Browse: July 2007

Legend has it Dena Marino, executive chef and partner of D19, has been cooking since she was 3 years old. Growing up in an Italian-American family in New Jersey, Marino's childhood consisted of lots of trips to the local butcher shop and bakery. At 17 years old, she entered the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. Once she was done, she put her training to use at the Ceasars Palace Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. After her stint in the East, she headed West to Tra Vigne, a renowned Napa Valley restaurant. There, Marino worked her way from pizza cook to sous chef, along the way discovering that cooking was absolutely what she loved to do. While at Tra Vigne, Marino also found something else she loved--a man named Marcus Wade who would later become her husband. The couple eventually made their way to Aspen, where Marino became the beloved chef at Ajax Tavern. After years of having an extremely devoted following at Ajax, Marino decided to enter into a venture in which she could be a partner. The result was D19. The restaurant opened in 2005 and today continues to be one of Aspen's hottest eateries. Open for lunch and dinner, D19 has literally been packed since it opened its doors because if Marino is cooking, Aspenites will be there.

What is Plum 98? It¹s a collection of 98 individuals (a nice, round number) who have etched a mark in the Aspen community with positive energy and vision. Be it in the realm of art, recreation or politics, we at Plum want to recognize these local stars for their encouragement and inspiration. To meet more Plum 98ers, click HERE.

Soulful songstress Bettye LaVette tears up the stage at Snowmass' Thursday Night Concert series on Fanny Hill.  

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Lisa Consiglio moved to Aspen five years ago and has not wasted any time becoming an integral part of Aspen's nonprofit community. Consiglio serves as the board secretary of Komen Aspen, the intown affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, which raises money for breast-cancer awareness and research. Four years ago, she cofounded Ride for the Cure, a bike race that serves as one of Komen Aspen's main fund-raisers. However, Consiglio's main focus since 2003 has been the Aspen Writers' Foundation (AWF), a nonprofit that has celebrated the written word for more than 30 years. Serving as the executive director, she has brought an already strong program to a new level, largely through increasing fund-raising. The new funding helped AWF expand their Aspen Summer Words writing retreat and literary festival and enabled them to fly a handful of renowned African authors to Aspen for this year's event. Through Consiglio's hard work, AWF has not only increased its visibility but also its impact, partnering with other Valley nonprofits including Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Aspen Art Museum, Aspen Film, The Aspen Institute, and Jazz Aspen Snowmass, to name only a few. We think we're lucky to have someone like Consiglio in the Aspen community. Not only does she keep our minds stimulated through her work, but she also takes the time to better our community in her free time. Now that's a hard-working Aspenite.

What is Plum 98? It¹s a collection of 98 individuals (a nice, round number) who have etched a mark in the Aspen community with positive energy and vision. Be it in the realm of art, recreation or politics, we at Plum want to recognize these local stars for their encouragement and inspiration. To meet more Plum 98ers, click HERE.

Friday, July 27th

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Sunday, July 29th

Jean-Philippe Malaty and Tom Mossbrucker serve as the executive and artistic directors respectively of the highly acclaimed Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. Years ago, the pair of ambitious directors connected at the Joffrey Ballet, where Mossbrucker was serving as the principal dancer and Malaty was dancing in the Joffrey II company.

In 1995, Bebe Schweppe, longtime local and founder of the Aspen Ballet Company and School, invited the two men to develop a new professional company with a homegrown feel in Aspen. The duo was up for the challenge, and in 2000, they partnered the Aspen troupe with the Santa Fe Festival Ballet to create the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet.

Today, a variety of talented choreographers from around the world keep the company's repertoire fresh and exciting. Under Malaty and Mossbrucker's guidance, the reputation of the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet has grown to be a nationally celebrated contemporary ballet company that has performed everywhere from New York to France.

In addition, the School of Aspen Santa Fe Ballet (located in Aspen and Santa Fe) provides enriching ballet, tap, and jazz classes for kids as well as adults. A little more than a decade after Malaty and Mossbrucker's arrival, their influence on the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet has deeply enriched the Aspen community— hopefully for many years to come.

What is Plum 98? It¹s a collection of 98 individuals (a nice, round number) who have etched a mark in the Aspen community with positive energy and vision. Be it in the realm of art, recreation or politics, we at Plum want to recognize these local stars for their encouragement and inspiration. To meet more Plum 98ers, click HERE.

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Carl Bernstein stopped by The MorningNoon&Night Show to talk about his late friend Hunter S. Thompson, the state of journalism today, and his new book on Hillary Clinton, A Woman in Charge.

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