Penny Parker On The Town: ‘Colbert Report’ takes Denver’s The Lumineers on a comedic ride

July 31, 2013

Denver-based band The Lumineers appeared on Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” on Monday.

Host Stephen Colbert joked in his introduction that the Lumineers, “are best known for their song, ‘Ho Hey,’ not to be confused with Eliot Spitzer’s song, ‘Hey, ho.’”

After inaccurately introducing band member Jeremiah Fraites, Colbert noted, “My mistake, Jeremiah Fraites. How could you forget a name like that? You sound like a character from a Steinbeck novel.”

Fraites and Wesley Schultz are from New Jersey and followed Coloradan Neyla Pakarak to Denver, mainly because the rent was cheaper than in Brooklyn, where they had been living.

Here’s a link to the interview (and you can watch their musical performance as well): http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/428165/july-29-2013/the-lumineers.

Building Bridges

Rutt Bridges, a ridiculous rich Denver man who once threw his hat in the ring for the governor’s office, witnessed his son’s nuptials recently when Jeffrey Kane Bridges married AnnMarie Lynn Micikas at The Kitchen restaurant in Denver.

According to the New York Times report, the couple were married by The Rev. Dr. Cameron E. Partridge, an Episcopal priest.

Also according to The Times, “The couple met at Harvard, from which they each received master of divinity degrees.

“The bride, 26, is taking her husband’s name. Next month she will begin pursuing a Ph.D. in the study of religion at Harvard. She graduated with honors from the University of Chicago. She is the daughter of Lynda B. and Michael P. Micikas of Highlands Ranch.”

Jeffrey, 32, is the executive director of Vote Your Values, “a political action committee in Washington that raises money to help elect candidates or to support political causes. His mother is Barbara A. Bridges of Cheyenne, Wyo.

To read the whole story about how they bonded over cowboy boots, go to www.nytimes.com/2013/07/28/fashion/weddings/first-open-mouth-then-remove-boot.html?_r=0

Mod squad

Modmarket, a Colorado company serving healthy and simple farm-fresh foods, will open its doors on its fifth Colorado location today in Cherry Hills Village at the Kent Place Center (3475 S. University Blvd.).

The restaurant company is a rapidly growing fast casual concept that is redefining the $10 dining experience with many low-priced items on the menu.

Since opening its doors in Boulder in 2009, the company has attracted a loyal following from people seeking farm-fresh, fine-dining quality food at reasonable prices.

The selection of salads, pizzas, plates and sandwiches changes with the seasons to take advantage of regional and local ingredients.

Founders Anthony Pigliacampo and Rob McColgan are married to Modmarket. The routine is similar to Smashburger where you order at a counter then have your food delivered to your table.

I made a trek to the new space on Monday with publicist Ellen Robinson. I had a basil chicken sandwich and Robinson had a farmer salad. The receipt includes a breakdown of calorie totals and the percentage of calories in fats, carbohydrates and protein.

Was it tasty? You bet! Really good fast, casual fare. When the place is packed, as it was for freebie friends and family meals on Monday, it is really loud because of the sound bouncing off all of the hard surfaces. But overall, I enjoyed the experience because of the pleasant staff and superior food.

Modmarket serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekends.

For more information, go to www.modmarket.com.

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(Photos courtesy of ModMarket)

Top, Roasted Red Bird chicken, herb-seasoned humanely raised, hormone and antibiotic free. Above, the storefront at the Kent Place Center at 3475 S. University Blvd. Below, a build-your-own salad with spinach, tomatoes and edamame. (Photos courtesy of ModMarket)

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Truffle time

The Truffle Cheese Shop, that amazing spot on Sixth Avenue where you can’t get out of there for under $50, has opened a restaurant Truffle Table at 2556 15th St. in Lower Highland. The space, formerly occupied by Cellar Wine Bar, is in the historic Inverness Building at 15th and Boulder streets.

The cheese focused restaurant specializes in products from smaller artisan producers with a bias toward European and raw milk cheeses. Colorado and domestic cheese makers are also represented.

Owners Robert and Karin Lawler said, “For us it is a natural progression. Our background is in the restaurant business and this just feels right”.

Robert worked as a chef and kitchen manager in Denver, Boulder and San Francisco and Karin was a restaurant manager at Potager before the couple bought The Truffle Cheese Shop in 2007.

For more information on the restaurant, call 303-455-9463 or go to www.truffletable.com.

Veg out

Food & Wine Magazine has declared its “Top 20 Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants” in its August issue.

The introduction text reads, “From supper clubs to food trucks, F&W picks the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants around the country.”

It’s always good when Denver garners attention from national culinary folks. This time it’s for Watercourse Foods at 837 E. 17th Ave.

“Vegetables are the new pork, the new cupcake and the new craft beer all  in one. They are the biggest mega-trend ever,” writes F&W editor-in-chief Dana Cowin in the August issue. “Here, a guide to the country’s best vegetarian and vegan restaurants.”

F&W writes about Watercourse, “The healthy comfort-food restaurant donates 10 to 15 percent of its Monday-night sales to different charities. More information, visit www.watercoursefoods.com or call 303-832-7313.

Read the rest of the story at www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/best-vegan-and-vegetarian-restaurants?xid=TTIPS073013TopVegetarianVegan#!slide=9.

Little Man on the mall

The crazy popular Little Man Ice Cream at 3216 Tejon St. in the Highland neighborhood, has opened a pop-up store at 2620 16th Street Mall (between Stout and Champa).

Here are a few of the fab flavors that “Little Man on Wheels” is currently scoopin’ on Denver’s pedestrian mall (for more check them out on Twitter @LittleManDenver):

Grapefruit margarita sorbet; salted Oreo; chocolate; vanilla; mint chip (ice creams) and espresso fudge gelato

Eavesdropping at a store on Larimer Square: The owner is in his 60s and was talking about growing up in north Denver.  He said that back then, Larimer Street was skid row.  He said his teacher used to say to him, “If you don’t pay attention in class, you’ll end up on Larimer Street!”  The owner smiled and then said, “It’s not such a bad thing these days! ”

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. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com. Want to advertise your business here? Contact Trisha at trilind@hotmail.com.

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