1000 Words: Grandma Licko

Erma turned 88 yesterday and provided several tips for my upcoming trip to Slovakia. Happy Birthday, Grandma.

1000 Words: The Licko Farm

In honor of spring planting season - sunset on the Licko Farm.

What's Good: Prost (Frisco, CO)

One more plug from my time in Summit County this winter, mainly because any place that lists "Fine Beer and Sausages" as its main selling points automatically makes the short list in my book. Prost is located on Main Street in Frisco, across the street from the Butterhorn (which is also worth your time for breakfast, cookies or all things baked) and sells pretty much what it advertises - beer and sausage.

From "exotic" buffalo and jalepeno sausages to the every day "spicy Italian" the selection of meats won't disappoint, complete with about eight different types of mustard and the surprisingly tasty German cucumber and potato salads as side dishes. And then, there's the beer. Pretty sure there's not a better selection of Bavarian beers in the mountains - try the McChouffe and make friends with the Belgian gnome. Sprechen sie delicious...

Huge props to the Prost staff as well. From helpful beer suggestions to speedy service to quickly turning it to the NCAA tournament game of our choice (Go Butler!)...your server is also your cashier and your cook. They're really good at multi-tasking and seem generally happy to be there. But then, if I were schlepping beer and sausages, I'd be pretty happy too. Prost!

1000 Words: Red Rocks

Today was pretty much my last day on my board this winter. Nothing makes that reality easier than the thought of summer concerts at Red Rocks. Viva la live music. Viva la Rocas Rojo.

What's Good: The Boat Yard, Frisco, CO

I spent a lot of time in Frisco this winter (which actually deserves its own post in the coming weeks) and the town is amazingly underrated for a place to hang in the mountains. Lots of solid restaurants, and not the types that are named "The X Zone" or "The Lift" or other names aimed at our out-of-state visitors - we're talking names like The Butterhorn, Moose Jaw and The Boat Yard.

Full disclosure - I haven't actually had more than two menu items from The Boat Yard, but it still deserves applause. A nice dining room on one side and a bar that meets all of the major criteria for a recommended watering hole on the other. Good selection of booze? Check. Multiple TVs and good food options? Check. Happy hour and other specials? Yes. Bartenders who have spent a little too much time on the mountain, have mustaches and are sarcastic but not rude? Check.

Grab a table at The Boat Yard during NFL/college football season or March Madness between 4-6pm for the happy hour specials and stay for the rock shrimp pizza. That was my order the first time I visited and I haven't gotten anything else in a half dozen visits since. Fresh roma tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, ricotta, pesto and delicious shrimp - with a crispy crust that perfectly contrasts the soft cheese and pesto. Honestly, I need to order something else at some point, but going to The Boat Yard and not getting rock shrimp pizza is like going to Vail and not skiing. If you're in Summit County and want to avoid the 20-something bars and tourist pizza joints, stop by the Boat Yard. You won't be disappointed.

The Endorsement: A-Basin Ski Resort

Each year thousands of people avoid the frat party beaches that are Spring Break and make their way west to Summit or Eagle County for a week on the slopes. For Coloradans, that typically means long lift lines and dodging the "Texan Wide Turn" on nearly every run. The hard part is, March is one of the best months to be on the hill, but also the busiest. For those of us who are constantly debating the shortest-lift-line-best-time-to-leave-to-avoid-traffic-don't-want-to-run-over-a-kid-or-get-mauled-by-a-gaper strategy, its easy to forget about a Colorado Classic: Arapahoe Basin.

The Basin is small (105 runs, 7 lifts), but it was one of the original Rocky Mountain ski resorts (opened in the 1940's) and its history and anything-but-pretentious nature is what makes it worth the trip. People go to The Basin to ski. Period. Don't be surprised if you run into some 65-year-old dude named "Eddie" (or similar) who could ski (and drink) you and your crew under the table. And the fact that it stays open until June and has a tailgating section of the parking lot called "The Beach" makes it that much better.

My hat's off to A-Basin for skipping the outdoor fire pits, kiddie snow castles, and any places that sell furry boots - and sticking with short lift lines, crazy amazing mountain views, some steep terrain, and for taking the "resort" out of "ski resort." If you go, don't forget to bring a PBR or two to make friends with Eddie at The Beach for apres...

What's Good: Snooze

Living and working in downtown Denver, a lot of my mentions here about the "finer" things in life will involve local businesses in the LoDo 'hood. When a cruiser bike and the Denver B-Cycles tend to be my main form of transportation these days, I probably shouldn't expect more. The great part is, there's always something to check out in downtown D'town.

For example, my favorite standby, Snooze. If you're familiar with Denver at all, you obviously know about the breakfast joint. But for anyone who hasn't spent much time in Denver its a can't miss. From Juan's Breakfast Tacos to the under-appreciated "scramble" (I take mine with spinach, feta and bacon, please) - and obviously the pancakes - its like breakfast had an affair with your dreams and this is the love child. The staff rocks, which is a reflection of our good friends Jon and Adam who created Snooze back in 2006. Soon to have three Denver locations (and rumor has it, more on the way), check out the ballpark Snooze at Park Ave. and Larimer for their upcoming 5th anniversary (April 6). Never disappointing. Thank you, Snooze, for making my favorite meal of the day even more amazing.