Winner of the Book & Paper Fair best-author debate: James Joyce

Last week, we reported on the Rocky Mountain Book & Paper Fair’s challenge panel, an attempt to name the best author of the 20th century, and decided to hold our own contest. Which was, sadly, pathetically attended. My link to the article on Facebook got more comments than the actual…

Tonight: Preserving summer at the Denver Botanic Gardens

Do you have an herb garden? If so, do you have a plan for what to do with all those fresh herbs your garden is surely producing? If not, you need to visit the Denver Botanic Gardens, 1005 York Street, tonight when it presents “Preserving Summer: The Herbal Harvest.”…

Tonight: Wine, more wine and BBQ at the Summit

Celebrate this town’s most liquid assets tonight at Infinite Monkey Theorem, 931 West Fifth Avenue, which at 5 p.m. will host “First Fridays with Drunken Monkey: Art Under the Influence,” with live music and wine by the glass. Visit www.infinitemonkeytheorem.com…

Tonight: Ladies night wine tasting and Aurora’s Red Hot Wines

On the first and fourth Thursdays of each month, Colorado Winery Row, 4640 Pecos Street, hosts a free Ladies Night tasting from 3 to 8 p.m. featuring Colorado wines, live music and food. It’s perfect for a girls’ night out. For more information, visit www.coloradowineryrow.com. If you’d rather sip with…

PAPER PLAIN

When the organizers behind the annual Rocky Mountain Book & Paper Fair wanted to stir things up for the 2010 edition, they knew just who to call: Dana Cain, event mistress extraordinaire. “I’m bringing the party to Friday night,” Cain says. The Book & Paper Fair has always had a…

Elway’s Downtown: Not just for steak and seafood

Elway’s Downtown might not be the first restaurant that comes to mind when you start thinking of veggie-friendly options. First of all, the Elway’s brand has always been more about steak and seafood than tofu and Bibb lettuce — but I was pleasantly surprised when I sat down for lunch…

Tonight: Wine Maker’s Dinner and Summer Wine Tasting

There are two wine-centric events tonight. First up: Rebuilding Together Metro Denver hosts its second annual Summer Wine Tasting from 6 to 8 p.m.; sommeliers will be at hand to give tasting notes and recommendations, and there will be cheese from Haystack Mountain as well as chocolate to pair with…

Who’s the best author of the twentieth century?

One of the changes Dana Cain made to this year’s Rocky Mountain Book & Paper Fair was beefing up the Friday, August 6 launch party from 5 to 9 p.m. (the $10 ticket includes admission to the actual fair on Saturday). There will be live jazz, wine and a challenge…

60 Hikes Within 60 Miles releases a new edition

The great thing about summer is it’s nice enough out to hike, but the awful thing about summer is that most of us grown-ups still have to work during the day, so it’s tough to find the time to trek. Luckily, 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Denver and Boulder has…

Tonight: Tequila tasting at Real de Minas III

Fans of the mysterious liquor distilled from the agave plant (that would be tequila) should head to Real de Minas III, 6775 Cornerstar Way in Aurora, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. today for the free Tequila Tasting Tour, with samples from Corzo, Cazadores, Herradura, El Jimador and Antiguo. For more…

Michael Franti at Red Rocks captivates a sold-out crowd

Michael Franti & Spearhead with Brett Dennen 7.31.10|Red Rocks Amphitheatre Since 1986, Michael Franti has been making music with a social conscience — from his industrial punk days in the Beatnigs to the hip-hop leaning Disposable Heroes to his current (and most commercially successful) project, Michael Franti & Spearhead, which…

Today: Medicinal Mondays at Uptown Brothers Brewing Co.

Uptown Brothers Brewing Co., the current bar and future brewery that opened two months ago in the former Red Room at 320 East Colfax Avenue, presents Medicinal Mondays: Show the bartender something that identifies you as a medical professional (doctor, nurse, X-ray technician, chiropractor, acupuncturist, aromatherapist, even dispensary employee) and…

Today: Celebrate Avery Brewing’s anniversary

Head to the Avery Tap Room, 5757 Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder, for today’s Avery Anniversary Party celebrating Avery brews; admission is $20 and includes all-you-can-eat barbecue, live music and more — a rare beer tasting option is an additional $20. The celebration runs from noon to 5 p.m.; for more…

Today: Slam Bar’s hot-dog eating contest

Hungry? Slam Bar, 9660 East Arapahoe Road in Englewood, will host a Hot Dog Eating Contest to benefit Food Bank of the Rockies today at 2 p.m. — and you can still enter. Eat enough, and that $15 entry fee will be a bargain. For more info, call 303-799-1300 or…

Today: Salsa Wars at the Central Library

It’s too late to sign up to compete inSalsa Wars — but head to the Denver Central Library, 10 West 14th Avenue Parkway, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. today to see for yourself which of the six finalists made the best salsa. Although the judges will have the final say,…

This weekend: Crested Butte hosts the Denver FIVE and more

The Crested Butte Annual Arts Festival kicks off today and runs through Sunday, August 1; among the fabulous culinary offerings are cocktail seminars, gourmet dinners and free demonstrations. But the real draw is tonight’s five-course dinner prepared by the infamous Denver FIVE (Troy Guard of TAG; Matt Selby of Vesta…

Tonight: Echo Mountain hosts a brewmasters’ dinner

We all know that upstart Echo Mountain, at 19285 Highway 103, is the closest ski/snowboard area to Denver — but what goes on there during the summer? Weddings, it turns out, plus tonight’s Brewmaster’s Dinner with Boulder Beer’s David Zuckerman. If you’d like to take part in the optional guided…

Wolfe’s Barbeque dishes up smoked tofu

My father’s family hails from the East Coast (more or less), so I chalk up my cotillion classes and love of fancy restaurants to that part of my blood. But my mother is born-and-bred Midwestern, from Missouri, where I also spent six years going to school. If you’ve ever lived…

Tonight: Shazz harvest dinner and Tasting Tennyson

No need to cook tonight — head to northwest Denver instead. Get a taste of several excellent restaurants in the neighborhood at “Tasting Tennyson: A Gourmet Progressive Dinner.” It starts at 6 p.m. at Parisi, 4401 Tennyson Street, then moves on to Tastes Wine Bar, House and Brasserie Felix. Admission…