A Spring Trip to Colorado High Country

April 12, 2017

Darla Worden,

Here, my highlight reel from a recent trip to Vail, Aspen, and Snowmass—a hotel stay, a bagel depot, a film festival, and more.

VAIL

ANTLERS AT VAIL

Located just a quick walk from the Lionshead Gondola, Antlers at Vail is a great four-season home base. In the past three years, 69 Antlers at Vail condominiums have completed renovations—part of an ongoing program of upgrades that earned the popular hotel the luxurious “Platinum” level of recognition from Vail Valley Partnership. I absolutely loved the unit I stayed in, which had a great view of the mountain and the river.

Still from Best Documentary, Little Stones [Courtesy of Vail Film Festival]

VAIL FILM FESTIVAL

The 2017 Vail Film Festival is a fabulous annual event supported by the Colorado Film Institute—this year’s festival focused on great achievements of women in film, March 30–April 2. A diverse slate of 51 films was shown at venues throughout Vail; watch for the 2018 program at vailfilmfestival.com.

Congratulations to director/producer Sophia Kruz and cinematographer/co-producer Meena Singh who won the award for Best Documentary for their film Little Stones.

From left: me and bagel lady Connie Leaf at Visa Bahn Sports

VILLAGE BAGELS

I found Connie Leaf, Vail’s bagel lady and founder of Village Bagels, at a pop-up installation in Vista Bahn Ski Shop on Saturday morning. Connie was up at 3:00 a.m. making her famous New York bagels (boiled then baked). As a native New Yorker and bagel lover Connie knows what she’s talking about—she’s of the mind that most Colorado bagels are simply doughnut-shaped rolls. I sampled an everything bagel with veggie cream cheese and also a cinnamon-raisin bagel with honey/rosemary schmear. Bagels should be their own food group! When the mountain closes, Connie is heading on a 17-day rafting trip down the Grand Canyon, but do not fear, bagel addicts—she’ll be back this summer at the Vail Farmers Market.

ASPEN

Jenelle Figgins and Anthony Tiedeman in Jorma Elo’s 1^st Flash [Photo by Rosalie O’Connor]

ASPEN SANTA FE BALLET

I’ve been following the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet since I saw them perform at Jackson Hole Center for the Arts. The dance troupe travels the country to perform; check out their upcoming schedule.

SNOWMASS

On the most perfect ski day of the season, with a couple inches of fresh snow during the night and sunny spring temperatures during the day, I wrapped up my skiing for the year (the resort closes on April 16).