Colorado Hotels & Lodging Mountain Living Restaurants Skiing & Snowboarding Telluride: Bootdoctors early season skiing holiday festivities Mountain Lodge New Sheridan opening day Telluride Telluride Ski & Snowboard School Telluride Ski Resort
by maribeth
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Grateful for Telluride and the Telluride Ski Resort
The Town of Telluride, Colorado After the Storm
With all that’s happening in the world, most of us are feeling extra stressed these days. This is true even in Telluride, Colorado, one of the safest and most beautiful places on earth. No one is immune to feeling reverberations from all these horrific terrorist acts. As I wrote in my story, Paris Attacks Hit Home, we are one.
The Telluride Scene
Still though, we are so privileged in this sweet little ski town. Few people lock the doors to their cars and houses except during bear season, since our local bruin population has become pretty savvy about entering spaces redolent with lingering pizza, berry and pie smells. We live in a bubble of sorts where our biggest threats come from pushing it too hard on the slopes or getting caught in an avalanche during a backcountry ski.
France French Life Paris Romance & Relationships: French Life Paris Paris attacks Relationships
by maribeth
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Paris Attacks Hit Home
View from My House in Telluride, Colorado
It’s sparkling white here in Telluride, Colorado. We’ve been graced with bright blue skies after a major storm dumped about three feet of snow on our already snowy mountains. Normally my heart would be singing with the excitement that comes with the start of each ski season. But despite the glorious scene that lays before me, I feel cobbled together with a jumble of emotions I’m doing my best to manage.
I did some work with hospice about twenty years ago and learned in the training that each loss brings up a past loss. I suppose by the end of our lives our hearts are filled with an accumulation of losses. A grim thought, but hopefully we find out along the way how to balance our complexities of emotions. But still, there are times when the bottom seems to fall out of our hearts.
This has been one of those times for me. The horrific events in Paris of just one week ago have touched so many of us. They’ve triggered thoughts of 9/11and other PTSD moments, big and small. They’ve made us weep for a beautiful city loved by many whether we’ve traveled there or not. They’ve made us feel the ultimate violation of enjoying a sense of safety in the most civilized parts of the world. They’ve made us feel like one. We are one, we are one with Paris, one with France, one with the whole world.
In a city of over two and a quarter million inhabitants, I wanted to make sure that everyone I knew there was safe last Friday night. On ne sais jamais. It’s bad enough that this horrible violence was happening but I prayed that all my loved ones and contacts from having had a close connection with the City of Light for almost four decades were safe.
And then it came. The news that my ex-husband, Stéphane de Bourgies, had lost his wife, Véronique Geoffroy de Bourgies, in the attack on the little bistrot, La Belle Equipe, rue de Charonne. I felt shattered. Vraiment boulversé. No, no, please God, don’t let it be true. I had been checking Steph’s Facebook page all night for news and finally the unimaginable was posted. I had already written on Véronique’s timeline that I was thinking about her and her family and hoping everyone was safe. Oh God, please let this be a mistake.
Beauty New York: hair salon New York city J. Sisters
by maribeth
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J. Sisters: A Top New York Hair Salon with Heart
Hair Experience Extraordinaire at J. Sisters NYC
In the more than two and a half decades I’ve been a travel writer I’ve been fortunate to experience some of the world’s top salons and spas from Paris to London to New York to Beverly Hills to Hong Kong. Just like high-end restaurants, these establishments serve up quality products and services within alluring settings meant to wow people with means. And whether glitzy or subdued, the entertainment factor of these posh places always ranks high, which, of course, makes up part of the whole experience.
I have, however, often found the demeanor of staff at many well-reputed hair salons to be off putting, perhaps because many think it’s cool to embody the pouty, woeful look of fashion models in magazines. I don’t like that at all, which is why I rarely look at such publications any more. Or, sometimes the approach is just plain snobby. Who ever thought that was attractive?
So you can imagine my delight when I discovered a super warm and friendly scene at J. Sisters, a renowned hair salon on W57th Street in New York, owned and operated by Brazilian sisters all with first names beginning with J. (But of course.) Whether you’re in for a splurge or you’re rich, famous or full of yourself, this long-established salon caters to all with the same measure of enthusiasm and attention as is required in transforming a brunette to a blond. (No, I didn’t go for that, but I was tempted and if I do, I will have it done here.)
Arizona Hotels & Lodging Outdoor Adventures The Southwest Tours Utah: Goulding's Lodge Monument Valley Monument Valley Tribal Park Tours
by maribeth
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Touring Iconic Monument Valley
Deep Within Monument Valley
We’ve delighted in exceptionally warm and sunny weather these past five to six weeks here in Colorado. And the colors have been glorious. A cold front blew in over the weekend, however, and now most of the trees are bare. It’s been raining a lot these past twenty-four hours and although the peaks are capped in white, our mountain landscapes appear ready for a big snowstorm. Let’s hope the fluffy white stuff starts piling up from here on out and that we have a great ski season in Telluride and the rest of Colorado.
Until that happens though, many Coloradans will be heading to the desert; it’s not far for most of us and it’s a great way to extend summer. Plus, the crowds of tourists have dispersed, which makes experiencing these wondrous places of nature more enjoyable. I’ve taken some of my best trips to Utah, Arizona and New Mexico during the fall and spring and I’m sure I’ll hit the road to one of my favorite Southwestern destinations within the next few weeks as well.
Monument Valley Is Calling Me
Touring Monument Valley with Goulding’s
Less than a four-hour drive from southwest Colorado, Monument Valley, one of America’s most spectacular sites, is one of my top choices. Situated both in Arizona and Utah, the panoply of sun-baked reds, russets, ochres and golds of the monuments appears even more magical beneath the burnished glow of autumn. In Touring the Southwest with My Parents, you can read about a trip I took to this part of the West with my parents during fall a while back. My parents loved it although I think they might have thought I was a little crazy with all my oohing and aahing. But at least I didn’t let my commentaries interfere with the solitude one feels at such an awe-inspiring place.
Colorado Girl Talk Outdoor Adventures Romance & Relationships The Rockies Travel: breast cancer camping Colorado Deepak Chopra Fruita Grand Junction mind/body health My Stroke of Insight REI Telluride Integrative Wellness The Joy Potential
by maribeth
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Glamping Through Breast Cancer Fears
Doing the Two-and-a-Half-Hour Drive to Grand Junction for My Mammogram First Time Around
Serving Myself a Wine in Fruita, Colorado
My world shifted into a surreal-like state of uncertainty three weeks ago when I learned that I needed a second mammogram after my first one revealed troublesome findings. I was called back for a second mammo a year and a half ago, so at first I wasn’t overly concerned.
This time though I could clearly see the area that the radiologist told me appeared suspicious. “Your breasts look like chocolate milk, so it’s hard to see clearly,” she continued. I studied the section she indicated and thought that indeed the spot in question looked like flecks of cream clumped upon my frothy chest.
My heart rate quickened despite the fact that I exchanged casual small talk with her as she performed the second mammogram. Calm down, I said to myself. There’s nothing to worry about. Don’t automatically think about breast cancer.
Colorado Outdoor Adventures Telluride: Colorado No Barriers Women's Summit Outdoor Adventures Telluride
by maribeth
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No Barriers Women’s Summit Kicks Off in Telluride
Yoga: A Vital Part of Any Healing Practice
Female Warriors
Telluride in Fall: A Great Place for Healing
Who doesn’t have obstacles in life? We all do! Whether they are mental, physical, emotional or material, we all have challenges. Thankfully there are organizations such as No Barriers that help us face them head on in a fun, supportive environment.
Today, Telluride welcomes the first-ever No Barriers Women’s Summit to our beautiful Colorado mountain town. A group of some thirty women from as far away as Europe is coming together to participate in a roundup of activities and adventures with the goal of empowering themselves like perhaps never before. In addition to activities such as horseback riding and hiking, the ladies will also be gathering for morning yoga, an afternoon of painting and wine, a networking cocktail and a variety of other inspirational programs and social events.
Colorado Mountain Living Telluride: best fall foliage tour Colorado fall foliage season Colorado peak leaf-peeping SW Colorado Telluride gondola Telluride Photo Festival
by maribeth
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Fall in Colorado: A Most Colorful Time of Year
View from My Deck: First Day of Fall
Heading Out on My Walk
Along the Galloping Goose
Happy fall to all!
I am so excited about the beauty that surrounds me right now–the colors are really going off. As usual, it came upon us very fast and I see a change in the foliage every day. We’ve been spoiled with summertime temperatures the past week so in some ways, fall has taken us by surprise. At least that’s the case for me.
Good news is that according to the forecast, glorious Indian summer weather will continue to light up the leaves and our spirits for the upcoming ten days or so as we inch toward peak viewing times. (In truth, it’s typically gorgeous around here in southwest Colorado through mid October, especially if the mountains are frosted with fresh fallen snow.)
Art & Culture Colorado Music & Dance Telluride Telluride Festivals: great blues & rock KOTO Telluride Blues & Brews Festival Telluride Music Festivals
by maribeth
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Telluride Blues & Brews in the Park and on the Radio
A Spectacular Setting for the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival
Greg Allman: One of this Year’s Headliners
ZZ Top: Another Headliner
This Year’s Poster
There are still some single day (for Saturday and Sunday) and juke joint passes left for the twenty-second annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival that kicked off just hours ago! This is a fun-filled musical extravaganza well lubricated with good brews, wine and cocktails. OK, some coffee, too.
This world renowned festival takes place in an unparalleled setting in Telluride Town Park and the weather right now is fantabulous! Really gorgeous and it’s supposed to stay that way all the way through Sunday. If you’re anywhere near T-ride, c’mon down. If not, I highly recommend you earmark this crazy good event for next year; it will be happening the third weekend of September as always.
Either way, log onto KOTO.org right now to listen to the show. Yes, we’re fortunate to have Telluride’s homegrown radio station broadcasting Telluride Blues & Brews all weekend long. They’re conducting some great interviews as well, so tune in every day and I’m sure you’ll stay tuned well into the evening. Check out the lineup to find out about who’s playing. This year’s is one of the best, according to many.
I’m listening to the festival right now and am digging the driving beat. Hope you can get in on it, too.
For more on the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival, read Steve Gumble Brings Us Telluride Blues & Brews and More.
This Year’s KOTO Team
