It used to be that turning 30 was approached quietly and with caution. I recall my mother “turning 29″ year after year and not questioning the chronology ” or lack thereof. Only when my uncle ” her younger brother ” turned 29 was I provoked to question the claim. I vividly remember looking at my mother, who in turn looked at me, then maintained she was still 29. I was only five at the time, but clearly remember struggling with the concept ” how could she and he possibly be the same age? It never dawned on me that my mom was the perpetrator of a little white lie.

Nowadays, armed with the notion that wisdom seems to come with age, hitting the 30-year mark is welcomed and often celebrated. The once maligned milepost has become an emblem of a new and exciting chapter ” the portal to the next best decade.

For Aspen Plum TV’s executive producer, Sari Tuschman, turning 30 was a reason to ring in her birthday with a special celebration with friends and fellow workers. Alix O’Brien, Jamie Miller, Erin Lentz, Karrie Brown and Angela Konop hosted a soiree for Sari at The Wine Spot on Saturday, Oct. 6. The crisp fall weather that night lent itself to the cozy corner bar in the Hyatt Grand Aspen. Wine Spot owner and venerable host Seth Hollar poured Pinot Noir and other varietals from the extensive wine list, which was complemented by light appetizers and lively conversation. Friends from her current and previous places of employment joined in the festivities, including former locals Missy Spencer and Jamie Miller who happened to be in town for the celebration.

“It was great to spend the big birthday with so many friends and coworkers who have come to mean so much to me in my eight years in Aspen,” Sari said afterward. “My friends in their 30s keep telling me how great it is, so I have a really good feeling about this new chapter!”