Summer: Anderson Ranch Arts Center is a world-class educational community promoting artistic development through workshops, residencies, and public events. Studios, galleries, and summer workshops are housed in renovated barns and bunkhouses in this historic high country ranch. The work of resident and visiting artists is featured in public slide-presentations, exhibitions, auctionettes, and in ArtWorks, an on-campus arts-supply and book store. The Ranch Café is open to the public Monday-Friday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For tour information, calendar and more, visit www.andersonranch.org. Phone (970) 923-3181 x204. On August 9th 2008, the Annual Art Auction & Print Sale features work by 200-plus artists over gourmet lunch and live jazz.
Winter: Anderson Ranch Arts Center is a world-renowned arts education community promoting individual artistic development through workshops, residencies, exhibitions and community outreach. A store and galleries featuring artwork by Ranch artists are open from 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday. Self-guided tours are welcomed during these hours. For more information call (970) 923-3181 x201 or visit www.andersonranch.org.

The Aspen Art Museum is a globally preeminent non-collecting institution that presents the newest, most important evolutions in international contemporary art. Exhibitions: ARAC @AAM: Anderson Ranch at the Aspen Art Museum (October 30 – December 7, 2008), Now You See It (December 18, 2008 – February 1, 2009), Jim Hodges and Mai-Thu Perret (February 12 – April 12, 2009), Silent Spring (April 30- May 14, 2009) and Convocation (May 23-July 19, 2009). Special Event: Winter Benefit, DENNIS BASSO Freestyle sponsored by ASPEN Magazine (après-ski party/fashion show), Sunday, December 28, 4:30-7:00 pm, Museum Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-6pm, Thursday 10am-7pm, Sunday, noon-6pm. Thursdays free 5-7pm. Admission is free courtesy of John and Amy Phelan. 590 North Mill Street, (970) 925-8050, www.aspenartmuseum.org PHOTO: Jim Hodges, The Dark Gate (detail), 2008 . Image courtesy of the artist and CRG Gallery, New York.

Summer: 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. The preserve encompasses lush riparian ecosystems including woodland, meadow, pond, and marsh communities. ACES offers programs for children and adults through its Naturalist Field School, as well as free naturalist-guided walks on Aspen Mountain, at the Maroon Bells and in Snowmass. Open Monday – Saturday, 9am-5pm. Also, check out Rock Bottom Ranch in Basalt for its organic garden and farm animals!
Winter: Stop, look, listen to the natural wonders of the Rocky Mountains while skiing or snowshoeing with a naturalist from ACES. Daily snowshoe walks leave from the top of Aspen and Snowmass Mountains and from the Ashcroft Ski Touring Center. Free downhill skiing tours are offered at Snowmass. Snowshoe walks and bird watching can be enjoyed at the center. Evening programs include the Potbelly Perspective Lecture Series and Naturalist Nights. Open daily, ACES is located on the 25-acre Hallam Lake Nature Preserve in the heart of Aspen. Phone (970) 925-5756. aces@aspennature.org. www.aspennature.org. PHOTO: Lindsey Stinnett

Add variety to your Aspen experience and discover one of the defining characteristics that make Aspen unique among Western America's world class ski resorts: our colorful and intriguing history. Take a guided tour of Aspen's historic downtown core and visit the Aspen Historical Society's two museums on the Society's brand new electric HISTORY COACH tour vehicle or perhaps take a West End Walking Tour of Aspen's 19th century Victorian homes. And don’t miss '"Go West, Young Man! But Park at the Intercept Lot," a new exhibit at the Wheeler/Stallard Museum about transportation into and around Aspen from the Ute Nation to the jet age. Call (970) 925-3721 or visit www.aspenhistory.org for museum hours, program and event information. 620 West Bleeker St., Aspen. Tour Reservations: (970) 925-3721, ext. 104. Fax (970) 925-5347, e-mail info@aspenhistory.org.

Summer: America’s premier music festival continues its tradition of offering a winter concert series showcasing world-renowned artists. The 2009 season, scheduled from February through March, includes performances by Jeffrey Kahane, piano (February 9); Joshua Bell, violin (February 16); Andreas Haefliger, piano, Marina Piccinini, flute (February 25); and Julian Rachlin, violin, Itamar Golan, piano (March 14). All concerts are held in the acclaimed 500-seat Harris Concert Hall. For concert and ticket information call (970) 925-9042 or visit www.aspenmusicfestival.com. Mark your calendar! Summer Festival 2009 will take place June 18 - August 16, 2009.
Winter: June 18 - August 16, 2009 - For nine weeks every summer, conductors, composers, seasoned performers, artist-faculty, gifted students, and audience members from around the world come together in the staggering beauty of Aspen to share their love of music. Their mutual passion creates something rare and marvelous in music. The festival includes symphonic and chamber music concerts, solo recitals, vocal programs, fully-staged operas, children’s programs, public master classes, lectures, and backstage tours. For concert and ticket information, (970) 925-9042 or www.aspenmusicfestival.com.

The Red Brick Center is a renovated elementary school located in the heart of Aspen, housing ten artist studios, the Red Brick Gallery, ten non profit organizations and the Recreation Department. Visit the artist’s studios, walk through the Gallery, and take an exercise class. Special events: Art receptions on first Thursdays of each month, 5-7pm. The Center is open Monday thru Friday 10am till 6pm. 110 East Hallam Street, Aspen. Two blocks north of Aspen and Main. (970) 429-2777, info@aspenart.org, www.aspenart.org

Participate in the Komen Aspen Race for the Cure® in July and the Aspen/Snowmass Ride for the Cure® in August. Susan G. Komen for the Cure Aspen®, a trusted resource for women living with breast cancer, encourages all women to be familiar with their bodies, know their family medical history, understand their personal risk for breast cancer and make healthy lifestyle choices.

The Aspen Institute mission is twofold: to foster values-based leadership, encouraging individuals to reflect on the ideals and ideas that define a good society, and to provide a neutral and balanced venue for discussing and acting on critical issues. The Institute is based in Washington, DC and Aspen, Colorado and has an international network of partners. The Institute hosts programs for the Aspen community and visitors year round. For more information please visit www.aspeninstitute.org/community or call (970) 544-7914.

The Institute for World Integrated Neurocenters is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to integrative healthcare research and education, facilating lifelong health. The three primary programs are children, senior support, and community outreach. The Children's Prodigy Center is based on educating about food, the body and organ systems. The senior program educates individuals on drug interactions and nutritional recommendations. Fund raising is in process to purchase a mobile unit for community outreach and to work in conjunction with schools and other nonprofits. We are in the health profession because we care. Helping people to help themselves. (970) 309-4714 www.wininstitute.org

Wyly Community Art Center in Basalt fosters creative expression in the visual arts for all ages and abilities. The Wyly offers classes for children and adults, mentor and intern programs, teaching and volunteer opportunities, community collaborations, outreach programs and special events. Artists and educators present free slide presentations through the Wyly Art Talk Series. Professional, volunteer and student artists sell their work at the Annual Wyly Wares holiday bazaar each December and year-round at the Wyly in Basalt. Wyly Community Art Center is a Colorado 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. For a full schedule of classes and events visit www.wylyarts.org. or call (970) 927-4123.