So long to the old 3 Sons

3 Sons has closed its original location at 2915 West 44th Avenue, in anticipation of a May move to 14805 West 64th Avenue in Arvada. Susan and Michael Scarafiotti bought the venerable old Italian joint in March 2004 — which means they weren’t responsible for the place back when Jason…

Houston’s, we have a problem

An hour after getting all the appropriate permits, the long-awaited Houston’s finally opened this past weekend at 303 Josephine Street. This sibling of the Cherry Creek Grill and other restaurants in the Hillstone chain has an expansive, sleek dining room and an inexplicable eleven seats at the bar. Eleven seats?…

Wake-Up Call: Dream on

“In this country, we have to let every child — it doesn’t matter if they are documented or undocumented — live the American dream and have a chance to go to college,” Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said yesterday on a tour of Bruce Randolph School with Michael Bennet, the…

Fork the recession! Get out and eat!

“Fork the recession!” That’s the word from the Colorado Restaurant Association, which today will launch a campaign designed to make us forget the lousy economy and instead “feed the recovery” by dining out at one of Colorado’s 10,500 eating establishments. For details, go to www.coloradorestaurant.com. Get “Happy on the Hill”…

Wake-Up Call: From bitch slap to back slap

A strong, independent streak runs through Colorado politics, a vein of common sense that cuts across party lines — and leads straight to Ari Armstrong, the creator of FreeColorado.com, and a man always ready to smack down political correctness. When Independence Institute head Jon Caldara was slapped for saying “bitch…

Sip and slip into spring at Tamayo

Today from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Marczyk Fine Foods will host a wine tasting at Tamayo in Larimer Square. The focus is “sexy Spanish wines from sexy Spanish women winemakers,” and it’s billed as a ladies-only event — but the sexy Tamayo bar might be a good place for men…

Wake-Up Call: Snow job!

The pert young anchor turned to the avuncular weathercaster. “So,” she said. “What happened to that eight big inches you promised me last night?” The inches have changed over the years — to ten, to twelve — as the story takes on all the trappings of an urban legend, but…

Stinky Cheese Tour starts at Bistro Vendome

Bistro Vendome, the great French restaurant tucked into the side of Larimer Square, will introduce its Stinky Cheese Tour de France tonight. Every week this month, the restaurant is offering a progressive dinner made from regional stinky cheeses of France; if you purchase each course, you’re eligible for a complimentary…

Wake-Up Call: The verdict is in

I caught the Ward Churchill verdict from a thousand miles away, on the nightly news shows. And after all the local hand-wringing about how young these jurors were, it sounds like they got some things right. In its response to any complaints about Ward Churchill, the University of Colorado has…

Wine on First Friday

Verso Cellars, a Colorado winery, will start selling its wine (by the glass, bottle or case) at Metropolis Coffee, 300 West 11th Avenue, starting today during the First Friday Art Walk, which runs from noon to 8 p.m. For more info, go to www.versocellars.com. At Golden’s First Friday, Spirits in…

Green energy: Jason Sheehan is right!

I was zooming down I-25 through New Mexico, trying to knock off the thousand miles from Denver to Tucson in a day, when I saw a billboard that made me hit the brakes: It was for the Owl Bar in San Antonio, just a wide spot in the road –…

Wake-Up Call: When life’s not a bitch

The Lab at Belmar (for now, before the Lab moves to the Museum of Contemporary Art later this month) tonight hosts “Bitch! The History and Politics of a Word,” part of the Feminism & Co. series. You can read about all the theory behind the program in our Night &…

Opening today: Cafe Options

Opening today, April 2, is Café Options, the breakfast/lunch spot at 1650 Curtis Street that’s brought to us by Work Options for Woman, the non-profit that trains women coming off welfare for careers in the food-industry world. WOW already runs a cafeteria at the Denver Department of Human Services building…

Who’s holding down the Fort?

The big food news in town continues to be the International Association of Culinary Professionals convention — and tonight, The Fort – the replica of Bent’s Fort overlooking Denver — is hosting a special dinner for IACP attendees. But non-members are welcome, too, for $165; chef Trevor Dierolf will be…

Ardor in the court: Ted Haggard v. Judge Toler

At 6 p.m. tonight, Denver gets to see the first episode in what’s being billed as a “very special two-part Divorce Court.” Through the mysteries of TV programming, I’m watching it right now in Tucson. And Judge Lynn Toler isn’t giving “the former reverend” Ted Haggard and his wife of…

Roll call for March

RESTAURANT OPENINGS IN MARCH:My Pizza Peel, 1645 Stout StreetFull Belly, 2779 Iris Street, Boulder Tosh’s Cantina, 8101 East Belleview Avenue Hi*Rise, 2162 Larimer StreetArvada Tavern, 5707 Wadsworth Boulevard, Arvada Barking Goat, 363 Village Square in Castle Rock (former Celtic Crossing) Sketch, 101 Broadway Larkburger, 2525 Arapahoe, Boulder Lenny’s Sub Shop,…

Wake-Up Call: Stand by your man — even if he’s Ted Haggard

Don’t forget: Today, Ted Haggard and his wife, Gayle, appear on Divorce Court, to discuss how revelations of Haggard’s extra-curricular (and intra-sex) activities affected the marriage. On the show, the disgraced former New Life pastor says he wanted his wife to divorce him, but she refused, even though he said…

These April Fool’s Day events are no joke

On Wednesday, April 1, the Wynkoop Brewing Co. (1634 18th Street), will host an April Fool’s Day beer dinner inspired by Dr. Seuss; the first pour is at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $35, for reservations, call 303-297-9999. Or go hog wild at Zolo Southwestern Grill at 2525 Arapahoe in Boulder,…

Wake-Up Call: The terror!

It’s official: Hillary Clinton yesterday confirmed that the Obama administration is no longer fighting a “War on Terror” in its battle against al-Qaeda and militant Islam. So are those prisoners still incarcerated in Gitmo considered “terrorists”? Some of those prisoners could soon be living at Supermax, the federal prison at…

Angel’s goes up for auction

Today at 10 a.m., the contents of Angel’s Sports Bar and Restaurant, which formerly occupied a prime location at 1630 Federal Boulevard, go up for auction to satisfy debts to the City and County of Denver. Among the items being sold off by SchurSuccess Auction Services: 3 large TVs with…

When Irish guys are smiling

At 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret will host “A Night in Ireland,” featuring Irish food, whiskey and entertainment. Tickets are $45; to reserve a spot, go to www.lannies.com. Lannie’s staycation is clearly a fantasy. But Jason Sheehan has his own view of an ideal Irish bar, as…

Wake-Up Call: Revving up for the week ahead

You auto know better: In advance of the Denver Auto Show, which revs up in the Colorado Convention Center April 1 through April 5, the Metro Denver Automobile Dealers Association is hosting the second annual Rocky Mountain Auto Summit today, covering everything from technology to financing to green developments. The…