Sunday, December 31, 2017
Immoral Live Prospers in Budapest With Streamate
I realized a long time ago that I don’t always make the best decisions, but looking back over my life so far, there are three decisions I’ve never regretted: Joining the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity, starting my career in the adult entertainment business and moving my business and personal life to Budapest, Hungary last year.
[Read More …]
Saturday, December 30, 2017
WIA Profile: Billie Miller
Each month, industry news media organization XBIZ spotlights the career accomplishments and outstanding contributions of Women in Adult. WIA profiles offer an intimate look at the professional lives of the industry’s most influential female executives.
[Read More …]
Friday, December 29, 2017
The most anticipated restaurants coming to Colorado in 2018
What’s the only thing better than all the great food you’ve already eaten? All the great food you’re about to eat, of course. We’re a nation of dreamers, of strivers, of gazing-out-at-the-horizon-ers who are fantasizing about what’s to come. And while the future may not always meet our expectations, we continue to hope for the best. Here, the most anticipated restaurants opening in and around Denver in 2018. May they be worthy of our hopes, dreams and dollars.
Shake Shack
Hullabaloo. That’s what there will be when Shake Shack opens its first Denver restaurant. There will be long lines and people camping out and maybe even police directing traffic and you will wonder how a fast-casual burger joint could possibly be worth all the commotion, but then you will bite into your first ShackBurger with its potato roll bun and signature sauce and you will not only understand the hullabaloo but you will become part of it. 30th and Larimer streets, Denver; shakeshack.com; opening early 2018
Beckon
Just two houses remain standing side-by-side on Larimer Street in the development hot spot that is RiNo. The white one is Call, a newly opened, casual café. The black one is Beckon, and come spring, it will bestow us with a culinary adventure unlike anything else on the Denver dining scene. Beckon will be a tasting-menu-only restaurant, where 17 diners sit around the open kitchen and have a dinner party experience created by former Frasca Food & Wine culinary director Duncan Holmes. 2845 Larimer St., Denver; opening spring 2018
LeRoux
He may be known as one of the city’s most notable Asian chefs thanks to ChoLon, Cho77 and Kaya Kitchen, but Lon Symensma says he’s actually more of a European chef. “Before I knew what lemongrass and chilies were, I was cooking at Michelin-star restaurants in France,” he said. If he can do to pasta and meat at LeRoux what he’s done to soup dumplings and Brussels sprouts at ChoLon, there’s a good chance we’ll be eating our weight in schnitzel in 2018, which seems as good of a resolution as any. 1555 Blake St., Denver; opening in August
Julep
If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a thousand times: This town needs more deviled escargot grits. Luckily, Julep is (almost) ready and willing to give us those snails, plus a whole roster of sassy Southern cuisine like hoe cakes with smoked ham hock, rutabaga tarte tatin drizzled in sorghum syrup, and oyster and pork sausage with baked bean style barley. 3258 Larimer St., Denver; juleprino.com; opening in January
Bang Up to the Elephant!
This restaurant from the imaginative Beatrice & Woodsley team was supposed to open last summer (under the name Mighty Mighty Sparrow!) and was on our most anticipated new restaurant list for 2017, but so it goes with Denver construction right now. Other than having Calypso cuisine, a festive atmosphere and “hundreds of living plants,” much of Elephant’s details are still under wraps. No matter; the name is quirky and, like we said last year, even if it’s a total disaster, it will be a beautiful, whimsical disaster. 1310 Pearl St., Denver; banguptotheelephant.restaurant; opening late January
New Little Man Ice Cream Shops
There are certainly worse goals than filling the world with ice cream shops. So, we say scoop on, Little Man group, scoop on. Four new spots will open in 2018: Constellation in Stapleton will bring cookie dough ice cream sandwiches and blow-torch-fired Baked Alaska pops; Little Man Creamery in Sloan’s Lake will feature an ice cream flight tasting room; Churn Ice Cream in Fort Collins will scoop out of a 22-foot lumber churn bucket; and the unnamed Park Hill location will have soft serve. Constellation: 10175 E. 29th Dr., Denver; opening early 2018. Little Man Creamery: 4409 W. Colfax, Denver; tasting room opens summer 2018. Churn: 200 N. College Ave., Fort Collins; opening summer 2018. Park Hill spot: 2211 Oneida St., Denver; opening in 2018; littlemanicecream.com
Milk Market at Dairy Block
Finally — hot chicken, bao buns and pizza all under one roof. That’ll save you some miles. Chef Frank Bonanno takes on the beginning-to-be-ubiquitous food hall with Milk Market, his 15,000-square-foot, 15-vendor project at Dairy Block. All of your Bonanno dreams — or nightmares — come to life this spring. 18th and Wazee streets, Denver; dairyblock.com; opening in May
Super Mega Bien
Everything is better on wheels, including lechón, mofongo and arepas. Chef Dana Rodriguez (Work & Class), along with partners Tony Maciag and Tabatha Knop, will roll out this pan-Latin dim sum restaurant, Super Mega Bien, inside the forthcoming Ramble hotel. Small, shareable plates will sashay around the dining room via dim sum-style carts, and we just love it when our food sashays. 1260 25th St., Denver; supermegabien.com; opening spring 2018
[Read More …]
The most anticipated restaurants coming to Colorado in 2018
What’s the only thing better than all the great food you’ve already eaten? All the great food you’re about to eat, of course. We’re a nation of dreamers, of strivers, of gazing-out-at-the-horizon-ers who are fantasizing about what’s to come. And while the future may not always meet our expectations, we continue to hope for the best. Here, the most anticipated restaurants opening in and around Denver in 2018. May they be worthy of our hopes, dreams and dollars.
Shake Shack
Hullabaloo. That’s what there will be when Shake Shack opens its first Denver restaurant. There will be long lines and people camping out and maybe even police directing traffic and you will wonder how a fast-casual burger joint could possibly be worth all the commotion, but then you will bite into your first ShackBurger with its potato roll bun and signature sauce and you will not only understand the hullabaloo but you will become part of it. 30th and Larimer streets, Denver; shakeshack.com; opening early 2018
Beckon
Just two houses remain standing side-by-side on Larimer Street in the development hot spot that is RiNo. The white one is Call, a newly opened, casual café. The black one is Beckon, and come spring, it will bestow us with a culinary adventure unlike anything else on the Denver dining scene. Beckon will be a tasting-menu-only restaurant, where 17 diners sit around the open kitchen and have a dinner party experience created by former Frasca Food & Wine culinary director Duncan Holmes. 2845 Larimer St., Denver; opening spring 2018
LeRoux
He may be known as one of the city’s most notable Asian chefs thanks to ChoLon, Cho77 and Kaya Kitchen, but Lon Symensma says he’s actually more of a European chef. “Before I knew what lemongrass and chilies were, I was cooking at Michelin-star restaurants in France,” he said. If he can do to pasta and meat at LeRoux what he’s done to soup dumplings and Brussels sprouts at ChoLon, there’s a good chance we’ll be eating our weight in schnitzel in 2018, which seems as good of a resolution as any. 1555 Blake St., Denver; opening in August
Julep
If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a thousand times: This town needs more deviled escargot grits. Luckily, Julep is (almost) ready and willing to give us those snails, plus a whole roster of sassy Southern cuisine like hoe cakes with smoked ham hock, rutabaga tarte tatin drizzled in sorghum syrup, and oyster and pork sausage with baked bean style barley. 3258 Larimer St., Denver; juleprino.com; opening in January
Bang Up to the Elephant!
This restaurant from the imaginative Beatrice & Woodsley team was supposed to open last summer (under the name Mighty Mighty Sparrow!) and was on our most anticipated new restaurant list for 2017, but so it goes with Denver construction right now. Other than having Calypso cuisine, a festive atmosphere and “hundreds of living plants,” much of Elephant’s details are still under wraps. No matter; the name is quirky and, like we said last year, even if it’s a total disaster, it will be a beautiful, whimsical disaster. 1310 Pearl St., Denver; banguptotheelephant.restaurant; opening late January
New Little Man Ice Cream Shops
There are certainly worse goals than filling the world with ice cream shops. So, we say scoop on, Little Man group, scoop on. Four new spots will open in 2018: Constellation in Stapleton will bring cookie dough ice cream sandwiches and blow-torch-fired Baked Alaska pops; Little Man Creamery in Sloan’s Lake will feature an ice cream flight tasting room; Churn Ice Cream in Fort Collins will scoop out of a 22-foot lumber churn bucket; and the unnamed Park Hill location will have soft serve. Constellation: 10175 E. 29th Dr., Denver; opening early 2018. Little Man Creamery: 4409 W. Colfax, Denver; tasting room opens summer 2018. Churn: 200 N. College Ave., Fort Collins; opening summer 2018. Park Hill spot: 2211 Oneida St., Denver; opening in 2018; littlemanicecream.com
Milk Market at Dairy Block
Finally — hot chicken, bao buns and pizza all under one roof. That’ll save you some miles. Chef Frank Bonanno takes on the beginning-to-be-ubiquitous food hall with Milk Market, his 15,000-square-foot, 15-vendor project at Dairy Block. All of your Bonanno dreams — or nightmares — come to life this spring. 18th and Wazee streets, Denver; dairyblock.com; opening in May
Super Mega Bien
Everything is better on wheels, including lechón, mofongo and arepas. Chef Dana Rodriguez (Work & Class), along with partners Tony Maciag and Tabatha Knop, will roll out this pan-Latin dim sum restaurant, Super Mega Bien, inside the forthcoming Ramble hotel. Small, shareable plates will sashay around the dining room via dim sum-style carts, and we just love it when our food sashays. 1260 25th St., Denver; supermegabien.com; opening spring 2018
[Read More …]
Colorado’s best new restaurants of 2017
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the age of perfect pastas, it was the age of overpriced steaks. It was the epoch of rapid-fire openings, it was the epoch of tragic closings. It was the season of new heights, it was the season of crappy service.
In short, 2017 gave us an abundance of new restaurants, ranging from the spectacular to a spectacular waste of money.
But these, these are the best the year had to offer. Covering all price points and as many miles as I could stand to drive, these are my favorite restaurants that opened in 2017.
Annette
Sighs, smiles and the word “lovely” are all heavily prevalent in conversations about Annette. This bright, quaint and, yes, lovely restaurant inside the Stanley Marketplace is a no-brainer for any best new restaurant list. (Including Bon Appétit, which put Annette on its list of the nation’s 50 best new restaurants.) The menu is simple, approachable and perfectly executed by chef/owner Caroline Glover. Plus, for the quality and deliciousness factor, prices are fair — $15 for the best bowl of gnocchi I’ve had in a long time; $7 for any of the desserts. 2501 Dallas St., Aurora, 720-710-9975; annettescratchtotable.com
Cloverdale
Ambition should be rewarded; ambition plus jumping-off-a-cliff-level risk-taking should be celebrated, and so I’m celebrating the ambitious, risky Cloverdale. It’s hard enough for a tasting-menu-only restaurant to make it in a big city (which is probably why we can’t find any in Denver), so to open one in Steamboat Springs, population 12,690, seems downright crazy. The downright crazy guy is chef Patrick Ayres, and his five or 10-14 course tasting menus are an adventure in Yampa Valley ingredients and innovative techniques. 207 9th St., Steamboat Springs, 970-875-3179; cloverdalerestaurant.com
Emmerson
Like Cloverdale, Emmerson is a challenging restaurant for diners. Not challenging as in it’s going to engage you in a duel or anything, but challenging as in, yes, chef Michael Gibney is really going to serve you a plate of beef rib carpaccio with oysters and brie and you will think it will be terrible but if you’re brave enough to try it you’ll come out on the other side into a new frontier of culinary open-mindedness. And there may never be any going back. Oh, and the drinks are great, too, so that helps. 1600 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-953-9852; emmersonrestaurant.com
Lazo Empanadas
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get great eats; $3.50 buys you a little taste of paradise in the form of an empanada. What makes Lazo — which took over the former Buenos Aires Pizzeria spot at 22nd and Larimer — so good is that the dough is imported from owner Francois Saber’s native Argentina. (Our dry climate makes it difficult to achieve that flaky crust perfection.) The 14 fillings, however, are made from local ingredients, so you don’t have to feel too guilty about your carbon empanada footprint. 1319 22nd St., Denver, 303-296-6710; lazoempanadas.com
Pizzeria Lui
What wouldn’t you do for great pizza? Unless the answer is “drive to Lakewood,” there are no excuses for missing out on this Neapolitan-style newcomer. The pies are fired in a 900-degree wood-burning oven to achieve that immaculate, chewy, barely-charred crust that creates a near-perfect base for the San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and peppy toppings. Lui is Colorado’s Pizza of the Year, and if Pizza of the Year isn’t really a thing, I just made it one. 5380 W. Mississippi Ave., Lakewood, 303-922-3202; pizzerialui.com
Tavernetta
The best restaurants are driven by obsession, so it’s no surprise that the Frasca Food & Wine group created another stellar restaurant dedicated to its Italian food fetish in the form of Tavernetta. From tissue-paper-thin prosciutto to pinched agnolotti dancing with black trumpet mushrooms, to one of the best steaks I’ve ever had, Tavernetta is an ode to fine Italian cooking from a highly driven team. 1889 16th St., Denver, 720-605-1889; tavernettadenver.com
Ultreia
In Spain, tapas are a religion. Barcelonians worship at the altar of patatas bravas (potatoes in a spicy sauce), San Sebastián locals praise anchovies on toast, and now you, too, can know what it is to have a spiritual awakening by eating pickled shrimp. Ultreia, chef Jennifer Jasinski’s second Union Station restaurant, honors the salty, simple flavors of the Iberian Peninsula and the region’s small-plate-heavy, ritualistic dining experience. 1701 Wynkoop St., Denver, 303-534-1970; ultreiadenver.com
[Read More …]
Colorado’s best new restaurants of 2017
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the age of perfect pastas, it was the age of overpriced steaks. It was the epoch of rapid-fire openings, it was the epoch of tragic closings. It was the season of new heights, it was the season of crappy service.
In short, 2017 gave us an abundance of new restaurants, ranging from the spectacular to a spectacular waste of money.
But these, these are the best the year had to offer. Covering all price points and as many miles as I could stand to drive, these are my favorite restaurants that opened in 2017.
Annette
Sighs, smiles and the word “lovely” are all heavily prevalent in conversations about Annette. This bright, quaint and, yes, lovely restaurant inside the Stanley Marketplace is a no-brainer for any best new restaurant list. (Including Bon Appétit, which put Annette on its list of the nation’s 50 best new restaurants.) The menu is simple, approachable and perfectly executed by chef/owner Caroline Glover. Plus, for the quality and deliciousness factor, prices are fair — $15 for the best bowl of gnocchi I’ve had in a long time; $7 for any of the desserts. 2501 Dallas St., Aurora, 720-710-9975; annettescratchtotable.com
Cloverdale
Ambition should be rewarded; ambition plus jumping-off-a-cliff-level risk-taking should be celebrated, and so I’m celebrating the ambitious, risky Cloverdale. It’s hard enough for a tasting-menu-only restaurant to make it in a big city (which is probably why we can’t find any in Denver), so to open one in Steamboat Springs, population 12,690, seems downright crazy. The downright crazy guy is chef Patrick Ayres, and his five or 10-14 course tasting menus are an adventure in Yampa Valley ingredients and innovative techniques. 207 9th St., Steamboat Springs, 970-875-3179; cloverdalerestaurant.com
Emmerson
Like Cloverdale, Emmerson is a challenging restaurant for diners. Not challenging as in it’s going to engage you in a duel or anything, but challenging as in, yes, chef Michael Gibney is really going to serve you a plate of beef rib carpaccio with oysters and brie and you will think it will be terrible but if you’re brave enough to try it you’ll come out on the other side into a new frontier of culinary open-mindedness. And there may never be any going back. Oh, and the drinks are great, too, so that helps. 1600 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-953-9852; emmersonrestaurant.com
Lazo Empanadas
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get great eats; $3.50 buys you a little taste of paradise in the form of an empanada. What makes Lazo — which took over the former Buenos Aires Pizzeria spot at 22nd and Larimer — so good is that the dough is imported from owner Francois Saber’s native Argentina. (Our dry climate makes it difficult to achieve that flaky crust perfection.) The 14 fillings, however, are made from local ingredients, so you don’t have to feel too guilty about your carbon empanada footprint. 1319 22nd St., Denver, 303-296-6710; lazoempanadas.com
Pizzeria Lui
What wouldn’t you do for great pizza? Unless the answer is “drive to Lakewood,” there are no excuses for missing out on this Neapolitan-style newcomer. The pies are fired in a 900-degree wood-burning oven to achieve that immaculate, chewy, barely-charred crust that creates a near-perfect base for the San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and peppy toppings. Lui is Colorado’s Pizza of the Year, and if Pizza of the Year isn’t really a thing, I just made it one. 5380 W. Mississippi Ave., Lakewood, 303-922-3202; pizzerialui.com
Tavernetta
The best restaurants are driven by obsession, so it’s no surprise that the Frasca Food & Wine group created another stellar restaurant dedicated to its Italian food fetish in the form of Tavernetta. From tissue-paper-thin prosciutto to pinched agnolotti dancing with black trumpet mushrooms, to one of the best steaks I’ve ever had, Tavernetta is an ode to fine Italian cooking from a highly driven team. 1889 16th St., Denver, 720-605-1889; tavernettadenver.com
Ultreia
In Spain, tapas are a religion. Barcelonians worship at the altar of patatas bravas (potatoes in a spicy sauce), San Sebastián locals praise anchovies on toast, and now you, too, can know what it is to have a spiritual awakening by eating pickled shrimp. Ultreia, chef Jennifer Jasinski’s second Union Station restaurant, honors the salty, simple flavors of the Iberian Peninsula and the region’s small-plate-heavy, ritualistic dining experience. 1701 Wynkoop St., Denver, 303-534-1970; ultreiadenver.com
[Read More …]
WIA Profile: Casey Murphy
Each month, industry news media organization XBIZ spotlights the career accomplishments and outstanding contributions of Women in Adult. WIA profiles offer an intimate look at the professional lives of the industry’s most influential female executives.
[Read More …]
Thursday, December 28, 2017
Q&A: Neil Takes Clips4Sale to the Next Level
As Clips4Sale heads into its 15th year, visionary founder Neil is seizing upon the very spirit of innovation that has kept his company in the highest echelons of clips sites.
[Read More …]
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Get ready for the cannabis culinary-arts scene to explode
SAN DIEGO — The sauvignon blanc boasts brassy, citrus notes, but with one whiff, it’s apparent this is no normal Sonoma County wine. It’s infused with THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana that provides the high.
Move over, pot brownies. The world’s largest legal recreational marijuana market kicks off Monday in California, and the trendsetting state is set to ignite the cannabis culinary scene.
Chefs and investors have been teaming up to offer an eye-boggling array of cannabis-infused food and beverages, weed-pairing supper clubs and other extravagant pot-to-plate events in preparation for legalization come Jan. 1.
Legal pot in states like Oregon, Washington and Colorado and California’s longstanding medical marijuana market already spurred a cannabis-foodie movement with everything from olive oil to heirloom tomato bisques infused with the drug.
Cannabis-laced dinners with celebrity chefs at private parties have flourished across Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego in recent years, but a medical marijuana card was required to attend.
With that requirement gone, the edibles market is expected to boom, though manufacturers face a host of regulations, and doctors fear the products could increase emergency room visits and entice youth. Marijuana industry analysts predict edibles for the recreational marijuana market will top $100 million in sales in 2018.
Read the rest of this story at TheCannabist.co
[Read More …]
Get ready for the cannabis culinary-arts scene to explode
SAN DIEGO — The sauvignon blanc boasts brassy, citrus notes, but with one whiff, it’s apparent this is no normal Sonoma County wine. It’s infused with THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana that provides the high.
Move over, pot brownies. The world’s largest legal recreational marijuana market kicks off Monday in California, and the trendsetting state is set to ignite the cannabis culinary scene.
Chefs and investors have been teaming up to offer an eye-boggling array of cannabis-infused food and beverages, weed-pairing supper clubs and other extravagant pot-to-plate events in preparation for legalization come Jan. 1.
Legal pot in states like Oregon, Washington and Colorado and California’s longstanding medical marijuana market already spurred a cannabis-foodie movement with everything from olive oil to heirloom tomato bisques infused with the drug.
Cannabis-laced dinners with celebrity chefs at private parties have flourished across Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego in recent years, but a medical marijuana card was required to attend.
With that requirement gone, the edibles market is expected to boom, though manufacturers face a host of regulations, and doctors fear the products could increase emergency room visits and entice youth. Marijuana industry analysts predict edibles for the recreational marijuana market will top $100 million in sales in 2018.
Read the rest of this story at TheCannabist.co
[Read More …]
Managing Cash Flow Is Imperative
“You must spend money to make money.” — Titus Maccius Plautus
[Read More …]
Tuesday, December 26, 2017
Store Makeover Tips for Retailers
The time has come, once again, for me to make a store visit outside of my area. While I am based out of Las Vegas, sometimes I am fortunate enough to travel to other locations and offer assistance. To some, this may seem like more of a burden than a gift, but I never see it that way.
[Read More …]
Monday, December 25, 2017
Customer Service Done Right
Good customer service is key to sustaining any successful business, and this is especially true with recurring revenue models, which depend on keeping customer memberships active over long periods of time.
[Read More …]
Sunday, December 24, 2017
Surveys Help Paysites Make Money, Drive Traffic
It’s getting harder and more expensive to get members to adult paysites and dating programs.
[Read More …]
Saturday, December 23, 2017
Is It True? Or Is It Exaggerated Marketing Spin?
If Edward R. Murrow were still alive in 2017, he would no doubt be shocked at how communications and technology have changed. The famous broadcast journalist, who died in 1965made his mark in an era of AM radio, physical newspapers and black-and-white television.
[Read More …]
Friday, December 22, 2017
April Lampert, Amy Baldwin Preach Unrestrained Pleasure in ‘Shameless Sex’ Podcast
Amy Baldwin and April Lampert want you to be uninhibited, radical and unabashed in the bedroom — in a word, shameless. Since its inception earlier this year, the Shameless Sex podcast, hosted by pleasure products industry veterans Baldwin and Lampert, has exploded onto the pop-culture sexual health scene.
[Read More …]
Thursday, December 21, 2017
Beer in review 2017: Colorado’s top beers and breweries, according to brewers and readers
The best Colorado breweries in 2017 tapped into the hottest trends in craft beer — big-flavor stouts and hazy hop-forward India pale ales — to rank at the top for the state’s craft beer fans.
To find the best beer and best breweries of the year, The Denver Post polled dozens of brewers and industry experts for its 7th annual Beer in Review survey. And this year, we added a reader favorite in an online poll that garnered more than 1,700 votes.
The competition is stiff in Colorado with approximately 340 breweries in the state, but clear favorites among the pros and readers emerged. Here’s a look at the year in beer for 2017:
Best Colorado beer: Bierstadt Lagerhaus Slow Pour Pils
For the second straight year, the crisp, clear and delicious Slow Pour Pils from Bierstadt Lagerhaus wins Colorado beer of the year. It’s quite a feat for a brewery that opened less than two years ago, but the care and attention — 30 hours to brew this one — that brewmasters Bill Eye and Ashleigh Carter put into the beer are evident.
Another reason it landed at the top again: Brewers and industry pros love a good beer that allows you to drink more than one and isn’t overloaded with flavors.
“Favorite beers are often those that stand out for being huge or over the top. But for me, favorite means the beer I keep going back to drink,” says Jeff Nickel at AC Golden Brewing, who counts Bierstadt’s Helles as another of his top picks.
Industry experts expect more breweries move to easier-drinking beers, so maybe others will try to follow Bierstadt’s lead in craft lagers.
Readers’ pick: WeldWerks Brewing Medianoche stout series
It’s hard to get more than two people to agree on their favorite beer. So it’s no surprise that beer fans had trouble picking their favorite from WeldWerks Brewing’s Medianoche series. The Medianoche Reserve imperial stout released this year won the most shout-outs, but so did other variants with additional ingredients.
Medianoche took home a gold medal in the barrel-aged stout category at the Great American Beer Festival earlier this year. The other reader favorite beer — WeldWerks for its Juicy Bits series of hazy IPAs.
Editor’s pick: Casey Brewing and Blending Supreme Clientele
Months after first trying this rare beer at the What the Funk?! Invitational during GABF week, I’m still thinking about it. Casey Brewing and Blending’s barrel-aged sour saison Supreme Clientele tasted like the juicy skin of a peach, bursting with flavor.
And there’s a good reason, brewer Troy Casey says. It aged on apricots for a month, then fresh nectarines and peaches for another month. “So it was basically double fruited,” he says. All Colorado ingredients, too.
Best Colorado brewery: WeldWerks Brewing
The prized GABF medal and plenty of new trend-setting beers made Weldwerks Brewing the Colorado brewery of the year, according to brewers and industry experts. Owner and head brewer Neil Fisher hits the high notes with hazy IPAs that showcase the flavors of the hops without the bitterness as well as barrel-aged stouts with a host of big flavors. The brewery’s beers are some of the most coveted in the nation among beer traders.
Fellow Greeley brewer Kyle Carbaugh at Wiley Roots sums it up: “Their meteoric rise seemed to catch a lot of people by surprise in 2016, but they’ve maintained a high-quality program throughout 2017, including a gold medal win at GABF in a very competitive category,” he adds. “They’re continually pushing boundaries on the pastry stout and hazy IPA categories, and I’m really looking forward to the barrel-aged offerings they have in store for 2018.”
Other expert favorites included Black Project Spontaneous and Wild Ales in Denver and Bierstadt Lagerhaus.
Readers’ pick: WeldWerks Brewing
The experts and readers agree in this category. WeldWerks was the runaway favorite brewery among craft beer fans in the survey. The brewery’s reach — and devotees — is expanding as it begins to distribute more 16-ounce cans of its beer to specialty bottle shops.
Editor’s pick: Black Project Spontaneous and Wild Ales
Black Project won brewery of the year in 2016 and only continued to push the boundaries this year with its Roswell series of fruited Lambic-style sours and an expansion of its barrel program. Owner and brewer James Howat even traveled to Belgium this year to negotiate an international beer treaty on how to label these old-world styles made to Méthode specifications.
Best new Colorado brewery: Outer Range Brewing
The overwhelming winner for best new brewery is Outer Range, a newish brewery that opened in Frisco in 2016. The brewery only makes IPAs and Belgians, and really it’s the small batches of constantly evolving hazy IPAs that draws the most fans.
The hazy style is all the rage, but not all brewers can achieve the balance needed to make them work. “We choose them because of the New England Style IPA craze that has been sweeping the market, they came out of the gate swinging for the fences, while holding their own with those breweries at the top in that category,” says Hops & Pie owners Drew and Leah Watson.
Chris Marchio, the founder and head brewer at Knotted Root Brewing in Nederland, says Outer Range is quickly becoming a must-visit on the Colorado beer map. “They have begun to change the market in terms of expanding the Front Range beer scene into Summit County as a destination brewery,” he says. “I believe we’ll see more of this as the Denver and Boulder beer scene’s have become quite saturated.”
The runners-up in the category included New Terrain Brewing in Golden, Cellar West Artisan Ales in Boulder and Amalgam Brewing in Niwot.
Editor’s pick: New Image Brewing
New Image Brewing in Arvada is not a one-note wonder with its East Coast Transplant IPA. The brewery opened in 2016 but really made its presence known this year with full range of IPAs, stouts and other styles.
The portfolio includes a kombucha Brett saison called Dyad that is a fascinating mix of funky flavor and freshness tartness. And its blending collaboration with 4 Noses Brewing was one of the most unique partnerships of the year.
Colorado brewery to watch in 2018: New Terrain Brewing
New Terrain Brewing offers the best of both worlds in Colorado: quality beer with access to quality outdoor adventure. It’s location at the foot of Table Mountain and its Colorado IPA meet the needs. And the option to buy crowlers — 32-ounce cans the size of a half-growler — will help the beer travel and earn new fans.
“New Terrain is a very impressive newcomer with a wide array of top-quality beers and a spectacular place indoors and out,” says Marty Jones, a Denver-area beer marketer.
Editor’s pick: Cerebral Brewing
Cerebral Brewing in Denver began offering special releases of its top-notch beers this year — from hop-loaded IPAs, to decadent stouts to nuanced sours — and more goodness is expected in 2018. I’m looking forward to new barrel-aged beers and more collaborations with other top-notch breweries that counted as some of my favorites of the year.
Most notable craft beer trend in 2017: The hazy IPA
A year ago, the hazy IPA stormed into Colorado. In 2017, it became a must-brew beer for many breweries in the state as demand only increased for more fruit-flavored IPAs without the bite.
“It was all about that haze in 2017,” says Sarah Haughey, the owner of The Jailhouse Craft Beer Bar in Buena Vista. “We didn’t just see hazy New England style IPA, but also pale ale and double IPA going this route as well.”
The beer represents a departure from the more hop-aggressive West Coast IPA styles and there’s debate about how long the trend will continue. So far it looks like it will only evolve as more breweries move into so-called milkshake IPAs brewed with oats, lactose and other adjunct ingredients.
Editor’s pick: Adjunct beers
The craft beer consumer is all about big flavors right now, but not necessarily the taste of beer. Brewers are adding all sorts of ingredients to their tanks, from traditional fruit and spices to more exotic adjuncts like cereal, candy bars and pies. Many stouts now resemble deserts or other foods than beer, giving rise to the terms milkshake IPA and pastry stouts.
Even though many industry pros see a back-to-basics reversal emerging, it sure seems like we still are just in the early stages of spiking beer with new flavors and adjunct ingredients.
Craft beer trend to watch in 2018: Closures and consolidation
Much like a year ago, when market pressures ranked at the top of brewers’ minds, the pros who answered the survey put a sharper point on the top industry issue for 2018: closures and consolidation.
“We’ll see more closures and sales in 2018 as the market continues to mature. It’s unfortunate for those that it affects, but it’s good for the overall market,” says Sean Buchan at Cerebral Brewing.
The issue began to emerge in 2017 with the merger of Strange Beer Co. and Wit’s End Brewing as a prime example. Nick Swingler, who works in sales and distribution at Denver Beer Co., says he expects more partnerships to develop in the next year. “It’s a pretty unique agreement that is a little outside the norm but should be beneficial for both of the breweries to survive, compete and thrive,” he adds. “Competition is only increasing and I think that finding ways to differentiate yourself from the group will become even more important.”
Editor’s pick: The $50 six-pack
Let’s face it, craft beer is expensive, but the prices are now becoming ridiculous. The idea of a $50 six-pack is probably in the near future, if it doesn’t already exist somewhere.
The demand for limited release beers — often available if you wait in line at the brewery — is pushing prices higher on the secondary beer-trading markets. So it’s hard to blame brewers for demanding more money when they see their beers going for double the cost online. But when is too much going to be too much for beer?
[Read More …]
Get a free ride home over the holidays and other deals around Denver, Dec. 22-28
Taxi!
Those who enjoy a few drinks at the office holiday party or family gathering can spare themselves the risk of a DUI or worse. Call a cab for a free ride from a single location to your home in the Denver Metro area, pay the driver and send your receipt to the Sawaya Law Firm for reimbursement (up to $35.) The safe-driving offer runs through Jan. 1, 2018. Participants must be 21 or older. Send your receipt, along with a copy of a valid driver’s license, to Holiday Free Cab Ride Program, The Sawaya Law Firm, 1600 Ogden St., Denver, CO 80218. For more information, call 720-709-2820. sawayalaw.com/resources/free-cab-ride-program
Tooth fairy
Many people fear the dentist not because of pain, but because of the cost. Thankfully, Comfort Dental is giving a generous gift to those who otherwise can’t afford care. On Dec. 23, the dental clinic is hosting its 34th annual Care Day with free services from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Patients are assisted first-come, first-served, so get there early. Choose from a variety of basic dental services, from a cleaning to an extraction. More serious issues are handled individually, at the discretion of the staff. There are dozens of locations throughout Colorado. comfortdental.com
Milk and cookies
Everyone knows how much Santa loves his milk and cookies. This year, DoubleTree by Hilton is again helping his cause. Known for its signature chocolate chip cookies, the chain is committed to ensuring the big, jolly guy has a full belly. Through Dec. 24, guests and non-guests alike can stop by the front desk for a free cookie to leave for Santa — even though you might just be naughty and enjoy it yourself. doubletree.com
I spy Santa
The team at North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) keeps close track of a sleigh pulled by eight tiny reindeer every Dec. 24. Tech-savvy kids everywhere can satisfy their curiosity regarding Santa’s whereabouts from a computer or mobile device. It can also help parents entice little ones to get to bed before he makes his delivery. Even before the big night, children can explore a digital Santa’s Village, play games, enjoy holiday music and read books on the site. The command center’s tracking methods are top-secret, but Rudolph’s glowing red nose might be of help to satellites. If NORAD can’t convince kids that Mr. Claus is on his merry way, nothing will. noradsanta.org
Eat, drink and be merry
Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, you can enjoy a holiday meal without all the work of prepping, serving and cleaning. For famished frugal families who want to unwrap gifts and then eat, hassle-free, there are low-cost options on Christmas Day. Among the restaurants open, Denny’s, Village Inn, IHOP and Waffle House are open all day. New York Deli News begins table service at 7 a.m., Perkins Restaurants at 8 a.m. and Golden Corral in Centennial at 10 a.m. Boston Market and Steak ‘n’ Shake open their doors at 11 a.m. Check first to confirm your neighborhood location is open and its operating hours. milehighonthecheap.com/christmasdining
More freebies, discounts and deals at MileHighOnTheCheap.com.
[Read More …]
“Zoom In: The Centennial State in 100 Objects” at History Colorado shows how quickly things change
The History Colorado Center is working with a new strategy lately, building its major museum exhibits around the resources it holds in-house, namely the millions of objects and records the state has collected over the years. Its latest attraction, “Zoom In,” featuring 100 of them, demonstrates why that’s a good way of doing business; the exhibition is a tightly-edited, entertaining and, at times, moving tribute to the place we call home.
It’s an old way of doing business, of course. For decades, the museum put its collection front and center for the public, though for the first half of the 2010s, it shifted its major focus to traveling shows on topics like the history of toys and the civil rights movement. They were were fine fare, really, but had little to do with Colorado in particular, and the public stayed away. In response, the museum changed leadership and its game plan.
“Zoom In” gives folks a reason to return to History Colorado’s headquarters in the museum district. The hook, and it’s clever, is that the number of included objects connects directly to Colorado’s nickname — the Centennial State. History Colorado’s researchers combed through their archives and connected with community groups to select the lineup.
They got it right, for the most part. There’s a fascinating array of things, some of them very old, starting with a spear point found at the Lindenmeier archaeological site near Fort Collins, that dates back 12,000 years and tells the tale of Paleo-Indian populations. The exhibition moves chronologically forward with current things, such as a bong saved from the 2014 Denver County Fair, meant to show how we’ve evolved today to the point where we’re allowed to smoke marijuana without criminal penalties.
In between, there are 98 other objects filling in the blanks: clothing, furniture, coins, guns, gas masks, bicycles, beer taps, tools, farm equipment, commercial products and more.
A few things are predictable, easy grabs, like the early copy of the state constitution; or one those ski suits from the 10th Mountain Division that get hauled out all the time; or one of John Denver’s favorite guitars. Some objects feel too purposefully selected to show the diversity of people and geography in the state.
But others are fresh surprises, like the can of malted milk made by Coors in 1923 as the company shifted products to stay in business during Prohibition; or a set of Christmas lights from the early part of the 20th century as people were adapting holiday traditions in the wake of recent technology — electricity; or Wellington Webb’s New Balance shoes, recognizing the “sneaker campaigns” he waged in the 1990s to become Denver’s first African-American mayor.
Each object gets a description that tells visitors what it is and why it matters. They’re brief but compelling, and the thing that makes this exhibit interesting. It’s all personal.
We don’t just get a chair, we get Mary Smith’s longhorn steer chair made of hides and horns and learn that her brother-in-law, Christopher Smith, made it himself after starting one of Denver’s earliest meat-packing plants in 1894.
Instead of a random mining pick, we get Joe Zanetell’s mining pick, and information about how his family was terrorized by mining company operatives in the wake of a worker strike in 1913. It’s a critical story, told through one object and just over 100 words.
That’s just one of many sad stories that make “Zoom In” an emotional journey through time. Visitors delight at the sight of Ellen Jack’s adorable and neatly-embroidered baptismal gown from 1895, only to be deflated by information that the little girl died at age 8 from typhoid. They marvel at John Cisco’s sawed-off shotgun from 1869, then learn quickly that the stagecoach driver was killed by American Indians during a hunting trip.
Indeed, Colorado history can be violent and a bit unsettling. Two early revolvers on display were used by brothers Filipe and Jose Espinoza in a murderous rampage in 1863 that killed 32 people to avenge injustices their family suffered in the Mexican-American War.
A sympathy card sent to Columbine High School updates the trail of violence to 1999, when two teenage students killed 13 of their schoolmates and injured 20 others. Enough said.
The signage can feel politically corrected at times. Next to Kit Carson’s coat, we learn in the first paragraph that he was a fur trapper and military officer. In the second paragraph, we learn he was integral to the brutal and deadly campaign to displace American Indians from their homeland. This is a careful balance meant to please those who see Carson as a hero and those who see him as a mass murderer. But a more honest description of the man might have put the genocide part first.
Similarly, we read as we approach a coat made of buffalo hide that the animal skins kept early settlers safe from the elements and fueled economic trade; then we get word that hunting almost decimated a living species. The info is all there, it just feels reversed.
“Zoom In” does a good job, though, of getting into the nooks of history. It’s impossible, for sure, to tell a story thousands of years long in just 100 objects, and things get left out. For example, there’s an abundance of functional art used in sacred objects and articles of clothing, but a shortage of art for art’s sake. The show could use more objects directly related to painting, music and architecture that delve into a more ethereal, but equally important, side of our history.
But it’s complete enough, and a lot to take in already, and it does offer an inclusive and mostly comprehensive view of the state over time. It’s also full of visceral thrills.
And it comes along at the right time, just as a lot of us are panicking over how quickly the state is changing in an era when the economy is prospering and population is growing. “Zoom In” reminds us things have always changed quickly here, and that’s part of our identity. The exhibit tells all those folks worried about gentrification that they can relax a little.
Exhibits like this play best when things are in flux. Those of us drawn to Colorado, by birth or by choice, have one thing in common — we’re stewards of this land, this state, in our time. “Zoom In” shows how previous Coloradans fulfilled this role and how we might do it ourselves. It brings us closer to our past and more aware of the present. Native and newcomer, it unites us.
“Zoom In: The Centennial State in 100 Objects” is now on permanent display at at the History Colorado Center, 1200 Broadway. Info at 303-447-8679 or historycoloradocenter.org.
[Read More …]
New Year’s Eve in Denver: 25 parties, comedy shows, concerts and other things to do
There are plenty of superstitions tied to New Year’s Eve and the proper way to welcome in the next 12 months, but they all have one common thread: Everyone wants to start the new year off on the right foot.
To some, that might mean getting in the first chuckle of 2018 at the crack of midnight. Others, like me, figure they’re going to spill food on their only suit at some point during the year, so they might as well get it over with a fancy black-tie NYE party.
No matter what next year may hold, we’ve rounded up 25 ways for you to see this one off (and squeeze in some fun before your 2018 resolutions kick in).
COMEDY
The Denver Improv
Returning favorite Cocoa Brown, who also headlined 2016’s New Year’s Eve show at this Northfield Stapleton venue, will take over Denver’s Improv Dec. 29-31, with 7:30 and 10 p.m. shows on Dec. 31. The Virginia native and proud single mother, who has worked jobs as disparate as advertising associate for Ringling Bros. and sketch-comedy writer, has carved out a fan base with appearances on Tyler Perry’s “For Better or Worse” (OWN Network) and BET shows such as “Comic View” and “Showtime at the Apollo,” among many others. Her 10 p.m. show includes party favors, “an Improv souvenir” and a champagne toast at midnight. The Denver Improv, 8246 E. 49th Ave. #1400. $20-$55. denver.improv.com.
Comedy Works
There hasn’t been much to celebrate in this divisive year — unless you’re a Donald Trump fan. To that end, Trump-loving comic and former radio DJ Steve “Mudflap” McGrew, who has riled the local comedy scene with his unapologetic red-state politics (or harassment, as some have charged), will headline the flagship Comedy Works location at downtown Denver’s Larimer Square. His New Year’s Eve shows include a 6 p.m. all-ages (rated PG-13) show, as well as 8 and 10 p.m. 21-and-up sets. The 10 p.m. “extravaganza” show will include party favors, a midnight champagne toast and a countdown with the comics. Comedy Works South will also feature national headliner Dan Cummins with shows at 5 p.m. (all-ages), 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. at the club in Greenwood Village — with the same late-show perks. Comedy Works on Larimer Square, 1226 15th St.; Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place. Tickets: $27-$57. comedyworks.com.
On the Spot
With thousands flocking downtown to catch the fireworks (free along the 16th Street Mall at 9 p.m. and midnight), this improv show capitalizes on increased foot traffic with performances at noon, 7 and 10 p.m. — timed so you won’t miss the colorful displays. For the uninitiated, think “Whose Line Is It Anyway,” except with hats, noisemakers, glow-sticks and more for the audience. And all shows are family-friendly, so bring the kids to any one of them. Bovine Metropolis; 527 Champa St. Dec. 31. Tickets: $25-$40. bovinemetropolis.com.
— John Wenzel
DINING
The Preservery
If your 2017 resolution was to eat at The Preservery, there’s still time! And even if it wasn’t, there’s still time! The Preservery will offer its normal menu plus some specials (read: no expensive prix fixe), and it’s giving out a free glass of champagne with the meal. Stop in before 9 p.m. to avoid loud music, or seek it out with a late-night reservation. 3040 Blake St., Denver, 303-298-6821; thepreservery.com
The Thirsty Lion
Here’s something worth toasting: The Thirsty Lion is cooking up a special New Year’s Eve menu without jacking up prices. Dinner options include a lamb burger ($15.95), smoked pork ramen ($13.95) and coffee-crusted beef short rib ($24.95). The salted caramel Moroccan coffee, loaded with rum, Kahlua, Bailey’s Irish cream and Buttershots, is also a deal at $8. With no closing time, you can sip and savor all night long. Union Station and Cherry Creek locations; thirstyliongastropub.com
Edge
There should be some good eating at Edge Restaurant inside the Four Seasons Hotel Denver. A three-course menu is available from 5-7 p.m. for $89/person, but the bigger party starts at 8 p.m., with a four-course, $170/person feast and a post-dinner masquerade party. Dinner choices include prime beef tenderloin, togarashi-crusted ahi tuna and a celebration-worthy chocolate and espresso flourless cake. 1111 14th St., Denver, 303-389-3050; fourseasons.com/denver
Trestles Coastal Cuising
This Castle Pines restaurant has only been open for a couple months, but it’s already making a splash. For New Year’s Eve, the seafood restaurant is pulling out all the stops — and by “stops” I mean champagne-poached lobster tail and salmon with crab beurre blanc. The restaurant closes at 10 p.m., so this is best for a pre-party stop or for early revelers. 880 W. Happy Canyon Road, Castle Pines, 303-663-3622; trestlescastlerock.com
Citizen Rail
More is definitely more at Citizen Rail. Oysters? Of course. Marrow meat pie with truffle gravy? What — do you think they’d give you non-truffle gravy? Veal cheek and a lobster tail? Wouldn’t want the cheek to get lonely. A new Lexus SUV at the stroke of midnight? Well, let’s not get greedy. 1899 16th St., Denver, 303-323-0017; $95. citizenrail.com
Beast + Bottle
If eating a dinner inspired by recently deceased rock stars doesn’t scream “Auld Lang Syne,” then I don’t know what does. Beast + Bottle’s Lost Rock Legends Dinner will feature five courses that pay tribute to the rock gods we lost in 2017, like Tom Petty and Chris Cornell. Take the “Black Hole Sun,” its first course, which comes with charcoal bread, egg, chili oil and black truffle. “American Girl” and “Mary Jane” drink pairings cost extra. 719 E. 17th Ave., Denver, 303-623-3223; $85. beastandbottle.com
Tamayo
Lamb + mezcal mole = New Year’s Eve magic at Tamayo. The three-course meal, which also offers choices like butternut squash lobster soup and banana empanadas with cinnamon ice cream, comes with a complimentary champagne toast. 1400 Larimer St., Denver, 720-946-1433; $65. richardsandoval.com/Tamayo
Early celebrations
Beginning the new year with cranky, sleep-deprived children who stayed up too late the night before isn’t the fresh start I’m looking for. Parents of young kids will want to check out Mici Handcrafted Italian’s early New Year’s Eve party, complete with a countdown at 6:59 p.m. and sparkling cider toast. Bonus: kid’s menu entrees are just $4. Various locations; miciitalian.com
Annette is making New Year’s Eve brunch a thing. The restaurant, fittingly one of the very best to open in 2017, is hosting a Scandinavian brunch from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Say hej då to the year with Norwegian potato crepes, house-cured lox and a full-on Swedish smorgasbord. Perfect for those who want to eat well and tuck in early, or for those partying all day long. 2501 Dallas St., Aurora, 720-710-9975; $30. annettescratchtotable.com
In the mountains
Vail has a number of great New Year’s Eve traditions, including a children’s parade, a torchlight ski descent down the mountain, fireworks and a lavish buffet at Larkspur. Eat your weight in lobster, foie gras, caviar and pretty much any other decadent food you can think of. 458 Vail Valley Dr., Vail, 970-754-8050; $225 per person 5 p.m., $295 per person 8 p.m. larkspurvail.com
Extravagant ingredients are great and all (and they’ll be on the menu at Cloverdale, too), but fine dining is about more than that. Cloverdale in Steamboat Springs turns dinner into an experience, and for New Year’s Eve, that experience will be nine courses long. There’s still time to have your best dinner of the year, and this may just be it. 207 Ninth St., Steamboat Springs, 970-875-3179; $155. cloverdalerestaurant.com
— Allyson Reedy
RUN
Resolution Run 5K
This will be the 33rd installment of a New Year’s Eve tradition in Washington Park, benefiting Volunteers of America Colorado. Be forewarned, though: Only the top 100 racers are timed, and the race begins at 3 p.m. Registration: $35 for adults, $25 for kids. www.resolution5k.com
— John Wenzel
FAMILY
Zoo Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve is the last day for Zoo Lights at the Denver Zoo. Celebrate Zoo Year’s Eve, from 5:30 to 9 p.m., with a DJ, face painting, a magician and a princess meet and greet. Plus, the zoo will ring in the new year — but at 9 p.m., so you can still get the kids home in time for you to do your own New Year celebrating. Denver Zoo; 2300 Steele St. Dec. 31. $10 for children 3-11 (2 and under free), $15 for adults and $12 for 65 and older. 5:30-9 p.m.; denverzoo.org
Noon Year’s Eve
The Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus will once again hold its Noon Year’s Eve party. Look for ball drops and countdowns on the hour starting at 10 a.m., bubble-wrap “fireworks,” art projects, music, special characters and more. Children’s Museum of Denver, 2121 Children’s Museum Dr. $7 for people who are 1 or older than 60; $9 for ages 2 to 59; free for children under 1. 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; mychildsmuseum.org
— Barbara Ellis
MUSIC
New Year’s Eve on the Rocks
When Migos hits the stage for its headlining spot at New Year’s Eve on the Rocks, the rain drops on their drop-tops (that’s a reference to the group’s single “Bad and Boujee,” one of the year’s biggest hits. Come on, people!) might very well be snowflakes. The Dec. 31 show is the first in Red Rocks history to fall on New Year’s Eve, making it subject to inclement weather that could hit the high-altitude venue…or not. Assuming all goes to plan, it’ll be an epic night of hip-hop, showcasing 10 acts (Post Malone and Young Thug are filling in the second and third slots) over the course of six-plus hours. Red Rocks Amphitheatre; 5:30 p.m. $175-$350. Tickets available via axs.com. Info: redrocksonline.com
Decadence
If you’re just coming around to the deafening world of electronic dance music (EDM), don’t even consider skipping town for New Year’s Eve. Denver is one of the genre’s de facto capitals, a magnet for world-renowned DJs, particularly on party holidays. Decadence — which is advertising itself as “City Beyond Tomorrow” this year in honor of its space-age light shows and love for “The Matrix”-style raving — then, is Denver’s de facto New Year’s Eve bass bacchanalia. Per usual, this year’s festival brings a formidable conglomerate of DJs to the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver, enlisting Bassnectar, French indie-electro duo Justice, Zedd, the ever-buzzy ODESZA and about a dozen other producers for two nights of dance music and mesmerizing lights. Colorado Convention Center. Dec. 30 and 31. 6:30 p.m. $129-$339. Ticket available via axs.com Info: decadencenye.com/co
My Morning Jacket
Few live bands today pack the wallop of My Morning Jacket, arena rock’s roaring lion from Louisville, Ky. Led by bearded troubadour Jim James, the five-piece’s Southern-rock roots have gnarled and twisted in unexpected directions, diverting workingman power ballads of their early albums into heavy metal and swirling psych spirituals that coalesced on its last two albums. Three marquee bands will join MMJ for its three-night run up to New Year’s Eve at the FirstBank Center: The Revolution, Prince’s band (Dec. 29); Tune Yards (Dec. 30); and Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe (Dec. 31). Super fans can shell out extra for a VIP package that comes bundled with free food, a champagne toast and a signed, show-specific poster among other amenities. First Bank Center. Dec. 29-31. $50.95-$168. Tickets and more info: altitudetickets.com
— Dylan Owens
BARS AND CLUBS
54thirty
Start 2018 off on a high note — literally. 54thirty, the new rooftop bar of the Le Méridien hotel, is the city’s highest open-air bar, making it a great spot for watching the 16th Street Mall fireworks displays at 9 p.m. and midnight (from 20 floors above the street!). The bar will be open from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., and is first-come, first-served. There’s no cover, and 54thirty will offer a limited bar menu with three specialty cocktails and desserts for order. 1475 California St., 54thirty.com
White Rose Gala
The Ellie Caulkins Opera House will transform into the Gatsby mansion on New Year’s Eve with the annual White Rose Gala. The Roaring ’20s-themed event will feature flappers, performers and dancing to transport you back in time as you ring in the new year at one of Denver’s most popular events.
Ellie Caulkins Opera House; 1101 13th St. Limited general admission tickets, $79. newyearspartydenver.com
Resolution 2017
You’ll find plenty to do at this two-floor takeover of The Curtis in downtown Denver for Resolution. The open-bar event features multiple rooms with DJ dance parties, aerial dancers, balloons, laser light displays and a vantage point on the city’s fireworks displays. Dress to impress, because everyone else will. The Curtis Hotel. 1405 Curtis St.; $99-$149, and prices increase closer to the event, which tends to sell out. resolutiondenver.com
Denver NYE Black Tie Party
Have a fancy tie that you’d like to get mussed up with champagne foam? Look no further than the Denver New Year’s Eve Black Tie Party. Hosted inside the Sheraton Downtown’s plaza, the event will span three rooms filled with lights and festive decorations. Bring your best dancing shoes: DJs will spin the hits and bands will rock while fellow revelers spin the roulette wheel. A giant confetti blast and champagne toast will greet the new year at midnight, if you can tear yourself away from the open bar (there’s one in every room of the event). Sheraton Denver Downtown; 1550 Court Place; $94-$99. newyearsevenight.com
City New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve at the McNichols Civic Center Building will feature three floors of entertainment, including DJs and bands, light shows and more craft cocktails than you can shake your 2018 glasses at. Tickets start at $49. If you plan on drinking, add $49 to that for open bar privileges. 144 W. Colfax Ave. 9pm-2am. citynye.com
— Sara Grant
[Read More …]
Marketing Lessons: Everything Is New to Someone
More than six months has passed now since we added a little bundle of joy into our life (or as I prefer to call her, the cure for sleep!) Of course, I write this after a bad night where I only got about five hours sleep (and my wife got even less).
[Read More …]
Tasha Reign, Mia Li Take Charge of APAC's Mission
Mia Li and Tasha Reign are not your average soldiers. Sworn to protect the industry’s talent, they’re stronger, wiser … and armed like battle-hardened crusaders.
[Read More …]
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
Lovense Bring Sex Tech Down to Earth With User-Friendly Teledildonics
If your smartphone is distracting from your relationship, then one of two possibilities could be the culprit: 1. You haven’t yet plugged into the teledildonic phenomenon, or 2. Your sex-tech manufacturer of choice is a bit too concerned with showing off their coding skills.
[Read More …]
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Dillon Ice Castles will open frozen doors before the new year
The icy doors to Colorado’s coldest winter attraction, the Dillon Ice Castles, will swing open Dec. 27, 2017.
The attraction is like a scene out of “Frozen,” with giant tunnels, fountains, slides and more all made from ice for you to explore.
At night, the acre-sized outing features color-changing LED lights that dance to music. Every Friday and Saturday night will feature a fire show.
The Dillon location is one of only six popping up this winter — the others are in Utah, Minnesota, Manitoba, New Hampshire and Alberta.
Ticket sales ($10.95-$20) are final according to the website, and dates and times must be changed at least 24 hours in advance. Hours are Monday – Thursday (closed Tuesday), 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.; Friday, 4 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.; Saturday noon – 10:30 p.m.; Sunday noon – 8 p.m. Online ticket sales open Dec. 20 around noon.
Tips from the website include wearing boots and bringing a small sled to pull children instead of a stroller. More information and tickets at icecastles.com/dillon.
[Read More …]
Coming soon to Denver: cookie dough hummus and a Snarfburger
Further proof that we are living in the golden age of fast-casual restaurants: Snarfburger and The Hummus & Pita Co. are coming to Denver.
Snarfburger, from the Snarf’s Sandwiches team, will open its first Denver-area location on Federal Boulevard next summer. The retro-inspired burger shack serves frozen custard shakes, onion rings, grilled cheese and veggie burgers in addition to the requisite burgers and fries.
“We are thrilled to be growing in the Denver area, and we are especially excited to bring Snarfburger to Denver,” said Snarf’s representative Holly Moran. “The zig-zag roof of the former check-cashing building created the perfect opportunity to once again restore existing landmarks, as well as keep up the eclectic and funky vibe that is Snarf’s.”
If you can’t quite pry yourself from the siren song of Snarf’s Italian sub, a Snarf’s Sandwiches will be opening up next door.
New York City-based The Hummus & Pita Co., which specializes in healthy Mediterranean food like pitas and laffas, will move into the former The Melt space on the 16th Street Mall.
Local restauranteur Rachid Elmrini is bringing five Hummus &Pita’s to the metro area, with Cherry Creek and Boulder in mind for the other four locations.
“I’ve lived in Denver for 30 years and have seen the food scene evolve from purely American food to more ethnic and healthy cuisines,” Elmrini said. “I wanted to bring The Hummus & Pita Co. to the Denver area because richly diverse food is being served more frequently than before, so a healthy Mediterranean option like The Hummus & Pita Co. will add more exotic choices.”
You should be able to get your cookie dough hummus fix — yes, I just said cookie dough hummus — mid-March.
Snarfburger: 2535 Federal Blvd., Denver; snarfburger.com; opening summer 2018
The Hummus & Pita Co.: 821 16th St., Denver; hummusandpitas.com; opening March 2018
[Read More …]
Denver’s most outrageously priced dishes and where to find them
The holidays are notorious for bringing out one’s indulgent side, and what more delicious way to celebrate decadence than with an unforgettable meal? We’ve collected the Mile High City’s most outrageously priced dishes for those on a flavorful mission at any expense.
Denver’s oldest restaurant, The Buckhorn Exchange, has catered to cowboys and presidents alike since 1893. Their New York strip large-portion steaks are meant for a group: The Big Steak, at $215, weighs 4 pounds and is meant to serve five; the extra cooking time required will give guests a chance to ogle the floor-to-ceiling Western memorabilia. 1000 Osage St.; 303-534-9505; buckhorn.com
At The Palace Arms inside the iconic Brown Palace Hotel, guests can enjoy not only the history the hotel is steeped in (yes, those really are Napoleon Bonaparte’s dueling pistols in the restaurant’s display case), but a Caesar salad for two. Prepared tableside from scratch, it’s priced at $40. Pair it with the $54 beef Wellington, made with steaks raised on Flying B Bar Ranch in Strasburg. 321 17th St.; 303-297-3111; brownpalace.com
Falling Rock Tap House is well known for its vast selection of craft beers, and less known for its doozy of a burger, made in homage to The King. The Elvis Presley Memorial Combo piles a ½ -pound rare beef patty, bacon, American cheese, L-pound of pastrami, grilled onions, Swiss cheese, guacamole and mayo onto a big bun. Served with onion rings and fries, the $46.50 sammie is, according to the menu, “over-inflated, just like Elvis, and served with a defibrillator.” 1919 Blake St.; 303-293-8338; fallingrocktaphouse.com
At sommelier Kendra Anderson’s (a.k.a. @SwirlGirlDenver) sleek and sexy new cocktail lounge, Bar Helix, the Bump + Bubbles combines Siberian Reserve caviar, champagne and “all the feels” for just $20. Enjoy a taste of sophistication at an approachable price and get in some prime people-watching from the cushy private dining nook. 3440 Larimer St.; 720-449-8587; insidethehelix.com
Barolo Grill has long been a Denver standby for Northern Italian food, and while their regular menu won’t break the bank, their annual Festa di Tartfui, hosted on the first Monday of November, is a six-course truffle-tasting menu featuring white and black truffles that will set you back $200. 3030 East Sixth Ave.; 303-393-1050; barologrilldenver.com
At Hearth & Dram, Chef Jeffery Wall hosts Whole Beast Feasts for $85 per person with a six-person minimum. The family-style meal starts with appetizers like beef tartare and Cuban sandwiches, and can be accompanied by items not normally on the menu, like classic caviar service and pork belly mac ‘n’ cheese. The main event is a whole roasted suckling pig, dry-aged and glazed duck, salt-crusted sturgeon or standing rib-roast cooked in the open kitchen’s 7-foot wood-fired hearth. 1801 Wewatta St.; 303-623-0979; hearthanddram.com
RiNo newcomer Izakaya Ronin and sister Sushi Ronin in LoHi share a common menu of Japanese favorites, with one notable difference: After 10 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, Izakaya Ronin’s basement boiler room becomes a late-night moguri izakaya (a Japanese hidden tavern). They serve warm pub-style plates like yakitori, shioyaki and ramen, and a selection of sakes and house barrel-aged cocktails, and the largest selection of Japanese whisky in town. Among them, the rare Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2016 single malt whisky, available for $350 per shot. 3053 Brighton Blvd.; 303-953-1602; izakayaronin.com
At Mizuna, Denver’s popular French restaurant, chef and restaurateur Frank Bonnano offers not just a charming and intimate dining experience, but inspired riffs on classics. Try the Juniper Smoked Foie Gras Steak, served with huckleberry cake and gastrique for $30, followed by the $47 Beef Wellington served with truffle duxelle. 225 East Seventh Ave.; 303-832-4778; mizunadenver.com
One would expect nothing but the best from the Four Seasons Hotel. At Edge restaurant, their indulgent 32-ounce Wagyu Tomahawk steak is sourced from Greg Norman’s Australian ranch and wet-aged for 28 days. Seasoned simply with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, it costs $130. For a truly special occasion, it can be accompanied with the shimmering Diamond Martini. Kept under lock and key until ordered, the cocktail is served with a two-carat cushion-cut diamond for $22,222. (And yes, you get to keep the rock.) Four Seasons Hotel Denver. 1111 14th St.; 303-389-3000; fourseasons.com/Denver
In Boulder, Frasca has won the James Beard award twice and been nominated numerous times, thanks to the perfection created by master sommelier Bobby Stuckey and executive chef Lachlan MacKinnon-Patterson. The duo met while working at Napa’s famed French Laundry, and today, you can get four courses of their Fruili-inspired dishes with the Quattro Piatti for $105. Add white truffle to any dish for an additional $65. Frasca. 1738 Pearl St., Boulder; 303-442-6966; frascafoodandwine.com
Famed restaurant Nobu’s swanky sister restaurant Matsuhisa offers modern interpretations of Japanese sushi and other favorites. Their Mayazaki Wagyu Beef, served raw and cooked at the table on a Himalayan salt rock heated to 650 degrees, comes with dipping sauces and costs $38 per ounce with a 2-ounce minimum. Matsuhisa. 98 Steele St.; 720-408-6656; matsuhisarestaurants.com
Ocean Prime oozes elegance, from its sea-inspired sculptures and dimly lit dining area to its views of Larimer Square and intimate private dining spaces. Take in the atmosphere while enjoying their Dutch Harbor king crab legs. Served with asparagus and drawn butter, the dish will set you back $65. Dutch Harbor, located on Amaknak Island in Unalaska, Alaska, is one of the largest fishing ports in the country. Ocean Prime 1465 Larimer St.; 303-835-3663; ocean-prime.com
At Urban Farmer, chef Chris Starkus has created a hand-picked menu focused on quality, sustainability and humane farming. Start with the Tableside beef tartare or the foie gras (each $20) before moving on to the off-menu classic caviar service ($60 for two). Finish out the meal with a 20-ounce, 21-day-aged, bacon-wrapped chateaubriand for $110. Urban Farmer. 1600 17th St.; 303-262-6070; urbanfarmerrestaurant.com/denver
The Palm, which got an overhaul last year, has offered quality Italian and steakhouse fare consistently for the past 22 years in Denver. Its surf and turf is a 36-ounce New York double-cut strip steak and a 6-pound lobster and costs $219.50. The Palm offers special bonuses to members of their 837 Club, where every dollar spent on food and drinks equals one point. Want your caricature to grace their iconic celebrity wall? Guests who accumulate 15,000 points get a private party, their likeness on the wall, and a $1,500 gift card. The Palm. 1672 Lawrence St. (inside the Westin Hotel); 303-825-7256; thepalm.com/denver
Union Station’s newest addition, Ultreia, chef/owner Jennifer Jasinski’s nod to Iberian cuisine, is reasonably priced, and you can get a sampling of three types of ham for $20.40, including the Fermin Jamon Serrano, the Mangalica and the Cinco Jotas Jamon Iberico de Bellota. Serrano ham, made with heirloom Iberian white pigs, some of which are fed a diet made up strictly of acorns, is the most expensive ham in the world. Ultreia 1700 Wynkoop St.; 303-534-1970; ultreiadenver.com
In Morrison, The Fort restaurant, a replica of Bent’s Fort, has been serving up Western culture and cuisine since 1963. Its 8-ounce buffalo tenderloin is $64, including salad, potatoes, green beans, pumpkin bread and rolls, making this well-rounded meal affordable. The Fort. 19192 Colorado 8, Morrison; 303-697-9310; thefort.com
In Boulder, chef Bradford Heap’s empire of sustainable seafood, Wild Standard, serves The Wheelhouse, a shareable plate featuring six East Coast oysters, six West Coast oysters, 1 pound of shrimp, 1 pound of wild Alaskan king crab, tuna poke, octopus escabeche and house-made taro chips for $144. Wild Standard. 1043 Pearl St., Boulder; 720-638-4800; wildstandard.com
At Boulder’s Flagstaff House, you’ll get sweeping views of Flagstaff Mountain from the dining room — no doubt the reason the spot is so often chosen for marriage proposals. On the menu, you’ll find a locally raised lamb rack, loin, and braised shank, served with white truffle-infused polenta for $68. Their award-winning (and massive) wine list is conveniently stored on an iPad, where you’ll find a range of everything from wines by the glass to a highly collectible bottle of 1998 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti from La Montrachet, France, priced at $9,632. Flagstaff House 1138 Flagstaff Road, Boulder; 303-442-4640; flagstaffhouse.com
Elway’s and the Ritz-Carlton are synonymous with luxury, and it’s at the downtown Elway’s that you’ll find an 18-ounce 7X Wagyu rib-eye steak, prepared by their own in-house butcher daily. Pair with the maine lobster tail and finish with the complex flavors of a Remy Martin Louis XIII cognac at $120 an ounce. Elway’s. 1881 Curtis St.; 303-312-3107; elways.com/downtown
[Read More …]
Vote for the 2017 Denver Post Holiday Lights winner
Holiday Lights 2017 submissions have officially closed, and now it is time to vote. Our readers submitted 111 photos, and we narrowed them down for voting.
Check out The Know on Facebook, “like” your favorite house, and the one with the most votes will win $100.
To check out all the submissions and build your own driving route, visit denverpost.com.
[Read More …]
Zagat published its Most Exciting Food Cities list for 2017. Where does Denver fall?
Zagat typically rates restaurants, but once a year it also rates cities. In its list of 2017’s Most Exciting Food Cities, Denver ranks fourth.
Topping the list for 2017 is Los Angeles, with Austin and Chicago also placing higher than Denver. Rounding out the top 10 for the year are Seattle, Washington, D.C., Charleston, New Orleans, Atlanta and San Francisco & Bay Area.
Last year, Denver ranked third on the list, so apparently the slew of new restaurant openings and “Top Chef” filming here didn’t help us. If only we’d gotten more poke and frosé … .
“It seems to me that Denver’s evolution into a great food town has been a matter less of growth than of culture,” said Zagat Denver editor Ruth Tobias. “Of course the sheer number of openings over the past several years has been mind-boggling, but it’s the way in which dining is being integrated into innovative neighborhood development — think Stanley Marketplace or Zeppelin Station — that illustrates why we caught the attention of, say, Slow Food and ‘Top Chef.’ “
What do you think? Is fourth too high? Too low? Remember, this list isn’t ranking cities for their overall food scene but rather for what happened food-wise in 2017. Do you agree with Zagat’s evaluation of our food year?
[Read More …]
Zagat published its Most Exciting Food Cities list for 2017. Where does Denver fall?
Zagat typically rates restaurants, but once a year it also rates cities. In its list of 2017’s Most Exciting Food Cities, Denver ranks fourth.
Topping the list for 2017 is Los Angeles, with Austin and Chicago also placing higher than Denver. Rounding out the top 10 for the year are Seattle, Washington, D.C., Charleston, New Orleans, Atlanta and San Francisco & Bay Area.
Last year, Denver ranked third on the list, so apparently the slew of new restaurant openings and “Top Chef” filming here didn’t help us. If only we’d gotten more poke and frosé … .
“It seems to me that Denver’s evolution into a great food town has been a matter less of growth than of culture,” said Zagat Denver editor Ruth Tobias. “Of course the sheer number of openings over the past several years has been mind-boggling, but it’s the way in which dining is being integrated into innovative neighborhood development — think Stanley Marketplace or Zeppelin Station — that illustrates why we caught the attention of, say, Slow Food and ‘Top Chef.’ “
What do you think? Is fourth too high? Too low? Remember, this list isn’t ranking cities for their overall food scene but rather for what happened food-wise in 2017. Do you agree with Zagat’s evaluation of our food year?
[Read More …]
PHOTOS: Denver Ugly Sweater Run 2017
Running (or prancing) a 5K race in an ugly sweater? Sounds itchy. The Ugly Sweater Run raced through Denver Saturday, and brought with it inflatables, music, photo stations and games to keep running spirits bright. Awards were given for the ugliest sweater, pet attire, facial hair and more. After the race, four bars held post-race parties.
[Read More …]
There Is a Tech Way Forward Against Piracy
Our industry has always suffered from piracy and counterfeit products. But anyone who has been in the industry for the past decade knows that both adult film producers and pleasure product manufacturers are vulnerable in ways they never were before.
[Read More …]
Monday, December 18, 2017
Vote for the 2017 Denver Post Holiday Lights winner
Holiday Lights 2017 submissions have officially closed, and now it is time to vote. Our readers submitted 111 photos, and we narrowed them down for voting.
Check out The Know on Facebook, “like” your favorite house, and the one with the most votes will win $100.
To check out all the submissions and build your own driving route, visit denverpost.com.
[Read More …]
Tasha Reign, Mia Li Take Charge of APAC’s Mission
Mia Li and Tasha Reign are not your average soldiers. Sworn to protect the industry’s talent, they’re stronger, wiser … and armed like battle-hardened crusaders.
[Read More …]
Zagat published its Most Exciting Food Cities list for 2017. Where does Denver fall?
Zagat typically rates restaurants, but once a year it also rates cities. In its list of 2017’s Most Exciting Food Cities, Denver ranks fourth.
Topping the list for 2017 is Los Angeles, with Austin and Chicago also placing higher than Denver. Rounding out the top 10 for the year are Seattle, Washington, D.C., Charleston, New Orleans, Atlanta and San Francisco & Bay Area.
Last year, Denver ranked third on the list, so apparently the slew of new restaurant openings and “Top Chef” filming here didn’t help us. If only we’d gotten more poke and frosé … .
“It seems to me that Denver’s evolution into a great food town has been a matter less of growth than of culture,” said Zagat Denver editor Ruth Tobias. “Of course the sheer number of openings over the past several years has been mind-boggling, but it’s the way in which dining is being integrated into innovative neighborhood development — think Stanley Marketplace or Zeppelin Station — that illustrates why we caught the attention of, say, Slow Food and ‘Top Chef.’ “
What do you think? Is fourth too high? Too low? Remember, this list isn’t ranking cities for their overall food scene but rather for what happened food-wise in 2017. Do you agree with Zagat’s evaluation of our food year?
[Read More …]
Zagat published its Most Exciting Food Cities list for 2017. Where does Denver fall?
Zagat typically rates restaurants, but once a year it also rates cities. In its list of 2017’s Most Exciting Food Cities, Denver ranks fourth.
Topping the list for 2017 is Los Angeles, with Austin and Chicago also placing higher than Denver. Rounding out the top 10 for the year are Seattle, Washington, D.C., Charleston, New Orleans, Atlanta and San Francisco & Bay Area.
Last year, Denver ranked third on the list, so apparently the slew of new restaurant openings and “Top Chef” filming here didn’t help us. If only we’d gotten more poke and frosé … .
“It seems to me that Denver’s evolution into a great food town has been a matter less of growth than of culture,” said Zagat Denver editor Ruth Tobias. “Of course the sheer number of openings over the past several years has been mind-boggling, but it’s the way in which dining is being integrated into innovative neighborhood development — think Stanley Marketplace or Zeppelin Station — that illustrates why we caught the attention of, say, Slow Food and ‘Top Chef.’ “
What do you think? Is fourth too high? Too low? Remember, this list isn’t ranking cities for their overall food scene but rather for what happened food-wise in 2017. Do you agree with Zagat’s evaluation of our food year?
[Read More …]