Getting pampered at Spago

What better way to say thank you to a community than a party?

That’s what Bob Hernreich did last weekend, as he shut down Spago at the Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch (rumor has it, possibly for the first time in Spago history). His guests were an eclectic mix of folks from Vail and a smattering from Aspen, but all were givers in the community.

“I get invited to so many great events, I wanted to say thank you,” Hernreich said.

Tanya Frank was the right-hand woman in planning this extravagant event. She created a “pampering” party ” with massage therapists, manicurists and even fortune tellers, who were kept busy all evening by a line of people wanting a hint of what’s in store.

The evening before, Hernreich also hosted a pre-concert party before The Temptations appeared at the Vilar Center in Beaver Creek. His original thought was to have them perform at the party, but London was calling.

Guests were dressed in their fashionable best, and Spago served up many of its signature dishes, including smoked salmon and caviar pizza, spicy tuna cones, chestnut soup and freshly fried mini donuts.

Around 150 people attended the event. Hernreich had a table set up for those who wanted to make a donation to one of his favorite nonprofits, Snowboard Outreach Society, of which he is a board member. Other organizations represented at the event were Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival, the Vail Valley Foundation, Gore Range Natural Science School and The Youth Foundation, just a few of the charities that Hernreich has supported during his years in town.

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Click on photo galleries at http://www.vailtrail.com to see more photos from this event.

This weekend is the Snowshoe Shuffle, which will kick off on Saturday night with the annual community dinner. This year’s dinner will include Mike Landess, 7News anchor and prostate cancer survivor, as well as a presentation of the “Service Above Self” award to R.A. “Chupa” Nelson. The event is at 5:30 p.m. at the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort and Spa. The 15th Annual Snowshoe Shuffle is Sunday morning at the top of Beaver Creek at McCoy Park. To register for any of the events, call Anne Smith at (970) 471-4944 or register online at http://www.vvmc.com.

Next Saturday night (March 8) is the ninth annual Carpenter’s Ball for Habitat for Humanity. “Tool Belts and Tiaras” will be at the Park Hyatt in Beaver Creek, and tickets are going fast. Call (970) 748-6718 for more information.