Wine & Dine for a Very Fine Cause

The Denver Food + Wine Festival (DF+WF) celebrates its twelfth consecutive year September 6-11. A multi-day extravaganza showcasing talented chefs from across the state and their creative culinary creations served alongside hundreds of wines and spirits.

Photo credit Nick Adorni

The weeklong festival will feature an array of events ranging from $40 up to $250 for a VIP experience. DF+WF is co-sponsored by the Colorado Restaurant Association and Southern Wine and Spirits and is the only food and wine festival of which all proceeds directly benefit charities. Beneficiaries this year are Kroenke Sports Charities, MSU Denver, Denver Post Community Foundation, and The Colorado Restaurant Assc. Education Foundation. You know how we like to wine and dine for a good cause!

Photo credit Nick Adorni

The Festival’s Grand Tasting hallmark event is Saturday, September 10, 2016 held on the grounds of The Pepsi Center (7th Avenue and Auraria Parkway), opening at noon for those who bought a “First Tasting” ticket, 1pm for GA until 4pm. The Grand Tasting unites Colorado’s culinary leaders – award winning chefs, mixologists and wine professionals – and leads guests on a culinary journey through the state’s acclaimed, and expanding, dining scene. The open layout allows guests to eat, drink and explore the creations of more than 40 top restaurants and more than 700 wines and spirits from the region’s most lauded wine professionals. In addition to wine there will be heavy hitting libations such as an array of Devotion and Hanson Vodka flavors, Dulce Vida organic tequilas, Leopold Bros. many spirits, Old Smoky Distillery’s Moonshine, and locals Spring 44. For guests interested in additional unique experiences, the VIP Lounge at DF+WF will feature specialty wines selected by Southern Wine & Spirits Master Sommeliers, paired with tastes from 12 upscale restaurants, Viking Culinary Stage demonstrations by celebrity award-winning Chefs, and a silent auction.

Photo credit Nick Adorni

Favorites returning from past Grand Tastings include Patrón Spirits Bar & Café; Woody Creek Lounge; Campari Tiki Lounge; Deutsch Redemption tent; Treasury Wine Estates; Trinchero Family Estates; and an Absolute Vodka tent. Sounds like we should prepare for some serious day drinking!

New Attractions to this year’s Grand Tasting event include the Elijah Craig and Heaven Hill Bourbon + Bluegrass Lounge. Local bluegrass band, Lonesome Days will be playing while Elijah Craig bourbon will be pouring. Guest can also chat with Lynn House, Heaven Hill Brands’ national brand educator and master mixologist. If you’re a regular pizza eat/maker, you’ll enjoy the Weber Mobile Grill Academy with specialists providing interactive “best techniques” to grill pizza. For those food fanatics who love the entertainment and celebrity side of things, you’ll want to periodically stop by the Wolf Specialty Appliance Culinary Stage featuring Chef/Owner Giorgio Rapicavoli, Eating House, Bravo’s Chopped winner, Forbes’s “30 Under 30” for food, and James Beard Rising Star Semifinalist!

Photo credit Juliette Coughlin

The night before the big Grand Tasting is a fun Friday night cocktail party and contest on Pepsi Center property! Celebrity bartenders from the Colorado Bartenders’ Guild will compete for the title of Denver’s “Best Cocktail” Friday Sept. 9th during SHAKE DOWN. This will be a Southern-inspired evening of soulful bites and cocktails, paired with live music while eleven local celebrity bartenders compete for guest votes for the “Best Cocktail in Denver.”

For those who love to brunch, and with all of Denver’s amazing breakfast spots it’s hard not to, Sunday, September 11 is the first annual festival dedicated to brunch, Rise + Dine. It will showcase the city’s favorite morning eateries such as Lou’s Food Bar, Corner Office, McLoughlin’s, Rosenberg’s Bagels, Sarto’s, Snooze, Syrup, and The Squeaky Bean. Attendees are encouraged to wear pajamas while noshing on food, enjoying mimosas and striving to make the most impressive Bloody Mary. In fact, you could be a part of Bloody Mary history! The DF+WF Bloody Mary bar will be competing for the world record of “Largest Bloody Mary Bar,” by featuring more than 57 accouterments this year. Truly a once in a lifetime brunch opportunity!

Photo credit Nick Adorni

Tickets are still available for all of the events https://denverfoodandwine.com/event-schedule/ and they can be purchased here: https://nightout.com/festivals/3612/events/tickets#.V8XsCixTHct

Saturday’s Grand Tasting Restaurants:
Ameristar Resort & Casino
Bistro Colorado
Carbon Café & Bar
Colorado ProStart
Colorado Western University
Degree Restaurant
Del Friscos Grille
Froozer
Grimaldi’s Pizzeria
Jill’s Restaurant
Jim N’ Nicks BBQ
La Patisserie Francaise
Lavazza/Italco Foods
Luke’s A Steak Place
Maggianos
Nature Nate’s Honey
The Oceanaire Seafood Room
Postinos
Range Restaurant
Rhein Haus Denver
River & Woods-Open Blue Cobia
Simms Steakhouse
Skinny Pop
Solitaire Restaurant- Woody Creek
Texas de Brazil
The Fort
The Noshery
Uno Mas

-Tiffany Candelaria

 

 

11 Better Things to Do Than Sleep This Weekend

FRIDAY AUGUST 26TH

3715 Chestnut Place, Denver, CO 80216
$20-$30
4:30 PM

An outdoor festival located at 3715 Chestnut Place, in Denver's River North Neighborhood. RiNo Music Festival will donate $1 per ticket sold to the River North Arts District.

Buy tickets. 

@ Larimer Lounge | 21+ 

Headliners: Last Of The Easy Riders (ALBUM RELEASE) 

Openers: The Savage Blush, High Plains Honky, The Patient Zeros

Doors open at 8 PM | Show starts at 9 PM | $10

Free entry with a RiNo Music Festival Wristband! 

 

 

High Plains Comedy Festival

8/25-27

Occurring across multiple venues on Broadway and the Paramount Theater – 1621 Glenarm Pl., Denver.

$5 – $42.50 (Pay per show)

The High Plains Comedy Festival this weekend will showcase local and national talent with over 100 acts in three days. In addition to traditional stand-up there will also be themed shows as well as podcasts and showcases. You have the option to select which shows you want to attend – ranging over three days there is plenty of opportunity to check out some fresh acts. The festival is being put on by TruTV.

Buy tickets. 

NedFest, A Music and Arts Festival 

8/26-28 

Nederlands, Colorado

$32-$420; 

The Nederland Music and Arts Festival is an annual three-day outdoor music and arts festival in the music world’s reknowned Nederland, Colorado. We host a wide range of music from bluegrass to rock and roll, with a hint or two of jazz. Onsite camping is available next to the Barker Reservoir and NedFest is very kid friendly, with kids 12 and under free, a kids’ tent and activities, and a special teen price too. Artists and craft vendors ring the field. Colorado microbrews and mead are on tap and we always have a varitey of food vendors.

Get tickets here. 

SATURDAY 8/27

Colorado Synth-Pop Night

8/27

7 p.m.

 The Walnut Room: 3131 Walnut St., Denver

 $12-15

The Walnut Room is excited to host the rad evening of dance-able jams and it will be a dance party to remember. Snag a ticket now so you have time to dust off your dancing shoes.

Tickets here. 

The Color Run 

8/27 at 8 a.m.

Coors Field

$39.99

The Color Run® is the largest 5K event series in the world. This year’s theme, “The Color Run Tropicolor™ World Tour” is coming to Denver on Saturday, August 27 and kicking off at 8 a.m. in the Coors Field Parking Lots. Make sure to register to experience all the fun and leisure of an island-style vacation full of music and crazy colors. Brand new this year Color Runners will be bathed in a tropical array of colors as they pass through the shade of palm trees, inflatable arches, and island-style music. A fun thing to do with friends or family the 5K has partnered to support the Colorado Children’s Hospital.


Stay Up Saturdays Presents DJ EARL ( Teklife )

@ Pearls, 608 E 13th Ave, Denver, Colorado 80203

 Tickets here. 

A night of Footwork and Juke in Denver. 

Brought to you by FASORLAB, Ultra5280, Breckenridge Breery, Skyy Vodka, RedBull. 

Not So Secret Summer Music Bash

8/27th

 17th and Lawrence  

4-10pm

FREE

Featuring an undisclosed lineup with multiple stages, hosting top local acts from rock to bluegrass—and one big, bad headlining band the people of Denver love. Come for discounted Buds all day long with 100% of the proceeds going to Folds of Honor, an amazing organization providing scholarships to the children of fallen or wounded American soldiers. And to make sure you get home safely, use the code BUDAMERICA to get $15 off your first Uber ride.

SUNDAY 8/28 

 7 PM
Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre
18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison, Colorado 80465

Tickets here. 

See The Head And The Heart live at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre with The Tallest Man On Earth on August 28 in Morrison, CO.

Firestarter @ BAR BAR 

8 PM - 1 AM

2060 Champa St, Denver, Colorado 80205

Featuring Progressive Punk bands
Firestarter,  Capstan, Young Go-Hards & Black Dots

$5

Tickets here. 

Vegan Van | Rebirth Lunch

11 AM - 2 PM

Nooch | Vegan Market

10 E Ellsworth Ave, Denver, Colorado 80209

11 Things to Do In Denver This Weekend

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18TH

 Ratio Beerworks' Air Guitar Throwdown

7 PM

Make a submission video of you shredding on the invisible axe and send it in through the event page. Winners of the submissions will get to compete against touring air musicians with local celebrity judges. If the invisible lime light isn’t for you still stop by the brewery to watch people going all out and to enjoy some beers. Plus, this is the official release of Major Nights Lime Gose beer. 

View the event page here. 

FRIDAY, AUGUST 19TH

Channel 93.3 and Ultra5280 Present The Epilogues Farewell Show with support from South of France, Eros and The Eschaton and Flaural.  Come check out the farewell show of our good friends and amazing Denver staples The Epilogues. Go to our Instagram for a chance to win tickets!

7 PM // Summit Music Hall // $9.33-$35.00

FuckUp Nights @ Globe Hall
7:30 PM
4483 Logan St, Denver, Colorado 80216


FuckUp nights comes to the United States from its original home in Mexico City. It serves as a great opportunity to meet local entrepreneurs and hear them talk about their failures rather than their successes. Hear from Matt Selby the executive chef at Punch Bowl Social, Shauna Lott owner of the Long I Pie Shop and co-owners of the Knotty Tie Co. Jeremy Priest and Mark Johnson. Admission includes a PBR and there are Q & A portions after the speaker as well as an opportunity for networking.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 20TH

Adult Prom With School House Kitchen and Libations

20$ Advance & 25$ Door

An adults-only prom to remind you why you forgot about high-school. To follow up the success of last years under the sea theme, the popular restaurant and bar announced this year’s theme will be “A Galaxy Far, Far Away.” Costumes are encouraged over formal wear but if you can make it both that would probably be ideal. Tickets are on sale now on School House‘s website and cost of admission will include all you can eat buffet, games and one glass of grown up punch.

The 3rd Annual Boulder Craft Beer Festival 2016

This festival brings together the best craft breweries from Boulder County and beyond for a tasting party, offering attendees samples of Boulder's best beers.  The festival includes live music and food for purchase. 


Please note: a limited number of tickets are available.  The event sold out during sales for the previous fests.

GA tickets: $35

VIP: $50

Sleep Tight Colorado's 6th Annual 5K Pajama Jog

 City Park, starting at 8AM.

Support a great cause and appear in a costume for contest prizes!

The 5K is professionally timed and participants may choose to run, jog, or walk.

100% of the proceeds goes toward buying sleeping bags for Colorado’s homeless. Be a part of the action and sign up today online.

6th Annual Denver Pet Expo

August 20, 10AM to 5PM & August 21, 2016, 11AM to 4PM

Denver Merchandise Mart star Free Admission $5 Parking

Prize giveaways, adoption opportunities, rescue groups and a Petfinder.com adoption event, discounted vaccinations, microchipping and heartworm & flea preventatives, And much more! 

Bring Your Pet!

Red Bull Sound Selects: Presented By The Underground Music Showcase

Night Beats, Plum, and Colfax Speed Queen

3 Kings Tavern // RSVP HERE

Join our friends from The UMS and Red Bull for this awesome event. Best Part It Only Costs You $3 with RSVP

SUNDAY, AUGUST 21

Tequila, Taco and Cerveza Festival @ Mile High Station

2 PM

Emphasis on Tequila! This is a traveling event that showcases Mexican brews, international tequilas and local tacos. The tickets will open the doors to a tequila flight, games and a chihuahua race. Also included in the ticket is a branded shot glass and you can cast your vote for the El Hefe Taco Champ.

Get Tickets here. 

Hockey Dad w/ Muuy Biien & Slow Caves

Hi-Dive     
7 S. Broadway
Denver, CO, 80209

Hockey Dad hails from Australia, and they've honed their sound surfing and skating, growing up in a small coastal town together. Influenced by surf punk and pop, and touring with bands such as Bass Drum of Death, Hockey Dad is a touring band you don't want to miss. 

$10-$12

Doors 8:30 PM / Show 9:00 PM

This event is 18 and over

TheyShootn: Alchemy at Goodness w/DJ Low Key

Special guests DJ Morse Code (LA/Pools), DJ Harvey Dent (Baltimore), DJ RAYtard & RUMTUM!!! 
2 PM - 9 PM


@ The Meadowlark
2701 Larimer St, Denver, Colorado 80205

Don't miss a live art exhibit featuring Armando Geneyro, Blake Jackson, John Rehnstrom, Chris Haven, Victor Domingo & Meeg Conroy, prints & Goodness Polaroid Project posters, a contest for the freshest throwback jersey, happy hour from 2-5pm & more on The Meadowlark's magical patio! 

Join the e-mail list at DJLowKey.com before the party or wear a Goodness button/patch/tattoo to skip the $10 cover charge and get in for free.

Tacolandia: The Blueprint For a Perfect Taco Festival.

Let's "taco bout" this amazing event.

Our fair city is slowly becoming a hub for all things considered tacos. With the rise of niche owned restaurants as well as out of town chains (Torchy's and R Tacos), it's pretty easy to find a good taco in Denver nowadays. Now when it comes to taco festivals...well those can be hit or miss. We have attended our fair share of decent festivals (Top Taco) as well as some pretty (Denver Taco Festival) nightmarish ones. At this point our taco expert staff has come up with three essential ingredients to pull of a great festival.

1. Location, location, location.

2. Organization and variety.

3. Other activities (music, car shows, games, dancing, etc.).

The colorful Baile Folklorico dancers on hand.

A perfect venue should include plenty of space, a decent amount of grass, plenty of shade and for fun maybe throw it at the home of the defending Super Bowl champions. Tacolandia had all of the above (could have had a bit more shade, who are we to complain we had VIP treatment and an umbrella table all to ourselves). The layout was set up perfectly along the Noble Energy Sports Legend Mall, typically reserved for an epic tailgate experience during Sundays. A green patch of grass separated two sides of the festival with taco slanging experts stationed on each side. A stage was setup within the middle providing for entertainment the whole day (more on that below).

Peyton Manning is enjoying himself after retirement.

This was hands down one of the most organized taco festivals we have ever attended. Along with great organization was the amount of variety options to choose from. Albeit we got in an hour before everybody else we were able to hit up about 80 percent of the taco tastings before we had to shut it down due to the possibilities of heat stroke and the overdose of tortilla filled morsels of heaven. The people at Westword handled everything pretty well, although lines did build up at various points, they seemed to move quickly from station to station. The VIP section was placed towards the back of the mayhem and could have used an extra station or two for beverages in this case Estrella Jalisco's (name drop). All in all great organization and an abundance of choices to select from.

This Camaro tho!

A good festival always has various different activities to do while enjoying the fest itself. This one had it all from traditional Baile Folklorico dancers, to a car show that would make Jay Leno jealous, to great music to compliment the great cultural event. Music by iZCALI (one of our favorite local groups) provided some good ol' fashion Spanish rock. Cars from every era adorned the back lot of the festival with some awesome customized automobiles that had us drooling like this Camaro above.

Some of our favorite tacos:

Best Fish Taco-Southside Kitchen

Best Al Pastor-EL Aguascalientes and Los Chingones

Best Korean Pork-Ursula's Food Truck

Best BBQ-R Tacos

Best Mexican Street Corn-Lola's

Best Cabrito (Goat) Tacos-Work and Class

The Best Images of San Diego Comic Con

Our good friend Jason Pendleton recently came back from the San Diego International Comic Con a few weeks ago. We asked him to send in a few photos for us to share with you. This comic con is the worlds largest and plays host to many studio panels. industry insiders, gamers, cosplay, and hobbyist of the industry. Armed with his camera and smile Jason sent us some amazing photos and we want to share them with you. (All images are copyrighted)

Jason Pendleton is photographer based in Wyoming and has an impressive portfolio. We consider him one of the best concert/event photographers around. Check out his site HERE.

Check Out More Photos from The San Diego International Comic Con Here

13 Denver Events That'll Make Your Weekend

FRIDAY, 8/12

TICKET GIVEAWAY! 

We are looking to give away two tickets for Children of Pop, Curious Wav and Julian Church of Air Dubai at Lost Lake this Friday. Take a selfie with your best friend and Tag @FASORLAb & Ultra5280 to enter! Winners announced Thursday! 

8/12 @ LOST LAKE LOUNGE

Doors open at 8 PM, show starts at 9 PM

 $10  

Buy tickets here.  

BOHEMIAN NIGHTS @ NEWEST FEST: A truly free festival showcasing local Colorado bands in downtown Fort Collins. 

8/12-14, 12 PM- 11 PM 

Get tickets here. 

SAVE THE ALES: Located in Denver’s RiNo neighborhood with 40+ local breweries, food, and live music. All proceeds from the event go toward Conservation Colorado’s work to protect Colorado’s land, air, water, and people. 

V.I.P. Tasting: 6:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M.
General Admission: 7:00 P.M. – 10:30 P.M.
V.I.P. Tickets: $60, GA Tickets: $35
Designated Driver Tickets: $20

More info here. 

JACKALOPE ART AND CRAFT FAIR- @ THE SUMMER 2016 CARNATION FESTIVAL

Friday 8/12, 4 PM- Saturday, 8/13 @ 11 PM

@ Anderson Park- 4355 Field St Wheat Ridge, CO 80033

The fair will span over a 2-day period on Friday August 12th (4pm-11pm) and Saturday, August 13th (12pm-11pm).  During this time 200+ artisans and crafters will get a chance to feature and sell their work, while giving attendees a chance to meet the maker behind their one of a kind goods. 

THE WHEAT RIDGE CARNATION FESTIVAL: Featuring the Zoppe Circus as the main attraction, the Carnation Festival is one of the oldest and the strongest community festivals in the Mile High. 

8/12 - 8/14 

Events span from 3 PM- 12 AM. 

Check their website for more info. 

TICKET GIVEAWAY! 

QUEENS CITY MUSIC FESTIVAL: 

Two Day Event at City Hall featuring performances by The Gaslamp Killer, Esta., Taylor McFerrin, Masego + Traphouse Jazz Band,  Louie Lastic, Michael Christmas, Chase N. Cashe, Waldo, Reese LaFlare, Trev Rich, Spydatek, Povi, Turner Jackson, Pries, Tnertle + Lily Fangz, Future Heros, CRL CRRLL, Sur Ellz, Kid Astronaut, U.T.I.C.A, LXST BXYS, Jilly.FM, Bigwheel Electrosoul, YaSi, Write Minded, Curci and more.

Tickets range from $35- $60.

All sales are final.

Check out our Instagram to enter our contest for two free festival tickets! 

Purchase tickets here. 

8/12, 7:00 PM- 8/14, 1:30 AM

BROODS @ THE OGDEN

Ages: 16 & Over
Doors Open @ 8:00PM
$22.50 - $25.00
Door Price: $25.00
 Get tickets here. 

SATURDAY, 8/13

CORONA ELECTRIC BEACH BASH: 

 2 PM - 8 PM
Lincoln St Station Bar and Grill– 776 Lincoln St, Denver, Colorado 80203
 

FREE EVENT, but you MUST RSVP here: info@findyourelectricbeach.com 

TAPPED BREW FEST 

Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
6000 Victory Way, Commerce City, CO 80022

Tapped Brew Fest will feature a giant beer pong tournament and energy flip cup. 50+ breweries will be present, live DJ's and a LED Jenga station. 

Tickets here. 

THE BIG WONDERFUL'S TOP SECRET SHOW

Golf Clap, Ben Silver of Orchard Lounge, Rose Quartz, The Reminders and more. 

Get more info here. 

THE DENVER FLEA 

8/13- 8/14 10AM-6PM 

Located at City Park 

FREE

More event info here. 

Support our local creators and businesses. 

HOT AUGUST NIGHTS- 1940's Jazz Themed Dance Party

FREE

1701 Wynkoop Street
Denver, CO 80202

5:30 PM- 9:00 PM

A 1940's Jazz themed outdoor dance series at the historic Denver Union Station. The live music and swing dancing activities will take place next to the water fountain on Wyncoop. ZoZo Outdoor is a proud sponsor of the summer dance series.

More info here. 

SUNDAY, 8/14 

TICKET GIVEAWAY! 

TACOLANDIA HOSTED BY WESTWORD

4-7 PM @ Sports Authority Field 

You can grab your tickets during a special presale that starts at 10 a.m. today and ends at 11:59 p.m. Friday here. 

Check out our Instagram for a chance to win two free tickets to Westword's Tacolandia! 


This giant celebration of Mexican street-style tacos will feature samples from forty-plus restaurants — including El Trompito Taqueria, Tacos Jalisco, Tortas a Toda Madre, La Loma Restaurant, Tamale Kitchen, Yareth’s on 54th, Bubba Chinos, Burrito Giant, El Taco de Mexico, Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant, Lola Mexican Fish House and Los Chingones, with more to be announced — along with Estrella Jalisco beer, spirits and lots of spicy entertainment, including cars as hot as those tacos.

Adrenaline Junkies and ZORBing Enthusiasts Find a Home at Lawson Adventure Park

Lawson Adventure Park recently opened just outside of Idaho Springs, an outdoor funhouse for children and adventurous, non-conforming adults who act like children. We made it out to the park grounds early to ZORB, rock climb, and pretty much die on the Gyro Extreme. 

The ticketing building is right off of I-70 and we stopped their first to get harnessed. Naturally we were a group of adults paired with two small and excited boy scouts but that did not deter us. We got all strapped into our harnesses and nodded with the same gusto as we took in the varied rules and regulations. After a few giggles and “Get in the van” shouts on our behalf, we were all piled in, harnessed up and off to achieve our weeklong dream of ZORBing. 

The first task we were handed was a challenge course. We were locked in by metal hooks to a web of wires overhead, and required to transfer often. The hooks were hard to get the hang of and made us all feel like we had crab hands, and were generally confusing. The hooks are triggered by finicky magnets that only unlocked when you pushed the claw against the wire just so, instigating a few frustrated, overzealous bang-arounds. Our patient trip guides came to show us the way multiple times, advising us to “be gentle now”. Their expertise was welcomed and needed. We finally got the hang of the hooks and we were climbing up the rope net like any good boy scout should. 

The challenge course was aptly named as it was definitely a challenge. The cargo net sprawl marked the beginning of our day and adventure at Lawson. Although our visit was a few days ago our shoulders are still sore from attempting to scramble up the net like a Navy Seal. Once we pulled ourselves up onto the platform the world was ours to take. From a miner’s swing to a rope bridge and a moon walk we moved carefully through the challenge course like 4 adult toddlers in the treehouse of our dreams. We ended the ropes course with a short zip line and an easy rappel to the ground. 

From there we decided to venture to the bungee trampoline, Gyro Extreme, bull riding and rock climbing wall. The bungee trampoline was way more of a workout than expected but also helped you defy gravity and master those pesky backflips. On a side note, the harnesses for the trampoline, rock climbing and challenge course have a tendency to ride up. Take it from us, harnesses and Levi’s cut-offs do not mesh. Wear pants. 

The Gyro Extreme is intense. So intense that similar models are used to train astronauts. Yeah, those people that go into space and save the planet, otherwise known as Matt Damon. The longest you are allowed to be in the spinning sphere of terror is 2 minutes, but you’ll probably ride for shorter. Before entering the metal circle we were told a cautionary tale of a carnival worker in Florida that allowed his friends to ride for 7 minutes as a “hook up” which ultimately led to their demise... Oh Florida. Although making us feel like we had just woken up from a rough night out with a horrible case of the spins, we highly recommend this element for the adventurous and daring soul. 

The rock climbing wall had three varying levels for the novice, intermediate and extreme climber. Making it perfect for anyone looking to try climbing in a safe environment and all the way up to the more experienced looking for a fun challenge. 

On our way to try the Via Ferrata we were mesmerized by a lone bull, horns billowing in the wind. We each took our turn mounting the wild spirit and each time we were thrown off in fits of laughter and a determination to beat the best time of the person behind us. 

Next up was the much anticipated and highly acclaimed Via Ferrata. The entire staff was giddy with excitement telling us about the climbing adventure, “It’s very popular in Europe” and “We’re the only place in the US that has this”. With high expectations we jumped into our harnesses, went over some safety techniques and were ready to ascend the Via Ferreta. The 150 foot rock face was adorned with metal rods to assist with the climb while our helpful leaders hoisted us up the mountain. From the top we were able to gaze out over Idaho Springs and see the rolling tree tops and hills. It was a truly unique accomplishment and experience. After belaying down the mountain we were ready to take on the ZORBS. 

The ZORBing balls were already inflated and loomed in the distance as we approached the top of the hill. We meticulously took off our shoes and socks as we watched our guides fill the balls with 3 gallons of water. Once inside we watched them slowly close up the hole we came in through and exhaled deeply as our last chance for escape disappeared. Note: this is not for the claustrophobic or small space spaz. All fear evaporated once we tipped ourselves over the edge and rolled down the embankment akin to the boulder from Indiana Jones. We splashed and laughed our way to the end, our first experience ZORBing and definitely not our last. 

The Lawson Adventure Park sits high off interstate 70 and offers a little bit of something for everyone. In a couple of months the park will be unveiling cabins, yurts and campgrounds- the ideal family getaway for a quick weekend out of the city. If you’re an adrenaline junky looking for a fun activity or a family looking for some bonding time away from iPhones and city lights, Lawson Adventure park is definitely a smart choice. We will be back to master the bull, beat our time on the Gyro and run off into the distance in our ZORB balls. For more information on the adventure park visit: http://lawsonadventurepark.com/ 

GAME OF THRONES® LIVE CONCERT EXPERIENCE - AN IMMERSIVE MUSIC AND VISUAL EXPERIENCE FEATURING RAMIN DJAWADI

Concept art of Game of Thrones® Live Concert Experience

Enter the world of Westeros with the Game of Thrones® Live Concert Experience -- an immersive music and visual experience that will bring the Seven Kingdoms to life on a scale never seen before.  Using state-of-the-art technology, Game of Thrones® composer Ramin Djawadi, along with a full orchestra and choir, will take fans on a musical journey through the realm - from King's Landing to Winterfell, along the northern stretches of the Kingsroad to The Wall and across the Narrow Sea to Braavos, Meereen and beyond.  Fans of the groundbreaking, critically-acclaimed and Emmy® Award-winning show will finally have an opportunity to immerse themselves in the Game of Thrones® universe through the breathtaking score created by Ramin Djawadi.

As rich as the stories, intrigue and world of Game of Thrones®, Ramin's celebrated music for the show resonated immediately with fans as the meticulously constructed songs underscored the emotional weight of key moments between beloved characters, lent scale to massive battle sequences or brought to life songs referenced in the books.  Ramin's relentlessly popular title track alone has become instantly recognizable as a pop culture phenomenon in its own right.  Fan enthusiasm for the music from Game of Thrones® continues to grow with each season.

The tour, produced and promoted exclusively by Live Nation inpartnership with HBO Global Licensing, will use innovative music tour production and video technology that will recreate the various realms found throughout Westeros and Essos as well as showcase footage from the show in addition to all new imagery created exclusively for the tour.  Beginning its journey on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 in Kansas City, Mo., the highly-anticipated tour will visit 28 cities across North America with shows scheduled at famed live music venues including Madison Square Garden in New York City and the Forum in Los Angeles as well as arenas in Montreal, Boston, Houston, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Washington DC and more. 

Tickets go on sale starting Saturday, August 13 at www.livenation.com. American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Wednesday, August 10 at 10:00 a.m. through Friday, August 12 at 10:00 p.m.   

Ramin Djawadi's previous credits include the Grammy® nominated score for Marvel's 2008 blockbuster, Iron Man.  Other film credits include Pacific Rim, Clash Of The Titans and Warcraft.  In addition to Game Of Thrones®, Ramin also garnered Emmy® Award nominations for other television projects including Flash Forward (ABC) and Prison Break (FOX).  Among Ramin's upcoming projects is the highly anticipated HBO® series, Westworld.

Based on the bestselling fantasy book series by George R.R. Martin, Game of Thrones® is an epic story of treachery and nobility set on the continent of Westeros, where summers and winters can last years, and only the lust for power is eternal.  The Emmy®- and Golden Globe Award-winning series has captured the imagination of fans globally, making it one of the most popular shows on television.

"For the past six seasons of Game of Thrones, I have been tremendously inspired to compose music to David Benioff's and D.B. Weiss' extraordinary adaption of George R.R. Martin's epic 'A Song of Fire and Ice' series," says Ramin Djawadi.  "Now, by combining the music with state of the art technology, we are going to bring the astonishing world of Westeros to fans in a live and unique concert experience."

"For seven years, Ramin has been blowing our mind with his music's force, subtlety, and endless inventiveness," said Game of Thrones® creators/executive producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.  "The GoT Concert Experience will be unique in the history of concert tours, an eye-popping, ear-splitting, phantasmagoric blend of the show's visuals and Ramin's powerful compositions.  We are more excited for it than anyone."

"Game of Thrones has one of the most engaged audiences in television," said Josh Goodstadt, Vice President, HBO Global Licensing.  "We can't wait to see fans and newcomers alike immerse themselves in Ramin's incredible music and the world of Westeros through this epic concert experience."

"Live Nation is honored to be partners with HBO and Ramin Djawadi in bringing fans of the hit series a spectacular live experience centered around the music of Game of Thrones and performed using cutting edge technology to create a show unlike anything seen before," says Omar Al-Joulani, SVP, North American Touring at Live Nation. 

Robert Plant Would Be Proud | A Led Zeppelin Chef's Tasting @ Nocturne Jazz

Image: diningout.com

Nocturne’s jazz lounge turned foodie haven is making waves in Denver’s culinary scene. Not only are they a pioneer in their industry, they’re forging the path. “More than just jazz and a proper cocktail, Nocturne explores how the arts of food and music can be combined. From lighter ‘sound bites’ of cheeses and charcuterie to a full five course chef's tasting menu, Nocturne has something to appease all appetites.” For the past year Nocturne has wowed their diners with vivid and creative interpretations of iconic albums and artists and this rendition was no exception. 


Each season Chef Greg Weadick and the Nocturne culinary team select an iconic album that becomes the weekly rendition performance and inspires a special “Renditions” menu to complement. This season’s album is Led Zeppelin’s Houses of the Holy performed by the Dave Devine Trio every Wednesday starting at 7pm through the first week of September. Ultra5280 indulged in the complete sensory experience which paired the recognizable rolling riffs of Led Zeppelin’s musical catalogue with a culinary experience imbued with innovation and enthusiasm. 


For every Rendition the culinary team studies, the chosen album in depth “to bring a thoughtful expression of musical ideas to the table through texture, color, flavor, and technique.” Not only is the Chef enthusiastic about the menu he is creating, but the culinary team, the Sommelier and even the wait staff were noticeably excited to share, discuss, and hear feedback on the dishes and paired drinks. The band was equally excited to play Led Zeppelin songs and Houses of the Holy was the first CD Dave Devine purchased with his own money back in the 80s. All of this enthusiasm and passion for the album is apparent and makes for a magical evening in a venue to match. 


The Dave Devine Trio interpreted the album into a jazz format as Nocturne is a jazz club, and with only a drummer, standup bassist and guitarist, they recreated the album in a way that was recognizable, yet also jazzy and improvisational. “The idea is to start with the song’s version the audience knows and then find ways to exploit small features of the song without losing the overall vibe each one creates,” explains Devine. This was appreciated as we went there wanting to hear Led Zeppelin, wanting to know the song, hum along, and listen in anticipation for the big buildups and crazy crescendos we love in Led Zeppelin’s music. “Using recognizable parts from the songs (guitar riffs, specific bass lines and drum patters, etc) establishes that recognizable tune, then I try to incorporate as much of the vocal melody with my guitar part as possible,” says Devine. “We deviate from these parts throughout the song however to build tension, and then resolve back to them to create a sense of arriving, or going back home.” In addition to the improvisation the Trio imparts, the set list itself is different each week, spanning the entire catalogue and the band experiments during every performance to keep things interesting for them as well as for repeat guests. 


The Renditions menu for this season was extremely interesting, either turning very common ingredients into things we had never seen before, like a tomato sponge, or utilizing ingredients that we had to Google to figure out. The Chef’s Tasting menu is composed of five courses for $55 that we feel truly translates the selected songs into a tangible, edible display. The tasting began with Over The Hills And Far Away which featured duck prosciutto, stone fruit tartar and lavender panna cotta, a batch of ingredients that would not typically be found together within the circumference of your plate. The saltiness of the prosciutto was offset by the creaminess of the panna cotta and together they all melted inside your mouth as if in a brackish sanctuary. Perhaps the most intriguing dish of the evening followed next, set to the tune of Zeppelin's classic, The Song Remains The Same, but presenting itself as something far from the norm. The dish featured a tomato sponge that held the composition of a marshmallow, briny oysters, scallop chips and seaweed ice. The innovativeness and exploratory instincts within the second course were uncomparable. The chef and staff have full creative authority over composition of the meal leading to 100% authenticity within their dishes... and we can truly say we’ve never tasted anything like it. 


The meat and potatoes of the tasting were presented in the next two courses. Rain Song covers the four seasons, so the culinary team created a dish that incorporated the tastes, sights, and crops of each of the four seasons. We really enjoyed this hearty spectrum of the seasons featuring smoked pork cheek in a fig ragout representing summer, spring onion confit, onion ash for autumn, and a good sprinkling of Gruyere Truffle snow. The Ocean followed suit and highlighted the salt and robustness of life under water. The dish revolved around a perfectly cooked piece of black cod and sauteed greens with just a hint of chile peppered throughout the plate that added an interesting heat to the dish. The course ended with a stegosaurus dessert (not actual name) inspired by Zeppelin’s song, D’yer Mak’er. Brownie and raspberry chips stuck out of the coconut mango sorbet reflecting the shape of the prehistoric spines of the stegosaurus. All of this was placed atop a spiced chocolate pudding which added a thoughtful heat to an otherwise sweet end to our meal. 


While the five course menu is highly recommended from your Ultra5280 staff, Nocturne also has a bunch of regular and delicious staples. For those who want a safe standard they know they’ll enjoy, there are sandwiches with house made pomme frites and a chimichurri hanger steak cooked to your preference. A personal and staff favorite is the Garden salad composed of hydroponic red oak Bibb lettuce, arugula, shaved carrot and fennel, cherry tomatoes, roasted beets, dragon beans, and roasted pepper vinaigrette - featuring many vegetables from their own garden! 


From drinks after work to late night bubbles (50% off after 11pm) and date nights to anniversary celebrations, Nocturne has a bit of everything to impress anyone. Our love of jazz and great food has finally come to fruition and found a home within RiNo’s Nocturne. You can experience the Led Zeppelin 5 course dinner/jazz every Wednesday night from 6:00pm to 12:30am. For more information visit: www.nocturnejazz.com 

Reviewed by Tiffany Candelaria 

Venturing Inside A Donald Trump Rally

I’ll start by explaining myself and my bias, I was Bernie delegate this year for my Congressional District in Colorado, and while I don’t consider myself a Bernie or Bust-er, I do consider myself a conscientious voter who’s support and trust must be won to earn my vote. As a lifetime Democrat it has been a painful experience to feel my voice being muted and disregarded by my party and the media, all while being expected to fall into line and join the Hillary train without any motivation other than the Never Trump movement. Trying to be as open and unbiased as I could muster, I decided I would attend the Trump rally that was happening in Colorado in the days after the Democratic National Convention. I had spent the last year hearing the media incorrectly portray Bernie and his supporters to skew support towards Clinton. It was with this experience I figured I owed Trump at least a chance to prove that he wasn't the monster that the media said he was, especially since the recent Wikileaks showed that Clinton campaign had been actively pushing for a media smear campaign against him.

When I walked into the rally I was struck by the perfection of the location they had chosen, it was an aeronautical museum filled with fighter jets and a gigantic American flag hanging at the end of the hanger. It screamed American values and showed support for the military, what more could want out of a backdrop?  

The media had to arrive early, so we had a long wait between our arrival and Trump’s speech.  In those three hours I spent my time meandering around the crowd and was struck by the normalcy of everyone there. I had expected that my liberalness would stick out on me like a sore thumb, and that insults would be hurled in my direction. That wasn't the case for the most part, everyone was incredibly nice to me, save for one woman whom after giving me permission to take her family’s photo (I’ve not included it for the sake of her children's’ privacy) came running after me to investigate if I was a liberal.

The one thing that stood out most was the incredible lack of diversity of the crowd. Out of a crowd of about 7,000, I saw only a handful of people of color. Trump’s vision of a great America is clearly one of absolutely no diversity. It was obvious from the crowd that Trump has tapped into the ignorance of the #AllLivesMatter movement that is incapable of understanding that bringing everyone up to the same socio-economic level doesn't mean that their own rights and freedoms will be removed. 

The speakers before Trump seemed to try and counteract this lack of diversity in the crowd, but instead that only seemed to highlight it. The first speaker was a gay man whom ran a business in Colorado whom argued that the Left doesn't own the support of everyone in the LGBTQ community and that the GOP cares about the LGBTQ too. It was painful to listen to his words given that the GOP just fought to place conversion therapy and revoking equal marriage rights on their party platform a week earlier. He also had to awkwardly plead to get the crowd to do a chant of “Lock her up” during which I heard one man scream, “Hang her” repetitively. The next speaker was an alternate delegate at the RNC whom was a black female. During both speakers it seemed as if the crowd was justifying the institutionalized racism and homophobia of the GOP platform as being okay because these two speakers agreed with it.

When Trump finally spoke, I was horrified with the disjointedness of his speech.  It was utterly incoherent due to the lack of his attention span. He bounced from one idea to another and back again with no rhyme or reason. It was painful to watch and difficult to try and keep up with. His arguments weren't thought out and the specific facts he used to justify them were based on data that was conveniently skewed to make his point but in proper context actually did the opposite.  For the most part his speech just felt like the ramblings of your crazy uncle that likes the sound of his own voice a little too much. But, there were some scary notes to it, most notably when he spoke of the usefulness of torture and that he believed it to be an effective, ethical and reliable source of information despite a vast amount of research that has consistently pointed out the opposite to be true.

The thing about this rally was that it wasn’t the Fascist horror show that I was expecting; instead it was just a sad display of ignorance and fear mongering. These were people that were goaded into believing that the elevation of people that are different than them be it culturally, ethnically, religiously or otherwise, would cause danger to their lives or lifestyle. These are people that were told by the 24-hour news cycle that “Islamic extremism” is the most dangerous thing in their life or that there is an impending race war. It was these fears that Trump has able to tap into and exploit. That is what is scary about Trump more than anything that he is vocalizing the fears and ignorance that white America had previously been too politically correct to voice proudly. I don't think Trump is the monster the media has made him out to be, not because his ideas and opinions aren't scary, but rather because they give him credit for a level of sophistication and thought to his campaign that simply doesn't exist. 

-Words and photos by Emily Brie Equi (Special Contributor)

Weekend Itinerary

We know that you're tired. It's Friday. You made it through the week, but are considering being a homebody for the next two days. Odds are, if you're reading this, you camped out for Basscenter, or went to Red Rocks, or replaced your blood with beer at UMS and destroyed your hearing for a good cause. We also understand that you take things to the limit. You're not willing to call it quits. You are going back out this weekend to taste the sweet milk of Denver's teets. Here's the sitch on Denver's weekend events. 

FRIDAY AUGUST 5TH

 

Untold Stories, a solo exhibition by Denver artist Rashelle Stetman. 

6 PM - 10 PM

@ Battery 621-- 621 Kalamath St, Denver, Colorado 80204

 

 

 

Sabor, a celebration of the cuisine of the Americas. 

5 PM - 9 PM

Denver Botanic Gardens-- 1007 York St, Denver, Colorado 80206

 

August's First Friday Art Walk, featuring free parking, a beer garden, and a luxury shuttle. 

6:30 PM - 11:59 PM

Art District on Santa Fe-- 828 Santa Fe Dr, Denver, Colorado 80204

 

 

SATURDAY AUGUST 6TH

2016 Sesh Fest Hosted by Two Parts, dozens of breweries paying homage to session-style beers. Plenty of food, lawn games, and music to complement Colorado craft beer.

2 PM - 6 PM

Special Occasions Events at Highland Masonic Center

3550 Federal Blvd, Denver, Colorado 80211

Yoga @ Ratio with The Yoga Mat

11 AM

2920 Larimer St, Denver, Colorado 80205

 

 

The Denver Olympics and Beer Fest, a place to showcase what you really learned in college. This event is put on directly by a non-profit organization that raises money to fight blood cancer. 

 10 AM - 6 PM

Civic Center Park-- 101 W 14th Ave, Denver, Colorado 80202

 

Mile High Soul Club w/ Guest DJ Gordy G

9 PM - 2 AM

Syntax Physic Opera

554 S Broadway, Denver, Colorado 80209

 

 

The Five Points Brew and BBQ 

11 AM- 8 PM

2736 Welton St, Denver, CO 80205-2914, United States

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black Shirt presents Champagne Charlie, with special guest Kiel Grove

7 PM - 10 PM

3719 Walnut St, Denver, Colorado 80205

On Black Shirt's Pallet Stage $5 advance tickets.

Sususa Time Machine, hosted by Stay Up Saturdays and CRL CRRL, with guest DJ, our own Robert Castro of Ultra5280

9 PM

Stay Up Saturday's at Pearl's

 

608 E 13th Ave, Denver, Colorado 80203

 

 

 

 

 

SUNDAY AUGUST 7TH

 

Jazz in the Park with Mohoden

City Park Jazz

6 PM - 8:30 PM

 

 

 

Sunday BBQ Series @ Larimer Lounge

 1 PM

2721 Larimer St, Denver, Colorado 80205

16+

$5 EARLYBIRD, $9 ADV, $13 DAY OF

Sesh Fest Is This Saturday - Day Drinkers Unite!

When: Saturday, August 6, 2016
2:00pm - 6:00pm MDT

Where: Highlands Masonic Events Center

Price: $30

Tickets: https://nightout.com/events/sesh-fest-2016/tickets#.V6IhsfkrLcs 

This year's Sesh Fest features dozens of breweries paying homage to session-style beers at the Highlands Masonic Events Center. With a new location comes plenty of food, lawn games, and music to complement Colorado craft beer! Sesh Fest invites breweries to pour beers of the lighter, more sessionable variety, which means they are all under 5% ABV — all of them designed with your day drinking pleasure in mind!

What's included with the ticket? Bottomless session beer samples, access to all the games, grass and turf to relax on, sunshine (says our meteorologist intern), and a fancy new tasting glass you can keep. Each attendee will be welcomed with a cold beer and then it's an all out sesh!

Meet The Breweries: 

CAUTION: Brewing Company

TRVE Brewing Co.

Ratio Beerworks

Strange Craft Beer Company

Dad & Dude's Breweria

Call to Arms Brewing Co.

Alpine Dog Brewing Company

The Old Mine

Something Brewery

Breckenridge Brewery

Elevation Beer Company

Wonderland Brewing Company

WestFax Brewing Company

Sanitas Brewing Company

Great Divide Brewing Co

Cerebral Brewing

Mu Brewery

Fiction Beer Company

Colorado Cider Company

Upslope Brewing Company

Jagged Mountain Craft Brewery

Baere Brewing Company

FATE Brewing Company

The Brew on Broadway

Black Bottle Brewery

Storm Peak Brewing Company

Spangalang Brewery

FERMÆNTRA

The Post Brewing Company

Beryl's Beer Co.

Wit's End Brewing Company

Ska Brewing Company

Little Machine

14er Brewing Company

 

*Tickets at the door will increase to $35*

7 Denver Events to Consider For Your Weekend Plans

 Here's a breakdown of Denver's best events for this late July weekend. We may not be able to do it all, but why not do the best? We hope to see you out there with us. Ubers, get your engines ready. This weekend is going to be popping (bubbles) all over the city. 

Read More

DISH, Denver's all-inclusive food-and-drink sampling event, returns to Sculpture Park on Sunday, September 25.

DISH, Denver's all-inclusive food-and-drink sampling event, returns to Sculpture Park at the Denver Performing Arts Complex on Sunday, September 25.

This 22nd annual celebration of the local dining scene will feature 40+ favorite restaurants
of Westword food writers and reader, plus beverage samplings from our exclusive beer sponsor, Stella Artois, and other liquor sponsors, as well as a smokin' area dedicated to barbecue.

Adelitas, Syrup, Little Man Ice Cream, The Real Dill, Aikopops, Onefold, Biker Jim's, Americatus, Interstate Kitchen, Neighbors Wine Bar, Milk & Cake, Brazen, Keenwah, CO, Il Porcellino, The Orange Crunch, Frijoles Colorado, Amore Gelato, Jozi's Kitchen & Sheebeen, and many more will all be dishing samples at DISH.

Presale begins Tuesday, July 19 at 10 a.m. & ends Thursday, July 21 @ 11:59 p.m. Presale Promo Code: ULTRA5280

General Admission Tickets: $30 VIP Tickets: $65

Event Date/Time/Location:

September 25, 2016 11a-3:30p (VIP Reception 11-12:30) Sculpture Park at the Denver Performing Arts Complex Website: westworddish.com

Event Description:

Denver's all-inclusive food-and-drink sampling event returns to Sculpture Park at the Denver Performing Arts Complex on Sunday, September 25.

Celebrating its 22nd year in the market, DISH will feature 40+ favorite restaurants of Westword food writers and readers plus a smokin' area dedicated to barbecue, beverage samplings from our exclusive beer sponsor, Stella Artois, and to-be-announced liquor sponsors.

Participating Restaurants: Adelitas // Syrup // Little Man Ice Cream // The Real Dill // Aikopops // Onefold // Biker Jim’s // Americatus // Interstate Kitchen // Neighbors Wine Bar // Milk & Cake // Brazen // Keenwah, CO // Il Porcellino // The Orange Crunch // Frijoles Colorado // Amore Gelato // Jozi’s Kitchen and Shebeen 

Foodie Fest Delivered Big Eats with Small Lines

Ultra5280’s Lifestyle staff along with many other devout epicureans (it sold out) got their fill at EatDenver’s foodie fiesta, The Big Eat. It returned for its sixth year to the Denver Center Performing Arts Complex last Thursday with over 50 of Denver’s best restaurants, along with brews, wines, spirits and entertainment.

There were many tasty meat dishes, as one would expect in the Colorado culinary scene, but there was also a surprisingly large assortment of seafood as well. We saw ceviche, sushi, salted cod, a baguette and Lox topped with not capers, but caviar from Rosenberg's Bagels & Delicatessen, and Jax Fish House and Blue Island Oyster Bar were hot stops with their fresh oyster bar. In fact, it seemed about 40 percent of the entrées offered were seafood based, while the other 40 percent were red meat, 5 percent chicken, and 5 percent veggie. We eat all foods, so we enjoyed it all, but there was one vegetarian dish that I thought was as good as any of the other entrees. Vital Root, the newest addition to Cucci’s Edible Beats restaurants, showcased their sunflower seed risotto which was hearty yet fresh and crisp with snap peas, sautéed mushrooms, carrots, chive pesto and pecorino cheese. The texture, taste, and nutrition were all top notch in this dish.

There were a couple surprising standout dishes as well, mainly because of the restaurants who served them. For “most pleasantly surprising” was Appaloosa Grill, you know the place you walk by on the 16th street mall, sometimes stopping in for a cheap happy hour drinks? Well it turns out they make a mean lamb chop, and I mean it came perfectly cooked, topped with toasted nuts and a cherry, peppadew custard, Dijon mustard, all atop a bed of dressed greens. Looking at their website, it appears Appaloosa has a bunch of potentially delectable dishes and makes most with locally sourced ingredients on site! Next time we’ll have to go for cheap drinks and dinner.

Sweet treats were scattered throughout the event, but we’ll finish up this article with them as if that’s what we really did on Thursday. . . Snooze was there with a peach pancake, DBar with a berry and custard trifle, French toast with salted tequila caramel from El Camino, cherry shortcake from Sugarmill, La Loma with churros, and sticky bread from The Lobby. Happy Bakeshop had a full display of sweet treats for every palette and even allergy, such as gluten-free carrot (cup)cakes, French macarons, and Scotcheroos which are peanut butter rice crispy treats with chocolate butterscotch topping. Between the two of us we tried (aka devoured) them all.

The beverage and entertainment categories of the event did not disappoint either and were likewise scattered throughout. We saw La Pompe Jazz playing and some legit swing dancers and on the far end of the event we watched an amazing group of break dancers called Block 1750. We drank local brews such as Great Divide and Call to Arms, sampled wine from The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey, and drank some refreshing craft cocktails from Golden Moon Distillery and Woody Creek Distillers.

What made the event even better was how easy it was to navigate and the lack of lines! Most food/booze events we’ve attended are often so full of lines you don’t get a chance to try everything or even really enjoy what you are sampling because you’re standing in the next line or walking and talking while trying to chew. The Big Eat managed to keep waits to a minimum, even at the hottest restaurant stops and craft cocktail bars. Tables and seating were scarce, which made eating hard to do while juggling your glass and plate(s), but the overall vibe was relaxed and allowed guests to take their time without fear of missing any of the offerings. We feel that The Big Eat was very much worth the ticket price ($50) and was a fun and efficient way to say you’ve eaten at 50 of Denver’s best restaurants! We like to brag.

 Words by Tiffany Candelaria photos by McClain Morris

Denver's Weekend Lineup

Whether you're soaking up the sun in the mountains or exploring our urban jungle, there's plenty to do in the Mile High City this weekend. From experiencing the top 50+ eateries for $50 at The Big Eat, tasting the globe at a free downtown Bazaar, dancing at summer block parties, catching Pokemon at BBQs, enjoying live music and more... Here's Ultra5280's guide of what to do this weekend!

The Big Eat @ the Galleria at the Denver Performing Arts Complex 7/14

Curated by EatDenver, Big Eat celebrates celebrate Denver's food, art, and drink community. The giant party is a slice of Denver's thriving cultural scene. Bringing together 50+ locally owned and operated restaurants, tickets include unlimited bites, beer, wine, and cocktails.

Alf Queso 45+1 DJ set with Chris Dismuke @ Illegal Pete's Colfax 7/14

Free show starts at 9pm. Happy hour also runs 3-8pm daily.

Keystone Wine and Jazz Festival @ Keystone Resort 7/15

The Keystone Wine and Jazz Festival features classes, live music, seminars, tastings and more.

RNDZVS: Surf Rock Party @ Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art 7/15

The Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art is hosting a Surf Rock Party, the second event in its youth-oriented RNDZVS series. “This is a brand-new pop-up series for the 21-and-up crowd that targets places often overlooked and underused,” says BMoCA’s director of education, Nicole Dial-Kay.

Call to Arms Brewing Company Anniversary Party @ 4526 Tennyson 7/16

Celebrating the anniversary of their first year open here in Denver with a day-long celebration with live music, 15 beers on tap, BBQ and carnival games with prizes.

LODOlympics @ Starts at Blake Street Tavern 3-9pm 7/16

Five different LoDo bars will host different drinking games–beer pong, corn hole, flip cup and more. Expect free food from burritos to brats, a raffle for Rockies tickets and huge prizes including a $500 private party at Blake Street Tavern. Tickets run $10-15.

The Mile High Global Bazaar @ Skyline Park 7/15, 16 & 17

A 3-day annual celebration of international cultures, arts, crafts, merchandise, food, and music. The event will consist of exhibitors from around the globe representing a vast array of cultures and goods. This event will also feature several live concerts featuring world music, belly dancers, and other entertainers.

Comedian Nikki Glaser 7:15pm, 9:45pm @ Comedy Works South 7/15 & 16

One Flew West @ Fox Theater Boulder 7/16

With The Longest Day of the Year & Whiskey Autumn

The String Cheese Incident @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre 7/15, 16, & 17th

Denver Deluxe Music Festival @ Park Burger RiNo 7/16

Mini music festival and block party presented by Park Burger featuring 10 Barrel Brewing Co. and a handful of Reggae, Jam, Rock, and Blues bands with The Original Wailers headlining. Tickets run $20-30, check Ultra5280’s social media accounts on how to win tickets!

Mini Pokémon GO meet-up @ The promenade by the boathouse in City Park, Denver 7/17

The Pokemon Trainer community in Denver will be meeting up for a fun-filled day of gotta-catch-em-all this Sunday 2-6pm.

Squeaky Bean Farm + Table Dinner @ Acres Farm 7/17

The special dinner will include dishes prepared from fresh produce for a four course dinner highlighting the "progression of a goat." http://www.thesqueakybean.com/#!product-page/niuhf/4d175ca2-0d85-d122-c3e4-f890ebb90962

Candlebox @ Hodi's Half Note 19th and Blake 7/17

Presented by 94.3 and Soda JerkWith Lullwater, Temple Agents.

Sufjan Stevens @ Red Rocks 7/18

With special guests RHYE 7:30pm

 

Denver Deluxe Music Festival | Combining Burgers, Beer and Community

Denver’s music and event scene continues to expand and this weekend there’s a new (mini) music festival happening in RiNo. The Denver Deluxe Music Festival is a block party presented by Park Burger featuring 10 Barrel Brewing Co. who is building their first Colorado location across the street! They'll have two stages of live music playing all day, as well as a few burger and brew stations throughout. All ticket proceeds benefit Denver Urban Gardens, which means you can feel good about partying!

We spoke with Tobias Krause of Two Parts, a local company specializing in food and booze events in the Mile High City. From curating The Westword Music Showcase to the Breck Brew Hootenanny Krause has earned his stripes as a Denver socialite and event guru. Krause said it was Park Burger’s idea back in December to celebrate the summer and their new locations opening around Colorado this year. We can totally relate with dreaming about and planning summer events in the middle of winter! Music, the community, local beer, along with great burgers of course, is what the Park Burger culture is all about. They really wanted to merge all of these things and have a music festival type party because, “food and music naturally go together, they’re comforting, and create a good time,” says Krause. They also wanted to focus on making it an affordable festival option in the heart of the city, while still being able to give proceeds to a local charity at the end of the day.

Coordinating a festival comes with its own set of "to-dos" but for many, Krause included, the most exciting aspect is always booking the talent. When it came time for Two Parts to coordinate with Park Burger in creating the musical lineup they decided to take a different route. “We put a bunch of names out there and went after the bands we’d selected to see who was available. We wanted a lineup that would be approachable and enjoyable for most listeners.” It was also important to them to differentiate their lineup from the other music festivals happening around Denver to make their party different and unique. That ended up becoming a lineup of Reggae, Jam bands, and some Blues and Rock & Roll, which we feel fits just right with a summer block party. After the headlining band The Original Wailers, a late night set starting at 8pm will feature Rob Drabkin, followed by Technicolor Tone Factory on the Park Burger patio! So grab a burger, a beer, and sway the day away.

Music Line-up:

The Original Wailers

The Hip Abduction

Rob Drabkin

Musketeer Gripweed

Jonathon Boogie Long

Technicolor Tone Factory

ATOMGA

Park Burger RiNo – 2615 Walnut St

$20 Festival Pass — entry, access to all live music, 1 beer token

$30 Deluxe Festival Pass — entry, access to all live music, Deluxe Burger by Park Burger (beef / veggie options), 2 beer tokens

http://denverdeluxe.com

We also had a chance to chat with ATOMGA, the Park Burger house band for the day. They are playing half hour sets in between the main stage sets, “It’s going to be a really unique and also challenging set up to arrange our show in this (incremental) way. We’ve never done anything like this and our songs are all really long, so we’ve been figuring out the set list.”

ATOMGA started back in 2011 with a whopping twelve members, down to just ten these days, and aim to be purveyors of afrobeat to the masses. “Our musical backbone is clearly influenced by Fela Kuti, Orlando Julius, and other afrobeat forefathers, but we can't help but naturally infuse styles that we grew up,” they explain. You'll hear the likes of blues, funk, and progressive rock laced throughout their music. “When you see people from all walks of life getting down to our performances coupled with compliments from Femi Kuti's [Fela Kuti's eldest son] band saying 'Those white people play some great lines!,' then we feel like we're achieving exactly what we set out to do!” At their ongoing show Saturday you’ll see great horn arrangements, guitars, piano, and jazzy bits with lots of good rhythm. ATOMGA is “one good ol’ happy family of musicians”.

They’re very excited to play Park Burger’s first music festival and were specifically asked if they would be the official house band of the show, having worked with event company Two Parts before. They’ve also started to become a regular in the Colorado music scene playing the Crestone, CO Music Festival, Taste of Fort Collins, Tour de Fat in Fort Collins, Durango’s Oktoberfest, and Arise Music Festival in Loveland.  They will be embarking on their first Midwest Tour next month! Between their love for parties, burgers and a chance to share a bill with The Original Wailers, ATOMGA is stoked to be a part of the first annual Denver Deluxe Music Festival and plans on dancing the day away with you all!

What Independent Dining Means to Denver | Interview with EatDenver Executive Director Adam Schlegel

All Photos from, From The Hip Photography

To Denver dwellers our local dining scene is so much more than a place to grab a bite after work. Food brings people together, it differentiates us from other cities and it defines our culture. The Big Eat curated by EatDenver celebrates Denver's originality and growth while highlighting our local pioneers in the culinary field. Bringing together 50+ locally owned and operated restaurants is no easy feat... But, for EatDenver it's a labor of love and devotion to this great city we're all lucky enough to call home. Executive Director, Adam Schlegel is bursting with Denver pride and it's easy for us to see why. Over the past decade Denver has grown from a small awkward batch of Arby's and Chili's on the 16th Street Mall to a diverse and thriving dining scene scattered throughout multiple neighborhoods. The Big Eat is a representation of Denver, how far we've come and where we're headed... Join us in celebrating this amazing city next Thursday, July 14th from 6pm - 9pm at the DCPA. Tickets include unlimited food and booze from the best restaurants our fair city has to offer, purchase them here: http://eatdenver.com/the-big-eat-2016/

We had the opportunity to chat with Big Eat Executive Director Adam Schlegel about Denver pride and his go to restaurant choices for every occasion. 

We believe that community is what sets Denver apart from the bigger cities. Where did you get the idea to bring together 50+ restaurateurs and how did you make it a reality? 

EatDenver represents a tremendous community, over 130 locally owned, independent restaurants. The mere fact that an organization like this exists is a testament to our sense of community, of collaboration and working towards rising the tide. EatDenver began in 2007 when a group of local owners got together in discussing what works, what hurts, how to ensure our people realize the emergence of the Denver dining scene. Over the past ten years, our organization has developed to not only highlight this to everyone, but also create open dialogue and share experiences. We all have hard times finding enough staff, get into a jam with refrigerators that go out, or want to unite and discover better sustainability practices. Indeed the highlight of EatDenver now lies in the network, working with newbies to our forebearers in the restaurant industry to continue highlighting the importance of your locally owned, independently ran dining scene.

Restaurants are so often a part of community events, and it just so happens that those so often asked represent EatDenver. What could be better than working with our dynamic group and building towards a celebration of food, hospitality, drink and the essence of Denver? 

Denver’s recent surge in popularity has also sparked an uptake in our independent restaurant scene. We are seeing chefs who would have previously only worked in New York, Chicago and LA move to the Mile High. Why do you think these chefs are opting for a smaller city like Denver?

Denver feels like the land of opportunity. It represents this incredible lifestyle and ethic that work can fuel your passion. In Denver, you can create new, can find opportunities, and you’re constantly surrounded by an entrepreneurial and altruistic audience. It’s hard to make that splash in the bigger cities. There is a genuine belief, certainly in the many chefs and restaurateurs that I’m fortunate to work with, that Denver can and should be the next great city. The opportunity to have a hand in that is so exciting.

This is not a favorites game… but if you had to choose one Denver Big Eat restaurant for the following occasions which one would it be:

Ugh. Not my favorite game at all, and my role is a bit Switzerland. And since we have two little ones, dining isn’t as frequent as we’d like. That said, I’ll take roll call from my most recent endeavours:
Rooftop: Avanti. It’s just silly, and the bar team there is incredible.
Afterwork drinks: Ace. Especially in the summer. LowDown Brewery as well. And Vine St. I like to explore this category.
Adventurous cocktail: The Way Back. That Chad’s pretty good at his craft.
Date night: Our last date night was progressive, drink/app @ Vesta, my wife insists on always going to ChoLon, bite at The Kitchen, then to oysters @ Jax Downtown, finish up at Mercantile. 
Family dinner: Park Burger on Quebec is an absolute constant in our routine.
Vegetarian: Root Down.Brought some out of towners/vegetarians from Copenhagen here and it may have actually convinced them to move to Denver.
Creativity: Work & Class checks a lot of the boxes, but playfulness with adventure is definitely one of the standouts.
Atmosphere: Beatrice & Woodsley is one of my favorite spots to lose yourself. A whiskey cocktail at the bar and you feel like writing.
Dessert: dBar. Pretty sure this makes up all of the cake my family has eaten in the past 5 years.

 What do you think independent dining brings to a community? How can the impact of independent restaurateurs be measured? 

I often live in a bubble, but I honestly think it’s a driving force behind helping to create this world class city. It’s a testament to where you’ve been and where you are going. Food is culture, where folks meet, celebrate, and engage. And if I think of some of the most vibrant, creative, and impactful cities, independent dining and food show such deep roots. 

Independent restauranteurs are just like artists; the first into neighborhoods, to paint outside the lines, be bold and throw their heart & soul into work. The fact that Denver has so many distinct neighborhoods I think showcases the impact of restaurants who’ve helped pave teh way.

It also helps that it’s one of the first things future conventioneers enquire about, prospective companies relocating, or any traveler. We as a community truly need to work and embrace this culture, it will continue to develop Denver into a great city.

 What does this The Big Eat mean to you? What aftershock do you hope ripples through our community after attending? 

It’s a celebration, and an opportunity to ever enliven the discussion of how fortunate we are to be in Denver at this time. I love seeing so many talented folks enjoying, collaborating and toasting under such an iconic setting as the DCPA. 

I hope people walk away as excited as I am about where our food community has come, and where we are going. And the importance of supporting these artists and entrepreneurs, while realizing it’s the best means of a great time. Denver’s a special place to be.