Eavesdropping on a Facebook post: “Cover letter just received from applicant: ‘I just graduated from college four days ago, and I have always wanted to live in a Pacific Northwest state like Colorado.'”

Fifteen Colorado hotels made it onto Conde Nast Traveler’s 2014 Gold List of the “511 Best Places on Earth.”

The historic Oxford Hotel and Hotel Teatro were the only two Denver hotels that made it onto the list.

Condé Nast Traveler’s annual Gold List identifies the world’s “best of the best,” including hotels, resorts and cruise lines, as voted by nearly 80,000 travelers.

The other Colorado hotels were primarily in resort towns including Aspen, Vail, Snowmass and Telluride.

The Oxford is celebrating the holiday season with the vintage romance package, which is priced starting at $280 per night and includes:

* Overnight accommodations.

* $100 spa credit to The Oxford Club, Spa and Salon.

* Breakfast for two in McCormick’s Fish House.

* Two vintage love-themed cocktails in the popular Cruise Room.

* Sanitas signature bath salt welcome amenity.

To book the Oxford escape, visit www.theoxfordhotel.com or call 303-628-5435. To read more about the Hotel Teatro, go to www.hotelteatro.com.

Originally opened in 1891, The Oxford Hotel offers 80 individually decorated guest rooms with unique features such as claw foot bathtubs, floor-to-ceiling Chinese silk curtains and French and English antiques. The hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and houses an extensive collection of Western American art.

Check out the complete Conde Nast’s Gold List, go to http://cntraveler.com/gold-list/2014/united-states.html?mbid=gl_pr.

The lobby of the Oxford Hotel. The Oxford is one of 15 Colorado hotels named to Conde Nast Traveler’s magazine 2014 Gold List. (Oxford Hotel photo)

A much-anticipated eatery is opening in Capitol Hill. Oblio’s Cap Hill Tavern officially opens Wednesday at 1225 Logan St.

Located in the old Fleur Bistro space, Oblio’s is finally opening after much talk about (read my column item about in March here: http://pennyparker.blacktie-colorado.com/2013/03/penny-parker-on-the-town-walling-wandering-away-from-robinson-dairy/).

The owners of the Park Hill pizza joint are spreading their wings to Cap Hill with an Italian eatery with pizza (of course!), flat screens for sports fans and weekend brunch starting on Dec. 21. The Saturday and Sunday brunch will include make-your-own Bloody Mary bar, breakfast pizza and more.

Free pizza delivery starts at 5 p.m.

For more information, check out Oblio’s Cap Hill Tavern Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Ocaphilltavern?ref=stream.

Ondo’s Spanish Tapas Bar at 250 Steele St. is shutting its doors on Dec. 31. Here’s what the owners, Curt and Deicy Steinbecker posted on the website:

“After over four years of many highs and lows. Deicy and I have decided that we will not continue our efforts in 2014. It’s with a heavy heart that we came to this difficult decision, but it’s one that is best for our family … Our goal from the start was to serve the most authentic Spanish tapas in Denver, and we believe that we always stayed true to this goal. But, due to the present circumstances, we can’t continue on.

“Thanks to all of our faithful customers who made these four years memorable. you were the reason we happily came to work every day. We will miss you. We hope to see you one more time at Ondo’s Spanish Tapas Bar before the end of the year.”

Located on Denver’s historic Larimer Square, Tamayo, Richard Sandoval’s modern Mexican restaurant is launching a Mole Festival that will run January through March. These colorful sauces are a blend of spices, herbs and some times up to 20 ingredients, from various regions of Mexico.

Some of Tamayo’s moles are spicy and some sweet. Find more information at www.richardsandoval.com or by calling 720-946-1433. Tamayo is located at 1400 Larimer Street.

The special menu includes:

* Enmolada quesadillas: Tasting plate of cheese quesadillas/topped with mole rojo, pipian, negro, poblano.

* Mole tradicionales: Served over your choice of pan-roasted chicken breast, sautéed jumbo shrimp, grilled skirt steak, slow-cooked pork carnitas or market vegetables.

* Mole pipian, Mexico City: Slightly spicy blend or pumpkin seeds, tomatillos, chile poblano, nuts served with chipotle rice/black bean puree. Chef recommends sautéed jumbo shrimp or market vegetables.

* Mole poblano, Puebla: Complex, nutty flavors with spice, chiles, Mexican chocolate served with Mexican rice refried beans/sweet plantains. Chef recommends pan-seared chicken breast.

* Mole rojo, Oaxaca: Mild guajillo chiles, chile ancho, cumin and oregano served with cilantro rice/charro beans/cheese corn quesadilla. Chef recommends slow-cooked pork carnitas.

* Mole Negro, Oaxaca: Medium spiced with nuts, charred tomatoes, avocado leaves served with cotija rice/refried beans. Chef recommends grilled skirt steak.

Handcrafted cocktails include:

* Coconut mango mojito: Parrot Bay coconut rum/simple syrup/fresh mango puree/fresh mint/fresh lime/coconut rim.

* Pineapple picante margarita: Pineapple and serrano-infused tequila/agave nectar/house made sour mix/fresh lime juice.

Tamayo’s carnitas. (RichardSandoval.com photo)

I told you last week about Heebonism 2013, a Christmas Eve tradition in Colorado for two decades brought to you by E-3 Events, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing together Jews in their 20s, 30s and 40s. All proceeds from the event go back into the Denver community.

New and old subscribers to my column at www.blacktie-colorado.com/pennyparker were entered in a drawing to win free tickets to the event. I am pleased as punch to announce that Marci Colb is the recipient of the freebie tickets.

The annual celebration is the largest local gathering of young and youngish Jewish professionals. Heebonism, with an expected attendance of more than 500 revelers, moves to The 1Up Colfax, a concert and video game venue.

“Every year the nonprofit puts together a lively party for the local community, and it’s going to be awesome to show off our new space to such a fun crowd,” said Jourdan Adler, owner of The 1Up Colfax. Adler’s company is expanding the current 2Up vintage arcade and bar further into its historic Colfax digs by adding a music venue with a killer sound system and raised stage.

“Not only will people be able to play classic video games in the cleaned-up arcade side of the bar, but they’ll be able to dance and socialize on the ballroom side,” said Eric Elkins, who, along with Ean Seeb and Ezra Shanken, formed E-3 Events in 2008.

Heebonism starts at 8:30 p.m. with an hour of cocktails from Golden Moon Distillery until 9:30. Admission price is $18 in advance or $25 at the door. The door price will be reduced to $20 for anyone who brings new socks, gloves or hats for Jewish Family Service of Colorado.

For more information, go to www.e-3events.com.

Eavesdropping on a man after his friends all gave their free advice on avoiding the flu: “Thank you again to all who helped me fight off this flu bug last night; there was no way I’m going to be sick on my birthday! From the suggestions on Facebook, last night, I ate kimchi, Kefir, kombucha, Vitamin D, EmergenC, oscillococcinum, apple cider vinegar, bat’s livers, and toad lungs. OK, the last two are made up!”

Deck the Halls with cards of dining.

The perfect holiday gift for your favorite foodie may be the EatDenver Deck, a gift that will keep on giving all year long. The EatDenver Deck includes 52 $10 gift cards for $50, redeemable at select members of the EatDenver Independent Restaurant Network.

Dine at any of these Denver Restaurants with a $10 gift card. Total value of $520.

1515 Restaurant, Ace Eat Serve, Adelitas Cocina Y Cantina, Appaloosa Grill, Bistro Vendome, Black Pearl, Bonanno Brothers Pizza, Bones, Carmines on Penn, Cholon Bistro, Coohills 1400, Coral Room, Duo, El Camino, Elway’s Cherry Creek, Euclid Hall, Great Northern, Green Russell, Russell’s Smokehouse, Happy Cakes, Harman’s Eat + Drink, Humboldt: Farm Fish Wine, Ignite!, Jonesy’s Eat Bar, Le Grand Bistro & Oyster Bar, Linger, Locanda Del Borgo, Lou’s Food Bar, Luca D’Italia, Marco’s Coal-fired Pizza, Max Gill & Grill, Mizuna, Osteria Marco, Panzano, Punch Bowl Social, Racines, Rialto Café, Rioja, Root Down, Row 14 Bistro & Wine Bar, Second Home Kitchen + Bar, Steuben’s, Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs, Stoney’s Bar & Grill, Tables, The Avenue Grill, The Corner Office, The Fort, The Village Cork, Two-Fisted Mario’s Pizza, Vesta Dipping Grill, Washington Park Grille and Wynkoop Brewing Company.

The deck gets you $10 off on a $25 purchase of food dine-in only. Not valid for alcohol, gratuity or tax. Limited to one card per table. Valid from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. Not valid during Denver Restaurant Week.

More information: http://eatdenver.com/eatdenver-deck/.

BaRed, a late-night eatery from Zachary Young, son of lauded restaurateur Cliff Young, is set to open today at 437 E. Colfax.

BaRed opens in the early morning hours serving as the neighborhood coffee shop and bakery with reasonable prices on grab-and-go breakfast and lunch specials.

Later in the day, the atmosphere morphs to become a happy-hour space that transitions to a late-night hang-out with music, small plate dishes and cocktails.

With more than a dozen food items at $12 or less, designed by chef Doug Mace, BaRed brings an upscale setting with down-to-earth prices.

A raw bar is featured at night along with cocktails based on proprietary whiskey that is aged on site. The menu includes items such as horseradish cheddar potato tots, angry crab, three onion soup gratin and peanut butter Oreo parfait.

“Given my background in music as well as a vendor for all the top clubs in Denver, I have a sixth sense about what is lacking and what will stand out in a crowded marketplace,” Zachary said. “I am blessed to have the input of my father’s impeccable taste and chef Mace’s exceptional talent.”

Hours are 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Saturday. For more information, call 303-573-0223.