Denver’s Kevin Taylor Restaurant Group, helmed by renowned chef Kevin Taylor, will open a new restaurant and beer hall in the recently announced development Stanley Marketplace at 2501 Dallas St. in Aurora, just a few feet from the southern border of Stapleton.

Unlike Taylor’s other Denver restaurants, which include Palettes at the Denver Art Museum, Kevin Taylor’s at the Opera House and Limelight Supper Club & Lounge, this restaurant and beer hall will exist in a casual industrial atmosphere, highlighting the architecture of the former Stanley Aviation Building, where airplane ejector seats were manufactured for roughly 50 years. Located in the southwest corner of the building, the restaurant will boast views of the Rockies, Westerly Creek and much of the 22 acre-park on which the marketplace is situated.

The menu will offer items made with locally sourced produce, as well as craft beer and local wines and spirits.

“I’m excited to move forward with our next venture in a different way,” said Taylor, who helped put Denver on the national culinary map when he opened Zenith downtown. “Approachable restaurants are the future, and I believe we can provide the level of cuisine for which we’re known, but in a way that is appealing to everyone, and fits within Stanley, and the surrounding community, perfectly.”

The group, which also operates several catering operations within the Denver Performing Arts Complex, Denver Art Museum and Clyfford Still Museum, will also provide cuisine and service for the indoor and outdoor event spaces within Stanley.

Comprised of more than 100,000 square feet on 22 acres, the Stanley Marketplace aims to become the community’s new centerpiece, and will also be home to a spacious community park, office space and a wide array of dining, shopping and recreational offerings. The marketplace and restaurant are slated to open in mid to late 2015.

For more information, visit www.ktrg.net.

As Colorado college students are adjusting to back-to-school reality, Travel + Leisure magazine has been determining which colleges have the most beautiful campuses and which pillars of prognostication offer the best off-campus college bars.

According to T + L, the University of Colorado in Boulder not only scored on the best bar list, but it also snagged a spot in the most beautiful campus ranking.

Here’s what the mag said about best bar:

“Catacombs is more than a mile from the campus, hidden below the Hotel Boulderado. You won’t find much information on its website either. But none of these things matter in terms of loyal patronage. What you will find in this cavernous watering hole are three pool tables, two ping-pong battlegrounds, and six, old-school video games, including Frogger. The bar hosts an epic karaoke night, an open-mic night, and, its biggest draw, trivia night. Oh, and the $3 microbrew happy hour probably doesn’t hurt either.”

About the campus’ curb appeal, “T + L” wrote:

“The flagship University of Colorado combines sweeping views of the snow-capped Rocky Mountains and Flatirons, a gorgeous natural setting that includes a serene lake and two creeks, and ruggedly beautiful buildings to match. Most, including the grand Norlin Library, feature a distinct Tuscan-meets-the-West architectural style of local sandstone walls, red tile roofs, and limestone trim.”

To see the rest of the best college campuses and bars, go to www.travelandleisure.com/articles/americas-best-college-bars/2?xid=JustIn090214BestCollegeBars and/or to www.travelandleisure.com/articles/americas-most-beautiful-college-campuses?xid=JustIn090214CollegeCampuses.

Golden’s Briarwood Inn is celebrating its 35th anniversary by offering a three-course dinners for $35 during the month of September.

The fine-dining destination restaurant at 1630 Eighth St. is owned and operated by Lisa Patterson, the second generation member of the family who started the business. Patterson bought the restaurant from the estate of founding father Reid Pasko after Pasko died in 2008.

During the month-long anniversary celebration, the prix fixe menu will include entrees from the original such as the spinach salad with warm bacon dressing, veal piccata, chicken Rochambeau and the popular Briarwood dessert tray.

For reservations and more information, go to www.thebriarwoodinn.com.

You say crayfish, I say crawfish.

No matter, they’re still the same yummy mud bugs whether you’re in New Orleans, Sweden or Denver.

Charcoal Restaurant, 43 W. Ninth Ave., is representing the Swedish shellfish version with its annual Kraftskiva, a Swedish crayfish party from 5 p.m. to close Saturday.

The cost is $52 per person, which includes an unlimited buffet of traditional Swedish smorgasbord items and one beer or akavit. The regular menu will also be available.

Crayfish are served cold with dill sauce and you eat them with your fingers. It’s customary to noisily suck the juices off the crayfish before shelling. Bibs and wet naps provided.

Reservations by calling  303-454-0000 or at www.charcoaldining.com.

Parties of five or more require a credit card to secure a reservation and fees will apply for cancellations with less than 24 hours notice.

Eavesdropping on a husband and wife watching TV: “What’s that actress’ name again again?”

“Poppy Montgomery.”

“And the name of this show is?”

“‘Unforgettable’.”

We’re taking the holiday off at Penny Parker’s On The Town. Enjoy your Labor Day holiday.

The 31st annual A Taste of Colorado rolls into downtown Denver’s Civic Center Park Friday through Monday with fireworks, musical performances, wares and fare.

Fireworks will kick off at roughly 9 p.m. tonight after the En Vogue performance on the Access Health Colorado Main Stage. The display will also feature synchronized lights on the City and County Building, along with choreographed music by Jammin’ 101.5.

In addition to the Access Health Colorado Main Stage, four other entertainment stages located throughout the grounds will serve up a continuous menu of music, including the KBCO World Class Rock Stage, the KYGO Country Stage, and the Colorado Heritage Stage presented by Westword.

More than 50 Colorado food establishments will be selling a variety of small portions to full meals for your snacking pleasure. The Fine Dining area will host some of Denver’s top restaurants. The Albert Bartlett Culinary Showcase presented by 630 KHOW features local and nationally renowned chef demonstrations creating simple yet elegant meals.

Festival-goers can shop in more than 250 marketplace booths for original arts and crafts, home and gift items, furniture, jewelry, imports and more. Fine Art in the Park will display original works in a variety of mediums created by artists from around the country.

Shoppers also can explore the home and lifestyles area, which features a variety of exhibitors displaying products and services such as window installation, kitchen remodeling, cookware, basement refinishing and salons and spas.

For the kiddos, there will be music, magic, clowns and puppets on the Colorado Access KidzStage presented by MIX 100, and the KidZone features play equipment, plus a free, hands-on craft activities for children of all ages, presented by 101.9 WAY-FM. Kids and adults also can enjoy carnival rides and games Saturday through Monday, presented by KOOL 105.

In the Festival of Mountain and Plain area, families can learn about the state’s pioneer past, nature and the environment. Featured artisans will demonstrate Navajo weaving and culture, spinning, rug braiding, lace crocheting, and felting, along with a blacksmith demonstration.

Festival hours are 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. today, 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday.

Festival of Mountain and Plain … A Taste of Colorado is a community celebration that is produced by and benefits Downtown Denver Events, Inc., the Downtown Denver Partnership family’s community events nonprofit organization.

For more information, visit www.ATasteofColorado.com, www.facebook.com/ATasteofColorado, www.twitter.com/ATasteofCO or call 303-295-6330.

History Colorado Center hosted a farm-to-table lunch with Governor John Hickenlooper, Commissioner of Agriculture John Salazar and other government officials Wednesday as an occasion to celebrate the end of second annual Choose Colorado Tour, a 27-day road trip through Colorado’s farms and ranches.

The lunch, created by award-winning chefs Jason K. Morse of 5280 Culinary and Kurt Boucher or Rendezvous Cafe at History Colorado Center, was made with ingredients collected from each region of the 11 city stops along the tour.

Ingredients from statewide agricultural communities included: Yukon gold and masquerade potatoes from Alamosa, tomatoes and rhubarb from Boulder, grapes from Burlington, Pueblo green chiles from Colorado Springs, sweet corn from Denver, beets from Durango, onions and scallions from Fort Collins, lettuce and greens from Frisco and Vail and peaches and pears from Grand Junction.

The Choose Colorado Tour, which began its journey on Aug. 1, the state’s birthday, was created last year to integrate agricultural communities, celebrate farmers who help our state thrive and educate consumers about the benefits of buying local produce.

“While buying local has proved its positive impact on the economy, it also is better for the environment – helping keep farms and ranches profitable, thereby maintaining open space and wildlife habitat,” said Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Salazar. “Buying local also supports Colorado’s western heritage, preserving the farms, ranches and land that define the state.”

The lunch was divine: Roasted beets, grilled Colorado beef and arugula salad, seven-hour smoked bacon-wrapped Colorado lamb with sweet corn and pear salsa and masquerade potatoes and Palisade peach and rhubarb crisp with vanilla paste sweet cream.

To learn more about Colorado Proud, go to www.coloradoproud.org.

Below, Rocky Ford cantaloupes and sweet corn from Sakata Farms during the Choose Colorado Tour in Denver. 

Matt, Al and Natalie? Oh my!

NBC’s “Today” is coming to Sports Authority Field at Mile High for a live shot on Sept. 5, and if you’re a season ticket holder, The Broncos are inviting you to get in on the gig.

The team is looking “for fans that will represent Broncos Country with excitement to the millions of  ‘Today’ viewers across the United States. Each season ticket holder is able to bring additional guests…” In other words, go crazy with your orange and blue.

Season ticket holders need to report to Sports Authority Field at Mile High stadium no later than 5:20 a.m. Sept. 5 (the rest of us can sleep in). Taping is slated to wrap by 7:30 a.m.