Dinner begins at Gori, the tasting menu chef’s counter that opened this month above Anto, a high end Korean steakhouse in New York’s Midtown East, with the presentation of ingredients in a lavish Cartier chest. How to take this: a bit showy, too quintessential East Side? But once the ten courses start to appear, the luxe introduction makes sense. Chef Jeong Muk Kim, formerly of Myomi in Seoul, the youngest chef to earn a Michelin star in Korea, joined this nearly year old restaurant in November and uses strictly elite ingredients such as the caviar, uni and Wagyu in the chest. Even more important: the creations he produces from them for the ten seat counter have flavors so fully developed and enticing that they immediately set up anticipation for the next course.
What’s New In Aspen This Ski Season? A Lot
03.01.2024 - 14:39 / forbes.com / Aspen Snowmass
This is not just a big year for Aspen—by historical standards, it is huge.
Aspen is one of the most famous ski towns in the world, as much a luxury brand as a destination, and for as long as I can remember, the town and its namesake ski resort have stuck to a “if it isn’t broke don’t fix it” strategy where very little of note changes. Every year I write round-ups of important expansions, additions and changes at major ski resorts for a variety of media outlets (read my latest such What’s New in Skiing piece here at Forbes), and in the past three decades I can’t recall every having occasion to write a What’s New in Aspen story. Until now.
I went back there just before the busy Christmas week, and skied the big new terrain expansion on the first day it was open. I also checked out the other key newsworthy happenings around town. Collectively, these represent the biggest changes here in the past 40 years. If you have not been to Aspen in a while, it might be time to think about going back.
Aspen Mountain (also known as Ajax), is just one of the four mountains comprising the Aspen Snowmass resort, but while Snowmass is by far the biggest, Aspen is the most famous and the only one actually in town. Its base is walkable from most of the best hotels, shops and restaurants, and the mountain occupies prized real estate, because, as the old adage goes, it has location, location and location. The one drawback is that it is on the smaller size, and I’d argue that it has the least skiable acreage of any destination resort this famous in North America.
That’s why Hero’s, a 150-plus acre addition of new terrain, is such a big deal. First off, it increases Aspen’s overall stature by more than 20 percent, which on a relative basis is one of the biggest terrain expansions in American skiing in many years. Secondly, it greatly diversifies Aspen’s style of skiing and snowboarding by adding the mountain’s first ever intermediate (blue) glades (along with some new double blacks runs). All in all, there are three large new glade areas, four new cut trails, and extensions of existing favorites, making these runs longer than ever. The name “Hero’s” was chosen to honor historic local figures, from Army 10th Mountain Division veterans to ski patrollers.
Hero’s is tucked in the woods just below and skier’s right of the top of Aspen’s main lift, the Silver Queen base to summit gondola, and the Sundeck restaurant. Once you get in there, you will find a new short and fast high-speed quad chair that allows for easy laps.
On this visit I stayed at the original Limelight, an Aspen Skiing Company (ASC) owned hotel brand also found in Sun Valley, ID, Snowmass Village and as of very recently Denver, where a new Limelight just debuted.
SAS to launch Atlanta-to-Copenhagen service this summer
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A New Floating Pool Will Reclaim NYC's Rivers For Public Swimming
From Barton Creek in Austin, Texas to Switzerland's Aare river, urban waterways around the world offer a cool reprieve from city heat—allowing residents and visitors alike to enjoy the various benefits that swimming affords. But even the boldest of New Yorkers, on the hottest of days, wouldn’t dare jump into the city’s rivers of their own accord.
Seniors Thrive At These North American Ski Resorts
The number of seniors on the slopes has reached epic proportions. In 2020-21 seniors accounted for 16.1% of skier visits, totaling 59 million, while a record 10.5 million seniors participated in the sport according to the National Ski Areas Association. Contrary to popular belief, not all seniors are snowbirds who fly south at the first sign of winter.
Where Are People Going This Year?
London, Rome, Tokyo, Cancún and Las Vegas, some of the most visited destinations in 2023, are still among the top places travelers are searching to go to this year, according to the travel sites Kayak and Hopper.
Chase Sapphire Card Opens Two New Lounges At New York City Airports
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From Freestyle Competitions To Mardi Gras Events, Ski Resorts Rock
Perhaps no other sport rolls out the red carpet for festive activities more than skiing. After all, skiers as a whole are an active group who enjoy spending time outdoors either by being part of the action or as spectators watching spirited competitions and special events take place. As such, ski resorts present a wide variety of activities designed to thrill and entertain. The following ski resort events and activities are sure to draw large and enthusiastic crowds.
This ski paradise in Canada is one of the snowiest places on Earth
British Columbia’s inland temperate rainforest is one of the snowiest places on earth. Its premier ski town, Revelstoke, holds the North American record for most snow dropped in a single winter—a whopping 80 feet in 1971-1972. And Revelstoke Mountain Resort sees 400-500 inches of snow every season.
It’s About to Get Easier (and Cheaper) to Fly to San Diego With This New Route
Low-cost airline Breeze Airways is adding several new non-stop routes for the spring, including flying out of San Diego for the first time.
The Ocean Club, Four Seasons Residences, Bahamas, Coming Soon to Paradise Island
Leading luxury hospitality company Four Seasons, US-based real estate development firm Two Roads Development and Access Real Estate announce plans for The Ocean Club, Four Seasons Residences, Bahamas. Anticipated to open in 2027 and set within an oceanfront enclave on Paradise Island in The Bahamas, the upcoming residential community will present a curated collection of 67 turnkey Private Residences managed by Four Seasons located in close proximity to The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, Bahamas.
The Trips Our Editors Are Most Excited to Take This Year
Travel is always top of mind in the New Year. Brimming with possibility as 2024 is, it's easy to drift off into daydreams about the adventures to come. Whether you’ve already planned this year's big trip a year in advance and have nothing left to do but twiddle your thumbs, or your next vacation is but a twinkle in your eye, travel is always on our minds.
Norse Atlantic launches new US-Athens service with limited-time deals
Norse Atlantic Airways announced on Wednesday its latest service between the U.S. and Europe, with bookings open right away and a limited-time promo deal available.