Telluride Realty's Monthly e-Newsletter
October 2008

With the leaves opting to turn a bit late this season, fall is now in full swing as October gets going. Hillsides are ablaze with fiery gold and orange aspens, the peaks are sprinkled in snow and there is a definite chill in the air. Time to warm the cars up in the morning and put the flip-flops away for another winter.

This month kicks off with the perfect autumn activities as Coloride and Oktoberfest both happen in the first week. Coloride is an unofficial celebration of the area’s beauty, inviting folks to get out for a run, hike, bike ride, or 4x4 outing and insisting they bring the camera along, as everyone’s a photographer this time of year. Oktoberfest is an authentic and annual Bavarian, beer-drinking party held in Mountain Village, which this year will offer hot-dog-eating and pumpkin decorating. And speaking of pumpkins, get ready for Halloween at the end of the month as Telluride is a great place to trick-or-treat with the kids, while the annual KOTO Halloween Bash is the perfect place for adults to dress up and act like kids.

As for September, it was a great one this year, both beautiful and memorable. One-thousand-seventy-one registered runners finished the 35^th annual Imogene Pass Run—the grueling 17.1-mile foot race from Ouray to Telluride over 13,114-foot Imogene Pass—on one of the best weather days in history; and the 15^th annual Blues and Brews Festival drew its biggest crowd ever. Roughly 8,000 fans were in Town Park on Friday and Sunday, and 9,000 were there on Saturday. Weather was spectacular and the killer line-up included the likes of Etta James, the Derek Trucks Bank and G. Love. "I got shivers down my spine and pinched myself a few times over the weekend," said festival founder Steve Gumble in reference to the fact that his little beer-tent beer-fest has grown into one of the biggest highlights of the summer. "It just amazes me."

 

Sep. 24-10	Coloride An event celebrating the region’s fall colors
5	Oktoberfest Bavarian beer festival in Mountain Village with pumpkin decorating, an Oompah band, hot dog eating contest and kids’ finger painting
5	Ophir Hill Climb Running and mountain bike race to the top of Ophir Pass
9-12	Ideas Festival Last festival of the summer, a forward-thinking event themed "The Polotics of the Possible" this year
11	Children's Sculpting Class Free children’s sculpting class at Stronghouse Studios
11	Opera House Yard Sale Fundraiser for the Sheridan Opera House
15-16	The Bus Ride An original play presented by the Sheridan Opera House
18	Tracy Bundy in Concert At the Sheridan Opera House
19	Gondola Closes for Off-Season Reopens November 21 for winter
26	Free Movie: Dr. Suess Extravaganza Whimsical selection of shorts based on the works of Dr. Suess; kids encouraged to dress in Halloween costumes and come ready for tricks and treats; Palm Theater
30	Ghost Stories An afternoon of regional ghost stories for kids of all ages, followed by a frightful evening event for adults; Telluride Historical Museum
31	KOTO Halloween Bash An adult Halloween celebration with costumes galore

Community News: Telluride Greener than Aspen

Telluride and Aspen challenge each other frequently as to who has better ski terrain, a more awesome line-up at summer festivals, or whose real estate prices pose better values. This time, however, the friendly competition between two of Colorado’s world-class ski resorts was more like eco-friendly competition.

From Memorial Day to Labor Day, Telluride and Aspen vied for the title of Greenest Little Mountain Town in Colorado. The contest was over who could reduce more plastic bag usage at local grocery stores…the prize, solar panels for the schools, satisfaction, and some good, old fashioned, small-town pride.

"We’re excited to announce that Telluride is officially greener than Aspen," said David Allen, project manager for Sheep Mountain Alliance, who spearheaded the project along with Nathan Ratledge, climate coordinator for Aspen’s Community Office for Resource Efficiency.

Participating stores were the Village Market, Clark’s Market and the Market at Mountain Village in Telluride, and Clark’s Market in Aspen. For each reusable bag used, each store donated 5 cents to the Green Fund. In Telluride, shoppers used 29,351 reusable shopping bags during the allotted time frame, compared to 26,793 in Aspen, despite its significantly larger population.

Although the Telluride School District will now receive two new solar monitor sets from Aspen, and Telluride now gets to revel in the glory of victory, the contest was more about bringing change for the greater good than about being a winner. An estimated use of 140,350 plastic shopping bags was eliminated and $2,807 was raised for renewable energy projects in both communities. "This competition was never really about whether Telluride or Aspen was greener," said Allen. "It was about creating a collaborative and voluntary campaign to help locals change their habits." Randy Kennedy, manager of the Telluride Clark’s said his store witnessed a 25% increase in the use of reusable bags. In addition, both communities earned some spotlight (hopefully energy-efficient spotlight) as the challenge was mentioned in roughly 30 publications, and Allen received phone calls from several environmentalists and government officials.

Mayor Stu Fraser who called the results "outstanding" plans to join Allen in pitching the challenge to the Colorado Association of Ski Towns this month to hopefully entice more involvement.

Execs are hoping that by later this month visitors will be able to book a Capella Telluride room for later this ski season. And they’re also predicting that by mid-winter, cocktails might be in full swing at the hotel’s swank restaurant, Onyx. The region’s new luxury hotel is on track according to newly named general manager John Volponi, who, in the next few months is planning job fairs to bring new staff on board, and getting promotional and publicity activities underway.

Capella, a brand developed by Horst Schultze, the renowned hotelier and founder of the Ritz-Carlton chain, aims to attain an even more elevated level of service than the Ritz-Carlton. The 148-room Capella Telluride is the company’s debut property in the U.S. and with its slogan "The Higher Life," strives to provide nothing short of just that with room rates beginning at roughly $650 per night and 24-hour white glove service. Guests will be assigned a concierge, or "personal assistant" prior to arrival to ensure that all needs are taken care of and the experience is hassle-free. According to Volponi, his staff will "have an innate understanding of guest needs and a natural sense of service."

Volponi, 48, comes to Telluride with a wealth of experience spanning two decades. Most recently he was with the Orient Express chain, but also spent eight years at the Lodge at Vail. While Capella promises to be nothing short of exquisite, Volponi said his goal is to create an atmosphere that is "relaxed luxury, not stuffy, and a feeling that you are in Colorado."

Real Estate News: TAR Honors one of Telluride Realty's Own