I was sitting at the bar at Jax in LoDo on a snowy Sunday afternoon, enjoying the quiet while also enjoying Leo’s Manhattan ($10), made with New York Apple Whiskey, Dolin Vermouth de Chambéry, muddled apple and pumpkin pie spice. And I couldn’t have been happier. As the snow piled…
Erin Clark used to work in the advertising industry; today you’ll find him behind the bar at Jax, at 1539 17th Street in Lodo. And although he hasn’t won any bartending awards, “my family really, really likes me,” he says. “I think.” Now serving: Erin Clark…
The Drink, the first of the three spots that Paul Piciocchi, owner of Tryst, is putting into the former home of Alto at 1320 15th Street, will hold its grand opening tonight, with free Coors Light from 6 to 7 p.m., and other deals through the weekend, including a free…
People always ask me: “What’s your neighborhood bar? Where do they know your name and pour your first drink before you even sit down?” Nowhere, I answer with a sigh. Ever since I left my Capitol Hill apartment in early 2007, I haven’t had a solid joint to walk to…
Jimmy Zanon grew up in Oregon, and in 1998 moved to Colorado for college. He fell in love with both his future wife and the restaurant business here and decided to stay in Denver, where you can currently find him behind the bar at Lola. Now serving: Jimmy Zanon…
Last night Domaine de Canton and brand ambassador Bryan Dayton of Frasca hosted the semifinalist round of the Domaine de Canton bartender competition at TAG. Beyond bragging rights, the winner of the competition won a trip to St. Maartin to compete not only for top honors, but $10,000 in prize…
The patio at this classic dive is filling up fast — with both people taking advantage of what could be the last warm weather for some times, and their pooches. But remember: No dogs inside. Can you guess where I’m drinking?…
Both readers and restaurateurs had a lot of suggestions for what to do with the former home of Mojitos — which isn’t surprising, considering that this spot at 1120 East Sixth Avenue is a good location just begging for a good operator to go into it. And while I’ve already…
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to praise the cocktails of Randy Layman, the bartender at Avenue Grill. I already know that Randy is one of Denver’s up-and-coming superstar bartenders, but I had no idea that he’s such a romantic. But when he serves me a Dearly Beloved ($10),…
Randy Layman began working at Avenue Grill seven years ago and convinced his twin, Ryan, to join him there four years ago. The identical (except for Ryan’s longer beard) bartenders poured kick-ass cocktails together, doubling your fun, until November 1 — when Ryan moved across the street to work with…
It’s not too late to make a reservation for tonight’s food and wine dinner at Frasca, the Boulder food shrine to all things brilliant. Tonight’s dinner, hosted by Kevin Pike of Terry Theise Estate Selections, is all about grower champagnes, often referred to as “farmer fizz,” according to Bobby Stuckey,…
Time to toast a dozen students at the University of Denver School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management, who have organized the first-ever DU Vin Festival Grand Tasting. The Grand Tasting runs from 2 to 6 p.m. today, in the HRTM Building at 2044 East Evans on the DU campus…
In case any of the rest of you out there do need an excuse to come out and have a few drinks on a Wednesday night, we’ve invented one for you: the first-ever Cafe Society Contributors, Commenters, Readers and Sources Bachanal. Yeah, we’ve been doing this whole bloggity thing for…
Westword and Drunk of the Week columnist Drew Bixby celebrated the release of Bixby’s book, Denver’s Best Dive Bar: Drinking and Diving in the Mile High City, at Club 404 on Thursday night. See Aaron Thackeray’s photos from the party on the slideshow page, and read about Drew’s ten favorite…
Westword writers recently covered a day at the Nob Hill Inn, a classic dive at 420 East Colfax Avenue, from open to close. Here’s Jason Sheehan’s nightcap to the project. Sitting at the bar, off-duty weekend bartender Randy Malone pointed out the regulars, the friends, the off-duty employees drinking away…
Celebrate the town’s best dives at 8 p.m. tonight, when Club 404, the joint at 404 Broadway that Jerry Feld has owned for more than fifty years, hosts the launch party for Drew Bixby’s Denver’s Best Dive Bars: Drinking and Diving in the Mile High City. Bixby will be on…
I moved to Denver in 2005, so I never had the privilege of knowing the original Skylark Lounge — the one that lived for sixty years at 58 Broadway, where Barry’s on Broadway currently does its damnedest to live up to a legend — but I’ve always understood that no…
Having trouble finding your favorite seasonal brew? The Colorado Brewers Guild is working on that. And on Tuesday evening, the Guild — a trade group representing the majority of the 110-plus craft beer-makers in the state — hosted liquor store and restaurant reps at its second annual holiday open house…
Sample one of Denver’s best dive bars at 8 p.m. Thursday, November 5, when Club 404, 404 Broadway, hosts a launch party for Westword Drunk of the Week columnist Drew Bixby’s Denver’s Best Dive Bars: Drinking and Diving in the Mile High City. A true dive can’t be manufactured. It…
I only have a few rules for bartenders. The number one rule? When people come in the morning after Halloween for Sunday brunch, don’t make them wait fifteen minutes while you set up the bar. Serve them their drinks immediately, and then get your station in order. So where was…
Last night, Denver City Council unanimously approved a request by the Vine Street Pub that would alter the zoning code and allow the place to brew its own beer on site. From here, the request will go to Mayor John Hickenlooper, possibly as early as Friday, says Paul Nashak, managing…
Vince Martinez of Maloney’s Tavern nabbed first place at the Hpnotiq bartender competition at Suite Two Hundred in September, beating out eight other local bartenders. Each had to create a drink that featured Hpnotiq, a liqueur made from a blend of vodka, cognac and tropical fruit juices. Martinez got top…
