The Denver Center for the Performing Arts is launching two programs that make tickets more accessible. DCPAccess, an expanded reduced-price ticket program made possible in part by citizen support of the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, and RADvantage, a new membership group for patrons 18 to 30 years old.

Patrons can now purchase reduced-price tickets online, by phone or in person. Restrictions apply.

DCPAccess provides tickets as low as $10. Patrons can buy online, by phone or in person. No promo code is required. If a DCPAccess ticket is available for a show date, the option to purchase will show up on the website or will be offered by DCPA ticketing staff.

For Theatre Company productions, DCPAccess tickets will be available for Tuesday and Wednesday evening performances during the first two weeks of a show’s run. Tickets will go on sale at noon two weeks before the first available performance.

The first DCPAccess offer of the 2015-16 season is for the Theatre Company’s performance of Lookingglass Alice. $10 tickets are available to the September 15-16 and September 22-23 performances. Release dates and participating show details will be continually updated at www.denvercenter.org/SCFD.

The newly announced RADvantage membership program allows patrons aged 18-30 to purchase two specially-priced tickets to participating Broadway, Theatre Company or Cabaret shows. Ticket prices start at $20. For more information, visit www.denvercenter.org/RADvantage.

Le Central, the “Affordable French” restaurant in the mural-bedecked building on the corner of Eighth and Lincoln, will close after 34 years in business on Sunday. Say adieu to the famous mussels and frites.

Owner Robert Tournier, who sent out an email announcement to his patrons about the imminent closing, is throwing in the saute pan after more than 40 years in the restaurant business. Fans have been mourning the restaurant’s departure on Facebook by posting memorable moments. Check them out at www.facebook.com/LeCentral?fref=ts, and post your own.

Here’s the email he sent:

“Bonjour,

It has been a great opportunity and pleasure to serve Denver for 34 years. I want to thank you for your patronage. To raise a loving family and run a successful restaurant in Colorado was a rare privilege. I realize how lucky I am. I took the chance to open a French restaurant, with no business plan, serving affordable food and wines on Salvation Army chairs, with friendly non-professional service, no dress code, reservation or credit card, and you loved it.

I am very grateful; I could not have done it without an incredible staff and your willingness to try something different. I am glad to be part of your (mostly) good memories, and to have been the stage of so many dates and celebrations

Being 65 and a grandfather with 40+ years in the restaurant business (1 restaurateur year = 3 human years) it is time to stop, the 13 of September should be the last day but keep in touch, we may decide to close earlier.

Merci

Robert Tournier”

Del Frisco’s Grille, which opens in late October in Cherry Creek North, is looking to hire 120 personable, determined and professional people for positions in the front and back of the house.  Available positions include server, sommelier, bartender, host/hostess, busser, line, prep, broiler cooks, dishwasher and butcher.

Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group, which owns Del Frisco’s Grille, offers benefits including a 401k retirement savings plan that has matching contributions for both management and hourly employees; a comprehensive medical, dental and vision insurance plan; domestic partner coverage and management eligibility upon hire.

Apply in person from, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the hiring office, 235 Fillmore St., second floor, or apply online at www.drfgjobs.com.

Baur’s Restaurant and Listening Lounge, 1512 Curtis St., has a roster of jazz acts for the rest of the month and October  including the poetic singer James Maddock on Sept. 27.

Baur’s is aligned with the Music Appreciation Society, which searches the world for interesting and talented musicians to introduce to Denver music fans. Members of the Music Appreciation Society receive priority seating at shows at Baur’s.

The upcoming shows at Baur’s include international touring artists featuring rock, folk and soul music this month and jazz artists throughout the month of October:

• Sonny Knight & The Lakers – at 8 p.m. Sunday
• James Maddock – at 7 p.m. Sept. 27

• Josh Maxey Organ Trio – at 7 p.m. Oct. 5
• Katie Thiroux Quartet, “Celebrating KUVO Jazz 89 “30 under 30 artists” “– at 8 p.m. Oct. 8
• Dimitiri Matheny Group – at 8 p.m. Oct. 22
• Elio Villafranca Trio featuring Gian-Carla Tisera – at 7 p.m. Oct. 25 and 26

The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner, and serves brunch on Saturday and Sunday, featuring Cordillera cuisine with a California influence. The restaurant uses locally-sourced ingredients when available; offers fresh, sustainable seafood flown in from the coasts and has a nose-to-tail charcuterie program.

Baur’s has live music with no cover on most Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and Joe Smith & The Spicy Pickles vintage jazz band plays the first and third Tuesday of the month.

For more information on Baur’s Listening Lounge, visit www.baursmagic.com, like on Facebook and follow on Twitter at #BaursMagic.

For more information on Baur’s Restaurant, go to  www.baursrestaurant.com, like on Facebook and follow on Twitter at #BaursRestaurant. For dinner reservations, call the restaurant at 303-615-4000 or book a table on www.opentable.com.

Icelandic chef Ylfa Helgadottir, chef de cuisine and owner of Kopar in Reykjavik, Iceland, is coming to Denver to collaborate with Chef Tom Coohill, owner of Coohills restaurant at 1400 Wewatta St.

Coohills will host a four-day eating extravaganza Sept. 23-26.

Coohill, a three-time Taste of Iceland veteran and U.S. Chef’s Open winner, along with Helgadottir, will craft a prix fixe menu showcasing Icelandic ingredients such as Icelandic cod, free-range lamb and langoustine.

Helgadottir and Coohill will be joined by Coohills’ co-owner and wife, Diane Coohill, Bar Manager Joshua Tallent, Chef de Cuisine Lucas Chandler and Pastry Chef Natalia Spampinato.

The four-course menu is $75 and the five-course with wine pairings is $105. Reservations can be made by calling 303-623-5700. For more information, go to www.coohills.com.

Eavesdropping on two older gentlemen at Deno’s Mountain Bistro in Winter Park: “Good to see you.”

“At this age it’s better to be seen than viewed!”

Denver biggest bite, the 11th Annual Denver Food and Wine, is a guaranteed good time with 35 of Denver’s top restaurants and more than 700 wines and spirits from Southern Wine and Spirits, on the Metropolitan State campus (Ninth and Auraria) on Saturday.

Besides a boatload of fab fare and fine wine, the Viking culinary stage, features food demos from celebrity award-winning Chef Rick Tramonto from Chicago; Boulder-born Gabe Kennedy, winner of ABC’s “The Taste”; lounges, silent wine auction and more.

General admission hours are 1 to 4 p.m.; noon to 4 p.m. for VIP and First Tasting ticket holders. For tickets and to see more DFW events, go to www.denverfoodandwine.com.

If you’re still healing from a food hangover at The 32nd Annual A Taste of Colorado in Civic Center Park over Labor day weekend, here’s why. During the four-day music, arts and eats fest, roughly 515,000 devoured:

• 2,650 crab cakes
• 2,550 pounds of prime rib
• 12,100 pounds of of shrimp
• 1,200 pounds of alligator
• 6,500 fry bread
• 5,000 pounds of rice
• 28,000 tortillas
• 121,000 tomato slices
• 24,000 slices of pickles
• 11,000 pounds of chocolate
• 21,000 pounds of ground beef
• 1,900 pounds of goat and lamb
• 9,500 pounds of chicken
• 8,500 pounds of tomato sauce
• 600 pounds of cinnamon and sugar
• 28,000 pounds of potatoes
• 17,000 pounds of steak
• 55,000 ears of corn on the cob
• 52,000 pounds of turkey legs
• 80,000 pounds of wild game

Festival of Mountain and Plain … A Taste of Colorado is a community celebration that is produced by and benefits Downtown Denver Events, Inc., the Downtown Denver Partnership family’s community events nonprofit organization.

The following restaurants won 2015 Best of Taste honors during A Taste of Colorado over Labor Day weekend at Civic Center Park. They are:

Best Menu/Taste:

First Place – Tocabe

Second Place – Barbed Wire Reef

Third Place – The Broker Restaurant

Best Décor:

First Place Co-winner – Colorado Buffalo Grill

First Place Co-winner – Rocky Mountain Nut Co.

Third Place – The Original Berrie Kabobs

Most Unique:

First Place – Barbed Wire Reef

Second Place – Bayou Bob’s Seafood & Southern Cookin’

Third Place – Wurstküche 

Best Value:

First Place Co-winner – Wurstküche

Frist Place Co-winner – Repicci’s Italian Ice of Denver

Third Place – Arapahoe Cafe

Visit www.ATasteofColorado.com, www.facebook.com/ATasteofColorado, www.twitter.com/ATasteofCO, www.instagram.com/ATasteofCO, or call 303-295-6330 for more information.