First, wedding cakes! Evelyn Stowers has been in the business of making delicious and elegant wedding cakes for 44 years. In fact, the first wedding cake she ever created was for her own wedding (they’re still happily married, likely due to her sweet personality and the cakes she’s always whipping up in their kitchen). Evelyn showed me a binder filled with hundreds of cakes she’s created over the years, and I have to say that I melted completely into giddy girl mode! She has fun and gorgeous ideas for decoration, and after almost half a century of baking, you better believe she’s got more than a couple delicious cake recipes on hand. So ff you don’t feel like hunting down a big banner to post on your car that says “wedding cake on board” while you drive up our curvy mountain pass, then send Mrs. Stowers an email at evelynstowers@yahoo.com. She’ll be happy to hear from you!

Second, and a little more unique, is Ear 2 Ear photo booths. A couple of locals, Jeff Skinner and John Vella, have found great success with their small business of delivering, setting up, and operating photo booths at all kinds of events, including weddings. And yes, you’re thinking of the right photo booths: the same ones you laugh like crazy in at carnivals with your best friends. Photo booths are a creative and fun addition at any event; we think it’s worth your time to check it out! You can read about all the details and see some sample photos at www.ear2earphotobooths.com , then give Jeff and John a call at 970 509 9778.

And as always, if you have any questions about other great services in the area or are interested in lodging, give Winter Park Lodging Company a call at 877-329-1383. We’re always happy to hear from you!

First up, Trampled Underfoot! This remarkable band is comprised of Nick, Kris, and Danielle Schnebelen, each of whom are very accomplished on their respective instruments: Nick jamming on the guitar, Kris hammering on the drums, and Danielle rockin’ the bass. All three siblings sing the blues like they were born to do it, probably a lot of the reason they took home the gold at the 2008 International Blues Challenge.

Next up, Samantha Fish. Her self proclaimed influences include BB King and Bonnie Raitt, which, once you get a little taste of her belting vocals, will not surprise you. Hailing from Kansas City, Missouri, Samantha is booked solid in her home state and beyond for the next year. One of my personal favorites, Rollin’ and Tumblin’, is just a preview for the upbeat show this girl puts on.

And for the third and final act, the grand finale…you’ll have to come out to Smokin’ Moes this Tuesday night to find out! Show starts at nine with a $20 cover- paying your way to dance all night long to a rare blues show in our home away from New Orleans! One other note- be nice to the door man, Art, and he might reward you with a dance.  We’d love to have you there to continue this fabulous blues party tradition with us in Winter Park.

First, Angie Stevens is playing at Cheeky Monk Belgian  Beer Cafe, located in the new village at Winter Park Resort. Angie’s strong vocals match well with her smooth acoustic guitar sound, almost as well as the imported Belgian brews match with the house parmesan truffle frites.

Next up, Randi’s Irish Saloon is hosting local favorite Hunker Down. If you’re into bluegrass rock, don’t miss out on these guys. You have my word- I’ve seen them play enough times to say with 100% confidence that no matter what your taste in music is, you won’t be disappointed with Hunker Down.

After Randi’s, head on down a couple blocks to the Winter Park Pub to continue with great music. The Pub is hosting Denver’s very own Hillbilly Hellcats. True to their name, the Hillbilly Hellcats will entertain you to no end with fast paced songs like Hillbilly Love, Crazy Little Baby, and, my personal favorite, Hillbillies on Speed. If you’re able to stay seated and refrain from some good old fashioned foot pounding dancing while the Hellcats are jamming, there’s something wrong with you!

Finally, last but certainly not least, the Grand County Blues Society is bringing us a special treat to Crooked Creek Saloon. Chris Watson, hailing from Denton, Texas, is talented well beyond his 23 years. His latest hit, Just for Show, is a perfect example of the treat you’re in for if you’re able to stop by Crooked Creek this Saturday night. Leave it to the Grand Blues Society to bring us a gem like Chris Watson!

So, true to my word, you have plenty of choices for Saturday night. Good luck choosing!

Nick Moss’s style is that of traditional Chicago Blues, and his gift for rhythm is clear from the first moment he starts to play. Lurrie Bell, having grown up surrounded by blues music, is certainly not short on talent either. Check out what the Grand County Blues Society has to say about both musicians on their website.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to check out Nick Moss and the Flip Tops and Lurrie Bell in Winter Park this New Year’s Eve. The show starts at 9 pm at Silverado II Resort and Event Center, hope to see you there!

If you take a break from tearing up the dance floor during the show, track down one of the Blues Society members with your questions about blues music , you won’t be disappointed! This Saturday, they’re hosting John Richardson and the Jelly Roll Bakers (Johnny O and Andy Irvine) at 9pm. You can check out a quick bio about these guys on the Blues Society website.

Hope to see you there!

So, after contemplating, researching, and saving pennies, I called Ski Broker in Fraser (one of their three locations) to ask if I could pretty please borrow a demo board to try out and possibly purchase (demo boards are brand new models that ski and snowboard companies send over to rental shops so customers can try out this year’s new gear). When Alissa, one of many knowledgable and helpful staff members, heard I was interested in buying, she went above and beyond to track down a board that would be perfect for me. With the help of Alissa, Paul (owner, check out his story: http://www.wpskibroker.com/AboutUs/tabid/54/Default.aspx), and Jamie (who assured me a snowboard was a necessity), I am now looking at a brand new Arbor Push snowboard. When it finally snows here, I’ll absolutely take a picture on the slopes to show it off

When I am about to spend half my rent money on a snowboard, I want to purchase one from someone who I know, trust, and is passionate about skiing and snowboarding themselves. Isn’t that what you want when you’re renting gear or having someone polish and tune up your own gear? Well, good news, that’s exaclty what you’ll find in our local, family owned Ski Broker. These guys do it all: they have a fantastic selection of rentals (of everything, including snowshoes and clothing) and gear for purchase, as well as extensive tunes and repairs. Check out their website for everything they have to offer: http://www.wpskibroker.com/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx. Since we trust them so much we wanted to share them with our guests, so don’t forget that when you book with us you receive 22% off your rentals at Ski Broker!

Fourstroke: Quieter, more efficient, and larger than two stroke engines. Also, the professionals over at Grand Adventures tell me  you won’t get any of the fumes that come with two stroke engines.

Ergonomic: They are designed to fit your body, resulting in a super comfortable ride that requires less work from you.

Smoother acceleration: So you don’t have to deal with whiplash while you’re cruising on the continental divide at almost 12,000 feet

Heavier: In the words of the Grand Adventures professionals again, this means that the snowmobiles “won’t dance around, but will plow through the snow.”

AND, these new snowmobiles burn 1/2 as much fuel, making them more environmentally friendly. Plus, they’re quieter, making it easier for you to get a good look at all the wildlife you might run into.

Check out Grand Adventures’ website: http://www.grandadventures.com/ for more information on rentals, tours, rates, and more. Snowmobiling really is one of the most fun ways to check out some incredible views of the mountains and Winter Park, not to mention being quite a bit easier than hiking up a mountain in the middle of winter. Have fun!

Here’s the best part: Rudi’s Deli is going to be offering HALF OFF their ENTIRE MENU from ski season opening day, Nov. 18, through Thanksgiving day. Take advantage of that deal to try a couple new additions to the menu, including 3 new entree salads (Ahi, Greek, Chef’s, and Pasta salad with tomato, edamame, and feta), 3 new soups (stop in to find out!), and a new Ultimate veggie wrap. Don’t forget that Rudi’s also offers tasty burritos and bagels for breakfast, as well as coffee from the famed Rocky Mountain Roastery. New winter hours are 10 am to 8 pm every day. Check out the website for the complete menu!

www.winterparkdeli.com

More important than the pizza, more important than the tacos, and almost more important than the beer, the Pub is going to become your bar after you vist, no matter who you are. Locals, bikers, families, fishermen, tourists, snowboarders and skiiers, mountain bikers: no matter what you do, if you want a good beer, good food, and a good atmosphere at the end of the day, the Pub is it. Unlike lots of other bars and restaurants in Winter Park and Grand County, the Pub stays open year round for both its loyal regulars and those just visiting. See ya at the Pub.

On your next visit to Winter Park, make sure to stop at Rise & Shine  to experience the fun, cozy, coffeehouse atmosphere and homemade breakfast at my favorite cafe.  Peter Baldo, owner of Rise & Shine and coffee perfectionist, has been kind enough to offer guests of Winter Park Lodging Company any specialty drink for a dollar off!