1 0 Tag Archives: The Palm

Bottom’s up during traditional toast at The Palm

December 23, 2013

CRL Associates chief operating officer and Denver City Council hopeful Roger Sherman held his annual toast to the staff at The Palm restaurant in the Tabor Center Friday night.

The seven-year tradition started when an unexpected winter blizzard derailed Sherman’s flight plans and cancelled his trip to Chicago. He diverted to The Palm with his friend and co-worker Cathie Greig, who again joined Sherman at Friday’s sip soiree.

Sherman, Greig and co-workers at local government relations powerhouse CRL Associates raised a glass of 2001 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon with the staff at The Palm — from managers to dishwashers — who crammed inside the bar for the much-anticipated occasion financed by Sherman.

“We have so much to be thankful for, and this has become something we look forward to each Christmas,” Sherman said. The toasters tipped back two jeroboam (double magnums) of the Jordan Cab.

Roger Sherman (not pictured) toasts the staff of The Palm last Friday night in his seventh annual tribute to the restaurant's wait staff, chefs, bartenders, diswhashers and managers. (Roger Sherman photo)

Roger Sherman (not pictured) toasts the staff of The Palm last Friday night in his seventh annual tribute to the restaurant’s wait staff, chefs, bartenders, dishwashers and managers. The toast finished with everyone downing two double magnums of 2001 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon. (Roger Sherman photo/Jordan Winery photo)2001_jordan_cabernet_sauvignon

 

 

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Penny Parker On The Town: Georgia R. Imhoff Award honors top philanthropist

October 2, 2013

Every two years, Blacktie-Colorado honors a special humanitarian with the Georgia R. Imhoff Outstanding Philanthropist Award.

This year’s winner will be announced at the 2013 “Have You Met” party at EXDO Event Center, 1399 35th St., on Oct. 15. The “Have You Met” feature is a popular piece on the Blacktie-Colorado website about Denver’s movers and shakers.

Since its inception more than 10 years ago, Blacktie-Colorado has interviewed 400 philanthropists and each one has his or her own unique perspective on helping others. The late Georgia R. Imhoff was a co-founder of Blacktie-Colorado.

Tickets for the “Have You Met” party are just $35 and include one drink and heavy appetizers. Registration is at www.blacktie-colorado.com; event code is  HYM2013.

Denver company’s creative designs for your vintage wines

When you see a creative wine storage unit at a Denver restaurant, it’s likely that the sassy shelving system came from VintageView, a Denver-based company, which displays bottles label-forward.

The sleek, innovative design makes it easier to showcase a wine collection and find the perfect bottle of wine, champagne or spirit.

The company recently held a media event at Ocean Prime, a high-end steak and seafood space on Larimer Square in a private room with a gorgeous wine-storage wall.

In addition to restaurant installations, VintageView offers display options for residential projects. The patented metal system features modular-style racks that can be modified to suit various spaces from personal wine cellars and retail stores to large-scale restaurants and event venues.

“The beauty of VintageView, besides its modern label-forward design, is that it can be tailored to any size space,” said Charles Malek, president of VintageView. “Whether you’re looking to display nine bottles in the privacy of your own home or thousands of bottles in a restaurant, VintageView can be customized to suit any needs.”

The metal racks can be mounted to any wall, attached to freestanding displays or mounted to VintageView’s floor-to-ceiling frames. Finishes include satin black, brushed nickel, copper, brass and chrome.

Denver establishments that have had the wine racks installed include: Rioja, Wash Park Grill, Bones, Grand Hyatt Denver, Lou’s Food Bar, Argonaut Liquors, Osterio Marco, Mizuna, Ocean Prime and Panzano. Other Colorado eateries who use the system are Mod Market and Cured in Boulder, Jax Fish House in Lafayette, Noodles & Co. in Broomfield, Cache Cache and St. Regis in Aspen, The 10th on Vail Mountain and Block 16 at The Sebastian in Vail.

For more details, go to www.vintageview.com.

Wine, women and Woodyard

Are you ready for some football?

Wine, Women and Football, presented by Coloradans for Responsible Energy Development,  is an evening of sipping, snacking and talking smack about any and all Broncos opponents, beginning at 5 p.m. Oct. 15 at Chloe, a Lotus Concepts property at 1445 Market St.

Come and share some X’s and O’s with players Montee Ball, Sylvester Williams, Britton Colquitt, Wesley Woodyard and one of my favorite former players, Rod Smith.

One hundred percent of proceeds benefit Volunteers of America’s Brandon Center, an emergency shelter for women and children. For tickets, go to www.voacolorado.org.

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Jive drive

DazzleJazz Restaurant & Lounge at 930 Lincoln St. is hosting a Flood Relief Jazz Drive with a marvelous musical line-up beginning at 5 p.m. through midnight on Thursday. The suggested donation is $10 at the door.

One hundred percent of proceeds will go directly to musicians drastically effected by the flood. In addition, all of the performers are donating their time and talents and Dazzle is donating all profits from the evening.

Here’s the melodic schedule:

5 – 5:45 p.m. – Delta Sonics

5:45 – 6:30 p.m. – Hamster Theatre

6:30 – 7:15 p.m. – Adam Bodine Trio

7:15 – 8 p.m. – Pakow and the By All Means Band

8 – 8:45 p.m. – SUCH

8:45 – 9:30 p.m. – CSU faculty & friends band

9:30 – 10:15 p.m. – CU faculty & friends band

10:15 – 11 p.m. – Greg Harris Band

11 – 11:45 p.m. – Gabriel Mervine Band

More information at www.dazzlejazz.com.

Racines rocks!

Racines, one of Denver’s most popular B, L and D restaurants (breakfast, lunch and dinner) is doing something nice for furloughed federal workers in light of the government shutdown.

The restaurant knows that the shutdown has real consequences for the many Colorado federal employees who have been furloughed.

Whether they need to drown their sorrows or feed their souls, all federal staffers with a valid ID will get 20 percent off their individual food and beverage tab at Racines through the duration of the shutdown.

“Here’s hoping this will be the shortest promotion in Racines’ nearly 30-year history,” said spokesman John Imbergamo.

Love is lovelier…

Prominent Denver attorney Jay Kamlet, a partner at Lathrop & Gage, popped the proverbial question recently to girlfriend Stephanie Keyes, a senior broker at Weststar Commercial.

Kamlet is a Denver native, while Keyes was born and raised in suburban Chicago. She has two boys, Jake and Sammy, 18 and 16, who both go to Cherry Creek High School.  She moved to Denver in 1993.

“We were introduced by our mutual friend, Julie Westfield, in spring of 2011, and we have been dating ever since,” Kamlet told me. “My kids, Alyssa, Ian and Amalia all adore her.”

Kamlet, the hopeful romantic, took Keyes to The Palm where the restaurant’s general manager Cathy Cooney gave the engagement ring to the waiter who presented it on the dessert plate with the cheesecake, which Kamlet insisted that Keyes order.

“She is the kindest, most selfless person I have ever met, and I am blessed to have her in my life,” Kamlet said.

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Denver attorney Jay Kamlet and Stephanie Keyes are engaged. (Photo courtesy of Jay Kamlet)

 

Hot, hot, hot

Former Denver newspaper sports reporter (now with ESPN) Adam Schefter has been plucked by Virgin Atlantic Airways to search for a “Red Hot Reporter” for the upcoming NFL International Series game in London, according to a story posted by MarketingDaily at http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/210228/virgin-atlantic-launches-promo-with-nfl.html.

“The selected person will interview players, go behind the scenes with sideline access and showcase the fan experience from the Virgin Atlantic suite,” the story says. “(The winner) will fly in style to cover the game, between the San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars, at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 27.”

Applicants must first follow @virgin_atlantic on Twitter. They will then create a video on the platform of their choice and tweet the video to @virgin_atlantic with the hashtag #redhotreporter. Schefter will select and announce the winner on Oct. 14.

Go whole hog

This little piggy went to dinner beginning at 6 p.m. Oct. 8 at Restaurant Kelly Liken in Vail.

Restaurant owner Liken in conjunction with Denver butchery expert Mark DeNittis will put a specially raised 4-H hog under the knife for the third annual Whole Hog Dinner.

The four-course nose-to-tail dinner (at $99 per person excluding tax and gratuity) will be paired with hand-crafted cocktails by mixologist Ian Tulk featuring spirits from family owned and operated Colorado distillery Leopold Bros.

To see the menu for the dinner and for reservations, go to www.kellyliken.com.

The seen

As posted by USA Today and former Denver Post sports writer Lindsay Jones on Twitter:

Broncos Coach John Fox on Jack Del Rio, candidate for the USC head coaching job and whom some media outlets reported was in Los Angeles on Sunday night:  “I know he’s focused on Dallas. He wasn’t at LAX. I was with him at Del Frisco’s when that report happened.”

Eavesdropping on a wife and a husband: “I thought you said you were going to change that light bulb.”

“I did. But I didn’t say I was going to change it today.”

Did you hear that I have a new column, “Mile High Life,” in Colorado Community Media’s 17 weekly newspapers circling Denver? Be sure to like my Facebook page! Also, here’s where you go to get my column emailed to you Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com. Want to advertise your business here? Contact Trisha at trilind@hotmail.com.

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Penny Parker On The Town: Bravo reality real estate show tackles Aspen market

August 2, 2013

I will confess that I love all things Bravo. I’m addicted to all the reality series, as well as to honcho Andy Cohen, who hosts “Watch What Happens Live” five nights a week (I’ve even got Mr. On the Town hooked on Andy’s show as well as “The Real Housewives of New Jersey”).

Most of those shows are train wrecks that you can’t take your eyes off of. So here comes the sixth season of “Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles,” where cast members Josh Altman (ick!), Josh Flagg and Madison Hildebrand compete fiercely for listings since the market has rebounded.

Inventory is low, according to a recent story on www.skicurbed.com, and the threesome are trying to find “sprawling estates for high-profile clients.”

So, unfortunately for Aspen, Altman calls Glamour Gulch his “second home”. Here’s part of the interview with Altman (see all of the interview at http://bit.ly/18V7lbp):

So, why Aspen?

We’ve been vacationing here for over eight years now. Matt (Josh’s brother) went to the University of Colorado in Boulder and after our family started visiting him out there, we fell in love with Colorado and especially Aspen. Our parents loved it so much, they ended up buying a place in Aspen as a vacation home. A few years later they made it their permanent home.

What are some of your favorite Aspen hangouts?

Most the time you’ll find us at The Caribou Club … we love to unwind on the comfortable couches. You’ll also see us at Pacifica, Jimmy’s and Cache Cache.

What’s your experience in the Aspen market?

We’ve done quite a few deals in Aspen and get a lot of calls. People know we are familiar with the area and have the best overseas reach to buyers through “Million Dollar Listing” and through Christie’s Great Estates. We consider it our second home, so love to co-list and co-market with local agents and are able to get them very high-profile clients.

What are your overall impressions of the real estate market in Aspen?

I feel the market keeps getting better and better and will continue to strengthen. Coming into the fourth quarter, we should see some good movement. I think it’s a great time to buy and invest here. Anyone who thinks other resort towns are hotter, obviously have never been to Aspen – in my opinion it’s the most beautiful place in the country.

Season six of “Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles” premieres on Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 7 p.m. MDT on Bravo.

Josh Altman of the Bravo Network's "Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles" (Bravo Network photo)

Josh Altman of the Bravo Network’s “Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles.” (Bravo Network photo)

 

Welcome to Actasana
Actasana is the latest addition to the entertainment scene in Denver. But what is Actasana?

According to www.Actasana.com, Actasana’s mission is “to unleash our imaginations and set the artist within us free through acting, yoga, comedy and theatre.”

Actasana is located at 1491 S. Holly St. in Denver will integrate its acting program with yoga into each class. The space includes a 27-seat black-box theater and is “set to have play productions on the Namastage, stand-up comedy nights, workshops, featured artists series” and a new filmmakers’ night.

Artistic Director Lea Marlene, a native Coloradan, earned a degree in journalism; broadcast news and television with a minor in theatre from Colorado State University. Marlene moved to Hollywood after college where she studied the Meisner technique with two of the nation’s best Meisner-certified teachers, Bill Alderson of Aldersonstudio.com and John Ruskin of Ruskinschool.com.

David Lauer is Actasana’s co-founder and has 20-plus years experience in the film industry. His visual effects credits include “Armageddon,” “The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe,” “The Day After Tomorrow,” “Night at the Museum” and “The Incredible Hulk.” His most recent roles was as co-visual effects supervisor on the Academy Award-winning “Life of Pi.”

For more information, visit the website or call 720-638-2612

Pop-up place

For a limited time, Denver’s Curtis Hotel is offering a package with a one-night stay in a pop-up inflatable room that rises 22 feet in the air, thanks to a scissor lift on top of the van on which it sits.

The cost? Hang onto your checkbooks … it’s $50,000. There is a weight limit (yikes!), and no smoking allowed.

Architect Alex Schweder created the 5-foot-by-7-foot see-through room atop a van for the Biennial of the Americas festival, according to an Associated Press story.

The room has a chemical toilet, shower, sink, inflatable bed and couch and curtains. It is being driven to parking lots around town through Aug. 23.

The seen

On a sign (see below) posted by a homeowner on the Biltmore Golf Course in Arizona: “If you come through this door uninvited you will be killed.” The sign also carries a Spanish translation. Talk about need of anger management.

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(Barb Simmons photo)

 

 

Eavesdropping on two women at The Palm discussing the merits of dating younger men: “Younger guys are smarter because they just got out of school and remember everything we forgot.”

Did you hear that I have a new column, “Mile High Life,” in Colorado Community Media’s 17 weekly newspapers circling Denver? Be sure to like my Facebook page! Also, here’s where you go to get my column emailed to you Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com. Want to advertise your business here? Contact Trisha at trilind@hotmail.com.

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Penny Parker’s On The Town: Seawell sails into 100

August 6, 2012

So what would it take for Judi Wolf and Cleo Parker Robinson to perform on stage together? Donald Seawell’s 100th birthday.

On Aug. 1, those of us who were lucky enough to be invited to such an illustrious affair inside of his namesake ballroom, witnessed several testimonials to Seawell, free run 6 femmes who’s made an indelible mark on this city’s theatrical heritage.

But the most entertaining moment came when Wolf and Parker Robinson kicked up their heels in their version of “My Heart Belongs to Donald”.

But as it should be, Seawell had the last word. “This has been a fabulous evening. When I’m asked what it’s like to be 100, I say it’s fun. If I could get more evenings like this, I’d live another 100 years.”

More Sabor

Sabor, the annual food fest to support the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, was a great success at the Denver Botanic Gardens last week.

Restaurants came out to supply best bites while supporting the Chamber. The nearly sold-out affair was muy caliente y sabroso. Que bueno!

Leftys

The right hand will know what the left hand is doing when Euclid Hall Bar & Kitchen, 1317 14th St., joins hands with Left Hand Brewing Co. at 7 p.m. Aug. 13 for a left-handed dinner and beer fest celebrating National Left-Handers Day.

Guests should expect left-handed surprises throughout the event. Right-handed participants are welcome as well. Euclid Hall chef de cuisine Jorel Pierce has prepared a multi-course menu paired with favorites from Left Hand.

Menu and reservations: www.euclidhall.com or 303-595-4255.

Ain’t it grand?

The Grand Hyatt Denver’s general manager Greg Leonard recently announced the opening of Pub 17, the hotel’s new restaurant on the corner of 17th and Welton.

The new pub aims to capture the mood and flavor of the Mile High City by providing neighborhood microbrews, regional wine and fun food fare.

Pub 17 prides itself for serving a bounty of locally grown produce, artisan cheeses and premium meats. Menu items include the Mile High Reuben or chef de cuisine Jay Leandro’s interpretation of mac and cheese.

Other menu stand-outs include a Western-style herb roasted bone marrow. Every signature dish complements a list of local microbrews. Reservations: 303-295-1117 or www.pub17denver.com.

Burger boys

This month’s edition of Food Network magazine free run 6 v2 femmes includes a bit called “You can eat like a football player,” restaurants are kicking off football season with dishes named after NFL players.

Two of my favorite QBs get the nod with Drew Brees’ Breesy Beef Mac and Peyton Burger.

The Breesy Beefy Mac  is a fave rave for the New Orleans Saints QB who eats the ground beef and macaroni before every game. A chef at the Ritz-Carlton apparently added a version with béarnaise sauce, andouille sausage and ground beef to the menu.

On Manning’s behalf, locally based Smashburger announced that Colorado locations would serve an off-the-menu Peyton Burger topped with orange hot sauce and blue cheese in honor of Broncos’ colors.

Say yes to the address

The Palm in the Westin Tabor Center has secured back its free valet for lunch and dinner. That’s good news to those of us who drive to the steak place and bristle at paying to park.

The On the Town family recently had an amazing dinner at the restaurant located at 16th and Lawrence. Reservations: www.thepalm.com/denver.

Eavesdropping on a husband and a wife: “When we met it was love at first sight?”

“For you?”

Did you hear that I have a new column, “Mile High Life,” in Colorado Community Media’s 17 weekly newspapers circling Denver? Be sure to like my Facebook page! Also, here’s where you go to get my column emailed to you Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I’m now the social-media liaison for the Mile High Chapter of the Colorado Restaurant Association, so read my latest restaurant news there. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com.

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Penny Parker’s On The Town: Restaurateurs host a hearty party to celebrate year one

July 30, 2012

Gayle and Ed Novak, possibly the kindest couple in the restaurant business, hosted a hearty party Saturday night at The Summit Steakhouse, the Havana and Yale spot that they’ve owned for a year.

The back story is that Ed and Gayle met there years ago when Gayle was a hostess and server and Ed was a constant customer.

Mr. On the Town, On the Town Junior (in Denver from Cincinnati for a brief visit) and I ambled back to our ‘hood (On the Town Junior grew up nearby in the Dam West neighborhood) to show support for the big restaurant boosters.

“The reason you’re all invited is because you supported us, new jordan and you know how ugly this place was,” Gayle said. “You know the first year is the hardest.

Then it was Ed’s turn: “We only invited people who are able to stay out till 1 in the morning,” he joked. “Go out and have a dance with your sweetheart, or somebody else you like in the room, and come back and have more food and drink.”

Needless to say, a good time was had by all.

Lunch bunch

Oakwood Homes and Saunders Construction will host a fundraiser and luncheon to benefit Z Place at the Evie Garrett Dennis Campus from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday.

Z Place is a new community located in the Children’s Corridor – a 14-mile stretch from Northeast Denver to Green Valley Ranch – where a revitalization effort is taking place to improve the lives and futures of families and children in the area.

Pat Hamill, CEO, president and founder of Oakwood Homes says that Z Place is a linchpin for future revitalization in the area.

“Far Northeast Denver continues to grow into a strong vibrant neighborhood filled with residents and companies dedicated to creating a bright future for the community,” Hamill said. “We are proud to support an organization that will have such a profoundly positive impact on the residents we serve.”

For reservations to the luncheon, RSVP to Mary Dollins at 816-225-3934 or mdollins@buildinggreatcommunities.com.

Palm prime time

From 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, The Palm is putting its Prime Bites menu at the bar on sale for $5.50 per item.

The Palm, inside the Tabor Center downtown, is putting its current bar menu on sale in anticipation of introducing a new menu on Aug 1. The discounted bar menu includes prime steakburger sliders, charcuterie plate, ultimate chicken strips, mini broiled crab cakes, chicken parmigiano sliders, crispy blue-corn fried oysters, Nova Scotia lobster BLT sliders, oysters on the half shell ($1.90 each) and jumbo shrimp cocktail at ($3.90 each).

Restaurant rumble

Jesse Morreale, the owner of El Diabl0 and Sketch restaurants at First and Broadway, was set to appear at an appeal hearing this morning at the City of Denver Board of Appeals in the Wellington Webb Building, 201 W. Colfax to consider arguments by Morreale, his counsel and supporters to lift the order that forced the closing of the restaurants three weeks ago.

At issue is whether the 1906 building is safe for the public after Morreale was issued a temporary certificate of occupancy but allegedly failed to do the repairs required by the city in order to receive a permanent certificate of occupancy for this historic hotel.

Meanwhile, many of the estimated 150 employees who nike cortez worked in both restaurants have lost their jobs. Morreale and his chef/partner Sean Yontz have been trying to employ some of the displaced workers at RockBar, the retro spot at 3015 E. Colfax.

Eavesdropping on On the Town Junior’s Facebook page: “My mom’s ringtone is Call Me Maybe. I am now older than my mother.”

Did you hear that I have a new column, “Mile High Life,” in Colorado Community Media’s 17 weekly newspapers circling Denver? Be sure to like my Facebook page! Also, here’s where you go to get my column emailed to you Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I’m now the social-media liaison for the Mile High Chapter of the Colorado Restaurant Association, so read my latest restaurant news there. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com.

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Penny Parker’s On The Town: Denver theater has lost a huge supporter

Denver lost a major player in the theater community when Robert “Bob” Garner died after a short illness Thursday in his home. He was 80.

Garner, whose name graces the Garner Galleria Theatre, the cabaret-style showroom inside the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, was a pioneer in bringing Broadway touring shows to town as the head of Denver Center Attractions.

He was a fixture on opening night nike lebron 11 performances for all the major productions that brought their shows here. In addition to theater, Garner was passionate about cruising, which he did frequently with his theater pals.

He was that guy that you wanted to hang out with during a pre-performance cocktail party, dinner or a post-party because he always had the best stories, and wasn’t allergic to a little harmless gossip.

I’ll miss his enthusiasm, energy and that twinkle in his eye when he had something juicy to share. Opening night performances will be missing a big fan.

My eyes adored it

Walk Like a Man (or Woman), and get yourself to the Broadway hit Jersey Boys, the Story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, now playing through Aug. 11 at the Buell Theatre.

If you are of a certain age (like me), you will be able to sing along to all 35 songs the fab four perform during the musical about the group’s rise and fall from fame.

It’s the story of four Italian-American youths from New Jersey growing up in the 1960s who easily could have chosen prison over music. But instead, they pushed out hit after hit but not without personal sacrifice.

One of the show’s highlights is back to back presentations of Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry and Walk Like a Man. The crowd goes wild.

“At that moment the audience has forgotten they’re watching four actors, and they root for these four guys as though they really are the Four Seasons in their youth,” Rick Elice one of the show’s Tony-nominated book writers told Applause magazine.

Restaurants round-up for charity

Salt on the Rim, a food-and-margarita fundraiser to benefit The Kempe Foundation and Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect, starts at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Denver Botanic Gardens.

Featured restaurants and caterers include Brio Tuscan Grille, Chinook Tavern, EDGE at the Four Seasons Denver, The Food Guy, Hard Rock Cafe, Japoix, Lifestyles Catering, Lime, Mezcal, The Palm, Piatti, Sam’s No. 3, 16 Mix Cocktail Lounge at The Sheraton Downtown, Twisted Pine Brewing Co. and Zink.

Tickets are $100 at: https://www.blacktie-colorado.com/online_sales/rsvp_ticket_purchase.cfm?rsvpid=6556 .

Pop goes the dinner

The Ritz-Carlton Denver is featuring dishes inspired by executive chef Justin Fields recent travels abroad with a Pop-Up Dinner and Film at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Guests will be served a multi-course French-inspired dinner paired with a showing of the classic film La Femme Nikita and served on the outdoor plaza.

The cost is $75 per person plus tax and tip, or $125 with wine pairings. Reservations and more information: 303-312-3826 or e-mail allyson.fredeen@ritzcarlton.com.

Sur la Table opens Friday

When the Seattle-based kitchen store opted to nike zoom hyperrev leave the Cherry Creek Shopping Center last April, the store announced it would move to new bigger digs across the street at 121 Clayton Lane.

A sign on the door says it’s opening Friday. This new location will have room to offer cooking classes in addition to kitchen gadgets and goodies.

Brandon’s bails

Brandon’s Pub, the hybrid Mexican food place and sports bar at 3027 E. Second Ave. in Cherry Creek North, has closed its doors.

The phone is disconnected, and there was a notice printed in Westword about an auction for the restaurant’s contents. Brandon’s opened in Cherry Creek in May 2010, after moving there from the Beauvallon on Ninth and Lincoln.

Barrels of Love

Becky McKernan, widow of Tim “BarrelMan” McKernan, the longtime fixture at Broncos games, is hosting a fundraiser from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Wystones Tea, 7323 W. Alaska Drive, Lakewood.

The evening will include a silent auction plus player autographs from Ron Egloff, Dave Studddard, Billy Thompson and Larry Brunson. One-of-a-kind barrel art work from local artists will be available for purchase with 100 percent of proceeds going to the Barrels of Love foundation.

Eavesdropping on a woman: “If you don’t have a butt, you don’t have a butt. You shouldn’t try to make one. Not sure my trainer would agree with that.”

Did you hear that I have a new column, “Mile High Life,” in Colorado Community Media’s 17 weekly newspapers circling Denver? Be sure to like my Facebook page! Also, here’s where you go to get my column emailed to you Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I’m now the social-media liaison for the Mile High Chapter of the Colorado Restaurant Association, so read my latest restaurant news there. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com.

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Penny Parker’s On The Town: Hotel Monaco completes its makeover


The Hotel Monaco at 17th and Champa has put on a fresh face in its lobby and meeting spaces with an impressive makeover that was long overdue.

The hotel hadn’t redesigned its lobby since 1998. The lobby renovation completes a three-part plan for the makeover that started with restaurant Panzano then the guest rooms.

“Our evolution has come full circle,” Hotel Monaco general manager Von DeLuna told me during a walk-through Monday. “This is the final stamp on a three-year process.”

Interior designer Susan Caruso, who also designed the free run 4.0 v3 renovated guest rooms, was given the task of an overhaul of the hotel’s whimsical lobby and meeting spaces. Her theme was “rugged cowby meets city slicker”.

Caruso worked around the hotel’s iconic colorful ceiling in redesigning the public space. The entry into the lobby boasts bronze, iron and rustic metal fixtures that mix classic styles with modern cut globes, softened with accents of warm silver leaf.

The wall that leads to the meeting rooms and restrooms below is bedazzled with three silver steer skulls, and the walls of the lobby are adorned with Western-themed paintings.

Next up is the goal of expanding Panzano’s bar in late fall. The expansion will add roughly 24 seats to the space that is packed during the restaurant’s wildly popular daily happy hour from 2:30 to 6 p.m.

Wine time

The Palm restaurant inside The Westin Hotel at the Tabor Center is launching its annual Patio Wine Series from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursdays. These events are about as much fun as you can have on a patio. Not only do you get to taste wow wines, but you also get to munch from The Palm’s boffo buffet.

This Thursday features Rockin’ Reds, with subsequent Thursdays pouring various varietals including Think Pink Roses on July 12, Denver’s Infinite Monkey Therorem on Aug. 23 and Taste Alexander Valley on Sept. 13. The series ends with a bang: Silver Oak 40th anniversary on Oct. 3.

Tickets are $25 per person not including tax and tip. Reservations: Wendy Klein, wklein@thepalm.com or 303-825-7256.

Parking pickle

Argh! The Palm’s valet and parking garage has been taken over by a new company who (in its infinite wisdom – NOT!) has opted to charge for valet – $5 at lunch and $7 at dinner.

With The Palm’s exit from the complimentary valet service, the population of free valets in downtown Denver is sorely diminishing. It’s a sad state of affairs.

Besh is best

John Besh, the fatally handsome chef and owner of a New Orleans restaurant empire, will be guest chef for a four-course dinner, wine pairings and a copy of his new book, My Family Table, on June 18 at Frasca in Boulder.

Besh has written several cookbooks, runs restaurants, free run 4.0 v3 femmes is a James Beard Award-winner and frequent TV personality on cooking shows. For resservations, call 303-442-6966.

The seen

Bison boss and media mogul Ted Turner dining at his namesake restaurant Ted’s Montana Grill on Larimer Square on Friday. And Broadway and TV star Kristin Chenoweth at Edge with her family from Oklahoma. Chenoweth was in town for her one-woman show at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House.

Eavesdropping on a woman at The Four Seasons Denver Level 3 Thursday pool party: “Does everybody have to be size 2 to be here except our corner of the room?”

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Sushi follows pizza into LoDo, tacos not far behind

April 19, 2012

Sushi eateries are invading LoDo with the same feeding frenzy that recently put a plethora of pizza places in the neighborhood.

Hapa Sushi Grill & Sake Bar, will open its fifth outlet in the former India House space at 1514 Blake St., Blue Sushi Sake Grill this summer will take over part of the old Dixons building at 16th and Wazee, and Aoba is soon to open in the old Organixx space at 15th and Blake.

That’s a lot of fish swimming into the same lake. Hapa, with locations in Boulder (two), Cherry Creek and the Landmark project south, is owned by Mark Van Grack, who last month bought the 1514 Blake St. air jordan 11 building from India House owner Gughi Singh for $2.1 million.  Singh bought the place nearly 10 years ago for $950,000, according to public records.

Meanwhile, Denver chef-restaurateur Troy Guard and the H Burger boys are making a run for the border with two taco joints in the works – on East Pearl in Boulder and in the former 8 Rivers location at 1515 Blake St. They expect to sign the 8 Rivers lease next week.

Guard, who already has TAG, TAG Raw Bar and Madison Street in his culinary collection, said T|aco (pronounced Tee-ahko, a take on H Burger) will open the Boulder store the first week in May. The downtown restaurant opens in August.

“The menu will have 10 tacos, a salad, chips, guac, fresh salsa, ceviche, homemade tortillas and a tamale of the week,” Guard said. “The kind of food I like to eat. I think Mexican food is making a comeback with a twist.”

Certainly Pinche Tacos owner Kevin Morrison, one of the founders of the Spicy Pickle sandwich shops, would agree. He’s had mucho success with his tiny taqueria at 1514 York St.

And H Burger will open another outlet on East Pearl next to Pizzeria Locale also in the first week of May. “We’re just a little busy,” joked partner Geoff Smith.

House with spouse

I told you recently that former Nuggets star Nene and his wife, Lauren, got their Grape Street home under contract for $1.6 million before he was traded to the Washington Wizards. But it doesn’t look like the Hilarios are real estate poor in Denver.

Earlier this year, the couple upgraded to a posh pad in the Buell Mansion subdivision for $3.4 million.

Perhaps the Hilarios will hang on to the Cherry Hills Village air jordan 12 nest where they’ll return to roost during the off season.

Strings celebrated

Strings owners Tammy and Noel Cunningham were among the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Neighbor Award winners honored during a gala dinner Wednesday at its 2012 Public Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C.

The Cunninghams (Noel died in December) were named this year’s Cornerstone Humanitarians for their philanthropic efforts. Each honoree was given a $5,000 contribution to his or her charitable initiatives.

Baby steps

Congrats to The Palm general manager Cathy Cooney Green and hubby Brian Green on the April 2 arrival of baby Finnegan Robert Green. The tot’s stats were 7 pounds 3 ounces and 21 inches long.

Cathy expects to return to the power lunch steak place June 1.

Signs of the times

In the Lime XS parking lot on Sixth Avenue: “Party like a piñata, get smashed. Cinco de Mayo.”

On the marquee outside of the shuttered Caldonia’s on Parker Road: “Closed forever.”

Eavesdropping on a periodontist: “Your teeth don’t care whether you have dental insurance.”

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