Dana Farouki, curator and patron
How has the scene changed in recent years?
Aspen has always had a great mix of the casual and the fancy. I love to shop, so it’s nice to have great unique stores in town—from classics like Performance Ski to Nick Fouquet. It’s also great to have my most favored glamorous brands’ flagships here, from Valentino to Hermès!
What’s your greatest seasonal indulgence while you’re in town?
Aspen Kettle Corn for breakfast every Saturday morning at the farmer’s market. Don’t miss it.
What’s your favorite local restaurant? What should we order?
I love so many Aspen restaurants, but one favorite is Cache Cache. Split the roast chicken, french fries, and the seasonal fruit crisp (peach if possible) with a friend in the courtyard.
Favorite hike and lunch combination?
The sea of Aspen trees at the beginning of American Lake always gets me—followed by picking up Big Wrap. Digest a bit, then try an Inferno Pilates class with Jaime at Arjuna.
Jamie Tisch, philanthropist
What, or who, are your cultural touchstones in Aspen?
Theatre Aspen, DanceAspen, Jazz Aspen Snowmass, the Aspen Music Festival, and Anderson Ranch are a few of my favorites that contribute to a vibrant art scene.
How do the rhythms of your life shift while in the mountains?
My social schedule is usually planned around a hike or walk rather than a lunch or dinner. I feel like I can breathe a little deeper when I’m in the mountains.
What’s your greatest seasonal indulgence while you’re in Aspen?
The shaved ice at Matsuhisa.
What’s your favorite local restaurant? What should we order?
Do I have to pick just one? The pork chop at Cache Cache has been on my mind all day!
How has the scene changed in recent years?
The art scene has always been respectable but it has grown significantly in the last few years. The Aspen Art Museum is not just a local gem—it’s becoming an internationally recognized entity in the art world. Richard Edwards and his team at Baldwin Gallery consistently curate exceptional shows, while various noteworthy pop-ups have also made their mark. I am excited to have R & Company return to Aspen this summer.
Mawa McQueen, owner and executive chef at Mawa’s Kitchen
What’s your greatest seasonal indulgence while you’re in Aspen?
I am a sucker for garlic scape! The peaches, as well—they come from both Paonia and Palisade (two nearby farming towns) and they are some of the best peaches you’ve ever tasted. I love to use them in sweet and savory dishes. I snack on them too, of course.
What’s your favorite restaurant in Aspen? What should we order?
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention my Aspen-based restaurants when answering this question: Mawa’s Kitchen and The Crepe Shack Aspen, because I create the menus there based on what I am craving. They are both culturally diverse places—Mawa’s Kitchen serves Afro-Middle Eastern with French-American flair, and The Crepe Shack Aspen offers creative crêpes with fun international flavor twists.
Besides my own restaurants, I love to eat at Betula for their ceviche and tiradito, and I absolutely love the pulpo there. Don’t forget to save room for dessert at Betula—their soufflé is top notch. Meat & Cheese is another go-to for me. I can’t get enough of their rice dumplings with pork—I like them spicy—and their Bossam Korean Pork Board has amazing flavor and is good to feed a group. White House Tavern is a classic in Aspen. You can’t go without getting their chicken sandwich. I enjoy dining at Clark’s Oyster Bar when I’m in the mood for seafood, especially if you can nab one of their coveted outdoor tables.
Best day trip?
Paonia is the best day trip from Aspen. It’s an incredibly fertile valley where we get a majority of our fruits and vegetables in Aspen. I love to go and visit the farms and the wineries and eat fresh food from the source!
Melanie Muss, broker associate at Douglas Elliman Real Estate
What, or who, are your cultural touchstones in Aspen?
Aspen’s summer season is short and super vibrant. The start of the Saturday Market is the kickoff for me, and the Music Festival anchors everything.
Which Aspen happenings are you looking forward to this summer?
Sundays at the Michael Klein Music Tent, afternoon talks at Anderson Ranch, Theatre Aspen Shows, and Labor Day music!
What’s your greatest seasonal indulgence while you’re in Aspen?
Achieving balance. Getting out and doing everything I love here during the busy summer real estate season. I also commit to doing something new every year: a new hike, a new activity.
What’s your favorite local restaurant? What should we order?
Meat & Cheese. The chicken board with potatoes and greens.
Daniel Merritt, Aspen Art Museum director of curatorial affairs
What, or who, are your cultural touchstones in Aspen?
Andy Warhol skiing Buttermilk, Walter Paepcke and Herbert Bayer’s symbiotic relationship, Jimmy Buffett’s 1982 New Year’s Eve Party, the Paragon ballroom, Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s Valley Curtain (technically, it was in Rifle, CO), all of the artists I’ve met who live in the Roaring Fork Valley, and all of the artists I have the honor of working with at the Aspen Art Museum.
Which Aspen happenings are you looking forward to this summer?
Audience Plant 2024—a free outdoor concert on top of Aspen Mountain led by Ryan Trecartin, Lizzie Fitch, Ashland Mines, Aaron David Ross, and Michael Beharie. The performance is happening at the apex of Aspen ArtWeek, and features compositions written by Trecartin as scores for outdoor spaces and headphone music for gardeners.
A collaborative ethos governs the project, which features guest performances by renowned pianist Jason Moran and the students of the Aspen Music School’s Contemporary Ensemble. The result is a blend of jazz, fusion, ambient noise, pop, video game scores, sound effects, theme songs, outros, children’s music, and EDM. In short: unmissable.
What’s your greatest seasonal indulgence while you’re in Aspen?
Solitude.
What’s your favorite local restaurant? What should we order?
Clark’s. Come for the oysters and martinis, stay for the butterscotch pot de crème.
How has the scene changed in recent years? Best new additions?
It is one of the Aspen Art Museum’s earliest traditions, but after a dormant period, the Youth Art Expo has returned as a biennial program. The exhibition features the original artwork of hundreds of K-12 students from the greater Roaring Fork Valley, from Parachute to Gypsum. I can confidently say the 2025 iteration, currently in the works, will be unforgettable.
Delfina Blaquier, artist and former athlete
What, or who, are your cultural touchstones in Aspen?
Aspen’s art galleries are a treasure. I love visiting the Aspen Art Museum and connecting with local artists. Also, watching polo at the Aspen Valley Polo Club is always in my heart.
How do the rhythms of your life shift while in the mountains?
Life in the mountains is more serene. I slow down, breathe deeply, and relish the simplicity of nature.
What’s your greatest seasonal indulgence while you’re in Aspen?
A luxurious spa day at the St. Regis. It’s pure bliss and the perfect way to unwind.
Best way to spend a summer evening?
A picnic by Maroon Lake watching the sunset. It’s absolutely magical. I also love to spend evenings with friends chilling and having rosé by a fire pit.
How has the scene changed in recent years? Best new additions?
The culinary scene has exploded with creativity. Betula Aspen’s blend of French and Latin cuisine is fantastic. I love the bird drink!
Favorite hike and lunch combination?
Hiking the Maroon Bells followed by a picnic lunch at the top. The views are breathtaking. A bike ride to the Pine Creek Cookhouse is also so much fun.
Go-to Aspen summer outfit?
A flowy sundress paired with my old worn-out cowboy boots and a wide-brimmed hat. Classic, easy, and perfect for any occasion.
Sterling McDavid, founder of eponymous interior design studio
What, or who, are your cultural touchstones in Aspen?
Caribou Club, Woody Creek Tavern, and Kemo Sabe. There is nothing like these gems anywhere else, and each has contributed to making Aspen what it is over the years.
How do the rhythms of your life shift while in the mountains?
As a New York girl, I find balance in my life because of Aspen—it's my happy place. I feel a unique sense of calm every time I am fortunate enough to be here.
What’s your favorite local restaurant? What should we order?
Betula. Everything is delicious!
How has the scene changed in recent years?
I have been coming to Aspen my entire life, so I have definitely seen it evolve. Over the past decade, it has become a destination for art lovers, fashionistas, and business leaders. It used to be a hidden gem, but that certainly isn't the case anymore. I love that it’s a hotspot with so much to offer.
Favorite hike and lunch combination?
Hiking the face of Aspen Mountain and ending with brunch at the Mountain Club. It's the most rewarding experience.
Best day trip?
Spend the day at Hanging Lake (near Glenwood Springs). A quick but challenging hike leads to a special spot where you can see travertine formations and emerald waters. Be sure to get permits in advance.
Jen Rubio, CEO and founder of AWAY
What, or who, are your cultural touchstones in Aspen?
The Aspen Art Museum and Anderson Ranch Arts Center are driving forces of culture in Aspen. AAM curates shows that force you to think of art in different ways—the Allison Katz-curated show [“In the House of the Trembling Eye”] is a must-see. And the Anderson Ranch Arts Center is another core staple here that brings renowned artists to the mountains and allows you to experience their work in a very special way.
How do the rhythms of your life shift while in the mountains?
My pace slows down big time, but I somehow still get a lot done. Being out here makes me approach things in a more clear-headed way, and it’s impossible for me to be in a bad mood if I spend enough time outside. It truly is magical.
What’s your greatest seasonal indulgence while you’re in Aspen?
Aspen is my seasonal indulgence!
Best way to spend a summer evening?
Dinner at a friend’s house—Aspen has some of the greatest dinner party hosts—and then live music outside somewhere!
Favorite hike and lunch combination?
Pack a lunch and then make your way to the backside of Aspen Mountain, where there are huge meadows of wildflowers and views everywhere you look. You can take the gondola to the top of Ajax and hike down the back or ATV back there. Breathtaking.
Jordan Hayes, executive chef at Mollie Aspen
How do the rhythms of your life shift while in the mountains?
The mountains, the river, and the valley call you out of whatever routine you're in. As a chef, I’ve had a pretty awful work-life balance over the last 15 years, but I’ve found a real groove here by making plans to get out of cell range on a deep trail or putting my feet in the river.
What’s your greatest seasonal indulgence while you’re in Aspen?
I’m big on indulgence whatever the season, but in Aspen it’s “leaf peepin.’” I feel every bit of my 41 years saying this, but it really is nuts here. Standing at around 10,000 feet and looking down at all the colors in the valley is worth whatever trip you took to get here.
Best way to spend a summer evening?
After a quick bite at Matsuhisa, get a drink at Hooch, catch a show at Belly Up if your friend's band is playing, and end up at Silver City for karaoke. After, make your way back to Mollie for a nightcap and an amazing stay.
Best day trip?
It starts early. Pack a full day bag and head up to Conundrum Hot Springs. You'll get gorgeous valley views, cedar-scented air, ambient river noise, and an awesome natural hot spring. Hikes like that are what Bob Ross painted. The whole place is full of happy little trees.
Lee Keating, co-owner of Performance Ski Aspen
What’s your greatest seasonal indulgence while you’re in Aspen?
Breathing fresh air.
Favorite hike and lunch combination?
I don’t hike! But the best lunch spot in Aspen is Casa Tua—hands down.
How do the rhythms of your life shift while in the mountains?
My rhythms are always the same: in the moment.
Best way to spend a summer evening?
Looking at the night sky.
How has the Aspen scene changed in recent years?
The influencers have brought a lot of bad fashion to Aspen. I really miss the old summer fashion cowboy vibe, but maybe it will come back as a result of Pharrell’s cowboy-inspired collection for Louis Vuitton.
Go-to Aspen summer outfit?
ANYTHING BUT LYCRA. I really don’t like the lycra tights look—so hot and sweaty. At Performance Ski we do have these amazing shorts and light pants from Amundsen, a really cool and fresh Norwegian brand.
Sarah Arison, patron, collector, and YoungArts board chair
Which Aspen happenings are you looking forward to this summer?
I'm co-chairing the Aspen Art Museum ArtCrush this year for the first time, and I can't wait! I've been attending for nearly a decade and it's always one of my favorite nights of the year, so I'm thrilled to be more involved. We're honoring Shigeru Ban (who designed the new building 10 years ago), Jacqueline Humphries, and Jason Moran. The Anderson Ranch gala will honor Charles Gaines, an artist I love, so I'm looking forward to that too.
Best way to spend a summer evening?
Highlands Alehouse is hands-down the best pizza in town. On Sunday evenings, they have live music and everyone goes to the base of Highlands with their kids and dogs to eat, relax, and enjoy the music and perfect weather. We bring a kiddie pool and a slip-n-slide—it's the best summer evening activity for the whole family.
Favorite hike and lunch combination?
Hunter Creek is close, quick, shady, and ends at a beautiful overlook. From there, it's five minutes to town and the new rooftop restaurant at the Aspen Art Museum—Swedish Hill—which has a delicious sandwich or salad and a spectacular view.
Jane Gottschalk, co-founder and creative director of Perfect Moment Sportswear
Hotel recommendations?
The St Regis is a short walk from the center of town. Make sure to try their spa, RAKxa!
How do the rhythms of your life shift while in the mountains?
In Aspen, life takes on a more natural rhythm. You start your day with the mountain air, spend your afternoons exploring or just soaking in the views around you. The mountains encourage a slower pace, a focus on the present, helping you live in the moment. It’s the perfect reset.
What’s your favorite restaurant in Aspen? What should we order?
Bag a table at Matsuhisa. You must try the Black Cod Miso and the Yellowtail Jalapeño! Other great spots for dinner include the Caribou Club (find a member!) and Campo De Fiori, or try Meat and Cheese for lunch. For cocktails, stop by the Hotel Jerome Courtyard.
Favorite hike and lunch combination?
Drive to Cathedral Lake Trail or American Lake Trail up Castle Creek Road. After hiking to one of these stunning glacial lakes, head down to Pine Creek Cookhouse for lunch. Ute Trail is tough but also a great workout up Aspen Mountain.
Go to Aspen summer outfit or item?
The Perfect Moment rashguards! They have been designed to be your ultimate summer staple, perfect for both water activities and casual wear. Crafted from high-quality Italian Carvico fabric with UV protection and pilling resistance. Ibiza-tested and approved by our Moment Makers, our rashguards seamlessly blend functionality with style.
Best café
Head to the Gorsuch Café for the best Matcha and freshly squeezed orange juice in Aspen.
