May 18th, 2012 by David Huntress
Saturday’s Five Points Jazz Festival may play under a cloudy sky…but you won’t know it. From 11 to 7 along Welton Street between 27th and 31st Streets, some of Denver’s and Jazzdom’s best will be keeping the beat. Six venues, continuous sounds, food and fun. See the whole schedule here.
This Saturday!
This is a production of Arts & Venues, City and County of Denver. And, it’s gone on for years. Be sure to hang around the Main Stage about 3:30 for the annual Tribute Awards. One of this year’s nominees is long-time LoDo resident…and master jazz trumpeter…Bob Montgomery. If you don’t see him Saturday, you can always visit his picture on the Wall of Fame at the famous El Chapultepec, 20th and Market.
Don’t forget the Colfax Marathon on Sunday morning. You won’t be able to drive across that long avenue very easily. Easier to run.
Take the Smash Out of Smashburger and Add the Works!
And, run you can, especially if you just had a FREE LUNCH. One of Downtown’s newest spots, Red Robin’s Burger Works gave out hundreds of free “test and training” meals to area business people this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You need the special invite, though, and a reservation. This is how they prepare the place and the crew for their official opening on Monday, May 21 at California and the 16th Street Mall.
It’s the third Burger Works location in the Denver-based chain’s holdings. Manager Nathan Brodbeck calls the food “craveable”. We’ll see what the rest of Denver calls it. For now, we’re calling it lunch.
Whatever you do this weekend, be careful crossing the streets. Especially you, Dana. And, you, Gary. And, you, Lawrence!
May 16th, 2012 by David Huntress
Just wondering. Interesting mid-course adjustment.
District What?
Since we are not on Charlie Palmer’s personal press call list, we get some of our news where we can find it. Just before noon today, William Porter, restaurant writer for the Denver Post, posted the news.
District Meats, on Wazee in LoDo, will change its name, along with its menu and serving hours.
The new name, Charlie Palmer’s District Tavern, is meant to be more reflective of a “modern tavern” and less reflective of a “steak house”. There will be no more lunch service, only dinner Tuesday through Saturday.
The news was also reported at westword.com. We know, however, that Denver by the Slice readers are busy urbanites with little time to search the “papers” for their local news. And, with the name change of this restaurant after just six months, we guess Charlie also now has the option of serving just about anything…pizza, of course, or sushi perhaps. Just like the rest of the neighborhood! Stay tuned.
May 14th, 2012 by David Huntress
Layers of Cakes Waiting for Their Mothers
Don’t try this at home! It takes a team of talented bakers and plenty of oven capacity to turn out over 600 cakes in four days. Not to mention an ordering system to keep it all straight.
The Market in Larimer Square has been at this for a while. 28 years under the able guidance of Owner Mark Greenberg. So, when Mothers’ Day comes around, he’s usually ready. And, he’s also ready to cut off the orders when it’s time. Meanwhile, the rest of the place hums with its normal coffee, food, sandwiches, food and food business while remaining a community gathering space.
Spring Fling, Small Size!
Just imagine over 600 cakes! El Dia de la Madre was last Thursday and Mothers’ Day Sunday. Over 600 cakes between them. Spring Fling is still the number one. Tres Leches was close behind. This is business! Orders were cut off for Sunday to preserve quality. Many more cakes could have gone out the door.
Mark is famous for having a great staff, some of whom have been there over 20 years. He’s a leader. People have become successful in life from his tutelage in making sandwiches at The Market. He just bought them a new faster toaster “…because they are so good they shouldn’t be wasting their time waiting on toast!”
Really. Who takes the cake here?
(Photos: Diane Huntress)
May 2nd, 2012 by David Huntress
"Vamos a la playa."
And, no it’s not for Cinco de Mayo. It’s a long overdue and well deserved break. Fiesta. Siesta.
Back in a few mananas with more fresh news and views of living in Downtown Denver. Be careful crossing the streets!
May 2nd, 2012 by David Huntress
A bit of France. A bit of Colorado.
From 10 to 2 on Sundays, Coohills at 1400 Wewatta in Lower Downtown will offer brunch in the way that only they can. This is where you’ll want to be for a view over Cherry Creek, comfort on their famous patio and a fine meal prepared under the supervision of Chef/Owner Tom Coohill.
Let’s see. Brioche, Colorado lamb, charcuterie, housemade breads, pastries and sausages. So much to choose from. But, wait, here’s the Hot Smoked Salmon Benedict! I’ll have that. And, the bar is open.
Perfect for Sunday. Perfect for Mom. Make your reservations now at www.coohills.com or by calling Diane Coohill at 303-623-5700. Come back every Sunday!
May 1st, 2012 by David Huntress
Here’s a rumor to bite into. The former Samba Room space in Larimer Square, empty for two years, has a new tenant to keep them up all night. And, the folks at Larimer may have worked hard to get this, but they didn’t go too far.
Apparently they have signed the space over to Consumer Capital Partners, they who own the rapidly expanding Smashburger chain. And, the rumored plan is that the space may turn out to be a new concept, for the burger folks at least, and that’s a 24/7 diner. Larimer Square has a lot of eateries, but no 24-hour diner.
It’s not a surprise really, and could very well be the outcome. Joe Vostrejs, of Larimer Associates, is not confirming the diner concept yet, but this is a food idea he has floated frequently in meetings about the re-development of Union Station. His group is in charge of filling the retail and restaurant parts of the planned hotel re-use of the historic building.
And, with Smashburger world headquarters in the nearby Park Central towers, the concept will stay close to home. Smashburger is apparently not content to only look down in one direction on a key holding. Now, they’re looking to market a new corner.
So, we possibly have, from the folks who bring you the sublimely named “Smashburger Finish Line” at the Pro Cycling Bike Race, Smashburger on the Mall and Smashdiner on the Square. Maybe they’ll come up with a different name.
As Art Buchwald used to say about covering the news in Washington, “You can’t make this stuff up.”
May 1st, 2012 by David Huntress
Early this morning, but before the “campers” were up, the Denver City Council voted 9-4 in favor of a proposed ban on sleeping in public or private outdoor (without permission) spaces in the City of Denver. This was the first reading of the bill in front of Council. The final vote will take place on May 14, and, if passed, the law will go into effect on May 29.
It’s an emotional issue. Watching the Public Hearing on television brought a long parade of neighbors, business owners and leaders, homeless advocates and homeless people to the microphone well into the night. It’s easy to draw a line and say this was, as one speaker said, just “compassion versus profits.” But, in reality, without profits in Downtown businesses, there’s little compassion to provide the services that people need. And, there is less financial ability.
It has been estimated that as many as 200 people have “camped” along the 16th Street Mall. They will have to go somewhere when the ban takes effect, as it surely will. And, if the “enforcement by encouragement” is not effective and the people refuse available services, those people will be moving around in the dark spaces between buildings, in alleys and to their own hiding places. Their problems will move around with them, along with debris, waste and occasional encounters with residents and workers. Not to mention visitors to the city.
As was mentioned so often through the Council meeting, solving this problem requires a bigger conversation. Out of the box thinking. And, money. Much to think about if you live Downtown and don’t want to lose the night to a lack of safety and cleanliness.
