Entertainment in Aspen
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Woody Creek Tavern
- Aspen, USA
- Entertainment › Pub
Enjoying a 100% agave tequila and fresh-lime margarita at the late, great gonzo journalist Hunter S Thompson's favorite watering hole is well worth the 8-mile trek from Aspen. Here since 1980, the walls at this rustic funky tavern, a local haunt for decades now, are plastered with newspaper clippings and paraphernalia (mostly dedicated to Thompson).
The menu features organic salads, low-fat but still juicy burgers, popular Mexican food including some quality guacamole, and plenty of alcohol. Eleven gallons of margaritas a day can't be wrong.
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Belly Up
Long the top nightspot in Aspen, Belly Up has built and maintained its street cred by bringing in the best live acts to the Aspen people. That means everything from local bluegrass bands to hip-hop globalist K'NAAN, to Chrissy Hynde's brilliant new band, to LCD Soundsystem DJ sets and intimate, up-close throwdowns with all-timers such as Jane's Addiction (although, those ain't cheap).
No matter who you see, the room will be intimate and alive with great sound. Easily the best venue this side of Denver.
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J-Bar
- Aspen, USA
- Entertainment › Bar
Once Aspen's premier saloon, back when the word 'saloon' had its own unique meaning, this bar was built into the Hotel Jerome in 1889 and remains full of historic charm and packed with everyone from local shopkeepers to Hollywood stars. Order the signature cocktail, the Aspen Crud, if you're in the mood for something sweet. It's a delicious blend of bourbon and ice cream.
The more tart J-Rita is equally delicious. The menu features gourmet American pub fare that's nearly as tasty as the drinks.
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Aspen Brewing Co
Tibetan prayer flags fly from the rafters, two flat-screen TVs strobe ballgames, the shelves are stuffed with board games, and reggae sings from the hi-fi at this groovy streamside microbrewery.
Six flavors are brewed directly behind the bar. Literally. You can get a pint for just $2.75, and a flight for $7 if you want to sample them all, from the flavorful blonde to the peachy Independence Pass Ale (its IPA signature), the mellower Conundrum Red Ale and the chocolatey Pyramid Peak Porter.
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Theatre Aspen
A nonprofit theater and drama school that hosts classes, workshops and periodic productions (mostly in the summer and early autumn) from its gorgeous, tented complex in the heart of Rio Grande Park. Matinees include bonus views of the nearby mountains, evening productions play beneath a starry sky. Check website for details of upcoming shows and see one if you can.
Expect to see productions such as Tony-award-winning romantic comedies and deliciously subversive musicals.
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Wheeler Opera House
Built in 1887, one of Aspen's oldest and finest examples of Victorian architecture has been a working theater since it first opened – with the exception of the 30 or so years things were interrupted by fire, depression and reconstruction. The point is, this place is historic and was definitely part of Aspen's postwar revival. It still presents opera, films, concerts and musicals.
During summer the Aspen Music Festival holds concerts here.
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Hunter Bar
- Aspen, USA
- Entertainment › Bar
A brickhouse basement bar with flat-screens strobing surf and snowboard vids sharing wall space with quirky modern art canvases. Turntable decks are set up at all times, serving a roster of rotating and house DJs. It has salsa and karaoke nights, nice outdoor and patio seating and the distinct tinge of last night's beer around the bar the next morning. But that's a good thing. A basement bar should feel lived in.
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Benedict Music Tent
A beautiful bedouin-style peaked tent set in a leafy glen on the Aspen Meadows Resort property, which feels more like a public park. It's surrounded by aspens on the outside, where there's ample lawn space for freebie listeners - an Aspen Music Festival tradition. Inside the tent is a deep amphiteater and stage backed by a cedar shell projecting tunes through the patrons and out onto the Listening Lawn.
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Regal
- Aspen, USA
- Entertainment › Bar
A basement bar and lounge infused with the sound of house and hip-hop. The interior is accented by tactile walls plastered in waves or lined with suede or faux fur, along with spotlit snowscape photos adorning walls of exposed brick. The hipster crowd arrives late; things don't really get rolling until 11pm, but eventually madness (and dancing) will ensue most nights.
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Eric's Bar
- Aspen, USA
- Entertainment › Bar
One of three bars in the Su Casa complex, all of which are owned by one savvy fellow. This one is by far the coolest. It's a brick-walled lounge with DJs on Thursday nights when the midnight freaks dance like mad. If the crowd gets too tight, head over to the billiard hall or upstairs to the cigar lounge.
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Victoria's Espresso & Wine Bar
It has baked goods and wine, full breakfasts (those ricotta pancakes look delish) and espresso, but the must-try here is the vanilla latte. Made with housemade syrup crafted from real vanilla bark, it isn't too overly sweet – just immediately and completely addictive.
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Isis Theatre
The only movie house in Aspen proper plays first-run Hollywood fare, but thankfully spices up the blockbusters with an ocassional pinch of art-house and foreign cinema. This is Aspen, after all. But eat and come early as there are no late shows.
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Double Diamond
When live-music acts - from rock and blues to salsa and reggae - come to town, they rock this spacious club. It's seen George Clinton, G-Love and many others. Shows get started around 10pm.
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