The most up-to-date information for the Roaring Fork Valley

Summer: Anderson Ranch is dedicated to creativity and growth through the making and understanding of the visual arts. Located on a beautiful, historic 5-acre mountain ranch, they offer 150 summer workshops, artists' residencies, artists' lectures, exhibitions, and public events. In summer, Lunchtime Auctionettes are a wonderful opportunity to purchase original artwork by faculty and visiting artists; the ArtWorks Store features artwork, gifts and art supplies. Selected Thursdays, the Featured Artists Lecture Series offers presentations by top contemporary artists. On Saturday, August 10th, the Annual Art Auction offers over 250 pieces of art by renowned artists in silent and live auctions with a picnic lunch. Starting in June, the Ranch Café is open to the public Monday-Friday for lunch. For guided tour information, events, workshop calendars and more, visit www.andersonranch.org, email info@andersonranch.org or call (970) 923-3181. Photo: In the Maloof Wood Barn at Anderson Ranch. Photo Credit: Rachel DeBoard
Winter: Anderson Ranch provides transformative experiences that celebrate artists, art making, creative dialog and community. Join them for these exciting events: Dec. 18 – Holiday Open House and Live Auction; Jan. 10 – 12 Wintersculpt; March 19 – Annual Monothon; weekly - Sip & Shop and See most Tuesdays at 3pm. Self-guided tour of their studios - M-F, 9am – 5pm. ArtWorks Gift Shop is open M – F, 9am – 5pm. Public invited! 2013 Workshop Catalog available in January!

The Aspen Art Museum is a non-collecting institution presenting the newest, most important evolutions in international contemporary art. Exhibitions: Continental Drift (October 19-November 25), BLOCK, PILLAR, SLAB, BEAM (December 14-January 20, 2013), Morgan Fisher (December 14-February 3, 2013), Monika Sosnowska | Kathrin Sonntag (February 15-April 21, 2013). Special Event: AAM Freestyle Winter Benefit (après-ski party/fashion show), Friday, December 28, 4:00-7:30pm. Museum Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-6pm, Thursday, 10am-7pm, Sunday, noon-6pm. Thursdays 5-7pm, admission to the AAM is free courtesy of Amy and John Phelan. 590 North Mill Street, (970) 925-8050, www.aspenartmuseum.org. Image: Monika Sosnowska, Stairway, 2010. Installation view, Herzliya Museum, Israel, (2010). Courtesy the artist, Foksal Gallery Foundation, The Modern Institute, Galerie Gisela Capitain, Kurimanzutto, Hauser & Wirth

Summer: ACES Kids and Adult summer classes are available now for online registration. Visit www.aspennature.org to sign up for a summer full of fun with ACES! Space is limited and filling fast, register today! ACES has something for everyone in the summer time! Visit the Hallam Lake Nature Preserve, a wild place in the heart of Aspen, featuring an environmental learning center, resident birds of prey, an indoor trout stream, self-guided trail, bird watching, and a naturalist on site to answer questions. Stop in to Rock Bottom Ranch, ACES mid-valley location for daily farm and garden tours. Throughout the summer ACES offers various programs for children and adults, as well as free naturalist-guided walks at Aspen Mountain, at the Maroon Bells and in Snowmass, including a Snowmass Ice Age Discovery Hike! Experience our popular Green World Day Hike, offered daily with lunch at the Pine Creek Cookhouse, or, hire a guide for an ACES adventure on your own time. Photo: ACES Staff
Winter: During the winter ACES daily programs include naturalist-guided snowshoe tours on top of Aspen Mountain, at Snowmass and at Ashcroft; naturalist-guided ski tours at Snowmass; Friday evening snowshoe tours at Snowmass; and weekly slideshows where local adventurers share tales from abroad and regional experts teach on naturalist topics. The Hallam Lake nature center in Aspen is open Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm where visitors can enjoy snowshoe walks and bird watching in the heart of downtown Aspen.

Summer: The Aspen Music Festival and School is the United States' premier classical music festival, presenting more than 300 musical events during its eight-week summer season, from June 28 - August 19. The institution brings together 630 pre-professional students from more than 40 countries, joining them with over 200 guest artists and artist-faculty members. This signature mix of uniting education and performance gives Aspen events a special energy that permeates all the Festival offerings including symphonic and chamber music concerts, solo recitals, vocal programs, fully-staged operas, children’s programs, public master classes, lectures, and backstage tours. This year’s season theme, “Made in America”, features works inspired by America’s sights, sounds, and sensibilities. For concert and ticket information, (970) 925-9042 or www.aspenmusicfestival.com. AMFS photo by Alex Irvin
Winter: The Aspen Music Festival and School’s 2013 winter season includes its beloved Winter Music Series as well as five encore airings of the Metropolitan Opera’s acclaimed The Met: Live in HD series. Launching the WM Series are two internationally acclaimed artists, Gil Shaham, violin and Akira Eguchi, piano, on February 5, followed by the Takács Quartet on February 28 and amazing young pianist Conrad Tao on March 16. The Met: Live in HD series brings Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore on January 31, Verdi’s Otello on February 19, Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera on March 7, Berlioz’s Les Troyens on March 14, and Wagner’s Parsifal on March 28. All performances and airings take place at the Wheeler Opera House. Purchase tickets at the Wheeler Box Office, call (970) 920-5770, or visit www.aspenshowtix.com. Mark Your Calendar! Summer Festival 2013 June 27 – August 18.

Theatre Aspen's Summer 2013 repertory season is already in the planning stages and an what an exciting season it will be! This year marks the theater's 30th Anniversary season, and to celebrate, Theatre Aspen is going BIG with the epic musical Les Misérables! This new production of one of the most successful all-time shows (and now a film) will open in the newly-renovated Hurst Theatre in Rio Grande Park on June 25th, followed by You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown and the hilarious comedy Fully Committed. To make it all happen, Theatre Aspen kicks off this 30th Anniversary celebration with their annual costume gala, the BROADWAY BASH! Costumes, dancing, dinner and special cocktails add to the festive atmosphere for Aspen's most fun winter party! Live and silent auctions with one-of-a-kind items support the theatre's first-rate professional productions and year-round education programs. Cocktails start at 6:30pm and the party lasts until midnight! For more information, call Beth Levin (970) 925-9313 x205.