Birds of Prey

After the women’s alpine ski racing teams wrapped up race action at the Stifel Killington Cup in Killington, Vermont last weekend (way to go, Mikaela, getting your 90^th World Cup win!) it’s the men’s turn to race on American soil with the annual Xfinity Birds of Prey Audi FIS Ski World Cup at Beaver Creek. This stop on the World Cup tour features the men’s speed events and there will be not one, but two Downhill races on Friday and Saturday and a Super G race on Sunday. The fastest racers from around the world look forward to this challenging and intimidating course on the Golden Eagle run in what’s called The Talons area of Beaver Creek Mountain.

Take advantage of being able to view the race in person — and for free. The races will begin at 10:45 a.m. each day, which is prime viewing time in Europe where ski racing is a major sport. There are big screens to catch the top-to-bottom action of the racers flying down the course at unimaginable speeds, but there’s nothing better than seeing these racers come across the Red Tail Jump and practically land in your lap as they come into the finish area.

Head up to Red Tail Stadium and grab a seat for all the action. You can also watch it from the base of the bleachers, grab a drink and a bite to eat and settle in for the action. Park at the base area parking lots and take the free shuttle buses to Beaver Creek Village where you will hop on another free bus that takes you to Red Tail Stadium. Allow about an hour for this. From there, you will take a series of staircases to the venue, so wear the right footwear for walking on snow for a bit and then stairs.

After the races, head back down to Beaver Creek Village for all the post-race fun. Bird of Prey Way will be open on Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will also be watch parties each day on the plaza in case you can’t make it all the way up to Red Tail Stadium. Enjoy a mix of DJs and live bands playing at the Stranahan’s Whiskey stage and at Red Tail Stadium and on Saturday at Red Tail Stadium there are free Bloody Mary drinks starting at 9:15 until 9:45 a.m. On Saturday, don’t miss autograph signings with Eagle County’s River Radamus at the Celsius booth from 2 to 3 p.m., the U.S. Ski Team from 3 to 4 p.m. in the village, and Ted Ligety will be signing autographs at the Kjus store from 3:30 to 4 p.m.

Keep the party going at the Vilar Performing Arts Center. On Friday, check out Teton Gravity Research’s latest ski film, “Legend Has It” with two showings at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. On Saturday night, Grateful Shred will perform at 7 p.m. For a full schedule and more information, go to BCWorldCup.com.

Revely Vail

After the slopes close on Friday, head to Lionshead for some Silent Disco under the stars. Grab a pair of headphones, listen to the beat and seek out others who also are on that channel. Headphones are complimentary and this event runs between 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. at Sunbird Playground Park, up the steps from the ice rink at Arrabelle.

Speaking of the ice rink, Revely Vail host more ice skating shows on Saturday. These are short but action-packed demonstrations of strength and grace on the ice. The talented skaters are from international, world and Team USA groups and bring their best to the rink each week. This week’s ice skating shows will feature the following figure skaters:

• Jordan Moeller: Former Team USA, U.S. National medalist, and International medalist, watch for an amazing backflip that he performs three-times in the outdoor shows
• Joseph Klein: Team USA, U.S. National medalist, and International medalist 
• Naomi Williams and Lochlan Lewer (Pair Team): Team USA, U.S. National and International medalists. She is from Boston and he is from Brisbane, Australia. 
• Michelle Lee: U.S. Nationals competitor, sectional medalist, watch for her beautiful solo to “O Holy Night”.  
• Grace and Luke Fischer: This brother/sister duo currently competes as U.S. National Champions at the Intermediate level. They will perform part of their free dance which is a top hat and cane type of number.

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The first show at 5 p.m. and the second show at 6 p.m. The shows are free and last about 15 minutes, so it is the perfect thing to do on the way home from après ski or on your way to dinner.

New this year is Kringle Crossing, featuring eight chalets that look like they are straight out of the North Pole. There aren’t any elves inhabiting these abodes, but Santa is scheduled to pay a visit on Sunday between 3:30 and 6 p.m. Smile with Santa is part of Revely Vail and free photos with Santa will be available and they can be shared digitally or printed out right at Kringle Crossing. For more information on Revely Vail, go to Discovervail.com.

Minturn Tree Lighting

The town of Minturn’s annual tree lighting will take place on Friday from 6 to 7 p.m. on the corner of Main Street and Toledo Avenue. To get you into the holiday mood, the town of Minturn has enlisted the help of Mountain Harmony to do some caroling and hot cocoa will be served to keep your hands warm. For the kids, there will be Christmas-themed holiday trivia and a reading of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.”

The Minturn Community Fund will once again be organizing The Giving Tree at the event. To participate, you pick from a number of ornaments hanging on lighted tree. Each ornament will include a holiday wish list. By helping out you will be enriching the holiday season of many of your neighbors. You may be able to help out a Minturn kid, the needs of a senior citizen in Minturn, or help purchase a holiday dinner for one of Minturn’s veterans. More details we be available at the tree lighting. ‘Tis the season to give back, so help out a neighbor.

Holy Toledo, a boutique clothing consignment shop right next to the holiday tree, will stay open later for your shopping enjoyment. For more information, go to Minturn.org.

Christmas on Broadway

Christmas on Broadway will take place on Saturday with a parade at 5 p.m. right there on Broadway Street in downtown Eagle. This has become quite the tradition in Eagle, and this season marks its 33rd Christmas on Broadway Parade. The street will literally be shut down to allow for the parade and all the festivities to happen outdoors in one location.

See your friends and neighbors, area businesses and nonprofit groups cruise down Broadway with their holiday-themed floats. And … wait until the end, rumor has it Santa will exchange his sleigh for a ride on a float.

Come early and browse the booths at the Artist Market. EagleARTS has teamed up with the Downtown Business Alliance and the town of Eagle and is bringing in artists selling a wide range of artwork and there will also be food trucks on Second Street between Broadway and Grand Avenue. For more information, go to EagleOutside.com.

Barbie in the Nutcracker

The Vail Friends of Dance and Vail Youth Ballet present a free screening of “Barbie in the Nutcracker” at Riverwalk Theater in Edwards on Sunday.

 Long before the “Barbie” movie came out this summer, Barbie starred in a different movie called “Barbie in the Nutcracker” which came out in 2001. This animated film follows Barbie and the adventures of the the Nutcracker, Mouse King, Sugarplum Princess and more.

This event will really come to life when you get to meet and take photos with your favorite Nutcracker characters from the Vail Youth Ballet Company starting at 2:30 p.m. The movie starts at 3:30 p.m. The “Nutcracker Ballet” presented by the Vail Friends of Dance will take to the stage on Dec. 15, 16 and 17. At this free, family friendly event, there will also be a drawing for two tickets to the live “Nutcracker Ballet” at the Vail Performing Arts Center.

Don’t miss this opportunity to make your holiday season truly magical. Children under 10 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Although the event is free, reserve your spot in advance by going to RiverwalkTheater.com/Showtimes.

Alpine Art Center’s Holiday Market

The Alpine Art Center’s Holiday Market will give you more opportunities to shop local and to shop for local art. Alpine Arts Center, located in Riverwalk in Edwards, hopes its annual market promotes giving handmade gifts in favor of big-box items with less sentimental value. 

With about 35 artists showing their wares, you’ll find something for everyone on your holiday shopping list. Pottery, painting, knitted products, wood works, jewelry, furniture made out of skis and snowboards, photography, housewares and even homemade play dough can be found at the Holiday Market.

The market will be held in the Alpine Arts Center studio at Friday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Enjoy complimentary cookies and hot cider while you shop to get into the holiday spirit. For more information, go to AlpineArtsCenter.org.

This weekend is big for theatrical productions at local schools. After starting the school year in August and getting settled into a routine, theater departments started casting, producing, working on set design and more for months to get ready for the fall shows. Here are three productions you won’t want to miss this weekend showcasing the valley’s youngest thespians.

‘Beauty and the Beast, Jr.’ at Homestake Peak School

The Homestake Peak School Drama Club has a long-standing tradition of doing big-name musicals like “Wizard of Oz,” “The Little Mermaid,” “High School Musical” and “Shrek.” This year, they are doing the Disney classic, “Beauty and the Beast, Jr.”

Director Deb Swain said a group of parents review junior edition shows and look for ones that can include a large number of kids.

“We also look for shows with a number of major parts with acting and singing opportunities. This provides for growth in kids that have been in shows before as well as many entry-level parts,” Swain said.

Auditions began in mid-August, with rehearsals running full swing by August 27. There are 41 kids from third grade to eighth grade who are participating this year. There are also some Homestake Peak School alums who are now at Battle Mountain High School participating as assistant director, soundtrack manager and lighting board tech for “Beauty and the Beast, Jr.” 

If you need a refresher on this fairy tale, here’s a synopsis of “Beauty and the Beast.” Belle is an adventurous and wise young girl living in a provincial town and the Beast, her hideous captor, is actually a young prince trapped under a spell. In order to break the spell, the Beast must learn to love another and earn her love in return. But time is running out, and if the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity. 

The story may be a favorite children’s book and movie but participating in a theatrical performance helps kids grow and take the lessons learned from the stage into other areas of their lives.

“Many of the kids have matured so much during this time and taken on so much more responsibility for the success of this show,” Swain said. “Drama Club includes everyone. We have amazing student athletes, high-achieving academics and kids who only do the shows. We are able to find a place for them all and they learn to work together.”

Performances are at Homestake Peak School this Thursday through Saturday, at 6:30 p.m. with a bake sale and silent auction starting at 6 p.m., so get there early to help support Homestake Peak School’s Drama Club and future performances. Tickets are $10 for students and $12 for adults and there is a 15% discount if you are purchasing tickets for all three nights. Get your tickets in advance at HPSDrama.Org or at the door.

‘Almost, Maine’ at Vail Mountain School

The Vail Mountain School Theater Department is proud to present “Almost, Maine.”

“We have never done this absurdist/romantic/comedic approach to a standard theater production before, so it was a great way to explore and an opportunity to do something different than what we have done in the past,” said Riley Hile, a senior at Vail Mountain School who is leading this year’s production.

The cast is small, only eight actors who are sophomores, juniors and seniors. There are also six backstage crew members.

“Almost, Maine,” is a play by John Cariani that consists of several short plays set in a mythical and remote area of Maine.

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“In ‘Almost, Maine’ there are ten scenes, each of which is a different story with different types of characters and themes. This provides quite a challenge to us actors because of the sheer variety of roles. Newer and older actors in the program are all facing this challenge head-on and are doing an amazing job taking up and adapting to roles they wouldn’t traditionally play,” Hile said.

The play was cast in September and they’ve been practicing ever since.

“We only have an hour and a half to practice at school every Monday and Friday, with some of those being taken up for holidays, sports games, etc. We’re in the midst of tech week currently, so, as of last Sunday, practice has ramped up quite a bit,” Hile said.

It’s a lot of time and effort, but Hile and the cast see the benefits.

“Simply put, it’s an amazing way and opportunity to explore yourself and your ‘character,’ your character being you, personally. Even if theater and drama aren’t your thing and you want to leave after the production is over, it still does not take away the exploration of your person,” Hile said. “You may discover talents you didn’t think you had or character traits that were buried somewhere within you.”

“Almost, Maine” will be performed at 6:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at the Peter M. Abuisi Theater at Vail Mountain School in East Vail. Tickets are available at VMS.BookTix.net and are $15 for adults and $7.50 for students.

‘The Crucible’ at Battle Mountain High School

Things get a little more serious down valley as the Battle Mountain High School Players tackle the witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts in the 1690s in “The Crucible.”

This play by Arthur Miller (“Death of a Salesman,” “A View from the Bridge”), which debuted in 1953, is a partially fictionalized drama of the Salem witch trials, but it was written at a time when fear and mass hysteria pervaded in America. This was during the Red Scare when Senator Joe McCarthy was accusing people of being communists.

The plot follows a small group of girls who cry out against other people in the town, accusing them of witchcraft, in an attempt to cover up their own dabbling in the occult. Led by Abigail Williams, the girls’ accusations cause a court to be formed to investigate the alleged crimes. In real life, these trials lead to the death of over two dozen men, women and children.

It’s a pretty hefty topic, but one that Levi Walker, David Mayer and Caitlin Almond, the directors of the school’s drama club, knew the students could take on.

“When we set out to select a play for this season, our primary goal was to provide a platform for our young actors to not only showcase their talents but also to challenge and deepen their ability to tell a story with authenticity,” Almond said. “Theater, at its core, is about storytelling. ‘The Crucible’ was the natural choice. High schools often shy away from this tragedy due to the demands of its intricate and complex characters. However, we had every confidence that our student actors would rise to the occasion and wholeheartedly embrace the challenge of breathing life into these characters.”

There are 27 students in the cast and eight more students on the tech crew. Rehearsals began right after Labor Day, and the cast has been rehearsing Monday through Thursday with rehearsals being extended the last three weeks. Beyond learning lines, the actors really delved into the time period and studied the archaic language that is loosely based on the actual transcripts of the Salem witch trials.

“The result has been nothing short of remarkable, with our cast members exhibiting substantial personal growth, an exceptional work ethic and an unwavering passion for their craft,” Almond said.

The setting, props and clothing are somber and represent a dark time in history. Come and experience the storytelling and all the hard work the Battle Mountain High School Players have put into this performance and realize that what was learned this fall on stage, will stay with these performers for the rest of their lives.

“As young artists, they cultivate the essential skills of collaboration, effective communication and teamwork, all in pursuit of a shared purpose,” Almond said. “Ultimately, theater serves as a powerful teacher, imparting invaluable qualities of confidence and creativity that often elude conventional educational settings.”

“The Crucible” will be shown at 7 p.m., Thursday through Saturday at the Battle Mountain High School auditorium. There is a new ticketing system, so tickets are only available at the door starting at 6 p.m. and the house opens at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 and cash, debit cards, Apple pay, Google Pay and Venmo are all acceptable forms of payment.

‘Land of Giants’

Time for another winter snowsports film screening and this time it’s Matchstick Production’s “Land of Giants” being shown at the Riverwalk Theater in Edwards on Friday night. For three decades, Matchstick Productions out of Crested Butte has brought skiers and snowboarders around the world for the best winter scenes and powder stashes in its annual ski flick.

This film features the best skiing athletes, a great soundtrack and iconic mountain ranges. The landscape is something Matchstick Productions wanted to highlight a bit more in this year’s film, traveling to the Smokey Range in Idaho, the Lyngen Alps in Norway, Chilkat Range in Alaska and the Niseko Range in Japan just to name a few. Riding the waves of snow you’ll find Sammy Carlson, Logan Pehota, Tonje Kvivik, Emily Childs, Lucy Sackbauer and many more athletes.

The film starts at 7 p.m. but come early for happy hour starting at 5:30 p.m. The first 100 beers are courtesy of The Kind Bikes and Skis, which is just down the street from the Riverwalk Theater.

“We love our neighbors at The Kind and have been working with them since 2019 to bring community and ski stoke to the big screen,” said Grant Smith, owner of the Riverwalk Theater.

“To also get you excited for the upcoming season, eight different ski brands will be present handing out swag and there will be a raffle before the movie,” Smith said. Get your tickets at RiverwalkTheater.com.

Dia de los Muertos celebrations

Dia de los Muertos is a tradition in Mexico and other Latin American countries and is celebrated at the beginning of November. It is a celebration versus mourning of loved ones who have passed. The Eagle Valley Community Fund and SpeakUp ReachOut are hosting events this Friday and Saturday at two locations in Eagle County.

On Friday, stop by Colorado Mountain College for an event hosted by Elevar and the Eagle Valley Community Fund. The aim of this event is to remember and foster the traditions of the Hispanic community in Eagle County so they can be passed on to new generations. Join in the celebration with free music and traditional cuisine (bring your own dish). There will be a celebration of altars from various countries. The altars are created by families to honor those who have passed and welcome them to the altar setting.

There will also be a Catrina costume contest. Catrina or Catrin (the male version) has become the symbol of Dia de los Muertos. The “elegant skull” as it has been called is the muse for many costume contests that celebrate this tradition. The event at the Colorado Mountain College Campus in Edwards will run from 6 to 9 p.m.

On Saturday, SpeakUp ReachOut will host an event at the Eagle County Fairgrounds from 1 to 6 p.m. In Hispanic culture, Dia de los Muertos is not meant to be a sad event, but more of a celebration of loved ones where they are honored with favorite foods, drinks and memories from the past.

At the event on Saturday, there will be folkloric dancing, food, face painting, activities and crafts and a community altar. The event is free and all ages are welcome but registration is recommended. Visit SpeakUpReachOut.org to learn more.

Holiday markets

There are two different holiday markets set for Saturday, so consider getting some holiday shopping done early while supporting the community. The annual Senior Holiday Craft Fair and Bake Sale will be held from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Golden Eagle Senior Center on Broadway Street in Eagle. The senior citizens have been working hard to get their handmade goods ready. Pies, jams and other baked goods will be for sale.

Stop by the Gypsum Creek Middle School for its annual Holiday Market and Artisan Fair, also on Saturday. The event goes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. In addition to 50 vendor booths offering great gifts for everyone on your holiday shopping list, there will be craft activities for the kids, babysitting available if needed, baked goods for purchase, concessions and Santa is scheduled to make an appearance from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.  

Ski season in Summit County

Vail Mountain will host its Opening Day next Friday and Beaver Creek will open Nov. 22, but you don’t have to wait until then to get out and ski. Arapahoe Basin has been open since Oct. 29 and the resort is happy to bring back its Friday Afternoon Club deal. If you want to cut out of work early, head over the A-Basin for $39 lift tickets for ski access between 2 to 4 p.m. Afterward, head to 6th Alley Bar & Grill for great appetizer deals.

To take advantage of this offering, you must purchase the Friday Afternoon Club $39 lift ticket online in advance. You can pick up the ticket at one of the ticket windows or kiosks in the base area. No age discounts, this is a one-price ticket.

The 6th Alley Bar & Grill will offer its Friday Afternoon Club specials from 2 p.m. until close. Try the salt and pepper calamari with marinara dipping sauce for $10, tri-tip street tacos for $5 each or the Asian platter with vegetarian spring rolls, tempura shrimp and pork pot stickers with zesty orange dipping sauce for $10. For more information go to ArapahoeBasin.com and search the Events tab.

Keystone just opened on Wednesday and in addition to two miles of terrain from the top of Dercum Mountain to the bottom of the Montezuma Express lift, plus a mountaintop hike-to terrain park, there are a few things going on after the slopes close. On Friday, add a little namaste to your après with Sno Glo Yoga. This yoga-plus-a-party will be held at Warren Station from 6 to 9 p.m. and is part of the Align in the Pines yoga series. Start with yoga, but then stick around for the party with music by DJ Between Realms, drink specials and blacklights! Blacklight paint will be available before class in case you want to glow a little more.

Experienced yoga instructor, Erin Bissette, will lead you through the class which is available to all ability levels. The event is for those 16 years old and older. The class will be an hour long and the cost is $20 per person and that includes an optional free yoga mat rental.

On Saturday, come off the hill and view Matchstick Productions’ “Land of Giants” with two screenings at Warren Station. This is part of Warren Station’s Get Stoked Series and the first showing will be at 4 p.m. with doors opening at 3:30 p.m. and will go until 5 p.m. The second showing will be at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are between $10 and $15 and proceeds go to Team Summit. For more information on Sno Glo Yoga and the Get Stoked Series, go to WarrenStation.com.  

When you think of Walking Mountains Science Center, you typically think of outdoor experiences that bring you up close and personal with nature. Since 1998, this nonprofit has helped people of all ages learn about our amazing surroundings whether it is a guided backcountry hike high above the valley or scientific experiments held along the creek for young, aspiring scientists. Immersing people in outdoor habitats is what Walking Mountains is all about, but even though its Sustainable Film Series may take you indoors, it aims to be an enlightening and thought-provoking experience.

“I think that film is a great medium for telling environmental stories and raising awareness because it brings empathy and emotion into what can often be framed as a purely scientific or information-based topic,” said Elizabeth Baer, sustainability fellow at Walking Mountains Science Center. “Environmental issues have very real and human consequences in our community and around the world. Being able to experience this and really connect with people’s very real stories, is something you couldn’t get in any other way without traveling and experiencing it yourself.”

Walking Mountains has been hosting the series for 12 years and will be screening one film a month from November until April. The series serves as a platform for conversations and motivation, empowering residents and visitors to take positive steps toward a greener future.

Walking Mountains selects the films and tries to give a holistic and diverse set of topics and perspectives of what is going on in sustainability.

“Our sustainability staff makes suggestions and then picks some of their favorite films that came out in the last year or two, and then the smaller team and I go through those picks seeing what topics would fit nicely together and would be interesting and new for our community,” Baer said.

“This year I really wanted to emphasize environmental justice and inclusivity in the lineup, since that is where we are focusing a lot of work at Walking Mountains and it is such an important topic. So you’ll see that through-line in the series and discussions,” Baer said.

Walking Mountains encourages the audience to engage in the conversation and hosts a discussion after each film to allow attendees an opportunity to delve deeper into the film’s themes and share their thoughts and ideas. The series has gained an audience throughout the years and these free movie offerings have become very popular.

“The Sustainable Film Series is definitely one of our most popular events and it is so fun to see people coming year after year and film after film,” Baer said, adding that the longevity of the program has built an amazing community of people excited to learn and discuss these important issues. “Our audience is much less an audience and is really part of the programming, because that community discussion is what makes this event special. I love the positive feedback we get from film-goers saying that they learned something new or were inspired to take action, because that is really the goal.”

The series will be hosted at the Riverwalk Theater in Edwards and to kick things off, the documentary “Wild Life” will be featured. Follow the fascinating story of Doug Tompkins and his wife Kris Tompkins. Doug Tompkins was the founder of The North Face and co-founder of Esprit. Kris Tompkins was the former CEO of Patagonia clothing company. Together, they have dedicated their lives and personal wealth to buy up and protect over 14 million acres of natural lands. Doug was tragically killed in a kayaking accident on Lago General Carrera, north of Patagonia Park, on Dec. 8, 2015. Kris continues the couple’s mission as the president and co-founder or the Tompkins Conservation.

Other films include:

• Dec. 5 – “The Weight of Water” centers around three deeply personal stories from a Nepalese community being impacted by floods and drought. 
• Jan. 2 – “Cooked: Survival by Zip Code“ tells the story of this tragic heatwave in Chicago, the most traumatic in U.S. history.
• Feb. 6 –  There will be two short films: “We The Power” follows the stories of European communities as they work to form local energy cooperatives. “Craig, America” tells the story of this neighboring town in the Yampa Valley that was traditionally defined by coal. Craig’s main power plant will be closing in 2030.
• Mar. 5 – “Tribal Waters” tells the story of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes and what happened when their land and water was taken.
• April 4 – “Plastic Earth” covers solutions and technologies to combat and eventually solve the plastic crisis that our world is facing. 

Showtimes are at 6:30 p.m. and Walking Mountains is happy to partner up with Riverwalk Theater again.

“We are so grateful for the setting of the Riverwalk Theater. Having that big screen experience really sucks you in and makes that connection to the topic even more impactful,” Baer said.

Although the movie is free, there is a $5 suggested donation and advanced registration is required at WalkingMountains.org/Films. If you have questions, contact Elizabeth Baer at email ElizabethB@WalkingMountains.org.

‘Flying High Again’ movie

You know it’s fall in a ski town when the annual ski and snowboard movies come to town. Warren Miller paved the way for other companies like Matchstick Productions and Teton Gravity Research to bring audiences the best powder stashes and scenery around the world. On Friday, take a tour with the best snowboarders on the planet in Teton Gravity Research’s latest snowboard film, “Flying High Again.”

With the creativity of the legendary snowboard film director, Mike Hatchett, and the talents of over a dozen snowboarding stars including Jeremy Jones, Danny Davis, Antti Autti and Elena Hight, moviegoers will experience a domestic tour of the Rocky Mountains throughout Idaho, Wyoming and Utah as well as the Sierras in California.

The film has already received accolades from the 2023 International Freesports Film Festival. The full-length feature film premiered on Oct. 12 and is now touring the country. The movie is showing at 6:30 p.m. on Friday at the Vilar Performing Arts Center and tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for those 12 and under. Get tickets online at VilarPAC.org.

Darlingside concert

From movies to music, the Vilar Performing Arts Center will be busy this weekend. The Underground Sound concert series is wrapping up but you have one more opportunity to see a show. Darlingside will perform on Saturday night at 7 p.m. This quartet from Boston met while at Williams College.

“My desire to play music professionally solidified during a post-collegiate travel fellowship I did in 2007-2008. I spent a year studying traditional music in Ireland, Brazil and Turkey and subsequently decided to bail on my medical school plans and instead see if the other guys were interested in restarting the band we began in college,” said Auyon Mukharji who plays mandolin, violin and sings for Darlingside.

The other guys agreed and over a decade later Darlingside is comprised of Mukharji, Don Mitchell, Harris Paseltiner and David Senft who work together writing all of the band’s songs and recently released its fourth LP. NPR once described them as “exquisitely arranged, literary-minded, baroque folk-pop.” The Vilar Performing Arts Center compares Darlingside to the Punch Brothers, The Milk Carton Kids, Lord Huron and the Head and The Heart.

The quartet has evolved a lot over the decade-plus of making music together and went through the alienation of COVID and not being able to perform for a live audience and is glad to be back on stage.

“The way the energy of an audience affects a performance is truly ineffable and impossible to replicate in a studio or on a livestream. We’ve missed it so much. There are so many ancillary benefits of touring, too—getting to visit friends and loved ones and our favorite restaurants across the country, meeting new listeners in new places, the camaraderie borne of living out of a van together for weeks on end … the list goes on,” Mukharji said.

Darlingside has played a number of shows in Denver and Aspen and are excited to play at the Vilar Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $34.50 in advance and $39.50 the day of the show. The concert is also included in your Underground Sounds pass, which are transferable, so if you can’t go this Saturday, pass our pass over to someone who can. For more information, go to VilarPAC.org.

Spooktacular Polar Plunge

Do you have what it takes to dip into the chilly waters of Nottingham Lake this time of year? The Spooktacular Polar Plunge gives you that opportunity while also allowing you to help out a good cause, the Special Olympics of Colorado.

This event is in its seventh year and is being hosted by the Avon Police Department. All funds raised from the Polar Plunge series support the sports, health, educational and athlete leadership programs that the athletes enjoy for free. These life-changing programs positively impact the lives of children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing them with tools to build their confidence and self-esteem in their everyday lives.

This is the last Polar Plunge of the year and so far the series has raised over $670,000 for Special Olympics Colorado athletes. All proceeds go to Colorado Special Olympic Athletes for health screenings and equipment for various competitive events throughout the state of Colorado.

Other law enforcement agencies will be involved and the public is invited to come out – in costume if you’d like – to the event. You can register as an individual or a team and each participant needs to raise $80 minimum. Spectators are welcome to watch and cheer everyone on as they make their way into Nottingham Lake. The After Splash Bash will be held at Bob’s in Avon.

To register for the Spooktacular Polar Plunge, go to SpecialOlympicsCO.org/Event/AvonPlunge/. There will be registration the day of the event between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. and the plunge starts at 11 a.m.

Pumpkin Fun Run

Keep the spirit of Halloween going on all month with the Pumpkin Fun Run, a 2K run (or walk or combo of both) this Saturday in Nottingham Park. The event is being hosted by the Avon Recreation Center and will kick off at the Metcalf Cabin near the Avon Performance Pavilion and follow the bike path through the park and around the lake.

Come dressed to impress as there will be a costume contest with prizes for best costumes. There will also be a pie-eating contest. The event goes from 2 to 4 p.m. The cost is $25 per family and you can register and find out more at Avon.org.

Bravo! Vail and Music Education Month

This October, Bravo! Vail is celebrating Music Education Month with free concerts and art, cultural, sustainable and Halloween-themed events. To celebrate the upcoming Philadelphia Orchestra’s performance of Puccini’s “La Bohème” in July, Bravo! Vail has partnered up with Alpine Arts Center for a French-themed evening. Cocktails & Canvas will feature an impressionist-style painting lesson along with musical excerpts from the opera that follow the stories of bohemian artists in 1830s Paris.

Tickets for this unique Cocktails & Canvas class are $30 and it runs from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Friday. Arrive 15 minutes early to get set up and beer, wine and champagne are available for purchase. Reservations are required through AlpineArtsCenter.org.

On Sunday, learn about the healing power of music. Bravo! Vail is working with the Riverwalk Theater in Edwards to present a special screening of “Alive Inside.” This documentary chronicles the amazing and inspiring experiences individuals with memory loss have had once exposed to music. By simply listening to songs, memories were revitalized. As someone who had a father who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, I know how much music made a difference in his later years. It was such a blessing to see my dad light up when he heard certain tunes. Learn more by watching the movie trailer at AliveInside.us. The screening will be at 3:30 p.m. and although it is free, registration is required at RiverwalkTheater.com.

Best of Vail Valley Winners announced

Also this weekend, pick up a copy of the 2023 Best of Vail Valley magazine and find out who won top honors in the Vail Daily’s annual readers’ poll. Over 120 categories are showcased in six areas: Arts and Activities, Body and Soul, Food and Drink, Health, Service and Shopping. In addition to the magazines on newsstands now, there is also a new website launching Friday, BestofVailValley.com, that provides a platform that not only lists the winners in our Best of Vail Valley contest, but also the finalists who offer great products and services. This tool will not only allow people to search for top restaurants, merchants, health care providers and more, but it will also have a robust events calendar, so consider it a one-stop-shop for all things happening in the area.

Editor’s Note: The Vail Daily is showcasing area musicians in a series called “Meet Your Musician” so you can learn a bit more about the artists behind the tunes. In the “Meet Your Musician: Bravo! Vail Edition” we give you a chance to meet some of the performers coming to the valley during the Bravo! Vail Music Education Month.

Q: What is your name/your ensemble’s/orchestra’s name?

A: Lírios Quartet

Q: What instrument(s) do you play?

A: We’re a string quartet: two violins, viola and cello.

Q: How long have you been performing? How long have you been with your current orchestra or ensemble?

A: We have all been performing individually since we were young – some of us as young as 5 years old. As a quartet, we have been performing together since August 2022 when we formed to study with the Takács Quartet at CU-Boulder as the College of Music’s Graduate Quartet-in-Residence.

Q: How long have you been coming to the Bravo! Vail Music Festival?

A: Some of us have enjoyed Bravo! Vail as concert goers in the summer. This is the first time our quartet has visited Vail.

Q: Where do you perform when you are not in Vail?

A: We are based in Boulder and perform often in venues all over Colorado. In the last year, we have also had the opportunity to perform in New York, Wisconsin, Nevada and California.

Q: What’s your dream venue?

A: Bravo! Vail, of course!

Q: What other styles of music do you/does the ensemble listen to or like to play?

A: The members of our quartet have varied musical tastes and like to listen to hip-hop, rock, pop and jazz. Yuri, our violist, has been in a rock band as a bassist and Maggie likes to play fiddle tunes.

Q: Do you have any advice for young people learning to play music?

A: Our advice to young musicians is to not be afraid to make mistakes or ask for help from your teachers.

Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in music?

A: Many of our teachers over the years inspired us to pursue careers in music.

Q: What is your/your ensemble’s favorite piece or composer to play?

A: In our short time together as a quartet, we have enjoyed learning music of the classical greats – in particular Haydn, Beethoven and Brahms. Our favorite piece we have worked on recently is “Quijotadas” by living composer Gabriela Lena Frank.

Q: Anything else you’d like to share?

A: Please come and see us perform at these free Bravo! Vail Music Education Month concerts. We will be playing at the Vail Health lobby on Oct. 17 at 11 a.m., and at the Edwards Interfaith Chapel on Oct. 19 at 6 p.m. For more information visit BravoVail.org.

Block Party Eagle

Eagle will be the musical mecca this weekend with over a dozen bands playing on three stages Friday through Sunday. The annual event, typically held early summer, moved to August this year and is being dubbed the summer kickback so go out for one last hurrah before school starts, before Labor Day or before leaving Eagle County to head back to your home state.  

This year’s headliners include Otiel & Friends, Lettuce and Pepper. The Record Company returns to the Block Party and local bands, Trees Don’t Move and Danger Mountain fill up the schedule. Other artists include Paul Cauthen, Sam Bush, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Dumpstaphunk, Kyle Hollingsworth Band, Bill & Jilian Nershi featuring Jason Hann, Celisse and Float Like a Buffalo.

The three stages will be set up in downtown Eagle and expect to hear a mix of blues, funk, rock and some jazz. VIP tickets are sold out, but other tickets are still available. Camping is available nearby at the Eagle County Fairgrounds.

As for transportation, the Block Party has worked with Epic Mountain Express to offer two 12-passenger shuttles for rides near the corner of Third and Wall Street by the event entrance and box office. They will also run between Founders Avenue and Capital Street near the Capital Theater and Eagle Pool and Ice Rink. Want to pedal in? There is a bike valet to watch over your bikes during the shows and Vail Pedicab will be available for in-town concertgoers looking for a quick ride home.

Sunday offers a brunch with live music from Big Sam’s Funky Nation. This is a separate ticket from the two-day or single-day festival tickets, so make sure you get that ticket if you want to take advantage of bottomless bloodies and mimosas and brunch between 12:30 and 3 p.m.  

Music starts at 4 p.m. on Friday, 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. For a full schedule and to purchase tickets, go to BlockPartyEagle.com.

Jay Lane plays at Shakedown

The big musical weekend continues up valley and if you didn’t get tickets to Chicago on Friday at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater or Boz Scaggs on Sunday at the Vilar Performing Arts Center, I’ve got another hot ticket for you: Jay Lane will be playing with the Shakedown Family Band Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights at Shakedown Bar Vail in Vail Village.

Jay Lane is known for his stints with Primus, Bob Weir & Wolf Bros. and most recently he was touring with Dead & Co, like, very recently. Shakedown bar owner and musician, Scott Rednor was at the last shows in California and was able to ask Lane to come play Vail.

“I decided to come play Vail so soon after the Dead & Co. tour because I love Vail and it was a nice opportunity to get away,” Lane said.

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“I met Jay a few years ago at a party he played at Shakedown with Warren Haynes and we had a good hang. I really enjoyed his playing, so when I got a chance to reconnect after the final Dead & Co. show in San Francisco I asked him to come back out,” Rednor said.

Expect the shows to be different each night.

“We’ll be playing everything that we enjoy playing. Friday’s line up we’ll play old country, old soul music and beyond. Then, psychedelic rock and more the following two nights,” Rednor said. Joining Rednor and Lane on stage will be Eric “Benny” Bloom (Lettuce), Todd Smallie (JJ Grey & Mofro), Joey Porter (The Motet), and Taylor Scott Band and Kramer Kelling. The roster will change each night.

Lane has barely had a chance to reflect on the Final Tour that ended in July but does know this.

“The best part of the tour was seeing so many delighted fans every night! I’ve never felt so much love! Not to mention, how fun it was to finally play in a baseball stadium after years in theaters,” Lane said.

What’s next for Lane? “I’ll be playing with Bob Weir and Wolf Bros and whatever else I can squeeze in because they’re going to get busy next year. I’ve done one gig as Jay Lane and the Mayhem so we might see more off that,” Lane said.

There will be a cover at the door each night and doors open at 9 p.m. Reservations are available at ShakedownBarVail@gmail.com. They will also be streaming the shows on the Shakedown Presents YouTube page in case you can’t make it to the shows in person. For more information, go to ShakedownBarVail.com.

Vail Wine Classic

Take a tour from the West Coast to France and try all sorts of wine and outdoor experiences at this year’s Vail Wine Classic. After several winemaker dinners around town on Thursday night, the offerings move outdoors Friday and Saturday with hikes that end with a delicious meal and wine. On Friday, join the Vino & Views for a 3-mile guided hike before settling into Gessner at Grand Hyatt Vail for a lunch paired with Michael David Winery. On Saturday, try the Uncork & Unwind Hike and lunch that will end at the Vail Chophouse and a pairing with Aratás Winery. Or, do the Trail to Tasting with Manor Vail’s Ridge + River: Elevated Bar + Bites with J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines.

The Grand Tasting will be held on Friday and Saturday afternoons, and this is where you get to sip on varietals from all over while enjoying small bites while enjoying music from Blue River Grass Band and Hardscrabble. General admission tickets get you into the venue between 3 and 5:30 p.m. but early entry and premier access tickets are available, too.

The Best of Fest event is for those who really want an elevated experience. Not only is it held at an altitude of 10,300 feet above sea level at Eagle’s Nest at the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola (No. 19) but it also features wines that are rated 90+ and cost over $100 each. This event is on Friday between 7 and 9 p.m.

On Sunday, Brunch and Bubbles is already sold out, but you can go on the wait list. For more information, descriptions of the events and more, go to VailWineClassic.com.  

Vail Kids Adventure Games

If you see teams of two running around town and Vail Mountain with Camelbacks and bike helmets going down water slides and other obstacles, you’re witnessing the Vail Kids Adventure Games, an annual event that brings 6- to 14-year-olds outdoors for various challenges that build teamwork and also promotes fun. Registration for the competition has ended but there are a few ways to still be involved.

Each day, there will be a Family Adventure Zone open in Vail Village from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring a climbing wall and other activities for kids to try. On Saturday, the whole family can participate in the Keen Family Fun Run which is open to kids and adults of all ages. The mud run starts at 4:30 p.m. and be prepared to get muddy. The course is located in Vail Village and is about a mile long and will feature the mud pit and other obstacles. The Vail Fire Department will be on hand to hose muddy runners down, but you’ll want to bring a change of clothes for after the run.

Register in advance at VailRec.com/register and save a few bucks or you can decide to do this the day of the event. All participants receive a gift, so it may be worth it to get a little dirty.

Eat for charity

The 15th annual Empty Bowls event happens this Friday and it is a delicious way you can help provide financial assistance to the Vail Valley Salvation Army so they can help provide assistance to others.

Held at the Battle Mountain High School cafeteria, an Empty Bowls ticket will get you soup, bread and dessert from the valley’s fabulous restaurants. You will also get to pick a bowl from the multitudes of shapes and sizes that local potters have been busy creating for the event.

Tickets are just $25 for your meal and a keepsake bowl that you can take home to serve up dips, salsa, salad, or store things like jewelry or keys in, just depending on how big of a bowl you picked. The empty bowl reminds us that the food banks and the resources at the Vail Valley Salvation Army are always in need. 100% of the ticket sales will go to the Vail Valley Salvation Army’s food bank. There will also be a silent auction with items from nearly a dozen area businesses.

Serving the meal will be those who serve the public. The Emergency Service crews from around Eagle County will be dishing up the soups, breads and desserts. Make sure to thank them for all they do for our community while you are there.

The event runs from noon until 1:30 p.m. For more information, go to Vail.SalvationArmy.org.

Tip-A-Cop

There is a Tip-A-Cop night going on at Ed’z restaurant in Edwards on Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. This is a fundraiser for Special Olympics Colorado and the money raised goes to help local Special Olympic athletes compete in upcoming events.

Tip-A-Cap is a nationwide fundraising event where local police officers visit restaurants on designated dates to engage with the community and collect donations from patrons that will go toward Special Olympics.

Ed’z restaurant opened this past year and if you haven’t been there yet, bring your family and friends and eat out for a good cause. If you’re hungry, I recommend the meatloaf, it’s a healthy portion for sure! If salad is more your thing, try the broccoli slaw salad. They also specialize in rotisserie chicken and ribs. Here’s the menu: edzinedwards.com/menu.

If you can’t make it to this Tip-A-Cop event, there are a few more scheduled this year:

• Aug. 25 – El Segundo in Eagle
• Sept. 29 – Fattoria in Avon
• Dec. (Date TBD) – Lancelot in Vail

Editor’s note: This story was updated to include the correct location of BalletX

Vail Dance Festival

It’s a big weekend for the Vail Dance Festival. For 35 years the annual event has brought in some of the best dancers from around the world who collaborate on various projects and cross genres. Clear your calendars, here’s the schedule through Closing Night on Monday.

Friday

• International Evenings of Dance I
• 7:30 – Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater

Highlights include:

• YouthPower365’s Celebrate the Beat Pop Hop Camp open the show with this year’s special guest stars Dario Natarelli and Melissa Toogood
• An excerpt of George Balanchine’s “Agon” performed by New York City Ballet’s Unity Phelan and American Ballet Theatre’s Calvin Royal III
• A poignant excerpt from “La Sonnambula” performed by Lauren Lovette and Robbie Fairchild, both former dancers of New York City Ballet
• “Don Quixote” pas de deux with American Ballet Theatre’s Catherine Hurlin and New York City Ballet’s Roman Mejia

New Works:

• World premieres choreographed and danced by Lil Buck and New York City Ballet’s KJ Takahashi
• New work by New York City Ballet’s Tiler Peck who choreographed a pas de deux for American Ballet Theatre’s Devon Teuscher and Cory Stearns

Saturday

• International Evenings of Dance II
• 5 p.m. – Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater – Performed with no intermission

Highlights include:

• An excerpt of George Balanchine’s “Chaconne” with New York City Ballet’s Unity Phelan and Cory Stearns of American Ballet Theatre
• Balanchine’s “Divertimento Brillante” with New York City Ballet’s Tiler Peck and Roman Mejia
• Alonzo King’s “Epilogue” with Artist-In-Residence Adji Cissoko of LINES Ballet and American Ballet Theatre’s Calvin Royal III
• “Swan Lake”(Act III pas de deux) with New York City Ballet’s Mira Nadon and Chun Wai Chan

New Works:

• New solo work choreographed by Artist-In-Residence Adji Cissoko that explores her West African heritage

International Evenings of Dance III

• 8 p.m. – Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater

Highlights include:

• An excerpt of Antony Tudor’s “The Leaves are Fading” with New York City Ballet’s Tiler Peck and American Ballet Theatre’s Cory Stearns
• “The Swans” choreographed and danced by Artist-In-Residence Adji Cissoko of LINES Ballet and Lil Buck
• A special Tony Bennett tribute performance entitled “The Very Thought of You” choreographed and danced by ballroom duo Antonia Skobina and Denys Drozdyuk with a live vocal performance by Robbie Fairchild

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New Works:

• A new work by Larry Keigwin featuring the music of Donna Summer with Royal Danish Ballet’s Philip Duclos, the Festival’s Scholar-In-Residence Spencer Lenain and New York City Ballet’s KJ Takahashi.

Sunday

• BalletX
• 6 p.m. – Vilar Performing Arts Center

Highlights include:

• Caili Quan’s “Love Letter,” a tribute to her native Guam and Justin Peck’s “Become a Mountain,” which explores the thrill of the climb

Monday

• NOW: Premiers
• 7:30 p.m. – Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater

Highlights include:

• After months of collaborations and just days to put it all together, see new works and your favorite dancers in a new light.
• Innovating choreography from Kyle Abraham, Justin Peck, Adji Cissoko and Melissa Toogood.

For ticket information and more details about the show, visit vaildance.org.

Beaver Creek Art Festival

Not only is the Vail Dance Festival celebrating its 35th anniversary, the Beaver Creek Art Festival is also marking three and a half decades of bringing beautiful and diverse art to Beaver Creek. Artists from around the nation and even some international artists will be in attendance which gives eventgoers a chance to meet them and learn about their craft. Painting, jewelry, sculpture, woodworking, glass work and more will be found in Beaver Creek Village.

The festival will bring in over 100 artists and the art tents will spill over from the Beaver Creek Plaza level and run along the base of Beaver Creek Mountain. Some artists may even be in the middle of creating their next project, so it is a perfect opportunity to ask questions about their technique.

The group of artists was selected by an independent jury, ensuring that the art showcased will be from a wide variety of mediums and price points. The show will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

In addition to the artists that are part of the art show, there will be artists in the surrounding galleries. David Riley will be at Horton Fine Art and the “Fabulous Four” — Britten, Tim Lotton, James Jensen and Jeff McKay will be at C. Anthony Gallery Friday through Sunday.

Make a day of it and do a hike while you are there or keep the kids occupied at the base area of Beaver Creek Mountain with activities like mini golf, bungee trampoline, climbing wall and gem panning. This event is produced by Howard Alan Events, producer of the nation’s finest juried art shows. For more information on the event, go to ArtFestival.com.

Musical tributes

Tony G honored in Edwards

Last week the Band by the River concert series honored Eagle County with special music written by Al Maul commemorating Eagle County’s 140th anniversary. This Friday, beloved Eagle County music man, Tony Gulizia will be honored with a plaque placed on the Riverwalk outdoor theater’s stage.

The Valley Valley Band, featuring local musicians, Beth Swearingen, Don Watson and Peter Fontanese welcomes Joey Gulizia, Tony’s brother, to play with the group that night, so expect some jazz but also, pop, country, folk and rock.

The night will include a champagne toast to a musician affectionately known as Tony G. In addition to his musical endeavors, Gulizia had an Italian sausage booth at the Vail Farmers’ Market and Art Show each Sunday. So, Italian sausage sandwiches (a Gulizia family recipe) will be handed out to the first 100 patrons. At intermission, a permanent plaque will be unveiled on the stage to honor Gulizia.

Gates open at 5 p.m. and music goes from 6 to 8 p.m. The show will go on rain or shine. Drinks will be available for purchase with the proceeds going to the Small Champions charity. For more information visit EdwardsRiverwalk.com.

Runaway Grooms honor Jerry Garcia

After a nationwide tour this past year, Eagle County’s Runaway Grooms have a series of shows in Colorado and this Friday they will perform at Agave in Avon. The show is called “The Days Between” which honors a time when people around the world celebrate the days between Jerry Garcia’s birth, which is Aug. 1, 1942 and his death, Aug. 9, 1995. 

Throughout the evening, the Runaway Grooms will be playing a wide range of Garcia’s songs from his career catalog that include The Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia Band and Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders. In addition, they’ll be having a bunch of sit-ins from local musicians including Mark Levy (Circles Around The Sun), Rob Eaton Jr., Sam Bee, and Arthur Wessel (Danger Mountain).

Doors open at 9 p.m. and the show starts at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.

Brunch, Bubbles and Burros

4 Eagle Ranch is hosting a special brunch this Sunday and it’s only fitting they bring out some barnyard animals. Brunch, Bubbles and Burros is just that — your favorite brunch classics complete with a bottomless mimosas and burros to interact with. Word has it the goats will be there, too.

The brunch will run from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. and the cost is $55. If you want to add the bottomless mimosa bar, add $25 and if bubbles aren’t your thing, there’s a bottomless bloody Mary bar for the same price.

4 Eagle Ranch is a few miles north of Interstate 70 off of the Wolcott exit. It was homesteaded in 1885 and holds on to its western heritage even today. Enjoy vast views of the Sawatch Range and the feeling of wide-open spaces. Go to 4EagleRanch.com for more details.

Avy Dog Bourbon Tasting

Did you know that Vail’s very first avalanche rescue dog, Henry, has his own whiskey? Henry was the most famous canine on Vail Ski Patrol for many years. Henry passed away in 2022 but not before lending his paw print to Avy Dog Bourbon, a collaboration with Eagle County’s 10th Mountain Whiskey and Spirits Company.  

Chris “Mongo” Reeder, Henry’s owner and director of Vail Ski Patrol and his friend, Mike “Kanger” Kang came up with the idea to honor Henry’s legacy in some way while drinking a glass of bourbon, but they didn’t know how to make the bourbon. That’s when they enlisted the help of Ryan Thompson, owner of the Eagle County-based 10th Mountain Whiskey and Spirits Company, and Avy Dog Bourbon was born.

Stop by the 10th Mountain Whiskey and Spirits Company’s tasting room on Bridge Street and try a sample this Saturday between 3 and 5 p.m. For more information, go to AvyDogHenry.com.

Speakeasy at the Four Seasons Vail

Come to the Speyside Speakeasy this Saturday and learn from the pros. Celebrity bartenders Daryl Pryor from The Macallan and Jake Powell from Death & Co. will be mixing up signature cocktails while you sit back and listen to music and play classic parlor games from 6 to 10 p.m. Find out if you need a password to get into this speakeasy and make reservations at OpenTable for this offering.

Summer BBQ at The Westin Riverfront 

Stoke & Rye by Chef Richard Sandoval is hosting another special Summer BBQ this Sunday at The Westin Riverfront Resort and Spa in Avon. Enjoy the views from The Westin Riverfront’s Gondola Plaza from 3 to 8 p.m. while chowing down on everything from smoked brisket, chicken, pork and rope sausage with sides like potato salad, farmers market cole slaw, cornbread muffins and mac ‘n cheese. Prices range between $7-$24 depending on the item. For more information, visit StokeandRye.com/summer-bbq-2023.

Editor’s Note: The Vail Daily is showcasing area musicians in a series called “Meet Your Musician” so you can learn a bit more about the voices behind the tunes. In the “Meet Your Musician: Bravo! Vail Edition” we give you a chance to meet some of the artists coming to the valley to perform during the Bravo! Vail Music Festival.

Q: What is your name/your ensemble’s/orchestra’s name?

A: Sinta Quartet

Q: What instrument(s) do you play?

A: We are a saxophone quartet which consists of four members of the saxophone family: soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxes.

Q: How long have you been performing? How long have you been with your current orchestra or ensemble?

A: We formed in November of 2010 at the University of Michigan and have been performing with the same members and instrumentation since then.

Q: How long have you been coming to the Bravo! Vail Music Festival?

A: We last performed at Bravo! Vail in 2015 so we are very much looking forward to making a return after eight years of being away!

Q: Where you do perform when you are not in Vail?

A: We perform across the country and internationally on chamber music series, music festivals and as concerto soloists with both orchestras and wind ensembles. In many cases, we are the first classical saxophone that series/venue has had, which is an experience we always love to bring!

Q: What’s your dream venue?

A: We are lucky in that we have been able to play in a few dream venues such as Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall and the National Performing Arts Center in Beijing. I think our ideal venue is one in a beautiful location with a dedicated and enthusiastic audience that also has a large enough acoustic for a group of four saxophones!

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Q: What other styles of music do you/does the ensemble listen to or like to play?

A: Our programs usually feature an eclectic mix of classical music staples from the string quartet repertoire (arranged and made better for saxophone of course!), commissioned new music from today’s composers and music of various folk traditions in new arrangements. While the saxophone is frequently associated with jazz, and we all have some training in that area, our focus is to show the diverse array of sound possibilities on the other side of the instrument. That is, the side most people likely haven’t heard…yet.

Q: Do you have any advice for young people learning to play music?

A: Listen, listen and then listen some more to recordings. Be curious about new pieces you have never heard before, but also be curious about the 25th recording of a piece you think you know well! Also, get a private instructor that you feel comfortable with and take regular lessons. While there is a lot of information — and misinformation — now readily available online, nothing replaces working one on one with a great private instructor who can tailor their teaching to your needs.

Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in music?

Earlier on, and maybe still, we were all band nerds in school. As a wind player the first several years of your life on your instrument will be in concert bands, marching bands and jazz ensembles. Those experiences were inspiring enough to create an interest in music as a degree. The situation once you arrive in music school is unique for each student, but for us, we had all been in a few different saxophone quartets as students before we were put together in this one and the inspiration to go the professional route mainly came from the fact that we all really enjoy working with each other personally and love the depth of music making that is possible in saxophone chamber music. While many people are aware that some composers’ best and most intimate writing was for chamber ensembles such as string quartet, this is also true for saxophone quartet!

Q: What is your/your ensemble’s favorite piece or composer to play?

A: We love working on both ends of the classical repertoire in that we greatly enjoy Beethoven, Dvorak, and Shostakovich, but we also love to commission new works that stretch the capabilities of the ensemble from composers such as Marc Mellits, Kristin Kuster, Chris Hass and many others. That’s the beauty of being a classical saxophonist in that you are actively participating in creating and inspiring what may well be the next “standard” piece of repertoire!

Q: Anything else we should have asked, anything else you’d like to share?

A: Come and see Sinta Quartet perform as part of the Music Box Series at the following free concerts on Friday at 11:30 a.m. at Freedom Park in Edwards and later that night we’ll be at the Stratton Flats neighborhood in Gypsum at 6 p.m.

Editor’s Note: The Vail Daily’s Tricia Swenson searched the valley for alternative wellness modalities that are lesser-known and have proven benefits. Follow this series and take steps to improve your well being and see which offerings work for you.

When you hear the word hypnosis, you may think of the phrase, “you are getting verrrryyy sleeeeepyyyyyy…” The hypnosis you may have been exposed to as a kid on television shows is not what Kacee Picot is trying to achieve. Picot is using the power of suggestion while you are in a heightened state of awareness to produce the desired results you want out of life, be that losing weight, quitting smoking or another challenge you face.

Picot has been a licensed, professional cosmetologist in the Vail Valley since 1994 and has her business, C Kacee Go Beauty and Wellness Center in Riverwalk at Edwards. But, like many people during the COVID-19 pandemic, she started looking at different professions.

“When the world shut down during COVID-19, I started to wonder, ‘what if I can’t do hair anymore?’ and I looked into meditation for myself, because I was struggling, which lead me to Joe Dispenza,” Picot said. You may recognize Dr. Joe Dispenza’s name because of the award-winning film, “What the BLEEP Do We Know!?” The scientist, teacher and lecturer is also the author of several New York Times bestsellers.

“I went to a couple of his seminars and then I learned that he was a hypnotist with Hypnosis Motivation Institute (HMI), which is why I went to HMI,” Picot said. That’s when she learned how hypnosis could help those with a variety of ailments, from mental health, smoking, interventions for people who are addicts and alcoholics and a host of other vices.

Hypnotherapy is not done while you are “out of it,” you are instead in a heightened state of concentration and focused attention.

“You’re not asleep, you’re not in a blackout, and I can’t make you do something that would be against your moral code to do. When you’re listening to my voice, just like any normal conversation, sometimes you’re on the edge of your seat listening to every word, and other times you just go into your own thoughts and you’re listening to yourself and that’s exactly what you are supposed to do. So, part of it is led, some of it I have people in a lighter state of hypnosis where they are answering questions with a finger twitch or a nod, or they are saying yes or no out loud, and other times they are deep in trance and I’m leading them through a guided journey with a lot of metaphors and these metaphors are used to create a perception shift so that people say, ‘oh, I see where that makes sense for me’ in a very subtle way,” Picot said.

It may be as subtle as feeling like going for a walk when you get home from work instead of going straight to the kitchen and eating. Picot said that hypnosis can be very effective when helping someone with weight loss.

“We have a saying in the industry where ‘the thing is never the thing.’ Being overweight – it’s not about the food, it’s what is attached to it,” Picot said. Weight loss may require several sessions because it’s revealing layers of why you’re holding on to the weight.

“Let’s say you’re standing behind your kids in photos, or you’re not even in the photos – how many Christmas cards do you get of just the kids and not the parents because the mom doesn’t want to stand behind her kids again? That thought process bleeds into poor sleep habits, it bleeds into self-esteem at work, it bleeds into medical issues, so it is not just the weight, it’s the weight and people beating themselves up about it,” Picot said. “People will think, ‘I’m still at this weight and I can’t stand to see myself in the mirror, I won’t go to the beach because I will not put on a bathing suit in front of anyone. I don’t want to be naked in front of my husband…’,” Picot’s voice trails off as she gets a little emotional recounting the pain people are feeling and hiding behind.

“No one should feel that way…it’s just heartbreaking…” Picot said.

That passion to make people feel better about themselves is what drives Picot to dedicate her time to helping others.

“You don’t have to punish yourself forever. Our brains re-vilify, re-live, re-beat ourselves up all our lives for something that we did,” Picot said. “We can use hypnotherapy to make something less triggering so you can have that memory without the emotional attachment and the fear and anxiety that is wrapped in it. So, you don’t smell that car accident anymore, because sometimes people still smell that accident.”

Many people believe that hypnosis will conjure things up from the past.

“A lot of people think that they are going to have to relive things to heal and you don’t. You don’t even have to know what it was for it to be released. Which is such a safe way to process things,” Picot explained. “So, it just gives people freedom around their thoughts, freedom around their intrusive thoughts and their fears and phobias and that is a huge relief to people.”

Hypnosis is often used in smoking cessation.

“Smoking, vaping, dipping and chewing tobacco habits can be worked on in one session, it is two and a half hours long, but it is very effective. I had one client in her late 70s who was vaping but she needed to have a surgery, so she said she wanted to quit smoking beforehand. She also said she felt like a junkie going out and vaping at her age and talked about how it pulled her away from her grandchildren, pulled her away when she’s on a trip, and so on. After one session, she was done,” Picot said.

In addition to weight loss, stress eating and smoking cessation, Picot has been trained to work on sleep disorders, guilt, grief, tinnitus, motion sickness, irritable bowel syndrome, sexual issues, career goals and athletic performance. She can even help those who have been in a skiing or snowboarding accident get back out on the slopes. Teenagers and children can be helped with things such as test-taking, studying, attention deficit disorder, bed-wetting, confidence, fears and phobias.

The hypnosis sessions vary in length depending on the issue and can either be done in person at Picot’s salon in Riverwalk in Edwards or she can do them over Zoom.

“If you’re having issues with food, I’ll have you be in your kitchen during the session. If you have trouble with sleep, I’ll have you be in your bedroom. If you’re having issues at the office, go to the office and be in the boardroom and while you’re in the boardroom we do this session and you come out of it and you’re there and there’s just relief around it.,” Picot said.

I give people homework in between appointments and I send them audios to listen to on a regular basis, some of the topics are “wake up happy,” “drink less wine,” “deep sleep,” or “stop biting your nails” – whatever the issue is, we’ll address it subconsciously,” Picot said. “It’s amazing.”

Throughout the years, Picot has gotten a lot of feedback and kudos for helping people change their lives for the better, but she doesn’t take credit for her clients’ success.

“I don’t care if they credit the hypnosis, as long as they make the change and their life is better. It’s not about me. The answers are all in the person. They know what they need better than I know. I’m just cracking it open so that they can access what they know and what is best for them.”