Summer continues in full swing this week, with no shortage of ways to get out there to eat and drink your way across town in style. Here are our picks for this week’s top culinary events in Denver.
July 25: The Rouge Wine Dinner @ The Rouge Wine Bar & Patio
Location: The Rouge Wine Bar & Patio – 523 E. 17th Ave.
Matt Berson of Portland Wine Co. is in town and he’s inviting you to come learn about the tricks he’s learned for his trade during his travels to New Zealand, Napa, Germany, and Argentina, working in vineyards and wineries to discover the secret of making great wines. “It’s actually incredibly hard work with equal parts barrel heaving, lab tinkering, hang wringing, and business minutiae,” he says. At this wine-pairing dinner ($105 per person), you’ll enjoy oysters three ways with Love & Squalor’s “Mother Shucker” white from Oregon’s Willamette Valley; beef carpaccio lollipop with Portland Wine Co.’s Pinot Noir Rose, also from Willamette Valley; and more. You can find more details and reserve your spot via Tock.
July 26: The Sommelier’s Salon | The Harvest Moon @ Beckon
Location: Beckon – 2843 Larimer St.
Plates are bountiful with the take of summer’s harvest. Find a reason to relax, replenish, and revel. This seating option welcomes you backstage at a table in Beckon’s sommelier’s salon, mere steps away from the chef’s counter. It’s an entertaining choice for diners who don’t mind being in the midst of the action. The menu is the same as what’s being served at the chef’s counter, and it will run you for $175 per person—pre-paid and totally worth it, if you’ve got an abundance of discretionary income left in the month’s budget. As of this writing, there are seats available in the 5:15 p.m. seating, but you should move quickly if you want to secure them.
July 27: Yappy Hour! @ Terminal Bar
Location: Terminal Bar – 1701 Wynkoop St.
At Union Station’s central bar, the last Thursday of each month is dedicated to pup playdates. The spot has partnered with a myriad of nonprofit orgs, local small businesses, and brands that are dedicated to rescuing, protecting, and enriching the lives of furry friends. What’s in it for you and your pup? “Paw-sitive” vibes, drink specials featuring Tito’s vodka and the chance to win some fun prizes—plus the chance to network, make new friends, and socialize your pooch while supporting local small businesses in our community. I told my girl Gidget about it and she’s super excited, but she’s a little too small to frolick in the fountains out front. She’ll have a blast watching your dogs do so instead though; she likes to feel like she’s part of a pack. Learn more about the fun here.
July 28: Party in the Paseo @ Basecamp Market Station
Location: Market Station – 1661 Market St.
Did you know there’s a new retail collective downtown dedicated to all things outdoor gear? There is! It’s called Basecamp at Market Station, and it’s home to brands like Thule, Topo Designs, and Aether. On Friday night, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., they are aptly bringing the party outdoors, where you can sip some beers, seltzers, wines, and drinks from Cocktail Caravan while munching on some delicious dumplings from Radical Sasquatch. The first 50 people to purchase a drink ticket get the food for free. All bar proceeds go to Big City Mountaineers. Learn more and RSVP on Eventbrite here. Once you’ve geared up, pop into Water Grill or Ludo’s for a deliciously high-end bite on your way to wherever your summer night takes you.
July 29: 2023 Denver Summer Tequila Tasting Festival @ Orchid Denver
Location: Orchid Denver – 1448 Market St.
Is tequila your spirit of choice? Orchid, Denver’s new social cocktail lounge and music experience, has the event for you. It’s 2–3.5 hours of agave spirits tastings, with over 20 different craft, small-batch, and world-renowned tequilas. You’ll have the chance to hear from the brand ambassadors about what distinguishes one variety from the next. Live music, food and drink specials, and more are part of the plan. The event is almost sold out so if this piques your interest, snag a ticket on Eventbrite before they’re gone.
If you missed your window, don’t fret. There are a bunch of delicious ways to spend your Saturday: Ironton Distillery & Crafthouse’s celebrating its fifth anniversary with a beach bask complete with tiki drinks, food specials, live music, fire dancers, giveaways, and more; FIRE is also throwing a beach party, this one on the rooftop at the ART hotel. Summertime tunes, Ketel One frosé, patio games, and more are on the agenda; Breckenridge Brewery’s Bands in the Beer Garden is happening at the Farm House, featuring Buffalo Commons; Aspen Grove in Littleton is hosting the Eclectic Pop-Up Wine Bar at the Patio, where you can play a new game called Persons of Interest on the patio while enjoying some Spanish vinos; and West Denver Brewery Bike Loop is taking a group ride. It departs from Seedstock Brewery on W. Colfax and hits spots on the last Saturday of every month. On the lineup: WestFax, Joyride, Hogshead, Oasis, and Seedstock. Check-in at any participating brewery to receive an official wristband and stamp card for $1 off a 10 oz. pour at all five.
July 29: SV Drag Brunch w/ Palace of Miami | Beach Party @ Sunday Vinyl
Location: Sunday Vinyl – 1803 16th St. Mall
Sunday Vinyl and Champagne Tiger present the July series of Drag Brunch, which is promptly followed by Drag Lunch. It’s an exceptional show hosted by Tiffany Fantasia, joined by Palace icon Mhi’ya Iman LePaige (of South Beach’s Ocean Drive fame) and local drag faves Mia Staxx and Anna Staysha. The brunch show is at 11:15 a.m.; lunch is 2:15 p.m.; during either, $90 gets you two family-style courses and a welcome bevie—and, of course, the show. Reserve your spot via Tock.
July 30: The Many Shades of Nebbiolo @ Restaurant Olivia
Location: Restaurant Olivia– 290 S. Downing
During the inaugural masterclass series from Restaurant Olivia, explore the foremost wine regions, grape varietals, and noteworthy producers from all around the globe. This month, the focus is on what award-winning wine writer Ian D’Agata calls “Italy’s greatest red grape variety”—Nebbiolo. It’s an old, old grape, primarily of the Piedmont region, where it’s been grown since the 13th century. To explore the “many shades of Nebbiolo,” Restaurant Olivia’s wine director Scott Thomas will lead you through eight distinct expressions of Nebbiolo from various regions from some of Restaurant Olivia’s favorite producers. The restaurant takes its entire staff on an annual trip to Piedmont, providing the unique opportunity to sample aged wines from the cellar. Cost: $225. Reserve via Tock.
July 31: Sip N’ Swim at Rare Bird @ Halcyon Cherry Creek
Location: Rare Bird– 245 Columbine St.
Take a dip in the elevated pool at Denver’s newest rooftop bar—Rare Bird at the Halcyon, a hotel in Cherry Creek. From your elevated perch, you’ll enjoy lofty views of the Rockies and the downtown skyline, specialty drinks, craft beers, and a light fare menu. If you want to take the plunge, there are also cabana rentals available—provided you’re willing to pony up. A half-day cabana rental requires a $250 deposit and a $100 food & bev minimum; a full day requires the same deposit plus a $250 F&B minimum. Bottle service is available upon request. And if you’re going it up, you might as well make that request. Everyone needs some more fun in the sun. Visit Tock to make it happen.
