Duy Pham, Pueblo-style

Late last week, I got word from Duy Pham that his new restaurant — in Pueblo, of all places — is just about done. “Buildout, total remodel,” he told me. “I just spent $5,000 on an awning, dude!” He’s hoping to roll out the red carpet at Restaurant Fifteen Twenty-One…

Seven Cups could be just your cup of tea

Do you know your Qilaishan Long Wu from your Huang Zhi Xiang? Well, neither do I. But Greg Fellman does. Fellman is the owner of Seven Cups, the three-month-old Chinese tea house that held its grand opening party on Saturday, September 13. On a warm, late summer day, the store…

A new day dawning for Solar Vegetarian Cafe

Karma Cafe, which was once sandwiched between Vita and Lola in the 1500 block of Boulder street, has been reincarnated — but with a new name, Solar Vegetarian Café, and in a new neighborhood: Five Points, at 2615 Welton Street. But Karma’s conscience remains unchanged, and from 11 a.m.- 11…

The week ahead: FasTracks considers how to make ends meet

FasTracks tries to get back on track, financially speaking. Four weeks ago today, the Democratic National Convention kicked off in town – and now, Denver’s post-party depression has given way to fears of a real depression. This week, it’s all about the money – yours, mine, and Joe Nacchio’s, with…

Graffiti prevention makes the city budget…for now

Red alert. As promised, Mayor John Hickenlooper’s proposed budget for FY 2009 includes “increased funding for graffiti prevention and coordination efforts.” The suggested $250,000 line item is just a pittance in comparison to the $914 million total, but it could have a big impact on efforts to channel urban artists’…

Free Chipotle in Silverthorne today

Has Chipotle got a deal for you! A free burrito or burrito bowl — but just today, and just at the new Chipotle Mexican Grill in Silverthorne, at 247 Rainbow Street, which officially opens Friday. If you live within 25 miles of Silverthorne, taking advantage of this freebie won’t cost…

Aladdin Cafe turns off its magic lamp

Ahmad Alkiteb and his hookah get the hook. Over at 2594 South Colorado Boulevard, Aladdin Café (and grill and hookah bar) has gone dark. Trying to find out when and why, I called all the numbers I had for the place, which I’d reviewed — and liked — back in…

Mary Smith, Denver’s funniest Republican, goes national

Mary Smith as seen on Fox News during the Democratic National Convention. When last I saw Mary Smith, she was sitting on the patio outside Lime XS on Sixth Avenue, demonstrating how easy it is to imitate Sarah Palin with a borrowed pair of glasses, a ponytail and some lipstick…

Jose O’Shea’s turns thirty — that’s a lotta tacos

The mutt marriage of Irish and Mexican cuisine in cantina/pubs across the country is one of the least explicable combos imaginable — but it’s also one of the most successful. Witness Jose O’Shea’s, which celebrates “thirty years of stamping out gringo food’ this month. Since September 1978, Jose O’Shea’s has…

MIA: Anyone to talk about the missing DNC cars

No one’s in the driver’s seat. Last week, Denver City Councilman Charlie Brown reported that 38 of the hybrids donated for use during the Democratic National Convention were missing. He’d heard that from Paul Lhevine of the Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee at a convention recap on Friday, September 5…

Will the new Mel’s space add up for Adde Bjorklund?

As we’ve reported, the Masters family is looking to unload the space at 1120 East Sixth Avenue, where Mel and Janey Master got their local restaurant start thirty years ago as partners in Dudley’s. Since then, the spot has been Chives and Piscos, then Montecito when the Masters took it…

Seven Cups could be your cup of tea

From 4-8 p.m. on Saturday, September 13, Seven Cups will host a grand opening celebration with a traditional Lion Dance, a Gong Fu demonstration, free samples of Chinese moon cakes, traditional Chinese music and a tea tasting with Zhuping Hodge, a certified tea master from China who’s a co-owner of…

Memorial for the Hot Dog Dude

A vigil is planned for Quincy Henderson. On Tuesday night, Quincy Henderson was shot and killed at 31st and Curtis streets in what police have called “an isolated incident” resulting from an altercation. Other than that, there are few details about the incident — but there’s plenty of talk about…

Lime gets juiced for new restaurant openings

First came Lime, the restaurant/nightclub that debuted almost seven years ago in a basement space with a walk-out patio in Larimer Square (1424, to be exact, once home to the beloved Cafe Promenade) and still packs in the crowds. Then came Lime XS, at 730 East Sixth Avenue, which also…

Open and shut cases: Lala’s and Prime 121

Some locations just seem doomed. The latest black hole: 121 Clayton Lane, which on Monday swallowed Prime 121 after two years of struggle and a chapter 11 filing in May. The first occupant of this address didn’t even last that long: Bob’s Steak & Chop House, home of the giant,…

Denver discovers the difference between art and vandalism

The city’s not whitewashing this one. It made a mistake, and it plans to make good on it. On Monday, representatives of several Denver agencies — including the Department of Public Works, Solid Waste Management, Denver City Council, Denver Partners Against Graffiti, the Denver Police Department and the Denver Office…

Park Hill gets creative with its alley art

Don’t let Denver Partners Against Graffiti near Park Hill this month — at least not until they’ve taken a refresher course in arts appreciation. Because otherwise, they could ruin the Park Hill Alley Contest, a true community service concocted by residents Jack and Pam Farrar. Back in May, the Farrars…

The writing’s on the wall for Orange Cat Studios

Shortly after this edition of Westword went to press with my follow on the mauling of murals before the Democratic National Convention, Sean Rice, the proprietor of Orange Cat Studios, finally got a call from the city in response to his complaint that Denver Partners Against Graffiti had wiped out…