As part of Old West Days, one of Jackson's long-time favorite events, comes the Jackson Hole Rotary Wine Fest. Buy your tickets today for this wine lover's favorite, which features more than 500 wines from around the world plus a wide selection of exquisite cheeses. The event includes a souvenir wine tasting glass, appetizers, a silent auction and a fine wine raffle.

The event will take place on Friday, May 23 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm at the Snow King Center.

Tickets can be purchased at The Wine Loft or online.

You can tell spring is here and summer is just around the corner in Jackson Hole. Elk Fest is always an event that signifies the arrival of spring and the start of the summer event line up, Old West Days during Memorial weekend, weekly rodeos, music festivals and more.

Elkfest celebrates the 41st annual world famous Jackson Hole Boy Scout Elk Antler Auction. Every spring, the thousands of elk who live on the National Elk Refuge outside of Jackson during the winter lose their antlers before they migrate to their summer range. The Boy Scouts harvest the antlers and auction them to bidders around the world. The antlers are used to make furniture, wall decorations, jewelry and food products. Other events surrouding this classic Jackson weekend include a chili cook-off with live musical performances and the kick-off of the Mountain Man Rendezvous and the Antler Rendezvous, which support the winter feed program on the National Elk Refuge with 80% of the proceeds gonig back to the Refuge. For a complete event line-up, see below. To inquire about lodging options during Elkfest or other upcoming spring and summer events, contact Jackson Hole Central Reservations at 888-838-6606.

EVENT SCHEDULE:

Saturday, May 17 (All events on Town Square except where noted)

7am: Antler lots for B.S.A. Elk Antler Auction ready for viewing

7am - 1pm: Food Court provided by Jackson Youth Baseball

7am - 1pm: Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum booth

8am - 12pm: Private Antler Sale north side of the Town Square by Rotary Club, contact R.R. Pierce at 307.732.3050

8am - 5pm: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Great Elk Tour - the premier traveling conservation exhibit with some of the largest bull elk in the world! Sponsored by: the National Elk Refuge

9am - 1pm: Kids' Corner - including educational tables and games. Sponsored by: Wyoming Game & Fish, Jackson Hole Weed Management and the National Elk Refuge

9am: Registration for Boy Scouts of America Antler Auction begins

9am - 9:30am: Free concert by Jackson Hole Community Band

9am - 1pm: Elk Discovery Booth sponsored by Grand Teton Association with all proceeds benefiting the National Elk Refuge

10am - 1pm: World Famous Jackson Hole Boy Scout Elk Antler Auction begins

10am - 1pm: Jackson B.S.A. Boy Scout adn Cub Scout Expo

5pm - Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Casino games and Silent Auction begins at the Bar J Chuckwagon

7pm - Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Big Game Banquet Annual Fundraising Dinner at the Bar J Chuckwagon. For more information, call Chuck Teske at 307-739-0951

May 17 - 26

Mountain Man Rendezvous and Traders Row

9am - 6pm daily: Traders Row, Candy Cannon, Bow & Arrow Competition, Hawk & Knife Competition, and Atlatl Competition at the Teton Country Fairgrounds. Continues through Old West Days. For more information contact Tom Lucas at 307-330-7436 or tlucasart@wyoming.com

May 18 - 26

Antler Rendezvous

9am - 6pm daily: All kinds of raw antler, horns and everything handmade with or from antlers and then some! Vendors showcase their wares at the Teton County Fairgrounds. Continues through Old West Days. For more information, contact Joe Schloss at 307-733-4007 or jschloss1000@hotmail.com

Sunday, May 18

Historic Downtown High Noon Chili Cook-Off

Noon: Teams compete to deliver the best tastes of chili in the West! Professional adn amateur teams will take pride to serve you up some of the best chili to wind down the ElkFest weekend. For more information, contact Larry Jackson at 307-733-8888 or jsndrill@aol.com

We enjoyed a visit from Dave Hansen of Dave Hansen Whitewater yesterday. Despite the hefty amount of snow still left in the mountains, whitewater trips on the Snake River have already begun. And just like our epic winter, this summer will prove to be one not to be missed by whitewater enthusiasts and summer adventurers. Dave told us of the company's new blog, complete with nearly daily updates of the whitewater adventures happening throughout the summer. Sure enough, when I went to check out the latest from the river scene, I found this picture of some rafters enjoying the first splash of the season. Clad in wetsuits, booties and other warm clothing, the river rats stayed nice and warm as they navigated some of the Snake's best rapids.

With spring in full swing, daily blue skies, rising water levels and spectacular views of the Tetons and wildlife, now is the time to get your feet wet.

Despite a rough early season of snow clearing (resulting in the breakdown of two bulldozers), Yellowstone National Park officials have been working throughout the spring in an effort to clear the roads and open the park to vehicle traffic. The Park's South Entrance is scheduled to open today, May 9th.

However, with the snow being a little unrelenting this spring, it's certainly worth giving the National Park Service a call to get updated information regarding current park closures, regulations and infromation.

It's that time of year; time to spring clean and the town of Jackson is in just as much need of it as your closet. So, join the masses on Saturday, May 10th for Jackson Hole's annual spring clean-up, coordinated by the Rotary Club.

Volunteers should meet at 9:00 a.m. at the Town Square for clean-up assignments and complimentary breakfast. Make sure to bring your gloves, everything else will be provided. And don't forget to join other volunteers, families and friends for a free BBQ lunch from 11:30 - 2:00 on the Town Square.

For additional volunteer opportunities and questions, please call Event Chairman Don Harger at 733-4750 or Co-Chairman Tom Miller at 733-8866.

As we've said before, we treat every day as Earth Day here in Jackson Hole. Being surrounded by such tremendous natural beauty, wildlife, and outdoor activities, we're constantly reminded of how important our wild places are.

To help honor them, the Murie Center and the Teton Sustainability Project are bringing another Spring Earth Festival and Eco-Fair to Jackson. There will be an evening event each night leading up to Eco-Fair on May 10th.

For more information, contact Teton Sustainability project at 307-690-8961 or tetonecofair@gmail.com.

Wondering about upcoming events in The Hole? Click here to learn more about what's going on in and around the area.

Featured for their extreme natural beauty and also for their close proximity to the town of Jackson Hole, Outside magazine highlighted both of Wyoming's national parks in this month's online issue. The synopsis discusses the unique aspects of both parks (Yellowstone and Grand Teton), including wolf sitings, Old Faithful and hiking and backpacking options. The article goes on to talk about where to eat and local art galleries to visit during your stay in Jackson Hole.

As Outside magazine recognized, Jackson's natural beauty is unique and will make any summer visit one to remember for years to come. For more information on spring, summer, luxury, adventure and wildlife safari packages, visit us online or call our local travel experts at 888-838-6606.

The town of Jackson is still abuzz with excitement after the Stanley Cup's visit. This picture of Sports Illustrated photo contest winner, Harrison Sauter, graced the front page of Jackson Hole News and Guide today and was accompanied by a feature article in the Sports section highlighting the day's events as well as the history of The Cup.

Even the most diehard hockey fans learned a thing or two from the Keeper of the Cup, Mike Bolt who travels with the trophy nearly year-round as it makes stops worldwide. Bolt was quick to point out history, trivia and interesting facts about the famous and long-lived ice award, including:

1. Harrison's favorite hockey team, the New York Islanders, is actually one of the many misspellings to grace the silver bands (spelled "Ilanders").

2. The trophy weighs roughly 35 pounds.

3. Bolt's only rule, no one is allowed to pick up The Cup, unless, of course, that person has just won the NHL championship game.

4. The only other year the Stanley Cup has come to Jackson was in 1995 when Jackson resident Bobby Holik (who played for the '94/'95 championship team, the New Jersey Devils) brought it "home" to share with valley residents.

5. The Stanley Cup came to be when Lord Stanley, governor general of Canada, began awarding it to the champion amateur hockey team of Canada in 1892.

6. It became the championship trophy of the NHL in 1926 and has been awarded to each year's winning team every since, except during the 2004-2005 season, when the season was cancelled due to a labor dispute.

7. Bolt says he has seen winning team members eat and drink out of The Cup (including champaign, cereal, beer and popcorn), sleep with the cup, take it fishing and even go for a helicopter ride to the top of a mountain in British Columbia.

Although we're not a huge community here in Jackson, we can appear quite large when it comes to those things we're passionate about, in this case: hockey. Young and old take to the ice each winter and many spend summer breaks at hockey camps throughout the country. So when Sports Illustrated posted its annual photo competition (the young hockey player who takes the most creative picture with a Stanley Cup cut-out wins a day with the real thing), Harrison Sauter was quick to respond. Just days before the competition closed, nine-year old "H" (as he's known to his teammates) found the perfect venue: a larger-than-life-sized Jackalope in Dubois, Wyoming. That's right. Harrison sat atop the world's largest horned rabit with Stanley Cup cut-out in hand. Weeks later, he got a call from the magazine letting him know that his photographic genius had earned him a visit from the nation's oldest sport trophy.

Yesterday, the Cup's white-gloved "Keeper of the Cup" and a member from Sports Illustrated presented "H" with The Cup for a day. Classmates learned the history of the coveted ice award before it made the rounds throughout town (the Stanley Cup, it turns out, has an agenda all its own) posing in pictures with a long line of diehard hockey fans at Snow King Resort, then to Sidewinders for dinner before making a final stop at Harrison's house where the young "H" battled the Keeper of the Cup in a game of airhockey... for the Stanley Cup.

The Keeper won and the iconic silver accolade is now on its way to its next series of destinations--mainly spending 20 hours with each member of this year's NHL championship team, the Anaheim Ducks. But thanks to Harrison Sauter, the town of Jackson Hole scored when the Stanley Cup veered from its traditional sports show-ice rink-hall of fame-famous athlete agenda to make an appearance in Teton County. Thanks for sharing, Harrison.

An anomaly it would seem, but yes, it's true. We received another 8" - 10" in the high country on Friday night making the backcountry skiing on Saturday worth the trek, hike, or snowmobile ride to get there. In fact, the turns proved to be some of the best of the this spring's unyielding powder skiing, maybe in part because the fresh snow was coupled with blue skies. Teton Pass was the place to be with tracks covering Glory and a crew of snowmobilers in Phillip's Canyon.

Although I expect Saturday's ski mission to be the last of the season, we continue to see snow in the forecast so who knows. Maybe this spring's road and mountain biking will continue to be complemented with backcountry skiing. If so, make sure your travels into the backcountry find you with people you trust and who know the area. Despite blue skies and well-tracked slopes, avalanche danger remains an issue and as the snow continues to melt, the terrain continues to change from the powder-covered peaks and valleys we've been navigating throughout the winter.

The great part about the off season is that it forces us to explore those aspects of Jackson Hole we might otherwise not. Blinded by powder days, this winter was relatively myopic for most of the skiers and snowboarders in town. But when the spring thaw comes, but the spring bloom isn't quite here, we turn our gaze elsewhere and rediscover Jackson in a different light.

Right now is a great time to take advantage of the extensive local art gallery scene. Check out some of these galleries before you head out for a two-for-one dinner or take advantage of the local lodging specials.

Cayuse Western Americana
Specializing in high quality Cowboy and Indian antiques. Great selection of chaps, spurs, beadwork, textiles, and antique and new hitched horsehair items. Vintage buckles, early western and Native American jewelry, old photography, art, prints, and lithos are featured and historic Jackson Hole, Teton Park and Yellowstone items. Exclusive local representative for Clint Orms buckles and Susan Adams cowgirl jewelry. Next to Jackson Hole Hat Company. 255 N. Glenwood. 307-739-1940. 

Di Tommaso Galleries
John Di Tommaso has been offering a selection of western paintings and bronzes by artists, both living and deceased, since 1974. His galleries have featured works by famous artists such as Herbert Dunton, John Clymer, Robert Loughheed, many of the “Taos Group of Artists” and Russell and Remington. John is always willing to help his clients find or resell the highest quality of art that the market can provide. Many top artists have successfully started with the Di Tommaso Galleries. Open Daily. 172 Center St., one block north of the Town Square.  307-734-9677

Fighting Bear Antiques
Esta­blished in 1981, specializing in quality 19th and early 20th century American furniture. The gallery is nationally recognized for its authentic Mission and Thomas Molesworth furniture, early Navajo rugs, Native American beadwork and Western Americana. Located 4 blocks south of the Town Square at 375 S. Cache. Open Mon-Sat 9:00-5:00, Sun by appointment only. 307-733-2669. 

Meyer-Milagros Gallery
The Meyer-Milagros Gallery (formerly Meyer Gallery) is dedicated to the promotion of national and international contemporary art by showcasing the work of both world-renowned and emerging artists. The gallery caters to the taste and trends of the sophisticated Jackson art market and  it’s discerning worldwide collector base including private collectors, art consultants, corporate art consultants, architects and interior designers. 155 Center St.
307-733-0905. art@milagrosgallery.net

Mountain Trails Gallery
Moun­tain Trails’ rich tradition in bronze sculpture and original oil paintings is unsurpassed. An outstanding collection of impressionistic and realistic works of landscapes, wildlife, Native American and traditional western themes are featured. Mountain Trails also hosts renowned bronze sculptor, Vic Payne, with exciting new works in progress. 150 Center St. 307-734-8150.

National Museum of Wildlife Art
Overlooking the National Elk Refuge, this unique building houses the nation’s premier collection of fine art devoted to wildlife. More than 100 artists and over 2,000 paintings, sculptures and works on paper are represented. Featured artists include John J. Audubon, Robert Bateman, Albert Bierstadt, William Merritt Chase, Albrecht Dürer, Carl Rungius and Charles Russell. Children’s gallery. Museum shop and café. Open daily. 3 miles north of town. 307-733-5771.

RARE Gallery
Come visit Jackson’s newest western contemporary art gallery where you will find rare collections from masters such as Ansel Adams, Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.  The hottest artists in the West exhibit in the exquisite 3800 sq’ showroom.  Our curator is focused on bringing world renowned diversity to Jackson through paintings, multi medium pieces, sculptures, photography and one of a kind furniture.  Come in and experience a taste of excellence that the most discerning buyer is sure to treasure.  Located in the heart of Jackson at 485 W. Broadway, Jackson  307-733-8726.

West Lives on Gallery
Discover an impressive collection of fine arts reflecting the rich heritage of the American West.  Featuring Western, wildlife and landscape art in original oils, acrylics, watercolors, and bronze. We represent over 50 local, regional, and national artists. We can help you fill your walls and pedestals with fine art from both living and deceased artists.  Conveniently located at 75 N. Glenwood across the street from the Wort Hotel. 307-734-2888

Wild By Nature
Visit our gallery of fine art photography featuring local wildlife and landscape photographs by Henry H. Holdsworth. Nationally recognized for his work with publications such as National Geographic, Sierra, Birder’s World, National Wildlife, and Wildlife Conservation, Henry’s unique and striking images are available in limited edition prints, notecards, and books. Located 1 block west of the Town Square. 307-733-8877. 888-494-5329. 95 West Deloney. 

Wild West Designs Show­room/Gallery
A 15,000 sf extravaganza on 3 floors featuring a stunning array of unique western home furnishings, western furniture art, world class antler lighting art, original western fine art and unique gift accessories. Featuring the furniture creations of local artists and artisans including many from throughout the West. Specializing in “custom” quality antler lighting. 140 W. Broadway (just west of Mountain High Pizza) – Jackson Hole, 307-734-7600. Open Daily.  

As much as we hate the wait for spring and deplore haning up our skis for the winter, there is one thing we look forward to during the off season: great deals. It's the perfect time of year to catch half-price specials, two-for-ones, and happy hours. If you're in town and looking for a great way to spend (or save depending on how you look at it) your money, then check out some of these dining deals in Jackson Hole:

Blu Kitchen. Open 5:30 to 10:00, Tuesday - Saturday. Off-season special: 20% off entre dinner between 5:30 - 6:30. 734-1633

Nikai Asian Grill & Sushi Bar. $6.00 roll sushi party! Open Wednesday - Sunday at 6:00. Reservations recommended. 734-6490

Blue Lion. Open daily at 6:00, closed Tuesdays. Enjoy 20% off your total bill when dining all night. Mention Jackson Hole News & Guide ad when ordering. 733-3912

Nani's Cucina Italiana. Locals' entree and wine specials throughout April. 733-3888

The Silver Dollar Bar & Grill located in the historic Wort Hotel. Now through May 22nd: $5 traditional 2 eggs, bacon or sausage, hash browns and toast, available Monday - Friday, 7am to 11am. Two for one entrees (available nightly at the Grill only).

This season will mark twenty years since the infamous Yellowstone National Park wildfires of 1988. Two decades ago, park employees and local residents watched as the flames (mostly caused by lightning strikes, but some by cigarette buts and other human carelessness) began to take hold. Soon, it was national and then global news. One of the most famous U.S. national parks and favorite summer destinations was rapidly going up in flames.

After the blazes had consumed 1.4 million acres of the Yellowstone eco system (800,000 within the park itself), politicians and residents thought it would take hundreds if not thousands of years for the park to make a full recovery. However, what many saw as absolutely devastating, park officials, biologists and wildlife specialists knew was a necessary occurrence in the life span of any wild country. Wildfire is often considered Mother Nature's way of rejuvenating our wild lands. Tall lodgepoles charred in the '88 fires now create a type of nursery for seedlings and saplings. In addition, lodgepole pines have tightly bound cones that can't open until they're exposed to heat, hence the one-million lodgepole seeds per acre after the burn.  

Even though the initial impact of the post-fire winter (harsh and cold without the protection of trees and other vegetation), the wildlife made a quick rally, entering the following years stronger and better adapted to the colder climes. Very few animals were unable to escape the flames and wildlife populations actually remained quite stable during and after the fires.

All told, 248 fires burned that summer. However, the eco system has returned plentifully. Many of the lodge pole pines that did burn still stand, creating their own ecological story as they tower over the seedlings that have since taken hold and continue to grow beneath them. Wildlife still flourishes. On any given day in Yellowstone, it's not uncommon to see bison, elk, deer, eagles, black and grizzly bears, and even the occasional wolf. Old Faithful still gives visitors a show as it shoots toward the sky throughout the day.

Despite the record flames that tore through the park that summer, its landmark beauty and unparalleled wildlife experience continue to flourish today. Twenty years later, Yellowstone continues to be the most memorable stop on any summer roadtrip.

Even though we're still a ways out from the summer concerts that will be rocking the greater Jackson area this summer, it's not too early to buy tickets. In fact, it's probably wise to do it sooner rather than later. If you're going to be in Jackson or Grand Targhee this summer, make sure to check out the following shows. Tickets available for purchase online at www.ticketweb.com.

Grand Targhee Resort:

July 18 - 20: 4th Annual Targhee Fest featuring Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett, Taj Mahal Trio, Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi as Soul Stew Reviv, Scrapomatic (featuring Mike Mattison), Storyhill, and Martin Sexton

Camping gates open at 9am on Friday, July 18. Music venue gates open at 2pm, Friday, July 18. Children 12 and under are FREE for teh music festival. Camping for children 12 and under requires $15 ticket.

Friday 7/18/2008

4pm - TBA / 6pm - Martin Sexton / 7:30pm - Scrapomatic featuring Mike Mattison / 8:30pm - Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi as Soul Stew Revival

Saturday 7/19/2008

12pm - Storyhill / 1:30pm - TBA / 3pm - TBA / 4pm - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals / 7pm - Taj Majal Trio / 9pm - Emmylou Harris

Sunday 7/20/2008

12pm - TBA / 1:30pm - TBA / 3pm - TBA / 5pm - Lyle Lovett

*All times and performers subject to change. No refunds

August 8 - 10: 21st Annual Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival featuring Sparrow Quartet featuring Bela Fleck, Abigail Wa / Sam Bush Band / Tim O'Brien / Tony Trischka's Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacul / Darrel Scott Band / Blue Highway / Billy Nershi/Drew Emmit Band / Spring Creek / Dan Tyminski Band / Infamous Stringdusters

Camping site gates open at 9 am on Friday, August 8, 2008. Children 12 and under are FREE for the music festival and $15 for weekend camping. Music festival site gates open at 2 pm on Friday, August 8, 2008.

Friday 8/8/2008
4 pm - Spring Creek
6 pm - Infamous Stringdusters
7:30 pm - Sparrow Quartet featuring Bela Fleck, Abigail Washburn, Casey Driessen and Ben Sollee
9 pm - Tim O'Brien

Saturday 8/9/2008
12 pm - Tony Trischka's Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular
1:30 pm - Tim O'Brien
3 pm - Billy Nershi/Ddrew Emmit Band
5 pm - Darrel Scott Band
7 pm - Blue Highway
9 pm - Sam Bush Band

Sunday 8/10/2008
12 pm - TBA
1:30 pm - TBA
3 pm - TBA
5 pm - Dan Tyminski Band

*All times and performers subject to change. No Refunds

Thursday, July 3rd: DudeBrahBrew Fest: Snow King Ampitheater

Featuring Dierks Bentley, Robert Earl Keene, Reckless Kelly, Mickey & The Motorcars.

Doors open at 3:30pm. Show starts at 4:30pm.