Swallow Hill Music presents 2014 Denver Ukefest today and tomorrow at Swallow Hill, 71 E. Yale Ave. and at The Brew on Broadway, 3445 S. Broadway.

Denver Ukefest is a festival, showcasing all-things ukulele, including workshops for all skill levels (and even loaner ukes if you don’t own one). This year’s workshops include Ukulele 101 for the absolute beginner, Fingerstyle Blues for the more advanced uke player, a Hawaiian Dance workshop for all, and more.

Most of this year’s workshops are led by the performers, ukulele experts and artisans. “It’s great to be able to interact with the performers that you’ll see on stage. In many cases, they’ll present something in the workshop, and then you’ll get to see them perform it on stage that night,” said Chris McGarry, children’s program director and ukulele teacher at Swallow Hill Music. “The workshops also have a wide array of skill levels – with lots of challenging materials that one has to ‘grow into.'”

Featuring master classes and concerts by Aldrine Guerrero, Ooks of Hazzard, Star Belle, The Copoetics, and more, Denver Ukefest is perhaps the happiest festival in Denver. For more information, and complete workshop descriptions, visit denverukefest.org or call 303-777-1003, ext. 2.

It’s Occupy Civic Center weekend.

When the 43rd annual CHUN Capitol Hill People’s Fair takes over Civic Center (park), the performers, artisans and food purveyors will be staging a temporary sit-in that begins at 10 a.m. Saturday and ends at 7 p.m. Sunday.

The annual festival, produced by Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods, Inc., is expected to attract 200,000 visitors to the free family attractions.

For the first time, there will be an area dedicated to greening and re-purposing exhibitors. Also appealing to your green side, the Waste-Divert-A-Thon, a new fund-raising program for non-profits, will have volunteer teams delivering the message of diverting waste from landfills.

For a complete schedule, go to www.peoplesfair.com.

A hot time will be had by all at the annual Hot Rocks Griller Challenge, a benefit for the Denver Health Foundation, where local chefs compete for “best slider” rights from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday (June 11) at Elway’s Cherry Creek, 2500 E. First Ave.

The 2014 participating chefs are:

Steve Ballas of Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs;Brandon Biederman and Brandon Foster of Vesta Dipping Grill and Steuben’s; Robert Bogart of Elway’s Downtown; Michael Bortz (dessert chef) of City Bakery; Adam Branz of Bistro Vendôme; Justin Brunson of Old Major;  Jamey Fader of Lola and Big Red F Restaurant Group; Troy Guard of TAG and Guard & Grace; Aniedra Nichols and Tyler Wiard of Elway’s Cherry Creek; Felice Price of Continental Sausage/Deli; Paul Reilly of Beast + Bottle; Goose Sorensen of Solera; Darrel Truett of Barolo Grill; Elise Wiggins of Panzano.

Live music by Chris Daniels and the Kings.

General admission tickets are $100 apiece. VIP tickets with a 5:30 p.m. opening and access to the covered VIP lounge are $250. Reserved tables start at $600.

For details about this event or to purchase tickets visit www.DenverHealthFoundation.org.

The NeXt Music Festival launches its inaugural weekend event series, Global Glow, today through Sunday at two venues – The Evergreen Center for the Arts, 32003B Ellingwood Trail, and at the Wood Cellar Bar & Grill, 1552 Bergen Parkway.

Global Glow features an integrated series of performances, exhibits and screenings, as well as a free music workshop for teens and a variety of community jam sessions.

Sponsored by the University of Colorado Denver, Global Glow provides an artful experience through cutting-edge musicians and artists. CU Denver faculty and students at the College of Arts & Media are involved in the production, organization and performance aspects of the event.

Global Glow will explore jazz, classical, folk and electronic music, as well as art and film to focus on the relationships between the changing environment and people around the world. 

“By participating in all levels of the event, CU Denver faculty and students are demonstrating our commitment to relevant expression and thoughtful conversation about current events through the arts,” said Gregory Walker, CU Denver professor and Global Glow artistic director.

Exhibits feature original drawings reflecting on ecology, history and memory; a large painting/installation that uses the famous Mexican luchadores as a metaphor; digital prints evoking current debates about the environment and needed social change; and a mixed media installation that makes lyrical connections to nature, human presence and loss.

Visual artists participating in Global Glow include CU Denver faculty members Melissa Furness, Quintin Gonzalez, Rian Kerrane and Michelle Carpenter, as well as artist Lanny Devuono.  Musical performances feature Peter Stoltzman, Todd Reid, Evan Shelton and Walker, all faculty at CU Denver; and Heather Styka, singer-songwriter from Maine.

For more information, see the Global Glow schedule below:

Friday, June 6 -

• 6 p.m. – opening artist’s reception
• 7:30 p.m. – jazz pianist Peter Stoltzman and Heather Styka will perform a benefit concert with all proceeds going to the Humanitarian International Services for its work with global disaster response (www.hisg.org).

Saturday, June 7 -

• 7:30 p.m. –  a showcase performance featuring “Above the Ashes,” Michelle Carpenter’s award-winning documentary about the 2012 Rocky Mountain fires (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84DlOmRFG6Y), electronic percussionist Todd Reid and members of the Evergreen Chorale.

Free lunchtime preview performances will be offered at Evergreen’s Wood Cellar Bar & Grill from noon to 12:30 p.m. today and Saturday.

Sunday, June 8 -

• Noon to 12:30 p.m. – a free audience-participatory jam session at Evergreen’s Wood Cellar Bar & Grill.
• 7:30 pm – Global Glow inaugural weekend finale: performances by cello virtuoso Evan Shelton, members of the Evergreen Chamber Orchestra, artistic director Gregory T.S. Walker’s Electric Vivaldi Guitar Concerto from Centaur Records’ new Global Solstice (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=699SARMy9cE)

A free composition and improvisation mini-camp for teens takes place from 3 to 5 p.m. today, Saturday and Sunday at the Evergreen Center for the Arts.  Registration materials can be found at: http://carbon.ucdenver.edu/~gwalker/NeXtMiniCamp.htm. Daily admission: $15 for adults, $12 for senior citizens ages 60 and older, $7 for students.

For more information, call the Evergreen Center for the Arts: 303-674-0056.

Eavesdropping on a woman talking about other women shopping in Cherry Creek North: “Those women wear their makeup and jewelry and high heels to water aerobics.”

More than 900 of Denver’s business and civic leaders gathered May 29 for the 53rd Downtown Denver Annual Awards Dinner presented by Polsinelli as the stories of six award winners, representing projects, programs and milestone anniversaries were shown through short videos, sponsored by Comcast.

Since 1962, the Downtown Denver Annual Awards program has allowed the Downtown Denver Partnership to recognize the accomplishments that have transformed our center city each year.

“It is so important to pause and reflect every year on the big ideas, accomplishments and successes that have changed the landscape of our city and inspire all of us,” said Tami Door, Downtown Denver Partnership president and CEO. “These six award winners are setting an incredible example of what it means to contribute to making this city stronger, we are proud to honor their significant achievements.”

Here are the winners:

1801 California St.

For investing in and transforming one of Downtown Denver’s most iconic office buildings into a state-of-the-art space that has re-energized the commercial core by attracting new business tenants, creating an inviting environment, and activating the ground floor and plaza with new amenities.

Cadance Union Station

For taking the lead in housing development in the Denver Union Station neighborhood, building 219 units of rental housing, sending a message of confidence for development, attracting new residents to Downtown Denver, and complementing the adjacent transit uses.

Denver Car Share Permit Program

For establishing a creative and unprecedented car sharing permit program through a collaborative process, making it possible for multiple car share companies to enter the Denver market and ultimately paving the way for greater mobility options for downtown Denver residents, employees and visitors.

IMA Financial Group Building

For the crucial private investment that was essential in securing funding for the redevelopment of Denver Union Station, fulfilling IMA’s vision of building a distinctive headquarter office building in Downtown Denver that serves as the north anchor of the multimodal transportation hub.

Newmark Grubb Knight Frank Denver 125th Anniversary

For 125 years as Downtown Denver’s first commercial real estate firm, demonstrating a constant commitment to Downtown, providing leadership to key Downtown planning efforts and contributing to an economically viable urban core.

Trinity United Methodist Church 125th Anniversary

For sustaining and growing Downtown Denver’s first church, establishing its permanent home on 18th and Broadway in 1888 that became a symbol of pride for a growing city, as well as continuing to serve not only its congregation, but also the community throughout its 125-year history.

For more about the award winners, go to www.downtowndenver.com.

At last month’s National Restaurant Association Show  in Chicago, 2,168 exhibiting companies — a 4.3 percent increase over last year — showcased their products to more than 61,000 attendees. Some trends from last year’s show returned bigger than ever, including gluten-free items and health-focused beverages, according to a recap at www.smartblogs.com. Here is a look at three trends that dominated this year’s show.

Locavore movement grows with in-house produce operations

The rooftop garden at McCormick Place. Photo: Tricia Smith

Locally grown produce was the second most popular trend named by chefs in NRA’s 2014 What’s Hot Culinary Focus, and the local produce movement was well represented at this year’s show. Attendees could sign up for a tour of  McCormick Place’s rooftop garden, which will provide roughly 6,000 pounds of produce to the convention center’s two Green-Seal-certified restaurants this year.

Spicy flavors trend continues to heat up

Bold, spicy flavors were a big presence on the show floor this year. Exhibitors showed off spice in foods ranging from nuts and salsas to more unusual applications, such as the chocolate ice cream infused with chipotle sauce on display at the Tabasco booth. Tabasco produced the ice cream especially for the show, but said it’s as simple as adding a few bottles of the brand’s chipotle sauce to a batch of soft serve ice cream.

Companies call out kosher certification

Foods targeted at those with special diets have been a growing trend for years. Gluten-free items could be found in almost every aisle on the show floor, but kosher-certified foods were also well represented this year. Brands including 1-2-3 Gluten Free and Sweet Street Desserts said they have been kosher-certified from the beginning, since obtaining a kosher-certification for baked goods is relatively simple.

For more of the story, go to http://smartblogs.com/food-and-beverage/2014/06/02/local-produce-spicy-flavors-and-kosher-products-steal-the-show-at-nra-show-2014/?utm_source=brief.

The Second City’s American Mixtape, a collection of Denver ditties that poke fun at relationships, politics and political relationships, plays The Garner Galleria Theatre today (June 4) through 29.

From the company that launched the careers of  Tina Fey, Seth Meyers, Eddie Murphy, Tim Meadows, Martin Short and Mike Myers among many other comedic icons, The Second City’s newest Denver concoction is directed by Billy Bungeroth with an ensemble featuring Nicole C. Hastings, Randall Harr, Meghan Murphy and Travis Turner.

Beginning as a small cabaret theater on Chicago’s north side in 1959, The Second City has grown to become a comedy empire building a robust business based on its core improvisational methodologies.

Tickets start at $25 for The Second City’s American Mixtape. To charge by phone, call Denver Center Ticket Services at 303-893-4100. Groups of 10 or more, call 303-446-4829. Additionally, tickets may be purchased at the Denver Center Ticket Office,  in the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex lobby. Buy and print online at www.denvercenter.org.

Dunkin’ Donuts, America’s all-day, everyday stop for coffee and baked goods, will celebrate National Doughnut Day on Friday, June 6, by offering metro-area doughnut-philes a free doughnut (while supplies last) with the purchase of any beverage.

“National Doughnut Day is a great way to thank our loyal guests and introduce new people in Denver to the wide variety of food and beverages that Dunkin’ Donuts offers,” said Josh Blanchard, Edgewater restaurant’s franchisee.

Dunkin’ Donuts is also helping doughnut lovers celebrate summer by adding a new and blue blueberry cobbler doughnut to the menu. Featuring a yeast shell doughnut with blueberry filling, white dipping icing and coffee cake streusel topping, the Blueberry Cobbler Donut is now available at participating Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants nationwide.

National Doughnut Day, celebrated on the first Friday of June each year, was originally established in 1938 by the Chicago Salvation Army to honor women who served donuts to soldiers during World War I.

Dunkin’ Donuts has been a leader in the donut category for nearly 65 years, selling 2.5 billion doughnut and Munchkins donut hole treats annually. 

Participating Denver metro area Dunkin’ Donuts are at: 366 Broadway, Denver; 2001 Sheridan Blvd., Edgewater; 8775 Washington St., Thornton; 3235 28th St., Boulder; 16611 Smoky Hill Road, Aurora and  7615 W. 88th Ave., Westminster.

The blueberry and blueberry cobbler doughnut from Dunkin Donuts.