The Scoop: Weekend of August 9th

There’s still time to sneak in a summer holiday. Join The Scoop as we travel to premier destinations throughout the month of August. Our first stop: Aspen.

Nestled deep in the Colorado Rockies, the historic mining town is a favorite stomping ground for South Floridians. Ideal ski conditions put it on the map in the 20th century, but summer activities such as hiking, cycling and art are becoming more popular each year. Many residents own homes both in South Florida and Aspen and are familiar with the latter’s evolution into a summer playground.

W Hotels also took notice. Slated to open by month’s end, W Aspen will be the first newly constructed hospitality property and brand to launch here in 25 years. Thanks to its mountainside, ski-in/ski-out location, the 88-room hotel with 11 Sky Residences further marks the introduction of W Ski Escape North America. Aspen counts numerous luxury hotels, but the W Aspen is the only one that welcomes non-guests to experience its rooftop pool and lounge. With panoramic views and dj sets, the 12,000-square-foot deck will be a major après-ski hot spot following its summer debut. Design themes address several other chapters in Aspen’s timeline including the indigenous Ute people, Victorian silver boom and Seventies’ disco era. References to local luminaries like Hunter S. Thompson and his signature Gonzo journalism come alive, too. See you on the dance floor!

550 South Spring Street; (970) 431-0800; Click here

Forty Five Ten, Dallas’ designer emporium with a satellite location in Miami, expanded to Aspen. Despite its intimate size, the boutique stocks an array of women’s ready-to-wear, accessories, beauty and gifts. Find summer frocks from Ganni’s and Rosie Assoulin’s new label By Any Other Name to pair with cool sneakers from Solovière and Comme des Garçons Play. Exclusives range from Moussy denim imported from Japan to Boyy’s distinctive handbags. After coming to last year’s Art Basel Miami Beach, L’Objet x Haas Brothers home and gift collaboration pops up through August 31. Also pick up DRx Rominelli x Richard Prince’s limited-edition robes and tees while they last. The jewel-box setting is as well-dressed as its chic clientele. Mint velvet, custom Mylar wallpaper and raw rock accents energize the space.

535 East Hyman Avenue; (970) 427-4510; Click here

St. Barts regulars are swooning for Betula, the new sister restaurant of the Caribbean island’s beloved Bonito. Partners Laurent Cantineaux and Juan Carlos Perez Febres, who also have ties to Juvia in Miami Beach, selected the alpine locale due to the high crossover with their patrons. Its spacious terrace with direct views of the gondola and green slopes immediately became the place for power lunches and romantic repasts. Tasteful, charming interiors lend a residential vibe. The setting alone makes it a destination, so Cantineaux’s cuisine serves as a bonus. Prix-fixe lunches, ceviche and rotisserie chickens are already a hit, and many diners start with the vodka-spiked, strawberry-infused Frozé du Sud. Reservations don’t come easy for inside or outside tables, not to mention it’s often booked for private events, so definitely plan ahead.

525 East Cooper Avenue; (970) 429-8683; Click here

The modernist art school Bauhaus, which continues to inspire current architecture and design, is celebrating its centennial. Though widely associated with Germany, where it was established by architect Walter Gropius, its future leaders and teachers spread around the world. Aspen developer Walter Paepcke commissioned Austrian émigré Herbert Bayer to create the vision for his fledgling cultural enclave. Bayer’s enormous influence is everywhere here: the Aspen Institute’s buildings, grounds and artworks; the restoration of the Wheeler Opera House and Hotel Jerome, and Aspen Mountain’s summit lodge. Special exhibits and tours are being offered for the anniversary. The Aspen Historical Society is showing “bayer & bauhaus: how design shaped aspen” and added Bauhaus architectural walking tours within its tour program. The Aspen Institute, whose Resnick Gallery shows “A Total Work of Art: Bauhaus-Bayer-Aspen,” recently announced its Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies will open in 2022.

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