Meet Malia Jones | Special Events Director at the Center for the Arts & Director of the Crested Butte Wine + Food Festival

We had the good fortune of connecting with Malia Jones and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Malia, what role has risk played in your life or career?
In my life, risk has never been a distant concept—it’s been a companion. I define risk as a dance with vulnerability. The very notion involves willingly exposing myself to complete annihilation or, on the flip side, to unimaginable growth. I’ve discovered that my most rewarding moments and accomplishments stem from instances where I admitted, “I don’t know what I’m doing.”

For most of my younger years, I lived life by the book. I ticked off all the ‘supposed-to-dos’: excelling academically, going to a top college, and raising a family. However, at the age of 30, I came out as a lesbian, which meant rewriting the narrative of my life completely. This was a leap into an unknown where the risks were high but the promise of self-discovery was even higher. I had to deconstruct the identity that society, and even I myself, had laid out for me, and start building it from the ground up.

When I look back at that period, I realize I was shedding skins, collecting knowledge, and seeking alignment with my authentic self. Whether it was rediscovering my love for the arts, immersing myself in the culinary world, or trying to navigate the nuances of queer culture, each step was an exercise in vulnerability. Each was a risk.

My professional journey, too, has been a series of calculated risks, most notably in taking over as the Special Events Director for the Crested Butte Wine + Food Festival. With no prior experience in event management, I relied on my foundational skill set—an English major’s knack for weaving narratives— to give the festival a thematic essence. In 2022, under the theme of “What Home Tastes Like,” I invited chefs and winemakers to explore this idea, making the festival not just an event, but a story told through food and wine.

So, for me, risk is like shedding a map and navigating by instinct. The moment you let go of predetermined paths, you can focus on the journey rather than the destination. This approach has led me to places I’d never have thought possible, be it a fulfilling career, meaningful relationships, or a deep sense of home and belonging.

In a way, risk is not just a factor; it’s the compass by which I navigate life. It’s terrifying, yes, but the reward is the extraordinary woman I’ve discovered in myself.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I only realized I was an artist this year. Previously, I viewed myself as an event planner or a “purveyor of the good times”. My friend, sommelier Tre Gerbitz, introduced me to a term from Danny Meyer: ‘hospitalitarian’. It’s someone driven by the pleasure of delivering pleasure to others. Unbeknownst to me, I’d been practicing this art of hospitality through roles as a homemaker, waitress, bartender, and restaurant owner. Now, I craft this experience at the Crested Butte Wine + Food Festival. To me, the Crested Butte Wine + Food Festival isn’t just a sequence of events—it’s a poem, each event a unique stanza. When I assumed responsibility for the festival in 2022, I introduced an overarching theme. My background as an English major helped navigate this approach. In 2022, our theme was “Home”, with each chef and winemaker expressing their unique tastes of home. For instance, Chef Mawa McQueen’s event combined her Ivorian Coast roots with artists from Guinea’s Kissidugu Foundation, transporting us to West Africa for a night. For 2023, our theme “Salt” delved into its many connotations. The “Seasoned” dinner, for example, celebrated the resilience and ‘grit’ of Abby Knowles of XIT Ranch.
Reinventing a decade-old festival does present challenges. Some attendees might be jolted from their expectations of a straightforward gourmet evening, puzzled by interjections of art and metaphors. I’ve learned from experiences where my over-ambition marred the event’s essence. There were nights of misaligned chefs, forgotten courses, or cold soups. Such setbacks occurred when I tried to overproduce or overshadow the artists I collaborated with.
Guided by Colorado Poet Laureate Andrea Gibson’s wisdom, “Be brave enough to make art nobody loves but you”, I’m learning to hone my focus on hospitality, entrusting the interpretation to my guests. The meaning resonates with those open to it, while everyone appreciates a well-crafted meal. I now aim to balance both, ensuring every guest leaves the table with something valuable: be it a meal, a sense of meaning, or both.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There are some not-to-miss spots in Crested Butte no matter the season. Elk Avenue is the town’s main thoroughfare filled with shops, restaurants, and attractions. Strolling down Elk is a great way to take in what Crested Butte has on offer. Families with little ones will appreciate the Trailhead Children’s Museum, located at the corner of Elk and 5th street, where kids can come in for hands-on play and craft when the weather is unfavorable. Don’t miss a cup of tea or coffee as you peruse the shelves of Townie Books down the street. Check out what yoga classes are on offer at Thrive Yoga before scoring some souvenirs at Favor the Kind in the heart of town. With its flags and loud decor, the Secret Stash is a tempting destination for lunch, but locals trade the crowds there for a quiet lunch at Miette down the street which serves perfectly appointed lunches during the day and elevated French fare in the evening under the name Soupcon. The best meal in Crested Butte is at The Breadery featuring a delicious menu of seasonal specials, a top-notch cocktail menu, and artisanal flatbreads. Purchasing a boule from The Breadery to munch on late-night in your hotel room when all of the restaurants are closed is a boon after late nights. For late-night fun on Elk Avenue visit the “bar-muda triangle” catching happy hour with the locals at Kochevar’s Saloon, tasting local brews at the Eldo, and capping your night off at the Talk of the Town which is hands-down one of the best dive bars in Colorado. Turn up the music on the jukebox, check out the snowboard-centric art on the walls, and chat with the owner, Mary Boddington, a professional snowboarder about what’s good to ride right now. To flesh out your schedule, visit the Center for the Arts to peruse the gallery and see what live performances and classes are available during your stay. An intimate live music show at the Public House or production at the Mountain Theatre are also top-notch experiences. To get the real low-down on Crested Butte, a stop in to the Crested Butte Heritage Museum will tour you through Crested Butte history and you might be able to catch one of Glo Cunningham’s famous “Locals Tours” walking through the history (and hauntings) of old mining Crested Butte.
The Town of Mount Crested Butte, where the ski resort is located, has some excellent destinations. Cruise into the Elevation Hotel to grab a drink at the Billy Barr in the lobby, named after the famed climate scientist from Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory whose work measuring snowpack over the last 40 years has advanced the field of climate science.
If you’re a fan of outdoor adventure a horseback ride with Fantasy Ranch up Snodgrass or a dog sled tour of the backcountry with Cosmic Cruisers are a great way to get out and about. Fans of hiking should visit Judd Falls in Gothic (please don’t fall down the falls) and stop in to visit the scientists at Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory who summer in the small town to conduct field research.
Three Rivers Resort is the destination for all those who love rafting and fly fishing. Every river trip is capped off perfectly with a hearty meal at the Almont Resort following your adventure.
If you have a car and are able to make the drive, the single place not to miss in the valley is 1880 Tapas & Spirits in Gunnison. The chef, Pat Manning, has cooked in the James Beard house and his seasonal offerings of Spanish tapas are unrivaled … everywhere. This is one of the best restaurants you will ever eat at and Pat with his wife Kate have created the perfect atmosphere of elevated cuisine and cocktails in a casual environment that is kind to the pocketbook. Catch Pat and 1880 Tapas & Spirits before they get famous.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My success is inextricably linked to the love and unwavering support of my family. My parents were my first mentors in risk. They taught me the rules; then gave me the audacity to challenge norms, to break those rules when they no longer served my authentic self. It was through their example that I learned true liberation lies in the courage to reinvent oneself in alignment with one’s passions. However, the cornerstone of my courage, the foundation that enables me to leap into the unknown, is my wife, Alex. Our love story is a testament to the transformative power of risk. Alex uprooted her life, leaving Sydney, Australia, to join me in Crested Butte—a breathtaking leap of faith. Together, we’ve found that the dreams we dared to whisper can indeed become our reality when we risk it all for love and passion.
So, if there are names that deserve to be spotlighted in the story of my life, it’s my family and my wife. My parents equipped me with the tools to build a passionate life but Alex offers me the courage to live one.

Website: www.cbwineandfood.org

Instagram: @cbwineandfood

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/malia-jones-keepup

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crestedbuttewineandfood

Image Credits
Nolan Blunck