A Ketchum native, local restauranteur and owner of the Covey restaurant Jesse Sheue spent years learning and honing his craft in other locales before settling back in to his hometown with his wife and son. The importance of family and community was a big draw and is apparent in his restaurant which he and his wife designed to have the feel of a big living room or kitchen where everyone can mingle, eat, and connect. Sheue got his start in the restaurant biz as a dishwasher—the worst dishwasher, he says—at Hailey’s CK’s restaurant when he was 23. “I was terrible but Chris [Kastner, owner of CK’s] took me under his wing and showed me how to act in a restaurant and what it takes.” From there, Sheue went to culinary school, a decision he regretted choosing instead of working in the industry. Sheue headed to the San Francisco area where he would stay for several years, opened up his own restaurant, working in La Jolla for Tony Di Salvo and Marco Ferraro at Jacks, then to Santa Barbara to work for John Pettitt. After marrying his wife Jane in Nepal and backpacking in Asia for a year, they came back …
Searching for Sun Valley
What We’re Made Of: Art Connoisseur – Meredith Skillman
It’s no secret that the art and culture scene in Ketchum is akin to big cities like New York City. There are numerous concerts like the acclaimed Sun Valley Music Festival symphony performances and big names in indie, rock, jazz and more from the Sun Valley Center for the Arts. There are plays put on by the Company of Fools and the Spot and annual cultural events like the Wood River Studio Tour. But in terms of everyday art in Ketchum, nothing represents the scene better than Ketchum’s numerous art galleries. Displaying mediums from photography to sculpture and more, there’s a little something for everyone and it all caters to a sophisticated demographic. It was for this cultural scene that Meredith Skillman, the Gallery Registrar at Gail Severn Gallery, decided to call Ketchum, Idaho her home. “There aren’t many places in the U.S. where you can get the small-town experience and also work in art galleries,” said the North Carolina native who moved to the Valley seven years ago. Skillman had originally intended to be a musician like both her parents, even majoring in vocal performance at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill but switched to art history after …
Get Your Wellness On in Sun Valley, Idaho
While January has become “Wellness Month” in Sun Valley, the opportunities that abound to nourish the mind, body, and soul here are in full-swing year-round. After weeks of holidays full of eating, drinking, and socializing into the wee hours of the night, it’s time to hit “reset” and there’s no better spot to do it than Sun Valley. We’ve compiled a complete guide to planning your perfect wellness getaway month in Sun Valley. Where to Eat When looking to nourish from the inside out, there are several go-to spots in Ketchum that serve up tasty bites that are also healthy (most restaurants can also accommodate requests or have some healthy options on their menus). First up is Glow Live Food Café, an all-vegan, raw café serving up breakfast, lunch, smoothies, and juices. The café has sit-down seating available as well as a deli case of items to take to-go and a small store with vitamins, powders, and more for purchase. Try the Thai Noodle Bowl—made with zucchini noodles—or a yummy Power Smoothie. On Main Street, check out NourishMe, a café and store that features an assortment of organic seasonal produce, locally made and grown foods, bulk items, supplements and wellness …
24hrs with a Local: Galena’s Don & Erin, December
In this series, we check in with some of our favorite locals to find out how they would spend a perfect 24 hours in Sun Valley. No trip to Sun Valley is complete without a day enjoyed at Galena Lodge, a community-owned recreation lodge nestled in the Boulder Mountains, 22 miles north of Ketchum. And no one knows Galena Lodge better than its proprietors, Erin Zell and Don Shepler. For 14 years, Erin and Don have welcomed Nordic skiers, backcountry skiers, snowshoers, mountain bikers, hikers, and sightseers to Galena Lodge. Visitors enjoy delicious, locally sourced meals in the restaurant, rental gear and lessons at their on-site shop, and a beautiful trail system in both winter and summer. For this edition of 24hrs in Sun Valley, Erin and Don share their perfect December day in the mountains. What would you do first thing? We’d start by waking up, having some tea, stretching, and eating a breakfast of eggs with avocado and toast in our cabin. We live across the street from Galena Lodge, and the beauty of it, for us, is that we don’t have to go far to have our perfect day off. It’s all right here. How would you spend …
What We’re Made Of: Higher Ground
In 1999 the Higher Ground organization began right here in Sun Valley, Idaho with a goal of using recreational therapy for people with cognitive, physical, and developmental disabilities, as well as active-duty military members and veterans. The extraordinary beauty, recreational possibilities and a community that believes that people of all abilities should be able to experience the healing powers of the mountains made Sun Valley an ideal incubator to bring this therapy to fruition. When they first started, it was just about teaching locals with disabilities how to use adaptive skis but their programming has since grown to include so much more. Today, locations for Higher Ground have expanded to the surf of Los Angeles—home to over 300,000 veterans—and the hiking trails of western New York, home to another one of the largest veteran populations in the country. Using top recreational therapists and mental health professionals, Higher Ground strives to give people of all abilities a better life, bridging the gap between disability and belonging. Programming Higher Ground offers two types of programming; one for recreation and one for military. Recreational therapy is defined by the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) and National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) as a systematic …
Plan the Ultimate Ladies Weekend in Sun Valley This Winter
When you’re overdue for some fun with your favorite squad of ladies, we have everything you need for a weekend away from it all. Luxurious accommodations, world-class art, innovative dining, relaxing wellness experiences, outdoor recreation, and wine (lots, and lots of wine) mix together to set the stage for three spectacular days with your best friends. Book a ladies weekend in Sun Valley this year (we’re easy to get to!) and get ready for a little fun in the winter sun. Here’s how we’d do it: Friday Afternoon Arrive in Sun Valley, meet up with your favorite ladies, and check into your lodgings. The Limelight Hotel Ketchum is centrally located on Main Street and offers comfortable, sophisticated rooms and suites. They also have an airport shuttle to make your lives just that much easier. Pro Tip: Head to the Sun Valley Wine Company for an extensive selection of vino from around the globe. https://visitsunvalley.com/to-do/sunvalley-contemporary-gallery/Once you’re settled in, ease into the weekend by checking out the vibrant art scene in downtown Ketchum. Don’t worry about needing a car, Ketchum is an entirely walkable town. Stop by Gail Severn, where you’ll find pieces by a mix of young, mid-career, and established artists working in …
Unique Winter Experiences in Sun Valley
It’s so easy to fall in love with Sun Valley in the winter. The stoke starts to build right before the opening day of Bald Mountain in November, and lasts right through the final chair ride in the spring. While it’s tempting to think of ski town life as one endless loop of ski runs, followed by après drinks, and back to the ski runs with brief stops for sleep and food, locals know that even in the winter it’s good to mix up the routine. Whether you’re in town for a month or weekend, check out these unique winter experiences that showcase some of the magic of a Sun Valley winter. Test Your Aim with Get Your Shoot On Idaho Firearm sports may seem like a far cry from the ski slopes, but here in Sun Valley, they are closer than you think. For a memorable experience book a shoot with Jeff Kreyssig, owner of Get Your Shoot On Idaho. Jeff is a National Rifle Association certified instructor and range safety officer who offers shooting packages for individuals, families, and groups at the Hurtig Shooting Center in Hailey. Whether you’re interested in firing a cowboy-action Colt Cattleman or an AK-47, Jeff’s thoughtful instruction, …
24hrs with a Local: Sun Valley Resort’s Mike Fitzpatrick, November
In this series, we profile a local every month to get the down-low on what their perfect day in Sun Valley looks like. With the opening of Baldy just weeks away, I reached out to Mike Fitzpatrick, the Manager of Guest Services at Sun Valley Resort, to hear how he would spend a perfect 24 hours in Sun Valley this November. Mike is in charge of all aspects of a guest’s experience on the mountain at Sun Valley, so he knows a thing or two about how to make the most of a day on and off the slopes! What would you do first thing? A perfect day would start with going out to breakfast at the Konditorei. They have my favorite breakfast, the Baked Swiss Eggs Rösti. It has these special potatoes, almost like hashbrowns mixed with a lot of bacon, and they crack eggs over the top and bake it in the oven. And I’d get a triple mocha, too. How would you spend your morning? I’d go on an “early-ups” with a ski instructor on Baldy and get there for sunrise. When the sun hits the snow on the mountains, there is this golden hue — there’s nothing quite …
How to Fit-In Like a Local this Winter
When on vacation anywhere, the best advice anyone can give or take is to live like the locals do; they know the best food and drink spots, the best ways to navigate town, and by living like they do, you’re sure to get the best experience of that place. Ketchum is no different and while the tourist economy is how this town survives, it’s the locals that make it thrive. Take a few tips from us and by the time you leave, fellow locals will be asking you, “Don’t I know you from somewhere?…” Ditch the Attitude People enjoy small towns for a reason and it’s that small-town-charm. Give yourself a dose of it and you’ll find that a little goes a long way in Ketchum. Slow down, be nice, ditch the attitude. Be humble, polite, tip your bartenders, servers, and baristas, have some patience, don’t honk your horn, be aware of your surroundings when using the crosswalk, smile. And don’t park like an idiot, otherwise you might end up on Ketchum’s Facebook group “Ketchum Elite” that makes fun of those who think they can park on sidewalks and going against traffic. Keep it Ketchum Casual There’s no need for …
24hrs with a Local: Christina Giordani, October
In this new monthly series, we’re asking locals to share how they would spend 24 perfect hours in Sun Valley. For this first installment, we interviewed Christina Giordani, a local food and beverage entrepreneur, to discover what her ideal October day looks like. I’d eat breakfast at: Hank & Sylvie’s, where I’d have a cold brew coffee with house-made vanilla bean syrup and local, raw milk from Old Almo Creamery, paired with a delicious croissant. In the morning I’d: Practice throwing at Boulder Mountain Clayworks. I’m working on making my own cups and plates. I’d eat lunch at: The Farmers Market. I’d grab a local Hangar Bread baguette (they are made with locally milled flour from Hillside Grain), local goat cheese, and the last of the summer peaches and tomatoes for a picnic. In the afternoon I’d: Hike Proctor Mountain to get a look back at the town, leaf peep, and enjoy my picnic lunch from the Farmers Market. Before dinner, I’d: Go to the Boho Lounge and drink a specialty cocktail featuring Roadbars’ shrubs or syrups. I’d eat dinner at: The Covey. I’d drink whatever Pét-Nat wine is on the menu or an Aperol spritz and eat one of their handmade pasta dishes. Buon …