Strong Like 10,000 Midgets

Mont-Tremblant: The History of Château Beauvallon

Contributed by Julie Lepsetz

The history of Château Beauvallon is closely intertwined with the story and development of Mont-Tremblant. Both owe thanks to an adventurous Philadelphian named Joseph Bondurant Ryan, whose great vision, determination and love of the region left an indelible imprint on Tremblant and helped fundamentally shape its destiny.
Born at the turn of the century, Joe Ryan was the grandson of Thomas Fortune Ryan, one of America's wealthiest railway tycoons. Along with his fortune, the younger Ryan inherited his grandfather's ambition. Ryan also possessed a love of exploration, wilderness and travelling.

In 1938, Ryan visited Mont-Tremblant for the first time, and after an arduous, unaided climb to the highest peak, fell in love with the mountain. From that point on, his life's goal would be to make the mountain accessible to others, and to transform the region into a world-class alpine village.

In 1939, Ryan married Mary Rutherford, and Mont-Tremblant was officially inaugurated. By the end of the year, Time magazine noted the Laurentians were a popular destination for American skiers, and Mont-Tremblant was the newest fashionable meeting place.

Joe and Mary Ryan opened the original Château Beauvallon in 1942. Initially meant to be a clubhouse for a golf course that was never built, the Château nevertheless became an important landmark in the Mont-Tremblant region. In 1949, the Ryans sold Château Beauvallon to Harry and Isabelle Stokes, who would run the inn for the next 11 years.

Throughout the 1950s, Château Beauvallon became the destination for parties. It was known as the best late-night watering hole in the region, where friends came together to relax. Guests poured their own drinks, wrote their own bills and enjoyed great food and live jazz sessions.

Château Beauvallon changed hands throughout the 1960s, but found more permanent proprietors in 1976. Alex and Judy Riddell renovated the property and operated it as a country inn, one that slept up to 30 people. Actor Paul Newman was a guest during the 1980s, and Alex Riddell took him skiing for a day.

In 1998, the Riddell's sold Château Beauvallon to RHK Developments, who closed the aging inn. In 2003, the empty building was sold to Groupe Avantage, and plans were laid to resurrect the concept of the Château.

Today, Château Beauvallon has undergone a complete renaissance. The brand new, 70-suite resort hotel evokes the charm and spirit of the original inn, while offering more a luxurious space and modern amenities. The perfect melange of past and present, Château Beauvallon remains a destination where family and friends can come together.

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Julie Lepsetz is Director of Media Relations for Château Beauvallon—an extraordinary 70-suite Mont-Tremblant resort hotel built on a private, masterfully-landscaped setting in the heart of the magnificent Laurentian Mountains. Visit Château Beauvallon's website today http://www.chateaubeauvallon.com to book your ski vacation getaway or email the hotel at info@chateaubeauvallon.com. You may also call Château Beauvallon at 888-245-4030.

XPN - The 885 All Time Greatest Albums

For the last few weeks I've been enjoying the WXPN 885 All Time Greatest Albums countdown. As a jaded radio listener I must confess that the countdown was an extremely enjoyable experience. It was so eclectic. One minute it's Crosby Stills & Nash followed by Public Enemy then Frank Sinatra followed by John Coltrane. For this music lover it was radio at its best.

Here's the Top 50. If you interested in the whole click here to download the entire list.

Incidently, my favorite album of all time is Quadrophenia by the Who. I'm glad to see it made the Top 50.



Position Artist/Band Album
1 BEATLES Abbey Road
2 BEATLES Sgt. Pepper's
3 PINK FLOYD Dark Side of the Moon
5 BOB DYLAN Blood on the Tracks
4 BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN Born To Run
6 BEATLES White Album
7 U2 Joshua Tree
8 CLASH London Calling
9 BEATLES Revolver
10 BEATLES Rubber Soul
11 WHO Who's Next
12 GRATEFUL DEAD American Beauty
13 JONI MITCHELL Blue
14 MILES DAVIS Kinda Blue
15 RADIOHEAD OK Computer
16 BOB DYLAN Highway 61 Revisited
17 ROLLING STONES Exile on Main Street
18 PAUL SIMON Graceland
19 BOB DYLAN Blonde On Blonde
20 VAN MORRISON Moondance
21 BEACH BOYS Pet Sounds
22 ALLMAN BROTHERS Live At Fillmore East
23 CAROLE KING Tapestry
24 DAVID BOWIE Ziggy Stardust
25 COUNTING CROWS August & Everything After
26 BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN The Wild, The Innocent…
27 JEFF BUCKLEY Grace
28 LED ZEPPELIN Led Zeppelin IV
29 PINK FLOYD The Wall
30 STEELY DAN Aja
31 NIRVANA Nevermind
32 NEIL YOUNG After The Gold Rush
33 ROLLING STONES Let It Bleed
34 PEARL JAM Ten
35 CSN&Y Déjà Vu
36 FLEETWOOD MAC Rumors
37 ROLLING STONES Sticky Fingers
38 U2 Achtung Baby
39 JIMI HENDRIX Are You Experienced?
40 DEREK & THE DOMINOES Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs
41 WHO Quadrophenia
42 JIMI HENDRIX Electric Ladyland
43 NEIL YOUNG Harvest
44 JONI MITCHELL Court & Spark
45 DAVID GRAY White Ladder
46 LUCINDA WILLIAMS Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
47 BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN Greetings from Asbury Park…
48 LED ZEPPELIN Physical Graffiiti
49 BAND The Band
50 VAN MORRISON Astral Weeks

Funky Friday: Sex Machine and The Crunge

Nothing like waking up and beginning the day with Soul Brother No. 1 - Mr. James Brown. Today's Funky Friday selection is "Sex Machine." Released in 1970, "Sex Machine" is one of James' finest moments. This song is a perfect combination of drum, bass, guitar, and two voice call and response. In fact, rock critic Robert Christgau believes, "that when James modulates to the bridge it's like the Spirit of God moving upon the face of the waters. After that he could describe his cars for three sides and get away with it." "Sex Machine" is a perfect funk song.

James Brown - Sex Machine

Now, one can't talk about "Sex Machine" without mentioning Led Zeppelin's "The Crunge." Released in 1973, "The Crunge" was originally a drums and bass workout for John Bonham and John Paul Jones. Robert Plant added some lyrics paying homage to the James' "Sex Machine" funk vibe, throwing in a bunch of references to other artists such as Wilson Picket and Otis Redding, and one of his most famous ad-libs, in his best Masterpiece Theatre accent, "Where's that confounded bridge?" Long before I discovered James Brown I used to dismiss this song. Simply put, I hated this song. After I found James and realized it was ok to like "black music" I circled back to "The Crunge" and understood it's beauty and the bit about the bridge.

Led Zeppelin - The Crunge

Pearl Jam - October 3, 2005

I've been seeing rock shows for years and for the most part I really can't tell you much about them. Oh sure, I can tell you a song or two they might have played. Or maybe if I really think about it I can tell you what they were wearing or what the stage looked like but that's about it. That's not really the case anymore. The internet has changed all that. Now, a few hours you see a show you can go online and find the set list, pictures, and in some cases actual songs from the show.

Last night I saw Pearl Jam for the fourth time. You want to know what they played? You want to see some pictures? You want to hear a few songs? Enjoy.

Pearl Jam - Philadelphia, PA: Wachovia Center - October 3, 2005

Harvest Moon
Little Sister
Leaving Here / Rockin' in the Free World
Yellow Ledbetter

  

  

  

    


First Set
01. wash
02. hail, hail
03. brain of j
04. spin the black circle
05. given to fly
06. sad
07. alone
08. even flow
09. green disease
10. faithfull
11. whipping
12. not for you
13. leatherman
14. betterman
15. nothingman
16. once
17. bleed for me
18. blood

First Encore
19. around the bend
20. harvest moon [w/sleater-kinney]
21. hard to imagine
22. crown of thorns
23. crazy mary
24. alive

Second Encore
25. last kiss
26. in my tree
27. do the evolution
28. sonic reducer
29. little sister
30. leaving here [w/sleater-kinney]
31. rockin' in the free world [w/sleater-kinney]
32. yellow ledbetter

Believe it or not - this is a happy scream