Crested Butte Mountain Resort: Part 1

by Tim Yu

It's no wonder the privately owned Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) is on the edge of becoming a full-blown destination resort—in some ways similar to that of its long distance neighbor Telluride—however it somehow manages to maintain a relaxed, local and very backcountry feel. Friend and CBMR's Communication Director, Todd Walton comments, "As change occurs, we maintain a profound respect for what has made Crested Butte 'Colorado's Last Great Ski Town.' It is exactly that spirited nature, commitment to preservation and dedicated community that makes Crested Butte the perfect destination for anyone wanting to break out of the typical." Shhhh...best part is, now we get all the plush amenities of a big ski town without any of the attitude or crowds. Check out the video above for a small taste of a day spent at CBMR.

We felt extremely privileged to be invited to checkout and ride the mountains in late December to kick-off our ski season. Folded into a crescent shaped section of the Colorado Rockies Elk Mountain Range (this formation traps weather systems dumping huge amounts of snow in the process) at the very end of a two lane road, getting out to CBMR is surprisingly easy. New direct flights serve Gunnison allowing you to jump right into the secluded area of southwestern Colorado. United, American and Delta all offer direct jets into Gunnison from select cities, and Crested Butte Vacations has a ski for free package if you fly with Delta).

We had four days of epic riding and skiing in early December. One day we were even taken out by local pros Quiggle and Eric, who showed us a few of their favorite areas and stashes—both make cameos in the video above. With the base at 9,000 feet and the peak at just under 13,000 feet, there are plenty of first tracks and challenging terrain for any level. In fact, CBMR has been voted "Best Steeps" numerous times by Ski Magazine.

The ultra-challenging Teocalli Bowl and North Face Lift opened a couple weeks back and daredevils have been enjoying it everyday since. CBMR also recently completed renovations to their new DC Terrain Park. Updates include a draw dropping half-pipe and broken out sections for experts and beginners offering hits, jumps, tabletops and rails for all levels.

After a long day of riding we'd head over to the newly opened Elevation Hotel and Spa located at the base of the mountain for a few drinks. Our favorite was the newly invented Communication Breakdown—a White Russian with just enough espresso to get us through the night. After a few rounds we'd walk across the courtyard to Django's where husband and wife team Kate and Chris Ladoulis offer a wide range of tapas, new american cuisine and an impressive wine list. It was exactly what we needed before jumping in the outdoor hot-tub located at the Mountaineer Square Lodge, where we stayed in a nicely appointed 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom penthouse suite (images of the interior after the jump).

If summer is more appealing time to visit a mountain resort, the Wildflower Capitol of Colorado has you covered. There are world class biking and hiking trails, and plenty of streams and rivers to fish from during the warmer months.

Stay tuned for part two of our review to hear more about all of the gear we tried out.

More images after the jump

Chris Stain: Out on the Roof Counting Pigeons

by CH Contributor

by Ariston Anderson

In Chris Stain's first solo show, he brings a gritty New York rooftop to L.A.'s Carmichael Gallery, complete with a live pigeon coop.

The Baltimore native builds his vision of inner city life through large-scale stencil installation as well as found objects. Stain comments, "my work explores the emotional and physical struggle of growing up in an urban environment. Through hand-cut stencils and installations made from found materials I hope to inspire compassion for the often overlooked individuals of society." Chris' characters reveal the struggle and compassion of the working class. They are wise images and especially pertinent for today's society.

The opening is on 5 February 2009, 7-10 PM.

Carmichael Gallery - 6 February through 26 February
1257 N. La Brea Avenue
W. Hollywood CA 90038 map
tel. + 1 323 969 0600

Aether Apparel

by Doug Black

Outdoorsmen sick of bulky, unsightly activewear are in luck. Aether, the new men's technical clothing manufacturer, serves the virtually-untapped market of outdoor enthusiasts who want apparel with a modern, sophisticated style. Set to launch the first of February, the line is co-founded by Hollywood producers Jonah Smith and Palmer West (whose credits include "Waking Life" and "Requiem for a Dream"). They started Aether to fill the void they saw in the worlds of snowboarding, skiing, surfing, running and mountain biking.

"As a couple of guys in our mid-thirties, we were no longer comfortable in the brands that made us look like teenagers on the ski slopes,” said Smith. “Our options were to go with the obvious performance-driven clothing lines and sacrifice design and style, or to shop at the more aesthetically pleasing lines and sacrifice performance.”

The debut collection offers an assortment of understated jackets made of nylon, waxed cotton and a type of wool made to be both water and wind-resistant. T-shirts, polos, button downs and hoodies rely on heavy Supima cotton. Throughout the line, they opted for a subtle color palette and avoided excessive branding, with few pieces displaying any graphics.

Prices for outwear will average about $450, with tops at $95 and pants for $175. The collection is available online as of yesterday. Check out their website for more.

Michael James Moran Furniture

by CH Contributor

by Kelsey Keith

The title "woodworker" might be a misnomer for the talented Michael Moran, working out of Charleston, South Carolina.

Not only does he scout felled trees—with the help of area historical foundations and the City Parks Department—he mills the wood upstate, custom designs each piece, then constructs the finished product without the use of hardware, stains or harmful finishes. Moran crafts even the largest sideboard or dining table by himself, greatly minimizing people who touch the wood on its journey from ground to home. It's the antithesis of factory-produced merchandise, thoroughly modern and organic in design.

Most of Moran's work in the past four years has been devoted to commissions (kitchen installation pictured above right), though one can find about twenty ready-made pieces in his shop in the historic Upper King Street district of Charleston. Black walnut has been extremely popular, as well as rough-hewn slabs of Peruvian walnut and cherry, as seen in the coffee table with hand-turned legs at top left.

Up next, he's readying two enormous chunks of tulip poplar from the estate at Monticello and a 2,000 year-old live oak tree trunk from a plantation outside of Charleston.

Moran truly masters the art of woodworking so make sure to check out his engaging website, built and branded by Fuzzco, a creative local graphic design firm.

Michael James Moran
1611 Meeting Street (studio)
534 King Street (storefront)
Charleston, SC 29405 map
tel. + 1 843 793 9765

Chamucos Tequila

by Jonah Samson

Although considered by many to be the drink of rowdy university students, tequila remains my alcoholic beverage of choice. So I was especially excited to try as many tequilas as possible during a recent visit to the state of Jaslisco in Mexico.

One of my favorite discoveries was a reposado tequila called Chamucos. Chamucos is made with 100% blue agave and is aged in white oak barrels for 6-7 months. It is a smooth and mellow tequila, which has mild flavors of earth, spice and smoke. Like many tequilas, it is best on the rocks with a squeeze of fresh lime.

Chamucos is produced slightly differently for local presentation and for export. The local variety comes in a simple bottle, is 38% alcohol and aged for 6 months. The export is hand blown and the tequila is 40% alcohol, aged for 7 months. Although the make-up is a bit different I enjoyed both equally.

Chamucos may be available at your local liquor store. If not, it can be ordered online from multiple sites for around $50 per bottle.