From former Vice President Al Gore to Jersey Shore’s Paul DelVecchio (aka Pauly D) and the multi-talented James Franco, famous pols and celebrities were scattered across Colorado over the weekend. In Aspen, Gore delivered the keynote address for a symposium on climate change and the West, focusing on the rapidly declining health of Colorado’s forests, reports the Aspen Times. But, as he pointed out, “Trees are far from the only life form giving us a clear signal. Thousands of species are reacting to this new reality we have created on the planet” (via the Colorado Independent).

First lady Michelle Obama and her daughters were also in the high country, but not with a political agenda: The Vail Daily notes the Obamas kept a “low profile” on their buzz-worthy ski vacation, although the paper did manage to snap a couple pics. Back in the metro area, the Boulder International Film Festival honored James Franco and Oliver Stone with the Vanguard and Master of Cinema awards, respectively, although some audience members left the Franco appearance on Saturday not-so-quietly mumbling about the “at times painfully awkward” interview conducted by the festival’s Ron Bostwick, writes the Camera. (We were in attendance that night and couldn’t agree more.)

Meanwhile, Westword got up close with DJ Pauly D, “Jersey Shore‘s most drama-free character,” at Beta nightclub Friday, taking stock of the gone-wild crowd.