Go Karting On Ice.....Yes Please.
Add this to your list of things to do this winter.
Level up from regular karting to Ice Karting this winter and drift your way to victory on our custom-made ice track! Ice Karting is coming to a secret location in Denver from 7th - 23rd January 2022. Experience the thrill of ice driving during an exhilarating kart session, an experience out of this world! Ice Karting is the perfect way to have some high speed competitive fun.
Test yourself and practice driving around the ice rink whilst navigating a variety of fun and challenging obstacles. Our expert team will be on hand to give you some tips on how to glide at speed and navigate the course. We’ll have plenty of dress-ups for you to pick and wear on the day so you can race around the track in style.There will also be lots of off rink activities including winter themed bars dishing out your favourite cocktails and traditional winter games like curling, hockey shooting and ice luges so you'll be entertained even when you're not in the kart.Tickets are available now for just $75pp, so whether you’re a regular go- karting enthusiast or a newbie looking for some fun, it will definitely be worth switching things up and testing your skills on a new surface.
Get your tickets now as is this is sure to sell out quickly.
Van Gogh Alive Delivers A Unique Immersive Experience Like No Other
Van Gogh Alive at The Stanley Marketplace (Photo: Robert Castro)
Starry Night is the whimsical, expressive painting and one of the recognized pieces of art in modern times. The painting depicts swirls and vibrancy, a very emotional and surrealist perspective of a night sky. Van Gogh invites viewers to dive into his imagination and find unusual beauty in everyday things. Unfortunately, viewing experiences of the Starry Night used to be limited to the painting hanging on a museum wall in Amsterdam.
Van Gogh Alive has changed this and brought this painting to life with its traveling exhibit. A Starry Night and Van Gogh’s art collection is no longer confined to its picture frames. It moves across rooms and walls, allowing viewers to get one step closer to Van Gogh’s imagination.
The exhibit is currently hosted at The Stanley Marketplace here in Denver and it does not disappoint. It made us wonder, “why is all art not celebrated in this way?” and “do most gallery curators even know what they are doing?”
The exhibit takes us on a journey through the art of Vincent Van Gogh with a unique timeline filled with art and quotes from the Dutch artist. With his works projected on walls, the colors and shapes come to life as they flow through different pieces of his era. As you walk into the dark room the walls are alive with bright colors and accompanied by music that creates the holistic experience Van Gogh wished for his viewers.
Sunflower heaven (Photo: Robert Castro)
The exhibit concludes in a room full of sunflowers, vividly reminiscent of some of Van Gogh’s favorite subjects. Influencers delight!! The room is a dream come true as sunflowers adorn the floor and ceiling while being reflected by a 360 degree mirror putting you right at the center of it all.
The exhibit is put on by The Denver Center for Performing Arts and runs until September 26th. Tickets for specific time slots can be purchased here. Health and safety measures are put into place so be sure to checkout their website for more information.
Words: Abbe Glasser
Images: Robert Castro
Van Gogh’s “The Bedroom” is one of the highlights from this exhibit. (Photo: Robert Castro)
Meow Wolf Denver Prepares For Its Debut Coming September 17th
Meow Wolf Denver (Photo Credit: Kate Russell)
One of the most anticipated events of 2021 is finally happening. Take it from us, you won’t want to miss out on this one.
Meow Wolf, an immersive arts and entertainment company, announced today the highly-anticipated theme and opening date for its third permanent installation: Convergence Station will be coming to Denver September 17, with tickets on sale today at meow.wf/denver-tix.
Convergence Station is the first stop on a quantum journey of exploration and discovery as passengers traverse new worlds, and like all Meow Wolf locations, labyrinthine mysteries beckon from its vibrant walls, portals, and wormholes.
Twenty-five years ago, a freak cosmic event merged four worlds from different universes, erasing the memories of all residents and spawning the mystifying disappearances of four women. The Quantum Department of Transportation serves as the gateway to these diverse worlds: kaleidoscopic cathedrals, Corinthian catacombs, lush alien habitats, and dazzling and gritty cityscapes. In this hotbed of interplanetary cohabitation, memories serve as both currency and the key to unlocking the story behind the women's disappearances and cause of the convergence--as do multimedia clues that reveal themselves to all of the senses.
“Denver’s art scene is active and vibrant, making it the perfect place for our next exhibition,” said Chadney Everett, Executive Creative Director of Meow Wolf Denver. “Convergence Station is Meow Wolf’s third permanent immersive experience, and it will truly change the way you look at art. This exhibition is unlike anything you’ve ever seen...from The Swamp to The Cathedral - there’s a strong narrative to be uncovered should you choose, alongside truly mind-bending art from the many talented creatives that have worked so hard to bring the vision to life. We can’t wait for everyone to explore.”
Meow Wolf has worked with 110+ Colorado-based collaborating artists and more than 200 internal artists for over three years to bring the 79 unique projects within Convergence Station to life. These muralists, sculptors, fiber artists, and technologists to name a few have come together to create a one-of-a-kind installation that will leave visitors appreciating what it really means to be immersed in a narrative. Notable collaborating artists working on this project include Kalyn Heffernan, Christopher Nelson, Everything is Terrible!, Molina Speaks, Sofie Birkin, along with Moment Factory and many others.
Meow Wolf Denver (Photo Credit: Kennedy Cottrell)
An evolving hive of creativity, Meow Wolf has been creating experiences that challenge the perception of reality, with three locations to explore in Santa Fe, Las Vegas, and soon Denver. Backed by top creators like Games of Thrones’ George R.R. Martin, Meow Wolf is recognized globally as a leader in the immersive space and was ranked on Fast Company's 2020 list of the ‘World’s Most Innovative Companies’, and awarded the #1 spot for Live Events. Following the success of their flagship location in Santa Fe, the arts and entertainment company launched their second permanent exhibition in Las Vegas in February this year which was an instant success, selling 517,000 tickets to date.
Opening on September 17th, Convergence Station will be open from 10:00 am until 10:00 pm Sunday through Thursday and from 10:00 am until 12:00 am on Fridays and Saturdays. Hours are subject to change.
Tickets are available for pre-purchase for $45 for General Admission ($40 Children / Seniors / Military), and $35 for Colorado Residents. Visitors are required to pre-book a time slot for entry.
Popongo: The Newest Game Taking The World By Storm
Popongo is a new high-energy sport created by Errol Anderson, who was born and raised in Jamaica and currently resides in Denver, Colorado. The idea of Popongo sparked in the midst of quarantine after being invited to a close friend's small backyard get together. Errol had a realization that there was a desperate need for more options when it comes to social and interactive lawn games. That was until he started jotting down the rules, colors ,and process of how he would invent Popongo into a small notebook.
Popongo can be played indoors or outdoors. All you need is 15 ft of space and one partner, or two players on each team if you choose to compete with two boards rather than one. Popongo is recommended for all ages and is unlike any game available on the market. Popongo keeps participants engaged for hours because of its unique and competitive point system. The primary objective is to outscore the other team and the concept is simple; players take turns tossing foam, golf-sized balls into cups that are placed in the, patent-pending, Popongo platform. The cups have different point values based on their color. Toss the balls into the cups for points, and once you reach the winning points, game over and you get to yell Popongo! Trust us, you will literally want to yell, Popongo!
“Popongo is Jamaican pride in a game. Inspired by my culture, I created Popongo to provide families and friends with a new and more exciting alternative to what is currently available,” said Anderson, the founder and CEO of Popongo. “The Popongo set takes a minute to set up, is suitable for all ages, and you can play it anywhere. We are very excited to bring this game to every outdoor deck, park, poolside, beach, and household's lawn or living room in the New Year. One Love.”
Anderson’s Jamaican heritage influenced the brand colors in the game. Black, Green, and Gold for the Jamaican flag colors. Black for the strength and creativity of the people. Green for the amazing vegetation and Gold for the beautiful bright sun. Red represents mother Africa, and blue represents the amazingly gorgeous skies and ocean waters of the Caribbean.
Popongo is proudly Handcrafted in Denver, CO. Your board will be the only one like it with each board having its own unique wood grain pattern. A single board set retails for $159 USD and comes with a board, 9 cups, and 10 balls. The double board set retails at $299 USD and includes 2 boards, 18 cups, and 10 balls.
Popongo is now available and can be purchased through the website,www.playpopongo.com. We invite you to join the Popongo community on all social media platforms @playpopongo.
No Gym, No Problem
Since “I’ll work out when I have time” has officially been retired, let’s get down to it. These at-home workouts give back to the community, keep you sweating, and more importantly, keep you sane. Keep checking back in to see our list of updated at-home workouts and programs.
Strength in the City
Strength in the City hosts fitness and lifestyle events based in Denver, Chicago, and San Diego. Much like other gyms and programs, they’ve turned their experiences virtual. However, this program gives directly back to our Denver community.
Each workout or wellness class is based on a simple donation; as in as simple as $1. The proceeds go to several small businesses struggling to find their footing in the COVID-19 crisis. Strength in the City’s first live workout raised over $1,000 which was given to employees and restaurants in Denver.
Check out their website or Instagram for more information and for future classes.
Instagram: @strengthinthecity
YMCA of the Rockies
Image Retrieved from YMCA
While both locations at Estes Park and Snow Mountain Ranch are closed, the YMCA refuses to let any cancellations ruin their activities. Recently, they’ve launched new at-home programming focused on the body, soul, and minds of friends, guests, and followers. Programs come at no cost and include:
Online Yoga and Bootcamp
Earth Day: Make Your Own Compost video and Pinecone Bird Feeder. (Earth Day is on Wednesday, April 22)
Barre3
Image Retrieved from Barre3 Instagram
Barre3 is offering a 15-day free trial for at-home workouts. Needing only a yoga mat and small hand weights, Barre3 does a phenomenal job tailoring all 15 workouts directly to you. You get started with a questionnaire focused around goals, intensity, and current gym productivity. Within minutes Barre3 creates a unique workout for each day of the trial – some ranging from a 10-minute mindful class, to 45 minute cardio and strength training.
For those who find themselves wanting to support their local studios, Barre3 offers virtual classes with your favorite Denver instructors.
Breck Brewery Launches Howler Crowlers to Fuel Coloradans’ Howls; Benefits Project C.U.R.E.
Just in time for the Full Moon tomorrow...Breckenridge Brewery has created the Howler Crowler to celebrate the nightly howl and 100% of proceeds go to charity. See below the details and the cool image of the can.
You can hear it every night: Coloradans letting out howls at 8PM for a variety of reasons, from giving thanks to healthcare heroes’ selfless acts during the pandemic to finding joy in feeling united as a community.
Breckenridge Brewery wants to keep fueling those nightly howls across Denver-area communities, so they are releasing Howler Crowlers: custom crowler cans (32 oz) filled with your Breck beer of choice! 100% of Howler Crowler profits will be donated to Project C.U.R.E., which supports our local healthcare system by donating medical supplies to hospitals in need.
Howler Crowlers will be available for delivery or pick up from the Farm House starting on 4/22 in the afternoon, just in time to celebrate Howloween, the night of the new moon. This Howloween, Coloradans can celebrate by dressing up in costume and standing (safely) outside to howl for healthcare workers, sipping on a cold beer that gives back!
Breck Brewery Introduces Mountain Beach, Offers "Staycation"
Breckenridge Brewery wants to bring some much-needed sunshine into people’s homes across the US, so the brewery just released Mountain Beach, a tropical session sour with flavors of juicy pineapple and tart lime highlighted by sweet notes of guava. Every sip brings you major vacation vibes - making it the perfect way to turn a day at home into a sunny staycation. At just 4.5% ABV, the sessionable new brew will be available year-round nationwide.
While we’re doing our part and staying safe at home, many vacations have been put on hold. So Breck wants to give fans a much-needed break with the ultimate staycation experience. From now until Memorial Day weekend, Breck will choose one lucky winner per week to receive a staycation in a box, packed with everything they need to transform their home into an indoor paradise, from a pack of refreshing Mountain Beach, the scents of the ocean, to tiki lights, a porch swing, tropical decor, and more. To enter, fans simply share a pic on Instagram to show how they’re keeping busy at home, from puzzles galore to homemade bread, with the hashtag #BreckBrewStaycation.
Denver Beer Festivus: A Timely Classic Returns
Although the temperatures are dropping here in Denver, there is no short supply of your favorite beer festivals. The Denver Beer Festivus celebrated eight years this past Saturday afternoon. We have always maintained this one of our favorites, nothing changed as a slew of local breweries were on hand to sample some of their favorite brews. Beer drinkers were decked out in their favorite ugly sweaters and holiday attire making for some amazing outfits (we even saw multiple Cousin Eddie’s from Christmas Vacation). This years edition spread out over several rooms making it easy to navigate from brewery to brewery with little to no lines. Food was a plenty as a food court had everything from warm pretzels to pizza for you to enjoy. A silent disco was on site providing for some amazing tunes by some of Denvers best DJ’s. It’s hard to name favorites with a festival like this as all the breweries showcase their best, but if we had to…..some of ours included brews from Denver Beer Co, Black Project Spontaneous, Great Divide, Zuni Street, and Ratio Beerworks. If you have never been to one of these we highly suggest you put it on your radar for next year.
-Words and Images-Robert Castro
Denver's Best Restaurants For A Night Out With Friends
Denver’s Best Restaurants for a Night Out with Friends
There are very few things in life better than a great meal shared with your closest friends. One of the best places to grab dinner with your buddies is in Mile High City, known for its rich and thriving food culture. Indeed, Denver has slowly morphed into a culinary melting pot, giving you a unique multitude of dining experiences that can satisfy pretty much every craving. Given the number of choices, where would one even begin? We've got you covered. Read on to discover the best restaurants in Denver for your next night out with friends!
Acorn
Acorn Facebook Page
From the creative minds of the people behind Boulder's OAK at Fourteenth restaurant, Acorn is one of the city's must-try culinary stops. This restaurant seamlessly blends together local Colorado fare grounded in a strong Southern tradition, sending all who dine there on a culinary trip you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else in the city — or even the country. Be sure to try the cured Rocky Mountain Trout and the 14-day dry-aged Hudson Duck Confit.
Other than the great food, another reason to stop by here with a couple of friends is its proximity to the Mission Ballroom. Acorn is located in the Source Hotel, so be sure you and your friends stop by the next time you go out to see a show.
Mead St. Station
M
If you're looking for something a little more casual, USA Today recommend restaurant Mead St. Station. The restaurant, established in 1994, is a Coloradan institution. They specialize in rustic no-nonsense American food where everything is made from scratch. Be sure to grab their famous Mead Street Burger with a healthy serving of sweet potato fries.
As an added bonus, if you and your friends happen to drop by on a Tuesday night then you should enter their weekly rock n' roll bingo night. Foxy Bingo’s guide on how to play 75-ball points out how it's especially fun for groups – the more friends you convince to join, the bigger the prize pool! So, be sure to grab some friends before heading on over to the Mead St. Station for a night of fun and food.
Root Down
Root Down
From culinary whiz Justin Cucci, who also happens to be behind culinary hotspots Linger and Ophelia's Electric Soapbox, Root Down is your one-stop-shop for good conscious eating. Root Down prides itself on its sustainability practices that both benefit the environment and produce delicious food. They have a 4,000 square-foot garden in the middle of the city that accounts for 20% of the seasonal vegetables they use in their restaurant. They provide diners with non-GMO fed cows, and all their seafood is certified by the Marine Stewardship Council, assuring that their diners get the best and most humane products. Their menu also indicates where the ingredients on the items are sourced, letting you know just what you're eating and how it was grown.
Be sure to try the Three Chile Chicken and their Flat Iron Steak with meat sourced from Callicrate Meats.
Free Market's Sole Restaurant BRUTØ Opens
BRUTØ, located inside the Denver Free Market, is a sustainability focused American restaurant officially opening Friday, September 27, 2019. The word BRUTØ means crude or directly from the earth, which is a reflection of the menu and vibe here.
The Denver Free Market opened in downtown Denver’s Dairy Block earlier this year and was created by local Id Est Hospitality. Their vision was to create a marketplace that connects people, objects, and ideas with hospitality at the forefront and a very thoughtful food and beverage partnership. The eight shops inside have not had a presence yet in Colorado, but bring great products and services, uphold good corporate values and exude a personable spirit. By incorporating the culinary and hospitality worlds into the Free Market, visitors are more comfortable browsing, shopping and more likely return again.
West Coast Oysters, Carrot & Fennel Salad, Sobrasada with Wildflower soda
The team behind BRUTØ is known for the beloved Basta in Boulder and the funky Wolf’s Tailor in Denver, all led by James Beard Foundation nominee Chef Kelly Whitaker. The menu is small but broad, centering around their Italian wood-fired oven and heritage grain-based items milled on-site or at Dry Storage, their baking counterpart of Basta in Boulder. Expect fresh-baked breads, seasonal crudités, hearty wood-fired meat dishes, and a raw-bar. They also have a full bar with a few craft beers, wines, local Stem Cider and cocktails and a coffee bar named called BØH (for back of house) around the corner inside Free Market.
Bruto’s menu
Socca (milled chickpeas) with Ricotta & basil
BRUTØ’s open kitchen with a wrap around bar is situated in a floor-to-ceiling glass corner of the market exposing it to passerby’s, making it perfect for cooking workshops and other events that are in the works. Their location also situates them one block from the Union Station farmers market, which was a selling point for Chef Whitaker who aims to provide Colorado-grown vegetables year-round.
BRUTØ during construction
The interior was a collaboration between three design groups: one from Berlin, one from LA, and a furniture and lighting artist in CA. The architect was a local CO company that designed Denver hot spots like Hop Alley.
Open during Free Market hours Tuesday -Sunday 11am-7pm.
Written & photographed by Tiffany Candelaria @TCdoesFnB
Seawell Ballroom Teams Up with Phantom Circus for Two Show Run
Phantom Circus is back after a year plus hiatus of its full-length spectacles in the Mile High City, and the troupe will be taking over Seawell Ballroom in the Denver Performing Arts Complex for two all-ages shows on July 13th. Seawell Ballroom, who has signed on as presenting sponsor, will transform into a circus ring and will feature a variety of acts and performances from Colorado’s best aerialists, acrobats, hoopers, stilt walkers, and much more. Phantom premiered in 2016 at the Oriental Theater, and grew audiences over a span of five shows in the succeeding years, filling the theater by the third show and selling out in advance by the fifth. Phantom set their sights on a larger, more centrally located venue to host their show. “We were bursting at the seams,” Phantom owner and director Natalie Brown explains. “Our acts needed more space, our aerial corps needed more rig points, and our fans needed more seats.”
Phantom Circus and Seawell Ballroom have enjoyed a collaborative working relationship over the past two years on a multitude of private and corporate events. “We love Seawell; it’s our favorite venue and favorite crew to work with when we’re on the gig circuit,” says Brown. “We’re excited to design this project together.”
Brown has been on a mission to grow her circus since moving to Denver in 2013 and is excited to get back on stage for a public circus performance this summer. “Denver is a big girl city now, and I realized when I moved here that it needed a big girl circus company.” Focusing on diversity of performers, diversity in the style of acts and ensuring that all of her performers are treated well, Brown has made a name for herself across the country for creating a one of a kind experience for attendees and performers alike.
Brown was working in New Orleans as a journalist when Hurricane Katrina devastated the city. Permanently displaced in Columbia, South Carolina, Brown started her first circus in a bar parking lot a block from the Confederate Flag on the Statehouse steps in 2007, and began advocating for performing arts legislation. After diligently working to build the arts community, she set her sights on Colorado and creating a new and improved circus experience. She completed Pro Track "circus school" aerial intensive training at Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance in Boulder in 2015, and started her dream company The Phantom Circus in 2016. Phantom has performed all over the state privately and publicly and has become a favorite among locals and event planners. Their most recent endeavor had Natalie and aerialists dancing off the roof and on the side of the new Hilton Garden Inn Union Station for their grand opening.
The Seawell ballroom show will feature their VIP ticket packages, which includes aerial bartending at intermission. VIP Ringmaster gets you premier seats, a goodie bag from sponsors and drink tickets to aerial bartending. The shows at will run 2 hours long and has a 2pm matinee for families and an 8pm evening showing. Tickets: $30-$35 (GA) $50- $100 (VIP) Kids: $12 www.phantomcircus.com
Breckenridge Brewery and Pop Culture Con Launch 2019 Pop Culture Con Beer: Bocks Machina
Breckenridge Brewery and Pop Culture Con (PCC) will officially launch the 2019 Pop Culture Con Beer, Bocks Machina, on May 25th at Monkey Barrel with music, games, cosplay, and the first collectible pint glass giveaway. The beer’s name was the winner of the annual “Name the Beer” contest which beat out hundreds of submissions during the online contest. “Bocks Machina” is a play on the adventure group Vox Machina from the widely popular web series “Critical Role.” The entire cast of the series will be appearing at Pop Culture Con (Critical Role is not affiliated with this promotion).
The 2019 PCC beer features Breckenridge Brewery’s Maibock recipe, which won a bronze medal at the Great American Beer Festival. The party is challenged with concocting a malty lager that casts a joyful spell on all whom taste it. Maibock is a refreshing golden liquid which tastes of honey and grain and smells of sweet fruit.
For the eighth straight year, Breck will be releasing the beer along with limited edition PCC pint glasses. This year’s glass features artwork by local artist Nick Hughes.
After the launch party, Bocks Machina will stay on tap at Monkey Barrel through Pop Culture Con. Other pubs within walking distance to the Colorado Convention Center will serve the beer leading up to and during the event. Follow Breckenridge Brewery on Facebook and Twitter for information on other pint glass giveaway events during Pop Culture Con. This information will also be posted on breckbrew.com in the weeks prior to the PCC.
WHAT:
For eight Breckenridge Brewery has brewed a special beer exclusively for Pop Culture Con (formally Denver Comic Con). The first 200 people to this FREE event will receive a limited collector’s series “Bock Machina” pint glass featuring custom design by Colorado artist Nick Hughes. The event will feature an LED Dance Floor, Cosplay contest and a DJ.
WHERE:
Monkey Barrel
4401 Tejon St.
Denver, CO
When:
Saturday, May 25th
- Doors 7pm
-Cosplay Contest: Winners will get tickets to Pop Culture Con
- LED Dance Floor
About “Bock Machina!”
Past winners of the "Name the Comic Con Beer" contest are Razznarock, The Fantastic Pour, The Caped Brewsader, Brews Wayne, Hulk's Mash, Snape-ricot, and I Am Brewt.
Denver Mini Derby Review
In our opinion, Denver’s best KY Derby party is the Denver Mini Derby. This event started a couple years ago by Eleven Creative, the same group who created the Mile High Beer Festival, Whiskey+Doughnuts, and RiNo Prom (to name a few). This year’s Mini Derby moved from its former location at Stanley Marketplace to the bigger Conservatory Green Park in Stapleton.
Proceeds from the ticket sales helped support their charity partners Next Step Horse Rescue and Minds Matter of Denver. The Mini Derby is names such because the event actually has a mini horse race: mini-sized race course with mini-sized horses! The horses are all rescue horses from Next Step Horse Rescue and guests could visit with them before and after the race and take photos with the little cuties.
One of the best parts is all tickets included open bar access complete with Bulleit Frontier Whiskey mint juleps, Smirnoff vodka cocktails, Avery Brewing Company beer, wines, champagne, Red Bull and KeVita kombucha! I’d argue this open bar was better than at most events and kept everyone refreshed, energized and extra-cheery.
Petting the ponies
And boy was there plenty to cheer for! The 145th annual Running of the Kentucky Derby was just one of the races at the Denver Mini Derby. The real reason people pick this Derby party over any other is to see the live mini horse race and Corgi race take place on the greens right in front of them! Guys and gals alike we’re so excited to see these races and exuberantly cheered the cute animals on. It was adorable.
The Corgis line up
Prizes were awarded for Best Dressed Woman, Best Dressed Man, Best Hat, and Cutest Couple which made for a beautiful event. Rollin Smoke BBQ and Infinitus Pie’s food trucks sold tasty eats and Groove ‘N Motion provided the live music before the race. We had a fantastic time and we highly recommend you join in the fun next May!
Live music before the race!
The Passport Program Supper Social Program: Smök, The Family Jones Spirit House and New Belgium
BBQ, Booze and fun……Don’t threaten us with a good time!
Join us for The Passport Program Supper Social, a shared dining experience exclusively for Passport insiders. We're teaming up with our friends at Smōk for a night of tasty barbecue paired with a cocktail from The Family Jones Spirit House and beers from New Belgium Brewing, and you're invited! Tickets to this event are limited, so get them before they're gone!
Your $50 Ticket Includes:
→ Automatic Jones “Rock and Rye” cocktail from The Family Jones Spirit House
→ Three-course meal from Smōk
→ Two beers from New Belgium Brewery including the debut of their Smoked Banana Stout brewed downstairs in The Source Hotel
Menu:
First Course
Paired with a cocktail from The Family Jones Spirit House
→ Jalapeño Poppers -or- Deviled Eggs
Second Course
Paired with an Astral Traveler DIPA from New Belgium Brewing
→ Two Meats and Two Sides
Choose 2: brisket, pulled pork, pork belly, turkey, chicken, burnt ends, and sausage.
Choose 2: creamed corn, mac & cheese, coleslaw, pit beans, cornbread, and potato salad.
Dessert
Paired with a Smoked Banana Stout from New Belgium Brewing
→ Banana Pudding
Things To Remember:
→ All guests must be 21+ and are required to have a valid ID with proof of age.
→ We ask that you arrive at least 10-15 minutes prior to the start of your session.
→ You must have a Denver Passport Winter Edition and a ticket to attend.
DVSN WEST x Be A Good Person Celebrate Air Max Day With The Art Max Gallery
DVSN West was transformed into a sneaker heads paradise with amazing art celebrating the much heralded and iconic sneaker the Air Max. In conjunction with Be A Good Person the event helped raise money via a silent auction to help local schools in our community, local art by local artists featured Air Max themed exclusives for this event with one of a kind pieces. The event took place on what is known as Air Max Day all over the world. It is celebrated every year on March 26th (1987) the day the Air Max 1 was released. Themed pieces featuring the Air Max 1, Air Max 90, Air Max 97 and more adorned the walls while patrons enjoyed complimentary cocktails courtesy of Deep Eddy Vodka and Waterloo Sparkling Water. Local DJ KDJ Above had to the music bumping all night long for what may become an annual tradition here in Denver. (Words and Images: Robert Castro)
What's on your 2019 Wish List?
New Year’s Eve in Aspen Photo by Jamie Finn
Whilst everybody else is slowly but surely giving up on their new year’s resolutions to drink less alcohol, eat more greens and get back into their running shoes, we suggest that you focus on your wish list instead. “What wish list?” you ask. Well, the idea of creating a lifelong ‘bucket list’ has been around a little while now, but a smaller, more manageable wish list for 2019 will see you achieve more in a shorter space of time. And have plenty of fun doing so.
The idea is to go big or go home! This could be the year you tick off those lifelong dreams that you've had in your head since high school. Take the plunge and get your first tattoo, travel to Las Vegas and experience everything it has to offer, or even organise a charity skydive. The sky's your limit so don’t be afraid to set the bar high. Even if you don’t manage to tick off everything, you’ll still have done some crazy cool stuff in 2019.
Aerial view of Red Rocks Amphitheatre Photo by Alex Mertz
Visit a National Park
It might seem like we’re starting off on a gentle one, but how many locals have actually been out to take a look around Colorado’s stunning array of national parks? With plenty of amazing natural wonders right on the doorstep, there’s no excuse not to venture into the great outdoors this year.
As a reader of this site, there’s no doubt that you’re into music in a big way. The perfect place to check out some sweet sounds bang in the middle of nature is the world-renowned Red Rocks Amphitheatre. At this gorgeous venue, you can experience everything from classical opera to modern rock bands in the open air, surrounded by incredible undulating rock formations.
Self-built Wonders
Moving on from the wonders of Mother Nature, there’s also plenty of manmade and reappropriated structures in Colorado that are not to be missed. The International Church of Cannabis is a rainbow dream in vivid technicolour from floor to ceiling; even if you don’t partake yourself, it’s well worth a visit to this incredibly decorated place of worship. On a similarly psychedelic theme, the Magic Mushroom House in Aspen is a groovy building conceptualised by 70s architect Andre Ulrych. Certainly an unusual piece of architecture to have a look round.
Other notable sites include: the UFO Watchtower in Crestone, which involves everything alien-related that you always wanted to see – as well as everything you didn’t; Denver’s Buckhorn Exchange, which contains an unbelievable number of taxidermied animals; and Cano’s Castle in Antonito, which is an impressive structure built, strangely enough, entirely from beer cans.
Inside the International Church of Cannabis Photo by Nicole Harrington
Detox Like Never Before
If you do fancy a bit of a health kick after all, go for something a little more interesting than the usual wilted salad and underused gym membership. In Denver, you can visit the city’s Flotation Center where you can spend time floating in salt water, completely quiet and comfortingly weightless. This should refresh your mind before you head to SunSpa Oxygen Bar in nearby Lakewood. Here you can get a concentrated oxygen hit – in your choice of fruity flavour, no less – to put you back on top form and feeling fighting fit for the year to come.
Go Extreme
Of course, one of the most extreme activities you can put on your list is the good old bungee jump. Colorado has some truly fantastic places where you can experience this ultimate thrill, including from the suspension bridge over the Arkansas River gorge, or above the spectacular Glenwood Canyon. Choosing an outdoor venue with brilliant views like the two mentioned here means that you can enjoy the whole experience and not just the few minutes’ thrill of the jump itself. Make a day of it and return home that evening feeling like you’re on top of the world.
Whatever you decide to put on your 2019 wish list, make sure it’s something fun, memorable and gives you the chance to fulfil a personal dream. After all, that’s what the idea of a ‘bucket list’ is all about and we only get one life – we might as well live it to the full!
It's The Most Wonderful Time For A Beer....Denver Beer Festivals Is Upon Us
Denver Beer Festivus Has Arrived.
It’s that time of the year once again. Time to don that ugly holiday sweater and head out to Denver Beer Festivus. Always in our top five events we cover every year. The Denver Festival is a celebration of all things….beer. With over 70 breweries set to take over the Sports Castle this year, add to that fun activities such as silent disco, lucha libra wrestlers, food trucks, and a pop-up coffee shop from Method Roasters paying homage to a Seinfeld cafe it’s sure to be an amazing time.
The event takes place this Saturday, December 15th at the Sports Castle located at 1000 Broadway from 3PM to 6PM. Special VIP packages include perks such as early entrance and an awesome Festivus Koozie. More ticket information can be found here.
Festivus With the Best of Us!
Cheesman Bark's Charlie Brown Holiday Portraits
Good grief! The holidays are upon us and it’s only appropriate that we celebrate with portraits of our pups. Thursday December 6th, CheesmanBark will be photographing pups in honor of the beloved Charlie Brown character, Snoopy.
We will be creating a custom photo set that will include this iconic scene from Charlie Brown! A sad Christmas tree and a reproduction of Snoopy’s doghouse will bring the set, and your pups pic, to life!
As if you needed another reason to attend, 10% of all of the portrait sales will go to the MaxFund Animal Adoption Center! A wonderful organization who we are proud to align with once again.
CheesmanBark’s Charlie Brown Holiday Portraits:
Thursday Dec 6th 6-8pm @ Skylight
There will be 100 portrait spots for this event and it’s sure to sell out! As of right now, we will only be accepting online reservations.
Each portrait spot is $40 and will include just a few minutes in front of the lens. The purchase of $40 include one printable digital image. Additional images are $25
We’ve done over 40 of these events and typically photograph between 7 and 9 dogs every ten minutes! 1-3 minutes is enough for you to have 3-5 GREAT images to choose from.
IMPORTANT: We will only be photographing one dog per portrait spot, so if you have multiple dogs you must purchase multiple spots! No exceptions!
Things you can do to make sure your dog is a perfect poser:
Exercise them before they come
Arrive early 15-20 minutes early to let them sniff the area and get comfortable
Practice sit and stay in an environment of high stimulation
If your pet has reactivity concerns, let us know! We will gladly make accommodations to ensure your pet’s portrait experience is a successful one!
The Rise of VR Arcades in Colorado
It’s been a couple years since advanced virtual reality (VR) consoles entered the mainstream market and broke everyone’s idea of what VR can actually do. These latest developments in VR technology are lightweight, intuitive to operate, and adaptable to a number of applications and multi-sensory inputs – essentially pulling our science fiction-based conceptions of VR much closer to reality. However, when retail prices for modern VR systems proved to be too expensive for common households, the media hype surrounding VR took a slow turn.
Enter the VR arcade. Thanks to these futuristic establishments suddenly popping up in Denver and other cities in the state, you no longer need to spend hundreds of bucks to get your hands and eyes on the latest entertainment tech. But can Colorado’s currently available VR entertainment facilities actually live up to the hype? Is this new VR the experience that gamers and tech enthusiasts have been waiting for? The short answer to that is a resounding yes..
Head Games: the First Public VR Arcade in Denver
"This is somewhere anyone of any age or background could come and try out VR and any kind of experience they want to – have a different experience every time, explains Head Games co-founder Nathan Hostetler in an inverview with 9 News. But why take anyone’s word for it when you can just go there yourself. Located at W. Colfax Avenue, right in the heart of the state capital, this VR arcade opened just last year as the first public VR facility in the city. Today, they offer four separate HTC Vive headsets, each connected to a HyperX Cloud II headphone and assigned to its own open space – designed for free omni-directional movement of up to five feet. With over 40 games and experiences offered here, it’s the perfect place for first-timers to sample VR’s never-before-seen capabilities brought to life.
Veterans, Take Your Places at Kaboom VR
Meanwhile, near Windsor Lake is a VR arcade that has a total of 15 machines – comprised of not just VR headsets, but also the auxiliary controllers that expand the VR experience in this youthful place. But don’t let the chill vibe fool you. This is one of those arcades that make veteran gamers both excited and comfortable. It’s all thanks to the fact that Kaboom VR actually holds regular player tournaments to show off stuff like their racing cockpits, other sports controllers, and top-of-the-line PCs (for more “traditional” gaming). If you’re confident in your skills, you can work your way to the top rankings of games like Project Cars 2, Beat Saber, and Holoball, with the added chance of your name being features at Kaboom VR’s website.
Epic VR's Growing Epic Community
This one’s all the way down in Citadel Mall at Colorado Springs. Epic VR is proof positive that even sleepy mountain towns appreciate cutting edge entertainment technologies. The rather huge spaces available here allows Oculus and HTC Vive headset users to move freely, with facilities that also allow your guests to watch your virtual experience. Much like the founders of the other pioneering VR arcades operating in Colorado, Epic VR’s Joseph Johnson is all about sharing potentially groundbreaking experiences with the rest of the community. I saw an opportunity, and I’d like to give people an opportunity as well, to do things that they sometimes can’t afford. So we tried to make it affordable, where people could come in and play anytime.”
VR Literally Shows the Future of Real Estate
While these arcades started opening for business just last year, VR-enabled tools for enhancing business processes have actually been gestating in this state for quite some time now. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Colorado's red hot property market. The Denver Post provides an in-depth look at how real estate firms like Kentwood City Properties and NAVA Developments have already been using the same tech to attract early buyers of their yet-to-be-finished residential units. “We started our pre-sales very early with several years to go before move-ins,” explains NAVA’s director of marketing Sarah Stone. As potential luxury condo buyers walk through the completed, fully-furnished, and completely digital versions of their future homes, it’s easy to see how useful and influential practical VR tech can eventually become.
VR: An Emerging Central Player in Nearly Every Key Industry
As you can probably already imagine, different applications of VR have already been making similar leaps and bounds across other states and industries. Where do you think the equipment for the above-mentioned arcades were sourced from? In the east coast, it's doubtless that there’s serious money to be made via VR. In fact, online casino guide Gambling.com offers a comprehensive list of New Jersey-based virtual casinos already delving into VR-enabled game play. It is in fact not rare for regular players of live VR casinos to sometimes develop friendly, amiable relationships with the live dealers that they consistently encounter online, some of which have actually garnered their own small group of loyal fans. Meanwhile, in institutions like the University of California, VR has taken a central role in the practical training of both students and professionals in various medical fields and specializations. In fact, during the last couple years, VR developers and engineers have been collaborating with some of the most experienced doctors in the country with one goal in mind: to create the most efficient, medically-accurate, realistic, and intuitively-designed VR training modules for nearly every medical procedure that can be considered essential, extremely risky, or impossibly difficult.
Yes, you read that right: the same advanced entertainment system which rewards you for accurately swinging virtual sabers to a given beat could also be responsible for creating the most well-informed and well-trained generation of medical professionals in history.
Given these recent and major developments in VR, we’d likely have to feign surprise when concert organizers eventually offer VR passes for absent but dedicated fans. This bodes well for the unlucky folks who live in Colorado but somehow often miss the best nights at Red Rocks – like that one time when visionary trip-hop musician Bonobo shared the stage with Chet Faker. Of course, nothing beats actually being physically present at your favorite artists' performances. But with VR tech already undergoing heavy development in a number of significant American industries, who knows just how epic it will be to attend future gigs from the comfort of your own virtual reality.
Denver Holiday Markets
Denver Christkindl Market | Nov. 16 - Dec. 23
This annual event brings authentic German and European holiday traditions to Denver’s downtown (1515 Arapahoe St.)! Guests can find delicious cuisine, festive German drinks, handmade jewelry, toys, clothing, gifts and much more. Live entertainment is featured inside the festival tent every evening, and dancing is encouraged! This market is planned and executed by the German American Chamber of Commerce – Colorado Chapter (GACC-CO).
Denver Christkindl Market
Union Station Holiday Market by Denver Flea | Friday's-Sunday's Nov. 23-25, 30-Dec. 2, Dec. 7-9 & Dec. 14-16th, 2018
The Union Station Holiday Market by Denver Flea will include four weekends of shopping, festivities and winter fun - kicking off on Black Friday, Nov. 23 at the historic Denver Union Station! 100s of Colorado’s best makers and artisan brands will pack the Plaza of Union Station each weekend throughout the season along with music, eats, drinks, activities and more. We’ll be there opening day (Friday 23rd) so check our Instagram @ultra5280 to see this year’s market in action! Tickets are $5.
Denver Flea
Stapleton Holiday BAZAAR | November 29, 2018
Shop, Sip, and Mingle with Colorado’s finest craft, fashion, and art makers for one night only at Stapleton Holiday BAZAAR inside The Shops at Northfield. This BAZAAR will feature over 40 craft vendors including Beer, Cider, Wine & Spirit tastings throughout the evening, along with festive music and more! 4-10 PM, GA Admission is free.
RiNo Holiday BAZAAR
RiNo Holiday BAZAAR | December 7-9, 2018
Taking over Walnut Street at 28th St. from December 7 – December 9, the RiNo Holiday BAZAAR hosts over 100 hand-picked local craft, fashion, and food vendors, with local breweries, cideries and mead booths onsite pouring holiday-themed drinks and participating in the BAAZAR’s Shop & Sip program.
A combination of outdoor pop-up shops sprinkled with fashion trucks and cozy, heated tents, the RiNo Holiday BAZAAR will spark the festive spirit for all with warm drinks and fire pits, funky music, and a selection of Denver Metro’s best food trucks on hand and a full bar! RiNo BOOZ hall, located in the heart of the BAZAAR, will be open all weekend long serving an array of Colorado crafted spirits and has bottles available to purchase.
Admission to RiNo Holiday BAZAAR is free until 7 PM on Friday, and before 12 PM on Saturday and Sunday, with GA tickets available for $5 at the door. Or RSVP at denverbazaar.com for free admission all weekend! Drink sampling packages are also available, with a range of options to fit your Shop & Sip experience. Please click here for details and more information on all Shop & Sip packages.
Yes Please Makers Market | December 8 & 9, 2018
Keeping it real this holiday season with a free, maker-hosted, vendor-friendly market starring 100(ish) of our favorite makers. After being part of the local Denver market circuit, Yes Please founders Kiwi Schloffel (of Craft Boner) and Taylor Barkin (of Moore Collection) wanted to create something with the vendor experience in mind: accessible, affordable booth pricing, attention to locals-only goods, and a friendly, supportive community. Tickets are free, but an RSVP is required. The first 50 people to show up each day get awesome totes from Craft Boner.
Yes Please Makers Market
By Tiffany Candelaria