Penny Parker On The Town: Green Valley Ranch summer concert series starts with a bang on July 4

May 13, 2013

It’s easy to think that Elway’s Cherry Creek is the only place throwing big patio parties this summer (but don’t forget Coohills’ Beats on the Creek series), but if you venture out of downtown or Cherry Creek, Oakwood Homes is hosting its annual free Summer Concert Series at the Green Valley Ranch Amphitheater, 4890 Argonne Way.

Concerts begin on July 4, and run for four consecutive Wednesdays. The Fourth of July kick-off features Chase ‘N The Dream and begins at 8 p.m. Subsequent Wednesday shows begin at 7 and run until 8:30 p.m.

The Summer Concert Series is presented and sponsored by Oakwood Homes as a contribution to enhance quality of life in the community. Additional concert information is available online, including directions to the amphitheater at: www.skylineusa.com/oakwood_concert_series.asp.

Concerts are subject to rescheduling in the event of rain. For updated schedule information, call Skyline at 303-595-8747, ext. 3 or check online.

Free parking is available next to the amphitheater and in the Oakwood Homes parking lot at 4908 Tower Road.

Guests may bring a picnic dinner and soft drinks in cans or plastic bottles. Pets and barbecue grills are not permitted at the amphitheater on concert days. No alcoholic beverages are permitted in accordance with Denver City Park ordinances.

Chase ‘N The Dream plays Motown, R&B and dance music. The band has opened for national acts including the Ohio Players, Jennifer Holiday, the Chi-Lites, Stephanie Mills and Kool and the Gang. A fireworks show choreographed to music follows the concert.

July 10 features the Steve Thomas Band with rock hits of the 1980s. The funny part is that Steve Thomas is the assistant head pro at Green Valley Ranch Golf Course, a 3-wood away (with a good wind behind you!) from the concert venue.

July 17 is FACE – the all-vocal rock band with a full range of sounds including vocal percussion or “beat-box” with memorable rock, pop, funk and upbeat jazz styling.

July 24 features Tunisia playing fun R&B, Motown and hip hop. Tunisia is 10 members strong with three lead vocalists, a blazing horn section and a playlist of more than 100 songs that includes dance favorites from Earth, Wind and Fire, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and more.

July 31 concludes the summer concert series with Brad Lee Schroeder bringing country rock and straight-up country music. Schroeder developed a deep appreciation for country music after performing mostly rock for the first 10 years of his career. He concerts are a fusion of the two genres and also include elements of soul and gospel.

Masterful

Masterpiece Deli mastermind Justin Bronson, chef and co-founder of Masterpiece Deli and Old Major (my current fave rave) is finally coming out of LoHi, where his sandwich shop has reigned supreme, and will open a second spot this summer at 1710 Sherman St. in the Wells Fargo Center.

Brunson and partners Colin Forkin, Casey Taylor, Eric Clayman, Todd Grayson-Partner and Stephen Allee will open the second outpost in the Uptown neighborhood. Yay!

True confession: I have never been to Masterpiece Deli although I’ve heard many stories about the roast beef sandwich or truffled egg salad that put me to shame! I’ve been to Old Major three times, and adore the fab fare there. Now that Masterpiece will be within walking distance of my place (who am I kidding, I will drive), I can’t wait to bewitched by its sandwiches.

We’re Number Five

CNN Travel recently ranked beer towns in the U.S., and deemed Denver as No. 5. Now, we could argue with that – especially considering that our governor helped put this cowtown on the beer map – but national exposure is all good. Here’s what CNN had to say:

“The history of beer in the United States is a rich one dating back to the colonies, when soldiers were paid in spruce beer and cider. From there, beer weathered a Revolution, Prohibition and a right turn at Albuquerque before positively exploding with deregulation of the industry through the early 1980s.

“Ever since, Americans have been sampling, celebrating and sophisticating the unofficial national beverage in ways previously unimaginable, and it seems nearly every town’s gotten into the act.

“But not all cities are carbonated equal. Some have begun to take beer personally, innovating its craft and consumption and throwing festivals to honor the finest ales and lagers — creating a blueprint for the rest of the country to follow. Still others have been doing this all along.”

Check out the story at http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/06/travel/usa-beer-towns/index.html?sr=sharebar_facebook.

Going underground

Blake Street Tavern has opened “Underground Social,” a new downstairs addition featuring interactive games and more to patrons of the Blake Street venue.

The new downstairs addition features the most diverse selection of interactive games in the downtown/ballpark bar district including Cornhole, darts, shuffle board, Ping-Pong, skeeball, pop a shot, big buck hunter HD, giant connect 4, Giant Jenga, air hockey and more.

Beer lovers can enjoy 24 drafts in addition to weekly drink specials while also taking in the venue’s 18 high-definition TV’s broadcasting every major sporting event.

Eavesdropping on a wife whose husband bought her flowers on Mother’s Day: “Honey, those are so beautiful!”

“It’s not my first flower rodeo.”

Did you hear that I have a new column, “Mile High Life,” in Colorado Community Media’s 17 weekly newspapers circling Denver? Be sure to like my Facebook page! Also, here’s where you go to get my column emailed to you Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I’m now the social-media liaison for the Mile High Chapter of the Colorado Restaurant Association, so read my latest restaurant news there. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com.

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