Adventures
Arts & Culture
Live Music
Food & Beverage

‍If You Know, You Know.

The best tips aren't always the ones you'll find in a guidebook. From where to find the best french fries to art auctions and nature walks, discover the gems of our valley through the eyes of the people who call it home. These are the insider tips, secret spots, and simple pleasures that make living here so special.

ART:

Lunch Auctionette at Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass

Lunchtime Auctionettes are fun, high-energy affairs offering a wonderful opportunity to buy original artwork by Anderson Ranch faculty, Visiting Artists, students and staff, while supporting the Ranch’s educational programs!

Lunch is served from 11:45AM – 12:15PM and can be purchased for $25 upon arrival.

The Auctionettes are held from 12:15 – 1PM and are free and open to the public. Registration is appreciated.

Lunchtime Auctionettes take place on Fridays from June through September. Check their calendar listings for details.

FOOD:

Brevitt Livingston Enjoys Fries at Hotel Jerome

Best Fries in Town

Why buy an entrée when you can get French Fries and a Frosty? Here are our picks:

  • Hotel Jerome: Nice and crispy
  • Slope & Hatch (Glenwood Springs): Frequently cited as having the best fries in the valley—super crispy, handmade, and available with Cajun seasoning.Sure Thing Burger (Basalt): Known for thick-cut, crispy-yet-fluffy fries served with exceptional sauces and free soft-serve ice cream.
  • The Goat Kitchen & Bar (Carbondale): Famous for their "phenomenal" mushroom fries and truffle fries.
  • Ajax Tavern (Aspen): The go-to spot in Aspen for upscale, decadent truffle fries while people-watching.
  • White House Tavern (Aspen): Renowned for thin, shoestring-style fries served with a special house seasoning.
  • Carbondale's Townline Trucks

    Finally a cool local spot where you don't have to spend a fortune.  Part food truck park, part community gathering spot, Townline is one of those places where locals linger. Grab a bite, catch live music, bring the kids, meet friends for a beer, or simply soak in the laid-back atmosphere with Mount Sopris as your backdrop. It's the kind of place that reminds you the best nights in the Roaring Fork Valley are often the simplest ones.

    Happy Hour at Clark's Oyster House

    With Aspen restaurant prices continuing to climb, happy hour has quietly become the locals' favorite way to dine. It's the perfect excuse to gather friends, share a few plates, and enjoy a great meal without the sticker shock. One of my go-to spots is Clark's Oyster Bar, where daily happy hour from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. features fresh oysters, cocktails, and one of the best burgers in town, topped with Gruyère and absolutely worth ordering. My advice? Arrive early, grab a seat at the bar or on the patio, and embrace the European way of eating. Your wallet will thank you, and so will your sleep.

    MUSIC:

    Thursday Free Concerts in Snowmass

    One of the best local traditions of the summer is the free Thursday night concert series in Snowmass. Pack a blanket, gather a few friends, and head to Fanny Hill, where families dance barefoot in the grass, kids run free, and neighbors catch up as the sun sets behind the stage. Bring a picnic or grab dinner and a drink from one of the nearby restaurants, then settle in for an evening of live music under the Colorado sky. It's one of those simple summer rituals that reminds you why living in the Roaring Fork Valley is so special.

    NATURE/ACTIVITIES:

    Get Up Early forYoga at the Top of Ajax Mountain

    Want to get initiated into Aspen? You'll earn cred with the locals if you hike up Aspen Mountain, early, and take a Aspen Shakti yoga class, and then listen to Bluegrass. The hike can take over two 1/2 hours for the non-uber athletes. For the yoga, bring a hat, sunscreen, and water. Mats and blocks are provided. If you don't want to hike 2,000 vertical feet get a foot pass on the Silver Queen Gondola.

    Yoga is Monday-Friday, June 22 - Sept 4, 2026 | 10:30am-11:30am | Aspen Mountain | $25 cash or $27 credit card to the instructor + a gondola ticket

    Nature Walk with ACES

    Get to know our wilderness areas and take a Naturalist Guided Tour with the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies.

    Float from Pink Bridge to Two Rivers Park, Not in the Preserve

    If you're looking for a  relaxed float where you're not bothering our beavers, put in at Pink to Black in Glenwood Springs and drift down to Two Rivers Park. It's an easy, scenic stretch with beautiful views, gentle currents, and plenty of opportunities to soak up the Colorado sunshine. Bring a cooler, wear plenty of sunscreen, and make a day of it. It's one of those simple local adventures that never gets old and a favorite way to spend a warm summer afternoon.

    Pack a Picnic

    Hang out at The John Denver Sanctuary behind the Aspen Theatre Tent - pssst, bring your pup and a towel, it's by the river and one of the most peaceful lunch spots in town.

    Jillian's Local Rule #1

    Never head into the wilderness without food, water, an extra layer and a raincoat. We don't want to call our Mountain Rescue unless we have to.... and please, don't drink from the rivers.

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    Testimonials

    Corneliu Fagaraşan
    Architect

    Aspen Business Connect completely exceeded my expectations. From the moment I showed up I felt welcomed into a community of open, curious, and genuinely supportive people. It’s not just networking—it’s real connection. I’ve built friendships, found opportunities, and gained invaluable insight simply by being part of the group. The environment Jillian has created makes it easy to show up, be yourself, and grow both personally and professionally.

    Hudson McNamee Osprey Design Studio
    Owner

    I came along and was immediately connected with a lot of entrepreneurs from all backgrounds. A year and a half later I have gained a plethora of connections and advice from people from all walks of the entrepreneurial journey. This valley works by word of mouth. That is the most effective way, and being a part of this has gained me the most high quality clientele that respect what I do, compensate me fairly and I don't have to go through the entire vetting process every time. I learned so much from so many different types of people. It's been invaluable to my growth as an entrepreneur and a small business owner.

    Grayson Rutherford Sinclair Building Architecture Design
    Director of Operations

    I've been blown away by the professional connections that I've been able to make since joining Aspen Business Connect. I've even had the opportunity to make trade relationships... [and] brought multiple artists onto my company's projects that I wouldn't have otherwise found had I not been a member of ABC.

    It's unmatched and unrivaled by anything else in the valley and such a special meeting and connecting place for professionals of all different backgrounds. Jillian does an incredible job making her network ours and she's the most well-connected woman in the valley, always bringing in new people from different places who have different experiences and backgrounds to share. Overall it's one of my favorite things to be part of in the valley, from our socializing events and specialized dinners to our more professional focused events , it's given me the opportunity to make great friends in the valley and even professional relationships. All of us are better off for it.

    Jeremy Joseph
    Jeremy Joseph Photography

    I opened a gallery called Jeremy Joseph Photography, which was a place to display my fine art prints of the Colorado Wilderness and Wildlife. Shortly after opening that space, I started to realize the need for me to be more  integrated into the local community. After a short meeting with Jillian, I realized really quickly how valuable her network could be to get more integrated into the community. The amount of people and relationship building you can do is pretty impressive. Every time that I show up  I always have a bit of a vibrationally tingly inspiration because of everyone's stories and what they're doing. Just a great place to be a part of the community and get inspired for your small business.

    Derron Cloud, State Farm Agent in Basalt and Aspen.
    Agent

    What I have enjoyed from Jillian's group, Aspen Business Connect, is I've met lots of different people, different individuals. There's great events. I have probably not only gained clients but I’ve also been able to provide clients to those other folks that I've met. I've also made friends. Several people that I met in the first meeting that I went to, I've played golf with and our families hang out together. I have also had many, many referrals from those people. This group has been fantastic for networking and learning and just meeting lots of great and wonderful, interesting people.

    Dominic Del Signore Homestead Circus Productions
    Founder

    Being a member hasn't just grown my business; it has fundamentally changed my life in the Roaring Fork Valley.

    Jillian is a master at the art of connection, and her dedication to this community is nothing short of brilliant. She understands that when you connect local businesses as genuine resources for one another, you aren't just facilitating 'transactions', you are proliferating a culture of friendship, growth, and playful engagement that makes our community thrive... Great organizations only succeed with great leaders, and Jillian’s mission to foster an environment where we all succeed together is incredibly effective.

    Marisa de Lempicka Tamara de Lempicka Estate Foundation
    Owner

    I've been a member with Aspen Business Connect for about five years now and it's been wonderful. Jillian does an amazing job at connecting people. I always leave the events inspired, empowered, with new ideas. It's really really been a great addition to my life here in Aspen, and it's a great reason to hear what other people are doing in the community, to feel part of this amazing community. The people in this group are amazing. I've /made some really lifelong friendships.

    Shari Havroud of Aetio Health
    Nutritionist
    I am so grateful for Jillian and Aspen Business Connect, for introducing my work to the team at Aspen Strong where we created a successful Food/Mood kids series.  From there, I have been given the opportunity to work with the Aspen Youth Center, Aspen Family Connections and the City of Aspen!” 
    All of these engagements have helped me expand awareness about the benefits of medical nutrition therapy.  Just one introduction led to many more.  I would highly recommend joining the Aspen Business Connect network!"
    Diane Utz, ESQ Ferguson Shindler Law Firm
    Construction Litigation

    Thank you once again! You’ve created something really special and have done an amazing job pulling together the movers and shakers in this Valley. I’ve lived all over the country but have never witnessed a network like the one you’ve built and are continuing to build. You are such an inspiration!

    Eric Amyot Keystone Species CO
    Instigator of Change | Generative Community Builder

    ABC makes networking easy. More than that, the intention and energy, mood, and support for every entrepreneur and business regardless of their scale or industry, is always positive.

    Harry Teague - Harry Teague Architects
    Owner

    Thank you Aspen Real Life and your team. Very informative and well organized panel discussion. Wonderful to network with such smart, fun crowd. Keep up the good work.

    Jerome Osentowski Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute
    Founder & Director

    Last week Jerome, Eden, and Brook melted our minds with their wisdom on the state of our food systems, what they're doing about it, and what we can all do to improve the health of ourselves and the Earth. Thanks Aspen Business Connect for organizing this great event!

    Thanks so much Jillian for putting these together. We were glad to see so many people who care about their food, we got so many business cards! Amazing

    Rose LeVan Sustainable Settings
    Co-Founder & Office Manager

    Thank you Jillian for giving us the opportunity to talk with our community via Aspen Business Connect! Your crew is amazing.

    Michele Cardamone - Michele Cardamone Photography
    Owner

    I just went to Jillian's Aspen Business Connect meeting at Aspen Kitchen with a panel discussing the importance of eating local and nutritious food without pesticides. There was so much positive energy in the room and such an eclectic mix of local business representatives. It was such a perfect way to connect with members of our community. Bravo, Jillian! I can't wait for more!

    Molly Dodge Bosque Aspen

    Such an amazing event, Jillian!! Thank you for including us and for everything that you're doing for this community and beyond. You're an inspiration and connecting people is the most satisfying thing. Xoxox

    Bill Infante, Hangai Mountain Textiles, Co-Founder & President at Breakthrough Communications, Basalt Town Council Member.
    Principal & Co-Founder

    Great evening. Great initiative. Great connections. Thanks Jillian Livingston for bringing the business community together!

    Marisa Hallsted The Mindful Vine
    Founder

    We thought you’d love that we all connected over a fabulous dinner. Turned into a blog post, a mastermind group, a newly designed ring from gems from my ancestors and who knows great collaborations between some of us in the future! Thanks for being our connector and for all you do!!