Eavesdropping on Facebook:

Conversation with a son and his mother about her quilt club meeting today:
Mom: “An elderly woman brought in a beautiful quilt she finished.”
Me: “Mom, you’re 88; you’re elderly.”
Mom: “Well, she’s more elderly.”

Two Colorado ‘burgs landed in the top 10 on NerdWallet.com’s list of America’s Most Innovative Cities, “NerdWallet’s guide for understanding where the impact of tech funding, innovation and startup activity is the strongest.”

Boulder ranked No. 2 behind San Jose, the epicenter of Silicon Valley in California’s Bay Area. Fort Collins placed a respectable No. 6.

The West dominated with only two East Coast places made the top 10 list — Burlington, Vt., and Boston. And every area in the top 10 is located near a major university, “suggesting that higher education and innovation are closely linked.

Here are the criteria NerdWallet used to determine the top 10 cities:

1. Number of patents per 1,000 residents. NerdWallet looked at the number of patents granted in the technology class by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in each metro area from 2009 to 2013 to find the areas with the most inventive residents.
2. Financial support for innovation. NerdWallet examined the amount of venture capital funding an area received per capita in 2014 to understand if entrepreneurs have access to the capital they need.
3. Economies of agglomeration. Agglomeration — nearness of location — is used to describe the benefits when companies, like startups, cluster together. The higher the density of startups, the more innovators can benefit from common labor pools and idea sharing.

For the entire list, go to www.nerdwallet.com/blog/cities/americas-most-innovative-tech-hubs/.

A gal pal and I were invited recently to taste test the new Winter seasonal menu at Thirsty Lion Gastropub and Grill, part of the Union Station redevelopment on the south end of the project at 1605 Wynkoop St.

The spacious eatery is set up to accommodate intimate diners, families, happy hour revelers and sports fans with their own bar space on the north end of the restaurant.

Our female server, “Charlie,” could not have been more adorable, helpful and knowledgeable about the extensive menu that includes fare ranging from Asian to Italian to Mexican.

We tried the way-too-healthy-sounding Brussels sprouts, quinoa and grilled chicken salad – shaved raw Brussels, red and white quinoa, arugula, candied walnuts, currants and Asiago cheese served with a white balsamic and pomegranate vinaigrette. It was so good that we nearly forgot it was good for us.

We balanced out the salad with Toscano Italian pizza – Toscano salami, sopressata, spicy sausage, pepperoncini, red peppers, Roma tomato sauce and four cheese blend on a fluffy crust.

And we couldn’t resist the seasonal dessert – house made raspberry white chocolate cheesecake with chocolate hazelnut crust, Grand Marnier and fresh whipped cream paired with the seasonal cocktail – salted caramel Moroccan coffee, which is as good as it sounds.

If you’re looking for a casual bite at Union Station, check it out. See the entire menu at www.thirstylionpub.com.

Party under the stars at Canopy at Tamayo’s, Denver’s newest Latin Lounge and late night destination, on the restaurant’s roof at 1400 Larimer St.

A staff of bartenders will create an assortment of hand-crafted cocktails from house infused tequilas or show their mixology talents from the full bar menu.  Nightly food and drink specials as well as bottle service are available.

Canopy at Tamayo’s local DJ invites guests to show off their best moves to Latin, Top 40 and international tunes. No cover charge; no athletic wear.

Hours are 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. More information at www.rsnightlife.com. Food, cocktail and bottle service menu at www.richardsandoval.com/tamayo/uploads/menus/tamayo-late-night.pdf.

According to the Chinese calendar, it’s time to ring in the Year of the Goat.

Spend an evening celebrating the Chinese New Year by learning to craft some traditional Chinese dishes with the chefs at Cook Street School of Culinary Arts, 1937 Market St.,  from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday.

You’ll learn the technique behind a perfect steamed dumpling and how you can do it at home. Discover Dan Dan Noodles and the luxurious chili broth that makes it the perfect comfort food for a chilly February evening and top it all off with homemade fortune cookies.

Enjoy the meal you helped prepare at the end of class along with wine and beer pairings for $89 per person. Visit www.cookstreet.com for more information.

Denver was named the seventh top place to move in the country, moving up two spots to take Seattle’s place and surpass Chicago, according to Penske Truck Rental’s 2014 top 10 moving destinations.

“The top half of our list are warm weather locales where our business interests have steadily increased,” said Don Mikes, Penske senior vice president of truck rental.

Here are the 2014 top 10 moving destinations: (The 2013 ranking is noted in parentheses.)

Denver Center for the Performing Arts Chairman and CEO Daniel L. Ritchie has announced that two new members have been named to its Board of Trustees – L. Roger Hutson, president and CEO of HRM Resources II LLC, and Hassan Salem, U.S. Bank of Colorado president.

In addition to their financial support, Hutson and Salem have given their personal time to serve as corporate co-chairs of the DCPA’s annual signature fundraiser Saturday Night Alive on March 7. Under their leadership, this year’s event has sold a record number of tables to Denver’s corporate community. Last year, net proceeds from Saturday Night Alive totaled $842,000 to benefit the DCPA’s theater education programs.

“We are delighted to have Roger and Hassan join our Board of Trustees,” Ritchie said. “Their commitment of both personal time and financial support sets an example for others in our community to model. Their input, expertise and guidance will be welcome additions to the DCPA as we work to engage more customers and take our theatrical programming to greater levels of excellence.”

For more information on the DCPA, its governing board and Saturday Night Alive, visit www.denvercenter.org.

Eavesdropping on two women talking about another friend who died: “If you’ve got to go, leave a lot of good stories behind.”

It’s been said that food equals love, and what better example of that adage than in local restaurants where couples are side by side at work and at home.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Zagat.com writer Lori Midson, profiles 10 culinary couples. They are: Delores Tronco and Tony Maciag at Work & Class; Frank and Jacqueline Bonanno owners of Mizuna, Luca, Vesper Lounge, Osteria Marco, Lou’s Food Bar,Wednesday’s Pie, Russell’s Smokehouse, Bones, Salt & Grinder and Green Russell; Jennifer Jasinski co-owner of Rioja, Stoic & Genuine, Euclid Hall and Bistro Vendome and Max MacKissock chef at an unnamed restaurant opening this summer; Eric and Jill Skokan of Black Cat and Bramble & Hare; Steve Jankousky and Tom Unterwagner at Tom’s Home Cookin’; Kate Kavanaugh and Josh Curtiss of Western Daughters Butcher Shoppe; Tom and Diane Coohill of Coohills; Josh and Jen Wolkon owners of  Vesta Dipping Grill, Steuben’s and Ace Eat Serve & Ace Juice Bar; Troy and Nikki Guard owners of TAG, Bubu, Tag Burger Bar, Guard and Grace, Sunnyside Burger Bar,Sugarmill and Los Chingones and Bobby and Danette Stuckey at Frasca Food and Wine and Pizzeria Locale.

Read their stories at www.zagat.com/b/denver/denver-and-boulders-10-sweetest-culinary-power-couples#10.