May Selby, Corporate Director of PR for The Little Nell Hotel Group, Shares Her Aspen Favorites
PHOTOGRAPHED BY ESTHER LEE LEACH
WRITTEN BY ANNIE BLOJ // CULTURE & STYLE EDITOR
LOCATION: CLAYTON MEMBERS CLUB & HOTEL
When Cherry Creek Fashion had the good fortune to visit Aspen this past winter for an interview with Paula Crown, we also felt an instant connection with May Selby. May is the head of public relations for The Little Nell Hotel Group, the hospitality division of Aspen Skiing Company. Aspen has been home to May since she moved there shortly after graduating from CU Boulder in the 90s. Married to Troy Selby, chef/owner of local favorite restaurant Silverpeak Grill and mom to eight-year-old Remy, May is as busy as you can imagine. In her "spare" time, she manages to fit in marathon training, moonlights as DJ Mayfly, and writes the society column for The Aspen Times. We were so happy to have her here in Denver at The Clayton Members Club & Hotel recently, which offers the same home-away-from-home feel as The Little Nell Hotel Group’s properties, which include The Little Nell and Residences at The Little Nell in Aspen, as well as the Limelight Hotels in Aspen and Snowmass.
Annie Bloj: May! It is often rare to meet people that have made their home in the destination mountain towns. What does living in Aspen mean to you?
May Selby: I am grateful every day to call Aspen home, it truly feels like a blend of everything that matters to me. Aspen offers a productive and caring community, an athletic and adventure-filled lifestyle, an abundance of cultural organizations and programming, international connections on many levels, and we love raising our child with wonderful schools, camps, and outdoor activities.
AB: Can you share five of your favorite local places to shop, eat and drink that visitors new to Aspen might not know about - and why you love them?
MS: 1. Ajax Tavern at The Little Nell for lunch, drinks, or dinner. It’s set at the base of Aspen Mountain with a cozy bistro interior and a sun-soaked patio outside that stretches to the grass in summer and serves as the perfect ski-in/ski-out spot in winter. I recommend the Cauliflower Gratin as an appetizer, the Lobster Roll is surprisingly delicious for a main or on an indulgent day, you can’t miss The Wagyu Double Burger with truffle fries on the side.
2. Ellina - This Italian restaurant opened in 2009 and has since changed hands, now run by a sommelier/ owner, Jill Carnevale who’s a dear friend of mine. She knows her wine (with 1500 on the list) and loves serving guests in the bar, dining room, and patio on the Hyman Avenue pedestrian mall. My recs are the gruyère polenta croutons and ahi tuna tartare as starters then the assortment of single-order tacos.
3. Silverpeak Grill - I’m a bit biased, being married to chef/owner Troy Selby, but I genuinely love this restaurant and open kitchen with its counter-service format. Specialties include burgers (bison, beef, turkey, etc), Wahoo fish tacos, the Hana fish wrap, hand-cut fries, salads, quesadillas, and more. They also installed a great outdoor dining area on the street this summer, which offers a great open-air experience.
4. The Little Bird is a charming consignment store specializing in vintage and current high-end luxury productsincluding handbags, shoes, clothing, and more. It reminds me of Kouture Consignment in Cherry Creek with an amazing female owner (Keele Loyd at The Little Bird, Janice Smith at Kouture) and great finds. My favorite purchase from The Little Bird was when I scored a pair of L.A.M.B. high-top wedge sneakers there a few years ago and still love and wear them frequently.
5. True Nature Healing Artsdown valley in Carbondale is my top spot for a massage. With views of Mount Sopris, the setting is a sanctuary for connection and self-discovery. Along with a full complement of traditional spa offerings, they offer daily classes in yoga, movement and meditation, and more
AB: When were you promoted to your current role of Corporate Director of PR for The Little Nell Hotel Group and what are your favorite parts of the position?
MS: I joined The Nell in late 2014 to oversee PR and social media. Just this summer of 2021, I was promoted to oversee both PR and social media for the hospitality division as a whole. I love storytelling, which encompasses connecting our knowledgeable team with media, sharing updates and engaging on social media, and always keeping the guest experience front of mind. The Little Nell and its sister hotel brand, the Limelight, share a strong sense of place with an emphasis on establishing traditions for guests while weaving in offerings that honor the place and celebrate their locations.
AB: There are so many projects in the works for The Little Nell Hotel Group, can you share what the team is working on?
MS: We have a lot of exciting developments that all will be unveiled starting in November of 2021 for ski season! An all-new Limelight Aspen, which is currently undergoing a top-to-bottom renovation by Stonehill Taylor of New York.
The Aspen Mountain Club at The Little Nell is undergoing an extensive renovation by Luis Bustamante Interior Design of Spain, the firm responsible for The Little Nell’s stunning living room and lobby renovation that debuted last fall. From spring through fall of 2021, The Bustamante team is expanding the club’s footprint and bringing a contemporary aesthetic, as well as more programming. Aspen Skiing Company is celebrating its 75th anniversary starting this ski season with an array of exciting news, events, promotions, and ways to engage with our guests and staff.
AB: May, you must know that Esther (Lee Leach) and I both adore you even though we were only able to spend a short amount of time together (the blizzard of 2020 chased us down the mountain). We are so inspired by your journey and the level of excellence that you operate at on a daily basis. Your energy is infectious and you bring a level of curiosity that is a joy to be around. We can’t wait to have you back in Denver and head back to Aspen as soon as possible!
May Selby: @allthewaymaymay
The Little Nell: @thelittlenell
Writer: @theblojreport
Photographer: @estherleeleach