The Junior League of Denver’s 2015 Mile High Holiday Mart has found a new location at the Gates Field House on the University of Denver campus.

The year’s event takes place from Nov. 13-15. The 36^th annual mart features a central location accessible via RTD Light Rail with ample space, select merchants with high quality merchandise, and a unique and exclusive shopping experience.

All proceeds support the JLD’s mission of developing women as well as the League’s community focus, improving literacy rates for children birth through third grade in the Denver metro area. Funds raised by events enable the League to provide substantial financial and volunteer support to community partners.

The JLD’s current community focus is improving literacy rates in the Denver metro area, specifically for children birth through third grade. The League continues to make an impact in this area with signature Read2Kids and Kids Connect programs held at schools and learning centers across the metro area. Additionally, the JLD provides volunteers for one-on-one tutoring with children for Reading Partners Colorado and TutorMate, and is building Little Free Libraries and placing them in areas of greatest need throughout the Denver metro area. It’s a “take a book, return a book” gathering place where anyone can pick up or drop off a book. Learn more about JLD community impact.

“We are thrilled with the success of the 2014 Mile High Holiday Mart, and are confident our 2015 event will be no different,” said Board of Directors President Rebecca Theis. “Attendees can check items off holiday lists with choice merchants featuring housewares, jewelry, clothing, specialty food items and much more while supporting the JLD.”

For more information, go to www.jld.org.

Bill Engvall will be performing live at Paramount Theatre at 8 p.m. Jan. 30. Ticket prices range from $39.50 to $59.50.  A very limited number of VIP tickets for $154 are available, which include a meet and greet. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday. Tickets can be purchased at AltitudeTickets.com or by phone 303-893-TIXS (303-893-8497).

Engvall is a Grammy nominated, multi-platinum selling recording artist and one of the top comedians in the country. Most recently, Bill was a contestant on season 17 of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” and as a fan favorite, he made it to the finals.

Last year, Engvall lent his voice to the animated comedy series “Bounty Hunters,” which aired on CMT. He previously starred in, and executive produced, the TBS sitcom “The Bill Engvall Show.”

Engvall was part of the enormously successful Blue Collar Comedy concert films, which sold over nine million units and received a Grammy nomination.  He also starred on the WB’s hit sketch comedy show “Blue Collar TV” and in several solo specials for Comedy Central. In 2012 he reunited with Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy on the Them Idiots Whirled Tour, which aired as a special on CMT.

A native of Galveston, Texas, Engvall moved to Dallas and worked as a disc jockey with plans of becoming a teacher.  While in a nightclub one evening, he tried his hand at stand-up comedy and found that making people laugh was truly his forte.  Soon after, he moved to Los Angeles and went on to star in the Showtime special, “A Pair of Joker’s,” hosted A&E’s Evening at the Improv and appeared on “The Tonight Show” and “Late Show with David Letterman.”

In 1992, Engvall won the American Comedy Award  for “Best Male Stand-up Comedian.”   He appeared in several episodes of “Designing Women” and co-starred in “Delta” and “The Jeff Foxworthy Show.”  Engvall resides in Southern California with his family. More information is available at www.billengvall.com.

Eavesdropping on two people taking a cooking class: “Mole cooking class? Ew! Who would eat those rodents?”

“Molé, like the sauce used in Mexican dishes, you dimwit.”

They had me at Veuve Clicquot.

The Melt, a fast-casual concept that will open this week on Champa and the 16th Street Mall, threw a good-time hearty party Thursday on the Mall’s median that divides the free shuttle buses.

And, yes, the Veuve (as in love) flowed freely.

The Melt, a rapidly growing fast-casual restaurant chain serving an all-natural, chef-inspired menu of premium burgers, grilled cheese, fries, mac ‘n’ cheese, fresh salads and homemade soups along with wine and a selection of locally brewed Colorado beers, will open Wednesday. The opening marks The Melt’s second Colorado location with additional restaurants planned to open across the Front Range in the near future.

To celebrate the grand opening and introduce locals to its concept, The Melt will give away free meals from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday when customers use the password: “Say Cheese Denver!

Headquartered in San Francisco, The Melt is a fast casual eatery that combines chef-inspired, wholesome food with innovative technology and a mission to serve better food to families through 100 percent all-natural American classics.

The Melt offers melts that are handcrafted and made-to-order with quality standards that prohibit hydrogenated fats and artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners or preservatives — really, no artificial anything.

Using only the highest caliber ingredients, The Melt serves guests burgers crafted with a custom blend of Angus and Wagyu beef, grilled cheese melts – melted to order – made with aged cheese, crispy fries, mac ‘n’ cheese, homemade soups and fresh salads.

The growth of The Melt is fueled by a management team led by Flip Video founder Jonathan Kaplan and a board of directors including Ron Johnson, former head of retail operations at Apple; Mike Moritz, Bruce Dunlevie and Michael Marks, three Silicon Valley venture capitalists; and Michael Mina, a James Beard award winning chef and restaurateur.

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

The 11th annual Denver Food and Wine fest week culminated in the Grand Tasting Saturday on the Metro State campus Saturday.

This year, by taking over the soccer grounds, the festival, which attracts roughly 3,000 foodie folks, was spread out with plenty of room for sippers and snackers.

Highlights included cooking demonstrations from celebrity Chef Rick Tramanto of Chicago and Boulder-born Gabe Kennedy (swoon), winner of ABC’s “The Taste”. Not to mention, our own Elise Wiggins, owner of Panzano.

The event was so huge that I couldn’t even get to every venue, which included a Patron bar “truck”, and lounges sponsored by various vendors whose products are distributed by Southern Wine and Spirits.

It’s a don’t-miss event every year.

Civic Center EATS is baaaack…

The popular food truck frenzy is still going. Check out the buzz during your lunch hour from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Civic Center Park.

The fun will run through Oct. 8.

In recognition of Hunger Action Month, Amazing Moves Moving & Storage in Denver will be hosting its 1st Annual Truck Pull event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Lincoln Tech (11194 E 45th Ave.).

This event includes a food drive to benefit Food Bank of the Rockies, a raffle/silent auction, vendors, food trucks and kids activities. The food donations and money raised will go towards reducing food waste and fighting hunger across North America. Since partnering with Move For Hunger in February of 2014, Amazing Moves Moving & Storage has already raised more than 2,300 pounds of food. 

In Denver County, approximately 98,000 people, including more than 29,000 children, are unsure where they will find their next meal.

For more information about the Truck Pull and how you can get involved, visit: www.moveforhunger.org/event/1st-annual-amazing-moves-moving-storage-truck-pull-denver-co/ or contact the team at Move For Hunger 732-774-0521 or email info@moveforhunger.org.

On Friday, Hard Rock Cafe Denver will launch its new local Celebrity Burger, the Chuck Nazty. Created by Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon, whose nickname is “Chuck Nazty,” the burger is crafted with a brioche bun, a Certified Angus Beef Patty prepared with Cajun seasoning, Tex-Mex mac ‘n’ cheese with peppers and onions, guacamole, jalapeno salsa and served with fries.

The limited-edition “Chuck Nazty” will be available at Hard Rock Cafe Denver exclusively. One dollar of every burger purchased will be donated to Children’s Hospital Colorado, one of the top pediatric hospitals in the nation, providing comprehensive and innovative pediatric care.

“This burger is all of my favorite things, and I hope everyone likes it,” Blackmon said. “I’m excited to help raise money for Children’s Hospital Colorado through this opportunity.”

Blackmon, an outfielder for the Colorado Rockies and 2014 All-Star, was drafted by the Rockies in 2008 and made his Major League debut in 2011. Blackmon has set multiple new career highs in 2015, and at the time of this release has a career-high 29 doubles, eight triples, 36 stolen bases and 38 walks on the season.

Blackmon joins Rocky, the Denver Nuggets mascot, and Colorado Mammoth’s John Grant Jr. in the annual Hard Rock Cafe tradition by creating a celebrity burger and selecting a local charity, which receives a portion of proceeds from each burger sold.

The Chuck Nazty burger is available exclusively at Hard Rock Cafe Denver for a limited-time starting Friday. Guests can stop by Hard Rock Cafe Denver to try out the celebrity burger or visit www.hardrock.com/denver for more information.

Eavesdropping on a woman and a man at Chef Rick Tramanto’s cooking demo during Denver Food and Wine: “A lady doesn’t eat in public.”

“Then clearly, you’re no lady.”