Archive for June, 2009

4th of July in Aspen, Colorado

Join friends and family for all of the excitement on the 4th of July in Aspen. Below is a schedule of not-to-miss events while here for this patriotic holiday.

The old-fashioned 4th of July celebration starts off Thursday in Snowmass Village. A free concert performance by Karl Denson and his Tiny Universe starts at 6:15pm on Fanny Hill with fireworks to follow at 9pm.

On Friday night, a free concert at Cooper Street Mall is scheduled and Boogie’s Bash for the Buddy Program will be held on Mclain Flats. Tickets can be purchased and more information can be found by clicking here.

Saturday begins with an 8:00am start for the Boogie’s 5-mile race. There is also the family/canine 1-mile walk that happens at 9:15am. All proceeds go to The Buddy Program.

The Kid’s Carnival is in full tilt from 10am-2:30pm at Paepke Park, complete with a silent auction and lots of games.

The 4th of July Parade starts at high-noon. Click here for a route map for the parade, but one of the best places to see the parade is near the judging platform in front of The Hotel Jerome.

Not one, but TWO, picnics are held for the Aspen public starting around 1pm. The 14th Annual AVSC picnic will be held in Koch Park and the 5th Annual 4th of July picnic hosted by the Aspen Art Musuem will be held at the museum next to Rio Grande Park.

Starting at 4pm, the Aspen Music Festival will be playing at Benedict Music Tent located in the West End. They will play patriotic tunes to keep you in the mood for this wonderful holiday.

Another free concert will be played on Saturday evening at Cooper Street Mall starting at 8pm, and fireworks will be lit from Aspen Mountain starting at 9:15pm.

The 4th of July in Aspen is a great time for everyone.  Enjoy!

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Posted in Aspen, Events, Lifestyle, Snowmass Village on Monday, June 29th, 2009 | No Comments »

Butch’s Lobster Back in Basalt on Friday Nights

 

Since it started in 1992, Butch’s Lobster Bar has been a Snowmass Village favorite.

Every Friday and Saturday night throughout the summer it’s now a Basalt favorite too. Butch Darden, the owner, is a former lobsterman from Cape Cod. He brings his lobster cart to downtown Basalt on Fridays, stationed in front of the Phillip’s 66 near the intersection of Midland Avenue and Two Rivers Road.

I have enjoyed countless Friday nights in Basalt over the past couple of summers enjoying lobster expertly prepared to order by Butch.  My family enjoys it on my parent’s deck overlooking downtown Basalt, but customers can also enjoy outdoor seating at nearby picnic tables or simply lounging in the grass.

Butch’s is truly an authentic East Coast Seafood Restaurant, with over fifty items on the menu. The Basalt menu includes plenty of other seafood favorites, including crab legs and fried clams.

Come get your seafood fix at Butch’s Lobster Cart on Friday & Saturday nights in Basalt, or in Snowmass Village at their main restaurant.

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Posted in Basalt, Events, Restaurants, Website on Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 | 1 Comment »

Aspen Food & Wine Festival-2009

It is that time again–The Food & Wine Classic is coming to Aspen!  Every year in June for the past eleven years, Aspen has played host to the hottest vendors in the food and wine world. Featured speakers include Giada De Laurentis, Mario Batali, Bobby Flay, and Jose Andres, famed chef behind Bazaar inside the new SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

This event is a don’t miss on the “Aspen social calendar” and is the real kick-off to summer in Aspen. Not only is there a fantastic array of food and beverages to indulge in, this is one of the prettiest times to be in the Colorado Rockies. The amazing fields of wildflowers are in full bloom, and the snow-capped peaks are in the background.

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Posted in Aspen, Events, Lifestyle, Restaurants on Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 | 1 Comment »

First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit: 6 Things to Know

President Obama enacted the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 this year to assist people with buying a principal residence. US residents receive $8,000 in tax refunds if they purchase a house in 2009. People who want to use this tax credit need to be aware of the following stipulations:

1. How much money do I get? This credit is equivalent to 10 percent of the purchase price of the home and is capped at $8,000. There was a home buyer tax credit that was already in effect that gave first-time home buyers $7,500 in tax credits, but it had to be repaid. This $8,000 tax credit does not. Buyers who take advantage of this tax credit must file 2009 income taxes.

 2. Who is a “First-time home buyer”? According to the legislation, a “first-time home buyer” is someone who doesn’t currently own and hasn’t owned a principal residence within the past three years. The three-year period starts the date that the deed was assigned to the new owner. Vacation homes are not considered a principal residence.

3. How much money can I make and still get a credit?  To receive the full credit amount, single buyers need a modified adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less. Married couples must make less than $150,000. Reduced credits are available for buyers who have an income above these limits. 

4. When do I have to complete my purchase? Only those who purchase a home on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 31, 2009 are eligible for the credit. Anyone who bought a home in 2008 won’t be able to take advantage of it.

 5. When do I get to use this Tax Credit? According to the letter of the law, this tax credit is “refundable” and can be refunded to the buyer rather than used against any tax liability after they file 2009 income taxes. Also, buyers can use the tax credit towards their down payment if their lenders are FHA-approved and they have an FHA-secured loan.

6. Can I sell this house? Buyers have to own the home for at least three years to keep the tax credit. If they sell the home before then, they will have to return the credit to the government. (Exceptions will be made in certain cases, such as death or divorce.)

 

For more information, please visit the IRS‘ website for details or The US Department of Housing and Urban Development  (HUD) for state-specific information.

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Posted in Buyer Information, Website on Thursday, June 4th, 2009 | No Comments »