Dust off the costume, shine up the bike and get ready for the annual Tour de Fat when it rolls into Denver Sept. 12 at City Park. The daylong event is free, yet all donations and proceeds from beer and merchandise sales go to Denver-area non-profits.

“Maybe you already bike all over town, or you’re a weekend warrior, or just a little bike curious,” said Matt Kowal, New Belgium Brewing’s Tour de Fat impresario. “If so, this is for you. It’s a summer stew of sorts where we all come together, let our alter egos shine with no inhibitions. You’ll find dancing, contests, bike swapping, music making and a tiny tent where anything can happen. It’s one carnival you’ll actually regret missing.”

Some of the eclectic entertainment includes co-headliners Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds – who recently performed on “The Today Show“– and The Suffers, a 10-piece band from Houston recently featured on the “Late Show with David Letterman“, who will bring the redefined sound of Gulf Coast Soul to the Mile High City.

Brewing education, a bicycle revival, rideable art bikes, a “Thousand Person Dance Contest” to win a New Belgium cruiser bike, yo-yo performers, vaudeville acts and a fashion show are also in the mix. In addition, Tour de Fat’s Le Tigre Grande variety tent ups the ante, adding more entertainment options from past years.

Everyone 21 and older can sample new and classic favorites from New Belgium, including the brewery’s flagship brew, Fat Tire, New Belgium’s latest year-round offering, Slow Ride Session IPA, and selections from the acclaimed Lips of Faith series.

As for the fundraising, the entire 2014 season raised more than $625,000, with the Denver stop bringing in a record-breaking $101,003. This year, all funds raised in Denver will go to BikeDenver and The Denver Cruisers.

Every year, New Belgium gets one brave role model to step on stage to trade in his or her car keys for a bike, pledging to live car-free for one year. Each swapper is awarded a stipend to buy his or her own commuter bike. Car-for-Bike swappers are chosen after submitting an application describing why they are ready to give up their vehicle for the gift of two wheels. This year, the Car-for-Bike swapper in Denver will be New Belgium’s 100th bicycling hero. The beer brewers would love to hear from interested swappers. Apply at NewBelgium.com/Events/Tour-de-Fat/CarTrader.

Dunkin’ Donuts is fighting fire with coffee during Colorado’s annual Firefighter Appreciation Week Sept. 12-18. As the official coffee sponsor of Firefighter Appreciation Week in Denver, Dunkin’ Donuts (Denver metro area only) will provide a free medium iced or hot coffee to all firefighters in recognition of their brave contribution to the Denver metro community.

Participating Denver-area Dunkin’ Donut Locations are:

* 2001 Sheridan Blvd. Edgewater

* 366 Broadway Denver

* 16611 E Smoky Hill Rd. Aurora

* 8775 Washington St. Thornton

* 7615 W 88th Ave. Westminster

* 3235 28th St. Boulder

* 2801 S College Ave. Ft. Collins

* 2323 S Havana St. Aurora

* 4761 Tower Rd. Denver

* 9595 E Arapahoe Rd. Greenwood Village

* 4760 W Mineral Ave. Littleton

* 1530 Main St. Windsor

* 102 E 29th St. Loveland

Dunkin’ Donuts in Denver is a supporter and sponsor of this year’s Firefighter Appreciation Week. Firefighter Appreciation Week has been celebrated annually in Colorado since 2011. Across Colorado, businesses and communities join together to say, “Thank you,” to the brave men and women who play an important role in keeping our communities safe. For more information about Firefighter Appreciation Week, go to www.firefighterappreciationweek.org.

Founded in 1950, Dunkin’ Donuts is America’s favorite all-day, everyday stop for coffee and baked goods. Dunkin’ Donuts is a market leader in the hot regular/decaf/flavored coffee, iced coffee, donut, bagel and muffin categories. Dunkin’ Donuts has earned the No. 1 ranking for customer loyalty in the coffee category by Brand Keys for eight years running. The company has nearly 11,000 restaurants in 33 countries worldwide. Based in Canton, Mass., Dunkin’ Donuts is part of the Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DNKN) family of companies. For more information, visit www.DunkinDonuts.com.

Eavesdropping on Facebook: “My bank just called to ask if I had, indeed, spent $36 on Rockies’ tickets last week. I guess they couldn’t believe someone would pay for them, either.”

Neiman Marcus Denver is introducing Truly NM, a curated collection of exclusive items developed specifically for Neiman Marcus in partnership with more than 50 of the world’s top design houses. Participating vendors include, but are not limited to, Christian Louboutin, Gucci, Givenchy, Prada, Valentino, Tom Ford, Donna Karan, rag & bone, Moncler and Shinola. This ongoing initiative brings exclusive products spanning all categories including men’s and women’s apparel and accessories, beauty and fragrance, children’s, home and pet.

In an effort to highlight Neiman Marcus’ outstanding vendor relationships, Neiman Marcus is bringing Truly NM to all 41 stores and online. “We have incredible vendor partners with some of the greatest brands in the world.” said Jim Gold, Neiman Marcus president and chief merchandising officer. “We developed Truly NM to present these exclusive products in a comprehensible and compelling way.”

There are several themes addressed throughout the Truly NM collection. J Brand Jeans, Current/Elliott, AG Adriano Goldschmied, FRAME, rag & bone, and 7 For All Mankind each created distressed or embellished denim. A range of poncho styles, on-trend for fall, are offered from Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry Prorsum, Alexander McQueen, Escada, Derek Lam, Etro, and Brunello Cucinelli. Others took cues from Neiman Marcus’ iconic butterfly, working the inspiration into designs. Prada created a whimsical satchel and clutch with a print of a woman with a butterfly atop her head and Manolo Blahnik covered its Hangisi pump and flat shoes in a butterfly-print satin.

In-store signage and displays highlight the Truly NM product, which begins delivering to stores this month. Items are easily recognizable to customers with a designated yellow Truly NM hangtag or sticker. Die cut yellow butterflies adorn Truly NM mannequins. Online shoppers may visit www.neimanmarcus.com/trulynm.

The Biennial of the Americas celebrates the closing weekend of the 2015 festival with events and exhibitions taking place Friday through Sunday.

A team of inspiring artists, innovators and experts explored the theme “NOW!,” examining today’s exceptional times in the Western Hemisphere. This year’s Biennial hosted more than 100 events throughout the summer with more than 25,000 participants attending the six-day opening week program of events, bringing together nearly 60 artists, speakers and international leaders representing more than 25 countries.

“The 2015 Biennial exceeded our expectations for audience engagement and network building,” said Erin Trapp, Biennial CEO and executive director. “We are clearly building positive and productive relationships in countries across the hemisphere, as well as increasing cultural understanding of our shared opportunities and challenges.   Our 2016 summit in Brazil will extend this work in an important and promising country with close ties to Colorado.”

As the 2015 Biennial opening week comes to a close, patrons can still enjoy various art exhibits and performances.

• Through Sunday: Now? NOW! – the main exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver. A group exhibition with works by a number of artists including Robert Longo, André Komatsu, Karl Haendel, Adam Pendleton, Kari Altmann and more.
• Through Sunday: Implant – Installation at Commons Park by Marcela Armas which is sited in both Denver and Mexico City, creating a visual dialogue between the two cities. Special event from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday: What is the Status of Public Space featuring Gordon Robertson of Denver Parks and Recreation and Jeff Shoemaker of the Greenway Foundation
• Through Sunday: I Am The Future – An abstract video work by Mexican artist Erick Meyenberg at the Denver International Airport, featuring students from the Montbello high school drill team.
• Through Sunday: Oíd el Sueño de una Palabra / Listen to the Dream of a Word at the Biennial Pavilion is a collaboration between Mexico City curatorial collective de_sitio and Museo Comunutario de Valle de Xico, a museum in Mexico City created to protect the city’s artifacts.
• Saturday and Sunday: Transdisciplinary Design Workshop at the Biennial Pavilion. This workshop experience is focused on the theme of collaboration and technology that enables an incredible network of geographic, human skill diversity and local resources to collectively take action on matters ‘Now’ for the human good.
• Saturday and Sunday: BMoCA’s Poetry and Performance Café: line break/disrupting rhythms at the Biennial Pavilion (1550 Wewatta St.) featuring Poetry NOW! & Tomorrow events.

For additional information on the exhibitions, images and hours, please visit www.biennialoftheamericas.org. 

PalletFest is Colorado’s first major Upcycling Festival. What most people think of as waste, PalletFest organizers turn find new and amazing uses for all types of trash including the humble wood pallet. Free to the public, this event is open to all ages.

Attendees choosing to splurge on the VIP ticket ($35 on Saturday, and $30 on Sunday) will get all-you-can-drink spirits from locally produced Yolo Rum and Peach Street Distillers, an exclusive PalletFest koozie by Green Guru, a baked goodie from The Cupcake Cabin, a swag bag from The Green Solution and primo seats for live music and fashion show. Unlimited beer will be provided by Oskar Blues and Broken Compass Brewery.

Event hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Sculpture Park at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. VIP tickets available at https://www.palletfest.com/vip.html.

Freestyle Pizza and Bagel Store Deli have joined forces, menus and a venue to create a new combo restaurant at 4668 S. Yosemite St., Greenwood Village.

The fast-casual eatery is celebrating the grand re-opening from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday and from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday. Both days are filled with free giveaways and a variety of other activities.

The restaurant also will be giving 10 percent of all sales during the two days to the Cherry Creek Schools Foundation to support the classroom grants program, which provides funding for teacher grant requests in the school district. More information at www.bagelstoredeli.com/.

Eavesdropping on Facebook:

15-year-old to me: “What’s for dinner tonight?”

Me: We’re having eggplant/squash pita sandwiches.

Him – NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

Me: Don’t worry, I’ll make it taste like meat.

Cherry Creek Shopping Center recently announced that three new stores and Colorado’s first Rise Pies Handcrafted Pizza will join its shopping and dining lineup starting this fall. Several new and relocated stores are set to open in the center’s nearly complete 90,000 square-foot redevelopment project.

“Cherry Creek’s transformation is almost complete and the redesigned space will be worth the wait,” said the center’s General Manager Nick LeMasters. “From exclusive restaurants to world-renowned brands, customers are sure to discover new favorites within our premier shopping environment.”

As part of Cherry Creek’s renovation, the center will welcome the region’s first four-level, next generation RH Design Gallery – RH Denver, The Gallery at Cherry Creek – along with several stores, including Free People which is relocating to the redeveloped space and will quadruple its footprint. The new Free People flagship store, which opens in November, will be the second largest of its kind in the country.

NightRider Jewelry, an American luxury brand of handcrafted men’s and women’s jewelry will open mid-October in the new wing. The store, which is unique to the Denver market, will be located on the upper level adjacent to the RH Design Gallery.

Also debuting in the mall’s expansive redeveloped wing this winter is Rise Pies Handcrafted Pizza, a new fast-casual pizza concept with fresh and locally sourced ingredients. This is the first Rise Pies location in Colorado and it joins Cherry Creek’s other exclusive-to-market restaurants including Kona Grill and the recently announced 801 Chophouse. All are conveniently located near the center’s new front entrance valet plaza.

Additionally stores joining the Cherry Creek Shopping Center lineup, include:

• Soma: A women’s intimate apparel boutique, selling innovative and expertly fitting lingerie, and loungewear apparel & beauty products (opens late September, located on the lower level near Nordstrom).
• White House Black Market: Women’s retailer, specializing in fashionable and sophisticated clothing and accessory items (opens winter 2015, located on the upper level near Neiman Marcus).

All of these additions will join several new stores in the redeveloped space, including luxury brands Tory Burch, David Yurman, as well as upscale restaurant, 801 Chophouse. All are new to the Denver market.

Located in the heart of Denver, Cherry Creek Shopping Center offers the Rocky Mountain region’s most exciting shopping environment including Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Tiffany & Co., Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren, Elway’s Restaurant, an eight-screen movie theater and more than 160 other fine specialty stores and services. Shopping hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Preview the stores, the styles and the sales at www.shopcherrycreek.com and www.facebook.com/cherrycreekshoppingcenter.