I won’t mince words. My absolute favorite new restaurant this year is Old Major at 3316 Tejon St. I even chose to celebrate my recent milestone birthday for dinner there with On The Town Junior and Mr. On The Town.

I had been to Old Major, a proud nose-to-tail eatery where they butcher 2.5 pigs a week (not sure what happens with the other half of the last pig), a handful of times, but I took a risk (and it was my birthday, after all) and booked a table for three to include the hub and my foodie son who works for much-lauded restaurateur Danny Meyer at Maialino in the Gramercy Park Hotel at 2 Lexington Ave. in NYC.

My son surprised me with his arrival in Denver to celebrate my special day. Both of my “he-men” went nuts for the place and over the food. We ordered an arsenal of appetizers and an entrée each, which included the nose-to-tail dish, roasted duck breast and orcchiette pasta with roasted pork.

My only disappointment was the pretzel bread service which previously included an unlimited basket with mustard butter, but has for some reason morphed to an individual roll service with no offer of additional rolls. I hope they return to the original policy, but meanwhile, Old Major recently received a national nod via www.thrillistnation.com as being one of the 33 Best New Restaurants in America.

Here’s what Thrillist had to say about culling the top 33 list: “Over the past year, our editors have gloriously eaten their way across America, meticulously consuming all the best burgers, and pizzas, and BBQ they could. Then we turned our sights to figuring out which of the tens of thousands of new restaurants that have opened across the country in the past year deserve to be called the best. And now that the work is done – and the weight is gained – here they are (with a neat checklist), in all their gastronomical glory.”

And here’s what Thrillist said about Old Major: “Denver’s LoHi neighborhood is bursting at the seams with new, popular bars and restaurants, but Old Major’s ‘elevated farmhouse cuisine’ stands out among the pack with exceptional cocktails and decadent, inventive cuisine (think Colorado rib eye with bleu cheese, foie gras butter, and pork fat fries). If you’re smart and/or just understand weekly calendars, swing by on a Wednesday, where you can watch the chef/owner butcher two pigs in-house, you saucy, food-based voyeur! Then you’ll eat the fruits of his labor on the Nose to Tail Plate, which features cuts like braised belly, confit rib, schnitzel, ham, and ears, all accompanied by mustard spaetzle, sauerkraut, and a demi-glace.”

Check out the other 32 best new restaurants at http://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/the-best-restaurant-openings-of-2013-america-s-best-new-restaurants-thrillist-nation.

For Old Major reservations, go to www.oldmajordenver.com or call 720-420-0622.

(OldMajordenver.com photos)

I told you last week about Racines restaurant’s celebration of its 30th anniversary with two trips to locations bearing the eatery’s namesake.

Owners David Racine and Lee Goodfriend decided to offer two winners a trip to Paris to eat at the Bouillon Racine and a second-place trip to Racine, Wis.

Racines, at 650 Sherman St., has been a 30-year staple serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and brunch to local politicians, movers and shakers and the occasional out-of-town celebrity. It’s often been said that when you can’t figure out what you want to eat, go to Racines. The eclectic menu has something to offer any palate.

Since the story ran in various news media, Goodfriend, a long-time pal, sent me this update:

“It’s been interesting regarding the Racine, Wisconsin,trip. I  got a phone call from the Racine visitors bureau offering to set up a cool itinerary for the Racine, Wis., winner and offers of restaurant gift cards and meals from a couple restaurateurs.

“Even though I grew up in the northern suburbs of Chicago not very far away, I didn’t know much about Racine. and it sounds lovely with a great waterfront and one of the best beaches in the country.  Who knew?”

Are you listening Visit Denver? Sounds like a sister city opportunity.

A citywide effort to gather donations of socks for Denver’s homeless population is kicking off with the third annual , which starts on “Sock It To ‘Em Work Day” on Wednesday.

Colorado community members are asked to forego socks for a day, donate a new pair of socks in their place, and sport bare ankles in support for the Sock It To ‘Em Sock Campaign. “Sock It To ‘Em Work Day” is intended to take on its own life and Coloradans are encouraged to create their own “Sock It To ‘Em School Day,” “Sock It To ‘Em Church Day,” or any other celebration of the cause they can come up with. The drive will be in full effect through Dec. 31.

The Sock It To ‘Em Sock Campaign was launched in 2011 by Susan Elizabeth Lee, CEO of EQ Media, Inc. and creator of “I Believe in Me!” When the entrepreneur recognized how many Americans face the harsh winter cold and dampness with inadequate protection for their feet, she asked her friend Phillis Shimamoto to join her in 2012 to form Sock It To ‘Em Sock Campaign  and began soliciting fellow small business owners and community members to pitch in.

In its inaugural year, the Sock It To ‘Em Sock Campaign proved to be a much larger success than even Lee expected. The organization collected more than 10,000 socks, received national recognition for the cause and had participants in Maryland, Utah, Ohio, California, Arizona, Kansas, Oregon and Nevada hosting sock donation drives for their local homeless populations.

The Sock It To ‘Em Sock Campaign aims to cover the feet of as many of those in need as possible before the new year. Sadly, more than one-quarter of the nation’s homeless population are children who go without warm protection on their feet in the bitter winter months. The 2013 campaign aims to collect 50,000 new and gently used socks for men, women and children.

“We are amazed by the sheer number of donations last year and what a wonderful response the cause received,” Lee said. “This year, we want to encourage different parts of the community to personalize the campaign in a way that’s meaningful to them. We really just want to warm as many cold feet as we possibly can.”

Sock donations also can be mailed to Sock It To ‘Em Sock Campaign, Attn: Susan Elizabeth Lee,
163 Glengarry Place, Castle Rock, CO 80108

Everyone who plans to participate on Dec. 11 can take the “Sock It To ‘Em” pledge on Twitter. Tweet your comments and pictures to www.Twitter.com/SockItCampaign. Please tweet the following:  “I’m going sockless to work on 12/11/13 to support Sock It To ‘Em (Work/School/Church/Etc) Day. I’ll donate a pair of new socks to the homeless. #SockItToEm”

Participants are also encouraged to connect with Sock It To ‘Em Work Day on Facebook and post images of sockless employees: https://www.facebook.com/SockItToEmCampaign.

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock has joined the Sock It To ‘Em Sock Campaign. (Facebook photo)

A gal pal and I attended the recent private opening for Olive & Finch, an eatery, bakery and retail spot at 1552 E. 17th Ave. almost next door to Parallel 17, the sister eatery owned by chef Mary Nguyen.

What a darling place! Not only do they have great pre-made salads with all organic ingredients, but they also have a wine and bar liquor license, juice bar and honor coffee bar where patrons deposit the proper amount of money for coffee on the grab and go.

My pal, Tim Jackson, head of the Colorado Auto Dealers Association, had been chomping on the proverbial coffee bit to be the first customer at Olive & Finch, the Nguyen-owned eatery/coffee shop/retail outlet at 1552 E. 17th Ave.

Early Friday morning, Jackson achieved his goal.

“I’ve added Olive & Finch to my short list of personal favorite places here in the Cap Hill haunts,” he said.

Jackson has taken up the “first-in torch” that was originally lit by former ad man Lew Cady, a local beloved character who loved to be first.

Jackson’s first customer honors include:

* Racines – 7 a.m., May 10, 2004

* Jelly Café

* Jelly U Café

*  Parallel 17

*  D Bar

* Olive & Finch

Jackson, apparently, was a gracious No. 2 to Cady during the opening of the Tattered Cover on East Colfax. “My buddy, Lew Cady, slid in and stole first customer honors at Tattered Cover (deal he cut with owner Joyce Meskis) on East Colfax, though I’m honored to be No. 2,” Jackson said.

“Then (Cady) and Westword editor Patty Calhoun, slid in ahead at SkyBar at Hyatt Regency at Colorado Convention Center, at 11 a.m., Dec. 20, 2005.  Though I’m honored to be No. 3 there,” Jackson said.

Mary Nguyen, owner and chef of Olive & Finch, with her first customer, Tim Jackson.

Eavesdropping on a woman: “Dear Santa, for this year I’m requesting a fat bank account and a small body. And don’t get them mixed like you did last year!”

Radio talk show conservative Mike Rosen, who turned 69 Thursday, is taking his show to a slightly different time slot beginning Jan. 2.

“KOA (850 AM) is about the only station in the country that delays Rush (Limbaugh) two hours,” Rosen told me on his birthday. “The parent company of Clear Channel decided to (air) Rush live from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ‘The Colorado Morning News’ show with Stefan (Tubbs) and April (Zesbaugh) will move to 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and become five hours instead of four.”

Changing the ‘Rush Limbaugh Show’ to live time, left Rosen with the 1 to 3 p.m. time slot after working his previous 9 a.m. to noon spot.

“I understand and it’s fine with me,” Rosen told me on Thursday. “I’m on the air one less hour, which makes me on the air five hours less a week. But with show prep (answering e-mails, contacting advertisers, etc.), I still work 70 hours a week. So many people listen to my show online, so for them nothing will change.”

Rosen said his contract with Clear Channel lasts another one-and-a-half years, then he’ll see what happens. “I take it one contract at a time,” he said.

Mike Rosen is moving his KOA time slot to 1-3 pm. (KOA Radio photo)

The Broadway Merchant Association is hosting their Holiday “Snap Up” discount shopping event on Saturday.

Participating Broadway/Baker merchants include: Decade, Buffalo Exchange, Pie Hole, INDYINK, Happy Coffee, Quality Paws Natural Pet, Plank & Pearl, Hazel & Dewey, True Love Shoes, 7Twenty Boardshop, Certified Customs, Sweet Action Ice Cream, Matthew Morris Salon and Skincare, Fancy Tiger, Eslinger Gallery and more.

Discount deals available this Saturday at the Broadway Holiday Snap Up include:

* Fancy Tiger Crafts: 15 percent off on all 44-inch cotton print fabric.

* Fancy Tiger Clothing: 10 percent off on all Colorado-made goods.

* Certified Customs: 20 percent off on all clothing, 50 percent off your second body piercing or tooth gem with the purchase of the first one, and an extra $5 on every $50 gift-card purchase.

* 7Twenty Boardshop: Get a bonus five on any gift purchase of $30 or more.

* Matthew Morris Salon & Skincare:  Free add-on Kerastase Deep Conditioning treatment ($25 value) for any walk-in service.
* True Love Shoes and Accessories: $10 off any purchase of $75 or more. In addition, the store will be open for extended hours from 11 a.m. till 8 p.m.

* Kevin Eslinger Art Gallery:  Buy one, get one deal on all Eslinger art prints.

* Quality Paws Natural Pet: Free stocking stuffers for your pet with any purchase of 30 dollars or more. In addition, 10 percent of all sales will be donated to animal rescue charities, and please leave an ornament on the donation tree for Life is Better Rescue. In exchange for your donation, you will receive a heart-shaped seed packet to plant in the spring.

* Sweet Action Ice Cream is offering giveaways with the purchase of gift cards. Purchase $25 worth of gift cards and you will receive a free ice cream scoop; $50 gets you a free pint; and $100 will net you a free SAIC T-Shirt. Take your best shot at guessing how many candy canes are on display for an extra prize.

Free parking will be available all day Saturday at the Security Service Federal Credit Union branch at 99 S. Broadway. Info on the Holiday “Snap Up” is updated daily on its Facebook page: www.facebook.com/events/412094778918251/.

Racines owners David Racine and Lee Goodfriend are celebrating their restaurant’s 30th anniversary with two trips to locations bearing eatery’s namesake.

First prize in the raffle, which begins Dec. 27 with the winners announced on Jan. 31, is a trip to Paris to eat at the Bouillon Racine. Second price is a trip to Racine, Wis.

“We thought it would be funny and fun to have second prize go to Racine, Wis., just basically because of the name, figuring if they go to Racine they can (also) go to Milwaukee or Chicago,” co-owner Goodfriend told the “Milwaukee Business Journal.”

Racines, at 650 Sherman St., has been a 30-year staple serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and brunch to local politicians, movers and shakers and the occasional out-of-town celebrity. It’s often been said that when you can’t figure out what you want to eat, go to Racines. The eclectic menu has something to offer any palate.

To see the rest of the “Milwaukee Business Journal” story, go to www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/blog/table_talk/2013/12/owners-of-racines-in-denver-offer.html.

Unified Front Entertainment is hosting Jokes, Frivolity & Stand Up: Holiday Hoots Stand Up Comedy Show, a benefit for the Denver Barbarians Rugby Club, at 8 p.m. Saturday at Jake’s Food & Spirits, 3800 Walnut St.

Holiday Hoots stars headliner Kevin Fitzgerald, a unique combo of witty veterinarian and even funnier comedian; Shayna Ferm, who produces and hosts a monthly show at Local 46 in the Highlands as a featured performer; guest Craig Abramson, whose comedy focuses mainly on the humor around trying to be the best husband and father he can be; guest Chuck Spirakis who has been performing clean, intellectual, stand-up for a decade in Denver and emcees Terri Barton Gregg, aka “The Hebrew Hairdresser,” and Gary Washington who blames everything on his manager.

The show starts at 8 p.m.; tickets are $5 and are available in advance and at the door with no drink minimum. For more information, visit www.jakesdenver.com.

Kevin Fitzgerald will headline “Jokes, Frivolity & Stand Up: Holiday Hoots Stand Up Comedy Show” Saturday at Jake’s Food & Spirits. (Gigmasters.com photo)