’t. I didn’t think of making such a face and installing it on a mountain. Grotjahn did. Therein lies the mystery of modern art. To find the other faces, look for signs on each mountain. They’ll explain this year’s installation and point you in the right direction.

Get Your Groove On

I’m a sucker for live music, especially when it’s free. We’ve been to two of this season’s free Bud Light Hi-Fi Concerts. The first, AWOLNation, was a total surprise. We had no idea who this band was and then quickly discovered their song, Sail, is in two of this season’s ski movies (Teton Gravity’s On the Road and MSP’s Attack of La Niña). Great show.

On Sunday, February 19th, The Motet, from Boulder, rocked Snowmass Village with their Funk is Dead show. Amazing fun, with beanie-clad people of all ages grooving in the village, while hordes of little kids rode sleds, sold Girl Scout cookies and ran around at large.

There are three more Bud Light shows this season, so mark your calendars. On Friday, March 16th, Railroad Earth will play in Aspen at 4:00 p.m. On Sunday, March 18th The Wailers will set Snowmass to partying again with a show in the base village at 4:00 p.m. The act for the March 23rd concert is TBA, but will be held in Aspen at 8:00 p.m. For more information check out the Aspen/Snowmass website.

Enjoy!

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