Eavesdropping on a 4-year-old and her father on Facebook: “Daddy, do you remember that time you wouldn’t let me get my face painted?”
“You mean two years ago? When we were at that festival and it started raining?”
“Yeah, that’s the time.”
“Uhhhh … yeah I remember, why?”
“I used to like you before that.”

The idea is so brilliant that you would have thought the Larimer Square brain trust would have planted seeds for a farmer’s market years ago.

But the seeds have finally sprouted into a full-grown, fruit, vegetable, bread, cheese, spice and meat market in the courtyard adjacent to restaurant Bistro Vendome, owned by Larimer Square lassies Beth Gruitch and award-winning chef Jennifer Jasinski.

To help establish the “chef-curated” open-air vendor space, Euclid Hall and Stoic & Genuine (opening July in the Union Station redevelopment) chef Jorel Pierce lent his culinary prowess to the project with the support of Larimer Square honchos Jeff Hermanson and Joe Vostrejs.

The result? Le Jardin Secret, which debuts with the Denver Chalk Art Festival at 9:30 a.m. May 31 and continuing on Saturdays through Aug. 23.

Le Jardin organizers hosted invited guests to a sneak peek of the bounty offered by local merchants including Grateful Bread Company, Western Daughters Butcher Shoppe, the Truffle Cheese Shop, Sugarmill and Blooming Fool.

At this chefs’ market with a French accent, foodies can shop for fine artisanal fare with a mimosa or Bloody Mary in hand.

“Larimer Square is Denver’s oldest and most historic block, and we take a lot of pride in it,” Vostrejs said. “This year we’re going to step up the game.”

Hermanson, whose family trust owns the Square, concurred with his colleague.

“Joe and I have been working on Larimer Square for two decades and the evolution has been pretty satisfying for us, and we think for the public,” Hermanson said.

Chef Pierce was tagged to choose participating vendors. “I think this space was made for a farmer’s market,” he said. “We wanted to invoke somewhat of a French farmer’s market motif. This is your chance to shop from the people that chefs shop from.”

For more information on Larimer Square’s summer events, go to www.larimersquare.com.

(Photos courtesy of John Imbergamo/Facebook)

Denver based companies BMC Investments and Sage Hospitality have announced plans to develop and operate a $60 million, seven-story, luxury independent hotel with restaurant and retail space in Cherry Creek.

BMC and Sage entered into a joint venture with Sullivan Group (helmed by dandy developer Jim Sullivan) and Elevation Group for the development of 245 Columbine, otherwise known as the Old Post Office Building.  BMC and Sage will serve as the joint-venture managing members and co-developers.

“This is the premier site available in Cherry Creek for a high-end hotel, and we feel that there is tremendous demand for a project of this caliber” said Matt Joblon, managing partner of BMC, a nationally recognized investment and development company specializing in commercial real estate and premium assets. “As with our Steele Creek project on First and Steele, we will work closely with the City Council and the neighborhood to ensure we deliver an exceptional project that highlights Cherry Creek.”

Denver-based Sage Hospitality, one of the nation’s leading investment and management companies for hotels and restaurants, will co-develop and independently brand the 150-room luxury hotel featuring a roof-top pool.  Sage Restaurant Group, who developed Second Home Kitchen + Bar also in Cherry Creek, plans to implement one of its newest brands in part of the available restaurant and retail space.

BMC and Sage have engaged design architecture firms klipp/a division of gkkworks and JG Johnson Architects of Denver to design the building.  Renowned New York-based interior designer Robert McKinley will fashion the interior of the hotel.

“We plan to create something totally unique and indigenous that will fit in with the Cherry Creek vibe,” said Walter Isenberg, President and CEO of Sage.  “Sage has developed exciting, independent brands in Colorado such as The Crawford Hotel at Denver’s Union Station, opening in July in LoDo.  We plan to bring that excitement and sense of place to Cherry Creek with this project.”

Both companies will work closely with the Cherry Creek North Neighborhood Association to ensure that the project meets the goals and objectives of the neighborhood and is consistent with its character and context.

In celebration of its 35th anniversary, Swallow Hill Music is delivering more music to more people in more places. And, its latest effort to expand its music community comes with wheels.

A donor recently gave Swallow Hill Music a 1976 Silver Streak motor home, to be turned into a mobile music community. But, the ol’ girl needs a little TLC. A crowd-funding campaign with a goal of raising $10,000 launches today to help the Swallow Hill Music mobile home hit the road.

Contributions made over the next few weeks will get the Silver Steak running smoothly, add signage and give her an overall buff and shine. Once she’s up and running, she’ll turn into a mobile music community, providing Instrument Petting Zoos, impromptu performances and musical experiences throughout Denver.

Taking Swallow Hill Music On the Road will enrich Denver’s availability to music education by transporting instruments and musical experiences throughout the metro area, meeting people where they live and enriching their lives through music.

Gotta love Lannie’s.

Lovely local vocal Lannie Garrett, along with business partner Jefferson Arca, have operated Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret in the basement of the historic D&F Clock Tower at Arapahoe and the 16th Street Mall for several years.

And while you may have caught a show from a rowdy repertoire of burlesque, the music of Edith Piaf, a sexy circus sideshow or the iconic Patsy DeCline show — starring Garrett as she giddy-ups in gaudy get-ups — you may not know that the snappy space is available to rent for private parties.

On Monday, media members and event planners were invited to a “show and tell” of the snazzy space that holds roughly 135 people for an event. Catering is available from Relish Catering or you can bring in a caterer of your choice.

You can even pick out one of the Cabaret shows (at an additional cost) to entertain your guests. Prices vary according to the size of the event and whether it benefits a nonprofit organization.

For more information, contact private event coordinator Selene at 303-293-0075 or e-mail her at bookyourevent@lannies.com.

“New York Times” best-selling author and prison reform activist Piper Kerman will deliver a lecture on her memoir “Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Woman’s Prison”, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St.

In her memoir, Kerman recounts the year that she spent in the Danbury Correctional Facility for a crime she had committed 10 years prior as a brief and careless dalliance in the world of drug trafficking. The stories of the women she met while in prison raise issues of friendship and family, mental illness, the odd cliques and codes of behavior, the role of religion, the uneasy relationship between prisoner and jailer, and the almost complete lack of guidance for life after prison.

The new season of the Netflix series “Orange is the New Black” begins June 6.

Tickets are $40 to$50 for regular admission or $75 for premium seating with a meet and greet with Kerman prior to the event. To purchase tickets, call 720-509-1000 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday or visit www.LoneTreeArtsCenter.org.

Piper Kerman

Eavesdropping on a server to a man at the VIP launch party of Le Jardin: “Would you like a croque monsieur with truffle bechamel sauce?”

“You had me at truffle.”

TV power couple Giuliana and Bill Rancic may have shined the spotlight on Denver’s Four Seasons Hotel, but you’ll have to watch Tuesday’s episode of “Giuliana and Bill” on E! TV to find out.

While the cable network shot a ton of footage in the grand  ballroom of the luxury hotel during the Mad Scientist Ball, a gala to honor Colorado fertility guru Dr. William Schoolcraft, the show’s producer isn’t promising that the Denver shoot will circumvent the cutting room floor.

“Giuliana and Bill Rancic stayed at the hotel several times, together and individually,” said Dana Berry, who was Four Season Denver’s PR pro at the time. “Through their TV show, they are pretty open that they went to Dr. William Schoolcraft to have a baby, and I’ve been told their son’s surrogate mother lives in Colorado.”

The couple were featured speakers at the ball. “They were excellent speakers and talked very candidly with the attendees about not only her struggle with breast cancer, but with conceiving as well, and they shared that Dr. Schoolcraft would not let her go through with any fertility treatments before having a mammogram … and it was the mammogram that detected her breast cancer, so Giuliana shared her thoughts that Dr. Schoolcraft had saved her life,” Berry said.

I’m told that the gala had a whimsical science theme and featured green, “glowing” cocktails with dry ice giving them a frothy look.

“Her crew was a pleasure to work with,” Berry said. “They filmed in a suite, and in EDGE (the hotel’s restaurant), although I am not sure which scenes will have made the cut.”

Here’s the official word from the show’s producer: “After we finish at the production level, we deliver it to the network, where there is a chance that they will make additional edits at the executive level.  That said, if your segment doesn’t air on the date mentioned above, there’s a chance it was moved to another episode or in some cases for a myriad reasons, left on the cutting room floor.”

Bill and Giuliana Rancic with their first baby, Duke, who is now 2 years old. (E! Network photo)

Denver Film Society and Denver Arts & Venues have announced the line-up for the 2014 edition of Film on the Rock, which begins June 3 with “Caddyshack.”

Presented by Pepsi, the 15th season includes eight events throughout the summer featuring two tribute screenings, and 15th anniversary screening of “Fight Club.” Each film is preceded by a live concert. The 2014 season also will introduce Comedy Works’ Sam Tallent as the official host of Film on the Rocks.

“It is not summer in Colorado without Film on the Rocks, the Front Range’s annual outdoor hit summer series,” said Britta Erickson, festival director for the Denver Film Society. “Cult-classic and fan-favorite films, great music and the beautiful backdrop of the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater make for the perfect summer experience.”

“Peak Experience” ticket packages return again this year for the ultimate “Film on the Rocks” experience.  For each show guests can choose the VIP experience by selecting the Party Bus VIP or Trading Post Pre-Party VIP. The Party Bus VIP ticket includes food, drinks and a ride to and from the show from the Blake Street Tavern. The Trading Post Pre-Party VIP ticket includes catering by Steuben’s Food Truck. Both VIP ticket options include food, drinks and preferred seating in the amphitheatre.
“Film on the Rocks” is curated and produced by the Denver Film Society on behalf of the the City and County of Denver’s Division of Arts & Venues. In 2013, more than 60,000 people attended “Film on the Rocks”.

Pepsi presents “Film on the Rocks” 2014 summer schedule:

* June 3: “Caddyshack” with Ark Life and Covenhoven

* June 10: “Fight Club with Flashbulb Fires and FaceMan

* June 16: “Labyrinth with Grizfolk and Total Ghost

* June 24: “This is Spinal Tap” with School of Rock

* July 1: “The Fast and the Furious” and Native Daughters

* July 8: “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” with Boy & Bear and Inner Oceans;* July 29: “Pitch Perfect” with Tracksuit Wedding and The Messers

* Sept. 2: “The Big Lebowski” with The Congress and Tyler Lee Holter.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., bands begin playing at 7 and movies start at dusk.

Tickets:  $12.25 general admission (higher on day of show at Red Rocks box office) and $37 and up for VIP Peak Experience packages. Print-at-Home Tickets available at www.denverfilm.org.