Snow Lodge Aspen Hosts Season-Closing Benefit for Black Coffee Foundation

The Snow Lodge at Aspen's St. Regis hotel concluded its 2026 winter season with a series of closing parties in late March, culminating in a fundraising event for the Black Coffee Foundation. Founded by Jayma Cardoso, who also established Montauk's Surf Lodge, the Snow Lodge has evolved from a pandemic-era experiment into a prominent après-ski destination that transforms the hotel's courtyard into an outdoor club featuring internationally recognized DJs. The final weekend attracted hundreds of attendees dressed in elaborate western-inspired fashion, including influencer Lily Chee in vintage Dior leather pants, models from Brazil and Los Angeles in suede jackets and cowboy boots, designer Natalie De'Banco in bordeaux mock-croc shorts, and VIPs like Melissa Wood-Tepperberg and Rebecca Hessel Cohen of LoveShackFancy. South African DJ Black Coffee, born Nkosinathi 'Nathi' Innocent Maphumulo, performed around 4:30 p.m., after which the Green Vision Foundation organized an intimate fundraising dinner at Marea restaurant to support his nonprofit. Established in 2010, the Black Coffee Foundation focuses on educational access for underserved and disabled children and women's empowerment initiatives, inspired by Maphumulo's own childhood experience of being paralyzed in his left arm at age 13 after a car accident during Nelson Mandela's release celebration. The dinner featured Italian family-style cuisine, '70s disco music curated by Pamela Tick, and a birthday celebration for Maphumulo's 50th with a chocolate cake while Stevie Wonder's 'Happy Birthday' played. The event highlighted how the Snow Lodge has revitalized Aspen's après-ski culture while supporting philanthropic causes.