Denver Food and Wine, the Mile High City’s biggest savor and sip soiree, celebrates its 10th year with the grand tasting from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday on the campus of Metropolitan State University.

The popular event attracts more than 5,000 food and wine lovers who can sample foodie fare from more than 30 of Denver’s top restaurants and taste more than 800 samples of wine and spirits.

Top sponsors of this mac (and cheese) daddy of an event are Southern Wine and Spirits of Colorado, the Colorado Restaurant Association, The Lincoln Motor Company, American Express and Ameristar Casino Black Hawk.

Denver Food and Wine is a fundraiser that benefits The Denver Post Community Foundation,  Metropolitan State University of Denver and the Colorado Restaurant Association Education Foundation.

You can take a break from the food and wine merriment by watching cooking demonstrations by molecular gastronomy guru Ian Kleinman of The Inventing Room, Panzano pastry chef Amy Sayles and Troy Guard, owner of  TAG, TAG Burger Bar, Bubu, Guard and Grace, Los Chingones and Sugarmill. Or perhaps peruse through the silent auction.

Tickets: $95 for general admission from 1 to 4 p.m.; $125 for First Tasting with early admission at noon; $250VIP admission at noon with a private area featuring 10 of Denver’s top restaurants offering farm-to-fork bites and specialty wines by Southern Wine & Spirits of Colorado sommeliers.

Test drive a new Lincoln vehicle at the Grand Tasting and receive a $50 gift card to one of Denver’s restaurants.

More information and for tickets for events at www.denverfoodandwine.com.

Alex Seidel, winner of Food & Wine magazine’s 2010 Best New Chef and owner of Denver’s award-winning Fruition Restaurant, is carrying his culinary talent to the historic Union Station redevelopment project on Wynkoop Street with the opening of Mercantile Dining & Provision on Monday.

The 75-seat restaurant will be open evenings only, serving dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 to 11 p.m. on weekends.  A chef’s table sits outside the open kitchen, and the space includes a wine library with a private dining table inside.  General manager is Jaime Town, formerly of Oak at Fourteenth in Boulder.

The market will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, and will serve gourmet coffee along with a full menu of freshly prepared breakfast and lunch options from the counter.  Ben Hecht, formerly with Whole Foods Market, has filled the market shelves with in-house preserved fruits and vegetables, potted meats and seafood, as well as artisanal goods from small producers.

In the center of the large, open restaurant and market on the north end of Union Station, is the bar led by Stuart Jensen, formerly of Green Russell.  Jensen is creating a culinary-focused cocktail program utilizing house-made ingredients, fresh produce and provisions from the market.

The design of the historic space was headed up by Tricia Mueller from Denver’s Larimer Associates. “Tricia took our vision, and through her design brought this place to life in a greater way than I could possibly have imagined.  She did an amazing job,” Seidel said.

Reservations for evening dining at Mercantile Dining & Provision can be made on www.opentable.com or by calling 720-460-3733.  For more information, visit www.mercantiledenver.com.

Elway’s Cherry Creek, the steak place that bears the name of the Broncos Hall-of-Famer John Elway, kicks off the Broncos 2014 football season with a pre-game  tailgate party where The Samples will perform from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday in Elway’s Backyard.

The Samples, which were rained out during one of the restaurant’s Wednesday concerts on the patio, agreed to return to add to the festivities surrounding the Broncos first regular-season game against the Colts starting at 6:30 p.m.

As always during Broncos season, the TVs in the Elway’s lounge will broadcast the big game, with sound, after the party.

Elway’s brunch menu will be served in the dining room and a special brunch menu will be offered on the enclosed patios including beef chorizo breakfast tacos, Palisade peach BBQ brisket sandwich and Elway’s new 7X burger (made from Colorado-bred all natural beef). Guests in the courtyard can choose from signature grill items and enjoy cocktails, wine or beer from the five bars set up outside.

Patrons can also make reservations to sit on the covered Elway’s patio and enjoy the music. Elway’s welcomes patio seating for brunch and private parties for 20 to 100 during the concerts. For reservations, email erin@elways.com.

Little Man Ice Cream is celebrating Grandparents Day with Honor Thy Elders, a daylong tribute to local seniors, featuring live music, food and guest speakers sharing stories of Northwest Denver’s multi-cultural history from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at LoHi Community Plaza, 2620 16th St.

Attendees will be served a community brunch provided by Lower Highland’s restaurants, including Lola, Jezebel’s, Metro Bistro & Bar, Tamales by La Casita, Gaetano’s, Lou’s Food Bar, Highland Tap & Burger, Tony P’s Pizza and Little Man Ice Cream.

During brunch, reminiscences from a panel of speakers who represent the diverse ethnicities of the area will include historian Phil Goodstein, Denver Auditor Dennis Gallagher, community activist Nettie Moore, President of the North High School Alumni Association Wally Ginn, along with Gene Smaldone, Dutchess Scheitler, Sal Carpio, Paula Sandoval, Charlene Sachter and Stanley Kamlet.

Dancing to the nostalgic sounds of Bob’s Big Band, a 19-piece swing band, will follow the panel discussion from 1 to 3 p.m.

As part of the celebration, Little Man is encouraging students to “adopt” a local senior and provide assistance with tasks such as raking leaves, walking pets or preparing meals. Grandparents are also invited to “adopt a school” and volunteer in classrooms at Skinner Middle School, Valdez Elementary and Centennial, a school for expeditionary learning for early childhood education through eighth grade.

“We wanted to find a fun way to pay tribute to our local seniors, while also providing an opportunity for residents to connect and share their memories about Northwest Denver,” said Little Man general manager Loren Martinez. “Our hope is to make Honor Thy Neighbors an annual event.”

For more information and complete event listings for Little Man, visit http://littlemanicecream.com or call 303-455-3811 or follow the shop on Facebook.

It’s two grand openings for the price of none when Cart-Driver and Proof celebrate their new businesses during the RiNo First Friday Art Walk tonight.

It’s a Friday filled with food, wine, art, community and late night service for the neighborhood on Larimer.

Both locations’ parties are from 5 to 10 p.m. with two in one specials, and the launch of Cart-Driver’s late night menu from 10 p.m. till close on Larimer Street. Cart-Driver is at 2500 Larimer and Proof is at 3360 Larimer.

Cart-Driver is a neighborhood eatery serving wood-fired pizza, fresh oysters and libations. Proof provides wine, beer and spirits.

Tickets go on sale today for a concert with the legendary Bob Dylan and his band at 8 p.m. Nov. 1 in the Bellco Theatre inside the Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St. Doors open at 7.

Tickets available online at www.ticketmaster.com, and at all Ticketmaster outlets. To charge by phone, call 800-745-3000. Reserved tickets are $49.50 to $129.50 plus applicable service charges. This is an all ages show.

Eavesdropping on a man talking about drink specials at Barry’s on Broadway: “Drink special. Jaguar bombs. Take that in. Did they mean Jager bombs? I wonder what jaguar tastes like?”

It sounded like a match made in Republican heaven when Monica Owens, former first daughter of former Gov. Bill Owens and ex-wife Frances, and John Beauprez, professional poker player and marketing specialist and son of governor wanna- be Bob Beauprez and wife, Claudia, got engaged on the Fourth of July.

And if the upcoming gubernatorial election goes their way, Monica could have the distinction of being the daughter and daughter-in-law of two Colorado governors.

The cute couple celebrated their engagement among friends and family on Saturday. On her Facebook page, Monica said that as of Aug. 28, the wedding was exactly six months away.

Monica, a Republican pundit and owner of Owens Public Affairs, and John, who’s all over social media for his poker prowess, found each other when John’s mom, Claudia, strategically seated the young ‘uns next to each other at a black-tie dinner.

And just in case you want to give the betrothed a wedding gift, they are registered at www.registry.theknot.com/monica-owens-john-beauprez-february-2015/9018648.

Pro Football Hall-of-Famer, Broncos VP and restaurateur John Elway recently sold his Aspen abode for $23 million, according to the website imfromdenver.com.

The home, which looks like a rock-star mansion, features six bedrooms and 10 baths in 15,889 square feet. The posh pad includes a gym, game room, a media room, master wing with two offices, a spa and an infinity pool with adjacent outdoor kitchen.

Check out photos of the interior, exterior and the spectacular mountain view at www.imfromdenver.com/2014/08/07/take-a-peek-inside-john-elways-aspen-mansion/.