Love, Peace & Snow: The Brotherhood 40th Anniversary in Aspen/Snowmass

Love, Peace and SNOW. Click 4 pix.The National Brotherhood of Skiers (NBS) is in Aspen/Snowmass for their 40th Anniversary.  NBS, a.k.a. The Brotherhood is one of the largest affiliated ski groups in the USA.  NBS has over 3000 members from 60 ski clubs in 43 cities.  Almost 1500 skiers, riders, families and friends made it to Aspen (one of the whitest towns in America) to celebrate the NBS 40th.  The Brotherhood is composed almost entirely of African American winter sports enthusiasts...people of color.  Maybe you've heard the often repeated stereotype that Black people can't ski.  The Brotherhood dispels that notion all over the world,  everywhere they go.  Ski clubs like Jim Dandy Ski Club (Detroit), Inner City Ski Bums (Cleveland), All Seasons Ski Club (Oakland), Chicago Ski Twisters (Chicago), Black Ski, inc. (Washington D.C.) and Sno-Burners (New York) showed up in Aspen to slide down the slopes and enjoy all the extra cirruicualars that come with that.  The Brotherhood is one of the friendliest, most fun loving and jovial groups that we see in Aspen/Snowmass.   That is as long as nobody schralps my lines.   It's always fantastic to see people enjoying their lives to the fullest and getting after it on the mountain.

Click 4 Pix: LOVE, PEACE & SNOW

Most of the NBS crowd stays in Snowmass.  So on a beautiful bleubird Colorado day, Andy Party made an unusual trip past the traffic circle to Snowmass in order to ski and BBQ with the Brotherhood.  It's been well over a year since I've skied at Snowmass.  I forgot how HUGE that place is.

Snowmass has 3300+ acres of terrain vs Aspen Mountain's 675 acres. There were powder stashes everywhere.  The Mall and the Village Express lift were mobbed with Brothers...but once I cleared the mousetrap at the bottom...it was a POW POW Party.   After a few runs up top I straightlined a groomer past several Brothers and cruised to the BBQ at the Spider Sabich Cabin.

Many of the Brotherhood picked up skiing late in life...as adults.  The group's skill level ranges from first-timers to intermediates and a few experts. The Brotherhood may not be the most talented ski group in Aspen...but they sure know how to BBQ.   Over 500 attendees ate & drank and grooved to the music.  I mention the music because it was so refreshing to hear old school funk & soul.  Not the sampled beats I'm used to hearing today. The Brotherhood was spinning classic easy to dance to grooves... the music that I love so much.  Dancing in ski boots is not my forte...but lets just say the white boy has a few moves left. All the Nubian Empire skiers were cheering me on.  The Temps., Smokey, James Brown, Sly, The Four Tops, The Isley's etc.etc.  It was great to see old friends  bonding and new friends being made and an unbridled passion for skiing and riding.

Each club has their own distinctive and colorful ski parkas complete with their club logo on the back and often with an embroidered nick name on the front.  Much like motorcycle gangs, The Brotherhood members take great pride in their "colors".  

The members of The Brothehood have as much fun as anybody on the mountain. They are passing their love of winter sports onto the next generation.  Here's to 40 more years of POW POW for the NBS. 

Click 4 pix:  LOVE, PEACE & SNOW (The Brotherhood)

The Jim Dandy Ski Club from Detroit. The first African American Ski Club. Click 4 pix.

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet: To Russia with Love.

The World Famous Aspen Santa Fe Ballet is expanding their horizons.  A traveling company of virtuoso dancers from Aspen Santa Fe Ballet (ASFB) is embarking tomorrow on an adventure to Moscow for a series of performances.  Led by Artistic Director Tom Mossbrucker and Executive Director Jean-Phillipe Malaty a troupe of artists from ASFB will be performing in the cradle of classical ballet...Russia.

Click 4 Pix:  To Russia with Love

Caribou Club, Aspen Sojourner and Stoli Vodka hosted a send off party for ASFB: To Russia with Love.  The ASFB Dancers, their supporters along with friends and family joined together for caviar and vodka at Caribou Club. The well attended but intimate affair served as a loving bon voyage for the troupe.  All the dancers are super-excited for their 5500 mile journey.  According to Malaty...more than a year of hard work, red tape and political wrangling was required to make the AFSB trip to Russia a reality.   "All the travel visas came through and we're ready to go" he shared with the revelers.  Word has it that the U.S. Ambassador to Russia will attend the opening show in Moscow.

So we wish the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet safe travels and a fantastic experience in Moscow.  We send you off To Russia with Love.  Show 'em how it's done... Aspen-style... NA ZDOROVIE (pronounced Nostrovia..or CHEERS!!!).

Click 4 Pix:  To Russia with Love

To Russia with Love with The Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. Click for pix.AFSB Artistic Director Tom Mossbrucker with the dancers. Click 4 pix.To Russia with Love. A send off for Aspen Santa Fe Ballet at Caribou Club. Click 4 pix.Billy and the gang at To Russia with Love for Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. Click 4 pix.J-P Malaty, Nancy Mayer from Aspen Sojourner and Tom Mossbrucker. Click 4 pix.

 Nostrovia...Cheers!!! Good luck in Russia. ASFB. Click 4 pix.

97% of Scientists Believe in Climate Change: Infographic

It's been snowing in Aspen recently... thank Ullr (G-D). Great POW days... but Winter has become a more precious commodity.  

This inforgraphic provides some perspective. The infographic was created by Learnstuff.com.

Check the references below: Legit.

BIG Pow / HUGE Laughs: One Day in Aspen

Aspen Laff Fest. Click 4 tix.It was one of those days that is quintessentially Aspen. Non stop action. We experienced the best POW Day of the season (without question) followed by the opening night of The 2013 ASPEN LAFF FESTIVAL.

Click 4 pix:  ASPEN LAFF FEST.

Overnight...it snowed like a mofo, like the old days in Aspen (before climate change).  Fat, fluffy, powdery snow flakes fell in abundance to the tune of 10+ inches on Aspen Mountain.   All the usual suspects were lined up at the Gondola for an early opening.   First car took off at about 8.45 (15 minutes early).Pent up demand at the Gondy

Those of us that "got some"  got it good.  Fat skis were recommended.  It was a BIG day for AspenSpin, as we found some new spots on Ajax...after 1000 ski days. Face to 6, first tracks down Bear Paw, first one's in on Silver Queen and Perry's, but that was not enough.  We finally found our way into Spar Dumps...new terrain that opened last year...but due to a dirth of snow...is not open very often.  It was open today...and it was siiiiiiiiiick. "Nipple deep" in spots.  Then A. Party got a guided tour of Pandora's Box...an infamous run off the backside of Aspen Mountain.  Honestly...I usually skip Pandy's...mainly because of it's history of death, destruction and avalanche danger...today I went for it.  Of course...I crushed it...and no humans were injured in the pursuit of POW.

After an exhilarating, challenging and tiring POW Day I was fully spent.  My usual inclination is to curl up on the couch and veg.  Not tonight.  At 4.30 The Wheeler Opera House was throwing a kick-off party for the 3rd annual Aspen Laff Festival.  How could I miss that?  I love The Wheeler and Aspen Laff Fest. is one of my favorite events of the year.  I peeled off my ski clothes, took a long hot shower, cowboy-ed up to eat, drink and laugh my a$$ off.  

Aspen Laff Fest. continues Friday & Saturday Night. 

Click for Info and tix.  ASPEN LAFF FESTIVAL.

Marion Grodin...dates outside her species.The kick-off party at The Limelight was sweeeet.  Several of the Big-time comics were on hand to supply laughs as a warm-up for the actual opening night shows.  MARION GRODIN..."I get a very Jew-ie vibe from you" led off with a very funny set.  She picked on everyone in sight including Aspen, rich people etc and then she started burning individual audience members.  She asked one lady, "do you own a place in Aspen?".  The ancient woman replied "we rent".  Without missing a beat...Marion frowned and zinged "i'm sorry" and went on a diatribe about how rich and beautiful everyone is in Aspen. Marion also admitted to "dating outside her species".

BOBBY SLAYTON who headlines the Friday night show did a quick intro & warm-up for COLIN QUINN. Slayton explained how his wife's vagina accepts American Express..."thats why its shaped like an ATM" he shared. Quinn who is famous for his stint on SNL and other TV shows is currently doing a one-man show that premiered on Broadway, Long Story Short directed by Jerry Seinfeld.  His "brainy,acerbic political scourgings" had the audience in an uproar.  His takes on bullying and the U.S. Constitution were hilarious.

After that...A. Party hit the rack...hard.

More comedy is on tap at the ASPEN LAFF FESTIVAL.  Click 4 Pix.

Tommy O. & Robby Rob leading the Pandy's PowPow Posse.                                               Colin Quinn of SNL Fame held court at the 2013 Aspen Laff Fest Make Me Laugh. The 2013 Aspen Laff Festival. Click 4 pix.. 

Funniest Weekend in Aspen.

The 2013 Aspen Laff Festival is without debate the funniest weekend of the year in Aspen. 

Aspen Laff Fest. is just about A-Spin's favorite event of the season, and probably the most popular festival in all of Colorado.   Aspen has a long history of outstanding stand-up events and Aspen Laff Fest. is no exception. Aspen Laff  Fest will be kick off Thursday night (2.21.13) with a FREE party and a line-up headlined by former SNL comic Colin Quinn.  Don't miss all the laughs.

Click:  Aspen Laff Fest. for tickets, info and all the deets.