Not feeling the Christmas cooking love this holiday? Here are some places that will take that task off your plate:

* This Christmas Eve Punch Bowl Social (65 Broadway www.punchbowlsocial.com/) the “eatertainment” hot spot in the Baker neighborhood, is staying open until midnight. Grab the family or meet friends and hit the bowling lanes, channel your inner rock star in the private karaoke rooms, play some ping pong, vintage arcade and pinball games, darts, foosball or marbles. The featured holiday punch Grandma Got Run Over by a Punch Bowl is perfect for sharing and the expert bar staff can create tasty non-alcoholic punches for the under 21 set. Don’t forget to check out the scratch kitchen menu items like the popular chicken and waffles or cauliflower nachos to keep everyone satisfied before Santa’s visit.

* On Christmas Eve celebrate with family and friends at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House (8100 E. Orchard Road, www.delfriscos.com). Chef Mario  Hernandez has added a special to the menu which includes an 18-ounce prime rib plated with a lobster twice baked potato and asparagus with hollandaise for $75. The full menu will also be available to enjoy. Reservations are highly recommended: 303-796-0100.

* Zengo’s (1610 Little Raven St., Riverfront Park, www.richardsandoval.com) Chef Robert Juan will be serving up  special dishes on Christmas  Eve including the smoked pork belly made with roasted garlic soy sauce and pickled cherry tomato ($12). Guests can also indulge in a pan-roasted New York strip with seared foie gras served with spiced whipped potatoes, caramelized baby carrots and a plum wine reduction ($38). Guests can toast to the holidays with Zengo’s holiday cocktail – the Bourbon Espresso Martini ($12). Restaurant hours will be from 5 to 9 p.m. and reservations are recommended: 720-904-0965.

* Celebrate Christmas Eve with modern Mexican cuisine and cocktails at Tamayo on historic Larimer Square (1400 Larimer St., www.richardsandoval.com). Try the special $26 carne asada holiday menu until 9 p.m. that includes marinated grilled skirt steak, sweet potatoes and chorizo gratin, tomatillo chipotle sauce and cilantro chimichurri or order off of the regular menu. Call 720-946-1433 for reservations.

* Both locations of ViewHouse (2015 Market St. and 7101 S. Clinton St., Centennial – www.viewhouse.com) will be open for holiday revelers on Christmas Eve and will be offering a few specials for downtown and down south diners.  Sip on the seasonally-inspired Peppermint Godiva Chocolate Martini, the ViewHouse signature holiday cocktail with Godiva Chocolate Liqueur, Grey Goose vodka and a splash of crème de menthe with heavy cream.  It’s rimmed with a bit of crushed peppermint and $1 for every drink is donated to the Care for Colorado Toy Drive. Stop in on Christmas Eve for a drink that does good, and indulge in Chef Jose Guerrero’s Christmas Eve special of roasted airline Red Bird Farms chicken breast, petite root vegetable fricassee and aromatic natural jus for $20.  If you’re looking for something lighter try chef’s special butternut squash bisque with mascarpone and pumpkin seed toast points and a spicy sweet harissa shrimp relish for $6.

* Cherry Creek North newcomer Del Frisco’s Grille (100 St. Paul St. - www.delfriscosgrille.com/cherry-creek) will be tempting diners on Christmas Eve with the cozy holiday cocktail Cinnamon Apple Mule for $11 with smooth apple bourbon, spicy-cinnamon-y Jim Beam Fire, ginger beer and fresh squeezed lime and the White Chocolate Candy Cane Martini with Stoli Vanil Vodka, Godiva White Chocolate, old-school Peppermint Schnapps and a dollop of cream.  After your pre-dinner drink settle in for a special from the kitchen of Chef Dan Kane: Slow roasted dry aged prime rib.  This special also features hand-mashed potatoes, au jus and complimentary champagne toast at midnight, and you can get the 16-ounce version for $42, or indulge in the 20-ounce for $49.  Wash it down with a selection from the 2,000-plus bottles of wine on site or one of 10 draft beers on tap.

* It’s a hip-hop Christmas Eve at Habit Doughnut Dispensary and Carbon Beverage Café (1553 Platte St., www.habitcarbon.com) where the ultra-sleek ModBar coffee system, a hip scene and thirst-inducing munchies make it a great stop on your way to, from, or the spot of your holiday celebration.  Sip on the Oh Starry Night, a special holiday boozy version of the inventive Bulletproof buttery coffee drink amped up with a splash of vanilla, a shot of bright citrusy Combier orange liqueur and a dollop of single barrel four roses bourbon and finished with star anise.  Nosh on a Li’l Kim or Insanity Grilled Cheese from the regular menu that’s served all day, or stop in to Habit for the special Holiday Habit coffee and doughnuts.  Open at 6 a.m., closing at midnight or later depending on the crowd.

* Postino WineCafé (2715 17th St. – www.postinowinecafe.com) is open Christmas Eve starting at 11 a.m. with an all-day happy hour with $5 wines by the glass or pitchers of beer until 5 p.m.  Pair your wine or beer with the seasonal bruschetta of roasted butternut squash, roasted pumpkin seeds, ricotta and fresh chives, drizzled with two oils, pumpkin oil and olive oil.

* Pull on the most gaudy sweater you can find and head over to MAX’s Wine Dive (696 Sherman St. - www.maxswinedive.com/denver-sherman-st/menus/) on Christmas Eve for the Ugly Sweater Party – guests who show up in an ugly holiday sweater will receive a complimentary glass of bubbles.  Choose a selection from the Wine Dive Classics or something from Chef Kevin’s new winter menu such as the 303 Pappardelle with elk, bison and venison and small fruity Sweet 100 tomatoes, fresh marjoram and parmesan for a hearty and warming Christmas Eve dish.

* Stop in to Argyll Whisky Beer (1035 E. 17th Ave. - www.argylldenver.com) for a traditional British pub favorite.  Argyll’s beef roast dinner special will be offered for $25 alongside choices from the regular menu.  Served with au jus, creamy scalloped potatoes, French cut green beans and chorizo, it’s a comforting pub favorite perfect for pre-holiday ease. Wash it down with a selection from the recommended special pairings including Tomero Malbec, Sierra Nevada Celebration or a pour of Basil Haydens High Rye Bourbon.  Or indulge in the the Festivus Martini, a tart and refreshing new holiday classic that combines gin, Lillet Blanc, fresh squeezed lemon, cranberry juice and a hint of house-infused rosemary syrup for a complex and herbal finish.  Enjoy it while airing grievances and performing feats of strength.  Argyll is open regular hours on Christmas Eve, so stop in as early as 11 a.m. or drop by for a late-night whisky or beer.

Although Argyll Whiskey Beer (1035 E. 17th Ave.) is closed on Christmas Day, the staff is working behind the scenes in preparation for a perfectly proper Boxing Day celebration on Dec. 26.

Tradition holds the holiday evolved as servants celebrated their own Christmas on the following day, and employers would present them with gift boxes. For $35, Argyll’s traditional Boxing Day menu starts with Chicken Tikka Salad, and Tikka skewers, served with wild field greens and lightly dressed.

Seconds offer guests the choice of Shepherd’s Pie with Yorkshire Pudding, Beef Wellington or Vegetable Gratin. The customary British dessert Spotted Dick rounds out the meal on a day meant to be a relaxed and loosened day of eating, drinking and celebrating the season.

Argyll’s day also features all bomber specials, such as Boulevard Saison Brett for 10$, Almanac Golden Gose 13$, and the Firestone Walker Double DBA for 20$. For reservations, go to www.argylldenver.com.

A classic Denver holiday tradition, The Tuba Christmas takes place from 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday at Skyline Park, 17th and Arapahoe.

Tap your toes to your favorite holiday tunes at the 41st annual Tuba Christmas concert in Skyline Park. Featuring 300 tuba players from all over the region, Tuba Christmas is one of the most celebrated and longest-running holiday festivities in Colorado.

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

Uncle Joe’s: A Hong Kong Bistro – is an authentic Sichuan restaurant, using recipes passed down through the generations of the Law family, and skillfully delivered by Executive Chef Thach Tran, longtime executive sous chef of Denver’s ChoLon.

The eatery recently revamped its menu and its interior, and is showing off its new approach to Denver dining right across the street from the Colorado Convention Center.

The restaurant also offers traditional hot-pots – a cook-at-your-table experience of spicy Sichuan broth and ingredients such as meat, seafood and vegetables. Dry pots are also available – using similar ingredients and flavorings, but the kitchen does it for you. Both are culinary experiences special to the region in southwestern China.

Uncle is a term of endearment used to address male elders in the Chinese culture, and Uncle Joe’s began as a labor of love by Joe’s four sons to honor a man who loves living the good life, which includes his passion for food in general, and the dish cha shao in particular.

Brother and sister design team, John and Sasha Moinzad of the Denver firm Thorn & French, have given the space a new, updated interior to enhance the aesthetic experience.

The only restaurant in Colorado where you can find sake on tap, it also offers Hong Kong tea – a special tea composed of black tea and condensed milk – using it in a variety of iterations from iced tea and cocktails to crème brûlée. A special cocktail list is introduced with each change of the seasons as well.

Located in the heart of Denver’s thriving theater and convention district, Uncle Joe’s is centrally located, offering lunch and dinner seven days a week.

Uncle Joe’s Hong Kong Bistro is located in the Spire Building at 891 14th St. Reservations: 720-330-8487 or online at www.unclejoeshkbistro.com/.

The Inverness Hotel and Conference Center at 200 Inverness Drive West, Englewood, is hosting Breakfast With Santa from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Guests can enjoy breakfast at The Garden Terrace with face painters, balloon artists, and of course, Santa.

The cost is $15.95 for adults, and $10.95 for children under 10 years of age. Reservations are encouraged and can be made by calling 303-397-6411.

Eavesdropping on Facebook: Sniffling 7-year-old after getting his flu shot: “My arm hurts!”

Helpful Uncle: “I’m sorry. … You know what hurts more?”

Seven-year-old: “What?”

Uncle: “Throwing up out of three parts of your body at the same time!”

Problem solved.

Long-time radio talk show host Mike Rosen announced recently that  he is stepping down from his daily show on iHeartMedia’s KOA NewsRadio 850 AM and 94.1 FM and will transition to a contributor role, serving as a regular weekend host and political commentator. In addition, Rosen will be heard as an occasional guest host on both KOA NewsRadio and TalkRadio 630 KHOW. Rosen’s final live weekday show will air on Dec. 24.

“Doing my brand of radio, with 24/7 research and show prep, takes a work week of more than 60 hours. After 35 years on-air, I’ve decided to give myself a little more well-earned leisure time as I pass my 71st birthday,” Rosen said. “I’ve been with KOA for almost 30 years and have loved every minute of it. It’s a wonderful station with a glorious history and a great team of people. I couldn’t bring myself to just walk away from it, and a full-fledged retirement wouldn’t suit a Type-A guy like me. So, I’m delighted to still have a presence with KOA as a part-time on-air contributor. While this may disappoint my long-time loyal listeners, to whom I’m eternally grateful, I hope they will find a little of Mike Rosen at least better than none at all. I’m passing the baton to Mandy Connell in the midday time slot, who’s done a great job on KHOW in the morning. You’ll like her.”

Rosen has been KOA’s midday host since 1988. He has been an editorial-page columnist for both The Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News for more than 30 years, and his columns have appeared in numerous national publications. Rosen has been featured as a political analyst on several media outlets, and has appeared on “The O’Reilly Factor”, “Good Morning America” and “CNN Tonight”. In addition, Rosen has served as a guest host of “The Rush Limbaugh Show”.

Rosen is the author of the recently-released book “REALITY: A Plain-Talk Guide to Economics, Politics, Government and Culture”, which features a compendium of Rosen’s writings, with a focus on politics and economic issues.

“We owe a debt of gratitude to Mike,” said Tim Hager, market president of iHeartMedia Denver. “His commitment to our community, his listeners and our advertisers is second-to-none. Although he’s stepping down from his daily show, we’re fortunate that Mike will continue in a contributor role with KOA NewsRadio 850 AM and 94.1 FM.”

Connell has been named the new midday host on KOA NewsRadio, effective Jan. 4.

Connell will bring more than 18 years of experience to KOA NewsRadio. She’s currently the morning host on KOA’s sister-station, TalkRadio 630 KHOW. Connell has also held on-air positions at radio stations in Louisville, Orlando and Fort Myers. In addition, she has been heard nationally, guest-hosting both “America Now” and “The Weekend With Joe Pags” for Premiere Networks.

“Joining the team at KOA NewsRadio is the culmination of a dream I’ve had for a long time,” Connell said. “KOA NewsRadio has a special place in this community and I am truly honored to have the opportunity to take the baton from Mike Rosen.”

“Mandy has a knack for creating solid, entertaining shows,” said Greg Foster, program director of KOA NewsRadio. “Nobody can replace Mike Rosen, but we’re confident that Mike’s fans will connect with Mandy and she’ll bring a new perspective to KOA NewsRadio.”

Read more: www.koanewsradio.iheart.com/onair/mike-rosen-15488/a-new-partnership-14193619/#ixzz3uPK1vGtx.

Hotel Monaco Denver has created a seasonal package that allows Denverites to catch a break this holiday season without traveling away from their fair city.

Hotel Monaco’s “Holiday from the Holidays” package offers a quiet night in at Hotel Monaco with all of the signature Kimpton amenities plus refreshing beverages and snacks designed to help detox from the overindulgence of the holiday season.

With the “Holiday from the Holidays” package, Hotel Monaco guests will enjoy:

• Detox from the holidays amenity from the hotel’s award winning restaurant Panzano to include two house-made cold pressed juices and either kale chips or multigrain crackers delivered upon arrival.

• A $25 dining credit to Panzano.

• Deluxe accommodations at Hotel Monaco Denver.

• Hotel Monaco Denver amenities including nightly wine hour, morning coffee and tea service, onsite fitness center open 24/7.

“Holiday from the Holidays” runs through Jan. 31 with a black out date on New Year’s Eve. Book online at www.monaco-denver.com or by calling 1-800-990-1303.

Wash Park’s Fooducopia recently reopened to the public after a 10-day renovation and interior redesign. Fooducopia first launched as an organic retail store with a small cafe; after it found neighborhood loyalty and garnered attention from 5280 and Westword’s “Best Brunch” award in 2014, owner Tim Lymberopoulos decided to expand the dining area and make it more accessible for the local breakfast, lunch and dinner crowd.

The new space was designed by Johanna Woodrow Designs and reflects the style of Fooducopia’s true farm-to-table roots. “It’s my design philosophy to create spaces that function to meet the needs or improve the lives of those who use them,” Johanna Woodrow said. “I like to go beyond the aesthetics of a space and find how people interact with them, and that’s absolutely what we achieved with Fooducopia.” The cozy space boasts repurposed barnwood and remains community-focused with shared tables and public events.

The increased square footage will allow for shorter wait times and the addition of a dinner service, seating up to 32 guests. The retail side will still offer local and organic goods to patrons; all produce is organic and sourced as locally as possible, and pasture-raised eggs will be collected daily from chef Richard Glover’s farm, Oatland Sage Farm & Farmyard, and a handful of small Colorado egg farmers. Local purveyors and small producers include: Coda Coffee, Haystack Mt. Dairy, Boulder Breadworks, Real Dill Pickles and Hazel Dell Mushrooms.

“We found that people were really enjoying the food at the restaurant — using really good, local, organic, ingredients alongside Chef Glover’s culinary skills, we realized we needed to expand our seating capacity,” owner Lymberopoulos said. “With that, we wanted to  incorporate a look that represented our menu and feel — warm and welcoming. We’ve kept our market, which is an important part of our model. We want to be transparent about the food we use, if someone enjoys a dish, for example, the cuban sandwich — we can tell them that we use Anija’s Mustard from Fort Collins and Real Dill pickles from here in Denver. Many of our ingredients are available in the market if you’d like to take it home. It’s a nice neighborhood spot, and a good way to save a trip to the larger grocery stores. When we first started, our main goal was to try to create more opportunities for consumers to discover smaller food producers, farmers, and artisan makers. Our mission is still the same even though we’ve evolved; our goal is to connect people with good, honest food.”

Fooducopia is now open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.