Elliman Insider
Neighborhood Trends, Market Insights & Design Inspiration
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The Little Red Ski Haus, an Aspen Gem
As the oldest Victorian lodge in Aspen, built in 1888, the Little Red Ski Haus—as designated by the sign on the front gate—has been through many iterations in its 132-year history. But one thing remains, the fire-engine red Victorian facade is a beacon in downtown Aspen. Today, the property is offered as a vacation rental. A full renovation a few years ago updated every room in the house with modern fixtures, elegant finishes and ample entertaining space for large groups. The home can eas... -
In the Know: Sugar Season
Maple trees sense spring before the rest of us. In February, snow may lie deep on the ground and the nighttime temperatures may plunge below freezing, but as soon as the thermometer starts to rise above 32 degrees during the day, sugar maples awaken. They draw moisture from the softening ground and convert starch stored last season into sugar to feed new growth. Sap is collected in buckets before being boiled down into syrup. Growing up in New England, hearing the drip-drip as icicles ... -
On the Calendar: Douglas Elliman’s Exciting 2020 Events
From premiere equestrian festivals to celebrated art shows, Douglas Elliman is gearing up for a great 2020. Here are some of our top regional events to look forward to throughout the year. Winter Equestrian Festival Wellington, Florida, January 8–March 29, 2020 Elliman is proud to sponsor the world’s premier winter equestrian event. This prestigious 12-week festival at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center includes 70 events involving 6,000 horses and thousands of riders fr... -
SHOW & TELL: Gerald Germany and Susan Sears
On the surface, Gerald Germany and Susan Sears are as different as could be; one a former college football lineman with a background in marketing, the other a soft-spoken sales professional with an eye for detail. But together this real estate team complements one another perfectly, skillfully and intuitively picking up where the other leaves off. In this episode of Show & Tell, find out how Gerald and Susan got into the business, how they’ve succeeded and their advice to newcomers all whi... -
How Aspen Gay Ski Week Got its Start
Jon Busch The history of Aspen Gay Ski Week does not begin in a corporate boardroom. Nor was it conceived over champagne at aprés ski. The largest and longest running gay ski week in the country was actually born on the dusty dance floor of an Aspen bar in the mid-70s when a local man took a simple stand: he refused to stop dancing with other men. Little did Jon Busch know that a few innocent steps shared between him and a friend would lead to the creation of Aspen Gay Ski Week and, for Busch, ... -
Great Ski Houses in Aspen and Beyond
Only a few short years ago, buyers of ski properties in Aspen were on the hunt for temperature-controlled wine rooms, geothermal heating systems, and security, lighting, and temperature features they could control from their smartphones. “Those are just a basic expectation among buyers now,” not extravagant amenities, says Joshua Saslove, an Elliman agent who represents some of the area’s most exclusive homes. “We’re talking about 2020 now: Everybody expects a smart-controlled house. M... -
Elliman Returns to Winter Equestrian Festival for 5th Year
All eyes of the equestrian world turn to Palm Beach this time of year for the Winter Equestrian Festival, the largest and longest-running horse show in the United States, returning for the 41st year to the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. And for a fifth consecutive year, Douglas Elliman is returning as a title sponsor of the show, which runs from January 8th through March 2020. The 12-week competition attracts more than 250,000 people, 6,000 horses and 3,400 riders from 50 states and... -
A Horse of a Different Color: Lisa Marie Bishop’s Equestrian Art
Lisa Marie Bishop, equestrian artist and FEI dressage rider and trainer, does not just paint what she sees. Legally blind, Bishop’s reliance on her other senses allows her to paint the auras that she feels. Her ability to capture energy transforms into paintings of mares surrounded in clouds of purple as they sail over fences, and chestnut-green geldings extending their blue legs as they “waltz.” Elliman Insider sat down with Lisa Marie to find out more about how she combines her love... -
Uphill All the Way: Alpine Touring in Aspen
“Hey, you’re going the wrong way!” That’s the refrain one might hear from downhill skiers when skinning up the slopes on Alpine Touring (AT) gear. But Alpine Touring—a.k.a. skimo, short for ski mountaineering—is getting so popular that it seems like as many people are walking up the mountain as skiing down it these days. Why would anyone want to make a grueling trek to the top on foot when there’s a perfectly good chairlift? For most Aspenites, it boils down to one thing: e...