Aspen’s Little Nell Says Soak Up Summer
Abundant adventures, exquisite wine, and culinary offerings, seasonal cocktails, live music, vibrant gardens, outdoor movie screenings, and more are in store as summer is underway at The Little Nell in Aspen. Join us for a wide array of traditions and experiences this season, detailed below, and stay posted for further additions to the events calendar to be announced soon.
Weekly Garden Tours – This popular offering returns from 4 – 4:30 p.m. on Fridays starting June 16 through September 1. Led by our head gardener, Arabella Beavers-Kaplansky, these tours explore The Nell Gardens, which include a chef’s garden, an edible flower garden, a bee garden, and more, as well as Aspen's original colorful living wall, which features a new design each summer. As a special addition to our tours, guests can enjoy a refreshing sorbet with our compliments, plus an assortment of wildflower seeds for your own garden. These tours are complimentary and open to the public; no need to register.
Poolside Cocktail Hour - Hotel guests are invited to join us for our new Poolside Cocktail Hour in the courtyard on Mondays and Fridays from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. beginning Friday, June 23. Enjoy complimentary cheese, charcuterie, and skewers grilled in our Rock.Air outdoor kitchen accompanied by spritzes and champagne, as you mix and mingle with fellow guests.
Live Jazz at Element 47 – The Little Nell has partnered with Jazz Aspen Snowmass this summer to bring pizzazz to the patio and dining room at Element 47 featuring a musical duo every Thursday and Sunday night from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. through September 3. Savor innovative cocktails and enjoy our award-winning wine program paired with your choice of seasonally inspired dishes.
Music in the Mountains at Ajax Tavern – Sit back and relax every Friday from 4 – 7 p.m. on the patio at Ajax Tavern to hear acoustic music ranging from Top 40 to the blues to classic rock, and more. Walk-ins are welcome; dinner reservations begin at 6 p.m.
International Dinner Series at Ajax Tavern - The culinary team at Ajax Tavern has come up with a creative lineup of global flavors this summer, with a rotating offering of international cuisine every Wednesday evening from 6 - 10 p.m. Enjoy a three-course, prix-fixe menu, and welcome refreshment
- July 12: Mexican
- July 19: Argentinian
- July 26: Italian
- August 2: Spanish
- August 9: Creole Seafood Boil
- August 13 (Sunday): Caribbean
- August 23: Moroccan
- August 30: Southeast Asian
- September 6: German
Cinema Under the Stars – In partnership with Aspen Film, The Little Nell is presenting a monthly film screening on Monday nights at the base of Aspen Mountain. Admission is complimentary and open to hotel guests and the general public, Enjoy hillside seating with blankets and fold-up chairs available for use during the films. House-made popcorn, a limited snack menu, and an outdoor bar with signature cocktails will be available for purchase. A VIP package will also be available with plush seating, dedicated service and a special menu. For general admission, no reservations are required; walk-ins are welcome. The film names, screening times, and further information will be announced by the end of June. Cinema Under the Stars will take place just before dark on the following nights:
- July 17
- August 21
- September 11
The Little Nell Culinary Fest Featuring Relais & Châteaux Chefs - Our third annual Culinary Fest from Sunday, July 11, to Thursday, July 14, features culinary talent representing four Relais & Châteaux properties collaborating with Little Nell chefs, and a former Little Nell wine director returning to join our expert sommeliers. Choose from a Full Culinary Package or a selection of à la carte events. The lineup features the following talent:
- Julian Eckhardt (Culinary Director at the Inn at Little Washington in Virginia)
- Jon Endicott (Senior Sous-Chef at the Inn at Little Washington in Virginia)
- Jack Mahoney (Executive Chef at Magee Homestead in Wyoming)
- Christopher Gentile (Executive Chef at Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa in Southern California)
- Nathan Rich (Executive Chef at Twin Farms in Vermont)
- Matt Zubrod (Culinary Director at The Little Nell)
- Oscar Carrasco (Executive Chef at The Little Nell)
- Carlton McCoy (Master Sommelier and CEO, Lawrence Wine Estates)
- Chris Dunaway (Advanced Sommelier and Wine Director at The Little Nell)
- Jesse Libby (Certified Sommelier at The Little Nell)
- Jon Koch (Certified Sommelier at The Little Nell)
- Rachael Liggett-Draper (Advanced Sommelier at The Little Nell)
Summer Adventures – Experience summer like a local with Nell Adventures on exciting outings such as off-road tours on Aspen Mountain and fly-fishing to T-Lazy-7 Ranch’s private ponds, which are exclusively available to The Little Nell, or walking and wading along the Gold Medal waters of the Roaring Fork River. Contact our Adventure Center to learn about the options available to you. Please note – while our spa and health center are under renovation this summer, the Adventure Center has been moved to make way for the temporary gym featuring cardio machines and weight training equipment.
Tour de France Kick-Off - Celebrate the first day of the 2023 Tour de France with a bike ride in Aspen led by one of the most exciting up-and-coming World Tour cyclists, Matthew Riccitello, along with Olympic medalist and World Champion Mari Holden. All will meet at the ASPENX store on the Gondola Plaza at 7 a.m. for complimentary coffee and registration. Riders are responsible to have their own bike and helmet to participate. Both rides depart at 7:30 a.m. with two distance options for the route – from The Little Nell to Basalt for a 42-mile round trip ride, or to Ruedi Reservoir for a 68-mile round trip ride. USA Cycling and Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club (AVSC) are our partners on this ride and will provide support along the route. Following the ride, enjoy lunch on Ajax Tavern’s sun-soaked patio. The $100 per person registration includes the ride, the prix-fixe lunch at Ajax Tavern (choice of two courses, a glass of wine, gratuity, and tax), and a $25 donation that will be evenly divided between the USA Cycling Foundation and AVSC to support their youth development programs. A maximum of 40 spots are available. If you’d like to rent a bike from ASPENX, Ventum has you covered with their elite models, the GS1 gravel bike and NS1 road bike.
Ride + Dine Dinner Series - A popular summer tradition returns this summer, welcoming cyclists of all abilities to take part. Embark on a journey from Aspen by bike to arrive at a scenic destination for an al fresco dinner. We’ve partnered with Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) to host our two events at their 113-acre property, Rock Bottom Ranch, near Basalt, which serves as a hub for environmental education, wildlands preservation, and sustainable agriculture. For our Tuesday, July 18, event, winemaker Evan Martin of Martin Woods Winery in the Willamette Valley of Oregon will take part in the ride and present his wines at dinner. For the Wednesday, September 13 event, winemakers/siblings Adam and Kelly Mariani from Scribe Winery in Sonoma, California, will take part in the ride and present their wines at dinner. For both dinners, participants have the option to purchase a wine flight to taste wines from each portfolio. The group departure is at 3:30 p.m. and the ride is approximately two hours over a 23-mile descent along the Rio Grande Trail following the Roaring Fork River. E-bikes are highly recommended for non-avid cyclists. Upon arrival at Rock Bottom Ranch, you'll be treated to a glass of rosé and hors d'oeuvres, a farm tour presented by ACES, and dinner prepared by The Little Nell's culinary team, featuring fresh ingredients from local and regional purveyors including Rock Bottom Ranch. Afterward, The Nell will provide a shuttle ride back to the hotel for you and your bike.
Clip-In Cycling Camp – Our signature cycling camp celebrates 10 years this summer from Sunday, August 13, to Thursday, August 17. Christian Vande Velde, a former pro cyclist, current commentator for the Tour de France, and a preferred Peloton instructor, is returning to host, joined by two former pro cyclists, Tyler Farrar, and Travis McCabe, with support from Diaa Nour and Barrett Brandon of Ventum, our official bike sponsor. Cyclists of all levels are invited to ride Aspen's most scenic routes with support provided the entire way, outfitted on top-of-the-line NS1 Ventum bikes with a bike fitter and mechanic to ensure optimal performance and comfort. In addition, riders will be equipped with unique custom kits from Pedal Mafia for each of the three days, featuring a Little Nell kit, a Whispering Angel kit, and an ASPENX kit; Sweet Protection is supplying a helmet and sunglasses to each rider; Skratch Labs is providing fuel and hydration supplements; and additional accessories and a gear bag will be provided by The Little Nell. A variety of ways to participate are offered to accommodate all interests, ranging from staying at The Little Nell on a Full Camp Package to riding or dining or a combination of both.
