The ‘Crown-ing’ glory of Aspen party scene

SEEN ON THE SCENE: As usual, the party hosted by Renee and Lester Crown atop Ajax Mountain in Aspen, Colorado on July 4^th was T-H-E party of the busy holiday weekend in the popular Rocky Mountain resort village. Decked out in a red-white-and-blue flag-themed ensemble — with patriotic-colored jewels to match– Renee was joined by her husband and most of their family in welcoming a Who’s Who of both the Chicago and national scenes. Among the very visibles sighted — happily enjoying a Chicago-themed gourmet spread were Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Pulitzer Prize winners Thomas Friedman and Walter Isaacson (“Jobs”), cosmetics giant Leonard Lauder, Michael Eisner, former congresswoman Jane Harman, Joan Harris, Alan Muchin, Joan Steel, Michael Sacks, John Madigan, Tom Gorman, Corinne Wood, and Lynda and Peter Bynoe. … The Aspen party scene also included a fete at the Snowmaas estate of former Quaker Oats CEO Bill Smithburg and his wife Maria — managing to oversee a major party while on crutches, as broken bones healed from being accidentally blown off her bike by a Chicago streetcleaner’s power-washing blast of water. The Smithburgs’ soiree included Miles and Kim White, Carol and John Walter, Holly Hunt, Playboy legend Barbi Benton, Irene Michaels, Arny Granat, Billy Marovitz, and Robin and Mark Tebbe.

†Meanwhile back in Chicago, the Bulls’ Taj Gibson was spotted celebrating our nation’s birthday at Drumbar, atop the Raffaello Hotel. … Ditto, separately, was “Chicago P.D’s” Laroyce Hawkins. … Actor Colin Egglesfield was among those spied enjoying the great holiday weekend weather — checking out the passing scene on the Gibsons patio on Rush.