Denver Deluxe Music Festival | Combining Burgers, Beer and Community
Denver’s music and event scene continues to expand and this weekend there’s a new (mini) music festival happening in RiNo. The Denver Deluxe Music Festival is a block party presented by Park Burger featuring 10 Barrel Brewing Co. who is building their first Colorado location across the street! They'll have two stages of live music playing all day, as well as a few burger and brew stations throughout. All ticket proceeds benefit Denver Urban Gardens, which means you can feel good about partying!
We spoke with Tobias Krause of Two Parts, a local company specializing in food and booze events in the Mile High City. From curating The Westword Music Showcase to the Breck Brew Hootenanny Krause has earned his stripes as a Denver socialite and event guru. Krause said it was Park Burger’s idea back in December to celebrate the summer and their new locations opening around Colorado this year. We can totally relate with dreaming about and planning summer events in the middle of winter! Music, the community, local beer, along with great burgers of course, is what the Park Burger culture is all about. They really wanted to merge all of these things and have a music festival type party because, “food and music naturally go together, they’re comforting, and create a good time,” says Krause. They also wanted to focus on making it an affordable festival option in the heart of the city, while still being able to give proceeds to a local charity at the end of the day.
Coordinating a festival comes with its own set of "to-dos" but for many, Krause included, the most exciting aspect is always booking the talent. When it came time for Two Parts to coordinate with Park Burger in creating the musical lineup they decided to take a different route. “We put a bunch of names out there and went after the bands we’d selected to see who was available. We wanted a lineup that would be approachable and enjoyable for most listeners.” It was also important to them to differentiate their lineup from the other music festivals happening around Denver to make their party different and unique. That ended up becoming a lineup of Reggae, Jam bands, and some Blues and Rock & Roll, which we feel fits just right with a summer block party. After the headlining band The Original Wailers, a late night set starting at 8pm will feature Rob Drabkin, followed by Technicolor Tone Factory on the Park Burger patio! So grab a burger, a beer, and sway the day away.
Music Line-up:
The Original Wailers
The Hip Abduction
Rob Drabkin
Musketeer Gripweed
Jonathon Boogie Long
Technicolor Tone Factory
ATOMGA
Park Burger RiNo – 2615 Walnut St
$20 Festival Pass — entry, access to all live music, 1 beer token
$30 Deluxe Festival Pass — entry, access to all live music, Deluxe Burger by Park Burger (beef / veggie options), 2 beer tokens
We also had a chance to chat with ATOMGA, the Park Burger house band for the day. They are playing half hour sets in between the main stage sets, “It’s going to be a really unique and also challenging set up to arrange our show in this (incremental) way. We’ve never done anything like this and our songs are all really long, so we’ve been figuring out the set list.”
ATOMGA started back in 2011 with a whopping twelve members, down to just ten these days, and aim to be purveyors of afrobeat to the masses. “Our musical backbone is clearly influenced by Fela Kuti, Orlando Julius, and other afrobeat forefathers, but we can't help but naturally infuse styles that we grew up,” they explain. You'll hear the likes of blues, funk, and progressive rock laced throughout their music. “When you see people from all walks of life getting down to our performances coupled with compliments from Femi Kuti's [Fela Kuti's eldest son] band saying 'Those white people play some great lines!,' then we feel like we're achieving exactly what we set out to do!” At their ongoing show Saturday you’ll see great horn arrangements, guitars, piano, and jazzy bits with lots of good rhythm. ATOMGA is “one good ol’ happy family of musicians”.
They’re very excited to play Park Burger’s first music festival and were specifically asked if they would be the official house band of the show, having worked with event company Two Parts before. They’ve also started to become a regular in the Colorado music scene playing the Crestone, CO Music Festival, Taste of Fort Collins, Tour de Fat in Fort Collins, Durango’s Oktoberfest, and Arise Music Festival in Loveland. They will be embarking on their first Midwest Tour next month! Between their love for parties, burgers and a chance to share a bill with The Original Wailers, ATOMGA is stoked to be a part of the first annual Denver Deluxe Music Festival and plans on dancing the day away with you all!
What Independent Dining Means to Denver | Interview with EatDenver Executive Director Adam Schlegel
All Photos from, From The Hip Photography
To Denver dwellers our local dining scene is so much more than a place to grab a bite after work. Food brings people together, it differentiates us from other cities and it defines our culture. The Big Eat curated by EatDenver celebrates Denver's originality and growth while highlighting our local pioneers in the culinary field. Bringing together 50+ locally owned and operated restaurants is no easy feat... But, for EatDenver it's a labor of love and devotion to this great city we're all lucky enough to call home. Executive Director, Adam Schlegel is bursting with Denver pride and it's easy for us to see why. Over the past decade Denver has grown from a small awkward batch of Arby's and Chili's on the 16th Street Mall to a diverse and thriving dining scene scattered throughout multiple neighborhoods. The Big Eat is a representation of Denver, how far we've come and where we're headed... Join us in celebrating this amazing city next Thursday, July 14th from 6pm - 9pm at the DCPA. Tickets include unlimited food and booze from the best restaurants our fair city has to offer, purchase them here: http://eatdenver.com/the-big-eat-2016/
We had the opportunity to chat with Big Eat Executive Director Adam Schlegel about Denver pride and his go to restaurant choices for every occasion.
We believe that community is what sets Denver apart from the bigger cities. Where did you get the idea to bring together 50+ restaurateurs and how did you make it a reality?
EatDenver represents a tremendous community, over 130 locally owned, independent restaurants. The mere fact that an organization like this exists is a testament to our sense of community, of collaboration and working towards rising the tide. EatDenver began in 2007 when a group of local owners got together in discussing what works, what hurts, how to ensure our people realize the emergence of the Denver dining scene. Over the past ten years, our organization has developed to not only highlight this to everyone, but also create open dialogue and share experiences. We all have hard times finding enough staff, get into a jam with refrigerators that go out, or want to unite and discover better sustainability practices. Indeed the highlight of EatDenver now lies in the network, working with newbies to our forebearers in the restaurant industry to continue highlighting the importance of your locally owned, independently ran dining scene.
Restaurants are so often a part of community events, and it just so happens that those so often asked represent EatDenver. What could be better than working with our dynamic group and building towards a celebration of food, hospitality, drink and the essence of Denver?
Denver’s recent surge in popularity has also sparked an uptake in our independent restaurant scene. We are seeing chefs who would have previously only worked in New York, Chicago and LA move to the Mile High. Why do you think these chefs are opting for a smaller city like Denver?
Denver feels like the land of opportunity. It represents this incredible lifestyle and ethic that work can fuel your passion. In Denver, you can create new, can find opportunities, and you’re constantly surrounded by an entrepreneurial and altruistic audience. It’s hard to make that splash in the bigger cities. There is a genuine belief, certainly in the many chefs and restaurateurs that I’m fortunate to work with, that Denver can and should be the next great city. The opportunity to have a hand in that is so exciting.
This is not a favorites game… but if you had to choose one Denver Big Eat restaurant for the following occasions which one would it be:
Ugh. Not my favorite game at all, and my role is a bit Switzerland. And since we have two little ones, dining isn’t as frequent as we’d like. That said, I’ll take roll call from my most recent endeavours:
Rooftop: Avanti. It’s just silly, and the bar team there is incredible.
Afterwork drinks: Ace. Especially in the summer. LowDown Brewery as well. And Vine St. I like to explore this category.
Adventurous cocktail: The Way Back. That Chad’s pretty good at his craft.
Date night: Our last date night was progressive, drink/app @ Vesta, my wife insists on always going to ChoLon, bite at The Kitchen, then to oysters @ Jax Downtown, finish up at Mercantile.
Family dinner: Park Burger on Quebec is an absolute constant in our routine.
Vegetarian: Root Down.Brought some out of towners/vegetarians from Copenhagen here and it may have actually convinced them to move to Denver.
Creativity: Work & Class checks a lot of the boxes, but playfulness with adventure is definitely one of the standouts.
Atmosphere: Beatrice & Woodsley is one of my favorite spots to lose yourself. A whiskey cocktail at the bar and you feel like writing.
Dessert: dBar. Pretty sure this makes up all of the cake my family has eaten in the past 5 years.
What do you think independent dining brings to a community? How can the impact of independent restaurateurs be measured?
I often live in a bubble, but I honestly think it’s a driving force behind helping to create this world class city. It’s a testament to where you’ve been and where you are going. Food is culture, where folks meet, celebrate, and engage. And if I think of some of the most vibrant, creative, and impactful cities, independent dining and food show such deep roots.
Independent restauranteurs are just like artists; the first into neighborhoods, to paint outside the lines, be bold and throw their heart & soul into work. The fact that Denver has so many distinct neighborhoods I think showcases the impact of restaurants who’ve helped pave teh way.
It also helps that it’s one of the first things future conventioneers enquire about, prospective companies relocating, or any traveler. We as a community truly need to work and embrace this culture, it will continue to develop Denver into a great city.
What does this The Big Eat mean to you? What aftershock do you hope ripples through our community after attending?
It’s a celebration, and an opportunity to ever enliven the discussion of how fortunate we are to be in Denver at this time. I love seeing so many talented folks enjoying, collaborating and toasting under such an iconic setting as the DCPA.
I hope people walk away as excited as I am about where our food community has come, and where we are going. And the importance of supporting these artists and entrepreneurs, while realizing it’s the best means of a great time. Denver’s a special place to be.
The Best of Denver Comic Con 2016
One of the lucky things we get to do around here is let our guard down from time to time, in other words reach into our inner geek sanctum. Let's all face it we all have a bit of nerd inside us all. Our fair city played host (to among what seemed 300 other events) the Denver Comic Con on Father's Day weekend. With record breaking numbers upwards of 110,000+ it was the place to be. Three days full of panels, vendors, cosplay, sci-fi and fantasy and more. In fact Denver's version of comic con although still in it's infancy has become one of the biggest in the country trailing only cons in San Diego and New York.
Record attendance of upward of 110,000+ at this years Denver Comic Con
Denver Comic Con as mentioned has only been around for five years but has already made its mark amongst the youth in our city by promoting Pop Culture Classroom. This initiative aims to provide kids an outlet at con to attend and participate in panels, workshops, and use the abundance of resources provided by some of the industry's most beloved professionals in the field. Everything from storytelling to drawing are part of this event and seeing kids use their creativity is something we loved seeing as we witnessed it for three days.
Toys, Toys, and more Toys!!!
Another part of Denver Comic Con is the massive showroom that takes residency at the convention center. This is full of vendors hawking everything from posters to exclusive toys to one of a kind comic books. In fact if you have never attended a comic con set aside some funds as you will spend money one way or another. We found ourselves geeking out over toys all over the place, and yes we did overspend our budget, but hey that's part of attending an event like this. One of our favorite things is getting to sample the official beer of Comic Con every year by Breckenridge Brewery. This year they unveiled their Snape-ricot Ale which also came with an awesome collectors pint.
Heeelllooo Harley!
The War Boys were in the building!
On elf the other highlights of every comic con is people dressed in cosplay every year. This isn't your typical Halloween party get up either. We are talking crazy, over the top, insane costumes. Some so good you would think they were straight from the movie studio. As with every year we notice trends of popular characters every year, for example last year you couldn't turn left or right without seeing somebody dressed as Deadpool. This year we managed to see our fair amount of Rey from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, a few from Mad Max: Fury Road, but probably the most popular would be Harley Quinn from the upcoming Suicide Squad movie. They were everywhere, we even managed to see a male Harley Quinn (we are still trying to unsee that as we speak). Aside from cosplay one of the other awesome opportunities is getting to see some of tv and movies best in the celebrity area. This year the main attraction was none other than the legendary Stan Lee. He had lines wrapped around the convention all three days with most people waiting hours just to meet and have their photo taken with the main responsible for introducing us to all of our childhood (and adult) superheroes. Other notables were casts from Game of Thrones, Gotham, The Karate Kid, and more. Walking around and seeing Ralph Macchio, it was hard not to think about the importance of "the crane" technique and how it has revolutionized the modern art of kung-fu. Anyways, this was by far the best Denver Comic Con that we have covered and we expect it to keep growing and growing. We will be at San Diego Comic Con in a few weeks and cannot wait to report back from San Diego stay tuned. Check out our slideshow of some of the best images we captured!
Breckenridge Brewery's Latest Mango Mosaic Is Sure To Be A Hit This Summer
The temperatures are heating up here in Denver as we embark on another season of unpredictable, yet warmer weather. A common tradition for most Coloradans is to make for the outdoors to enjoy what Mother Nature is throwing our way. For us that means enjoying our favorite libations with friends and families. The latest creation from Breckenridge Brewery is their new Mango Mosaic Pale Ale. It creatively brings the fine pairing of fine mosaic hops and fruit to your taste buds. The combination is not overbearing at all all is fully balances the taste with a medium body and goes down as smooth as the mountain rivers. We decided to pair our beer with a fine set of delicious street tacos (Al Pastor Style) that made for a perfect evening.
Mango Mosaic brings a lighter, “hops meets fruit” addition to the brewery's year-round portfolio. Available in 6-packs of 12-oz bottles and on draft, the 5.5% ABV (alcohol by volume) pale ale will be available in 35 states where Breckenridge Brewery beer is sold.
The beer will be fully stocked at the office this year just in case we want to take our work outdoors to enjoy (or get happy hour started earlier). Th beer perfectly pairs with any fine Carribean dish as well as any spicier combination of food pairing. We enjoyed ours with some dark spicy chocolate that was a match made in heaven.
"We've used Mosaic hops for several years in other beers, and we love the floral, tropical fruit, earthy characteristics that it gives - great aroma and a sweetness unlike other hops we've experimented with," explains Todd Usry, President of Breckenridge Brewery
Denver Comic Con Set To Invade Denver Once Again | June 17-19 | Colorado Convention Center
In what is to become the busiest weekend in Denver next week, Denver Comic Con is back and better than ever at the Convention Center. Downtown Denver will be transformed with superheroes, villains, cosplay, and everything you might imagine. This will be our first year officially covering the event and we have some awesome coverage coming your way (be sure to check out our Instagram and Snapchat all next weekend). One of the best parts of the DCC is the amazing guests that are on hand to mingle with us common folk, tv and movie stars, comic book authors and illustrators, awesome vendors and more. This year the DCC has the honor of hosting four of the best authors around. They will be available at Author Alley as well as presenting a few panels. Info can be found here.
CR Richards:
A huge lover of horror and dark fantasy stories, C. R. Richards enjoys telling tales of intrigue and adventure. Having began writing as a part-time columnist for a small entertainment newspaper, Richards has worn several hats: food critic, entertainment reviewer and cranky editor. She has now published a handful of novels, including Phantom Harvest - book one in The Mutant Casebook Series - which took home the EPIC eBook Award for Fantasy in 2014. Richards beat out entries from the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and other English speaking countries. In January, Richards releases her epic fantasy novel The Lords of Valdeon, the first installment in the Heart of the Warrior series. Through her storytelling, Richards aims to reach lovers of fantasy who are exploring alternatives to the traditional status quo. Her message is simple: One person can be a catalyst for change.
Amalie Howard
*This is her 3rd year at DCC
Having landed publishing deals with three presses in just a span of one month, Howard is a sought-after novelist with her finger on the pulse of young adult readers. After the release of her first book "Bloodspell," she earned a stellar reputation as an engaging writer with a sixth sense for what young readers are really looking for in literature. Howard as been honored by the Royal Commonwealth Society and is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrates.
Sue Duff:
*This is her 2nd year at DCC
Sue Duff has dreamed of dragons and spaceships before she could even read, so it's only natural that she now combines both fantasy and science fiction as her favorite genre. Having written since high school, Duff never took it seriously until a skiing accident laid her up for an entire summer and she turned on the word processor to combat boredom. A couple years later, her first urban fantasy novel Fade to Black was one of the five finalists in the RMFW Colorado Gold Writing Contest and in 2015, Duff's writing earned her the PEN Award. Sue is a member of the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and The Pikes Peak Writers. She calls Colorado home and when not saving the world one page at a time, she can be found walking her great dane, getting her hands dirty in her garden, or creating something delicious in her kitchen.
Corinne O'Flynn
Corinne O’Flynn writes stories with magic, mystery, and sometimes creepy stuff. Author of The Expatriates series, Corinne follows teenager Jim Wales as he comes to grips with his family’s lies and learns someone’s been hunting him for his power. The sequel, Promise of the Scholar releases this June and delivers even more suspense and adventure for fantasy lovers of all ages. In addition to her young adult series, Corinne has also collaborated with author Toby Neal on two novellas as part of the Lei Crime Series Kindle Worlds Project; Half Moon Girls (April 2015) and Tell the Truth (December 2015). Her speculative fiction is featured in the anthology Tick Tock: Seven Tales of Time (March 2016), which combines O’Flynn’s tale of adventure and mystery with six other writers in the Denver writing community.
Lifestyle | Bud & Burgers Street Festival Presented by Budweiser | June 4, 2016 | 35th and Walnut
As the weather begins to heat up here in the Mile High City, the city of Denver becomes a playground for any enthusiast of the outdoors. This Saturday RiNo (35th and Walnut) will play host to amazing event featuring two of our favorite things...Burgers & Bud.
Beer season is officially here! And what better way to enjoy a cool, refreshing beer than with a delicious burger and listening to some great music. Join Budweiser as they sponsor the Bud and Burgers Street Festival at 35th and Walnut in RiNo.
Music performances by Barns Courtney, Pandas and People, and AJ Fullerton will be on hand to get the vibes going. Various Denver chefs will be on hand sampling their awesome burger creations. The event is free to those 21+. We will be there with our burger cravings and thirst quenching Budweiser. #ThisBudsForYou #BudandBurgers #sponsored
Lifestyle | Denver's Newest Booze-Based Festival
Denver event and marketing company, Two Parts, have teamed up with the Rocky Mountain Cider Association to introduce a craft cider festival to Denver this Saturday May 28th! The cleverly named “Pressed Conference” is a first-of-its-kind cider festival for Denver and features 15+ craft cideries from across the Rocky Mountain region showcasing the best pressed apples the region has to offer.
We can look forward to tastings from top cider makers, live music from Robby Peoples, lawn games (at last!) and Baba's Falafel and Keenwah food trucks cooking all day. All attendees will be greeted with a full tasting glass of Molly’s Spirits Barrel Aged Cider from Colorado Cider Company to welcome them to the festival.
Featured at the event are the following Cideries: Anthem Cider, Big B’s Cider, Colorado Cider Company, Colorado Common Cider, Compass Cider, C Squared Cider, Montana CiderWorks, Snow Capped Cider, Stem Ciders, Talbott’s Cider CO., Wandering Aengus Cider, Wild Cider.
We think this is a great way to kick-off summer, enjoy Memorial Day Weekend, and wrap up the first ever Colorado Cider Week! For more info and to purchase tickets visit the link below~
Saturday, May 28th from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. Highlands Masonic Event Center 3550 Federal Blvd. Tickets are on sale now for $40 and includes unlimited tastes and commemorative glassware.
2016 Denver Comic Con Beer Release Party | Friday May 20th | Stoney's
Breckenridge Brewery once again joins forces with Denver Comic Con. Since the inaugural convention in 2012, Breckenridge has brewed a special con beer and hosted a "Name the Comic Con Beer" contest. And each year what follows is a wonderful deluge of creative input, street cred for the winners, a beer release party preceding the con and other events in and around the Colorado Convention Center.
Breckenridge Brewery congratulates Noah Eisenman and Greg Nuccio, who both suggested "Snape-ricot" as the name for this year's refreshingly crisp apricot lager. The name honors actor Alan Rickman, who played Severus Snape in the Harry Potter film series and recently lost his life to pancreatic cancer.
“It’s become a wonderful Denver Comic Con tradition to launch these pop-culture themed beers in the weeks leading up to the con,” said Christina Angel, Denver Comic Con director. “This year’s brew takes on a special significance as a tribute to Alan Rickman, who so masterfully brought Snape to life on the silver screen.”
Although the name was chosen by popular vote, the brewery found it to suit the beer quite perfectly. Ryan Workman, Breckenridge Brewery Brand Manager, describes the beer to be more complex than one would guess upon first impression. "The apricot our brewers added to their American lager recipe produced surprising ambiguity, much like Snape himself. It's pale and crisp, but spend a little time with it, and you'll find unexpected layers of interesting personality." Finding more parallels in Snape and Snape-ricot, he shares that the beer is "bitter and cold, yet the fruit magically transforms Snape-ricot into something not sweet, but certainly a little softer than one would've imagined."
Snape-ricot will make its first public appearance at Stoney's Bar and Grill on Friday, May 20th, at 7:30 p.m. The first 200 people to order a Snape-ricot will be given a limited edition pint glass featuring the beer's custom label artwork.
The beer and pint glasses will also be available at the 3-day Denver Comic Con, which kicks off on June 17th and features such pop culture notables as Stan Lee (Marvel Comics), Lena Headey (Game of Thrones) and Ralph Macchio (the Karate Kid) . Tickets are still available at www.DenverComicCon.com. Additionally, local pubs around the conference will feature the beer with additional pint giveaway promotions.
Past winning entries for Breckenridge's Name the Comic Con Beer contest are:
· 2012 Fantastic Pour
· 2013 Caped Brewsader
· 2014 Brews Wayne
· 2015 Hulk's Mash
Lifestyle | The Dawn of Immersive, Experiential Theater in Denver
Ultra5280 was invited to a sneak peek, trial-run performance of the new “360-degree, multi-sensory experience” that is “Sweet & Lucky”. While this article will give you a much better idea than we had, there’s no way we could (or would) describe in words what the “Sweet & Lucky” experience truly was. For starters, everyone’s experience is different. . .
The fact that this immersive theater experience has made it to Denver is a compliment to us Coloradoans. It is a signal to the country that Denver has a palate the size of New York that longs to be satiated. With a bursting food, art and music scene paired with an attitude of possibilities, Denver has been making our tastes known. Zach Morris, co-creational director from the New York company, Third Rail Projects, joined his hometown of Denver to bring our city the experience we have been craving. "We're interested in presenting works in nontraditional contexts, in public spaces," says Morris, "Sweet & Lucky’s" lead director. "As traditional theater is to a novel, our work is to a poem."
Upon our arrival, rather than entering and mingling about in an ordinary lobby, we were instantly transported into the story through an antique store and old timey bar carefully crafted by the Denver Center for the Performing Arts' props team. You mingle and explore the various rooms of the antique store until the "show" begins.
You then embark on this journey, literally you’re walking around, exploring all different scenes, environments, people, periods of time, spectrums of emotion, memories, etc. You’re led through a series of performances with a small group of other spectators that occasionally changes throughout, and it seems like they purposefully take you away from who you came with right from the start. At one point you’re completely alone in a scene with an actor, who speaks to you directly, and waits for you to reply. Honestly, it’s a bit nerve-racking. You never know what to expect or when you’ll be called on to step up and be a part of the scene, which definitely happens. The creators and actors are aware of the emotional response that must elicit in someone coming to an unfamiliar experiential show, who is then separated from the one familiar thing (person) they came with, and is led away into all these different scenes and situations.
As you are led from scene to scene, all of the other small groups are revolving around experiencing the same scenes, but in different orders. Thus, the order you see it in will surely alter your perception of the story. The performance is broken into bits and pieces and the viewers are supposed to fit it together to create a cohesive story. Another factor that makes the experience/story unique to each, is all of the props that you are invited to touch and hold; you will inevitably see and read things while other spectators are busy with other props. You will also hear and see slightly different things depending on how closely you’re paying attention, and feel different emotions depending on all of these factors, along with personal context you overlay. This makes for a truly unique storytelling experience. You are living the story, rather than being told or shown... and in that way you are also creating the story. So just as everyone’s version of any experience is unique to each, so too is the experience you have at “Sweet & Lucky”. And that seems to be the whole point.
At the end of the show, the entire audience is brought back into the large theater space where it began, and just as we all saw the same start to the story, we see the same ending. All that was in between are the fragmented and few memories of a long life lived, and the various tangible objects left behind. Just as in real life, our memories are scattered, subjective, and unique to each.
In an era where some of the most prestigious arts are struggling to bring in an audience, Denver Center for the Performing Arts has embarked on innovative avenues to draw in the Millennial generation. Their plan over the next couple years is to expand the use of the Center to include education, new structures and grassroots programming while also taking their audience from under the dome to completely transform their viewing experience. In a time where we are more likely to interact through technology, our generation is in need of these moments out of the ordinary. We are in need of human interaction and testing the boundaries, in a hands-on way. “Sweet & Lucky” gives this to us through an immersive experience where we become a part of the action, not only able to interact with the actors, but able to touch the props, create our own story lines, and feel that we were a crucial component in the storytelling process.
Sweet & Lucky runs May 17 - June 25. The show is for ages 21 and older, and an on-site bar opens 45 minutes before show time. Two performances June 1 and 8 are open to patrons 18 and older. You will be walking or standing for the duration of the show, and purses and backpacks are not permitted.
http://www.sweetandluckydenver.com/
Tiffany Candelaria & Theresa Dixon
Lifestyle | Breckenridge Brewery Releases New Beer With Free Concert @ Bluebird Theater | May 11
The real MVP this Wednesday will be Breckenridge Brewery's latest debut, the NVP or Nitro Vanilla Porter. Nitro Vanilla Porter (NVP) is the first release in Breckenridge Brewery's all-new line of portable and versatile nitrogenated cans. The 16-oz can presents the ability to drink silky, smooth nitrogen-charged beer outside of the pub. Although a glass displays the cascading effects of the nitrogen head, with Breckenridge’s can design the glass is optional. The Nitro Series from Breckenridge Brewery can be enjoyed anywhere – in a glass or right from the can - and those who attend the free concert get to experience "Nitro on the Go" first-hand.
The craftsmanship of Vanilla Porter is evidenced in NVP. A variety of malts provide flavors of chocolate, roasted nut, caramel, and coffee. Imported vanilla from Papua New Guinea and Madagascar add complex and exotic flavors to the solid porter. The softening effect of nitrogen creates a velvety mouthfeel and highlights the flavors of the malts and vanilla. NVP presents another delicious way to enjoy Vanilla Porter.
The next release in the series is Nitro Lucky U IPA followed by new seasonal nitro specialties starting in the fall. The Nitro Series is packaged in 4-packs of 16-oz cans and will be sold where other Breckenridge beer is carried.
Breckenridge Brewery is throwing a free concert at the Bluebird Theater in Denver to celebrate the availability of Nitro Vanilla Porter in 16-oz cans. The release party on May 11th toasts the start of an exciting new nitrogen-charged canned beer series. This free show is open to the public (21+) on a first-come basis with doors opening at 7:00 p.m. until capacity is reached. Each attendee will be given a complimentary can of Nitro Vanilla Porter to enjoy. The Bright Light Social Hour and Dragondeer are to perform. The party provides an introduction to the brewery’s new beer series, and because both bands are signed artists for this summer's Underground Music Showcase which Breckenridge Brewery sponsors, the event doubles as a preview to UMS.
We were able to talk tacos, football and the Austin music scene with The Bright Light Social Hour before their show on Wednesday for Breckenridge Brewery's Nitro Vanilla Porter release. Check it out below:
Photo Credit: Nicole Fara Silver
1. Let’s start with the name, how did it come about?
Curtis was studying this Indian activist, Arundhati Roy, at Southwestern University where we started the band. She had a quote about the activist’s role as shining a bright light in the dark corners of society. So we kinda took it from there.
2. You guys are on the road a lot what are some of your favorite cities and what is a city you haven't played you wish you could?
I really love playing Quebec City. I feel like audiences there see us a strange, exotic thing, like we’re zoo animals. I like feeling like a zoo animal. Mexico City is definitely the most fervent crowd we’ve come across. Our last few shows at the Bluebird and the Ogden are very high on the list too. I really wanna play Berlin.
3. You currently reside in Austin, many people claim that the music scene in Denver is starting to mimic that of ATX, touring here and playing here do you see any similarities?
Honestly, we’ve visited Denver a lot but haven’t had much opportunity to go out and see shows and explore the music scene. It does seem that Denver is producing more varied and boundary-pushing styles and artists, so that’s very cool.
4. With so many bands hailing from Austin does the scene support each other or is it competitive? And what ever happened to Sound Team?
t’s very supportive and embracing. All my closest friends are musicians from other Austin bands. Plus the city itself as well as several non-profits do a lot to help musicians and the scene by helping provide resources like free legal advice, healthcare, grants and that kinda thing. I never heard of Sound Team til you mentioned it, but I looked them up and to answer your question, they disbanded in 2007 and Bill Baird went solo (one of his records mysteriously appeared in my collection and it’s awesome), and Matt Oliver once recorded a Daytrotter session for us at his studio, Big Orange.
5. A couple of you attended the University of Texas, How are we going to do this year in football? (I’m from El Paso and spend a lot of time in Austin and am a big Longhorns fan)
You know I have no idea, but I’m gonna vote for good.
6. Your live album was recorded in response to the attacks on France and was recorded live with proceeds going to the French Red Cross. How did that come about and was there any pressure knowing you guys were to be recording live to perform that show?
Haha no we wanted it to be real and have all the warts and gnarl of a real live show. It helps to accept that you’ll never be anywhere close to satisfied with a recording of yourself playing live. That’s what studio albums are for, we just wanted to capture the energy and the moment and do what we could to help.
7. Final question. Best breakfast tacos in Austin? Taco Deli or Torchy’s?
Well fuck Torchy’s because the tacos are incredible and we eat there every other week but the tortillas are ALWAYS cold, which is beyond unacceptable. Taco Deli is fantastic, but Veracruz All Natural is my current fav in town.
Be sure to get to the Bluebird early as this event is sure to be at capacity early in the evening. With amazing, local music and new local craft - this is one event not to be missed.
Lifestyle | The Day We Met Grumpy Cat
Who you calling grumpy?
From time to time we often get somewhat starstruck in our daily business here at Ultra5280. From musicians to actors, we often stumble paths in some of our coverage we do here on the site. This year as we were planning our SXSW coverage we came across the news that Grumpy Cat herself was going to be in Austin the day we arrived. Of course we used that opportunity to get a chance to meet her and learn all about the newest Friskies Cat Food campaign. While not associated with the festival itself, why not take advantage of the large amounts of crowds who were there for the interactive activities that took place.
Lines extended for blocks just for an opportunity to meet Grumpy Cat.
The internet's most iconic judge of all things grumpy.
We hopped off the plane and realized our time was going to be running short as this particular day was the last that Grumpy Cat was going to be there. We got settled in and made our way across town to finally meet this famous feline. Upon our arrival we noticed that the line to see the cat had extended a few blocks down the street and curved around the block. Once inside we were treated to nice air conditioning and a front row seat to meet the most famous cat in the world. Friskies was in town to promote their latest venture called Cat Concoctions. You may be wondering what the hell that is. It is simply summed up as "Curious Combinations. Chosen By Cats." You may be asking yourself what kind of combinations?
“Lamb AND clam? Cats have their own ideas about what they like, which is why Friskies lets cats lead the way in inspiring the unique and unexpected flavor combinations of Cat Concoctions,” says Jessica Nichols, Friskies Brand Manager.
Other flavors include:
- Chicken in Creamy Crabby Sauce
- Cod in Cheesy Bacon Flavored Sauce
- Lamb in Clam Flavored Sauce
- Scrumptious Salmon & Chicken Liver Dinner Pate
Almost tempting to human palate. The pop up meet and greet gave fans an opportunity to take pictures with the cat and tag them with the #CatConcotions hashtag for everybody to see during SXSW. It was truly one of our highlights during our SXSW stay and while Grumpy Cat graciously declined our interview (she's a diva what do you expect) we were nowhere near "grumpy" as we continued on our journey.
-Robert Castro
Lifestyle | DINK Independent Comic & Art Expo | March 25-26 | Sherman Events Center
Nerds of a feather flock together....or something like that. This weekend The Denver Independent Comic & Art Expo will grace the Sherman Events Center for two days of complete nerdery (we like to make up words here). If you are a fan of comic books, art, tattoos, and graphic novels this is the place to be. Tickets packages can be purchased HERE.
What happens when you mix 5 floors of urban art (tattoo and graffiti art) with literature, zines, small press publishers, underground comix and cocktails? We dare you to find out this March 25-26 at the Sherman Street Events Center.
Led by Denver Comic Con co-founder, Charlie LaGreca, the 2-day art expo will include a range of options including an underground comics + dispensary tour with Dope Comix legend Denis Kitchen as well as NY Times best-selling authors, cartoonists, artisans and creators as well as the famed Fantagraphics Publishing. The perfect event for art lovers and indie fans alike, get your tickets early — prices will increase at the door
Lifestyle | SHOW ALERT: Michael Ian Black to headline Leafly Comedy Tour on March 24th | Free with RSVP
Michael Ian Black is taking over Denver on March 24th at the Gothic Theatre. The versatile comedian has directed, written, and acted in numerous projects. You may be a fan of his sketch comedy work in The State, Viva Variety, and Stella, or perhaps you’re a die-hard lover of the cult comedy Wet Hot American Summer or the Bachelor spoof Burning Love. Black has even popped up on Natasha Leggero’s Comedy Central series Another Period – check out season 2 debuting later this year to see these hilarious actors in action!
You can RSVP now and entry is on a first-come, first-served basis, so RSVP early and claim your spot in line early the day of the show to guarantee entry. The show is 21+ only and doors open at 8PM. Be sure to use the hashtag #LEAFLYLOLZ throughout the night on your social media.
In January Leafly kicked off the first stop of the 2016 Leafly Comedy Tour with the very funny T.J. Miller in Seattle, Washington. Don’t miss this fantastic free (yes, free!) performances featuring Michael Ian Black this Thursday at The Gothic folks.
Lifestyle | A Creative, Collaborative Twist on Dining in Denver: The Dinner Party Association
Food, fun, friends, music, local, libations, collaboration… These are things we are very fond of here at Ultra5280 and believe you, our readers, are fond of as well. Last weekend we discovered The Dinner Party Association, a new pop-up concept that brings all these wonderful things together once a month! Its founder, Megan Ranegar, and her “traveling supper club” are new to Denver as of this past December, but she didn’t waste any time acclimating her concept to the Mile High City. This first Sunday was the 3rd Dinner Party Association event, “The Taco Situation”, which took place three stories above the 16th Street Mall at a co-working space aptly named The Hive on 16th.
The basic concept is simple Megan explains, “We dinner party in unlikely places, eat delicious food, and toast with local brews.” Their goal is to create a community between Denver residents, foodies, chefs, musicians, photographers and the like. “I feel like I always meet the coolest people and have the best conversations in a dinner party atmosphere; I want to spread that magic through The Dinner Party Association.”
If grassroots involvement is any indication a concept is gaining momentum, then we think it’s pretty obvious Denver digs The Dinner Party Association’s arrival. We found out about the event via a post on Instagram and other brunch goers heard from a friend of a friend, or via social media as well. And now, you can say you heard about it here from us! While Dinner Party Association’s Instagram page has nearly 3,000 followers, it also has many other people and businesses that are outwardly supporting the pop-up on their social media outlets. Before moving to Denver, Megan organized similar pop-ups in Los Angeles but wasn't sure she’d continue them here, “I was mostly hesitant because I didn't have any connections to chefs, venues, etc. but I can't believe how collaborative the Denver community is! I've been so happily surprised at the reaction and support my concept has received here.”
Megan shares the one thing that really helped turn her California concept into a reality in Denver was meeting Brooks Gagstetter of Logan House Coffee. “Brooks basically said ‘you're doing this’ and proceeded to provide a beautiful warehouse space for our first event in January, and I’ve just continued building relationships from there.” The events now take place the first Sunday of each month in a unique new venue, with a completely different lineup of food, drinks and ambiance each time. “The theme of each event is something I dream up and then reach out to different spaces and chefs who I think would be a good fit. Then comes the fun part - designing the event. I have a background in marketing, so creating content to promote the event is fun for me too.”
Their first event was a “Coffee Beer Brunch” in the Logan House Coffee warehouse, in RiNo. Megan explains it's their goal to find cool, unique spaces for an alternative dining experience. The first Denver bunch to brunch with Dinner Party Association ate Thai fried eggs, rosemary chia pudding jars, pork rillettes with preserved pear atop Apache fry bread, and aged Rocky Mountain beers from Beryl’s Beer Co. For their second event they held a dinner and beer pairing and added live music to the mix with a musician from Denver and one from Chicago. Megan is very good about setting a scene and weaving a theme to make the dining experience truly unique, “I love thinking of little touches that will make the pop-up feel special,” she tells us.
The third event, which we attended, was titled “The Taco Situation” and began at 11am with cocktails, coffee and time to chat. Everyone was seated and plated with their first round of tacos around 11:30am. The brunch featured Horchata with Jameson on the side, coffee, a delicious hand crafted Apple cocktail from mixologist Lawrence Mack, and a series of Water, Land and Air inspired tacos.
The first round was Rainbow Trout Escabeche atop blue corn tortillas with pickled root veggies with a salty and astringent flavor palette. The next was a savory grilled Elk tenderloin with caramelized onion and subtly sweet pear jam atop potato tortillas. The third round was a sort of salty, smoky roasted Duck with beans, bacon crumbles and crispy shallots on butternut squash tortillas. Chef Kyle Morgan of Morgan Handmade Rations created each of these dishes which were very different in flavors and allowed you to experiment with pairing each up with the variety of drinks most of us had in front of us…They were all so good it was hard not to horde!
For the sweet finish, we each got a little jar of chocolate Serrano and tequila-infused dulce de leche with fresh, fluffy churros from El Camino Community Tavern! We lingered over this delicious dessert while wrapping up conversations and exchanging contact info with our new friends.
With all the new dinner halls, open markets, and community dining options we’ve come to frequent in and around Denver, it’s no wonder The Dinner Party Association found a home here. The next three months of upcoming events are already posted on their online calendar and they have full intentions to make this pop-up concept bigger and better. “We're hoping to partner with many Denver chefs and creatives as we continue to make our events magical--the more the merrier.” Megan thanked everyone in attendance and invited us all back to the next event for a discounted price, something she always does for repeat guests. The next event is April 3rd “Beer and Blues Dinner” with New Belgium and live music from Dragondeer. May 1st is a Spring Brunch and June 5th is an Artisan dinner at Cheese + Provisions. More information on The Dinner Party Association and tickets to April’s dinner can be found through the links below.
http://www.dinnerpartyassociation.com/
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blues-beer-pop-up-dinner-tickets-22935789564
By Tiffany Candelaria
Lifestyle | Newly Launched: Pearl's "Stay Up Saturdays"
What's up you ask? "Stay Up Saturdays" is a new dance night at a newly renovated venue in Capitol Hill. This bar/venue which has recently become Pearl’s has been a Denver staple and has a lot of history. It’s home to the longest running Motown night in Denver, has housed many musical talents spanning many genres, and continues to be the place to get your dance and drink on.
The newly revamped Pearl’s installed a state of the art sound system spanning its two rooms which each have different themes; one being a pub style neighborhood bar and the other a classic nightclub feel with an intimate dance floor. Pearl’s also offers one of the best happy hour drink specials in the area and has partnered with Benny Blanco’s pizza next door, delivering their entire menu fresh to Pearl’s until 9pm nightly.
Pearl’s Saturday nights will feature CRL CRRLL, as the new resident DJ for Ultra5280’s and Fasor Labs “Stay Up Saturdays”. CRL CRRLL has been making waves across the U.S. as a Red Bull Sound Select Artist in 2014 and an attendee of Red Bull Music Academy in Detroit. He’s recently launched FASORLab.com that will house productions and art projects featuring various artists from around the world as a way to bring these projects and events to life. “My first goal is to build a community of creatives and help them grow and accomplish their visions, and then to bring these acts that people haven't necessarily heard of to Denver.”
Between the sweet sound systems, CRL CRRLL as DJ, and the good food, drinks and dance moves, Pearl’s “Stay Up Saturdays” is a cool new addition to the neighborhood that has always been hip, Capitol Hill. “I’m here to bring the Denver community constant amazing Saturday vibes.” Come dance off the work week and make the weekend complete!
- $5 at the door, 9pm
- Pearl’s Nightclub (Former Beauty Bar)
- 608 East 13 Ave. Denver, CO 80203
- https://www.facebook.com/pearlsdenver/
Lifestyle | Valentine's Date Destinations | From Bae to Tinder
Valentine's Day is all about roses, red wine and paying inflated prices for a three course meal... all in the name of love. Complain all you want, but Cupid didn’t miss the target when it came to Denver dining. Whether you’re taking bae somewhere nice or trying to impress your latest Tinder squeeze, we’ve got your back…
For those of you that have been so lucky to find someone to hold hands with on the same side of the booth, we know that upscale, classy is what you’re looking for this VDay and the following restaurants are sure to make bae swoon.
A great starting point for a romantic dining experience in Denver is Larimer Square. Larimer Square is notorious in Colorado for upscale, delicious dining with ambience. Just stepping onto that square block greets you with twinkling lights, beautiful cars, and an array of cuisines to choose from. Here are Ultra5280’s recommendations for a memorable dinner out for those willing to indulge.
Photo Credit: Robert Castro
Bistro Vendome: Reminiscent of Paris, features traditional French bistro fare combined with seasonally-changing, local ingredients. http://www.bistrovendome.com/
Corridor 44: A classy champagne bar/lounge that also features a dinner menu designed to complement champagne, such as caviar, truffle fries, filet mignon, chocolate fondue, and crème brulée. http://www.corridor44.com/
Milk & Honey: This new restaurant is centered on serving approachable fine dining alongside a full bar complete with craft cocktails, elixirs, and after dinner drinks. http://milkandhoneybarkitchen.com/
Osteria Marco: A sophisticated Italian restaurant known for their handcrafted pizzas, meats and artisanal cheeses made on-site and a wonderful (while affordable) wine list. http://www.osteriamarco.com/
Rioja: A Mediterranean menu offering the best of Italian, Spanish, and French cuisine with an extensive Spanish based wine list. http://riojadenver.com/
Tamayo: Carefully crafted Mexican food with flair. Chef Sandoval blends traditional Mexican flavors with worldly ingredients and creative cooking techniques to create one of a kind dishes and drinks. Please note they are offering a special your choice 3-course Valentine’s Day menu. http://www.richardsandoval.com/tamayo/
Another idea for a memorable Valentine’s Dinner (or even just drinks and dessert) is adding some live music to the mix. Some great spots for this sweet combination, that will keep it romantic, are as follows.
Dazzle Jazz: This jazz gem has been showcasing amazing musicians for years and is really a great venue to relax while soaking and sipping it all in. There are still tickets available for their 9pm and 10:30pm shows Saturday 13th, free admission (reservations required) to their amazing bottomless brunch with live jazz 9:30am – 1:30pm, and tickets for the 5:30 show on the 14th. http://dazzlejazz.com/
Jazz at Jack’s: This award winning jazz club is set above the 16th Street Mall and offers live music, special events, dance classes and a small bites menu. Tickets are available for their Saturday and Sunday night shows http://www.jazzatjacks.com/
La Cour Bistro & Art Bar: The live music performed here is tucked away in the upstairs of a charming historical house on South Broadway. In the summer months they migrate to the outside patio. Either way, La Cour makes for an intimate setting with delicious drinks and a decadent dessert menu. Best of all, there is no cover charge (but reservations recommended)! http://www.denversartbar.com/
Nocturne: A beautiful, new music venue in RiNo fashioned after 1940s Supper Clubs. They will be holding two shows on the 13th and on the 14th along with a special four-course tasting menu and music from Wellington Bullings and the Scott Martin Trio Valentine’s night. Their menu is made up of small and large plates, desserts and a “Renditions” menu that changes seasonally and based upon an iconic jazz album. http://nocturnejazz.com/
Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox: A subject of our most recent Edible Beats restaurant series, this eclectic “gastro-brothel” is putting on a special show for their Valentines patrons; a 3-course dinner complete with a burlesque peepshow! They are also holding their usual live-music Sunday brunch and a “Heartbreak Ball” Saturday night at 9pm. Ophelia’s delivers memorable on a whole different level. http://www.opheliasdenver.com/
If forcing conversation for 3 hours while you politely chew on foie gras sounds like a special kind of hell, take a look at our top picks for getting boozy and handsy:
Photo Credit: Robert Castro
Torchy’s Tacos: A rather new staple to the Denver dining scene, but already burning a flame straight to the hearts of taco lovers everywhere. Share a green chile queso Lady In The Tramp style and down some margaritas under the twinkling lights of their DAMN GOOD sign. Trust us, nothing says romance like Torchy’s.
Gov’s Park: Known for being the oldest bar in Denver (probably not true) and for being the favorite local watering hole of John Hickenlooper (also, probably not true), Gov’s Park is perfect for letting your hair down and while downing strong beverages. If you’re trying to go cheap, show up during happy hour and impress your date with a round of Fireball shots.
Arby’s: Curly fries.
Illegal Pete’s: Burritos, queso, margaritas and punk rock. If your date isn’t impressed and leaves you, at least you still have a burrito. Burrito = Bae.
Taco Bell: Quesalupa, need we say more!
Whatever you do this Valentine’s Day, remember that food is the quickest way to win any heart and alcohol will help ensure you get lucky at the end of the night. Happy Love Day Denver, be ours forever?
Lifestyle | A Restaurant Rooted in Seasonally Local Ingredients & Creative Cooking
Ultra5280’s visit to Root Down, Justin Cucci’s first Edible Beats Restaurant, wraps up our series we began late December. If you happened to miss the previous two, scroll down and start at the beginning with Linger, then Ophelia’s. And by the time you’ve finished reading this article you’ll see why we felt it was important you knew about this trendy trio and how their focus on flavor, quality, sustainability and creativity makes them a staple in the Denver food scene.
Devils on Horseback
Root Down opened back in December 2008 in a former mid-century gas station, and in pure Cucci fashion he incorporated many of the original elements into the new décor. A style that has rung true in each restaurant debut since. Root Down’s menu is focused on offering sustainable protein and vegetable based dishes using produce from their gardens, local growers and purveyors to create globally influenced seasonal cuisine.
We started with their most popular starter, Devils on Horesback, which we noticed is on the menu at Linger too. What’s cool though is each restaurant’s version is different to reflect their individual style. At Root Down the Devils are smoked almond-stuffed Peppadew Peppers, wrapped in tender belly bacon, and sauced in Gournay cheese fondue. Take my word that these little Devils rode us straight to taste bud heaven.
Next we had the Butternut Squash Risotto with the Root Down/local touch of purple quinoa from Southern Colorado. The dish itself was beautiful and the texture was dense and creamy even with the added the quinoa. The butternut squash flavor was rather subtle, but I could be a tough critic having just returned from ten days in Italy. My bad!!
The next dish was even more interesting, one because we didn’t order it, two because it was the nightly special thus not on the menu, and third because it required you to work for the meal and get a little messy. The dish consisted of two diver scallops atop prawns in a Thai based sauce with jam, baby carrots and Brussels Sprout garnish. The scallops were soft and buttery, but the prawns underneath took a fearless eater, some figuring out and extra napkins.
The Longs Peak Rack of Lamb was a pleasant surprise after defiling a couple prawns in the previous course. The dish consisted of two large bone-in lamb chops atop Farro with baby carrots, a layered sweet potato and apple tower with a melted cheese top, and Pear-Pepita Salsa. The creamy sweet carrots and potatoes were perfectly offset by the crisp tartness of the pears and apples and rounded off by the hearty herbed Farro base. The lamb was exceptionally tender and flavorful without tasting gamy and was the perfect dish to satisfy winter warmer cravings!
If you’re looking to surprise us with something, we’d tell you to follow suit of the Root Down staff and surprise us with a free dessert trio! The kind and gracious staff and Executive Chef Jeremy Kittelson prepared a sample of the first three desserts listed on the menu: Chocolate Bombe, Eggnog Bread Pudding and Banana Crème Brulee Pie. So this “Pie” … its texture was more like flan than a crème brulèe and was topped with whipped sour cream instead of the traditional caramelized sugar crust, the banana slices next to it had a brulèed crust though. The base of the pie was that amazing flavor combo of crunchy peanuts and creamy chocolate. The Eggnog bread pudding was fluffy and saturated with rich eggnog flavor, but our favorite part was the side of Bourbon ice cream! And for the chocolate aficionados there’s the almond brownie tucked inside a whipped chocolate ganache wrapped in a chocolate shell with vanilla cream, appropriately named the Chocolate Bombe. They’re right, it’s bomb.
Based off their names none of these desserts were what you would expect, but now that I’ve said that I realize nothing is really quite what you expect at Cucci’s restaurants. Everything they create has its own twist and incorporates unique local and seasonal ingredients, like the risotto that unexpectedly had little specks of purple quinoa!
We were happily surprised to see all three of Cucci’s restaurants participating in Denver Restaurant Week February 26 to March 6th which offers a three course menu for only $30 per person. If you’ve never treated yourself to any of these restaurants there’s no better time than snagging that special someone for a Valentine’s Day retreat!
Tiffany Candelaria
Lifesyle | The Best SIA Parties for 2016
It's that time of year Denver! The time when snow and ski industry professionals take over our city to showcase some of the hottest trends and fashions at the annual SIA convention. A who's who of companies bring out their best to showcase their up and coming equipment, clothing, accessories and just about everything else you can think of. Along with the weekend convention comes its share of awesome parties taking place across our city. As we do every year we have narrowed down some of the best ones.
Wednesday January 27th.
The Apres Ski gets things kicked off with Amp Live, DJ A-Rich, Aviva, hosted by our good friend Turner Jackson. Free entry and great drink specials. It also plays host to the Belong Designs Snow Sports Video Premier.
Thursday January 28th
Summit Music Hall is playing host SIA Center Stage to Jeff The Brotherhood with Special Guest Electric Citizen. Info for this party can be found at www.SIAPARTY.com. Doors open at 8:00 PM
Goosetown Tavern is getting involved this year with an punk eccentric lineup featuring Bunny Gang, MCRAD, Frontside Five and DJ Parris. Tickets are $12 presale and $15 day of show.
Friday January 29th.
Icelantic's Winter on The Rocks returns for it's fifth year at the majestic Red Rocks Amphitheater. This year's lineup includes Adventure Club and supergroup Big Grams (Big Boi + Phantogram). Information on tickets can be found here.
Our good friends at Souls In Action have put together quite the lineup of musical talent for the SIA Takeover taking place at The Marquis Theater. Doors open at 8 PM and is an All Ages Show.
Lifestyle | The Fleakin' Holiday Flea
The Denver Flea is a contemporary marketplace showcasing various vendors who cultivate the Colorado lifestyle. The first Denver Flea was in May 2014 and since then it has grown into what we know today as the cool, community-curated, beer-forward collection of local makers and one of a kind items.
This past weekend their largest event to date took place, the Holiday Flea, starting on Thursday December 3rd with their "Ultimate Shopping Experience." This $45 ticket allowed guests first access to the 150 plus vendors that spanned the 70,000 square-foot pop-up market in the River North neighborhood. Both Thursday and Friday night's tickets included live music, valet parking, five drink tickets, and access to come back for more Fleakin' fun on Saturday and Sunday when tickets dropped to $5.
Friday night's theme was "The Un-Corporate Holiday Party" and for $35 you could kick your weekend off by shopping all of the vendors, tasting samples, and sipping on five free drinks of choice. Their festive cocktails included a hot apple cider Jameson Irish Whiskey, a winter twist on the summer Paloma with Olmeca Altos Tequila, a holiday Fris Vodka punch, and a couple clever concoctions served up from Stranahan's CO Whiskey. Beer, coffee, soda and water were also options.
We were able to get an early peek and attend Friday's Un-Corporate Holiday Party. To be honest, shopping for 5 hours seemed like a lot to handle, but we ended up closing the place down and one point we even straddled a whiskey barrel.. we think? A love for holiday drinks, CRL CRRLL keeping spirits up as DJ, the array of food trucks outside and the free Ben & Jerry's ice cream with New Belgium beer floats kept us satiated long enough to linger and mingle through every row of the Holiday Flea.
There was such an array of craftsmanship, artistry, culinary delights and creativity that left us feeling not only like we had made the best decision on where to do all our holiday shopping, but inspired as well. Browsing through all of the booths and chatting with the different artists and creators got us fired up to start creating more ourselves and in the meantime to give more attention to all the amazing local businesses here in Colorado. We had seen a handful of these vendors at other Flea events and similar markets, but we were still blown away by the vast array of local items and the talent displayed. By shopping at the Holiday Flea not only did we get to have a great time shopping and sipping, but we also got gifts that are incredibly unique and hand crafted while supporting the creativity in all. The Denver Flea will only continue to grow in the new year, so be sure to add "Attend a Denver Flea" to your New Year Resolutions Lists!
Words: Tiffany Candelaria | Photos: Robert Castro
For the full list of vendors visit: http://www.denverflea.com/vendors/
Lifestyle | Topgolf | Golf Just Got (More) Exciting
Topgolf is a futuristic, spruced up driving range where one can easily spend hours swinging (or swigging) the day away. Even if you aren't into golf at all or have never even played putt-putt, you will find that the time flies.
This was my second time at a Topgolf, the first being with my family in Scottsdale, AZ. It was my Dad, myself, a 10 and 13 year old, who had never played golf before, and everyone had a blast! There are seven different games that allow you to play, compete, or just practice that swing, and each offer a different level of difficulty. Each play/lounge area, called a bay, fits up to six people and has 14 men and women’s clubs for use. Or if you’re a pro, feel free to bring your own.
You might be thinking, I love golf, I love booze, but how does this work? It's so simple, a ball arrives at the swing of a club via sensor and each ball you hit is tracked for where it lands. Based on the game you select, a monitor displays what your objective or target is for each turn or each swing. There are eight main targets at the Denver location ranging from 20 to 240 yards with readers that detect your golf ball and then computes your score based on accuracy and distance and then your results appear on your game monitor. Paper and pencil are things of the past! There's not much work or stress involved at Topgolf, none if you just want to lounge on the couch with a cocktail and the TV remote. Another option, especially if you’re waiting for an open bay, is the downstairs bar and game room with Xbox, a pool table, shuffleboard, Wi-Fi and TVs.
Each bay, spread over three stories, has either a couch and coffee table or a high-top table that fits six players. They also come equipped with HDTVs and all of the sports channels, two game monitor screens depicting the scores/game, heat and A/C, and a bay host that will assist with F&B needs throughout the game. Time is purchased in 30 minute increments and you can go as long as you’re willing. Scores, stats and game objectives are displayed on a small and large monitor for you and your group to view which keeps everyone in the loop. Great for those competitive types.
There is a large food and drink menu with options like Mexican, Asian, Italian, burgers, breakfast, low-fat, and dessert. The drinks range from a big beer and wine list, to boozy punchbowls, cocktails, and energy drinks to help you hit the long shots. The food was fine, the service was sufficient, and the play prices peak as the day goes on. Top Golf is a bit on the expensive side, but it is a really fun and unique way to spend an afternoon with family or a twist on the typical night out.
100+ bays over 3 floors | Free Wi-Fi | Rooftop Terrace | 200+ HDTVs
Mon - Thu: 9:00am - 11:00pm
Fri - Sat: 9:00am - 1:00am
Sun: 9:00am - 11:00pm
http://topgolf.com/us/centennial/
Tiffany Candelaria