Aspen Nightlife

The Wheeler Opera House has been an integral part of the nightlife of Aspen, Colorado since 1889 when Mr. J.B Wheeler and the Conried Company presented The King's Fool. The building started out as an opera house, but by 1893, it was used only for town meetings and such.

The Opera House remained open in 1912, until it was gutted by two fires within a one week period. It opened again in June 1946, and was restored, after being leased by the Aspen Company. The Wheeler Opera House was used in the '60s and '70s as a movie theater until 1979, when the city decided to restore the Opera House to it's original grandeur.

Today, you can see Broadway shows, concerts, and children's theater at the Wheeler Opera house. Shows are scheduled thorughout the year. The Opera House is considered by many locals to be the crown jewel of Aspen, and a world class theater.

The Opera House is still in its original location on Hyman Avenue, in the heart of downtown Aspen. You can call to find out what events are planned, and to purchase tickets. Remember that this is a popular place, and shows do sell out quickly - so purchase your tickets as early as possible. You should also be aware that children under the age of three years old are not permitted for live performances, unless the performance is for children specifically. Cameras and recording devices are not permitted for performances.

The Wheeler Opera House can also be rented for a variety of special occasions and events, such as parties, receptions, weddings, conferences, and seminars. Events such as these are usually held on the second floor, where guests will enjoy a breathtaking view of Aspen Mountain, as well as the city.

Winter time isn't the only time to visit Aspen. There is a great deal going on each summer, and one of the highlights each June is the Taste Festival. This is also called the Food & Wine Magazine Classic, and people from all over the world arrive in droves for this three day event.

Cookbook authors, wine experts, restaurateurs, and famous chefs can all be found here. Wolfgang Puck, Jacques Pepin, and Andrea Immer have all attended the Taste Fest in Aspen because if food is your life, this is the place to be! Each year, there are over eighty cooking and food demonstrations, and visitors can get a taste of it all.

There are many seminars and wine tasting sessions held throughout Aspen during these three days as well. If you want to attend this incredible mouth watering event, make your reservations months in advance or you will miss out! If you don't make your reservations early, try to find a hotel with space available in a nearby town, and drive back and forth to the event check the local camp grounds as well. Just make sure you don't miss this event!

The Club Chelsea is a fashionable club that is a traditional part of the Aspen nightlife social scene. Featuring a piano bar, a dining area, a dance floor, and a private smoking room, this is high-toned entertainment at its very best.

The Club Chelsea bar offers single malts, cognacs, martinis, and ports, and in the smoking room, you will find Havana and A. Fuente cigars. The club is open from 8pm to 2am daily, and is located on East Hyman Avenue. A light menu is offered, featuring gourmet dishes such as pastas, tenderloins, and tamales. Everything about Club Chelsea screams elegance.

The chances are good that you will not run into the college crowd here. The majority of the patrons seem to be older starting with the 30 and 40 year old crowds, with some seniors thrown in for good measure. This is elegant 'grown up' entertainment, where you won't find a lot of noise or people who have had too much to drink.

So, if you are past the college drinking contests and wet T-shirt competition age, you will find Club Chelsea a delightful and elegant place where you can while away the evening with great food, fabulous drinks, wonderful piano music, and outstanding cigars.

Since Aspen is a wintertime playground for so many people, it is only fitting that everyone in Aspen during the month of January participates in Winterskol. This is literally a celebration of winter, cold, and snow which is a great deal of what makes Aspen, well, Aspen! Winterskol is the ultimate Aspen party.

During Winterskol, more than 40 events are scheduled in the downtown area, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk Mountain, and Snowmass Mountain. The entire area gets involved in the activities. Winterskol is a celebration of Aspen's Nordic ancestry, as well as a celebration of winter. While most events are scheduled in advance, Winterskol also brings several surprises as well. You just never know what you will find at the Winterskol celebration until you are there.

Favorite traditional activities include the Canine Fashion Show, Winter sculpt, the Buttermilk Uphill Race, and Snowmass Splash. Don't miss the torchlight descent and the fireworks display over Aspen Mountain. Don't miss the unique competitions happening all over town. There is constant live entertainment all around town as well. If you are planning a ski vacation, and you want to have the time of your life your destination should be Aspen, and your arrival date should coincide with the start of Winterskol.