Eavesdropping on two seniors in the bar at the Aston Gardens senior center in Tampa, Fla.: “I went on the day trip today and got a cute sign that says, ‘Man Cave’.”

“Are you going to put that on Jane’s door?”

March Madness means semi-legit office pools, sneaking peeks at the scores while working, and taking in the action with friends and strangers-who-become-friends at your favorite watering hole. Here are a couple of eateries around town with March Madness fever:

Put on your favorite team gear and drop in to ViewHouse (2015 Market Street and 7101 S. Clinton St., Centennial – www.viewhouse.com), where both locations will show all the games on the venue’s several TVs (including the largest in the state at the Centennial digs).  The kitchen staff will be offering specials from the menu of fresh, creative and elevated bar food.  Thirsty? Drink specials, promos and a raffle at each location runs the entire tournament. Grand prize is four Nuggets tickets, a reserved table and $250 tab for you and your friends during the NCAA Championship game at the end of the month.

Settle in to watch the madness at Punch Bowl Social (65 Broadway www.punchbowlsocial.com/) on its 16 TVs and enjoy the Let’s Dance punch by Punch Bowl bartender Emily Chamley. Let’s Dance includes Jameson Irish Whiskey, Leopold Brothers NY Sour Apple Liqueur, Teacoe Hibiscus Lemon Tea, blood orange juice, lavender syrup and Peychaud’s bitters.  The punch will be available through the first two rounds for a $6 single serving, $24 four-person serving and $48 eight-person serving.

The Music Appreciation Society is bringing acoustic events to the Historic Baur’s Listening Lounge located in Denver’s Theater District at 1512 Curtis St. Each performance is up close and personal – similar to events in New York and Los Angeles.

The kick-off party Sunday features New Orleans pianist Jon Cleary and his band.

Celebrating the piano spring series:

* Sunday – 7 p.m. Jon Cleary and band – New Orleans piano master singer song writer.

* March 26 – 7 and 9 p.m. Justin Kauflin and trio; jazz piano prodigy, student of Clark Terry star of the award winning film “Keep on Keepin’ On” debuting his new Quincy Jones-CD dedication.

* April 19 – 7 p.m. Catherine Russell – New York Jazz diva playing the Steinway and singing standards from her album “Bring It Back”.

* May 3 – 3 and 7 p.m. Jovino Santos Neto, Maucha Adnet and Romero Lubamabo, Brazilian Super group.

* May 10 – 3 p.m. Mother’s Day – pianist Katie Mahan and her mom Bobette Mahan solo and duet piano recital program featuring Gershwin’s “Rhapsody In Blue”.

The Baur’s Building is listed on the National Historic Register as a historic candy store, bakery and restaurant – the “inventor of the ice cream soda,” home of Baur’s established in 1872. Baur’s restaurant will reopen mid April.

For more information on the concert series, go to www.baursmagic.com.

Larkburger Downtown at 1617 California St. is donating 15 percent of all sales to Urban Peak during lunch and dinner service from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday. This includes dine-in and take-out meals.

Check out the menu at www.larkburger.com/menu/.

The Museum of Contemporary Art Denver at 1485 Delgany  is presenting a conversation with Gary Panter, an acclaimed comic artist, illustrator and designer, at 7 p.m. March 26. Panter is well known for both his underground comics as well as his Emmy-winning work as a set designer on the innovative Saturday morning TV series “Pee-wee’s Playhouse.”

His work was featured in the exhibition Masters of American Comics presented by UCLA’s Hammer Museum, and he was the subject of a 2008 solo exhibition at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum. Panter will be in conversation with Director and Chief Animator Adam Lerner.

This conversation is presented by the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver as part of the Who Made the 80s? lecture series, which explores how the 1980s’ aesthetic emerged from the counterculture movement a decade earlier. The series coincides with the exhibition Mark Mothersbaugh: Myopia, on view at MCA Denver through April 12.

Tickets are $10 for the general public; $5 MCA Denver members. Tickets for the lectures are available for purchase at www.mcadenver.org or by calling 303-298-7554,  ext. 200.

Parking is available across 15th Street in the parking garage. Parking is three dollars after 4 p.m. and weekends (with no validation needed). Two-hour parking for $6 is available at the front desk all other times.

Windows Restaurant, which has opened at Wind Crest retirement community at 3235 Mill Vista Road in Highlands Ranch, offers residents and guests a fine dining experience.

The 80-seat, reservations-only restaurant serves a seasonal dinner menu with two daily chef specials. A wall of windows overlooks the Denver skyline and Rocky Mountain Foothills. Inside, modern light fixtures hang from a vaulted two-story ceiling.

Chef Ed Kent, who worked closely with Dining Director Marcus Cordova and Wind Crest’s team of chefs, designed the Windows menu from scratch. Kent pulled from his diverse experience in the restaurant industry. The menu features classic American fare.

On the winter menu, the bianco pizza starter uses roasted garlic and olive oil with fresh tomatoes, baby spinach, and fresh mozzarella.

A caramelized peach entrée salad takes a sweeter spin on a lighter option with mixed field greens, spinach, dried cranberries, red onions, toasted pecans, crumbled gorgonzola and caramelized peaches tossed in a white balsamic vinaigrette.

As an entrée, Kent serves fresh Atlantic pan-seared salmon with a roasted red pepper coulis, Mediterranean relish, and couscous.

Kent says he prefers braised meats for a homier menu in the fall and winter while utilizing the grill more in spring and summer for brighter fresher flavors.

In addition to Kent’s more modern creations, the seasonal menu — which changes quarterly — also features common comfort food like barbecued ribs, fried chicken, and a meatloaf blended with seasonings, bell peppers, and onions, topped with tomato sauce, and served with mashed potatoes and steamed fresh vegetables.

“It’s important to me that we build relationships with our residents,” Kent said. “We’re serving them every day and want them to feel comfortable with their dining experience. Food is a central part of anyone’s enjoyment of their day and their life, and I’m passionate about making that a pleasurable experience and exceeding their expectations.”

For reservations, call 303-876-8476.

Eavesdropping on corporate phrases that don’t work at home: “Having a sit-down dinner with the whole family on Sunday night really improves our ecosystem.”

Feeling Irish this week? Yes, I am celebrating my Irish roots with a See’s candy potato, a tradition that my Irish mother (maiden name McDonnell) started when we were wee.

Here are some places to to be green and be seen:

* Cherry Cricket (2641 E. Second Ave.- www.cherrycricket.com) has kicked off its St. Pat’s Day men with corned beef and cabbage ($12) and an Irish mushroom soup ($4 per cup $6 a bowl). They also will have live Irish music entertainment with different bands starting at 1 p.m. with the Colorado Youth Pipe Band Conivan at 3 p.m., Celtic Steps Dancers at 4 p.m. Centennial State Bag Pipes & Drums at 5 p.m. and the Denver & District Bag Pipes, Drums & Dancers will perform at 7 and 9 p.m. On Tuesday the Cricket will serve up the corned beef and cabbage ($12) and Irish beef stew, made with Guinness, ($4/cup $6/bowl). Entertainment with Denver & District Bag Pipes, Drums & Dancers will be at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Conivan will perform at 8 and 10 p.m. For more information, call 303-322-7666.

* Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with an elevated Irish menu and plenty of beer at Cook Street School of Culinary Arts on 6 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday. The cooking school is putting an Irish spin on Bites N’ Brews class where staff will talk about how to cook with beer as well as how to pair it with the menu. You’ll learn how to make pan seared scallops with morels, cream and fresh herbs; country style lamb, cheddar and ale pie; fresh cabbage salad with whole grain mustard vinaigrette, crème fraiche and pickled shallots and finish with Guinness ice cream with toasted Barmbrack and Irish whiskey caramel. $89 per person.  Cook Street School of Culinary Arts is located at 1937 Market St. Visit www.cookstreet.com for more information.

* Session Kitchen (1518 S. Pearl St. – www.sessionkitchen.com) in the historic Platt Park neighborhood, will celebrate the Irish holiday with a special dish of corned beef and cabbage buns. The featured St. Patrick’s Day dish will be available through Tuesday.

* In the Baker neighborhood, Punch Bowl Social (65 Broadway – www.punchbowlsocial.com/) is offering both food and drinks to share the Irish luck. On Tuesday, try a five-dollar Guinness, car bomb or Jameson and two-dollar Bud Light drafts. St. Paddy’s Day food includes a corned beef and cabbage for the Green Plate special and a special Irish porridge with brown sugar and apple cobbler for the festive day.

* At Stout Street Social (1400 Stout Street – www.stoutstsocial.com/) across from the Colorado Convention Center, to try some Irish Point oysters with the traditional Irish drink of Guinness on Tuesday. Celebrate the day with a half-dozen of these oysters plus a pint of Guinness for $20.

* At Argyll Whisky Beer (1035 E. 17th Ave. – www.argylldenver.com), the month of Ireland’s patron saint can’t be celebrated any better way than with whisky flights.  Come in any day this month and benefit from Argyll’s expertise as you enjoy a carefully combined flight of Irish whiskies, complete with explanations and description. In addition to the usual suspects behind the bar, Argyll will offer for St. Patrick’s Day a version of the traditional Tipperary cocktail, with green chartreuse and Irish whiskey.

* Humboldt Farm, Fish & Wine (1700 Humboldt St. – www.humboldtrestaurant.com) Executive Chef DJ Nagle is turning traditional Irish dishes, literally, upside down with his upside down shepherd’s pie.  Featuring potato puree and a braised Colorado lamb stew with mirepoix, Chef DJ adds depth of flavor with Guinness stout and garnishes with bright buttered peas.  Get this dish while you can; it’s served all day for lunch and dinner on St. Patrick’s day.

* Blackbelly Market (1606 Conestoga #3, Boulder – www.blackbelly.com) pays homage to Ireland on Tuesday with a focus on what they do best:  meat.  House-corned beef and cider brined cabbage dish are Executive Chef Hosea Rosenerg’s calling card on St. Paddy’s day, prepared simply and rustically for dinner. Blackbelly’s corned beef and pastrami take center stage on the house special Reuben sandwich, some say the best way to enjoy Irish corned beef.  It’s available piled high every day at lunch time.

* ViewHouse (2015 Market Street and 7101 S. Clinton St., Centennial - www.viewhouse.com) is extending the celebrations over four days. At the Ballpark location, expect live bands, DJs and giveaways alongside bagpipes and Irish dancers.  At the Centennial venue, Irish dancers tap it out alongside an appearance by a real leprechaun and pot of gold raffle. Both locations will be offering fresh takes on traditional cuisine including a soup of Guinness Irish cheddar potato with bacon, the house-cured corned beef and cabbage entree served with root vegetables and Irish soda bread. If you’re in the mood for something heartier, tuck into the Lamb Shepherd’s Pie, featuring Colorado lamb and a white cheddar potato crust.

* At Racines, (650 Sherman St. – www.racinesrestaurant.com) join the St. Patrick’s Day celebration with creative menu and bar items for lunch, dinner on Tuesday. At dinner and lunch guests can choose from steak and Guinness pie with steak, carrots and tomatoes in a hearty Guinness sauce, topped with mashed potatoes, parmesan cheese and green onions. Served with a side salad and dinner roll for $13.99 at lunch and dinner. Or choose corned beef and cabbage with corned beef, steamed carrots, cabbage and potatoes, served with mustard horseradish cream sauce for $15.99 at dinner and $12.99 at lunch.

Breakfast on Tuesday will feature corned beef benedict with two poached eggs over thin sliced lean corned beef on a toasted English muffin, served with hollandaise sauce and potatoes for $10.99 and car bomb pancakes served with Guinness maple syrup, Bailey’s whipped cream and Jameson Irish Whiskey butter for $8.99.

* The Fort presents a $35 three-course, prix fixe menu in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. The Irishman’s special includes a complimentary Colorado beer or glass of house wine. Start with The Fort’s dinner salad with mixed garden greens, diced Jicama, pickled ginger, toasted pepitas and a choice of house-made dressings, served alongside freshly baked breads and pumpkin walnut muffins. Second course is corned buffalo served with Irish “Champ” potatoes and fresh, seasonal vegetables. Dessert is Bailey’s Irish creme brulee. For reservations, go to www.TheFort.com or call 303-697-4771.

Travel + Leisure magazine’s recent selection of “America’s Best Candy Shops” included Lola’s Sugar Rush at 2490 W. Main St. in Littleton.

Here’s what this prestigious national magazine said about what they call “a shrine to sweets”:

“Perhaps it was inevitable that a woman whose nickname is Sugar would open a shrine to sweets. About 200 glass jars line the shelves of Lola Salazar’s fanciful pink and white boutique. ‘We serve every single customer, and we welcome them and tell them how it works. We want to make sure everyone who walks through the door has personal assistance,’ she explains. Besides the gummies, jelly beans, and other bulk candies in the jars, the store sells nearly 900 types of novelty and retro treats like candy cigarettes, Astro Pops, and Sky Bars, as well as ice cream and cookies.”