Portland-based Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill opened its first Denver location at 1605 Wynkoop St. in the renovated One Union Station building on Tuesday.

The first restaurant in the Union Station redevelopment to open, Thirsty Lion serves lunch, happy hour and dinner. The gastropub features 8,393 square feet of interior seating, handcrafted food, 52 beers on tap and more than 2,000 square feet of downtown patio space.

“We are extremely excited to open our newest location in the Union Station neighborhood,” said Thirsty Lion CEO John Plew. “Thirsty Lion is the perfect fit for this neighborhood and we look forward to providing Denver with great service, a diverse menu, local quality ingredients, and not to mention a great selection of local craft beer.”

Thirsty Lion’s culinary commitment is to provide an eclectic variety of multi-cultural cuisines with an emphasis on local ingredients, bold flavors and scratch recipes. A seasonal fresh sheet will focus on the changing season’s offerings including fresh seafood, quality meats and local vegetables and fruits.

The bar will feature 52 beers on tap, 28 of which are from Colorado. The gastropub also features craft cocktails that utilize combinations of fresh fruit purees, juices and premium liquors, as well as 25 different wines by the glass.

“At Thirsty Lion, we work hard to combine quality ingredients and scratch recipes to create menu items that satisfy the ‘foodie’ in all of us,” said Thirsty Lion executive chef Keith Castro. “The flavor profiles are complex, yet blend well in their simplistic approach to create ‘craveable’ food; an intense desire for more.”

Open from 11 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday. For more information visit www.thirstylionpub.com/denver.

Project Angel Heart, a non-profit organization that delivers nutritious meals to improve quality of life, at no cost, for those coping with life-threatening illnesses in the Denver Metro and Colorado Springs areas, raised more than$300,000 during its annual Dining Out For Life event on April 24.

More than 250 restaurants in the Denver Metro area and Boulder donated 25 percent of their food sales on April 24 to Project Angel Heart. An estimated 80,000-plus Coloradans attended the event.

“For 20 years, the restaurant community has been coming together to support Project Angel Heart’s home-delivered meals,” said Project Angel Heart CEO Erin Pulling. “On behalf of the 2,300 clients who will receive Project Angel Heart’s nutritious meals this year, Project Angel Heart thanks the community — restaurants, sponsors and diners — for their generous support.”

This year, guests had the option to enter a drawing to win a year’s worth of groceries from Whole Foods Market – a package valued at $2,500. The winner will be notified by July 1.  There is still time to enter by texting the word “meals” to 50155 and making a donation of any amount.

Project Angel Heart would also like to thank The Cherry Cricket and Racines for supporting Dining Out For Life for all 20 years. It would also like to thank its sponsors for helping to make it another successful event including Subaru of America, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Bellco, Republic National Distributing Company, Deep Eddy Vodka, Whole Foods, 5280 Magazine, The Denver Post, DreamWise Marketing Solutions, Out Front Colorado, Lamar, Sprint, Ad Focus and Westword.

Eavesdropping on Facebook: “In 12 years, I’ll be 100 years old.”

“Someone else is going to have to buy you a cake, because I’ll be long gone by then.”

Cindy Jones, the affable owner of the Tin Cup restaurant at Aurora Hills Golf Club, has stretched her spatula to add the eatery at Fitzsimons Golf Course to her culinary resume.

Jones, who officially took over the Fitz restaurant in January, has been sprucing up the golfers’ 19th hole and has brought the Tin Cup’s breakfast and lunch menus to the new place.

The Tin Cup, which for my money is the best public golf course restaurant in Aurora, features homemade breakfast burritos as well as house-fried tortilla chips and house-made salsa, with several grab and go items for golfers on their way to the next hole.

Jones also hired Rose Decker, who famously worked at the long-gone Plainsman in Aurora for 20 years, as the manager at the newly named Tin Cup 2.

“(Decker) is such a go getter and makes everyone feel so welcomed,” Jones said. “We’re getting great feedback from everyone and we have very reasonable prices, and people are coming from the hospitals and (other office buildings) that area to eat. We also have to go menus for (local workers) to call in: 303-340-3093.”

If you’re hitting the links at Fitzsimons or work nearby, check out the new and improved fairway fare at TC2.

Cindy Jones, right, has expanded her Tin Cup Bar & Grill ‘empire’ to Fitzsimons Golf Course.

Pat Hamill, dandy Denver developer and founder of Oakwood Homes and owner of Green Valley Ranch Golf Club, has acquired the assets of Henry Walker Homes for Oakwood Homes’ continued expansion in the Utah market.

Henry Walker Homes was seeking a new capital partner with a similar organizational culture. Oakwood Homes, Colorado’s largest private homebuilder, purchased Henry Walker Homes for upwards of $75 million. Värde Partners and Mountain Real Estate Capital provided the capital for this transaction. Oakwood Homes and Henry Walker Homes began discussions in September 2013 and completed the transaction on April 23 this year.

Henry Walker Homes currently operates in Northern Colorado and Northern and Southern Utah. Oakwood Homes operates in the Colorado Front Range, including the Denver metro area and Colorado Springs; Omaha, Neb.; and northern Utah. This acquisition will mark the expansion of Oakwood Homes into northern Utah, including Salt Lake City. Henry Walker Homes’ operations in southern Utah and Colorado will resume under a different name.

“When presented with the opportunity to acquire Henry Walker Homes, we were immediately intrigued,” Hamill said. “We were expanding into Salt Lake City, and Henry Walker is already established in Utah with a solid reputation in the area. This opportunity allows us to leverage our strong capital foundation and our efficient building practices towards our vision of being the best homebuilder in America.

“We are pleased to have partnered with Värde Partners and Mountain Real Estate Capital to successfully complete this transaction. They shared our vision in capitalizing on this opportunity that will significantly expand our presence in the growing Salt Lake City metro region.”

The operations in Utah will take place systemically over the next year. John Stubbs, the current President of Henry Walker Homes, will become President of Oakwood’s Utah Division. Mike Stewart will lead the integration team. Over the next year, Jason Chisholm will be Vice President of Operations, and James Doolin will be Vice President of Land Acquisition. Stubbs will partner with the integration team to ensure that the process and systems are successfully integrated over the next year.

“The talent of the Utah team is unmatched,” Stubbs said.  “The team’s total experience in the Utah market spans decades, and Utah homebuyers can trust they will be buying top-quality homes from a company that is dedicated to the growth of the community.”

Oakwood Homes employs 151 people, and Henry Walker Homes has 78 employees.  The majority of associates are expected to remain in their current roles.

John Stubbs will become president of Oakwood’s Utah division. (Oakwood Homes photo)

Western Daughters Butcher Shoppe will start a takeover of the meat/butcher counter at The Source on June 1. The artisan food market opened last September with Meat Head as its butcher; the shop recently closed when owner Kevin Klinger decided to move to sunnier lands, the island of St. Thomas.

Western Daughters, a whole animal butchery operation run by Kate Kavanaugh and her fiance, Josh Curtiss, got its start late last year with a location in LoHi. The duo, inspired by a love for the craft of butchery and armed with a one-year apprenticeship at Fleisher’s in upstate New York, opened a 750-square-foot store focused on High Plains cuts of pork, beef, lamb and other seasonal meats. Meats are antibiotic- and hormone-free, sourced from less than 250 miles from Denver, pasture-raised and can be custom cut to order.

At the Source, Western Daughters will bring its whole animal butchery philosophy and more. Kate and Josh will move the animal break down operations into the showcase cooler. Butchery demonstrations and lessons will be part of the schedule. A sizable selection of raw meats will be available six days a week, alongside sandwiches made with house-cured products. House made sausages, stocks and more will also be offered.

“Kate and Josh share the philosophy of the food artisans that are part of the Source,” said Kyle Zeppelin, developer of the food market. “They are committed to their craft and they make the experience fun. It is the formula that works throughout The Source- providing a great underlying product surrounded with an inviting culture. We look forward to having the butcher glass case function to its full potential – allowing transparency of the butchery process and sharing that with customers.

“We can’t wait to bring you a window into where your food comes from; from the butchery aspect to the lives of the animals and ranchers we work so closely with,” Kavanaugh said.” We feel this is the perfect venue to introduce people to a nose-to-tail philosophy and for customers to get a chance to truly meet their meat.”

Until June 1, the shop will conduct occasional weekend and weekday pop-ups. After that, the store will be open six days a week, closing for Meatless Mondays. The takeover is slated through the end of August.

For additional information, contact Justin Croft at justin@zeppelinplaces.com.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday for “1964” The Tribute, celebrating the iconic music of The Beatles and the Fab Four’s Colorado debut concert at Red Rocks.

The tribute to the British invasion starts at 8 p.m. Aug. 22 at Red Rock Amphitheatre (doors open at 6:30 p.m.).

Here’s your chance to relive musical history with the No. 1 Beatles Show in the World, “1964” The Tribute, hailed by critics and fans alike as the most authentic and enduring Beatles concert live on stage.

In celebration of this historical event, “1964” will kick off the evening with the 10  songs The Beatles performed at Red Rocks in 1964.  Come experience what it was like at the beginning.

For more information on “1964” The Tribute go to:  www.1964site.com.

This concert is a benefit for Colorado Public Television 12 and is sponsored by 99.5 The Mountain, KOSI, “The Denver Post”, “Out Front”, Integrity Limousine, Marriott Denver West and Brothers BBQ.

Tickets are $32 (plus service charges) for general admission (the original 1964 concert tickets were $6) are available at www.ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster centers.  To charge tickets by phone, call 1-800-745-3000.  Group Sales through Channel 12 at www.cpt12.org or by calling 303-296-1212 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Majestic Athletic, the official on-field uniform supplier of Major League Baseball, in partnership with the Colorado Rockies and Major League Baseball, celebrates a special day for local baseball fans by inviting them to don their official Rockies team jerseys in a show of baseball fan pride for the Rockies home game on May 2.

Rockies Jersey Day presented by Majestic Athletic encourages fans to proudly wear their Rockies jersey to work, school or the home game that evening to celebrate their love for the sport and the hometown nine.

“The baseball jersey is the world’s most iconic sports jersey,” said Chuck Strom, General Manager/VP MLB Business at Majestic. “Many of the most important and memorable moments in sports happened in a baseball jersey. So we thought it was time it had its own day.”

“We always encourage our fans to wear their Rockies jerseys and colors,” said Greg Feasel, Rockies Executive Vice President and COO.  “However, designating a special day for our fans to proudly wear their favorite Rockies jersey is a great way to honor the history of baseball, our team and the community.”

Majestic Rockies jerseys are available at The Sports Authority, Rockies Dugout Stores, The Diamond Dry Goods Store at Coors Field and on www.MLB.com for advance purchase in preparation for jersey day. To keep up with Rockies Jersey Day via social media, follow and tweet @Rockies using #RockiesJerseyDay.

The Dumb Friends League’s 21st annual Furry Scurry dog and owner stroll saunters into Washington Park on May 3.

Wash Park again will be going to the dogs for the return of this much-loved Denver tradition that brings together thousands of pets and people all for one common goa l— to raise money for homeless animals in our community.

The Furry Scurry has grown into the single largest dog walk not only in Colorado, but in the entire country. More than 12,000 people and 5,000 four-legged friends are expected to attend.

“The Furry Scurry wouldn’t be what it is today without such compassionate local support,” said Bob Rohde, president and CEO of the Dumb Friends League. “To see so many people come together in celebration of the human-animal bond, and in support of homeless pets, is overwhelming and inspiring.”

In addition to completing the two-mile walk around Washington Park, Furry Scurry participants and their darling doggies can meet adoptable pets and enjoy refreshments, contests, demonstrations and shopping for pet-friendly goods and services from more than 150 vendors and sponsors.

The Dumb Friends League takes in an average of 55 homeless pets every day — more than 20,000 a year. Proceeds from Furry Scurry registration fees and donations help the League provide shelter, medical care, behavior training, foster care, love and compassion to thousands of homeless animals each year, as well as fund programs that serve both pets and people in our community.

Registration for the event is $50 per person and $25 for children 12 and younger, and includes a limited-edition Furry Scurry T-shirt. Individuals can register online in advance or on event day beginning at 7 a.m. Participants are encouraged to collect pledges from friends, family and co-workers to earn prizes.

The 2014 Furry Scurry is sponsored by Hill’s Science Diet, HomeAgain, Amica Insurance, Whole Foods Market, Heartgard Plus and Frontline Plus. For more information and to register, visit www.FurryScurry.org or call 303-751-5772, ext. 1378.