The market shows signs of coming back! See the article below found in the Aspen Business Journal quoting me regarding the recent report from Land Title showing the real estate sales for September 2011 in Pitkin County.

This home in Aspen’s West End sold for $9.6 million, highlighting the strongest September since 2008. More images

 

PITKIN/GARFIELD COUNTY, Colo. – In another sign that the valley’s real estate market may be finding its equilibrium, September transactions in Pitkin County were the strongest they’ve been since April 2008, while in Garfield County, a new home in River Valley Ranch sold for $1.2 million, more than five times that of the median sale price for the year.

During September, a total of $137,723,013 in sales were recorded in Pitkin County, a 38 percent leap as compared to the same month in 2010. That’s the second strongest dollar month for the year, according to reports released by Land Title Guarantee Company. The total number of transactions, 86, also showed an increase of 38 percent over Sept. 2010.

Year to date, dollars for Pitkin County total $977,073,114, which reflects an 18.8 percent increase over the same time period last year. Aspen was responsible for 34 transactions, or $88.7 million in sales, including a $9.6 million single family residence within the city limits. In Snowmass Village, there were eight transactions totaling $16 million.

“We’re seeing some sales but it’s certainly not booming,” said Greg Rulon, a broker with Joshua & Co. in Snowmass Village, who noted that the road to recovery is taking place, albeit slowly. “The long-term trends are good, that bodes well. I think we’re going to ease out of this thing but it’s not going to happen overnight.”

Rulon said savvy buyers in this market are seeking the best value for the money and are discerning in their investments. “It’s the best priced properties, imagine that! We’re dealing with very sophisticated buyers that are looking for value,” he said.

If there are 10 units available in a particular complex, “The best value is going to sell first. Even the high end is more focused on that these days,” Rulon added.

Sellers in this market need to be patient as many properties are taking longer to move than before. A review of five properties – priced from $700,000 to $7 million- that sold in September showed time on the market ranging from 134 days to 1,042 days, or nearly three years.

All five had seen significant price reductions prior to sale, with an $8.8 million home a seeming bargain given its $14.9 million original list price.

In Garfield County, “transaction strength continued” from the prior month, while dollar volume decreased, according to Land Title. All told in Sept. 2010, there were 83 transactions for the month, which reflects a 50 percent increase over Sept. 2010. Total dollar amounts were $18,404,300, which is below August’s whopping $35.7 million in sales. But keep in mind that August 2011 was the second best single month in more than two-and-a-half years for Garfield County.

Bank sales continue to be strong in this market, with a total of 29 recorded in the county accounting for $3.8 million. According to Land Title, these accounted for 35 percent of the transactions and 21 percent of the dollars for the month. That’s on track with how bank sales are looking for the year, as well.

Phil Weir, a broker with Mason Morse in Glenwood Springs, also believes that right pricing is key as buyers are benefitting from the downward pressures placed upon properties by short sales and other factors.

“Prices are being established in certain areas where things will sell,” he said. “If bottom is where people buy property, we’re there.”

Weir, who has worked in this valley for 34 years and was also a broker while living in Roatan, Honduras, noted an increase in activity in both Lakota Canyon Ranch and Castle Valley.

“I was very surprised in that when I pulled up the statistics, there were 19 homes under contract, (and) 40 homes have sold since the first of the year. That’s amazing,” Weir said.

As is true in Aspen/Snowmass, many of those homes are being sold at enviable prices (at least from the buyers’ perspective) and have undergone several price reductions. That shift, coupled with loan programs ranging from FHA to rural development loans, have allowed certain buyers the opportunity to enter the current market.

Weir said that this year he’s “sold five houses to teachers,” and also noted that the real estate recovery depends on jobs. Plus, there’s a growth in businesses – from Valley View Hospital’s new cancer center to the implementation of a four-year degree from Colorado Mountain College  – which are being taken as positives for Garfield County.

“We’ve weaned downvalley a little bit off upvalley,” he said, a reference to the decreased importance of Aspen/Snowmass as a job hub.

Back up in Snowmass Village, Greg Rulon is staying positive after two strong months of Pitkin County real estate sales. While we remain miles away from the sales of six years ago, where in September 2005 there were 188 transactions and an astonishing $313,880,500 in sales, the proverbial light is shining at the end of the tunnel.

“Activity begets activity. It’s contagious,” Rulon said. Yet in a nod to the longer process now surrounding a transaction, he said “every sale has a story.”

September transactions at a glance

PITKIN COUNTY

Dollar volume: $137,723,013
Number of transactions: 86
Increase over September 2010 (dollar volume): 38%
Increase over September 2010 (transaction volume) 38.7%
Year-to-date dollar volume: $977,073,114 (18.8% increase)
Year-to-date transactions: 584 (16.8% increase)
Bank sales: Three sales,  $1.74 million (3.5% of sales, 1.3% of dollar volume)
Year-to-date bank sales: 45, $30.3 million (8% of sales, 3% of dollar volume)
Average single-family home price through Sept.: $4.1 million (down 5% from full year 2010)
Median single-family home price through Sept.: $3.5 million (up 11% from full year 2010)
Fractional sales: 24 (26% increase over Sept. 2010)
Fractional dollar volume: $8.7 million (7 percent increase over Sept. 2010)
Year-to-date fractional sales: 175 (31% increase over 2010)
Fractional dollar volume: $75.8 million (5% increase over 2010)

GARFIELD COUNTY

Dollar volume: $18,404,300
Number of transactions: 83
Increase over September 2010 (dollar volume): 3.5%
Increase over September 2010 (transaction volume) 50.91%
Year-to-date dollar volume: $208,106,900 (21% increase)
Year-to-date transactions: 664 (32.8% increase)
Bank sales: 29 sales, $3.8 million (35% of sales and 21% of dollar volume)
Year-to-date bank sales: 237, $42.7 million (36% of transactions, 21% of dollar volume)
Average single-family home price: $329,063 (down 15% from 2010)
Median single-family home price: $238,900 (down 20% from 2010)
Through September, 82 percent of the single family sales were $400,000 or less

The Rocky Mountains call to those who love wilderness. The Rockies are also one of the few places in the world where people can get back to nature, to experience the land in its natural form and to witness the wild. In a 2007 poll conducted by Talmey-Drake, Ninety percent of Coloradoans sited wilderness as an important economic and recreational aspect of life in Colorado.

Nowhere in Colorado are these factors truer than in Aspen and Snowmass Village. Nor is there a place in Colorado where the beauty and the poignancy of nature more easily accessed. To ensure that this beauty will remain for generations to come, the Hidden Gem Coalition was created to preserve and maintain the wilderness of the Central Rocky Mountains.

Back in 2007, a group of conservation minded wilderness lovers banded together to form a Wilderness Campaign, called the Hidden Gems Coalition in the White River National Forest. The premise of this coalition was to protect the middle elevation wilderness areas, which were excluded from the original wilderness protection legislation years ago due to mining and logging industries. Today these interests have diminished and the forests have become more and more a source of recreation. However, many wildlife species, some of which are threatened, call these forests home. The Hidden Gem’s goal was to enable people to continue to go into the forest and enjoy them, meanwhile protecting the animals, plant life and the health of the forests.

After three years of hard work, many discussions with community members and even more revisions, 150 to be exact, the Hidden Gems Wilderness Campaign has successfully been launched. Today the Hidden Gems protects 342,000 acres of wilderness in the Pitkin, Gunnison, Eagle and Summit counties. Under the current agreement, hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, horseback riding, kayaking, rafting and many other activities are still allowed in the Hidden Gems areas. New mining, new drilling, logging, biking and motorized travel are forbidden.

The Roaring Fork Valley is a particularly popular place for outdoor recreation. While the US Forest Service reports that only 1% of White River National Forest users rely on snowmobiles, these vehicles damage and environmentally impact of these vehicles is significant. Not only do they detract from the silent peace of nature, they also negatively affect the safety and well being of other visitors, and wildlife. Far more use in the forest comes from much less damaging forms of recreation. Eight-one percent of visitors to the forest are hikers, horseback riders, kayakers and rafters.  Because mountain biking is such a beloved aspect of life in the Roaring Fork Valley, the entire 23,000 acres of Sloan Peak were left out of the Hidden Gem project, preserving a huge portion of land for biking. Focusing on encouraging activities with the least impact on the land and limiting those more invasive forms of recreation has been a major victory for the land and its wild residents.

To encourage and educate residents of the Aspen and Snowmass Village area about the Hidden Gems in their area, the coalition in partnership with biking, hiking, nature and riding resources in the area, is offering a series of guided hikes and rides into various parts of the Hidden Gems wilderness area.  From the end of June through August spectacular outdoor experiences are offered every weekend and even on weekdays. For the more solitary hiker, the Hidden Gems Coalition encourages you to visit on your own. They will send free maps and information about the various areas, if they are contacted through their website.

If you are feeling the call of the wild, come to Aspen, Snowmass Village and the Roaring Fork Valley. Experience the beauty and solace of nature in its most beautiful form. Then take a look at homes, investment properties and condos in the area. You will be investing not only in your own wilderness experience; you will be living in and investing in a community, which believes in preserving the wilderness experience of generations to come. www.GregRulon.com

In July and August residents and visitors of Aspen and Snowmass Village will be painting the town red – or pink rather in support of breast cancer research.

Beginning this weekend, July 16^th, runners and walkers will pile on the pink and race in memory of those lost to cancer, those who have overcome cancer, and for the hope of a cure to breast cancer.

Then on August 14^th an exclusive moonlighting VIP ride through the Maroon Bells with former Olympian Scott Mercier will take a select few on an unforgettable ride in an exclusive fundraising event.

For everyone else, the pink will come out in full force on August 21, when all of Aspen and Snowmass Village will sport their pink as they host this year’s Ride for the Cure in Aspen/Snowmass, in affiliation with the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

The race kicks off at the Snowmass Village Recreation Center and winds through Snowmass Village, Aspen, Woody Creek and Old Snowmass, for a total of 100 miles, and with the option of shorter distances ranging from 10 miles to 30 and 50, if 100 seems a bit daunting.

As part of the event dinner on Friday is provided, in addition to breakfast and lunch on Saturday. After the race, all of that pink will really turn up the heat in a Finish Line Party with music, beer food and massages! Even the kids are encouraged to hop their bike wearing their brightest pink tutu or most manly pink shirt and ride. Afterward kids’ activities will reward participants and spectators alike.

While athletes and outdoor folks gather outside to show their support for the fight against breast cancer, quietly in Eagle, Colorado a series of pink photographs will be on display in an attempt to artistically raise awareness and support for breast cancer. A pink photo contest began back in April, with winning photographs going on display in June, and will remain up until mid-September.

Statistically speaking, on July 16^th, or August 14^th or 24^th, as bikers pedal, run or photograph their hearts out, the sad truth is that across the country 600 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 100 women will die from it, just like every other day of the year.

To combat these numbers, the primary objective to the Race for the Cure is raise money to support research for breast cancer. The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation also supports increased education, screening, and treatment. Some of the funds earned in the race will go to providing low-cost or no-cost screening, testing and other medical services for low-income residents of the Roaring Fork Valley.

The Roaring Fork Valley is committed to the health and wellbeing of its women, men and children. This commitment is apparently in the droves of runners, bikers and artists who will put on their pink, and paint the town pink all summer long.

Join in the fight! Pull out your pink shorts, grab a pink t-shirt and get out to show your support for finding the cure to breast cancer. Afterward, take some time to look at homes and residences in the Aspen and Snowmass Village area. Be a part of a community that invests in all of its members. www.GregRulon.com

William Shakespeare said it first, and best, “A rose by another name would smell as sweet.”

Today that saying applies as much to mountains as to flowers, as Mt. Sopris’ eastern peak may soon be called, “John Denver Peak.”

Mt. Sopris has been the unofficial symbol of the Roaring Fork River Valley and its surrounding cities since their inception. Its great beauty has called people to live in the shadows of these two great peaks; inspired climbers, hikers and skiers to test themselves on its face, and filled the souls of artists with song, word and visual representation of every form.

As part of the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness and the White River National Forest, Mt. Sopris’ peaks are also famous for being exactly the same elevation. However, they are known perhaps most famously as the inspiration for singer John Denver’s 1972 song, “Rocky Mountain High.”

John Denver had a very special spot in his heart for Aspen, Snowmass Village and Rocky Mountains; as his music reflects in others of his songs such as  “Aspenglow,” and “Starwood in Aspen.” But this deep love for Colorado and the Aspen/Snowmass Village area is reflected even more in his conservation legacy. In an effort to preserve the land that so inspired him, Mr. Denver purchased 1,000 acres of farmland and wilderness just down the hill from Mt. Sopris. He later donated this land to the Windstar Foundation, a conservation group founded by him.

The Aspen Times has announced that long time friend of Mr. Denver, J.P. McDaniel, with the support of Mr. Denver’s family, has acquired more than 1,000 signatures in the effort to officially name the mountain that John Denver loved and was inspired by in a memorial to him.

It is perhaps a fitting memorial, due to the fact that Colorado has embraced Mr. Denver’s music and accepted “Rocky Mountain High” as one of the two state songs.

John Denver’s affection for this area, although famously captured, is not unique. Colorado, and Aspen/Snowmass Village are the kind of place that creep into the soul, and capture it for a lifetime. Aspenites were not called by a job or an opportunity to their town; the mountains and rivers, the trees and flowers have called them.

To get your own ‘Aspenglow,’ click here to see homes on large lots of land, condos at the foot of the mountain, or the perfect investment property. Fall in love with Mt. Sopris and everything else the Aspen/Snowmass Village has to offer today!

Although CNNMoney.com is reporting continuing hardship within the job sector in America, concerning both wages and job availability, the economy in Snowmass Village is continuing to improve. This can be seen first and foremost in the three closings on homes in Snowmass Village’s Base Village just in the month of June, but also in the three more residences set to close later this month.

The foreclosure of Base Village and the subsequent lawsuits have hung over the Base Village properties for at least two years, tying up the unsold properties and making them unavailable for sale. However, finally free of legal red tape, due to recent court rulings, many Snowmass Village properties have re-entered the real estate market.

Apparently these properties make their grand re-entrance at a significant discount. The Snowmass Sun is reporting the sales price on the most recent sale to be 40-45% less than the original asking price. It seems that foreigners and many people from around the country and the world have taken notice of the buyer’s market in the Aspen and Snowmass Village market, and are moving in to invest now.

Other markets in the Snowmass Village area are seeing movement as well, for example Sinclair Meadows has seen five lots of the 17 sell, and are hopeful to move even more this summer.

These hopes seem well founded, in the Aspen Business Journal the week’s real estate transactions, hosted by Joshua & Co. posted 18 closings in this week alone.

It seems the time to buy is now, as Base Village broker Garrett Reuss, advised in the Snowmass Sun, “After two more sales, we’ll start to look at raising prices.” If you have wanted to live in the Aspen and Snowmass Village area, and have been biding your time. The time to move is now – gorgeous brand new properties, exquisite Rocky Mountain living at a price that won’t last, not even to the end of the summer.

Invest in the Rocky Mountain dream, where the best skiing in the world is in your backyard, where wild flowers decorate your front lawn. In Snowmass Village, you can have the small town quality of life, complete with beauty, serenity and security, while at the same time enjoying big city amenities like excellent shopping, magnificent dining, high society and a hopping night life.

Have your cake and eat it too in Snowmass Village! Click here to see the homes, properties and condos in the Snowmass Village and Aspen area. Don’t wait another day!

Many people come to Aspen for the outdoor adventures, scenic mountains, amazing festivals and cultural experiences. To balance out all of the hard work, inspiration, sweat and art, Aspen offers an equally intense nightlife. With over 100 bars, restaurants and clubs, Aspen knows how to show its residents and visitors a good time – any time of year.

Matisyahu

Belly Up Aspen is the hot spot for residents and visitors alike who want to cut loose and enjoy great music. A regular host to such big name artists as Matisyahu, Blue’s Traveler, Nas, The Stone Temple Pilots, Seal and many others, Belly Up offers big city artists to its residents and visitors. This year’s summer calendar at Belly Up Aspen is packed with musicians through July well into August. Not only is the music great at Belly Up, the food is everything one would expect from Aspen. The menu includes Kobe beef sliders, ahi tuna sliders, pizza, wings and even some vegetarian fare. Of course the full bar, with incredible drink specials completes the experience.

Another popular place to unwind after climbing steep mountains and fished in ice-cold water is the J-Bar. Located with the Jerome Hotel Aspen, the J-Bar has been a favorite among the locals for over 100 years. The J-Bar pays tribute to its history in the making of the West, by maintaining its saloon ambiance. The famous J-Bar drink, called the “Aspen Crud” is a must have for every one, at least once. Consisting primarily of ice cream and bourbon, served in a tin cup, this milkshake recalls the J-Bar’s stint as a soda fountain during the days of prohibition. The J-Bar also offers house-made margaritas, vintage cocktails and the more common bar fare as well. Light foods are served from the J-Bar menu, such as burgers, artichoke spinach dip with flatbread and truffle fries.

Don’t forget the unforgettable 39 Degrees Lounge. Commonly accepted to be the place for the social scene in Aspen for locals and visitors alike, with its perfect ambiance, warmth in the winter and gorgeous sundeck in the summer, 39 Degrees features the mixologist Denis Cote, who whips out creative and original cocktails that will have you coming back for more.

For more intimate and casual watering holes Bentley’s at the Wheeler and the Hunter Bar and Eric’s Bar are popular among the locals. The Cigar Bar offers an elegant experience, featuring cigars and fine liquors found only in Aspen.  Explore Booksellers and Es-Cape bistro offers culture and books as the main course, serving wine, beer, coffees, vegetarian cuisine and divine desserts as sides.

Café Ink! offers a milder, but still outstanding menu of drinks including smoothies, international coffees and teas. Paradise Bakery stays open late as well for those needing a midnight snack or pick-me-up. Drop in for frozen yogurt, homemade ice cream or freshly baked cookies and muffins.

Aspen is the saying, “Work hard, play harder” personified. After the sun has set, this town knows how to put the climbing equipment, paint brushes and philosophical thoughts away and embrace good music, good friends and a good time. Come work and play here in the shadows of the Rocky Mountains! To find the perfect home, condo or investment property click here.

Often times, there is so much going on in Aspen and Snowmass Village that it is easy to forget the long and deep history Aspenites hold dear. The Aspen Historical Society has devoted itself to preserving the interesting and diverse history that has culminated into the culturally advanced social epicenter Aspen is today.

The Wheeler/Stallard Museum built by Jerome B. Wheeler in 1888 as a family home, has become the epicenter of the Aspen Historical Society. The museum itself offers tours of the house, which has preserved the Victorian Style in which it was built. Additionally this summer the Historical Society is focusing on the theme, “Out of Your Mind, Body and Spirit – Voices of Aspen in 1975.” Displayed in the Wheeler/Stallard Museum is a collection of items from this era. Additionally, there is an opportunity to record your own memories of this time to be preserved for future generations. Time Travel Tuesdays, an adult history program is hosted at the Wheeler/Stallard museum every Tuesday evening throughout the summer. A variety of presentations from speakers to historical re-enactments of historical events and discussions portray many aspects of Aspen’s history. Wednesdays are the kids’ day at the museum with the summer theme of “Playing with the Past.” Through July and August activities such as candle making, butter churning, ice cream making, tea parties and story telling make learning history fun!

The Aspen Historical Society offers a variety of history tours throughout the summer months as well. Walking, biking and a unique electric vehicle tour take time travelers through Aspen and its surrounding areas. Beginning June 14th and continuing through October 8th, these tours provide citizens and visitors an opportunity to see the remaining physical tributes to Aspen’s history and to absorb the influences that contributed to modern Aspen. The History Coach, the West End Walking Tour, Historic Bike tour, Hotel Jerome History Tour, ‘Steaming’ Holden Maroit Tour, focus on various aspects of Aspen History, from the ranching, mining, and the very beginnings of the rich culture of Aspen.

Just outside of town lie the ghost towns of Ashcroft and Independence. Tours guided by “ghosts” from this era lead visitors through these preserved historical towns. In conjunction with the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, the tours at Ashcroft include information on the natural aspects of the site as well. The rich history of the West still whispers through these long abandoned buildings.

As a tribute to the long mining history in Aspen, the Holden/Marolt Mining and Ranching Museum takes visitors back to the late 1800’s, when Aspen was the largest producer of silver in the country. The Holden/Maroit Museum also pays tribute to the agricultural history of the Aspen area, commonly known as the ‘Quiet Years’ of Aspen. Original artifacts from the Maroit family ranch are on display.

Originally home to the Ute Indian tribe, and then to miners, ranchers and finally the socially and culturally elite beginning with the Paepcke Family, Aspen has seen the highs and lows of many an era. Take a moment away from hiking, biking, dining and socializing to get to know Aspen and the people who made it what it is today, just a little bit better.

When you’re done touring the historic parts of town, click here to see new and historic homes, residences and property investments in the Aspen and Snowmass Village area. Realize the deep, and complex history here, and then become part of the story. Come! Make history with us in the most beautiful city on earth!

Sharp, jutting blue-black mountains, accented by thin outlines of white snow still clinging to the rocks, contrast with the rolling green valleys and delicate pink, purple and yellow wildflowers of summer in Snowmass Village and Aspen.

A trip up the Elk Camp Gondola at Snowmass or the Silver Queen Gondola at Aspen Mountain unveils the intense summer beauty of the Rocky Mountains. Floating above the beautiful mountains in gondolas reminds one of the solitude and serene beauty of life in the mountains. This quiet serenity is interrupted only by intense and extreme adventures experienced in these extraordinary mountain towns.

The Elk Camp Gondola allows summer visitors to stop mid-way at 10,000 feet or to continue up the mountain to the 11,300-foot summit for breathtaking views of the Elk Mountains and Maroon Bells in all of their summer glory. Maps at the base of the mountain indicate trails for those visitors who have come up the mountains to walk with nature. For those who prefer a guided Nature Walk, the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies offers free hikes on Snowmass Mountain daily at 1p.m. After taking in the sights, picturesque picnic spots dot the mountain with many a visitor enjoying the relaxing solitude of a romantic or family picnic in the shade of the trees. Others leave the cooking to the chefs, and dine instead on-mountain at Elk Camp Café. Pass the afternoon at the climbing wall, fishing or playing disc golf at the top of the world before heading back down the mountain in the late afternoon.

Atop Aspen Mountain, the Silver Queen Gondola deposits visitors 3,000 feet above the city of Aspen, after a 2.5-mile, scenic ride above the mountains and blooming flowers. At over eleven thousand feet in elevation, lunch is being served at the Sundeck restaurant, where visitors can refresh before heading out to take on the adventures Aspen Mountain holds. After lunch and a ramble in the wild flowers, a hybrid trampoline, the Eurobungy Trampoline, stands waiting for adults and children to take on this extreme form of jumping. In what looks like a cross between bungee jumping, a trampoline and a spider’s web, the Eurobungy pushes the limits of fun. Aspen Mountain also offers children a variety of activities from the top of the mountain, including programs with live animals, obstacle courses and as a tribute to Aspen history, silver nugget dig. Like Snowmass Mountain, the ACES offers guided hikes on Aspen Mountain. Additionally, Aspen Mountain has Yoga Hikes. Open-air Hatha yoga is experienced in the glory of one of the most beautiful places on earth. After a calming yoga session, a guided hike is led into the backcountry.

For some the Gondola rides up the mountain are more than just a relaxing outing in nature – they are the gateway to adventure!  Both Elk Camp Gondola and the Silver Queen Gondola welcome mountain bikes, and riders. Grab a bike, or rent one nearby and head up the mountain for the ride of a lifetime down the fabulous Rocky Mountains!

Sharp, angular rocks, smooth, rolling water, icy streams and hot mountain sunshine, the contrasts within Snowmass Village and Aspen are endless. The commonality found within these towns is the deep love and respect for the endless beauty surrounding them. Whether extreme sports, or quiet walks amid the flowers and stillness of the forest, or all of the above, is your cup of tea, everyone fortunate enough to live in Aspen, or even just pay it a visit now and then, knows it is the co-existing contrasts found in every corner, cliff, trail and blossom that makes Snowmass Village and Aspen truly remarkable.

Explore the contrasts of Snowmass Village and Aspen in the summer months; take time to see homes, residences and properties within the area as well. Click here to see just a few residential options today! www.GregRulon.com

It is the season of bright red watermelon gripped by small, sticky fingers and dripping down a child’s face. It is the season of ice cold lemonade sweating in a glass. It is the season of parades and fireworks, picnics in the late summer sunshine. It is July Fourth!

This year in Aspen, the Fourth of July will be celebrated for a full weekend. Residents of Aspen will be hard pressed to choose how exactly to begin on Friday evening with the large assortment of fine art opportunities offered. The Aspen Chamber Symphony, conducted by Nicholas McGregan, will play works by Beethoven, Bruch and Mendelssohn. For the more light-hearted, the Wheeler Opera House will be presenting Sandy Duncan in the comedy “Becky’s New Car.” Meanwhile, Aspen Peak Magazine will be hosting The Ninth Annual Aspen Antiques & Fine Arts Fair Preview Party, which will open the ten day fair where some of the finest art and antiques in the world will be displayed.  Not far away on Aspen Mountain, the 12^th Annual Boogie’s Bash for the Buddies will be in full swing. This fundraiser is for the 600 youth in the Roaring Forks Valley in need of mentoring, opportunities and positive reinforcement.

Don’t stay up too late on Friday, because with the sunrise on Saturday morning, the Saturday Market will pull out its fare. Over seventy vendors will display their goods from fresh produce, meat, wine, and cheese to clothes, bags and jewelry.  If you missed  “Becky’s new Car,” Saturday evening offers one more chance for a good laugh. In the mood for Jazz, check out the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Maralis beginning at eight-thirty.

A quiet Sunday morning will allow residents a chance to recover from the first two days of holiday excitement. After sleeping in late, and enjoying a relaxing morning, head back over to the Benedict Music Tent where AMFS director-designate, Robert Spano will conduct the Aspen Festival Orchestra.

Monday, July 4^th, starts out with a bang, and the Boogie’s Diner Buddy 5 Mile Charity Race. Followed immediately afterward by the 1 Mile Family/Canine Walk. Just after the race and the walk, the Eleventh Annual “America’s Birthday Party Carnival” offers children the chance to join in the fun with carnival games, a BBQ and a bake sale. Be sure to take a quick break from the party to catch the Old Fashioned 4^th of July Parade down Main street at noon.  Hungry from racing around Aspen, playing and watching the floats go by? Round out the afternoon with the AVSC 16^th Annual Community Picnic at Koch Park or head over to the Aspen Art Museum’s Annual Fourth of July Picnic for free food and art projects. After filling up with all of the delicious holiday fare, enjoy the Free Fourth of July Concert by the Aspen Music Festival Band and then dance in the street until the wee hours of the morning at the “Dancing In The Streets” concert on the mall area off of Mill Street and Cooper Avenue.

From start to finish this Fourth of July weekend the residents of Aspen will be celebrating their country, their city and each other! Join in the fun and then click here to see homes, investment properties and condos in the Aspen and Snowmass Village area.

With the forecast calling for weather in the 70’s this week, it seems that summer may have come to Aspen. The timing couldn’t be better considering the Outside In Aspen festival kicks off this weekend. June is the best time of year in Aspen to try out a new summer sport with an expert in that field. Beginning June 10 and continuing on through the 12^th, $100 buys a once in a lifetime experience rock climbing, kayaking or climbing that illusive 14er.

Posts on the OIA FaceBook page indicate that the record levels of snow this year have the directors of OIA anxious to get in the water and begin the fun. Kayaking this year will be lead by Brad Ludden, a professional kayaker, joined by Mark Roberson and Ben Stooksberry. High water will also make the stand-up river paddling with Charles MacArthur an excellent experience.

A hike to Cathedral Lake leading up to an elevation of 11,866 feet gives hikers an opportunity to go out on a hike with a considerable change in elevation and higher difficulty than perhaps they would normally consider without a professional. Trail running, for the very fit, is also an option; The Maroon Snowmass Trail has a 2,580-foot gain, and is 7.6 miles one way. This run is for those not faint of heart or endurance. For more hiking experience, join Ryan Sutter on a hike to Castle Peak on Saturday. Castle Peak is one of the most beautiful of the 7 fourteen-thousand-foot high mountains in Roaring Forks River Valley.

Mountain biking and road biking are available in a variety of skill levels, as well as a rock climbing seminar lead by Jake Norton and fly fishing.  Don’t forget to enjoy the outdoors with your best friend; the Adventure Dog Workshop trains you and your dog to hike and jog together, mountain bike and watercraft together. Professionals can help train dogs to behave at campsites and during mealtimes, making enjoying the outdoors together truly enjoyable.

For outdoorsmen and women who want to learn how to really capture the adventure on film, the Outside Adventure Filmmakers School is the perfect opportunity. Outside Magazine photographer Pete McBride offers aspiring and amateur outdoor filmmakers field time, critiques and workshops, helping them to hone their craft.

Outside in Aspen has thought of the entire family, many of the events are open to older children, but for those with smaller children there is the Kid’s Nature Corner, which allows children to meet birds of prey and other native animals. Additionally there are guided nature hikes for the whole family for only the cost of the gondola ticket.

Come to Aspen, climb the mountains, fish in the rivers and relish the gorgeous summer. Once you’ve experienced the outdoor adventures in the Aspen and Snowmass Village area during the summer, you’ll just have to stay to experience all winter can offer. For a more permanent adventure base, click here to see summer homes, permanent residences, and condos in the Aspen and Snowmass Village area.