Party Weekend Roundup | Cinco de Mayo & KY Derby

CENTRO MEXICAN KITCHEN | Cinco de Mayo

What - Cinco de Mayo Pig Roast: Slow-roasted in the caja china, the pork will be doled out in tacos and served alongside borracho beans and fresh grilled street corn. There will also be $5 Suerte Coins and other drink specials!

Where - 950 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO                         When - Friday, May 5, 11 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

LOLA COASTAL MEXICAN | Picnic of the Pig

What - Annual Celebration of All Things Swine on Cinco de Mayo! Lola’s own Jamey Fader and Sharif Villa Cruz will collaborate with five of Denver’s most talented chefs on an a la carte menu that celebrates all things swine. Gross-A$$ Man Band will perform live from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. and Sixty Minute Men will perform live from 9:00 - 11:00 p.m.

Where - 1575 Boulder Street, Denver, CO             When - Friday, May 5th, doors open at 2:00 p.m.

Illegal Pete’s | Cinco de Mayo

What - All day for happy hour pricing on margaritas and pacificos. May special offering “P.S. I Love You”, a Pacifico and a shot of Sauza Tequila for $5.

When - Friday, May 5th, open - 2am.                                                    Where – All locations

ViewHouse Ballpark | Cinco de Mayo

What - All Day Food & Drink Specials and Features with DJ & dancing all night.

When - Friday, May 5th, open - 2am.                             Where – Downtown Ballpark location.

The Lobby | Annual Derby Party

What – Free entry, lawn games in the Courtyard, killer food and drink specials and lots of chances to win cool stuff!

When – Saturday May 6th, 9am – 5pm.                                        Where - 2191 Arapahoe St.

ViewHouse Eatery | Kentucky Derby Party

What - It’s that time of the year to bust out those BIG hats, summer dresses & seersucker suits. Moses Jones Band will kick things off in the courtyard at 1:00pm. Live Derby Broadcast on the 200” outdoor LED TV & dozens of flat screens at 4:00pm with drink specials and contests all afternoon.

Where - 2015 Market St. Denver CO 80205                            When – Saturday 6th, 1pm – 2am.

The Real Dill | 5th Anniversary Party

What – Cocktail, cider & beer bars, food trucks, live music from The Raritans and 105% of proceeds will benefit The GrowHaus, a nonprofit indoor farm, marketplace, and educational center in Denver.

Where - The Real Dill 33 S Fox St Denver, CO 80223              When – Friday 5th from 5-10pm

The Big Wonderful | Kick-Off Weekend

What - Kicking off over Derby Weekend on May 5-7th, The Big Wonderful has a new location in Globeville and lots of exciting features for the summer. The Big Wonderful 2017 Derby Weekend has a slew of live bluegrass, including headliners Jeff Austin (Formerly of Yonder Mountain String Band) & Friends, The Drew Emmitt Band,  Andy Thorn & Friends, Rob Drabkin, and DeadPhish Orchestra. Saturday 6th, from 3-6pm is BEERFEST featuring over 20 craft breweries and distilleries pouring a handful of their finest flavors into commemorative BEERFEST sampling glasses. Each participating brewery and distillery will offer unlimited tastings of select brews, ciders and spirits, while Pickin' on Beatles (DeadPhish Orchestra) provides the live soundtrack.

"An American In Paris" | A Celebration of Art

The Broadway Theatre is here to dazzle Denver yet again with its multi-award winning musical, "An American In Paris" through Sunday, March 19th at Buell Theatre. The basic story under this title was first a book by Craig Lucas and became a Hollywood movie in 1951 starring Gene Kelly. The musical film was inspired by the 1928 orchestral composition "An American in Paris" by George and Ira Gershwin. The film won a number of Awards including Best Picture at the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes. So if you can't make it out to the Denver Performing Arts Theatre in the next week, at least the film sounds like it does the story justice. 

The film was adapted to the stage in the 2000s and again adapted in 2014 and performed in Paris and then New York City's Broadway March of 2015. Thus, this is a new musical with a long past and a legendary soundtrack of unforgettable songs from Gershwin, that along with acclaimed director/choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, has earned it more awards than any other musical in the 2014-2015 season!

The story begins as an American soldier continues to encounter a mysterious French girl and an indomitable French city, each yearning for a new beginning in the aftermath of World War II. The backdrops and projection were one of the first standouts as the musical began. They make the city come to life with projections of Paris being water colored right before our eyes, which plays into the introduction of the lead character Jerry Mulligan, the American soldier and artist who decides to remain in Paris after the war. As he pursues the French girl, he leans her name is Lise and she is a very talented, but sad, ballet dancer. In fact, both of the characters and actors are very talented ballet dancers and the play, as well as the story, both heavily revolve around ballet and dance.

We see some very intimate and intense dances, as well as some big Broadway, spectacular dance numbers complete with tuxedos and feathers. We also see a marvelously composed culminating performance that matches modern art with classical ballet, a performance worthy of awards in and of itself. We watch many interesting characters develop in the story as they try to pursue their dreams and find happiness in the post-war era. These dreams all revolve around some form of artistic pursuit and of course the pursuit of love. Some chase money, some chase fame, some yearn for their authenticity to shine while others choose to hide or put on appearances. While the main theme is the pursuit and celebration of art and its ability to bring joy, there's also an underlying look at gender roles and stereotypes, as well as doing what is right or expected versus following your heart.

When you see past all of the dancing, singing, and vibrant art on stage, you will see a poignant story about the trials and tribulations of figuring out how to pursue a happy and fulfilling life. It's no wonder this story continues to win the hearts of so many.

http://www.denvercenter.org/shows/specific-series/Get?Id=20d44ce2-4382-4b11-b7d9-ed33d6a8ab29

By Tiffany Candelaria  

DCPA's Motown The Musical!

Opening night of "Motown The Musical" hosted by the DCPA at Buell Theater was a delight for people of all ages to enjoy. We know a lot of people say that, but it's true. We were seated next to two older gentlemen getting a kick out of all the references to highlights of their own lives and seeing some of their favorite tunes come to life. Behind us, a girl no older than 10 wiggled around in her seat along with the dance numbers with a smile bigger than her mother’s seated next to her. It was everything we wanted in a musical and would recommend this one to everyone. Hurry over as the show only runs through Sunday the 19th before the magical "Circus 1903" takes the stage on February 21st!

The story of Berry Gordy, creator of Motown, begins in 1938 in Detroit where Gordy feels defeated by the music industry and not getting enough credit for the hits that he is writing. His solution? Start a recording company and compete to your best ability. Gordy ends up launching the careers of Motown legends Diana Ross and the Supremes, Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, and many more. This musical performs all of their hits arranged alongside their stories acted out onstage.

The show not only covers Gordy’s personal life, but the rise of the young Diana Ross and a very politically charged and racially divided past, specifically through Gordy and his artists' struggles in the music industry. An essential piece to making a story come to life is the characters and the actors that play them. So trust us when we say it came to life with this cast. Allison Semmes as Diana Ross, is a dream, and the whole cast was wonderful when it came to portraying the personas of Motown hotshots on the come up. Seeing characters like Marvin Gaye and Rick James come to life through hilarious mannerisms, angelic singing voices, funky dance moves, and great costumes was a wonderful way to spend a Wednesday night.

Diana Ross’s debut in the song “Reach Out And Touch” was an interactive piece where two audience members joined Semmes (Ross) in singing the song, while the crowd was asked to hold hands and sway. Definitely the cheesiest part, but after experiencing the whole thing, we all felt like a Motown family, haha! Grooving to songs like “Do You Love Me”, “My Girl”, and “Brick House” reminded everyone in the room of not only some of our favorite songs, but also the man behind them and the struggles he endured to make “black music” into popular music. This production also reminded us, as I’m sure it did many others, that our country is in a similar state of social and political disorder, but proved there are ways to remind folks of that while also bringing them together. And that's how Motown was born!

denvercenter.org   Review by Lina Skrzypczak

Winter Wine Festival | Celebrating Colorado's Other Craft

You may not think rolling fields of vineyards when you think of the Colorado landscape, but unbeknownst to most CO residents the precious grapes have been thriving here since before prohibition era. And this past Friday we paid tribute to our boozy grape enthusiast ancestors in true Two Parts fashion. From sweet rose to full and inviting red blends, the Winter Wine Festival covered all of our favorite grapes and was an eye opening introduction to Colorado's second favorite craft to harvest. 

This sold-out event took place in the newly remodeled McNichol’s Building and was spread over two levels. The first hour saw a line of young and old alike waiting out to the street, but once you made it inside the festivities began as you were greeted with a glass of Molly’s Spirits Cider. From there you went upstairs and began wine tasting!

With an open mind and an empty glass, we began to make the rounds to each station. There were of course a few favorites, a few we had to skip because of their long lines, and a couple of go-to tables. #UltraTip: Grab a cup of cider before taking on the long wine lines, they were quite tasty and came with a larger pour - definitely made the wine lines less begrudging to wait in. The ciders and wines were all Colorado-based as promised and showcased the variety of flavors our state can create, from deep reds, to Rose’s, to whites of all types. In fact, one of our favorite white wines wasn’t even made with grapes, but with our famous Palisade Peaches. A sweet treat!

With all that wine you do need/want food no matter how much you already ate for dinner. Luckily there were savory snacks and sweet treats to quell our cravings and without much of a wait, if any! We noshed on breads, cheeses, meats, chocolates, doughnuts and pie while we sipped wine and listened to Fresh Noise play live. 

Wine tasting is an intimate outing, normally accompanied with harrowing tales of the grapes and the winemaker's jigsawed vision of the libation. The long lines and beer festival setting made it a bit difficult to get a clear understanding of the wine or a taste of all their different grapes. But what the festival did accomplish is a broad and captivating view into the expansive wine of Colorado. We had no idea what was being grown on the outskirts of our four-cornered state. We cannot wait to school our dates this Valentine's Day with our newly garnered wine knowledge. 

Cheers to Colorado! A state dedicated to transforming their inhabitant's drinking habits into bonafide hobbies!

Winter Wine Festival Feb 10th

Twenty Colorado wineries will gather for the second annual Winter Wine Festival this February 10th from 6-9pm at The McNichols Civic Center Building. The Festival pairs wine tastings and gourmet bites with local vendors and great music for an approachable and delicious night. Event Company Two Parts has gathered a wide range of Colorado's best wines for the Festival so guests can try everything from big, bold reds to crisp, dry whites and all that's in between! And staff from the wineries will be available to tell you all about their vineyards, grapes, wines, and can even sell you a bottle to take home right then and there.

Tickets are on sale for $50 and includes unlimited pours, small bites, wine tote and commemorative glass. Last year’s event sold out, but this year's location at the McNichols Civic Center Building will provide more room for attendees and vendors, about 700 tickets are available this year! Ticket sales benefit the Colorado Association of Viticulture and Enology (CAVE), Colorado’s only trade non-profit that supports the wine and grape growing industry. This event is also sponsored by the Grand Junction Visitors Bureau, to support wine tourism in Colorado. It's always more rewarding to drink to a good cause, so don't miss out this year on all the great wines, bites, music and fun. 

Fresh Noise, a funky, jazzy collaboration between vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Joseph Lamar and keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist Mikey Smith will be performing during the festival. The local restaurants and vendors will be announced as the event gets closer. The Colorado wine scene is growing and this event is a great way to sample everything that Colorado has to offer and grow your own repertoire on the fancy grape drink. Cheers~

Allis Ranch Winery
Augustina's Winery
Avanti Winery
Balistreri Vineyards
Bijou Creek Winery
Black Arts Cellars
Black Forest Meadery
Bookcliff Vineyards
Byerscellars Wines
C Squared Ciders
Carlson Vineyards
Catriona Cellars
Climb Hard Cider
Colorado Cellars/Rocky Mountain Vineyards
Colorado Cider Company
Cottonwood Cellars/The Olathe Winery
Creekside Cellars
DeBeque Canyon Winery
Decadent Saint Winery

https://www.twoparts.com/event/winter-wine-festival-2017/

DCPA's "A Christmas Carol" | A Classic for All Ages

The holiday season is here, the time of year where we celebrate with friends and family, drink champagne and eggnog, and see the city covered in twinkly lights! There are so many delightful things about the holidays, which for some include listening to Christmas music, watching holiday movies, or seeing “The Nutcracker” or “A Christmas Carol” performed for the twentieth time. In fact, this is the 24th season for Charles Dickens’ famous story “A Christmas Carol” at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) Theater Company, that was first published December of 1843. It has managed to really stand the test of time thanks to the Theater Company’s diligent work and because the story’s themes still ring true to both children and adults today.

Over the years the DCPA production has gone through many changes, some big like venue spaces, sets, and script, and many small changes to keep the audience interested and entertained, and they do a great job (watch out for that trap door!). This year marks a couple of noteworthy changes with a new director, Melissa Anderson and a new main actor as Scrooge. Sam Gregory now plays Scrooge after having played six other roles in this production and is 26 years younger than the past years’ Scrooge. This younger Scrooge brings new life into the character and the story’s message can live longer through Scrooge now that he is younger when he learns his lessons. However, despite age, Gregory says, “We want to focus on the fact that this is a really incredible play about redemption and how anyone can be redeemed and can change at any age into a better human being.”

Gregory does a great job in his new role portraying the grumpy, greedy businessman and then slowly shows the audience signs his cold heart is melting as the Ghosts of Christmases past take Scrooge moment by moment through events of his life. By the time the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come shows Scrooge his likely future, Scrooge/Gregory has displayed a whole array of emotions on stage. By Christmas morning (spoiler alert) Scrooge is a changed man and he sets out to change the lives of his fellow townspeople for the better as well! Gregory is a dynamic actor who, alongside a fantastic cast of characters dressed in exquisitely crafted classic costumes, makes this show a worthy tradition of Christmases past and Christmases yet to come.

“A Christmas Carol” plays through December 24th at the DCPA’s Stage Theater with multiple show times and is great for all ages. There are a few startling parts, and ghosts, so if you’re bringing young children I don’t recommend sitting too close to the stage. . . you’ll see!

By Charles Dickens. Adapted by Richard Hellesen. Music by David de Berry. Directed by Melissa Anderson. Runs approximately 2 hours, plus a 15 min intermission.

https://www.denvercenter.org/shows/specific-series/Get?Id=de96942d-2f07-401c-8622-ad726f693b4f

Reviewed by Tiffany Candelaria

Our Buddies Breckenridge Brewery are Back at Ultraween 6!

Our good friends over at Breckenridge Brewery are once again the official booze sponsor of our annual Ultraween Halloween Party and we are so stoked to have them on tap again!

Ultra5280 and Breckenridge Brewery have had a long history of working together and share a passion for the Denver music, beer and event scene. Ryan Workman, Brand Manager for Breck Brewery explains, “We have always been involved in the Ultraween event from the beginning six years ago. Breckenridge Brewery brews balanced, sessionable beers that are perfect for the Colorado lifestyle. Ultra5280’s whole mission is to cover that awesome lifestyle we all get to live in, so it has always seemed like a perfect fit for us. We’re so happy to see the event grow to become one of Denver’s most sought out Halloween Parties!”

Ultraween6 will be held this Saturday Oct 29th at the historical and possibly haunted by now, Aztlan Theater on Santa Fe Blvd in Denver. This year we have two large local acts performing live and a DJ playing the party hits. (Ticket link at bottom). Breckenridge Brewery will be having a party of their own the following Saturday Nov 5th to kick off ski season!! Their "Opening Day Party" will celebrate with live music, games, art, free snowboard and ski waxing, and your chance to win the first limited-edition "Artist Series" snowboard of 2016! Don't miss this free event at Punch Bowl Social on S. Broadway from 6-10pm.

Breckenridge Brewery was founded in 1990 in Breckenridge, Colorado. In the past two decades they have grown from a small 3,000-barrels-a-year brewpub to one of the most successful craft beer and restaurant companies in the nation. It now handcrafts more than 62,000 barrels of fresh beer annually and owns and operates six brewpubs and ale houses in the state of Colorado.

Back in the early days, however, we very quickly found that there was more demand for craft beer than we could possibly make in that location. In 1992, they opened a second brewpub in downtown Denver. As luck would have it, in 1995, the Colorado Rockies built their stadium across the street. As much as they enjoyed that home, they inevitably outgrew it, and in 1996 moved production to 471 Kalamath Street several miles away. The Kalamath location served them well for 19 years, but as they approached 60,000 barrels a year they began to run out of space for any more expansions. President Todd and team once again searched for the right home that would accommodate their growing family. They found it in a 12-acre stretch of land in Littleton, Colorado and held their grand opening at last summer’s Hootenanny.

Terry L. Usry, Communications Director states that after 26 years, the focus is still on creating well-balanced, approachable, and interesting beers while also creating memorable visitor experiences. Their farm-inspired campus on Brewery Lane features a new 100-barrel brew house, barrel-aging room, all new packaging, dedicated tour staff, and the Farm House restaurant. “The Farm House is so much more than a tasting room. The wraparound porch and spacious beer garden offer multiple areas to convene, relax, and take in views of the majestic Rocky Mountains. Enjoy a comfortable dining atmosphere indoors or a leisurely, communal experience outdoors around fire pits, playing bocce ball, or challenging friends to corn hole. There’s also a 90-minute guided brewery/sampling tours are offered five days a week,” explains Usry.

What makes Breckenridge Brewery so successful and special you ask? Usry says it’s the many people who’ve been with Breckenridge Brewery for so long. “We have folks in the brew house, the restaurants, marketing, and the admin offices that have been with us for 20+ years. Over the years, we’ve grown as a business and as a family. What makes it special here is the pride in our product, the pride in our company, and the culture that we’ve fostered. It’s not just the ‘old-timers’ who’ve shaped it, either. All of our employees contribute to our success by embracing our mantra to offer a comfortable and welcoming place to hang out and enjoy well-balanced, approachable, interesting beers.”

In addition to their dedication and pride in their craft and their customers, they’re always pushing boundaries and dreaming up new and delicious beer. Their two locations, in Breckenridge and Littleton, are destinations for locals and out-of-towners. They now send beer to thirty-five states and continue to create new and exciting batches such as seasonals, barrel-aged beers, the new Brewery Lane Series, and a newly announced nitrogen-charged canned series. Breckenridge Brewery’s special seasonal crafts are especially popular, particularly the Autumn Ale in fall and the Christmas Ale. Also, their new Nitro Series includes seasonals as well, the first of which was just released, Nitro Pumpkin Spice Latte, with the winter nitro seasonal right around the corner!

Nitro Vanilla Porter –  year round - http://www.breckbrew.com/beers/nitro-vanilla-porter

Nitro Lucky U IPA – year round - http://www.breckbrew.com/beers/nitro-lucky-u-ipa

Nitro Pumpkin Spice Latte – fall Nitro seasonal -   http://www.breckbrew.com/beers/nitro-series-seasonal-pumpkin-spice-latte

Another special series this year is their Brewery Lane Series. The Brewery Lane Series is named after their new location on Brewery Lane in Littleton and aims at capturing the essence of the new brewery – big, bold, and adventurous.

After 26 glorious years of creating craft beers, their top selling are the Avalanche Ale, Vanilla Porter, Agave Wheat, Mango Mosaic, 471 Double IPA, and seasonals like Autumn Ale and Christmas Ale. Ultraween will be serving up a few of the favorites both on draft and by the bottle. Can't wait to see you all there, and btw discount tickets can be purchased today only at Illegal Pete's on S Broadway from 4-8pm!!

Diverse Crowd & Music Made for a Magical Jazz Aspen Snowmass Experience

The first day of the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Experience this past Friday started off rainy with clouds covering the surrounding mountain tops. The JAS Experience didn’t open untill five Friday so we hoped it would clear up and warm up a little by then. At five pm we got to one of the parking lots where shuttles were running back and forth continuously bringing people to and eventually from the festival grounds. The clouds had cleared and the site itself wasn’t too crowded even though the first artist stated in an hour. Friday kicked off with Andy Grammer and Train and was Ultra5280’s very first taste of the JAS Experience.

Some of the people I hung out with all weekend were longtime residents and had seen many a JAS, which meant they knew the layout and where to park and all those helpful things. We came prepared each day with lots of layers of clothing, empty water bottles to fill, sunscreen, a blanket to sit on before the site really fills up, and money for food and drinks. There was a good variety of vendors, I only tried a couple, and Bar tents with Patron cocktails, beer, wine and hard cider. Prices were decent at $6 for beer and cider, but the Patron cocktails were small, full of ice, and $11.

What was nice, was the back area of JAS on the other side of the street that offered a respite from the crowds and lines in the main stage area. This back lot was created for patrons to take a break or eat food from the various vendors (this was the only area selling food) at the long picnic tables or to enjoy your drinks from the large, shaded Patron Bar at small high tops set up in the grass. Even better was you could still hear the music from the main stage and could also see it being played on two large TVs. At the far end of this back lot was a second stage created for talented, yet generally unknown bands to play the “Outside Music Lounge”. This stage offered a steady rotation between the big acts on the main stage and introduced us to some different sounds. One such sound was an Americana band, half Nashville, half New York based JD and the Straight Shot complete with three guitarists and a violin/fiddle (I learned it’s the same instrument but the name depends on the genre being played).

There was one more JAS area to explore, however this area was for the big spenders, the VIP section. Not surprising for this type of music festival, the VIP section spanned the entire left side of the main stage lot, it was huge. Luckily I was with some Patrons who had VIP tickets and they told me all about it each night! As was clear to see from the GA section, there was a long tent lining the entire left side full of food and open bars with linen tables and flower arrangements. Outside of the color-lit tents were more of these elegant tables, some sponsored lounge tents, servers hand passing hors d'oeuvres, heat lamps and those fancy trailer portable potties. Oh to live that VIP life. . . or even just knowing someone who was living it is great (they brought me free drinks)! Thanks to red wine, my puffy jacket and the masses of people around me, I stayed cozy and content through the headlining acts despite my Phoenix roots. It gets cold up in the Rocky Mountains when the sun dips below the tips, especially as signs of Fall have already started up there.

I’m not going to describe all of the individual shows, but rather the diverse lineup we saw, and this was not only between the bands, but also within their set lists of songs! We got to hear so many amazing covers of classic hits over the course of the weekend, every headliner played at least one. Train started things off Friday night with the words, “Dearly beloved, We are gathered here today to get through this thing called life…” When a band opens with a line like that you know you’re in for a ride. They played all the songs we know from the band including ones we didn’t realize are their songs. And holy cow can they play the hits! Not just their own hits, but Classic hits like “Hotel California”, “Under Pressure” and their opener, Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” starting the party of a show. Train held onto the crowd’s attention and captivated us through to the epic end when they belted out “Ground Control to Major Tom”. Wow. Train really took us on a memorable ride that I recommend you take some time.

Saturday’s headliner was the experience I had been looking forward to for months, when I first caught wind that The Killers would play JAS. They haven’t made a new album since 2012, which I’m guess is just one of the reasons The Killers only play occasionally at big shows and festivals now days. I’m pretty sure another is because their music demands a big venue with a large sound system because their sound is so large and their songs are anthems the whole crowd belts out and that make girls’ hearts melt. Especially when Brandon Flowers sung to us Saturday, “I can’t help, falling in love with you” in that Elvis impersonation no less, swoon.

Stevie Wonder was the man most of the Aspen area locals had come to see, being that he is one of the most critically and commercially successful musical performers of the late 20th century. I heard this show was nearly a decade in the making and he was paid top dollar to headline JAS. It was clearly a good choice as Sunday’s tickets sold out and brought in roughly 95,000 people. He came on around 8pm and sang and played the piano while grooving to his sound as he’s known to do. He played crowd favorites like “Superstition”, “Signed, Sealed, Delivered”, and “You are the Sunshine of My Life”. After about thirty minutes he had his opener Corinne Ray Bailey come on stage and sing with him. She was in disbelief when he asked her to sing “My Cherie Amour” for him while he played piano, but her voice was stellar. After a couple of duo songs in that fashion, Stevie Wonder turned into a DJ with a stage name I couldn’t really hear but all of the hits we knew. He played oldies like The Beatles and The Temptations, to newer hits like Whitney Houston and MJ’s “Pretty Young Thing”. For the next forty minutes JAS was a giant sing-along, dance party led by Stevie Wonder!!

Our night was complete, heck our whole weekend, maybe even whole month was complete after the incredible music we had heard and performances we’d seen. What made JAS even better in my opinion was at the end of each night you could hop on a shuttle and go to sleep in a warm, soft bed instead of staying in a tent on the ground where you had just partied all day, surrounded by the thousands of people who’ve been surrounding you since the start. At JAS, each day you and those around you were refreshed and renewed (hopefully) for another magical day of music in the mountains.

Words & Photos by Tiffany Candelaria

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 

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!

Lifestyle | Newly Launched: Pearl's "Stay Up Saturdays"

What's up you ask? "Stay Up Saturdays" is a new dance night at a newly renovated venue in Capitol Hill. This bar/venue which has recently become Pearl’s has been a Denver staple and has a lot of history. It’s home to the longest running Motown night in Denver, has housed many musical talents spanning many genres, and continues to be the place to get your dance and drink on.

The newly revamped Pearl’s installed a state of the art sound system spanning its two rooms which each have different themes; one being a pub style neighborhood bar and the other a classic nightclub feel with an intimate dance floor. Pearl’s also offers one of the best happy hour drink specials in the area and has partnered with Benny Blanco’s pizza next door, delivering their entire menu fresh to Pearl’s until 9pm nightly.

Pearl’s Saturday nights will feature CRL CRRLL, as the new resident DJ for Ultra5280’s and Fasor Labs “Stay Up Saturdays”. CRL CRRLL has been making waves across the U.S. as a Red Bull Sound Select Artist in 2014 and an attendee of Red Bull Music Academy in Detroit. He’s recently launched FASORLab.com that will house productions and art projects featuring various artists from around the world as a way to bring these projects and events to life. “My first goal is to build a community of creatives and help them grow and accomplish their visions, and then to bring these acts that people haven't necessarily heard of to Denver.”

Between the sweet sound systems, CRL CRRLL as DJ, and the good food, drinks and dance moves, Pearl’s “Stay Up Saturdays” is a cool new addition to the neighborhood that has always been hip, Capitol Hill. “I’m here to bring the Denver community constant amazing Saturday vibes.” Come dance off the work week and make the weekend complete!

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