Tick-tock, tick-tock … only seven days to get your tax return to the IRS!

And the folks at Lou’s Food Bar understand that this can be a little stressful – particularly if you owe Uncle Sam.

To take the edge off (or to celebrate that giant refund) Lou’s will be serving $4 cocktails on tap, draft beers, well drinks and select wines from 4-6 p.m. on April 15.

If that’s not enough, executive chef David Prebish will be passing complimentary apps from their new happy hour menu.

Eavesdropping on a woman to a man:

“Is the Final Four finally over?”

Last week’s snowfall either made you feel blessed to have the moisture or gloomy as you long for spring to take a firm hold.  Whatever your take, these restaurants have rolled out their spring menus and should whet your appetite for fresh, seasonal fare from some of Denver’s finest.

1515 Restaurant in LoDo offers fresh, approachable flavors that with their unique twist, using molecular gastronomy to offer fine dining in a new light.  What to try?  Bison Two Ways, with “Ginger Beer” Braised Short Ribs and Sous Vide Steak with butternut squash mousseline, root vegetable succotash and horseradish foam.

Coral Room in Highland has just promoted long-time sous chef, Greg Lyons, to executive chef.  It’s easy to see why when perusing their mouthwatering new menus for both lunch and dinner.  What to try?  Vegetable Udon Bowl with seasonal vegetables, peanuts and Thai-ginger soy sauce.

Central Bistro & Bar in Lower Highland has seen chef Matt Selby sprinkle its menu with tasty magic since he came on board earlier this year. Sit on the patio and watch the beautiful people stroll by while sipping on a housemade gin and tonic. What to try?  Crispy Skin Chicken with Morel mushrooms, fingerling potatoes and English pea ragout.

ChoLon hasn’t completely reworked their already fresh and fab menu, but they do have several new additions to honor the season.  What to try?  Lobster Saigon Crepes with asparagus, mushrooms and lettuce cups.

Coohills, link the only downtown restaurant that sits along Cherry Creek and boasts a beautiful view of the Wewatta Bridge, has one of the largest and most comfortable patios in which to enjoy crazy colorful sunsets. What better way to take in their spring menu and sip on one of Colin Dart’s creative cocktails? What to try?  Cape Cod Scallops with grapefruit, strawberry, cucumber, prosciutto and wild cress (pictured below).

Opus in Cherry Creek North has a menu that is French inspired with a creative twist.  You can sit in their dining room with old world charm or soak in the sun on their patio.  What to try?  Beef Cheeks with fennel, orange and olives. 

Tables chefs Amy Vitale and Dustin Barrett’s cozy Park Hill restaurant with a charming picket fence-enclosed patio screams “spring”! What to try?  Shetland Island Salmon with radish-spring pea has, chimichuri-cucumber yogurt sauce and a crab and pickled radish salad.

The Ballpark nieghborhood gem, Trillium, not only has updated their menu for spring, but they’ve also launched a new happy Hour menu just in time for Rockies season. What to try?  Braised “Never, Ever” Colorado Lamb Shank with root vegetables, Danish blue cheese polenta cakes, “living” watercress and lemon gremolata.

Not surprising, Boulder ranks as the city least plagued by obesity, according to recent research by Gallup.

Two other Colorado cities — Denver and Fort Collins — ranked in the top 10.

West Virginia apparently is the most obese state; Huntington was the most obese city and two others in the state, Charlestown and Martinsburg, made the top 10.

According to the Gallup research, adult obesity rates are above 15 percent in all but one (Boulder) of the 189 metro areas that Gallup and Healthways surveyed in 2012 and 2013. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People 2010 program had a goal of reducing obesity to 15 percent in each state. No state and only one U.S. metro area has achieved this goal.

The top 10 least obese cities were Boulder (12.4 percent obesity rate); Naples, Fla. (16.5); Fort Collins (18.2); Charlottesville, Va. (18.2); Bellingham, Wash. (18.7); San Diego (19.3); Denver (19.3); San Jose (19.5); Bridgeport, Conn. (19.6); and Barnstable Town, Mass. (19.6).

Among the most obese cities: Huntington (39.5); McAllen, Texas (38.3); Hagerstown, Md. (36.7); Yakima, Wash. (35.7); Little Rock, Ark., (35.1); Charlestown (34.6); Clarksville, Tenn. (33.8), Jackson, Miss. (33.8); Green Bay (33.0); and Rockford, Ill. (33).

Read more at www.usat.ly/1jREVSH.

The Denver Auto Show is back for another great five-day run at the Colorado Convention Center from Wednesday through Sunday.

The Denver Auto Show will showcase the newest model year import and domestic vehicles — cars, vans, crossovers, hybrids, light trucks and sport utilities.  Besides the new models, you also will be treated to sneak peeks of selected intros, concepts, and the latest in tricked-out cars.

The latest in fuel-efficient technology and aftermarket accessories also will be featured.  Factory representatives will answer questions in a no-pressure environment.

The Denver Auto Show opens at 5 p.m. Wednesday and runs through Sunday, April 13.

Admission if $10 for adults; $5 for children (6-12 years olds) and free for those under 6.

On Wednesday, active and retired military personnel with appropriate military ID (white active duty or blue retired military cards) will be admitted free. All seniors, 65 and older will be admitted for $5 on Thursday (ID required).

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.denverautoshow.com.

Gov. John Hickenlooper, wearing a mop top wig, sang a Beatles medley with The Moderators at the Colorado Symphony Ball on Saturday night at the Fillmore Auditorium.

Don’t give up your day job, governor!

Eavesdropping on a “fan” at The Rooftop at Coors Field during the Colorado Rockies’ home opener Friday:

“Oh, I guess the game is starting.”

On April 24 you can dine out for a cause.  There are 250 restaurants participating in Dining Out for Life this year and expect to raise more than $300,000.  Racines and the Cherry Cricket have participated since day one and several have participated for more than 10 years.

This event raises money for Project Angel Heart which supplies essential food and nutrition to those living with HIV/AIDS and other illnesses such as cancer or diabetes.

You can help raise money by simply dining out.  Check out the list of restaurants at www.projectangelheart.org.

Try a new kid on the block at Old Major, The Populist, Olive & Finch or beast + bottle.  Some of the local favorites to try are Fruition, Opus Fine Dining & Wine Bar and Mizuna.  Support a great organization for an even better cause by simply Dining Out for Life.

Megan Dubray is an almost 30-year-old public relations manager who is single and looking to mingle.

Her idea of a perfect first date is good conversation, good food and cocktails. So a great local restaurant is always a plus. A bonus if you hit it off would be doing something a little different after dinner — bowling, going to a museum, or a comedy show.

In her spare time she enjoys spending time with friends and family, enjoying the great food that Denver has to offer (on patios when the weather allows), going to the park and the mountains, taking weekend trips, and being active and involved in the community.

OK, guys, she is too cute for words.  Email the matchmaker at trilind@hotmail.com if you would like to meet Megan.