Time Flies When You Are Having Fun!

When the summer solstice happens it always reminds me that the days start to get shorter as we move through the latter half of the year. A pessimistic view you might say - but then, in the dead of winter I am cheered by the fact that the days are getting longer… weird, I know!

But it is a bit shocking that we are in August already! Kids across the country are staring down the start of the new school year (as are parents, exhausted from having to figure out what to do with their kids all summer!). But here, we continue to extract every ounce of joy from beautiful days, crisp mornings and evenings, and the rhythms of resort life in the Colorado Rockies.

There’s still time to get here this summer, but it’s also the time to get busy planning your ski season trip to Vail or Beaver Creek!

Dana Gumber & Mike Connolly

August & September

Vail Symposium – thought provoking presentations and discussions - upcoming sessions include how to depolarize discussion in our current environment with former House Ethics Committee Chairman Ted Deutch (8/18), a Chautauqua-style evening with President Teddy Roosevelt (8/28), a behind the scenes look at how Team USA is getting ready for the 2026 Winter Olympics (9/16), and channeling animal communications (9/30)

Hot Summer Nights free concerts at the Ford Amphitheater in Vail include a Johnny Cash Tribute (8/19).

And the amphitheater hosts a whole bunch of other great music events as the summer winds down, including The String Cheese Incident (8/8 & 8/9), Melissa Etheridge (8/12), Jon Batiste (9/3), the Black Crowes (9/13), and many more!

The Vilar – Bachman-Turner Overdrive (8/16) Keb’ Mo’ and Shawn Colvin (8/28) , a Gordon Lightfoot Tribute (9/5), and much more all through the fall.

Open Air Markets – Minturn and Edwards on Saturdays (check out brunch at the Minturn Saloon!) and the Vail Farmer’s Market and Art Show on Sundays.

Car shows make their way to the valley over the next few weeks - Cars in the Park (Nottingham Park in Avon) is on 8/23, and the grandaddy event, The Vail Concours, from September 12-14).

If you haven’t tried Avanti in Golden Peak yet (in the old Larkspur Restaurant space) you owe it to yourself to give it a shot - the upscale food court has a series of superb options to pick from to pair up with libations from the bar. Avanti has a series of events going on this summer, none more fun that movie night on Thursdays - bring a chair and grab a spot in front of the 30 foot outdoor screen for some classic fun - Shrek (8/7), Top Gun: Maverick (8/14), Bridesmaids (8/21), Black Panther (8/28), and finishing off with We’re the Millers on 9/4.

The somewhat official end of summer is Oktoberfest of course. It hits Beaver Creek over Labor Day weekend, 8/29-8/31. Vail Oktoberfest takes up the following two weekends - 9/5-9/7 in Lionshead Village and 9/12-9/14 in Vail Village. Three straight weekends of good beer, good food, great weather, and live music - we need a break after that to get ready for the ski season!

Ed’z in Edwards: Where Comfort Food and Big Personality Meet

Tucked in the heart of the Vail Valley, just off the beaten ski path in Edwards, Colorado, sits a local’s hangout with a short name and a long line of fans: Ed’z. If you’ve ever found yourself hungry with a craving for comfort food that doesn’t take itself too seriously, chances are you’ve been drawn into this upbeat little joint where the fries are hot, the burgers are juicy, and the vibe is just right.

To be clear—Ed’z isn’t pretending to be fancy. And that’s exactly why people love it. It’s casual, colorful, and a little chaotic in the best way. The menu is stacked with comfort classics done with flair: think buffalo chicken dip, meat loaf, rotisserie chicken, ribs, pot roast, a wedge salad big enough to be your main course and an array of other options designed to warm your heart, fill your tummy, and make you just appreciate life.

Need something to wash it all down? Ed’z has your back with a well-curated selection of local beers, classic cocktails, and a few surprises for the adventurous. The bar is a local watering hole for ski bums, families, and off-duty chefs alike. You’ll hear stories, laughter, and probably some classic rock drifting out from the speakers.

Bring the kids, bring your buddies, bring your in-laws—Ed’z is as friendly as it is flavorful. The staff are known for their quick wit and welcoming attitude.  Monday though Friday there are happy hour specials and a fun special menu for happy hour.  Saturday there’s a fried chicken special and Sunday is a Walley fish fry.

Ed’z isn’t just a local hangout; it’s a rite of passage. Whether you’re new to the valley or a longtime local, it’s one of those places where stories are swapped, laughs shared, and nobody judges if you order extra ranch. (Pro tip: do it.)

After a day of mountain adventures, Ed’z is where you kick back, fill up, and laugh a little louder than you meant to. It’s not about fine dining—it’s about fun dining.

At busy times of the year reservations are recommended and can be made on Open Table, or by calling on 970.855.2734. Check their Facebook page for updated specials and entertainment info!

Summer is by no means over and, as we noted above, there are still numerous events on the schedule in addition to the golf, hiking, biking and the plethora of other things to do while enjoying the mountains at this time of year (not to mention the aspen leaf peeping that happens in September!)

If you are an extended family looking to squeeze some more fun out of summer before school starts, no house is better set up for it than 762 Holden Road in Beaver Creek. Nearly 7600 square feet of privacy is a short distance to Beaver Creek Village if you feel the need to leave the serenity of this home and its location.

If you need it to, it can sleep up to 16 people, making it perfect for those family getaways with cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents.

This is one of our favorite properties in Beaver Creek and as good a place as it is to plan a summer trip to, it is the quintessential family ski house in the winter!

For a more romantic couples weekend, there are so many options to pick from in the valley from boutique hotels like the Tivoli Lodge to the elegance of the Park Hyatt in Beaver Creek.

Allow me to help you find that perfect vacation rental property and coordinate concierge services, or to put the perks and benefits available to me as a travel agent to make your hotel stay in the valley memorable. Please connect with me on [email protected] or follow my Facebook page at Connolly Travel for options on travel to the Vail Valley and beyond.

I look forward to seeing you here in soon!!

In the last issue I mentioned that there was a general wait and see feel to the resort real estate market at the moment, but buyers are still ready to jump at what they perceive to be opportunities.

That’s what happened to 526 Main Street in Minturn as it has already been scooped up by buyers who saw the possibilities of owning acreage along the Eagle River.

It has been a busy summer for us, notwithstanding the economic uncertainty in the wider world! For a look at what we are working on at the moment, check out our listings page

I am particularly proud to represent Golf Course Townhome #29 in Vail. I have worked with the family that owns this property for several years though other purchases and sales in the valley and my relationship with them exemplifies everything I love about what I do and how I treat my clients.

The Golf Course Townhomes are steps away from the free in-town bus service as well as the Vail Golf Course Clubhouse and the amazing recreation path system - did you know that we have a recreation path system that would let you get to Breckenridge or Glenwood Springs (further actually) depending on which way you turn out of the garage from this property?…!

I am always happy to connect and talk about opportunities to turn your “one day” view of ownership in the Vail Valley into a reality!  Please visit our website or connect with me by email at [email protected].

Not that we want this section every month to be about alcohol (!), but no sooner had we commented that we thought The Sharona might be the cocktail of summer 2025 than we got introduced to the Hugo Spritz!

It isn’t exactly a new drink - as the name implies it is a variation on a theme - but we like it because it appears to originate from the mountains of northern Italy, and being mountain people ourselves, well, you know…

In July 2025, 1stBank of Colorado, the privately held Colorado banking company headquartered in Lakewood, CO, announced a partnership with East West Partners to redevelop the bank’s iconic location at 17 Vail Road.

Directly across from the Sonnenalp Hotel, the redevelopment will yield a new, smaller branch office for the bank surrounded by 4 townhome-style condos ranging from 4,713 square feet to 4,892 square feet.

Steps away from the pedestrian zone of Vail Village, Prima Residences will feature underground parking, ski lockers at the Gorsuch Cafe, membership to the athletic facilities at Gravity Haus, and on-site property management services.

This is a pre-construction opportunity as the project will not commence until the spring of 2026 with delivery initially scheduled for Q3 2028.

If you are interested in learning more about this project and other developments in the valley, please reach out to Dana Gumber.