Don’t Californicate Colorado! That was a popular bumpersticker years ago, and this state’s residents — particularly those who moved to Colorado relatively recently, perhaps even from the Golden State — still seem stuck on the saying. But as they leap to defend Colorado from a commenter who thinks Denver “sucks…
Denver is a town starved for good barbecue, so when CJ Johnson opened Kings BBQ, Gretchen Kurtz was eager to try it — especially because since this modest spot in northwest Denver was getting good word of mouth from barbecue fans. And while Kings wasn’t the barbecue joint of her…
The New York Times editorial board is calling for the repeal of the prohibition against pot, and its stance had all the talking heads yapping yesterday. Times editorial page editor Andrew Rosenthal went on ABC’s This Week yesterday morning to discuss the “High Times” series, and host Jon Karl asked…
The closing of the Thunderbird Lounge, one of our favorite dives, inspired us to visit many more of this city’s best dives this month — including the winner of Best Dive in the Best of Denver 2014, Lakeview Lounge. And we’re not the only fans of the place. See also:…
We stopped by Session Kitchen this week, and learned that the restaurant has axed its weekday lunches, and now opens at 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, in time for happy hour. Lunch — or “brunch,” as Session called it — is still available Friday through Sunday. But the neighborhood just…
Union Station is hosting its grand opening on Saturday, July 26, two weeks behind schedule — but one of the restaurants going into the historic building is even further down the track: Mercantile Dining & Provision. Still, Mercantile — a 5,000 square foot restaurant in the north wing helmed by…
This month’s look at the best patios for enjoying craft beer took a quick detour into a discussion of whether people should take their kids to tap rooms and other drink-intensive spots. To offer up some options, we shared our our list of the ten best kid-friendly restaurants in town…
With Broadway now the center of the hipster universe, it’s hard to remember that time thirty years ago when Denver’s once gleaming “Miracle Mile” — a stretch of streamlined stores and car dealerships — had devolved into a malevolent mile of boarded-up storefronts, decrepit hotels and vacant lots. The area…
We’re counting down our 100 Favorite Dishes as we head towards our next Best of Denver, and last week landed at Solera, where Goose Sorensen’s pork-belly confit is a marvel, a preparation that involves curing, pressing and slow cooking in duck fat, which Sorensen explains melts the layers of pork…
Friends on their way from New York to Grand Lake stopped in Denver last week, and we sent them on our recommended 2014 tourism circuit Thursday morning: what we call the Tumbleweed tour, a quick hit in the 1600 block of Wazee Street where you can see the old West…
Casa Bonita is Denver’s top tourist trap, according to Yahoo: “If you’re looking for a popular place to eat, you may get recommendations to visit Casa Bonita. The restaurant boasts cliff divers, escaping gorillas and an amusement arcade. Beware the bland Mexican food though because it isn’t authentic.” True, the…
Chef Troy Guard is a very busy man. Today he’ll open Bubu, a new concept in the former TAG|Raw Bar space in Larimer Square; he’s planning to put another spot in Lowry. Before that, he’ll pour his expertise from TAG Burger Bar into Acme Burgers & Brats, opening next week…
The newly renovated Union Station isn’t hosting its official grand reopening until July 26, but it’s already seeing plenty of looky-loos – and there’s plenty for them to look at, including more than 600 pieces of art. For our money, though the real masterpiece is the historic sign that just…
Get ready for the kickoff of the fall food season! On Sunday, September 7, DISH will return to Sculpture Park at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. This is Westword’s twentieth annual celebration of the Denver drinking and dining scene, and it promises to be quite a party. Now we’re inviting…
After we published our list of ten great patios where you can enjoy all-American craft beer this summer, Station 26 became ground zero for a discussion of just where, exactly, it’s appropriate for parents to take their kids — and how both parents and kids should act once they’re there…
Is the dive bar an endangered species in Denver? The closure of the Thunderbird Lounge, a classic dive in east Denver, inspired us to raise a glass to ten of the dive bars still pouring in town — and still qualifying as dives. While many of our favorite saloons (Bamboo…
The sign at southbound I-25’s exit to Speer Boulevard gives no hint that you’re about to enter one of Denver’s hottest dining neighborhoods. Instead, the hungry traveler sees that a Starbucks and Subway are just ahead. But LoHi is home to dozens of restaurants, both big and small. And the…
There are some standard hot topics in the restaurant industry: What constitutes good service, what’s a fair tip — and when and where are kids welcome? Last week — just in time for the holidays — we posted a list of ten great craft-beer patios to try this summer, and…
Cafe critic Gretchen Kurtz stopped by Nuggs Ice Cream with her family one recent Friday night for a cool treat, and what she found there has led to a hot discussion on Cafe Society. Unlike other ice cream spots she’s frequented around town that happily hand out samples, the Nuggs…
Two and a half years after Union Station closed for a major renovation, the century-old facility is almost ready for its close-up — and the first restaurant tenant, Stoic & Genuine, will open at 11 a.m. today, more than two weeks before the official grand opening of Union Station on…
If an Ohio man can raise $44,000 through Kickstarter to make potato salad, is it unreasonable for the owners of Latke Love to think they can resurrect the eatery through crowdfunding? After closing their Park Hill spot in May, Steve and Tina Shander and Steve’s sister, Dana, just launched an…
There’s no better way to enjoy a beautiful Colorado day than sitting outside in the sunshine, enjoying one of Colorado’s liquid assets: craft beer. Fortunately, there are dozens of great brewery patios along the Front Range. Some are intimate backyard spaces, others are expansive parks. And some, like Station 26,…
