Eavesdropping on a man: “The worst part about meeting people for coffee in the morning is that you have to get up two hours earlier so you can drink enough coffee to be sociable when you meet them for coffee.”

When Bloody Mary enthusiast Stuart Chandler started noticing people who avoided the traditional morning cocktail due to an aversion to tomato juice, he launched a quest to find an alternative to the offending red mixer.

Chandler began months of kitchen experimentation with a single ingredient – the tomatillo. With the support of business partner Brad Lob, the twosome forged ahead with the mission of creating an entirely new version of the classic Bloody Mary cocktail mix.

Salty Iguana, the new Colorado-based green Bloody Mary mix company, was born from experimentation around roasting jalapenos, poblanos and habaneros, adding lime juice, chopped cilantro diced onions and minced garlic.

The concoction was first introduced to Colorado palates in February and is now available at major liquor stores with a deal in the works to stock the stuff at King Soopers. Restaurants carrying Salty Iguana include Denver’s Punch Bowl Social.

Salty Iguana held a tasting last week for invited guests at Mile High Spirits, 2201 Lawrence St. Chandler recommends the green drink be mixed with vodka or tequila or served straight. Two flavors are available: the original and habanero for a kick (which I highly recommend).

For more information and a list of retailers, go to www.saltyiguanamix.com.

Zeppelin Development, the long-standing boutique development company, will grow The Source concept with the addition of a newly built hotel and expanded market hall expected to open in the first quarter of 2017.

The development team includes the group behind the St. Julien Hotel in Boulder, who will operate the hotel, as well as River North Investment Partners, a development and finance partnership managed by Jason Kaplan and Ben Kaplan. Dynia Architects is designing the market expansion and hotel to be a building that is both modern and contextual to RiNo.

“Our goal is to create a 24-hour experience that puts the guests in a one-of-a-kind setting, rooted in the culture of the Source, enhanced by an expanded market hall,” said developer Kyle Zeppelin. “Working alongside Stephen Dynia and the team behind the St. Julien, we’re confident that the hotel will expand upon the brand built at The Source and continue to be a sought-after Denver destination.”

The Source Hotel is the evolution of the original marketplace next door that weaves accommodations in with a curated culinary and design experience. Inside the new ground-up building, guests will be in the midst of an additional 25,000 feet of complimentary marketplace amenities. Highlights include an independent restaurant, craft brewery and up to 12 vendors offering artisan-driven creations like ceramics, knives and handmade bags. A courtyard will connect the hotel to The Source, housed in a former 1880s foundry. There, guests will have access to the nationally acclaimed restaurant Acorn, coffee roasted on-premises by Boxcar and crafted cocktails from the RiNo Yacht Club.

Notable features at The Source Hotel and market hall expansion will include:

• An eighth-floor- rooftop deck with a beer garden and pool;
• A second 25,000 square foot market hall with 20-foot ceilings;
• A ground-floor craft brewery;
• A signature independent restaurant;
• Open shopping areas featuring as many as 12 additional vendors;
• Several food and beverage counters;
• A courtyard featuring terraces and native landscaping;
• Operable garage doors (a signature Zeppelin design feature) in select guest rooms and lining the market hall;
• A 300 space parking garage serving both the hotel and The Source.

The style of the 100 guest rooms is influenced by the minimalist design of Scandinavia and Japan.  Simple materials, clean lines and woodwork make up the aesthetic, with an emphasis on natural light and access to fresh air.  In addition to windows providing expansive views of the mountains and cityscape, in-room garage doors will open to the outdoors. Understated elegance and state-of-the-art modern conveniences will be central themes of the design.

Science Partner, a six-piece rock band, kicks off the Arts Brookfield Summer on the Plaza free outdoor concert series featuring rising stars of the Denver music scene from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at 1801 California St.

Science Partner showcases three-part harmonies, walls of guitars, a tight rhythm section and unabashedly catchy pop arrangements. Made up of members of some of Denver’s finest and busiest bands, their joint performance is somewhat rare and highly anticipated.

Guard and Grace, at 1801 California, is offering social hour specials from 5 to 7 p.m., providing an opportunity to sit on the outdoor patio and enjoy the concert.

Additional concerts include July 15 with Covenhoven, July 22 with Max Hatt/Edda Glass and July 29 with Whiskey Folk.

For more information, go to www.ArtsBrookfield.com/SummerOnThePlaza.

Ten chefs, 20 culinary pairings plus the Gold-Medal-winning beers from the 2015 Denver International Beer Competition come together for Pairsine Chefs Fine Food & Beer Pairing Competition from 6 to 9 p.m. July 15 at The Omni Interlocken Resort Outdoor Pavilion, 500 Interlocken Blvd., Broomfield.

This year’s participating chefs and restaurants are: 

• Eli Odell, executive chef, Highland Tap & Burger;
• David Davis, executive chef, The Sink;
• William Merwin, executive chef, The Blue Star;
• Dylan Zwart, executive chef, Low Down Brewery;
• Jean-Luc Vogelle, executive chef, The Westin Denver;
• Joshua Hasho, executive chef, Omni Interlocken Resort & Spa;
• Jeffrey Samoska, chef de cuisine, Pub 17 on Welton at The Grand Hyatt;
• Tim Berry, executive chef, Fate Brewing Company;
• Kirk Spare, executive chef, Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant;
• Michael Long, executive chef, Le Central French Restaurant.

Up to 10 beer savvy chefs compete to make up to 20 custom paired epicurean delights with 20 award-winning beers

While the event is sometimes referred to as “Iron Chef” meets beer, participating chefs have no secret ingredient. Chef’s are provided with sample bottles of beer to taste and develop their custom paired dishes.

On event day, the participating chefs will create custom paired dishes, served in appetizer portions and staff will pour beer samples alongside the chef’s food table.

A panel of food and wine critics/experts will taste each culinary creation with its assigned beer. They select the “Best Chef” and “Most Creative Chef” winners.

All consumer attendees also get to cast their votes for the “People’s Choice” award.

Tickets are $75 at www.denverbeercomp.com/taste.html.

Pssst! Westword is offering a 50 percent discount on tickets at www.eventbrite.com/e/pairsine-chefs-fine-food-and-beer-pairing-competition-tickets-15517046905?discount=westword50.

The Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame is seeking nominations of outstanding women for the Class of 2016.   Members of the Hall include singer Judy Collins, former Israeli Prime Minster Golda Meir, dancer and choreographer Cleo Parker Robinson and space scientist Jo Ann Cram Joselyn.

Visit www.cogreatwomen.org for information and to download a nomination form. Deadline is Aug. 1.

Since 1985, the Hall has inducted 142 contemporary and historic women. They are women connected to Colorado who represent remarkable achievements in medicine, business, philanthropy, politics, education, engineering, activism and other fields. Each woman is a pioneer in her own right, having made a significant and enduring contribution to her profession and to the advancement of women and society.

“Too often, the contributions of women have been overlooked,” said board chair Betty Heid. “Women are virtually ignored in history textbooks. Even today, women are under-represented in news stories and interviews with industry leaders.  The Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame seeks to help fill that void.”

The Hall inducts women in even numbered years from nominations submitted by the public.  The selection committee is an independent panel of community members from around the state. Nominees are evaluated based on these criteria:

The woman must have strong ties to Colorado and have:

• Made significant and enduring contributions to her field(s) of endeavor;
• Elevated the status of women and helped open new frontiers for women and for society;
• Inspired others, especially women and girls, by her example.

Inductees for 2016 will be announced October 2015.

Other notable Hall inductees are: Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright, legendary golfer Mildred “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias, Titanic heroine Margaret “Molly” Brown, former First Lady Mamie Eisenhower, pioneer Baby Doe Tabor, philanthropist Susan Anschutz-Rodgers and actress and Tony Award namesake Antoinette Perry. To view all of the Hall’s inductees, visit www.cogreatwomen.org/inductees.

Eavesdropping on a Facebook post: “Irony: Independence Day is the one day a year that every American dog wishes he lived in a different country.”

Concept Restaurant Group has renovated and reconcepted what was previously Woody’s Tavern Ignite Ale House + Kitchen in Arvada, and reopens in its new form Monday.

In the new Arvada Ale House + Kitchen at 7995 Sheridan Blvd. (www.facebook.com/ignitealehouse?fref=ts), a 23-foot-long, bright orange rowing shell hangs on the wall.  It belongs to owner and Denver restaurant veteran (Rock Bottom, Old Chicago, Chop House, Rialto Cafe) Frank Day who has had it since the early ’80s.

The boat is fiberglass, lightweight, 11 inches wide and 23 feet long and has two 9-foot oars.  Day, who rowed in college, rowed the shell for exercise for many years on Baseline Lake in Boulder.

The boat was made in France, and Day says, “It’s the only imported thing in the new Ignite Ale House + Kitchen,” which will serve global styles of beer all crafted in Colorado.  It arrived broken in half and so Day wasn’t charged for it and set about repairing the fiberglass himself.  He added a racing stripe to the hull to cover up the damage, and if you look closely you can still see the patch job.

Like the Ignite in Denver’s Ballpark neighborhood, Ignite in Arvada will have great burgers and wood-fired pizzas on the menu, but because of its location, there will be a greater focus on serving kids and families.

The restyled bar area has been opened up and hosts two long community tabes each seating eight to 10 people. They added a lot of comfy booth seating and connected the inside to the outside with two large garage doors leading out to the patio where new games like corn hole, darts and life-size Jenga will be available.

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

Man cand (bacon, top), pork chop entree and green chile mac and cheese (bottom) at Ignite Ale House in Arvada. (Penny Parker photos)

The newest restaurant and music venue in downtown Denver, Baur’s Restaurant and Listening Lounge (1512 Curtis St.), continues its summer concert lineup bringing artists from across the U.S. and Canada to the intimate venue.

The evenings include music and dancing from the featured band as well as a themed menu from Baur’s Restaurant. The upcoming artists coming to town range from singers and songwriters to pianists, jazz musicians and blues legends.

Here’s the schedule:

• Singer and pianist Leif Vollenbekk at 8 p.m. Sunday.
• Bluegrass from MIPSO at 8 p.m. July 19.
• Jazz trombonist and vocalist Natalie Cressman at 8 p.m. Aug. 2.
• Singer songwriter Amy Speace at 8 p.m. Aug. 9.
• New age music of Scott Cossu and Beth Quist at 8 p.m. Aug. 16.
• Blues legend Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen at 8 p.m. Sept. 2.
• Singer songwriter A.J. Croce at 8 p.m. Sept. 10.
• Singer songwriter Jill Sobule at 7 p.m. Nov. 29.

For more information and reservations, go to www.baursrestaurant.com or call 303-615-4000.