Coohills restaurant at 1400 Wewatta is hosting a Rock the Earth event from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Jan. 12, which will celebrate local food fanatics such as chef/co-owner Tom Coohill, former chef for The Grateful Dead Charlie Ayers, Root Down and Linger’s Daniel Asher, Bob Blair. chef/owner of Fuel Café, Justin Brunson of Old Major and Masterpiece Deli and Troy Guard, owner of an ever-growing restaurant empire including TAG.

This event will feature six courses of locally sourced cuisine, local brews courtesy of Great Divide Brewing Company, wines donated by Infinite Monkey Theorem and cocktails from Roundhouse Spirits.

In addition, there will be music by Denver’s own DJRusso and a silent auction of music memorabilia, art and donations from local businesses.

Tickets are $85 per person in advance; $125 at the door depending on availability. Go to http://www.rocktheearth.org/joomla/.

Dunkin’ Donuts, the metro area’s latest obsession, will celebrate its new location at 2001 Sheridan Blvd. in Edgewater, on Tuesday. Guests who visit the new restaurant from Tuesday to Jan. 21 will receive a free medium hot or iced coffee, and the first 50 guests will also receive a VIP Dunkin’ Donuts travel mug.

To celebrate the opening, Dunkin’ Donuts is partnering with a local nonprofit, The Edgewater Optimist Club. Twenty percent of sales on Tuesday will be donated directly to the organization. The Edgewater Optimist Club raises money for the development of youth through different events including the Christmas Tree Project, safe Halloween activities and the upcoming Brain Event, which offers students an opportunity to receive college scholarships.

“We are excited that Dunkin’ Donuts is joining the neighborhood and becoming a part of Edgewater by giving back to our kids,” said Jennifer Schartz, vice president of the Edgewater Optimist Club. “What better way to show they care about our community?”

The Edgewater Dunkin’ Donuts is owned and operated by the Vanguard Capital Partners LLC, which was founded in 2012 by Josh Blanchard, Matthew Schnittman and Douglas Kelsall.

The restaurant and drive-thru will be open seven days a week from 5 a.m. until 11 p.m.

For Dunkin’ Donuts’ full menu, visit www.dunkindonuts.com/content/dunkindonuts/en/menu.html.

The Ritz-Carlton, Denver announced that Dewiet Miller has accepted a promotion as director of operations for the Mile High City’s only AAA Five-Diamond hotel.

The last three years Miller served as director of food and beverage at the downtown property, overseeing all F&B and culinary operations including Elway’s Downtown, the steakhouse located on the lobby level of the hotel. In his new role, he will spearhead daily hotel operations for the rooms and food and beverage divisions.

Miller joined The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company in 2000 with the opening of the golf and beach resort, The Ritz-Carlton, Rose Hall, Jamaica, where he spent five years in various food and beverage positions. Prior to arriving in Denver, Dewiet worked in St. Thomas as director of operations for The Ritz-Carlton Club a 105-unit/286 room fractional ownership resort.

The customer service fanatic (he’s tops in my book) is an avid Denver Nuggets fan who enjoys all sporting activities and the beauty of the Rocky Mountains with his family.

Dewiet Miller has been named the new director of operations for the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in downtown Denver. (Ritz-Carlton photo) 

La Sandia will host its third annual Tamale Festival through Jan. 31 at its Northfield Stapleton and Park Meadows locations to celebrate the culinary heritage and regional ingredients of Mexico. Chef Richard Sandoval has created a tamale menu to showcase this traditional winter dish.

Highlights of La Sandia’s Tamale Festival menu include:

Tamales:

• Tradicionales – assorted tamales served family style (fried chicken tamale with tomatillo salsa/sweet corn tamale with queso fresco/mole pork tamale frijol con queso with entomatada salsa)  – $12.95.

Sample of entrees:

• Chile Relleno de Tamale Durango – (stuffed chile rellenos with chicken tinga tamale, Mexican cheese, chorizo black beans, salsa, jalisco creme fresca and cotija) $15.95.
• Tamale de Pescado a la Campeche – (fish tamale in banana leaves, epazote, tomato, masa, serrano, cilantro, grilled yellow squash, Mexican rice and refried beans) – $19.95.

New cocktails:

• Fresh Pomegranate Margarita – (blanco tequila, pomegranate puree and citrus) – $10.95.
• Ponche Mexicano – (traditional tequila spiked punch, cinnamon and tropical fruit) – $10.95.

More information at www.richardsandoval.com.

ArtHaus’ popular CONSTRUCT exhibition by Mark Friday closed on Dec. 27, however, you still can create similar illuminated sculptures under the guidance of Friday. The weekend-long Find Out Part II Workshop, originally scheduled for November will take place Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 25-26, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A $150 fee includes two days of instruction plus illumination supplies. To register for the workshop email info@arthausdenver.com or call 303-292-1965.

Mark Friday is a Denver gem and visible in the local arts community for decades. His CONSTRUCT exhibition at ArtHaus showcased a blend of illuminated and non-lighted works in which he combined found and fabricated elements and transformed them into lively pieces of sculpture.

ArtHaus is a modern gallery space located in the RiNo district at 3343 Larimer Street. Visitors are welcome Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment. For more information go to www.arthausdenver.com.

One of mark Friday’s works that recently was shown at ArtHaus. (Photo courtesy of arthausdenver.com)

Eavesdropping on a woman discussing marijuana on Twitter: “The last thing I need is
something that gives me the munchies.”

Don’t blame it on LeBron James, but the Denver Nuggets lost to him and his Miami Heat team on his birthday Monday.

Sugarmill, the new bakery owned by celebrated local chef Troy Guard, crafted a birthday cake for the Miami Heat superstar. It was a red velvet masterpiece, which apparently gave him and his team good luck, much to our chagrin. Oh well, we’ll be good sports and wish James a very belated happy 29th birthday!

The cake local bakery, Sugarmill, made for LeBron James’ 29th birthday on Monday. James and his Miami Heat teammates beat the Denver Nuggets Monday night at the Pepsi Center. (Sugarmill photo)

Tropical Smoothie Café, known for its healthy food with a tropical twist, entered the Colorado market in October 2013 with the opening of its café in the Denver Tech Center at 5332 DTC Blvd., Greenwood Village.  The second café opened on Nov. 29 at the Streets at Southglenn, 6955 S. York St., Centennial.

A third location will open in early 2014 in the Centennial Promenade on County Line Road. Husband and wife franchisee team, Michelle and Kriss Shriver, currently own and operate three cafés in Nevada and the “Franchisee of the Year” winners recently bought the rights for the franchise in Colorado.  The cafés are in line with increasing consumer demand for healthier food options.  The strong performance of existing cafés explain the rapid growth of the food and smoothie franchise, which currently has over 345 locations throughout the United States.

Tropical Smoothie Café should prove to be a welcome newcomer to the “leanest state in the nation.”  The smoothies are made from superior, simple ingredients with real fruit and natural sugar.  The toasted wraps, bistro sandwiches, grilled flatbreads and gourmet salads are made fresh-to-order with high quality meats and cheeses and topped with fresh produce and flavorful sauces.  All nutritional information is displayed on the Café’s countertops so that customers know what they are ordering.

While Tropical Smoothie Café is a national franchise, Michelle and Kriss Shriver’s focus is local.  They are passionate about giving back and use their businesses to support charities and schools in their communities.

“We are passionate about education and plan on holding ongoing fundraisers for schools.  We are also dedicated to raising money for and promoting awareness of Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a rare skin disorder that causes extreme skin fragility.  We were so happy to be able to use our recent grand opening as a way to shed some light on this little known disease.”   At the opening, the Shriver’s presented a check for $3,000 to Children’s Hospital Colorado’s EB Clinic, which was accepted by Krystle Martinez, whose 4-year old son, Darren, has the disease and attends the CHC’s EB Clinic.  Ongoingly, the Café’s will work with schools to hold fundraising events.

Start the new year with a three-course, prime rib dinner at Fleming’s at 191 Inverness, Englewood.

The awesome restaurant is offering a prime rib dinner for $29.95 on Sundays from Jan. 1 through Feb. 2. More information at 303-768-0827.

Fleming’s in Englewood is offering a prime rib dinner special through Feb. 2. (Flemingssteakhouse.com photo)