Savor the Last of Summer with these Lifestyle and Design Finds

Playful poufs, a top-tier Vietnamese eatery and a new museum exhibit

August 9, 2024

Rebecca Gart,

SEE

Photo: Keith Lubow

Summer is my favorite time of year to visit Aspen, and I’m already planning my trip to see the new exhibition at the Aspen Art Museum. Staged by London-based artist Allison Katz, the exhibit “In the House of the Trembling Eye” is a display across the entirety of the museum in collaboration with the Archaeological Park of Pompeii. It presents Katz’s paintings alongside more than 100 artworks and objects by other artists—and frescoes from Pompeii—in an effort to reflect on how time and vision accumulate within a frame, while also revealing unexpected affinities between works of art in various times. The exhibition is on display through September 29, and don’t miss the Museum Shop. Far from your typical gift shop, the store is filled with imaginative home goods and curated artisanal finds. Aspen Art Museum, 637 E. Hyman Ave., Aspen.

EAT

Photo: Casey Wilson

Since being named one of Esquire’s 50 Best New Restaurants in America and one of the most anticipated openings in 2023 by Bon Appetit, Sắp Sửa has become a serious player in the Denver dining scene. Although scoring a reservation can be months out, it’s well worth the wait, as the cuisine, atmosphere and elegant space are immaculate. Husband-and-wife team Ni and Anna Nguyen serve “nontraditional Vietnamese” food inspired by Ni’s experience growing up as a first-generation Vietnamese American. There is a complexity to each dish through depth of flavor and texture; Ni has a thoughtful culinary vision that rivals anything in Denver. “We’re reimagining some of the most humble Vietnamese dishes, like the bắp cải luộc (charred cabbage with anchovy breadcrumbs and egg yolk), to portray the first-gen experience without losing the integrity of the original dish,” says Ni. “I’m putting my childhood food memories on a plate while staying true to tradition.” Sắp Sửa, 2550 E. Colfax Ave., Denver.