Smashburger, the nation’s fastest growing “better burger” restaurant, will be hosting a “Turkey Round Up” on Friday in hopes of reaching its goal of donating 500 turkeys to the Denver Rescue Mission.

The Turkey Round Up quickly became a popular event for the Smashburger staff. Teams of four raise money for two weeks in order to collect as much money as possible to buy turkeys. On Friday, teams of four will have three hours to race around Colorado grocery stores in hopes of purchasing the most turkeys in the company. Teams are instructed to be back at the office by 4 p.m. to load up the trucks with the “Turkey Wranglers” and take them to the Lawrence Street shelter.

“The Turkey Round Up is a great yearly tradition that everyone on the team enjoys participating in. Not only is it an opportunity to donate towards a local cause, it’s also a fun way to get everyone involved in something we’re truly passionate about,” commented President and CEO Scott Crane. “It’s nice to see two local Colorado organizations come together to reach a goal that can truly make a significant impact on the community this holiday season.”

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Smashburger in hopes of reaching our goal of collecting 15,000 turkeys to provide a delicious Thanksgiving meal to the poor and the hungry,” said Lisette Williams, manager of community relations for the Denver Rescue Mission. “The energy and excitement that comes from such a great cause is something we look forward to every year. We’re confident that with the help of Smashburger, we’ll be better able to reach our goal.”

The company hosted its first “Turkey Round Up” last year and it has since become one of the brand’s favorite events of the year.  Last year, Smashburger raised a total of $4,375 to purchase a total of 308 turkeys to the Denver Rescue Mission. This year, the company hopes to reach a new goal of donating 500 turkeys.

Sarto’s Social Italian Eatery & Pantry in Denver’s Jefferson Park neighborhood will launch a traditional Cicchetti and Crudo Bar, a staple of the bustling, social dining scene in Italy’s city centers. The new dining option will be available starting Nov. 23.

Drawing from the early evening scenes of piazzas all over Italy, where friends gather for an apertivo and a small bite, Sarto’s Cicchetti and Crudo Bar will bring this Italian tradition of social “snacking” to Denver, inviting guests to enjoy an ever-changing offering of inspired small bites, prepared at the restaurant’s 12-seat counter by a member of Sarto’s talented team of chefs.

From hand-carved charcuterie to bespoke bites, this uniquely casual and interactive experience pairs perfectly with friends and a properly fitted beer, wine or cocktail, and allows diners to enjoy, and share, a few small bites, or curate a full meal. The Cicchetti and Crudo Bar will be available from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

The Cicchetti and Crudo Bar will transform into the Chef’s Counter on Friday and Saturday evenings. This off-menu dining experience will be offered by reservation only, and is pre-designed to match each guest’s distinct dining preferences.

Upon making reservations, guests provide specific details on their palate preferences, which Sarto’s team of Master Food Tailors use to craft custom menus for the event. Upon arrival, guests meet the evening’s chef and devoted libation expert, who will assist in pairings throughout the evening, allowing guests to take in the multi-course experience – prepared counterside – and interact with the chef, learning about the techniques, flavor profiles and ingredients of that night’s menu in a highly personalized setting. The Chef’s Counter will be available on Friday and Saturday evenings beginning at 5 p.m.

“It’s really amazing to have such a strong and experienced culinary team come together, and embrace the vision of tailored, sociable dining, so we are able to add experiences such as the Cicchetti & Crudo Bar,” said Owner Taylor Swallow of the talented culinary team, consisting of Chefs Eric Lee, Ivan Ceballos, Liz Farrall and Daniel Bourgios. 

In addition to Sarto’s nightly dinner, the Cicchetti and Crudo Bar and Chef’s Counter will join the recently added weekend brunch, complete with Saber Saturdays and Sundays. During brunch, when guests order Italian Methode Traditionelle bubbles, they are offered the opportunity to learn to properly saber open the bottle by one of Sarto’s trained professionals.

Sarto’s also offers a notable wine list and cocktail menu, both of which reflect the seasonality of the dishes served. Mirroring the tailored nature of the menu, the cocktail program is underscored by Sarto’s popular “Custom Fit Cocktail,” whereby the bartenders create customized cocktails to guest’s liking. For more information, or to make reservations, visit www.sartos.com, or call 303-455-1400.

Eavesdropping on a mom (a lifetime New Orleans Saints fan) and her son on Facebook: 

Mom: “I think I will start cheering for the Giants!”
Son: “Mom, You could always be a Falcons fan!”
Mom: “No way in the world would I cheer for the Falcons. I would rather have a root canal.”

9News anchor-reporter Mark Koebrich recently announced his retirement early next year after nearly 40 years at the Denver station.

Koebrich, the get-along guy who has worked on every newscast time slot at KUSA, will continue to co-anchor the 4 p.m. show until he signs off the air.

According to The Denver Post, Denver’s veteran newsman “has outlasted nine station managers, seven news directors and 30 co-anchors.”

When he broke the news on his retirement on the air, Koebrich said, “I have spent my entire adult working life in television newsrooms, a lot of time with people I have come to love, but not enough time with the one I loved first and most,” Koebrich said, referring to his wife, Cathy. “And it is time for Cathy and me to embark on our next chapter.”

On Saturday, Koebrich, a class act who has avoided controversy during his storied career, graciously posted this on his Facebook page:

“So I’ve wanted to post this since it was taken last Saturday at “Pink Tie”- many of you may not know that my colleague @kim9news (Kim Christiansen) has given up hundreds of Saturday nights to support causes of every description and she has done it with grace and elegance and passion – and as I end my career at 9News – I’d like to say for the record – we should all wish we could make an impact amounting to even a fraction of the good she has done in our community.”

How such a blunder could happen, I’ll never know. But, I have to rescind the offer for free tickets to “A Christmas Carol” Thursday and Friday at The Valor Center, the new performing arts facility at Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch.

According to the PR firm who sent the original press release, the performances are not free. Tickets range from $12 to $18 and are available at www.valorchristian.ticketforce.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=3.

Sorry for the misinformation.

For those seeking to give back this holiday season, guests of the Warwick Denver Hotel, 1776 Grant St., are invited to support military families by booking the new Holiday Rate package this holiday season.

A  proud partner of Operation Homefront, Warwick Denver Hotel adopts two military families during the holidays every year. The chosen families each receive a holiday stay a the hotel, which includes two suites located adjacent to each other, with a Christmas tree in the parents’ room; Christmas presents for the children; a gift certificate for a one-night return visit for the parents; a dog bed and treats for family dogs; Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner at Randolph’s Restaurant; Christmas Day brunch in the hotel’s ballroom, and breakfast on Dec. 26 and two on-demand movies.

For the first time, Warwick Denver Hotel is allowing regular guests to give back to deserving military families by booking the Holiday Rate package. With this package, $10 of each nightly rate will support Operation Homefront and the hotel’s adoption of the military families. Guests who book the Holiday Rate package will also receive breakfast for two each morning, two complimentary cocktails in the hotel bar, overnight valet parking and Warwick’s signature William Bear for each child staying in the room.

The Holiday Rate can be booked now for stays through Dec. 20. To reserve, please call 303-861-2000, or visit www.warwickhotels.com/denver/holiday/.

The German American Chamber of Commerce – Colorado Chapter has announced the dates for this year’s Denver Christkindl Market. Beginning on Friday, the Christmas market will be open every day until Dec. 23. The GACC estimates this year the event will draw around 175,000 visitors.

Located at Skyline Park at 16^th and Arapahoe streets, the 33-day event features authentic German cuisine, entertainment every night and local, national and international artisans displaying products in an old-world market setting.

“This event has grown in recent years, with the highest attendance in 2014 thanks to marketing efforts and some great Denver weather,” said Joshua Seeberg, previous executive director of the German American Chambers of Commerce. “I’m thrilled that the new GACC Executive Director Natalia Wobst will take the reigns for this cherished Denver tradition. Wobst is more than qualified to take this event to the next level.”

“Our German-American community in Colorado is rich with culture and the Christkindl Market – a celebration of tradition and commerce – brings the holiday spirit to all in Denver,” Wobst said. “We thank the sponsors Holland & Hart, Kärcher, Coen, Patton and Payne and Paulaner for making this tradition possible for Denver.”

Visit www.denverchristkindlmarket.com/entertainment/ for the schedule of entertainment.

Event schedule includes:

• Market Opens 11 a.m. Friday: Vendors, food and live music beginning at 4 p.m. until 9 p.m.

• Grand Opening 4:30 p.m. Saturday: Ceremony with the 2015 Christkind (Christ child), Wobst and GACC-CO President Peter Einsle.

• Denver Philharmonic Orchestra performs: 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

• Grand Illumination, 6 p.m. Nov. 27: presented by Downtown Denver Partnership, Inc. A part of Downtown Denver’s Winter in the City program, the Grand Illumination event will light up downtown from Denver Union Station to the City and County Building. Following a countdown shortly after 6:30 p.m., Denver Union Station will be ablaze with brightly colored floodlights illuminating the historic structure in the heart of lower downtown and its lighted tree in front. Light Exhibition runs through the end of December.

• Southwest Skating Rink at Skyline Park opens 11 a.m. Nov. 27: The Christkindl Market warming tent will be serving warm Gluehwein (glow wine) and hot chocolate.

• St. Nikolaus Day Dec. 6: St. Nikolaus Day celebrations with appearances from St. Nickolas in the afternoon.

• Parade of Lights, 8 p.m. Dec. 4 and 6 p.m. Dec. 5: Market will stay open until 10 p.m. both days.

• St. Nikolaus at the Market, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 5: Live entertainment and appearances from St. Nikolaus at the Market.

• Dec. 1 through Dec. 23 - Advent Calendar Give-Aways start: Seven-foot advent calendar with 23 days of vendor gifts to market goers.

Party Venue: The Market’s heated venue, the holiday tent, is available for office or family holiday celebrations. Laura Jacobson can arrange your office party or gathering. Email Laura at jacobson@gacc-co.org.

Casita Brewing Company will join a host of food and beverage concepts at Stanley Marketplace, including Stanley Beer Hall, GoodBird Kitchen, Comida, Rosenberg’s Bagels and Sazza. The community-centric marketplace and food hall will open at 2501 Dallas St. in Aurora next year.

Casita Brewing Company was founded in 2014 as a bespoke brewing consulting service for private clients. Its first production brewery and public taproom will open within Stanley, and offer 10-12 beers, including standards like IPAs and porters, as well as more unusual concoctions. It will continue to offer custom brewing services for private clients in its new facility.

Casita draws inspiration from the Mexican roots of co-owners Javier Pérez Koch and Jennifer Pérez, as well as the influence of European countries on Mexican food, drink and culture.  Under the direction of Brewmaster Brian Arnold, Casita’s beer will be fusion focused, utilizing a combination of flavors and colors to produce brews. Additionally, Casita will craft specific brews inspired by several of the other businesses within Stanley, including a Logan House inspired coffee-infused beer, and a beer created for Endorphin ­­members to enjoy after their weekly Friday night Stink & Drink classes.

Casita runs the Homies Brewing Club, a gathering place for fans of craft beer and home brewing, and will sponsor several athletic teams, including the Casita Brewing Running Club and the Casita Brewing Disc Golf Club, which plans to host games on Stanley’s parkland. Casita is also dedicated to community service projects.

“Jennifer and I are looking forward to giving people a home away from home,” Pérez Koch said. “Casita Brewing won’t just be a place where you go and they have to let you in. We want patrons to treat it like their living room. We welcome you, your family and friends to make Casita Brewing a place to gather to enjoy more than just beer. It will be the place where you gather to celebrate, to perform community service and to start or end your exertion.”

Developed by Stapleton-based Flightline Ventures, the more than 22-acre, 100,000-square-foot Stanley Marketplace was once Stanley Aviation headquarters, where airplane ejector seats were engineered and manufactured. The same innovative spirit that once filled this building has been harnessed to offer community members an urban marketplace featuring goods and services from local and independent businesses, as well as a spacious community park and indoor/outdoor event venue.

“The Stanifesto really appealed to our desire to be a part of something bigger than ourselves, and to support the other tenants and the communities Stanley serves,” Perez said. “Community building and repurposing a beautiful, historic property are key factors in our desire to be a part of Stanley.”

For more information, visit www.stanleymarketplace.com.

Eavesdropping on Facebook: “Dad, I found this (drawing) in the garbage and I’m giving it to you.”
“Did you draw it?”
“No, I found it in the garbage at school.”