Last week, delegates from the Aspen Sister Cities program, including Mayor Torre and Council member Ward Hauenstein, traveled to Shimukappu, Japan, for a 30th anniversary celebration that was put on hold in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to delegates and Aspen Council members, the anniversary overlapped with the Sister... read more →
Nov
02
Nov
02
Salmon roe, or ikura (ee-koo-ra) as it’s known in Japan, was new to me when I arrived. I spent my first week questioning whether I should ever eat it. A fifth-grader, who I’ll call Kai, introduced himself with a peculiar analogy: “Ikura is my favorite food because it tastes like... read more →
Aug
07
White calla lilies are bursting with meaning: since Victorian times they have represented purity and devotion, to Christians they symbolize rebirth and assist in celebrating Easter, and in Russia they are a death flower shrouded in misery. For myself, I’m choosing to have them serve as a symbol of friendship... read more →
May
30
The snow in Shimukappu motivates my neighbors to wrap even their sturdiest-looking shrubs in burlap to protect the branches from being snapped by the weight of a February storm. Now that it’s May, a vibrant spring has arrived, and with it, the unwrapping of trees and plants in gardens across... read more →
May
24
"I chaperone Sister Cities trips because I see firsthand the wonder and curiosity from these kids. I witness the fear of being unfamiliar with a place and the people there. But it’s the sweet spot in between those; the place where the wonder and curiosity, and the fear of unfamiliarity... read more →