Penny Parker is taking some time off from writing her column, On The Town. Look for the return of her column on Monday, March 24.

Please read an archive of her columns at www.blacktie-colorado.com/pennyparker until her column returns.

And, please support our advertisers who keep this column running!

Penny Parker is taking some time off from writing her column, On The Town.

Please read an archive of her columns at www.blacktie-colorado.com/pennyparker until her column returns.

And, please support our advertisers who keep this column running!

The Denver Home Show opens on March 14-16 at the National Western Complex to showcase home improvement, design, and construction under one roof.

The Denver Home Show welcomes two celebrity guests, local home improvement and design experts, a lineup of informative seminars, an Ask a Designer feature and more.

Kevin O’Connor, host of “This Old House” and “Ask This Old House” on PBS, will share insider tips and tricks for tackling the toughest home improvement projects during his seminars on March 14 and 15.

Connor encountered a few unforeseen problems and sought the help of “Ask This Old House” experts.

Tom Silva, general contractor on PBS’s “This Old House” and “Ask This Old House,” arrived at O’Connor’s doorstep to lend his expertise and assistance. Months after his guest appearance, the “This Old House” team contacted O’Connor to offer a hosting position on the show.  O’Connor quickly made the transition from financial expert to Emmy Award-nominated television host and is now in his 10th year of hosting.

Josh Flagg of Bravo TV’s “Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles” will discuss his experience in high-end residential real estate and the best ways everyday homeowners can boost home value. Flagg takes the stage on March 15 and March 16.

After high school graduation, Flagg decided to jump into high-end residential real estate, proving to be a successful career move within the first four years. Celebrating 10 years in real estate, Flagg remains at the top of the market by understanding his clients’ needs and exceeding them.

The Denver Home Show hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on March 14 and 15; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 16.

The National Western Complex is located at 4655 Humboldt St.

Tickets for adults are $11; seniors $8; children ages 12 and under are free.

Hero Day: To thank the military for their service and sacrifice, the Denver Home Show will offer free admission on March 14 to anyone currently in the military, fire department, or police force in observance of “Hero Day.” A valid service ID must be presented at the show office to receive complimentary admission on Friday.

For more information: www.homeshowdenver.com.

Kevin O’Connor, above of PBS’ “This Old House” and “Ask This Old House,” and Bravo reality show star Josh Flagg, below, will appear at this weekend’s Denver Home Show. (Photos courtesy of thisoldhouse.com and the Bravo Network)

On Friday, the Hotel Teatro at 1100 14th St. announced that Restaurant Kevin Taylor (pictured below) will cease operations within the hotel effective March 30.

The 1,500 square-foot space that currently houses the restaurant will temporarily be shuttered in anticipation of Hotel Teatro’s planned multimillion dollar renovation that will take place this spring.

Prima Ristorante, also located within the hotel and owned and operated by Kevin Taylor Restaurant Group, will remain open until May 1, at which time it will be closed for a renovation as well, then reopened as a new restaurant, operated by the hotel.

Employees of Kevin Taylor Restaurant Group were notified on Friday, given three weeks notice, and many will be transferred to other properties within the restaurant group.

Design for the new restaurant and reception areas will be done by a local team, handpicked by the hotel ownership – including Oz Architects, Tundra Kitchen design and interior designer, Studio Frank. More details of the concept will be shared closer to the July launch date.

Restaurant Kevin Taylor has been a staple within the hotel, and the city, for the past 15 years. Rated Four-Star by Forbes Travel Guide and Four-Diamond by AAA each year since its inception, Restaurant Kevin Taylor remains the only Four-Star, Four-Diamond restaurant in the city. Through the years, Restaurant Kevin Taylor has been the recipient of numerous awards from top culinary authorities, including Wine Spectator, Food & Wine and Sunset magazines,  Zagat, Fodors and others.

“While we didn’t have plans to close Restaurant Kevin Taylor prior to the hotel’s decision to renovate, repurposing the space is in the best interest of the property,” Taylor said “It also leaves us with a tremendous opportunity to do something new elsewhere.

“Restaurant Kevin Taylor had an incredible 15 years in Hotel Teatro, which is a long time for any restaurant to remain open and sustainable. We’re excited about the possibility of creating new concepts down the line, now that we’ll have a bit more time and resources to do so.

“In the meantime, we hope Restaurant Kevin Taylor’s customers, who’ve been incredibly loyal over the years, will find a new favorite in one of our other restaurants, particularly Kevin Taylor’s at the Opera House, which appeals to a similar guest.”

“Restaurant Kevin Taylor has been a significant part of the Hotel Teatro experience these past 15 years, and it has been a pleasure to have such a notable establishment as part of the hotel,” said Afsi Bird, general manager of Hotel Teatro.

“We are excited to look ahead at the next chapter and introduce a new, integrated experience to our guests. The renovation that will take place this spring will create a gathering place for coffee, food and cocktails catering to both locals and travelers.”

Kevin Taylor Restaurant Group operates several additional Denver-area restaurants, including Palettes at the Denver Art Museum, Taylor’s at the Opera House and Limelight Supper Club & Lounge, as well as Rouge and the Teller Bar, located within the Central City Opera House.

Kevin Taylor Restaurant Group gift cards will be honored at these locations. In addition to the restaurant locations, Kevin Taylor Restaurant Group operates several catering operations, within the Denver Performing Arts Complex, Denver Art Museum, and recently announced, within the Clyfford Still Museum.

“We’re extremely thankful to the dining public for allowing us to have such a great run with these restaurants,” Taylor said. “More importantly, we’re thankful to our managers, staff and partners. Without them, and their high degree of dedication and professionalism, the past 15 years wouldn’t have been possible.”

Hotel Teatro will be undergoing a renovation project beginning this spring and will reopen the restaurant space as a new concept restaurant that is yet to be determined.

(Kevin Taylor Restaurant Group photo)

La Biblioteca, at 1610 Little Raven St., will begin serving brunch for the first time starting March 15.  Brunch will be served on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. and it will be bottomless meaning any dish you want, any brunch cocktail, in any combination, number and variety you want, all day.

The bottomless brunch is priced at $35, includes 21 small plates to choose from and free-flowing cocktails including a Bloody Mary & Bloody Maria bar with more than 30 fixings, a tomatillo based verde mix and more than 24 variations of hot sauce to create your own custom concoction.

Beyond the Bloody Mary Bar, bottomless brunch cocktails include traditional or mango mimosas, lychee bellinis and traditional or infused margaritas.

A few of the new brunch menu items include a Chorizo Benedict composed of a poached egg served on toasted brioche with kimchee and chili hollandaise, and an Achiote-Hoisin Braised Pork Slider on a sesame bun with won bok slaw and house made pickles.

Complimentary valet parking is available. For more information, go to www.richardsandoval.com/labliotecadenver.com.

According to Claire Walter’s blog “Culinary Colorado (read it at www.culinary-colorado.com),” The Kitchen is celebrating its 10th anniversary with $10 specials on March 16.

The Kitchen started with its celebrated restaurant on Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall and since has expanded to The Kitchen Denver in the old Gumbo’s space in LoDo at 1530 16th Street and its newest location,  The Kitchen Next Door Glendale, at 658 S. Colorado Blvd. The Kitchen’s owners’ next restaurant will be coming to the Union Station redevelopment.

The Kitchen’s ”$10 Day” includes:

• The Kitchen Boulder, The Kitchen Upstairs Boulder and The Kitchen Denver will offer an appetizer and entrée for $10 all day. Walk in or call for reservations.
• The Kitchen Next Door Boulder and The Kitchen Next Door Glendale will offer a two for $10 special that includes two entrées and two drinks for $10 all day (11 a.m. to close). The two Next Door locations are not taking reservations but will welcome walk-ins only. They are both offering live music from 6 to 10 p.m.

For details, visit www.thekitchen.com.

Pat “Gabby Gourmet” Miller (below), her husband Mark and son Johnny at the Costco in Sheridan on Sunday.

Eavesdropping on a woman and a man: Woman, holding a block of cheese: “There’s no cheese in the refrigerator that’s not frozen.”

Man walks to refrigerator, pulls out Ziploc bag with provolone and cheddar cheese: “Here it is. What are you, a man?”

One of the biggest food events in March, Cochon 555, will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Denver at 1881 Curtis St. It’s a sold-out event, but you can enter to win two tickets courtesy of www.eaterdenver.com.

An all-star lineup of five chefs —  Paul Reilly of Beast & Bottle; Bill Greenwood of Beano’s Cabin; Justin Brunson of Old Major; Jennifer Jasinski of Rioja, Bistro Vendome and Euclid Hall and Steve Redzikowski of Oak On Fourteenth in Boulder and Acorn — will compete to become Prince or Princess of Porc. The five chefs will compete by preparing a maximum of six dishes, each from one whole heritage breed pig, to win votes from the crowd.

You can win two VIP tickets to this pig-centric extravaganza.