Dec. 31 was an action-packed evening on the streets and in establishments around the valley. While some opted to avoid the late-night revelry in favor of skinning up to a hut and taking it easy under the crescent moon, others howled till the wee hours.

In Aspen, private parties took place at The Sky, Bruno's, Cantina, Elevation, Pacifica and beyond. Eric's, The Little Nell and Bar Aspen opened their doors for a cover charge including complimentary Champagne toasts at the midnight hour. Aspen Peak hosted their annual New Year's Eve bash at the Sundeck for Heidi Klum, Seal and a few hundred of the magazine's closest friends and associates. Guests likened the lift line that snaked through the gondola plaza that night to one found first thing on a powder day.

The St. Regis staged the inaugural Snow Ball in the grand ballroom as a benefit for Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club. The crowd was entertained by 70's band Boogielicious. A breakfast buffet was served after midnight, which included Mimosa and Bloody Mary bars. Aspen Branch, Rocky Mountain Connections and Pearl Vodka sponsored the elaborate affair.

A popular option for the downvalley crowd was to mark the New Year at Phat Thai in Carbondale at their Black Thai affair.

Vogel said she's received a positive response to the first edition of the magazine, which was launched this Fourth of July.

A number of local writers, business owners, and personalities contributed to the magazine. "I found that there were so many people who wanted to write about certain topics, waiting for a certain outlet to do that," she said.

Niche Media's other publications feature photos from parties and fund-raisers, and the first issue of ASPEN PEAK included several similar pages. "It is a major part of our local coverage, because there are a lot of nonprofit events that deserve national attention," Vogel said. "It's nice to have people who live here and own shops here exposed on a national level."

"What I'm trying to create is a strong lifestyle coffee-table book that speaks with local people, not at them," publisher Jason Binn said. "If someone calls from another city around the world and says 'I've read and heard so much about Aspen, send me something that really represents what Aspen is about, and they're sent ASPEN PEAK, I'll know what I did was really successful."