Central City Opera will host a panel discussion with Colorado’s leading ladies about their role as creators, influencers and change makers from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Colorado Ballet’s The Armstrong Center for Dance at 1075 Santa Fe Drive.

The free event is part of CCO’s The Power of Women (POW!) Project, a series of events that focuses on the changing role of women in society inspired by CCO’s 2015 Festival production, “La Traviata” from July 11 through Aug. 9.

The Power of Women in the Arts explores the challenges and triumphs of women who work in the arts/entertainment world, on the front lines and behind the scenes. The discussion features an insider’s look at the changing world once dominated by traditional male roles.

Hear from Colorado’s leading ladies in the arts who take a production from the page to the stage. The event is moderated by Eden Lane, host/producer of “InFocus” on CPT12 in Denver.  Panelists include: Elise Sandell, stage director of CCO’s 2015 “La Traviata”;  Pamela Clifton, actress/stage director;  Barbara Bridges,  founder of Women+Film;  Lannie Garrett, entertainer and owner of Lannie’s Cabaret  and Dawn Fay, choreographer and producing director for Wonderbound Dance.

For more information, visit  www.CentralCityOpera.org/pow.

East West Partners, a Colorado-based real estate developer and the master developers of Union Station (along with Continuum Partners), has announced that Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar, the chef-driven burger concept with locations in Denver, the Carolinas and Tennessee, will open its fourth location in Denver at The Landmark.

Located at 5380 S. Greenwood Plaza Boulevard, adjacent to Hapa Sushi, the new Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar location will join a slew of new retail tenants brought to The Landmark since East West Partners took over the community in November 2013, including Upstairs Circus, The Palate Food + Wine Bar and Espresso Americano.

“Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar has made a name for itself as an award-winning burger joint and we are thrilled to have them join The Landmark community,” said Amy Cara, partner at East West Partners overseeing The Landmark development.

Patrons to The Landmark location will enjoy Bad Daddy’s menu favorites including the “Bad Ass Burger,” “Mama Ricotta’s Burger,” “Texican Salad” the option to create your own burger from seven different patty options, 24 fresh toppings and 10 cheeses or create your own salad from dozens of toppings choices, as well as hand cut fries, crispy tater tots, house made potato chips and home spun milkshakes.

“We’re very excited to be opening our fourth Denver location at The Landmark,” said Boyd Hoback, president and CEO of Good Times Restaurants, Inc., of which Bad Daddy’s International is a wholly owned subsidiary. “This is a great location for us given the significant daytime crowd of the Denver Tech Center surrounded by upscale residential as well as evening entertainment options. We hope to provide a unique dining option for the wide variety of customers that frequent the area for lunch, dinner and weekends.”

Eavesdropping on a man: “I swear reality TV is like ‘Jurassic Park.’ At first it’s ‘Ohhhh, ahhhh,’ but later there’s running and screaming, and if you survive, you’re left thinking (what the heck) was I thinking?”

Eavesdropping on a woman talking to her husband: “Driving around town, we’ve decided that those orange traffic cones are Colorado’s new state flower.”

Justin Brunson, the butcher baron and visionary behind Masterpiece Deli and Old Major, is one of the partners behind Honor Society Handcrafted Eatery, a new fast fine dining and lifestyle brand, opening this summer at 1900 16^th St.

The 3,300-square-foot restaurant will feature handcrafted menu items, fresh juices, local craft beers, wines and specialty cocktails. It will be open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner with dining room and bar seating. Honor Society also will provide catering and delivery service, and deploy a full suite of digital assets for mobile ordering, menu downloads and nutritional information.

“Honor Society is based on the idea that great food has the power to unite people and provide a path to a healthier lifestyle,” said Jonas Tempel, one of Honor Society’s founding partners. “It’s our humble belief that a productive life starts with your food and food choices. Our vision was to combine the best of fast casual conveniences with the excellence and comfort of fine dining.”

Four partners with diverse professional backgrounds – Tempel, Brunson, Rob Alvarado and Ian Smith – created the Honor Society concept out of their shared desire to create a restaurant that serves high-quality, healthful food in a comfortable inviting environment.

They’ve brought in local restaurant entrepreneur Ben Kaplan, of Oak at Fourteenth in Boulder and The Source in Denver, and Frank Schultz, CEO of Tavern Hospitality Group, as founding investors and advisers; as well as Glenn Pollak, manager at Oak at Fourteenth. Pollak created several signature healthy craft cocktails exclusively for the restaurant.

Top Denver chef Brunson has focused Honor Society’s menu on heritage-raised meats, sustainable seafood and produced sourced from local farms.

“We’re using premium, consciously sourced, nutrient-dense ingredients, and preparing them in a simple way to bring out their natural, delicious flavors,” said Brunson, who has received numerous culinary accolades, including Bon Appetit’s Top 50 New Restaurants (2013), Thrillist’s Best New Restaurants in America (2013), 5280 magazine’s Best New Restaurant (2014) and Westword’s Readers Choice Best Chef (2014).

Honor Society’s patrons can choose between plated meals that include base proteins and side dishes. Some of the protein options from Brunson’s menu include Grilled Aspen Ridge Flank Steak and Sustainable Scottish Salmon. The side dishes will rotate seasonally and will include organic fire-roasted rainbow carrots, sautéed spinach and kale with garlic and chili flakes and gluten-free mac and cheese. The restaurant will also offer sandwiches, salads, flatbreads and a variety of freshly made lemonades and teas. Menu items are priced in the eight dollar to $14 range.

The restaurant’s interior aesthetic – designed by Rowland+Broughton Architecture and Urban Design – will combine natural reclaimed surfaces with clean, contemporary sight lines, a look comparable to upscale fine dining.

In addition, Honor Society – which will be one of the few non-chain restaurants to be LEED certified – will use recycled and repurposed packaging materials in the restaurant, will seek out environmentally conscious vendors and suppliers, and will use consciously sourced products.

Honor Society will take its commitment to the community a step further by supporting organizations in the Denver area focusing on healthful eating, nutrition, sustainable food and farming practices and hospitality. The team has created the “Honor Academy,” which will invest in education, training and personal development of its employees. 

Alvarado is CEO and managing partner of Palo Alto Inc./Alvarado Concepts LLC, which own and operate 144 YUM Brands franchises in Colorado, California and New Mexico.

“What excites me most about this project is the brand’s higher purpose of improving lives,” Alvarado said. “For our guests, we have the opportunity to positively affect eating habits by offering high-quality, healthful and craveable food and beverages at a great value. However, our reach will extend well beyond the four walls of the restaurant as we are committed to investing in improving the lives of our co-workers and communities.”

Tempel founded ad agency Factory Design Labs in Denver, a full-service international ad agency. Tempel also co-founded Beatport in 2004, an online music store specializing in electronic music and culture.

Rounding out the team of founding partners is Smith, who has nearly 20 years of experience in the food and beverage industry in front of the house, back of house and restaurant formation roles. He is president of Prosper Food & Beverage Consulting.

“As a team, our mantra is honor your body, honor your spirit and honor your community,” Smith said. “We look forward to launching Honor Society in Denver.”

Stay tuned for updates as the opening date approaches.

The Civic Center Conservancy, producer of the free sixth annual Independence Eve fireworks show and concert presented by Anadarko, is looking for volunteers to assist with set-up, event execution and break-down of the community celebration on July 3 in Denver’s Civic Center Park (Colfax and Broadway).

Volunteer times are divided into shifts. Please note that the show begins at 8 p.m. Shifts are:

• 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Tasks include stationary activities, lifting and walking. Volunteers will receive an event T-shirt, snacks, water and depending on length of total hours worked, a meal.

For more information about volunteer opportunities for the Independence Eve and register for shifts, please click here.

More information about the Conservancy and Independence Eve presented by Anadarko can be found at www.civiccenterconservancy.org/event-independence-eve_75.html.

On June 24, Arts Brookfield introduces Earth Matters at Republic Plaza, an exhibit of artwork by 11 Colorado artists that conveys the beauty and natural artistry of the earth. The opening reception will take place on from 5:30 to 8 p.m. June 25  at Republic Plaza (370 17th St.).

The artists who will be exhibiting in the show are: Katie Martineau Caron, Jim Colbert, Adrienne DeLoe, Joellyn Duesberry, Buff Elting, Gifford Ewing, Chuck Forsman, Tyler Wayne McCall, Ralph Nagel, Chandler Romeo and David Sharpe.

“Large-scale paintings, photographs and works on paper are juxtaposed with small-scale sculptures in clay and installation works,” said curator Andra Archer, describing the variety included in the show.

Archer described the exhibit’s theme by saying, “There’s something about the solidity of the earth — the density, matter, rock and soil — that grounds us. A vision arises out of that — the undulation of landscape, the flow of water, vast flora and fauna, and the light of sun and moon. This is the matter of the earth that captivates and inspires us. It is the earth that matters.”

Debra Simon, vice president and artistic director, Arts Brookfield said, “The collective of artists exhibiting in Earth Matters is a treasure, bringing together some of the best artistic talent in Colorado. Earth Matters offers Denver art lovers a chance to experience beautiful depictions of nature in one of Brookfield’s beautifully designed public spaces.”

The show runs from June 24 through Aug. 19 and is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturdays. The exhibit and reception are open to the public and free to attend. For more information, visit www.artsbrookfield.com/event/earth-matters/.

Thirty-five shops and restaurants at the Denver Pavilions will offer special pricing on food, drinks, gifts, candy, wine, cocktails, beer, jewelry, clothing and more during the Happy-est Hour from 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays starting tdoay through Aug. 26 in the heart of the 16th Street Mall.

Come for the special deals and stay for the games, music and giveaways. See all the shops and special events at www.denverpavilions.com.