because "YOU CAN'T GOOGLE THIS STUFF"

THANKSGIVING update 2020

With COVID still rampaging worldwide, we can at least provide a respite here in Aspen:  THANKSGIVING means the opening of ski season.   

I'm personally grateful for C19 vaccines,  that the Aspen Ski Co has once again opened the mountain early, and that Pitkin County is keeping safe with tough COVID protocols.  more below.

Be safe, Stay well,   Susan

Susan Plummer,     COLDWELL BANKER MASON MORSE Luxury Specialist     susanplummer@me.com        cell 970-948-6786

STAYING SAFE

"SAVE OUR SNOW:  STOP OUR SPREAD"          

SKI RESERVATIONS?     No, at least NOT YET (as of 11/26)  but the Aspen Ski Co may very well move to a skiing reservation system similar to other resorts. 

In that case, pass holders will be required to make reservations digitally after REGISTERING online.    Avoid the jam, GOTO Aspensnowmsass.com

RESTAURANT updates

COVID freindly EASY EATS:   

since McDonalds and other chains were banned from Aspen, we look to local fast foods ...

CP BURGER, on Durant St at the Ice Skating rink in Aspen's core.   I am hooked on their tater tots after my daughter worked there.

but my all-time fave goes to  CP BURGER's famous LULU's** KALE SALAD

** btw, STEAKHOUSE 316,  is in the space where LULUs was ...

which was the long-ago home of ...the HOWLING WOLF CAFE  (remember?). ... located in the Victorian adjacent to the long gone LA COCINA .   ohmy.   

RESTAURANT UPDATES

Chefs Club at St Regis.... is sadly GONE.  

Joonas : (opening when?). a wine and tapas bar with multi-cultural Mauritian influenced cuisine, where owner Ali Joonas grew up!  (behind Meat and Cheese at 302 E. Hopkins.)  

The Ranch Room:  (opening when?) serving dinner and offering a charcuterie bar. (FORMERLY the downstairs SYZYGY: 308 E. Hopkins Ave.)

Aspen Tap   downtown core:  a gastropub and tasting room that serves their locally crafted beers. Visit during happy hour for $5 pints, a true Aspen rarity. 

and one of my faves:

BEAR DEN ASPEN 

a bakery-café ... for eat-in or easy take out...    6.30am to 10pm

(corner Hopkins/Monarch).     My goto for 'warms the soul' food.   

***2 photos above from Bear Den

Pitkin County is now in the “Orange Plus” level.   This equates to table sizes with 8 people or less and 6 feet apart. Guests must wear masks when not at their table and when ordering, temperatures must be taken at the door.  Dining establishments must close at 10pm.  All indoor dining must be at 25% capacity or 50 people, whichever is less.

It is unclear how long we will be in “Orange Plus”. Our hope is to move back to “Yellow” by the holidays, where we were for the majority of summer and fall.

REAL ESTATE Market Update

Aspen's outstanding ARTS/ CULTURE lifestyle:  one of the leading reasons that Aspen and Ptikin County (Pitco) is such a desirable destination. 

The 12.4% incresase in Arts/Cultrue jobs translates to $451 million in economic impact and 2,831 year-round jobs, directly or indirectly.

_________ 

BUYERS:    Reset Your “Must-Haves”

Unprecendented real estate sales continue in Pitkin County:   according to the Pitkin County Assessor’s Office, from Jan. 1 through Nov. 18, more than $2.14 billion has been recorded.  Up 123% OVER 2019 .

Local buyers have spoken:  they want an invigorating space to spread out, a celebration of what they’ve achieved, a comfortable shelter to share, somewhere to play, and a place to belong.   Before the pandemic, many buyers were looking for properties that allowed easy access to restaurants and downtown Aspen activities.  “ASPEN CORE or WEST END” was the common refrain.

Fast forward to November 2020:  Aspen buyers' priorities have clearly shifted.  Large ranches and rural properties, some of which had lingered on the market for years, sold quickly.   People moving here want more space.   This is is the exact opposite from pre-Covid “must-haves” 

Obvious reasons for the real estate surge include natural disasters as in huricanes, floods, wildfires, urban unrest, economic uncertainty and homelessness, 

Unspoken reasons:  the local arts/cultural scene, big city amenities in the heart of the mountains, and some form of exclusivity.  THE RESULT?  Approximately 15% price increases and 20% less inventory.  Are these rising prices sustainable?   As my colleague TIM ESTIN responds “ Logic says no but we are in unprecedented times now, and in the past 40 years the long-term trend for local real estate prices has been skyward.”

To determine if buying or selling is right for you, call your broker, or allow me to help you navigate these choppy waters:  Susan 970-948-6786.  

HOLIDAY RENTAL

REDUCED :  Aspen core RENTAL for month of January (only) and July, August 2021:

Contemporary condo in the downtown core, steps to the gondola and restaurant row. This two bedroom, two bathroom is on two levels with an additional bonus den/office with a sleeper sofa. Gas fireplace in living room with spacious deck overlooking Aspen Mountain. Quiet condo complex one block off the busy bus route offers solitude. Gourmet kitchen is fully equipped and supplied. 

$10,000/ month: available for January 2021 ONLY (***rates normally $12,500 monthly winter,  $16,000 monthly summer). 

DESIGN TRENDS

1.  elbow room and personal space

2.  Golden bronze finsihes.

3.  Geometric shapes.  

to purchase click on links or goto

www.DonnaLivingstonDesign.com

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!     Please pass along to friends and as always I'm happy to help with any real estate needs.   Be safe, Stay Heatlhy,     Very Best, Susan 

Susan Plummer  COLDWELL BANKER MASON MORSE,  ASPEN  970-948-6786

514 East Hyman
Aspen CO 81611
970.948.6786 |  Fax: 970.925.7027 |  susan@masonmorse.com

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