To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Larimer Square’s preservation, Denver’s first historic block is hosting a first-of-its-kind, giant outdoor party under the square’s famous canopy lights from 5 p.m. till midnight Saturday.

Called the “Original Block Party” and free and open to the public, patrons will get access to a full range of activities following the final Dining Al Fresco where Square restaurants serve patrons seated on the street.

Festivities include:

• Live music from “Newgrass” band The Whitfields and In Tandem
• Special surprise acts that will take guests through the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and ’90s (think neon, disco and rock)
• Art and creation stations including pet rocks, spin art and flower child garlands
• Photo booth to capture your night out with friends
• Buskers
• First taste of Wicked Grin Plum Saison, Larimer Square’s 50th anniversary commemorative beer by Ratio Brewing Company
• Decade drink specials including Moscow Mules, Tequila Sunrises and more
• Great food
• VIP opportunity – $100 VIP tickets get you a special gift bag, open bar, great food, a private seating area and valet parking
• Flash mobs

Additionally, Larimer Square has partnered with Metropolitan State University of Denver, who is also celebrating its 50th  anniversary, to showcase outdoor art installations throughout the block including a full-color mural that will be unveiled at 6:30 p.m. during the celebration.

For more information and VIP tickets go to www.larimersquare.com/50.

Wheat Ridge is expanding its longest-running festival, adding another day to the line-up and new entertainment offerings, including higher-profile musical acts and more kid-friendly fare. This year’s event, which attracted 25,000 people over its two-day run last year, will kick off on Friday and will run through Sunday at Anderson Park, 4355 Field St.

The Zoppe Italian Family Circus returns this year as a main attraction with seven performances over the course of the festival. Younger festival-goers will also enjoy a larger kids zone that will include a wider array of carnival rides. In addition, a new teen stage will feature more kid-focused options, including a magician, storytelling, craft activities and the teen band Paradox, which won first place in the Colorado You’ve Got Talent contest last year.

For adult fans of the festival, organizers have expanded the beer garden and added such notable acts as Mike Zito & The Wheel and the Eagles Tribute band, The Long Run, bringing the total number of musical performers to 12 over two stages.

The festival also features a range of other attractions and activities including:

• A neighborhood pancake breakfast and parade on 38^th Avenue on Saturday morning
• The Automezzi XXV Italian Exotic Car Show
• A fine arts show
• Chili cook-off
• Friday and Saturday night fireworks displays
• Craft and artisan exhibits

“This year’s festival is poised to be the best yet, with something for everyone and the opportunity to celebrate Wheat Ridge’s agricultural roots and community pride,” said Wheat Ridge Mayor Joyce Jay.

The festival pays tribute to Wheat Ridge’s history as the world’s carnation capital. During the 1960s, the city boasted 32 different carnation growers and sent a bouquet to the White House every Monday morning, which was displayed in the front foyer with a card stating: “With compliments to our nation’s capital, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Carnation City.” The Carnation Festival was created when Wheat Ridge was founded in 1969 to celebrate and honor the carnation industry’s accomplishments.

The festival also helps raise money for a variety of causes, including scholarships for Wheat Ridge High School students as well as funding for the school’s STEM program and cheerleader and pom squads. The Automezzi show, which is slated for Sunday, August 16th, benefits the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

To ease traffic congestion and parking concerns, the festival will offer free shuttle service until 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday to and from four stops along 44^th Avenue. To view the shuttle stops, visit: www.wheatridgecarnationfestival.org/schedule.pdf

For more information about the festival and a full schedule of festival hours and activities, visit www.thecarnationfestival.com.

Eavesdropping on a woman on the RTD shuttle in the Inverness office park in Englewood: “Smart dumb people scare me.”

The Downtown Denver Partnership has released an update to the Downtown Denver Development Map, detailing projects under construction or planned as of July. Currently, there is $1.51 billion in development under construction, with 1,576 hotel rooms, 4,244 residential units, 2.3 million square feet of office space and more than 231,000 square feet of retail space either planned or under construction Downtown.

While development trends remain consistent with previous updates, planned residential development in Arapahoe Square is on the rise and accounts for 8.3 percent of residential units planned or under construction downtown, up from .4 percent.

“It is encouraging to see growth in planned residential development in areas like Arapahoe Square, signaling progress in our collective efforts to establish the area as downtown’s next great neighborhood,” said Tami Door, president and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership. “More people are living and working downtown than ever before, creating significant demand for development of residential, office and retail space throughout the center city.”

Intended for developers, investors and brokers interested in downtown Denver, the Downtown Denver Development Map, presented by Hensel Phelps, highlights key investments in Denver’s urban core and is updated four times per year. The Partnership also produces the annual Downtown Denver Development Map, intended to show a historical perspective of downtown development by highlighting projects completed in the past five years in addition to projects under construction. Tracking development is a strategic action to ensure downtown Denver continues to be the primary economic hub in the region, as outlined in the 2007 Downtown Area Plan.

For more information, visit www.downtowndenver.com.

The Palate Food + Wine Bar has opened for business at The Landmark in Greenwood Village. The vision of two passionate and seasoned wine gurus, Vivek and Sanju Beri, The Palate offers more than 150 wines by the glass as well as dishes capturing flavors from around the world. The Palate is located at 5375 Landmark Place, Suite F-105, in between A Line boutique and Perry & Co Real Estate.

The Palate is the only wine bar in Colorado that serves more than 150 wines by the glass, utilizing Napa Technology to preserve each wine’s freshness. Wines are available by the glass with prices ranging from $7 to $80 and include many varietals and regions. The Palate is a full service restaurant offering an ever evolving eclectic seasonal menu of small and shared plates of American fusion cuisine as well as a dinner and dessert menu, and full bar. Unique items include Colorado lamb sliders, Colorado lamb ribs, crab cakes, house made roasted beet ravioli, changing charcuterie and cheese plates, and maple, bourbon, and bacon cheese cake for dessert. Food items range from $8 to $28 per plate.

The Palate is open for lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, and from 11 a.m.-1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Happy Hour is hosted from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday-Friday. The Happy Hour menu consists of half off cocktails, Proseccos, Moscatos and Brachettos, along with half off a selection of Chef’s Choice small plates. Vintners Dinners will be hosted each month beginning in September.

The location has 15 employees, including two Sommeliers, and covers 3,100 square feet with approximately 87 seats including lounge areas, tables, high tables and limited bar seating with outdoor seating coming soon. The Palate’s décor is contemporary, sophisticated and cozy with white tablecloths, stainless steel, and soft pendant lighting.

For more information visit www.thepalatedenver.com.

Celebrate with Stir Cooking School this month while learning new skills in the kitchen. All of Stir’s cooking classes offer a fun night out in the Denver Highlands neighborhood, but this month there’s more reason to celebrate.

On Saturday celebrate the life of the infamous Julia Child on her birthday. During the featured Celebrating Julia Child class, guests will create several of Child’s famous dishes including cheese quiche, souffléed potatoes, coq au vin with mushrooms and pearl onions, Brussels sprouts braised in butter) and chocolate roulade. Price is $80 per person. Class begins at 6:30 p.m.

On Aug. 27, learn five new ways to use beets in Stir’s featured class, Beet It: Beet Cookery and Michael Jackson Jams.

Guests will listen to Michael Jackson as they learn how to cook with the delicious and colorful root vegetable. Menu includes: spiced beet dip with goat cheese and hazelnuts, rigatoni with roasted chicken, golden beets, beet greens, pecorino and almonds, orange, chioggia beets, fennel and arugula salad with tarragon vinaigrette, grilled flank steak with red and golden beets and beet risotto. Price is $75 per person. Class begins at 6:30 p.m.

Stir is a recreational cooking school at 3215 Zuni St. in the Denver Highlands neighborhood. A few minutes from the heart of downtown Denver, Stir officially opened its doors in November 2010 and boasts a variety of cooking classes that cater to everyone from kitchen novices to culinary professionals. During a two-to-three hour class, participants take part in a hands-on experience, creating culinary masterpieces under the direction of professional chefs. For those solely looking to indulge in Stir’s creations without the preparation efforts, Stir has a bar area where guests can order signature cocktails and appetizers. For more information or to inquire about class options and rates call 720-287-4823 or visit www.stirtolearn.com.

On Thursday, Lower48 Kitchen at 2020 Lawrence St. is throwing a summer cocktail dinner party featuring Puerto Rico’s No. 1 rum, DonQ, and a three-course tasting menu. The party begins with cocktails, appetizers and live music on the outdoor patio at 6 p.m., followed by a three-course dinner paired with rum cocktails at 7 p.m.

L48’s bar manager George Nunez has created a selection of refreshing summer drinks featuring Don Q Rum that will complement chef Alex Figura’s menu. The menu is scheduled to include:

Appetizers

House-made ricotta, pickled Palisade peaches, local basil, fennel, grilled sourdough paired with Dark n’ Stormy Don Q Añejo, Angostura bitters, L48 house-made ginger beer, lime and Dear Summer Don Q Añejo, Don Q Coco, lemon, pineapple, Angostura bitters.

First Course 

Shrimp ceviche, grilled pineapple, pickled onions and summer squash paired with El Aperitivo Don Q Añejo, Barrow’s ginger liquer, Campari, Prosecco, lemon peel.

Second Course 

Confit and  grilled jerk chicken, Colorado corn, mirabell peppers, cotjia cheese paired with Golden Nugget Don Q Añejo, Barrow’s ginger liquer, lemon juice, honey, Angostura and orange bitters, lemon peel.

Third Course

Baba au Rum with local berries, vanilla custard paired with Don Q. Gran Añejo served neat .

The dinner with pairings is $52 per person (tax and gratuity not included) and also includes a Don Q goodie bag and a chance to win some extra swag.

Limited seating is available. Reservations can be made at 303-942-0262. More information can be found at www.lower48kitchen.com.

These Don Q cocktail recipes and other ideas for how to create great summer sippers from George Nunez are also available if you see a fit for expanded coverage.

The BSide fried chicken place at 1336 E. 17th Ave. in Uptown has closed.

BSide, which  some said housed Denver’s best fried chicken (I didn’t agree), owned by Justin Lloyd, was a sister spot to the sort of seedy Star Bar in the Ballpark neighborhood.

Eavesdropping on a woman bumming a cigarette off a stranger: “Smoking will help you make a lot of friends.”