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Detroit Auto Show Preview: BMW to debut X5 xDrive35d and 335d diesel models in U.S.
BMW announcd today that it will debut two diesel-powered models at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit later this month. The two models, the X5 xDrive35d and the 335d, will be equipped with the BMW Advanced Diesel with BluePerformance.
Both models will be powered by a 3.0 liter inline-6 diesel unit that produces 265 horsepower. For the BMW 335d, that means a fuel economy of 23/33 mpg city/highway. Performance wise the 335d will get a peak torque of 425 lb-ft and a 0-62 time of 6.2 seconds. The BMW X5 xDrive35d will get an average fuel-economy of 19/25 mpg city/highway with a 0″"62 mph of 7.2 seconds.
Both the 335d and the X5 xDrive35d will be launched in all 50 U.S. states in the fall of 2008. Pricing will be announced closer to launch date.
Click through for more images and the press release.
BMW X5 xDrive35d and BMW 335d U.S. Debut Gallery:
Press Release:
BMW X5 xDrive35d AND BMW 335d TO MAKE US DEBUT
BMW Advanced Diesel with BluePerformance.
Performance + Outstanding Efficiency
Woodcliff Lake, NJ – January 2, 2008… Entering a new era in the company"s mission to deliver ultimate driving machines that combine superior performance with exemplary fuel economy, the BMW Group will debut two vehicle models equipped with the BMW Advanced Diesel with BluePerformance at the 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit "" the X5 xDrive35d and the 335d.
Successfully meeting the strict exhaust emissions requirements of the North American automobile market, BMW Advanced Diesel "" slated to hit US roadways in late 2008 "" will be available in all 50 states. The wide availability of these vehicles marks a significant milestone in the BMW EfficientDynamics strategy, which seeks to offer customers in automobile markets around the world maximum driving pleasure with minimum fuel consumption and emissions.
BMW Advanced Diesel technology is being introduced into the US market in the form of the 3.0-liter inline-six featuring Variable Twin Turbo Technology "" an engine widely acknowledged as the unchallenged benchmark for sporting performance, motoring refinement and superior efficiency in other markets around the world. At the 2008 NAIAS, BMW is presenting this 265-hp high-performance diesel engine in both the BMW X5 xDrive35d and the BMW 335d. To ensure full compliance with the demanding emission standards in California and other US states, BMW uses SCR technology to reduce nitric oxides (NOX), enabling nationwide introduction of BMW Advanced Diesel with BluePerformance as a 50-state model (BIN5).
Leading the way:
BMW diesel competence for the US.
The history of BMW diesel engines began in 1983 when the BMW 524td was introduced as the fastest diesel in the world. From that starting point, BMW has spent 25 years continuously developing diesel technology. Today"s BMW Diesels are characterized by dramatically improved power and performance, fuel consumption and emissions levels "" reflecting the principle of BMW EfficientDynamics in every respect.
Through their superior motoring refinement alone, BMW diesel engines have helped to significantly eliminate any reservations regarding the acoustic properties of a diesel engine. Indeed, great demand for BMW diesel engines has helped BMW achieve increased market share not just in Europe, but in regions across the world. Today no less than 67 percent of all new BMWs delivered to customers in Europe are powered by a diesel engine.
While diesel engines of today represent an impressive standard for fuel efficiency and emissions on the whole, BMW Advanced Diesel engines take this a step further, setting the standard for torque and pulling power that could never be achieved by a similar displacement gasoline engine "" while consuming 25 percent less fuel on average than an equally powerful gasoline engine.
New generation of diesel technology:
Maximum dynamism, minimum emissions.
Maximum power, supreme efficiency: The first BMW Advanced Diesel with BluePerformance is particularly well-suited to combine the driving dynamics and motoring refinement of a premium automobile with the most current and demanding standards for preserving resources and reducing emissions. Featuring exceptional power and torque, the 3.0 liter inline-six diesel is one of the most fuel-efficient and economical engines in its class.
Applying Variable Twin Turbo Technology, a small turbocharger first cuts in at low engine speeds. Thanks to its low inertia, this turbocharger develops boost (and extra power) in response to even the smallest movement to the gas pedal and without the slightest delay. As engine speed increases, the second, larger turbocharger cuts in, developing maximum torque of 425 lb-ft at just 1,750 rpm. Interaction of the two turbochargers is controlled by the particularly efficient, high-performance electronic engine control unit.
In addition to the above Variable Twin Turbo Technology, new technical highlights of BMW Advanced Diesel "" presented for the first time in 2007 "" include an aluminum crankcase and third-generation common-rail direct fuel injection. Featuring precision-quality precise piezo-injectors to deliver the precise dosage of fuel into the combustion chambers with the smallest volume of pre-injection, the third generation system ensures a particularly clean injection process with optimized fuel consumption, emissions figures and running smoothness.
Given all of these qualities, BMW"s 3.0-liter diesel with Variable Twin Turbo has won the prestigious International Engine of the Year Award multiple times "" more than any other prize or acknowledgement. The engine is featured in a large number of models in Europe and is now expanding its global story of success as the BMW Advanced Diesel with BluePerformance.
At the 2008 NAIAS, the BMW 335d featuring Advanced Diesel with BluePerformance for maximum output of 265 hp and peak torque of 425 lb-ft. will provide a clear and convincing demonstration of these qualities. On the road, this means acceleration from 0″"62 mph in 6.2 seconds and average fuel economy of 23/33 mpg (city/highway, provisional data).
The BMW X5 xDrive35d, will also debut in Detroit. Like the 335d, the X5 xDrive35d offers sporting character through BMW Advanced Diesel with BluePerformance, while standing out as a high-torque Sports Activity Vehicle with excellent qualities for long-distance motoring. The BMW X5 xDrive35d accelerates from 0″"62 mph in just 7.2 seconds and offers average fuel economy of at least 19/25 mpg (city/highway, provisional data).
Non-partisan study in the USA:
BMW ranks No 1 in the reduction of CO2 emissions.
The introduction of Advanced Diesel with BluePerformance in the US continues the global BMW EfficientDynamics development strategy of reducing both fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. Applying this strategy, the vehicles offered by BMW stand out worldwide by combining a higher standard of driving dynamics with a significant reduction in both fuel consumption and emissions.
The new BMW 128i Coupe now being introduced in the US, for example, is powered by the latest and, accordingly, most efficient version of BMW"s inline-six cylinder engine featuring VALVETRONIC technology. Apart from the enhanced version of this fully variable valve management, this engine also features a composite magnesium/aluminum crankcase and an electric coolant pump, operating only on demand and to the level required. In the BMW 128i Coupe, this engine is combined with six-speed automatic transmission of the latest generation, again using innovative technology to ensure enhanced fuel economy, minimum emissions and maximum driving pleasure. Innovations allowing for greater efficiency are also being systematically introduced into all models sold by BMW in the US. Pursuing this strategy, BMW has indeed made significant progress in recent years in reducing average fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, the success of these efforts being confirmed only recently in the latest issue of the US Environmental Defense
Report. According to the study, BMW reduced the CO2 emissions of its car fleet by 12.3 percent from 1990 through 2005 (its closest competitor achieved a 3 percent reduction in CO2 emissions), while sales in the USA increased four-fold in the same period.
This independent, non-partisan study of the Vehicle Fleet Carbon Burden of all vehicles operating in the United States between 1990 and 2005 concluded that BMW has contributed far more than all other manufacturers in reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions and makes specific reference to the positive results of BMW EfficientDynamics.
Now, introducing Advanced Diesel with BluePerformance as part of BMW EfficientDynamics, BMW seeks to continue the progress described in the Environmental Defense Report well into the future, with the same intensity and impact.
Most advanced exhaust gas management:
SCR catalyst with AdBlue injection.
To optimize emission management, Advanced Diesel with BluePerformance incorporates an oxidation catalyst placed just downstream of the exhaust manifold, a diesel particulates filter housed in the same unit and an SCR catalyst with the urea injection. In addition to filtering out even the smallest particles from the flow of exhaust gases, this combination ensures effective reduction of nitric oxides (NOX) by way of a chemical reaction within the exhaust system initiated by the injection of a small dose of urea referred to as AdBlue. The ammonia (NH3) generated in this process within the SCR catalyst subsequently converts the nitric oxides (NO and, respectively, NO2) in the exhaust gas into environmentally compatible nitrogen (N2) and vapor (H2O).
AdBlue technology by BMW:
Optimized emissions without requiring additional maintenance.
To introduce AdBlue technology into the car, BMW has developed a two-tank system ensuring convenient use of this new technology with all the benefits and ease required by the customer. The amount of AdBlue required in each case is injected from the active tank (approximately 1.6 gallons in volume) by means of a dosage pump. And since the urea solution would freeze at a temperature of 12.2oF, this active tank, as well as the dosage pipes, are heated.
The active tank is connected to a second reservoir, referred to as the passive tank. With its additional capacity of approximately 4.5 gallons, this passive tank offers a plentiful supply of the urea solution. The average range provided with this supply capacity is indeed sufficient to have the tank system replenished only when the driver needs to change the engine oil. Hence, the large amount of AdBlue stored in the reservoir enables the customer to enjoy continuous driving, without having to change his/her service intervals. The driver therefore benefits from the advantages of this environmentally friendly emission technology throughout the entire running life of the car, without any additional service or visits to the workshop. Since all BMWs sold in the US benefit from The BMW Maintenance Program, the refilling of the AdBlue tanks will be a no-charge service for 4 years or 50,000 miles.
AdBlue from the active tank is delivered to the dosing valve and atomize into the exhaust system. Consistent distribution of AdBlue within the flow of exhaust is ensured by the SCR mixer. The ammonia generated in the hot exhaust flow subsequently acts as a reduction agent in the SCR catalyst and converts environmentally harmful nitric oxides into nitrogen and water vapor in a process referred to as a selective catalytic reaction (SCR). This process gives the special SCR catalyst its name.
The control of the SCR system is masterminded by BMW"s powerful engine management computer. A nitric oxide sensor downstream of the SCR catalyst provides feedback on the concentration of NOX in the exhaust emissions.
Due to packaging limitations in certain vehicles, the position and location of the AdBlue tank may be varied from one vehicle model to the other. In the BMW 335d, the active and passive tank are at the rear end of the car, while in the BMW X5 xDrive35d, the active tank is housed in the front right section of the engine compartment, and the passive tank is under-floor next to the transmission.
BMW"s competence in diesel technology:
A story of success since 1983.
The performance and fuel economy offered by new BMW Advanced Diesel with BluePerformance is a further example of the exceptional potential this engine concept has to offer. In recent years BMW has worked more thoroughly and consistently than any other manufacturer worldwide to promote and further the development of its EfficientDynamics strategy. As a result, BMW has consistently enhanced the benefits and attractiveness of diesel technology, increasing engine output (performance), while reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
Through their unique motoring refinement and smoothness "" a feature which was thought to be impossible with a diesel engine "" BMW"s diesel engines stand out among the competition, setting the industry standard for diesel engine technology today.
The story of success of BMW"s diesel engines is characterized by numerous milestones in technical development, dating back to 1983. Back then BMW presented the first inline-six diesel in the history of the company, with maximum output of 85 kW/115 hp and peak torque of 210 Newton-metres/155 lb-ft.
The BMW 524td that featured this engine was acknowledged as the fastest diesel of its time and was the last BMW diesel model to be sold in the US.
In the years to come BMW"s engine development specialists enhanced a wide range of innovations, ensuring their alignment with series production standards, increasing power and performance, reducing fuel consumption and emissions in the process. In 1987, for example, BMW introduced DDE Digital Diesel Electronics followed three years later by BMW"s first diesel engine with an oxidation catalyst.
BMW diesel engines:
Making a unique contribution to The Ultimate Driving Machine.
Right from the start BMW"s engine development specialists recognized the potential of the diesel in enhancing motoring efficiency. They focused on the unique performance characteristics offered by the diesel in order to provide a new concept of The Ultimate Driving Machine. Above all, the development specialists used the performance of the diesel engine to develop superior torque from low engine speeds.
As a result, the BMW diesel was soon able to offer its unique sporting character "" in everyday driving situations, as well as on the race track. Indeed, it was this performance and reliability which made a BMW 320d the superior winner of the 24 Hours of Nürburgring as early as in 1998.
In the same year BMW presented its first diesel engine with direct fuel injection ensuring even greater spontaneity in the development of power. In the process, the precise dosage of fuel helped to reduce fuel consumption and optimize combustion in the interest of even greater smoothness and refinement. Ultimately, given these qualities, the BMW diesel was appropriately prepared for the luxury performance class, with the first V8 diesel engine featuring direct fuel injection, which made its debut in the BMW 7 Series luxury sedan in 1999.
Milestones in progress:
Common-rail direct fuel injection, Variable Twin Turbo Technology, maintenance-free diesel particulates filter, BluePerformance.
In the years that followed, BMW made significant "" perhaps revolutionary "" progress in the areas of injection technology and diesel turbocharging: As early as 2001, the second generation of common-rail fuel injection pumped fuel into the combustion chambers at a pressure of up to 1,600 bar. In 2004, the BMW 535d became the first car to feature an inline-six diesel with Variable Twin Turbo Technology.
BMW also introduced the second generation of the diesel particulates filter now featured as standard in all of the diesel models from Germany"s premium manufacturer. The exhaust gas-cleaning unit is positioned directly on the exhaust manifold itself in order to ensure optimum efficiency very quickly and smoothly. The particulates filter does not require any maintenance and regenerates itself by incinerating the diesel particles. This filtering function is performed at all engine speeds and under all loads, without any reduction of engine power or increase in fuel consumption.
BMW"s current range comprises no less than seven diesel engines, three four-cylinder models, three six-cylinder models and a V8. Both the six- and four-cylinder engines have aluminum crankcases helping to significantly reduce the weight of these engines. A traditional handicap of the diesel engine, which adds weight due to the use of a cast iron crankcase (a much heavier material than aluminum) has nearly been phased out completely. The reduction of weight enhances the car"s agility and, as a result, the sporting character of BMW"s diesel models.
Comparing the first six-cylinder BMW diesels from 1983 with the most powerful diesel engines of today, one can easily appreciate the progress made. Consider the following facts and figures:
Maximum output of the inline-six engine is up 135 percent, maximum torque is up an even more impressive 170 percent. And despite this immense increase in power and muscle, average fuel consumption of the 3.0-liter engine featuring Variable Twin Turbo Technology is 20 percent lower than diesel engines of 1983. At the same time, exhaust emissions have been reduced dramatically, thanks to several new technologies. Indeed, a BMW diesel in the 2008 model year generates only 1 percent of the particulate emissions originally contained in the exhaust gas of a 1983 diesel model.
The world"s most sporting inline-six diesel.
Ready for the USA.
Despite these impressive facts and figures, BMW is continuing to upgrade the diesel engine to an even higher standard, and BMW Advanced Diesel with BluePerformance marks the next stage of development. This innovative technology now also fulfills US market demands in terms of power, performance, running smoothness, efficiency and emission limits.
Both the 335d and the X5 xDrive35d will be launched in all 50 US states in the fall of 2008. Pricing will be announced closer to launch time.
[tags]Cars, Car, Auto, Automobile, Vehicles, Technology, Auto News, News, Automotive, BMW[/tags]


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(Don't be fooled. He's plotting something.)
Oh. Emm. Gee!
You are not going to believe this, but soon after publishing my last post on the 5th October, I went into labour! Clearly, the one method I had not tried actually worked: write miffed blog-post about resigning oneself to one's fate. And bing! The contractions start.
So: childbirth. Not a walk in the park. Not entirely pleasant. One becomes familiar with practically every bodily fluid one can produce - and that in a 24-hour period and in front of total strangers. And one is so physically overwhelmed, one resigns oneself to one's messy fate. Having said that, though, childbirth was no better or no worse than I'd expected and I managed to accidentally do it naturally, because by the time I'd decided that it really did jolly well hurt, goshdarnit, it was too late for an epidural. (Before I get applause and a rubber medal for my bravery, I would like to add that once the baby had been born and I'd enquired about his general good health and had been reassured that all of his appendages were in place and good working order, I turned to my husband and said, "If I ever do this again, I WANT AN EPIDURAL!" A martyr I am not.) And at 3.5 kg he was only seven bags of sugar after all.
In any case, four days later, Mr Gingerbread and I were sent home with a very small, black-eyed stranger that we named John. We both have blue eyes, but newborns - being pigmentally-challenged - often have darker eyes. Our young 'un has little black button eyes that swivel around the room, trying to follow us. It's quite disconcerting. I've also learned a lot about babies and thought I'd share - for the benefit of those of you who are thinking about a smidgen of reproduction.
(There are only three things because ... well, babies only do three things at the start.)
1. Sleep
It doesn't matter how nice the cot or bassinet is, it doesn't even matter if you've toiled for hours over his handmade blankie and coordinated his bed linen in a fashion otherwise unknown in your household, babies want to sleep ON you. Oh, and it doesn't even matter if you're grotty and unwashed, if your hair looks like a bird's nest and you're still wearing the same pyjamas you've been meaning to throw into the laundry hamper for the past two days but when night-time comes, you're too worn out to open the wardrobe and pull out a new one - no! Babies think there is no better place to catch a few zzzzs. The uncurl their little
2. Poo
There will be a lot of it, and it will go from being something that's rarely discussed as a matter of delicacy, to something that you and your partner will openly speculate about at the dinner table. For there is a lot of it and it comes in a range of colours. More astonishingly, it gets everywhere. How a person (albeit a very small and wriggly one) can simultaneously have poo on his nipples and on the soles of his feet whilst encased in a brand-name diaper is beyond me. I wouldn't have thought it possible till yesterday - but now I know it's true. And small babies don't like being naked. Who'd have thought it? You see all of those Anne Geddes photos and presume that there's nothing a baby likes more than lounging about in the nude in a flower pot or whatnot - lies! All lies! They don't like it at all and they scream their fluffy little heads off in protest as soon as you undo a couple of buttons on their trousers.
3. Eat
Rather than being the beatific vision of Madonna-like contentment, suckling babe in arms and a halo of hazy sunlight around my head, my breastfeeding endeavours resemble something from the World Wrestling Federation: my baby is a very enthusiastic and greedy eater. And my boobess are delicate flowers. The combination is fatal. To start, I have to hold down baby's frantically waving arms while he tries to claw my delicate flowers and sideswipe the nipples. He roars in protest (because he does not like being restrained) while I pin down his flailing limbs and shove the nipple in his mouth. Everyone says you ought to bring the child to the nipple and not vice versa, but bringing the child to my bewb requires a level of foolhardy bravery that I do not have. When he finally latches on, he'll maul me contentedly for a while, detach himself and then after a couple of seconds of confusion, roar his head off at me for starving him so cruelly.
People, this is strenous. The child is a hard taskmaster. Just when we think we've got him figured out ("Aha! He likes to take long naps in the afternoons!"), he does the exact opposite, leaving us bewildered and confused.
"He's flippin' lucky he's so darned cute," I growled at my husband at 4.30 a.m. this morning, as I disposed of a reeking Pampers and wiped a dimply bottom (while my offspring screamed his head off because I exposed his buttocks to the fresh night air.) And therein lies the rub: babies are cute. It's hard to hold a grudge when they roll their little black eyes in your direction and slurp sloppy newborn kisses on your face.

subset: commoncrawl


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Sifarişləri Bakıya, Azərbaycanın bölgələrinə və bütün dünya ölkələrinə çatdırırıq!
Bakı üzrə 30 manatdan yuxarı sifarişlərdə çatdırılma pulsuzdur.
"This 48-karat beach read is crazy fun." --Entertainment Weekly When New Yorker Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, she envisions a humble family home and quality time with the man she hopes to marry. But Nick has failed to give his girlfriend a few key details. One, that his childhood home looks like a palace; two, that he grew up riding in more private planes than cars; and three, that he just happens to be the country's most eligible bachelor. On Nick's arm, Rachel may as well have a target on her back the second she steps off the plane, and soon, her relaxed vacation turns into an obstacle course of old money, new money, nosy relatives, and scheming social climbers.


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Looking for a way to remember everything that was everything in 1993? You could do far worse than going back and looking at some of the most significant television of the era. The year proved to be oddly momentous for the medium, as the choices below indicate, and there are plenty of other shows we could have included—like NYPD Blue and Northern Exposure. For the full effect, we recommend finding some vintage '93 commercials on YouTube and watching them between programs.
8 a.m.: Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers, "Day Of The Dumpster"
Kick the morning off with the first episode of the deliberately mindless, ruthlessly synergistic toy advertisement that was Power Rangers, which began its storied run in August 1993. Splicing together footage of Japanese superhero television with new material involving stilted American actors palling around in high school, the show followed a strict formula that proved an instant hit with its young target audience. Action figures were sold, the Megazord was called on every week, and there was even some serialization featuring the initially evil, and then ultimately heroic, Green Ranger. But watch out for the putty patrol!
8:30 a.m.: Rocko's Modern Life, "Leapfrogs"/"Bedfellows"
It's still early, so continue to ease yourself into the day with some cartoons. Rocko's Modern Life is one of the earliest keepers from Nickelodeon's Nicktoons block. The show's humor is sometimes subversively adult enough to make it modestly controversial—the "suggestive" content in "Leapfrogs" was enough to get it removed from the rerun cycle for a while—but there's a real sweetness at its core that keeps its gross-out jokes (dripping blood, flying mucus, dismembered body parts) from being abrasive. Just try to finish breakfast before it starts.
9 a.m.: Beavis And Butt-head, Various episodes
Those ready to enjoy an hour of history's dumbest, truth-tellingest cartoon teens this early in the morning might be partial to imbibing something that makes funny things even funnier. Not that they'd need it: Though frequently, woefully dismissed as mindless on its 1993 debut, Beavis And Butt-head remains hilariously resilient 20 years later. Because a good chunk of the show involved maniacal Beavis and dunder-headed Butt-head riffing on hard-to-clear music videos, the various DVD collections are woefully incomplete. But the lawless land of YouTube makes re-living history possible: Start with the two-parter "No Laughing," in which the boys struggle to contain themselves when faced with the word "vagina" and also provide some of the most trenchant music criticisms ever uttered. Round out the hour with the unexpurgated "Sperm Bank" episode, in which the boys try to make some fast money, and "Tornado," one of many sad episodes in which they're sure they're going to score—and then don't.
10 a.m.: Picket Fences, "Frog Man"
Though greeted with huge critical acclaim and many Emmys when it aired, David E. Kelley's first "created by" credit has mostly been forgotten by history. That's probably reasonable. The uneasy mix of small-town shenanigans with a hybrid cop/doctor/lawyer show was always a little ungainly, even at its best, and the series fell apart remarkably quickly and was canceled after four seasons. But in the early seasons seasons, the show was often a delight, as in this episode that features Michael Jeter as a burglar who leaves frogs at the scene of his crimes. It's an always unusual yet always fascinating mix of quirky small-town humor and social-issues drama, and even if it doesn't always work, it's worth it for the strong performances from a solid ensemble cast.
11 a.m.: The Larry Sanders Show, "Life Behind Larry"
The Larry Sanders Show began its second season in June of 1993, settling into a run that would make it one of the decade's best comedies and providing a launching pad for a slew of talent. In its satire of late-night talk shows, it also offered a sort of history lesson—not that viewers needed to know the backstory to enjoy The Larry Sanders Show. Perhaps the best embodiment of this is "Life Behind Larry," in which star Larry Sanders (Garry Shandling) is charged with finding a host for the late show that airs behind his at 12:30 a.m. The episode is full of references to the late-night world of the time, but it's also a hilarious look at network politics, ego, and awards shows that's executed flawlessly.
11:30 a.m.: Roseanne, "A Stash From The Past"
Though Seinfeld, Larry Sanders, and The Simpsons were at the heights of their respective powers in 1993, Roseanne was also having the best calendar year of its run and stood as a worthy competitor for all of them, roping in recession-era blue-collar anxieties and social issues into a formula that got big laughs. For an example of this, check out this justly praised episode, in which Roseanne's discovery of David's pot stash underlines the hypocrisy of those who used to partake preaching "just say no"—as well as TV's general hypocrisy about depictions of drugs.
12 p.m.: Seinfeld, "The Pilot"
Finish out two hours of classic comedy—and, appropriate for a show obsessed with food, have some lunch—with the finale to one of the best comedy seasons of all time. Seinfeld's genre-defining fourth season used the story arc of George and Jerry trying to sell a sitcom pilot to NBC as the glue that held everything together and provided some of the most audacious meta-comedy TV had seen up to that point. "The Pilot" is nothing less than a sitcom version of the creation of the very show viewers are watching, and the more you contemplate that ouroboros, the funnier the episode becomes. Any number of season-four half-hours could make for a solid hour here, but stick with this for one big reason: It aired the same night as the Cheers series finale—which you'll be viewing later—and acted as a sort of comedic passing of the torch.
1 p.m.: Homicide: Life On The Street, "Three Men And Adena"
After a morning of comedies, families, and beating the bad guys, we're probably due a police interrogation. Homicide had followed the Adena Watson case since its pilot (and would continue to revisit this never-solved murder throughout its run), but by the fifth episode, pressure was on to increase viewership. Instead, "Three Men And Adena" was a leap of faith in its audience and a middle finger to the Nielsen ratings. Pembleton and Bayliss spend the full hour in the box with suspect Tucker (Moses Gunn), an interrogation so relentless Tucker ends up wondering if he killed Adena after all. It wasn't the ratings hook NBC wanted, but it made a compelling case for the show: Visual dynamics somewhere between stage play and fever dream, sharp dialogue, and an unsatisfactory resolution all became Homicide hallmarks. "Three Men And Adena" is still among the most recognizable installments of the series and remains a stellar hour of TV.
2 p.m.: The Adventures Of Brisco County Jr., "The Orb Scholar"
The afternoon is the perfect time for The Adventures Of Brisco County Jr., as creators Jeffrey Boam and Carlton Cuse were tasked with replicating the Indiana Jones Saturday matinee formula as a loony-yet-reverent mix of Old West serials and Wild Wild West steampunk. Anchored with effortless leading-man charisma by Bruce Campbell, the second episode sees Harvard-educated lawyer-turned-bounty hunter Brisco (alongside Julius Carry's hilariously antagonistic rival/buddy Lord Bowler and improbably intelligent Comet The Wonder Horse) using his big brain and matchless cowboy skills to battle the desperadoes who killed his lawman father. As with Indy, Brisco's adventures carry a vein of irony, but simultaneously pay affectionate respect to the genre, especially when Campbell—gamely taking Evil Dead levels of punishment—faces off against series Big Bad John Bly, played with mesmerizingly campy "evil Jack Sparrow" mannerisms by Billy Drago (the greatest forgotten TV villain of the decade).
3 p.m.: Cracker, "The Mad Woman In The Attic, Part 1"
Considering the time difference, mid-afternoon in the U.S. is primetime in the United Kingdom, which makes this an oddly perfect time to watch the first episode of ITV's crime drama Cracker. Robbie Coltrane—best known these days as Hagrid in the Harry Potter movies—stars as Dr. Edward "Fitz" Fitzgerald, a brilliant psychologist addicted to gambling, drinking, smoking, and just generally being a complete asshole to everyone he meets. When one of his former students is brutally murdered, Fitz offers his services to the Manchester police—led by future Doctor Who star Christopher Eccleston in his first major role—in interrogating the prime suspect, who insists he has amnesia. This first half of the show's debut mystery shows the first attempt to break the man, as Fitz launches into a thundering, disturbing monologue about how murder and rape are simply human nature and then reconstructs in graphic detail the suspect's mindset just before the murder. The audience is left to guess where the genius psychologist ends and the self-destructive monster begins, assuming there's any difference.
4 p.m.: Beverly Hills, 90210, "Something In The Air"
Kick off your after-school marathon viewing with three words that perfectly sum up 1993: "Donna Martin graduates!" As the original 90210 faced high-school graduation, it reached its peak in soapy teen storylines: The all-time greatest teen love triangle of Dylan, Kelly, and Brenda has dragged on for nearly an entire school year; college plans remain uncertain—the show's creators hadn't decided whether to fire troublemaker Shannen Doherty (she lasted another season); and a no-alcohol rule at prom has been broken by a drunk Donna Martin, of all people, getting her kicked out of graduation festivities. In "Something In The Air," Brandon heads a protest of nearly the entire student body and testifies before the school council just so Miss Martin can matriculate, leading to the show's greatest catchphrase. Even though she clearly did break the rule in question, consequences were eventually waived for Donna, to which Tori Spelling probably replied, "But of course." The young cast ventured off to adulthood, but the show lost something once it left West Beverly High.
5 p.m.: The X-Files, "Ice"
By now, you're probably starting to get a little tired of sitting in front of the TV, so why not wake yourself up with a blast of overwhelmingly tense cold air? The X-Files made its debut in the fall of 1993, and while many of its early episodes show promise, this was the first to become an outright classic example of the show at its best. Stranding Mulder and Scully at an Arctic research facility that's been overrun by an alien worm that ramps up the aggressiveness of whatever creature is hosting it, "Ice" gleefully rips off the "Who can be trusted?" paranoia of The Thing, and it does so in service of a story that tests the then-fragile partnership between the two FBI agents. The episode finally cements them as the medium-defining duo they would become, and it wins bonus points for being shot largely on one set and featuring a young Felicity Huffman.
6 p.m.: The Simpsons, "Marge Vs. The Monorail"/"Last Exit To Springfield"
There are people who argue that The Simpsons was better before or after the show's fourth season. These people are—contrary to the opinion of one season-four episode—history's greatest monster. As evidence, The A.V. Club submits this bloc as the show's finest hour: the Conan O'Brien-penned Music Man homage "Marge Vs. The Monorail" and the alternately gorgeous and uproarious "Last Exit To Springfield." In '93, The Simpsons was at the height of its powers, especially where the use of its main setting is concerned. In "Marge," Springfield kills as a collective of easily duped rubes; in "Last Exit," the city warms with its commitment to its fellow (working) man. Further proof for the doubters: Just say the words "dental plan" without immediately thinking, "Lisa needs braces!"
7 p.m.: The State, "Episode 101"
From there it's a smooth transition into sketch comedy, starting with the new kid on the block, MTV's The State. The first episode is a model of the show's style, with a runner uniting the episode and single-camera sketches that could just as well take place on a stage. The highlight, though, is a warhorse the group had been performing since meeting at NYU where a couple's volatile hormones dance around them on their date. The end credits read, "Created, written, and produced by The State," followed by directing credits for two members, a testament to The State's creative control.
7:30 p.m.: In Living Color, "Season Five, Episode One"
Next, watch the sun set on In Living Color. In season four, creator Keenen Ivory Wayans left after Fox made certain decisions without consulting him, and the rest of his family followed. Season five was the first season of the show without its founders, and it would be the last. Still, the season begins with a doozy, "Ike Turner Strikes Back," in which David Alan Grier sings a parody of "What's Love Got To Do With It?" that imagines the ridiculousness of Turner's defense of his abuse. And for a time-capsule bonus, Jim Carrey delivers "Seinfeld In The Ghetto."
8 p.m.: Barbarians At The Gate
Heading into prime time, this TV movie, based on a non-fiction bestseller about corporate warfare for control of RJR Nabisco, was written by Larry Gelbart and stars James Garner, who both have movie careers but also deep roots in TV. It represents something of a breakthrough for HBO's original films division, which had just begun to acquire properties that feature-film producers were interested in, and demonstrate what TV can do with them that movies can't. Gelbart, using the medium's ability to more quickly tap into changes in societal trends, turns this story into a time-capsule satire of the corporate culture and economic insanity of the '80s, even though less than five years had passed since the actual events depicted. But the dialogue is so sharp and the acting (by a cast that also includes Peter Riegert, Jonathan Pryce, Joanna Cassidy, and David Rasche) is so crisp that the only thing about it that now feels dated is the cheesy score—and, of course, cell phones the size of cinder blocks.
10 p.m.: Saved By The Bell, "Graduation"
This beloved sitcom finally bowed out in 1993 with the graduation of its heroes. Before the college years, the new class, and the Hawaiian wedding special, Saved By The Bell said goodbye with 22 minutes of Zack trying to make up his one last class credit in a ballet production, while Screech gives up his valedictorian spot so Jessie can have it. Everything turns out fine in the end, and Zack retains his acceptance to attend Yale, so you know, maybe 1993 wasn't so bad after all. (Just kidding, because, wow, the clothes. "What is Lisa Turtle wearing?" is a valid question at any given time in the show's run.)
10:30 p.m.: Batman: The Animated Series, "Almost Got 'Im"
Attention span fried yet? The short stories of this half-hour should hit the spot for easy-to-digest entertainment, spotlighting Batman's rogues gallery as they gather to share tales of the times they nearly offed the Dark Knight. Taking the standard trapped Batman plot and multiplying it, this episode is a beautifully animated, surprisingly hilarious exploration of supervillain expectations and frustration. Poison Ivy, Two-Face, Killer Croc, Penguin, and the Joker all get their moments in the spotlight, giving the show's phenomenal voice cast the opportunity to show off its talent and establishing why these actors have become synonymous with these characters.
11 p.m.: The Chevy Chase Show, "Corbin Bernsen"
It's talk show time, and for six weeks in the fall, this was the show of choice for train-wreck aficionados. Chase seems to have agreed to do it after watching Jay and Dave a couple of times and thinking, "How hard can it be?" A rapidly diminishing national audience had been watching him grow more openly hostile as he found out that it's harder than it looks. This episode opens with the host "jokingly" telling the studio audience that they're the first crowd he's had since the series started that didn't stand up when he emerged from the wings. He then moves to the desk, to welcome Corbin Bernsen—whose name Chase repeatedly mispronounces—as Bernsen "jokingly" points out that the other talk shows give their guests much better swag. Chase, meanwhile, is trying to fit in his umpteenth reminder that he has a movie career that he put on hold for this. Fox had been trying to do its own late-night weekday programming since 1987, but after Chase, they just gave up.
12 a.m.: Cheers, "One For The Road"
You're entering the final third, so start with a bit of TV history and a very funny episode all rolled into one. One of the most perfect television shows ever created ended its run in 1993 with a series finale that was similarly pitch perfect, always pushing against the edges of being too maudlin but pulling back at the last minute every time. Sam Malone (Ted Danson) finds himself contemplating leaving Boston and Cheers forever when his former love Diane Chambers (Shelley Long) returns after six years away from the bar and the show, but as the two first try to fool each other into thinking they're happy, then finally succumb to the passion they've always felt, the show strikes just the right note of tension—not between the will-they/won't-they of the Sam and Diane relationship, but between the question of if Sam can ever leave behind the bar and friends that have defined his life. The closing moments are sublime (and you have just enough time left to watch some of the Bob Costas-hosted clip show that accompanied the finale's original broadcast).
1:30 a.m.: Frasier, "The Good Son"
Yet not everyone from the Cheers gang would leave television behind. Kelsey Grammer took Dr. Frasier Crane from supporting character on that show to lead character on his own, and the first episode of that series is one of the most elegantly constructed sitcom pilots ever, nicely setting up a whole new world, set of characters, and series of conflicts for a character who might have seemed limited as a series lead back in Boston. Frasier wins bonus points for introducing the world to the amazingly talented David Hyde Pierce as Frasier's brother, Niles.
2 a.m.: Deep Space Nine, "Duet"
It's getting late, but the end is still some hours away; what better way to get a second wind than by watching a tense science-fiction drama about the psychological trauma of genocide and war? "Duet," a standout hour in Deep Space Nine's decent but largely unremarkable first season, focuses its attention on the fallout from the Cardassian occupation of Bajor. Major Kira Nerys, a former resistance fighter, catches what appears to be a Cardassian war criminal and has him arrested, but the more she looks into the case, the more complicated the situation becomes. The story's twists and turns remain effective, but what gives the episode its power is its stubborn refusal to give any character exactly what he or she wants, acknowledging that some wounds are too deep to ever fully heal.
3 a.m: The Real World: "Is David Going Home?"/"No Apologies Necessary"
MTV's contribution to the birth of modern reality TV was in its second season in 1993, and still trying to pass itself off as a serious "social experiment." In its clumsy way, The Real World could actually blunder into situations that illuminate hot-button issues of race and gender. The season's big water-cooler moment begins when David, a black, aspiring comedian, tries to pull the bedclothes off his housemate Tami and the scene escalates as he drags her down the hall, while the perky "drama queen" Beth helps her stay covered. Tami seems to be laughing, and Beth is clearly having a good time even when Tami's mood turns angry and avenging. After it does, it's Beth who informs David that what he's done is tantamount to rape. David, confused and hurt, sarcastically quotes Rodney King, and suggests that he's being lynched. In the end, he's evicted from the house, after the rhetoric has gotten so overheated that there's no way for him to stay without everyone being uncomfortable.
4 a.m.: Wild Palms, "Hello, I Must Be Going"
Anyone still watching TV at this hour might be afraid of their own dreams, and nobody who's asleep is having a worse dream than the concluding episode of Wild Palms. This five-episode miniseries (adapted by Bruce Wagner from a comic strip he wrote for Details magazine) was ABC's entry in 1993's Weird TV sweepstakes. The raft of directors hired to work on the series (including Kathryn Bigelow and, for the finale, Phil Joanou) were unable to the achieve a consistent visual style that would bring Wagner's fantasy of virtual reality and political terrorism in a futuristic L.A. to imaginative life, so each violent outburst and bit of freakishness just sits on the screen by itself, disconnected and inert. The series is interesting not as a harbinger of the more-adventurous TV of today, but as a fossilized relic of the kind of misguided, half-hearted "experimentation" with which networks hoped to create another Twin Peaks.
5 a.m.: Legends Of The Hidden Temple, "The Golden Cricket Cage Of Khan"
It's late. Like, really late. You might not be feeling like you can do anything well right now. So go ahead and indulge in 1993's greatest game show, a game that was so impossibly difficult that it stymied about 75 percent of the 8- to 12-year-olds trying to get that goddamn Silver Monkey statue. This episode features the worst Temple Run in history, where the two contestants only manage to make to three of the 12 rooms. (They get stuck, understandably, in the pit of despair.) Let Kirk Fogg take you away to an exotic paradise where everyone loses and nothing hurts.
5:30 a.m.: The Adventures Of Pete & Pete, "King Of The Road"
Prior to 1993, Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi delved into the weird world of Wellsville in a handful of Pete & Pete shorts and one-off specials. So it's no wonder that the series' first weekly installment arrives with such a strong declaration of purpose and personality. McRobb and Viscardi have described the aim of their show as restoring the wonder and mystery to childhood, and there's no better starting point for that quest than the tedium of a family road trip. On Pete & Pete, an ordinary drive to the Hoover Dam is actually an opportunity to reinforce family pride, as the shabby Wrigleys compete with an all-American wonder family to secure the throne (and vanity license plate) of highway monarchy.
6 a.m.: MTV video block
In 1993, a random chunk of MTV videos can still be an insomniac's best friend. R.E.M. may gently lull you to sleep, or MC Lyte may get you energized and ready to face the day; Nirvana may scare the shit out of you, or Blind Melon may solicit your tear ducts on behalf of misunderstood little girls in bee costumes. (If that kid has any luck, she'll wash the jam band out of her ears, embrace her weirdness, and grow up to be Björk.) But this year, this channel, it all comes down to B. & B.
6:30 a.m.: Mystery Science Theater 3000, "Manos: The Hands Of Fate"
If there's any TV show that rewards endurance, it's MST3K. The movie-riffing show had a watershed year in 1993, hitting new creative heights in its fourth season and weathering the departure of creator and host Joel Hodgson in its fifth. Manos: The Hands Of Fate wasn't the most punishing cinematic gauntlet Joel and The Bots faced in '93—for all its "worst movie ever" failings, it's no Monster A Go-Go—but the view from New Mexico's most cult-friendly motor lodge makes fitting accompaniment for the delirium brought on by a full day in front of the tube. And there's no better swan song for the TV of 1993 than "the haunting 'Torgo's Theme.'"


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Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Beauty is pain
That's how I feel about knitting ruffles. I love how they look. I love wearing them. I love adding a little extra bounce to my step to make them swing when I walk. I also find them utterly painful to knit.
Not literally, of course. It's not like faggoting, which is the natural enemy of my carpal tunnels. It's just... a lot of knitting. Which is a silly, because I'm usually itching to knit something else. Which is technically, THE SAME KNITTING.
But then you look at the ruffle-in-progress, how far you have to go, and if you're me, you feel like Brent Spiner in Independence Day. You might also have done a dramatic re-enactment for your family, shaking the shawl in front of you and rasping out, "Kiiiiiiiiiiiiill meeeeeeeeeee" in the creepiest voice you can muster. So creepy that both dogs decide it's time to leave the room.
So you knit and knit and knit. Then you knit some more. You decide that you will NEVER knit another ruffle EVER again so long as you LIVE.
You knit a baby hat and a baby sweater in the meantime, because sometimes you just need a relationship break from a project, you know? It's me, not you, Sothia. But since it was LOVE with Sothia, once you finished your dalliance with a baby hat and sweater, you come back, refreshed and ready to commit.
And you will commit, wholeheartedly. After what seems like an eternity, you begin the bind-off. You stay up really, really late because all you want in the world is the satisfaction of finishing this project. And also, Kit Kats.
You double your yarn for the bind-off, because you LOVE how substantial it feels, and then spend the remaining 60% of the bind-off wondering if you have enough yarn to finish. You then decide if you run out of yarn, you're abandoning this project forever. Thankfully, you have enough (and a little leftover, even!) and that particular set of events doesn't transpire.
You go to bed, and the next day, you realize that you have a GORGEOUS shawl. You consider turning up the air conditioning so you can wear it around the house, but instead decide to weave in ends and take pictures of your beauteous shawl.
You look at the colors, the beautiful ruffle, you feel that rush of accomplishment and pride at a job well done, and you say to yourself, "This wasn't so bad. It was really fun to knit."
"...Maybe I'll knit another one."
11 comments:
Finish my ruffle for me, please!ReplyDelete
Hilarious! And yes....I always think I want to knit another.ReplyDelete
Brent Spiner was in ID? I certainly do not remember that...ReplyDelete
As mentioned on ravelry. The shawl is cool but I guess I would try to put a needle into my eyes at some point if I'd try to knit such a ruffle...
It's so pretty! I love the doubled cast-off, too. Now I have to go rooting about in my stash for appropriate yarns! Whee!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousSeptember 21, 2011 at 2:43 PM
The ruffle reminds me of slogging through endless miles of stockinette for an oversized Citron. I love the feel of wearing it so much I've started a second one from superwash to leave at work. I'm about 120g of sock yarn in; the first took around 460g total. And why did I convice myself this was a good idea again?ReplyDelete
It turned out really beautiful!ReplyDelete
Funny story!
I feel like that with the bands on the Breezy Cardi of K2P2 for 3". I am short, so cutting it to 2"!
You are tempting me to knit one. I am tempting you to continue writing and turn it into a book.ReplyDelete
Beautiful! So was this the pattern your mom was working on tonight? Just like a mom to take on the second one...!ReplyDelete
Your shawl is beautiful. Just wondering from your Kit Kat comment whether you are new to them or if they are just what the baby is wanting at the moment :-)ReplyDelete
Love! Love! LOVE! That shawl. Truly amazing. Worth the pain, agony and delusion. ;) Might just try and knit one myself.ReplyDelete
Ruffles are like child birth. You agonize through them and swear you're "NEVER DOING THIS AGAIN!" After it's all said and done, you look at your beautiful finished project and think "I could TOTALLY do that again!"ReplyDelete


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Read next
Vail and Aspen may have the cachet that comes with being a glamorous high-end ski resort, but they also have crowds and incredibly expensive hotels, restaurants, and lift tickets that can cost upwards of $800 per day.
But not all ski resorts are that expensive — or that pretentious.
We found the 10 most underrated ski resorts in the U.S. These mountains are (relatively) cheap, crowd-free, and get tons of powder. They also have cool towns that will keep you entertained when you're not on the slopes.
Bridger Bowl, Bozeman, Montana
Daily lift ticket: $49
Mountain stats: Bridger Bowl has about 2,000 acres of skiable terrain and an average snowfall of about 350 inches. The peak summit elevation is about 8,700 feet and there's a vertical drop of about 2,600 feet. But best of all: the mountain is rarely crowded.
Vibe: Bridger Bowl is located just 20 minutes from the town of Bozeman, which is home to Montana State University. It's a cute college town with several bookstores, record shops, art galleries, coffee shops, and vegetarian cafes — things you wouldn't find in most other Montana towns. Head to Montana Ale Works for an Apres-ski beer.
There's a thriving arts scene here too, which culminates at the Emerson, a former school that's been converted into a cultural space where artists and designers can showcase and sell their works.
Red Lodge Mountain, Red Lodge, Montana
Daily lift ticket: $50
Mountain stats: With over 1,600 acres of skiable terrain and an annual average snowfall of 240 inches, Red Lodge Mountain offers some stellar skiing. The peak summit elevation is over 9,400 feet and the mountain has a vertical drop of about 2,400 feet.
Vibe: The town of Red Lodge is one of the coolest ski towns in America — but most people haven't even heard of it. It's a unique mix of old West and sophisticated modern, where cowboys, skiers, ranchers, and more meet and mingle. There are great restaurants, shops, art galleries, and even a well-respected microbrewery (Red Lodge Ales) to keep you fed and entertained.
Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Sandpoint, Idaho
Daily lift ticket: $68
Mountain stats: Schweitzer has 2,900 skiable acres and 92 trails, plus open bowl skiing. It gets about 300 inches of snow each year, and the longest continuous trail is about 2 miles long. Besides downhill skiing, visitors can go cat skiing, snowmobiling, Nordic skiing or snowshoeing.
Vibe: Located in Sandpoint, in northern Idaho, Schweitzer offers a wide range of trails for all skill levels. Visitors can stay in Schweitzer's rustic, European-style village or in nearby Sandpoint, which has a very family-friendly small-town feel.
Grand Targhee Resort, Alta, Wyoming
Daily lift ticket: $69
Mountain stats: Grand Targhee gets blanketed with powder, with an average snowfall of more than 500 inches. The vertical drop is 2,270 feet, and some trails run for almost 3 miles. There's great powder and few people so skiers can have the open terrain all to themselves.
Vibe: Located in Alta, about 48 miles from ritzy and moneyed Jackson Hole, Grand Targhee is a low-key no-frills ski resort. People come here for for the phenomenal powder and the great skiing — not to see and be seen.
Mad River Glen, Waitsfield, Vermont
Daily lift ticket: $69
Mountain stats: Mad River Glen has challenging terrain, with a vertical drop of 2,000 feet. The mountain does not blow snow, and it prefers to leave its trails ungroomed. The area gets about 250 inches of snow per year. Oh, and snowboarders are not allowed.
Vibe: Most Vermont skiers gravitate toward the glitzier mountains of Stratton or Killington, overlooking Mad River Glen. But that's a mistake. The mountain has challenging trails, fewer people, and a laid-back vibe. It's an old-school mountain that doesn't make snow or have a high-speed chairlift, but it does have very friendly locals who are willing to dole out insider tips.
Wildcat Mountain, Notch, New Hampshire
Daily lift ticket: $70
Mountain stats: Wildcat Mountain has 225 acres of skiable terrain in New Hampshire's White Mountain National Forest. It's one of the steepest mountains in the area, with a vertical drop of 2,112 feet, and it has New Hampshire's longest summit-to-base novice trail, which runs for 2.75 miles and offers great views along the way.
Vibe: Wildcat is a no-frills mountain that has both challenging and easy terrain. The mountain is about 19 miles from the town of North Conway, which has lots of old New England charm, with its Victorian-era houses, old fashioned candy shops, and lively pubs. It's a charming, relaxed family-friendly town.
Taos Ski Valley, Taos, New Mexico
Daily lift ticket: $75
Mountain stats: Taos Ski Valley has about 1,295 skiables acres and gets an average annual snowfall of 305 inches and more than 300 days of sunshine to enjoy it in. The terrain is steep — the vertical drop is 2,612 feet — but there are also plenty of trails for beginners.
Vibe: The resort at Taos Ski Valley has plenty to keep you occupied —Swiss-style chalets, cafes, and bars for apres-ski — but it's best to drive the 18 miles into the town of Taos to really see why people love this place. Once an ancient pueblo desert town, Taos today is a quaint artsy town with five museums, several art galleries, and a small and walkable downtown area.
Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort, Bend, Oregon
Daily lift ticket: $76
Mountain stats: Mt. Bachelor has nearly 3,700 acres of lift-accessible terrain and an average annual snowfall of 387 inches. There's a vertical drop of 3,365 feet.
Vibe: With 12 breweries and two more slated to open this year, the town of Bend is a beer lover's dream. When you're not skiing or drinking beer, explore the shops and galleries in the historic Old Mill District or take a yoga class in one of the town's many yoga studios.
Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Crested Butte, Colorado
Daily lift ticket: $95
Mountain stats: There are almost 1,550 acres of skiable terrain and a vertical drop of almost 3,000 feet. It's an extremely high altitude mountain; the summit elevation is at 12,162 feet and even the base is high at 9,375 feet.
Vibe: About a four hour-drive from Denver, the Crested Butt Mountain Resort is very family-friendly and it's rarely crowded. Once a small mining town, Crested Butte, which is just a few miles from the mountain, embodies old Colorado. Yet it also has a laid-back funky vibe. There are no big chain stores or fancy restaurants here — just cool local mom and pop spots frequented by the artists, outdoor enthusiasts, and creative types who call this town home.
Alpine Meadows, Tahoe City, California
Daily lift ticket: $99
Mountain stats: Founded in 1961, Alpine has over 100 trails and about 2,400 acres of skiable terrain. The area gets over 450 inches of snow each year, which makes for great, powdery skiing.
Vibe: Lake Tahoe has seven major ski resorts, but Alpine is one of the lesser-known gems. The family-friendly resort, which recently merged with the massive nearby Squaw Valley resort, has a laid-back feel and a wide variety of trails for all levels. The nearby town of Truckee, Calif., is a great place to base yourself.