Eavesdropping on two women at Cho77: “Did you order wine?”

“Water, actually, but if Jesus was here he’d turn it into wine.”

The Seventh Annual Hot Rocks Griller Challenge – one of Denver’s most popular summer charity events – will fire up Elway’s Cherry Creek again from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday.  The event, benefiting Denver Health Foundation’s men’s health programs, features an intense competition among 18 of Colorado’s hottest chefs from top area restaurants.  Tickets are already going fast for the event, which is always a summer sell out.

This year’s event is being chaired by Rollie Jordan of Kentwood Cherry Creek Real Estate, Zach Wolfel of 5280 Magazine and Dan Daboub of Entravision Communications.

The culinary competition  features grilled delicacies ranging from  a mini chicken and waffles slider to a pork belly slider with apricot compote and camembert on sourdough to a scallop-corn burger with bacon andancho-chile mayo  – and much more.

Throw in hearty side dishes, expert wine pairings, and rockin’ live music, and it’s the perfect menu for summer’s best bash.  Tickets are available for those over 21 years of age and must be purchased in advance online at www.DenverHealthFoundation.org.

This year’s chefs include: Steve Ballas (Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs), Aaron Bernstein (Panzano), Austin Green (Elway’s Downtown), Michael Bortz (Dessert Chef at City Bakery), Brandon Foster and Brandon Biederman (Vesta Dipping Grill / Ace), Kevin Grossi (Lola), Troy Guard (TAG / Guard & Grace), Aniedra Nichols and Tyler Wiard (Elway’s Cherry Creek), Jorel Pierce (Stoic & Genuine), Felice Price and Pat Gruber (Continental Sausage), Goose Sorensen (Solera), Darrel Truett (Barolo Grill) and Mike Winston (Table 6).

Funds raised through Hot Rocks will raise awareness of men’s health issues and support programs to prevent unnecessary and premature death.  The top 10 health threats to men are mostly preventable. One reason is because men are less likely to see the doctor until those small, preventable issues become huge health problems.  Keys to preventing premature death include regular physical exams, plus serious attention paid to exercise, eating habits, smoking cessation and other strategies.

The latest addition to Denver’s RiNo district, the Denver Street Flea Market, will make its debut on June 20 at 25^th & Larimer, a mixed-use complex made entirely from reclaimed shipping containers.

Held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. rain or shine every third Saturday of the month, the Denver Street Flea Market is a secondhand-only market featuring merchandise from independent sellers, as well as local shops and vendors from around Denver. Live entertainment, food specials from 25^th & Larimer tenants and food trucks will round out the offerings for patrons.

Vendors for the June 20 market will include Ruby + George, an online boutique featuring heirloom-quality vintage items handpicked in the style of modern American West; Ironwood, a South Broadway storefront selling furniture, antiques and vintage planters; Fireside Supply vintage camping gear and clothing; and Mago’s Magic Shoppe, among many others. Cart-Driver, located in the complex, will offer $10 pizzas, and Denver singer Jukebox Lady of 1,000 songs will perform. For those interested in becoming a vendor, booth fees start at just $40; Josiah Johnson, Denver Street Flea Market creator, and co-creators Frankie Bushnell and Ryan Pattie intentionally established some of the lowest booth fees in town, in order to attract a wide variety of vendors.

“We wanted an eclectic, neighborhood feel,” Johnson said. “The majority of the booths will be object and furniture focused, and selections will cover many style and taste levels. We believe the market will be a great addition to the energetic RiNo arts district, and specifically the 25^th and Larimer St. block.”

The block, which has become a hub of activity ever since 25^th & Larimer – a mixed-use shipping container complex developed by Gravitas Development Group, opened in early 2014 – is home to a variety of events, including Denver Start Up Week seminars, Denver Art Museum’s Design After Dark gatherings, summer concerts and more. In addition to these one-off events, community members are privy to regular monthly, neighborhood gatherings coined “Second Saturdays,” created by the tenants of, and hosted at, the complex. The event is open to the community and passersby and features tenants’ open houses, live music, movie showings, food and beverage tastings and more. Additionally, every summer, the complex is home to Yoga in the Courtyard, in which local company Fold Yoga hosts morning outdoor classes in the communal courtyard.

“We’re excited to watch the neighborhood, and particularly 25^th & Larimer, continue to solidify itself as an arts and community gathering spot within Denver,” said Ryan Diggins, Gravitas Development Group partner. “The addition of the Denver Street Flea Market furthers our vision of 25^th & Larimer being a catalyst to create a more collaborative, creative and active community.”

For more information, visit www.denverstreetfleamarket.com.

At 7:30 p.m. June 15, Hard Rock Cafe Denver will host members of the National Touring Company of “Wicked” for “Witches’ Night Off,” an evening of song.

Produced by company members of the Broadway hit, “Witches’ Night Off” is part of an ongoing tour series in support of charitable causes. Net proceeds from the evening will benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Project Angel Heart, Rainbow Alley and Doctors Without Borders.

Admission for the event ranges from $20 to $40. In addition to the performance, auction opportunities will be available, including house seats to “Wicked” and a backstage tour; a guitar signed by the “Wicked” cast and, a walk-on role in “Wicked” while the show is in Denver through July 5.

Tickets are available through www.TicketWeb.

After closing briefly for capital improvements, BASTA in Boulder reopened over the weekend with an updated menu, bar program and space modifications.

While the restaurant continues to make pizzas with domestic flours and a calculated fermentation processes, BASTA, under the direction of Chef Kelly Whitaker, also will focus on a rotation of seasonal craft dishes meant to highlight the kitchen’s only cooking source, the wood-fire oven.  Additionally, BASTA has added a pre-order program for family-style dining experiences. Guests now have the opportunity to order popular, off-the-menu dishes in advance, like large format proteins with sides, or lasagna, which was recently featured on the cover of the “5280 Cookbook.”

Under the direction of partner and Beverage Director Alan Henkin, who holds a level-two certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers, the bar program at BASTA has also undergone several changes. Known for its small, well-curated and diverse wine list, the new menu includes the addition of bottle-aged, batched and traditional cocktails. A select beer list has also been developed, featuring specific styles to pair with the flavors from the wood-fire oven.

“Cocktails and spirits are the perfect bookends to a great dining experience,” Henkin said. “Our focus on these types of cocktails demonstrates the way in which we approach the evolution of the restaurant. We are not recreating the wheel, but reshaping it slightly to give our guests something new, yet still structured on the fundamentals of great beverage service.”

BASTA also has updated its space with a small remodel. The open kitchen and newly added open air bar window allow guests to observe the artistry of the chefs manning the wood oven, and bartenders crafting cocktails. A chef’s table tasting menu has been introduced available by reservation for up to four guests each evening.

“When we created BASTA in an off-shoot location in Boulder, we talked about how to be relevant in terms of what the rest of the world was cooking and creating,” Whitaker said. “How we source, sustainability, our employee culture and how we treat guests has always been the focus.”

Created by Boulder-based Id Est Hospitality Group, BASTA is located in the east Boulder development, The Peloton.  Centered  around wood-fired, and seasonal comfort plates, “basta” means  “enough”  in Italian. BASTA is open for dinner seven days a week, and lunch on Fridays. For more information, visit www.bastaboulder.com, or call 303-997-8775.

Mezcal, an 11-year fixture at 3230 E. Colfax Ave., closed Sunday for a major overhaul. Updated decor by the original designer, Loris Venegas, will refresh and enliven the space. The food and beverage menus will receive a complete reimagining by two well-known industry veterans.

About the remodel, husband and wife owners Chris Swank and Venegas said, “For us, Mezcal is an extension of our love and respect for Mexican culture and the amazing food that is an essential part of it. Pease stay tuned for some great things to come.”

Mezcal will re-open later this summer with more details announced as plans and contracts are signed and in place.

Eavesdropping on a woman’s Facebook post: “Dear Grown Men in cutoff denim shorts. No! Just NO. Please!”

Mega music mogul Jay Z’s claim that  “water is free” in a March New York Times article prompted Denver Water spokesman Steve Snyder to set the rapper straight in an open letter posted on the Denver Water blog. You could say that Snyder was madder than a wet hen over the misguided remark.

Here’s an excerpt from the letter:

“Dear Jay Z,

First of all: Big fan! I’ve listened to your music for years; I’ve admired how you’ve become much more than an entertainer, and you have perhaps the coolest line I’ve ever heard, ‘I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man.’

But recently, you made a comparison about water and music.  And since water is my business, I have to say, ‘Stick to your own business, man!’

I get what you are saying. Artists should be paid for the music they create. But to say that ‘water is free while music is $6′ isn’t exactly true…Right now, Denver Water customers pay an average of less than $3 for 1,000 gallons of water. When you think about how much a gallon of milk or a liter of soda costs, water is a pretty good value. And if you compare your monthly water bill to your other bills like electricity and phone, the value is even better…

“Of course, we have to use some different math for a man of your financial stature. To put it in perspective, here are some examples of how much water you could buy with the money you have:

• Your last album, “Magna Carta Holy Grail,” sold 528,000 copies in its first week on the market. At $6 each, that’s more than $3 million. You could buy 1 billion gallons of water for that, enough to fill 1,600 olympic-sized swimming pools. Your summer home has enough room for those, right?

• You once sold a clothing line you created, Rocawear, for $200 million. You could have bought more than 66 billion gallons of water for that, enough to make 44 million barrels of beer. And if each barrel holds 31 gallons of beer, you could throw one heck of a party — for most of America!

• At one point, you were reported to have a net worth of $510 million. When trying to calculate how much water you could buy with that, my calculator short circuited. But I think we are getting into ocean territory with that figure. Or at least a good-sized gulf.

Of course, that light-hearted analogy overlooks a very real problem. All the money in the world can’t help when water becomes scarce. Just look at these impacts of California’s current drought. Californians would no doubt pay good money for Mother Nature to turn on her faucet a little more frequently.

So perhaps we have something in common. You will continue your quest to help people understand the value of music, while people in my industry will do the same with water. Of course, I’ve heard you actually have a whole list of problems to address — 99 to be exact?

Yours in rap,

Steve Snyder”

A Denver Water blog says rap music mogul and performer Jay Z is all wet when it comes to his idea the ‘water if free.’

Oakwood Homes has announced the lineup for its Annual Summer Concert Series, a five-concert series at the Community Amphitheater in Town Center Park at 4890 Argonne Way.

The Oakwood Homes Concert Series is a community gathering, concert and celebration.  Guests may bring a picnic dinner and soft drinks in cans or plastic bottles.  Pets and barbecue grills are not permitted at the amphitheater on concert days.  No alcoholic beverages are permitted in the amphitheater in accordance with Denver Parks and Recreation ordinances.

All concerts are free, open to the public, and subject to rescheduling due to weather. Plenty of free parking is available next to the amphitheater in the Oakwood Homes parking lot.  Concerts are produced by Industrial Event Services, Inc. Visit www.oakwoodsummerconcertsdenver.com for more information.

Following are the scheduled performers for the five concerts:

* Ron Ivory and The Miles Apart Band 8 to 9:30 p.m. July 4. Come and enjoy the music and then stay for the fireworks display.

Join your friends at the official pre-party location, the GVR Beer Garden beginning at 5 p.m.  Attendees will get a choice of burger or brat, topping, fries and draft beer for $9.99.  The GVR Beer Garden is right next to Town Center Park at 4995 Argonne St.

* Mr. J and Smooth Expressions 7 to 8:30 p.m. July 8. Colorado’s premiere show band performs current pop and dance hits as well as  funk and disco tunes.

* Soul School 7 to 8:30 p.m. July 15. Soul School’s  repertoire of music includes golden oldies, beach, Motown, country, jazz, rock, funk, rhythm and blues and contemporary.

* Onda 7 to 8:30 p.m. July 22. Onda’s music is a mix of originals, traditional Latin standards and rhythms blended with funk, salsa, R+B, Latin jazz, cumbia, boogaloo, boleros, reggae and modern jam arrangements.

* Chase ‘N The Dream 7 to 8:30 p.m. July 29. R&B, dance music, jazz, blues, old school and gospel.

Ron Ivory and The Miles Apart Band.