LIGHT it up BLUE Rocks Out in Aspen...hard.

Light It Up Blue in Aspen. Hardest rocking party in Aspen.I gave you guys the heads up.  Light It Up Blue, Aspen was the hardest rocking party of the year.  Light it Up Blue (LIUB), Aspen, in it's 5th year benefiting Ascendigo rocked out...hard last night. LIUB is an international event that raises awareness for autism in conjunction with Autism Speaks.  In Aspen, LIUB directly benefits Ascendigo, a program that strives to enhance the health, life abilities personal growth and social engagement of those who suffer from autism.

Click  Ascendigo for more info.

Special thanks to Julie Royer Manning who co-chaired this years LIUB, Aspen with Stephen Olitsky.  Julie and her family deal with autism every single day.  Julie's daughter Olivia is a camper at Ascendigo's Summer Camp in Aspen. Olivia loves Ascendigo and it's program has directly enhanced her life. Through Ascendigo, Olivia comes out of her special world to ride horses, wake board, river raft and more. She has developed meaningful relationships with the staff and other campers.  According to Julie, Olivia's transformation is "simply amazing".  Olivia is one of 500 beneficiaries of Ascendigo's work in the Roaring Fork Valley.

CLICK 4 PIX.  LIUB ROCKS HARD

Mingling with the band. #liubaspenThe party was first class all the way.  The presenting sponsor, Sentient Jet  and party planner Aspen Eventworks pulled out all the stops. The Hotel Jerome Ballroom was bedazzled in blue.  Celebrity guests included World Champion ski racer Bode Miller and Dr. Jennifer Berman and Dr. Andrew Ordon from the Emmy winning TV show, The Doctors.  The ladies in the house were resplendant in their finest blue cocktail attire.   The guys....meh.  Just kidding, the men looked good too.

The food. OMG!!   It was a baccanahal.  The seafood tower was again the most popular food station. Enough lobster, shrimp and crab to feed an army of hungry philanthropists.   The silent and live auctions had fantastic items...including a ski day with Bode Miller that fetched $17,000.

After dinner and a short program...the lights went down...and THE MONSTER ALL-STAR BAND took the stage.  Composed of hard-rocking members of Fuel, Puddle of Mudd, The Ted Nugent Band,  Lynyrd Skynyrd and Blind Melon.   Leading the rock n roll charge were Derek St Holmes on vocals and guitar, Peter Keys on the 88's and Travis Warren on vocals.  The Monster All-Star's rendition of Cat Scratch Fever may have actually blown the roof off the Hotel Jerome.  They followed that up with Stranglehold which definately had the whole neighborhood jamming out.   In my opinion, the clear highlight was the final number, With A Little Help From My Friends, which had the entire intimate venue dancing and singing along.  

Everyone loved the ear splitting rock and roll and the all-u-can-eat lobster tower, but no one in the room forgot why we were there.  Light it Up Blue, Aspen, Ascendigo and kids like Olivia need our help.   Thanks to a SRO crowd of generous patrons at LIUB, Aspen...kids and adults with autism in the Roaring Fork Valley are the benficiaries.

It was another great night in Aspen, Colorado.

CLICK 4 PIX.  LIUB ROCKS HARD

Bode Miller one of the greatest ski racers of all-time at #LIUBASPENGary DePersia lighting it up Blue in Aspen.Julie Royer Manning, Co-chair of #liubaspen with her PNW crew and her Mom at Light It Up Blue , AspenSallie Bernard and Dr. Jennifer Berman flank (help me out with this guys name) at Light It Up Blue AspenAndy Andersson from Fuel on Lead and Derek St Holmes of the Ted Nugent Band got down in Aspen.It was a jam. Light It Up Blue , Aspen.

Aspen's BIG BLUE: Light it up Blue 2015

In it's third year LIGHT it UP BLUE Aspen has earned it's spot in the pantheon of amazing Aspen events.  The Light it Up Blue bash benefits Autism Speaks and Ascendigo (formerly Extreme Sports Camps).  In 3 short years LIUB as become a big blue highlight on the jam-packed Aspen social scene.

Click 4 Pix:  ASPEN's BIG BLUE

LIUB Aspen was hosted by Dr. Jennifer Berman from TV's The Doctors and Johnny Moseley Olympic Gold Medal winning freestyle skier and included music from Project M out of L.A.  The rowdy live auction raised plenty of gelt.

The Aspen ladies always look striking in Blue and LIUB Aspen proves it every year.   Decked out in cocktail attire the fully VIP crowd dined on a sumptuous selection of  vittles.  The seafood tower is always a fan favorite.  Lobbys, oysters, huge crab legs ...lets just say A. Party hit it early and often.  Most of the revelers headed straight for the open bar as the good times started immediately.

The name change from Extreme Sports Camps to Ascendigo is an interesting choice. Maybe its a tax thing?  I for one, actually read the program which explained the logic behind Ascendigo.  The new name does not change the fact that the organization still provides experiential and community based learning that has an extremely positive impact on the lives of those with autism.  I was excited to learn about "The Yellow House" in Carbondale which houses several young adults who live with autism.  Autism now effects 1 in 68 children which is a striking fact.  It is the fastest growing childhood disability.   So HUGE thanks to those who contributed and partied with a purpose.  Click to learn more about Ascendigo/Extreme sports Camp. and Autism Speaks.

In consultation with Dr. Berman...and I concur.  Light it Up Blue Aspen is the real deal.   Get your tix for next year because this party is getting bigger, better and bluer.

CLICK 4 PIX:  ASPEN's BIG BLUE

Light it up BLUE: Aspen for Autism

The Historic Hotel Jerome bathed in blue for Light it Up Blue Aspen. an event for Autism Awareness.Light it Up Blue Aspen (LIUB) hosted their 3rd annual gala in Aspen to increase awareness and raise funds for autism charities.  The beneficiaries of the evening were EXTREME SPORTS CAMP and AUTISM SPEAKS.  Extreme Sports Camp is a local Aspen organization that creates innovative activities and experiences for those with autism. It's community based and provides experiential learning that improves the campers health, personal growth and social engagement.   Autism Speaks is the World's leading autism science and advocacy organization.  Autism speaks is active in 40 countries on 5 continents.   Give the links a click and support these worthy organizations generously.

Click 4 Pix.  LIGHT IT UP BLUE, ASPEN

The Light It Up Blue gala in Aspen certainly raised the bar this year. Co-Organizers Julie Royer Manning, Rene Mackie and Sheryl Barto thought of everything.  The event was held at The Hotel Jerome and was first class all the way. ESP Productions and Esther Pearlstone rolled out the "blue carpet" as everything was perfect.  The silent auction and live auction were filled with awesome items.  Bidding was furiously competitive and we're still waiting on a final tally of the money raised.

The gala's honorees included Jacqueline and Chris Laurita, from Real House Wives of New Jersey and parents of an autistic child.  Jacqueline called herself a "warrior mom" in the battle against autism. Also honored was Ari Greenberg and Andrea Lee, a Hollywood power couple.  Ari was a founding partner of Endeavor and is now a partner in William Morris Endeavor where he heads the television department.   Ari and Andrea are parents to a child with autism and they have been instrumental in raising money and awareness about autism in L.A.

Everybody was modeling at Light it Up Blue, Aspen The good times were flowing all night long.   A ridiculous and plentiful array of food and drinks were available to the attendees.  An obvious highlight LIUB was the seafood tower (my favorite) was overflowing  with HUGE jumbo shrimp, oysters, lobster and crab legs.  It was a beautiful thing.   Some people are eaters...some are drinkers...I happen to be both.  

The entertainment was phenomenal.  John Popper (from Blues Traveler) fronted the Vail party band, Brother's Keeper...featuring semi-locals  Michael Jude and John Michel and Jono Manson.  Popper was very friendly with the late Billy Reiger who got involved with Extreme Sports Camp via his relationship with Olivia Manning, Julie's daughter who battles autism.   Popper and Brother's Keeper put on a "helluva show" and the crowd danced and partied late into the night.  

Light It Up Blue Aspen was an early kick-off to International Autism Awareness month coming this April.  Autism is a disorder of neural development that affects information processing to the brain. There are thrilling stories about autistic children who reach personal break throughs via the outdoor activities they experience for the first time at Extreme Sports Camp.  Extreme Sports Camp is doing ground-breaking work right here in the Roaring Fork Valley.  There is no question that everyone loved eating, drinking and jamming with Popper at LIUB...but the main mission was never forgotten.  Once again...we were partying with a purpose in Aspen.

Click 4 Pix.  LIGHT IT UP BLUE, ASPEN

Extreme Sports Camp...doing great things in Aspen for those who battle autism

Just the Girls.Team Joey.John Popper jammed with Brother's Keeper at Light it up Blue, Aspen to support Autism awareness