Meanwhile, in Aspen...
Aspen was adorable, the bear was real, and Mother Nature had the last word
Right on the heels of my Italian excursion, I turned around and got right back in the air to Aspen for week 2 of the Aspen Institute’s Aspen Ideas Festival. I had never been to Colorado before, but it had long been on my list of desired travel destinations. The experience in Aspen didn’t disappoint, although travel in and out of the town left a lot to be desired.
I traveled to Aspen on a Saturday morning. The first flight to Denver from DC was smooth and unremarkable, but the second flight into Aspen sent my flight anxiety through the roof. What I didn’t know about Aspen but should have anticipated was the amount of turbulence you encounter going into and out of the airport.
Several factors contribute to an uncomfortable flight to Aspen. The town is nestled in a small valley between mountain peaks, which means that the weather and the wind patterns can be unpredictable (and make for a very bumpy flight). Unlike most airports, which have multiple runways for takeoffs and landings, Aspen only has one runway in either direction, and it’s short, which means that any tailwinds or weather that comes through the airport can drastically throw off your travel for the day.
Once the shock of the turbulent flight (and traveling over halfway across the country for hours with no wifi, Thanks, United!) wore off, I quickly changed clothes and headed to the festival for opening sessions. I was pleasantly surprised by the range and depth of topics covered, as well as the thoughtful planning. My favorite session of the week was a fireside chat on leadership featuring Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Golden State Warriors Coach Steve Kerr. CBS Evening News Co-Anchor John Dickerson moderated the conversation.
In addition to spending time at the sessions, I also spent some weekend time exploring some of Aspen’s sights. I went off-roading straight up Aspen Mountain in one of Ford's new Broncos, which was a blast to drive and experience. We even saw a bear on the way down, which was a first for me.
I also took a 20-minute gondola ride up the mountain to see the views from a different perspective. Being 11,000 feet in the air was quite the experience, and I enjoyed every second of it (until the extreme sinus pressure from the altitude kicked in, and I had to head back to town.)
From the networking to the programming to the views, the Aspen Ideas Festival gave me everything I needed for that weekend. Unfortunately, I did get stuck in Aspen for an extra night due to the tailwinds I mentioned earlier, but there are certainly worse places to spend unexpected time in. I already can’t wait to go back.
TV
Poker Face (Season 2)
I’ve been a fan of Natasha Lyonne for years now, from her time on Orange is the New Black to her brilliant run on the innovative series Russian Doll. Poker Face is such a fun show to watch. It follows Lyonne, who has an exceptional talent for detecting lies, as she navigates being pursued by a mob across the country. Each episode is an anthology, where different characters commit crimes, and Lyonne, on the run from her would-be mob assassins, helps solve the cases. Season two dials up the drama and the thrills with special guest appearances from Cynthia Erivo (who plays quintuplets in her episode), Giancarlo Esposito, and Katie Holmes. You can catch both seasons of the show on Peacock.
Severance (Season 2)
I’ve said it before, and I’ll repeat it: Apple TV has one of the best lineups on TV but some of the worst marketing for their shows. Severance, which is probably the app’s best-known show, is no exception. The premise is a group of office workers who agree to be “severed," meaning that when they arrive at work each day, they lose all memory of their lives outside of work (their outside personality is called an “outie”) and only know their “innie’s” existence. Throughout the show, you don’t understand the point of their work, only that they are processing macrodata for the company, Lumon, which may or may not be run by a fanatical religious cult trying to take over the world with its technological capabilities. Drama ensues. The show can be slow at times, but the acting and the plot are superb.
Books
Once There Were Wolves
Charlotte McConaghy has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I started with her book, Wild Dark Shore, which completely consumed me for a full week. Once There Were Wolves follows Inti, a biologist who studies wolves as she and a team attempt to release a pack of the animals into the Scottish Highlands to foster an ecosystem where forests can regrow. Along the way, Inti becomes entangled in local violence and drama, which forces her to confront her life and her work.
Music
Folded
Kehlani can do no wrong in my book, and she is back at it again with a banger of a song. If you’ve been longing for an R&B song of the summer, look no further than “Folded.” This one just came out a few weeks ago, but I’m already certain it will be on my Spotify Wrapped “Most Played” list at the end of this year.
Olivia Dean
Olivia Dean won me over with her debut album, Messy, and she has continued to deliver songs I love ever since. I’m excited for her sophomore album to be released in September and look forward to seeing her in concert again in Atlanta this weekend. My latest favorites are “Nice to Each Other” and “It Isn’t Perfect But It Might Be.”