2013 TAB AUCTION ITEM FEATURES DINNER AT THE OBSERVATORY

24 Feb 2013 TAB AUCTION ITEM FEATURES DINNER AT THE OBSERVATORY

Alta Lakes, The Observatory, in summer

The history of the Observatory is the history of Telluride, since its evolution from sleepy mining town to hip (but not too) destination resort. Locals Jim and Sally Russell built The Observatory at Alta Lakes over a three-year period in the 1970s, after sketching out plans on the back of a napkin at the Sheridan Bar.

The Observatory started out life as a unique back-country cabin located 13 miles from Telluride underneath the 13,000-foot Palmyra and Silver Peaks of the San Juan Mountains. It remains one of only a few homes in the U.S. located at 11,300 feet. The place picked up its nickname at some point along the way because the views from the site are downright breathtaking. Once you see the sky on a clear night you will understand. You will have experienced The Observatory.

In the summer of 2011, the Russells sold The Observatory to another local, Matt Bowling, and his brothers.

The Bowlings have made some improvements to the historic place, but the soul of The Observatory is untouched. There is now a year-round source of the purest water found on the planet, an updated kitchen and bathroom, and improved heating.

Alta Lakes Observatory

Today as for decades, the Observatory is available for rental. Almost every day, someone makes a  comment to Matt about his or her own personal connection to the place. People have fallen in love there, become engaged, taken vows of marriage and returned year after year to celebrate anniversaries. Nonprofits hold workshops and training sessions at the site. Groups hold annual retreats. Many companies such as Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters, Lays Potato Chips and The Discovery Channel have shot print and television commercials at The Observatory. And why?

“The Observatory is an incredible place; all that history, its proximity to the ski area…All you have to do is step out of its doors and look around you. It’s absolutely gorgeous,” said Matt Bowling, not without prejudice, but nonetheless truthfully.

Experience some of that magic by bidding on the Observatory package at the Telluride AIDS Benefit‘s auction, which follows the catwalk, both Thursday and Saturday nights. Funds raised from this and other auction packages go a long way in supporting TAB’s six (one honorary, Ubuntu Africa) beneficiaries, nonprofits that all support young people and adults living with HIV/AIDS from Colorado to Africa. And that is why the TAB’s fearless leader, board chair Jodie Shike Wright, works around the clock to develop these offerings.

The Observatory package features dinner for six with Bravo TV’s Top Chef contender Eliza Gavin of “221,” any time this summer. Access on foot, bicycle, motorcycle or car. Bring your adventurous side, bathing suit for hot tubbing – and your appetite. Eliza promises to create an unforgettable menu for you and your guests.

Eliza Gavin featured on the cover of her cookbook, “Foreplay.”

Warning: Do not read further if you are on a diet (again) or it’s been a few hours since you ate your last meal. The mouthwatering menu at Eliza Gavin’s Telluride eatery, “221 South Oak,” is an eclectic blend of flavors and styles.

The mix at Eliza’s table reflects the chef’s southern heritage. She was raised in Richmond, Virginia and ran her first kitchen while attending college at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. Her extensive travels –  Europe, the Caribbean, New Zealand, Australia, and all over the United States – are likewise reflected on the plate, as is her rigorous training.

Eliza moved to New Orleans after college, where she landed a job at Galatoire’s, a prestigious fine dining establishment that has graced Bourbon Street for over one hundred years. She mastered classic Creole cooking before moving to the Napa Valley, where she attended the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone. She completed her training across the pond at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris France.

Finally, Eliza’s food speaks volumes about Eliza herself: the menu at “221” is both inventive and playful.