Crested Butte, Colorado + Fayetteville, West Virginia
Now usually - this being the second Wednesday of the month - we would be releasing a companion video episode, but because we are strictly adhering to advised social distancing and various “shelter-in-place” and “safer-at-home” orders, we recorded this episode the old fashioned way: in our comfy clothes, sans makeup, and from our own homes in separate cities. If you miss seeing us - and we hope you do! - head over to our YouTube channel to check out our live shows, funny features, and charity spotlights.
While gatherings of seemingly every type have been cancelled worldwide, you know what hasn’t been cancelled? US! We have content for you aplenty:
You can read about our “past travels” on our blog…
You can check out our #10KSaturday slice-of-life interviews with people we know and love…and think you will too!
Have you checked out our daily 10-minute episodes? 10K Dollar Dailies is our way of talking about the current going-ons while staying connected and engaged with you, our listeners! Tune in wherever you get podcasts!
What did you think about our April Fool’s episode?
Oh and check out Alison’s parody music video she made…in her house. Performers gotta perform, even while quarantined.
In other news: we were going to be speaking at the Outlier Podcast Festival in Ohio in May. Because of, well, you know, the festival is now going to be a 3-day Virtual Summit taking place May 13th-15, 2020. For just $49, you can learn about podcasting from experts around the world, all while in your pajamas. And you can see us perform a live show on Friday May 13th, 8pm CDT. You can find us on the schedule and register here.
Alison is OBSESSED. She took the plunge, going against all generational labels, and is now on TikTok…one of her videos even has 6,000 views, much to the embarrassment (and jealousy) of her 15-year old. Lulu is obsessed with eucalyptus leaf tea. Admittedly she likes tea that tastes like dirt, so you’ve been warned if you try it, do so only if you like earthy flavor. She’s been having tea with her mother every night while in quarantine, developing a wonderful ritual that is bringing some structure to these days where time is a construct.
Alison loves to change up her hair look ALL. THE. TIME….but during #quarantinelife when she can’t go to the hair salon, she is looking for ways to play with her color at home. Perhaps she’ll try Overtone, which Lulu has wished for more than once…though apparently some colors are backordered as apparently every stir crazy individual the world over is needing some kind of shake-up to keep the crazies at bay, and a easy in-shower hair update is just the trick. Lulu is wishing for world peace. Post writing that down, she realizes how down the news gets her. She should check out Some Good News, which is just what we all need right now.
Even though this travel is imaginary, Alison’s mind is so far into quarantine mode that she searched for “Most isolated places in America” to find her locale of choice for this week. She discovered Crested Butte, Colorado, however, is pronouncing it “butt” as in backside, hindquarters, derrière. Shockingly, Lulu didn’t correct her. So our apologies to the lovely townspeople and tourism board of Crested Butte (pronounced “byoot”), but also, this is just hilarious. This lovely ski resort town spans less then one square mile, but what it lacks in space it more than makes up for in charm! Alison found this idyllic mountain home on Airbnb, which has 360 degree views of picturesque snow-covered mountains. At ~$2,000 for two nights, this spot can sleep up to 12 guests, so as long as they don't mind the bunk bed life, you can bring your whole crew! The indoor sauna and jacuzzi with incredible views gives this getaway the rugged luxe hybrid vibe you're looking for! Plus the hot tub on the deck is perfect for easing your aching muscles after a day on the slopes.
Breakfast is at McGill’s, where Alison is ecstatic to discover their egg dish…Scrambled + Omelette = Scromelette! She opts for the chorizo option with green chilies and jack cheese. She’s also indulging in a jumbo cinnamon roll, a mimosa, a chambrosa (mimosa substituting grapefruit juice for OJ and add raspberry liqueur), and a screwmosa (regular ol’ mimosa plus vodka). All the ‘mosas, please!
Alison’s research was made so much easier by stumbling across “9 Things You Must Do On Your First Crested Butte Visit” . First thing on the list was to Breathe. Literally, just breathe (1). So far from cities and industrial centers, the air is like no other. The second “must-do” is skiing (2) at Crested Butte Mountain Resort. While the Vail Resorts Group has announced they are closed for the 19-20 season due to COVID-19, Alison decides to give her money now, and use her purchased Epic Pass for the ‘20/’21 season. This pass gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to multiple resorts! And wanting to support businesses during this time, even if just imaginarily, she's getting a pass for her husband and her kids too, all in all totaling $2,956.
All of the festivals and events (3) make for fun memories! Usually at this time of year they have Pond Skim, where festival-goers can dress up in costume while crossing water on their skis and snowboards, trying to pull off tricks. Sure to be entertaining, Alison will have to put a pin in that until next year! A stroll down Elk Ave (4), when open, is full of delicious bites, drinks, and quaint shops. Alison counted 20 looking at Google Maps, so she decides to support the businesses by slipping envelopes with $100 under the door of each business. Note: Another beneficial way to support local businesses at this time is to purchase gift cards that you can use later once they are open, so that the influx of money now helps keep them afloat!
Fifth on the list is to “Listen to Good Tunes”. Alison loves this one, and is looking forward to the Center for the Arts Crested Butte’s Alpenglow concerts (5). Being outdoors, having a picnic on a blanket while listening to live music sounds really good right about now. The Center for the Arts puts on Alpenglow concerts in the town of Crested Butte on Monday evenings. Since they are not going on currently, Alison is donating $800.
(6) Hiking or Snowshoeing is quite popular, but Alison decides to skip ahead to number eight on the list and rides a fat bike (8) across the snow. There are trails close to town for all ability levels so she takes her fat tire bike to Washington Gulch. Seventh on the list is dining out, and they recommend Tin Cup Pasty Co and Secret Stash (7), so she heads back to her mountain isolation oasis and has savory hand pies and pizza kits, respectively, delivered to her door. She throws in a 100% tip for the delivery personnel as they are heroes to us all right now.
A backcountry excursion with Crested Butte Nordic (9) is next, where for $90 she explores the terrain with a guide, choice of skis or snowshoes included. Now for some dinner, she heads to French-American bistro Soupçon, where she tries veal cheek, elk tenderloin, an assortment of vegetable accoutrements, and a $900 bottle of Salon Blanc de Blancs Brut "le Mesnil". And that’s it folks, in Crested Butte, Colorado.
Opting for an “Opulent loft in downtown Fayetteville” on VRBO, her Quinnimont apartment in Lafayette Flats is located in a 100-year-old cut-stone building in the heart of Fayetteville's historic district. Featuring original local art, a rain shower and soaking tub, a Tempur-Pedic mattress this $210-per-night rental also comes with a fully stocked kitchen. With views of the courthouse, you are just steps away from several local restaurants, shops, pubs and live music venues that comprise one of “America's coolest small towns”. Once settled in, Lulu realizes she is right in the heart of the New River Gorge with quick access to National Park Service trails and outdoor adventure activities like whitewater rafting, kayaking, zip-lining, rock climbing, biking, hiking and more!
Lulu’s first stop is Wood Iron Eatery for a breakfast of coffee and the AM Handheld egg sandwich made with house made maple sausage, chili aioli, and American cheese on an english muffin. Wanting to get her food planning for the day out of the way, she knows she’s going for a nosh at Secret Sandwich Society, which names it’s sandwiches after U.S. Presidents past, and its salads after First Ladies…what happens when we get a female President? Cool fact, each SSS location is 100% wind powered and recycles everything they can.
Lulu is going to be chauffered around her day in a 1950's Ford Woodie Wagon she booked with BookAClassic®, where you can book cars for self-driving or chauffered services all over the world! This classic car is going to cost her $300 per hour, so for a full day of 16 hours, she's spending $4800 on her transportation alone. Rounding up to 5K with tip.
Lulu needs to do a little shopping for what, while not exactly a costume, will definitely be a LOOK. She needs:
A white scarf - she gets a $335 white silk paisley scarf from Turnbull and Asser
Aviator Sunglasses - she gets $503 Oliver Peoples Strummer Titanium sunnies from Neiman Marcus
a full-length coat - she gets this vintage sheepskin-lined, belted leather coat from Etsy for just under $2300
a flask - she got this black leather and silver metal Saint Laurent flask with a cross-body strap on sale for $699
She is going to have a cocktail made to fill her flask, comprised of gin, cherry, Rothman & Winter Creme de violette, and lemon…if you are a connoisseur of cocktails, you may have already guessed that this the Aviation Cocktail, which combined with the aforementioned shopping list, has probably clued you in to the unique way Lulu will be spending her day in Fayetteville, West Virginia.
Lulu is going to fly in a 1940 Boeing Biplane with Wild Blue Adventure Company. Hence why she is dressed like the Red Baron…or Amelia Earhart, whichever your mind went to first. The airplane is a fully restored, museum-quality, WWII-era training airplane and thus is outfitted for an instructor and a student, just as they were when they began active service. You can also elect to have some aerobatics thrown in, however brave you are, it is your ride! Barrel rolls, cravats, hammerheads, s-turns, and more, oh my! On this one hour see-it-all flight, Lulu enjoys the breathtaking views of the New River Gorge…all while sipping her on-theme cocktail. She hopes that’ll be allowed, seeing as she’s not the one flying the plane. Post flight she grabs local trout, rum cake, and a few more aviation cocktails at The Station.
CHECK OUT THE CHARITIES WE FOUND IN THE CITIES WE VISITED:
Mountainheart Community Services
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