In this issue ... Winterskol Celebration Winter Sports Go To Extremes Apres X Concerts "AWOL" Aspen Snow Incredible Snow Winter Music Series Aspen Santa Fe Ballet January Restaurant of the Month: Syzygy

WHAT A WINTER WE ARE HAVING!
With over 60 inches of snowfall recorded in December, and more reported this month, Aspen is off to a terrific start this winter. The four mountains of Aspen are all in great shape, and our skiers and snowboarders are having fun!

JANUARY SPACE STILL AVAILABLE
Aspen Square is busy, but we still have some limited space left in January, available at a special rate on a "last minute" basis. Enjoy a Fireplace Studio Suite for just $249 nightly to February 3. (Service fee and tax total 12% additional.)

FEBRUARY AND MARCH PACKAGE SPECIALS
Lodging/Lift packages - available in February and March. Save on lift rates and your lodging cost. 3 nights lodging in a Fireplace Studio and 2 days skiing, all mountains: Just $603 per person, double occupancy, tax and service fee additional.

Call us today for availability: 1-800-470-0530

View Aspen Square Specials »

Check the Aspen Square Web Cam to see the latest weather at Gondola Plaza.

	WINTERSKÖL - MID JANUARY CELEBRATION!
Aspen’s own very special winter celebration, Wintersköl, will span four days, from Thursday, January 12th to Sunday, January 15th. Highlands, Aspen Mountain and Snowmass each have their day with a host of exceptional events including races and musical entertainment. Among the highlights are the traditional Wintersköl parade, a canine fashion show, and breathtaking fireworks on Saturday, as well as an ice sculpture competition. This is Aspen at its best, a great time to visit and share in the joys of winter.

	WINTER SPORTS GO TO EXTREMES
The world’s premiere winter action sports event, the ESPN Winter X Games will return to Aspen in for an unprecedented fifth year. These mind-boggling games will take place on Buttermilk Mountain from January 27th - 31st. The tenth annual, free-to-the-public, winter action sports competition features more than 230 athletes from across the globe competing for medals and prize money in the following sports: Moto X, Ski, Snowboard, and Snowmobile. Last year’s games drew record crowds, in spite of the cold temperatures. If you can’t be here, you can watch all the action on ESPN every night during the games from 9 pm – 11 pm eastern time. APRES X CONCERTS The Après X Concert Series, two free concerts right in the downtown Wagner Park, are also part of the festivities surrounding the Winter X Games. These events are also free and open to the public. These concerts will keep the action and excitement flowing in Aspen into the night with performances in Wagner Park on Friday and Saturday, January 27th & 28th at 9:30 pm, after the events conclude at Buttermilk. Bands TBA. "AWOL" IN ASPEN DURING X GAMES This gigantic spectacle, to be held on January 29th, combines music and action sports to create a unique display of ski and snowboard progression. A band performs atop the wall-ride structure while athletes blow by the crowd to approach the 30-foot high wall feature at the base of Aspen Mountain. Held during the same weekend that ESPN’s Winter X Games are at Buttermilk, AWOL (Aspen Mountain) will feature some athletes from Winter X Games and others looking to have some fun while claiming some cash and bragging rights. SNOW, INCREDIBLE SNOW! Early season storms have covered Aspen/Snowmass’ slopes with a great base, and cold temperatures have preserved the conditions, so skiing at Aspen/Snowmass is awesome right now! With base depths anywhere from 33 inches at Buttermilk up to 67 inches at Aspen Highlands, all four mountains are in excellent condition! Following two weeks of almost constant snowy days, sunny days with bluebird skies have prevailed of late as Aspen gears up for the ESPN Winter X Games. WINTER MUSIC SERIES BEGINS Each winter, some of the Aspen Music Festival’s favorite artists return to town for intimate recitals at Harris Concert Hall. The first performance of the 2006 “Winter Music” Artist Recital Series will be a recital by Andreas Haefliger, a Swiss-born pianist renowned for his mastery of the masters. This concert will feature works by Mozart and Beethoven. The concert is scheduled for Tuesday, January 31st at 7:30 p.m. in Harris Hall. Tickets are $52. The next installment in the “Winter Music” series will feature Joshua Bell on violin and Jeremy Denk on piano. This recital will be on Thursday, February 16th.

	LATE JANUARY - ASPEN SANTA FE BALLET
Since its 1996 premiere at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Aspen Santa Fe Ballet has thrilled audiences and critics alike. The company’s performance schedule includes year round seasons in both Aspen and Santa Fe. The Aspen season kicks off at the end of January with their internationally acclaimed Mixed Repertory, including a performance of Moses Pendleton’s “Noir Blanc.” This piece alone is worth the price of admission! Performances are at the Aspen District Theatre, January 27th, 28th & 29th at 7:30 pm.

	RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH - SYZYGY
The most mispronounced restaurant name in Aspen, Syzygy (siz-i-jee) presents the expressive cuisine of Chef Martin Oswald, fine service and elegant atmosphere. The cuisine is eclectic and contemporary, including scallop carpaccio and Maine lobster ragout…DELICIOUS!! Some of our favorite entrees include the crispy “Magret” duck breast and the elk tenderloin. For seafood lovers, the grilled Chilean sea bass is at the top of our list. In addition to the great food, service and atmosphere, a group of talented musicians transform the restaurant and bar into a hopping jazz club later in the evening Thursday - Saturday nights, making Syzygy a complete dining experience, even if you have trouble pronouncing it!

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