Gettin' Down & Dirty

A new event is scheduled to hit the mountain village this summer and participants are sure get filthy.  Introducing the Steamboat 'Mad Mudder,' a new breed of adventure racing that incorporates a 5K run with muddy obstacles and fun physical challenges along the way.

Produced by NRC 365 and coming July 7th, the mud run will lead competitors up to the Mavericks Terrain Park (Bashor Bowl on the mountain) and back to the mountain village.  The obstacles that runners will find along the way include a hill climb, sprint race, tire course, climbing wall, balance beam and mud pit.  It's essentially a guarantee that no participant will finish the race without being covered head to toe in slimy, gooey mud (but that's why it's so much fun). 

Two bands will play from the Steamboat Stage that afternoon while food and beverages will be served from the Bear River Terrace and Umbrella Bar in Gondola Square.  This is a completely spectator-friendly event with a ton of great photo opportunities along the course.

As far as dress is concerned, the event website suggests that costumes are encouraged.  Sounds like this is the perfect opportunity to let your "freak flag fly!"  The finish line festivities include a photo opportunity with Sharpshooters photographers and a wash down area to get cleaned up.  No awards will be given for fastest times (everyone's a winner just for showing up) but a drawing will be held for sponsor prizes.

If you're interested in visiting Steamboat for this event, lodging is available at the Sheraton Steamboat Resort, Steamboat Grand, Ptarmigan Inn, Mountain Resorts, Steamboat Resorts or One Steamboat Place.  All of these options will put you close to the race start/finish and within walking distance to the many shops and restaurants of the mountain village. 

So start training and brush up your mud-diving skills!  This event will fill up quickly so get yourself registered today:

$55 per contestant April 16th - May15th
$65 per contestant May16th - June 15th

www.SteamboatMadMudder.com

'Date Night' at Cafe Diva

Date Night is back at Cafe Diva!  That's right, Sundays throughout the Spring welcome back a tremendous value on some of the best cuisine you'll find in the Steamboat mountain village.

For $28.95 per person you will receive a 3-course meal including your choice of a starter, main entree and dessert to share.  So grab that special someone in your life and head to the mountain this April and May on Sunday nights.  Sample menu items include:

STARTERS:

Crab and Tomato Bisque

Soup of the Day

Camembert and Wild Mushroom Crispy Spring Rolls
tart cherry chutney, pistachio-sage pesto

Duck Confit Mole, Blue Corn Tostadas
pea shoot-apple slaw, queso fresco, cilantro-jalapeño cream

Peanut Butter and Bacon Sandwiches
Asian braised pork belly, Thai peanut sauce, Sriracha chili sauce, raisin nut toast

“Greens, Egg, and Ham”
wild arugula, fried egg, Parmacotto ham, cipollini onions, shaved goat gouda, pistachio dust, Banyuls vinaigrette, toast rounds

ENTRÉES:

Parmigiano-Reggiano Gnocchetti
wild mushrooms, peas, crispy ham, burratta, sweet pea broth

Corvina Sea Bass
cauliflower, butternut squash, hazelnut, and quinoa hash, sage-hazelnut water

Colorado Pork Chop
spice roasted sweet potato, pancetta, shaved Brussels sprout, and Grùyere sauté, hard cider jus, sage pesto

Chicory Coffee and Onion Braised Lamb Shank
white cheddar steel cut grits, fried spinach

Boulder Valley Ranch Angus Beef Tenderloin
egg spaetzle, brandy-mushroom sauce, chive sour cream
(this entrée available for an additional $5)

. . . PLUS DESSERT to share with your date!

Classic Vanilla Crème Brûlée

Milk Chocolate and Almond Torte
caramel and chocolate sauces

Salted Caramel Cheesecake
caramel sauce

--------------------------------

Contact for Reservations:

www.CafeDiva.com 

970.871.0508

Closing Weekend of Ski Season

It's closing weekend and there is a TON of activity at the Mountain Village.  Check this out:

'FRIDAY AFTERNOON CLUB' at the Bear River: Friday, April 13th -  Join KFMU, Steamboat’s local radio station, as they host their final Friday Afternoon Club at the Bear River Bar & Grill from 3-6pm on Friday, April 13.  This is a fantastic way to wrap up another ski season in Steamboat and your opportunity to win some fabulous prizes including concert tickets to LMFAO and Big Head Todd both at Red Rocks. The grand prize giveaway – a lodging package at the Tropicana Las Vegas, will also be given away at this party! Friday Afternoon Club drink specials include $4 Bud & Bud Light Drafts and $12 Pitchers, $5 Promenade Punch, $5 Import & Microbrew Drafts, $6 Red Bull & Svedka Vodka, and $6 Red Bull & Jägermeister.

...also at the Bear River Bar & Grill, this Fri-Sun:

• Wise100Doors plays 3 live shows from the deck
• $4 16oz Bud & Bud Light
• $5 Imports and Microbrews
• $5 Promenade Punch
• $6 Red Bull w/ Vodka or Jager

FREE Concerts with Toots and the Maytals AND JJ Grey & Mofro: Sunday, April 15th -  Toots and the Maytals are considered legends of ska and reggae music. Their sound is a unique, original combination of gospel, ska, soul, reggae and rock. Toots & The Maytals will play on the Steamboat Stage in Gondola Square on Sunday, April 15th as part of the Bud Light Rocks the Boat Free Concert Series and the Springalicious closing day festivities. Concert starts at 2:30pm and will be immediately followed by the JJ Grey & Mofro concert. Grey’s ability to tell his thought-provoking stories through original songs, informed by a mixture of old school rhythm & blues and down-home roots rock ‘n’ roll, has carried JJ Grey & Mofro from the backwoods of Florida to across the globe. This rockin show with two great bands will round out the 2011-2012 winter season, do not miss the show! The Rocks the Boat Concert Series is presented by the Steamboat Ski Resort, sponsored by Bud Light, KFMU and Sprint.  For more concert info, visit www.steamboat.com/concerts.

32nd ANNUAL CARDBOARD CLASSIC, April 14th: The Cardboard Classic, Steamboat’s traditional rite of spring returns to the Steamboat Ski Area for the 32nd year on Saturday, April 14th, as part of the Springalicious end of season celebration.  This wild and hilarious race features homemade cardboard crafts, constructed only from cardboard, glue, string, water based paint, duct tape and masking tape, racing down Stampede to a hysterical finish.  The uniqueness and creativity of the race make it an event everyone looks forward to. Judging of the crafts on Stampede will start at 10am and races begin at 11am, with participants 17 & under racing first. Entry fee is $10 per craft and there is a maximum of 50 crafts, so be sure to register online today at www.steamboat.com/spring!

5th ANNUAL SPLASHDOWN POND SKIM, April 15th: Don’t miss the Splashdown Pond Skimming Championships on Sunday, April 15th at 1pm.   Wrapping up another season at Steamboat, this event has antics like you wouldn't believe.  The Splashdown Pond Skimming Championships brings brave (and slightly crazy) skiers and riders in costume with a dream - of crossing the icy pond successfully - and, if they're lucky, with style!  Entry fee is $20 per skimmer and there are only 75 spots, so be sure to register online today at www.steamboat.com/spring!

Two Free Summer Concerts Announced for Steamboat

Story: Steamboat Pilot

Written by Nicole Inglis
Thursday, April 5, 2012

Steamboat Springs — The Free Summer Concert Series will return June 30 to Steamboat Springs with a concert from Grateful Dead tribute band Dark Star Orchestra.

The show will be one of two free concerts this summer that will take place at the base of Steamboat Ski Area, celebrating the rejuvenated base area and promenade with an event that draws thousands of people together.

Jon Waldman, who has been booking acts for the Free Concert Series since its inception 21 years ago, said Dark Star is a strong opening act for the series.

“Obviously, the Grateful Dead’s music transcends so many generations at this point,” Waldman said. “And they’re the top Grateful Dead tribute band out in the music world today. They are it.

“They’ve had members of the Dead sit in with them.”

The second act announced Thursday is Trampled by Turtles, a bluegrass and indie folk outfit from Minnesota. The band has a strong following in Colorado, and recently played the Snowball Music Festival in Avon.

“They’re a high-energy, bluegrass act, but they’re exploding on the music scene right now,” Waldman said. “I think it’s a coup for the series to be able to present them at this stage of their career. They’re blowing up nationally.”

The Trampled by Turtles show is set for July 13 at Howelsen Hill, which has hosted all of the shows for the past few years and will host three of the five shows this summer.

Scott Fox, vice president of the Free Summer Concert Series board, said the organization is looking forward to returning to the mountain.

“We’re real happy to come up there and kick off the mountain’s new promenade and base area development,” he said.

Jim Schneider, Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp.’s vice president of skier services and a board member of Mountain Village Partnership, said the first concert will offer a chance to celebrate the upgrades to the base area.

“We’ve been working toward this for the last five years,” Schneider said. “This is the perfect way to kick that off and let everybody know that the mountain is back and alive and we’re no longer under construction and that it’s a beautiful place to be.”

He said the base area was constructed with large concerts in mind: Crews added a dirt platform for a large temporary stage that would face up Headwall, electrical access and a cool creek in which revelers can wade. The new promenade and permanent stage (too small for a Free Summer Concert Series show) also add to the base area amenities.

“This ties everything in a nice bow,” Schneider said.

Fox said more announcements are on the way in coming weeks as the lineup is finalized. The organization’s booking budget always depends on the funds it raises throughout the year.

Last year, the series began selling Music Lover’s Tents for each show to help raise money. The idea carried momentum into this year, and Fox said there still are two tents left for concerts this summer. The board is considering added more tents.

Within a few weeks, the series also plans to have its own website at www.keepinitfree.com.

There also will be a fundraiser May 5 at Sweetwater Grill. The Cinco de Mayo party will feature music from the Rowdy Shadehouse Funk Band, tequila tastings and auctions to benefit the nonprofit.

Fox said that the board feels comfortable with the way fundraising has gone and that the community has showed a high level of support for the popular events.

“We’re on the track,” he said. “Everyone loves the series. It brings out the political people and the nonpolitical; it brings out the young, the old, the families, the college kids.”

To reach Nicole Inglis, call 970-871-4204 or email ninglis@ExploreSteamboat.com

It's 5 O'clock Somewhere!

The Steamboat Mountain Village is home to some of the best watering holes in the city.  And springtime in the Rockies is made even sweeter with these incredible end-of-season mountain Happy Hours:

Saketumi - Sushi Bar & Asian Fusion

Daily Happy Hour from 4pm 'til 6pm:
2-for-1 Draft Beers
2-for-1 Premium Well Drinks
2-for-1 Stoli-O, Razberi & Blueberri Lemonades
$2 Dale's Pale Ale & PBR cans
Half Price Edamame & Gyoza
$10 Steamboat Crunch
$6 Spicy & California Rolls
$8 Dynamite's
Open Tues-Sat for DINNER ONLY in April

Slopeside Grill - Come Hang With the BIG DOGS!

Specials Include:
Late Night Happy Hour: $3 Beers & $7 Pizzas (10p-12a Nightly)

The Snowbird Restaurant & Lounge at the Ptarmigan Inn

Thank you for making our 43rd season such a great success!
2-for-1 Margaritas the rest of the ski season, 3-6pm DAILY

St. Cloud Mountain Club - Open to the public at 5pm daily. Happy Hour 5-6pm.

Happy Hour Specials:
Half Price ALL Food (Daily)
Half Price ALL Drinks (Daily)
'Martini Mondays' - Half Price Martinis ALL NIGHT (Mondays)
'Wine Night' - Half Price Wine ALL NIGHT (Thursdays)

La Montana - Happy Hour Daily 4:30-6pm

Specials Include:
1/2 price appetizers
$4 Margaritas
$2 Tecates

Vintage Bar - Open 1pm-9pm Daily

Highlights Include:
Extensive wine list
Serving "artisan cupcakes"
Daily selection of appetizer plates

The Cabin - Daily specials. Located inside the Steamboat Grand Resort.

Happy Hour Daily (3-6pm)
Half Off 8 Tap Beers
Half Off 20 Glass Wines
Half Off Selected Daily Apps