Wow, this was one incredible Fourth of July and there was no more exciting place to be than the Glass House.

But lets just document the day in order [Read more →]

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Or simply put, Oysters, Oysters, Oysters… and tons of them.

Last night Jax hosted a huge oyster eating contest and the place was packed. First of all you have to know that this wonderful event was to benefit New Orleans and to provide some assistance for the oyster industry devastation there. So every time a customer (of which there were many) ordered oysters (of which there were even more) the proceeds went to good cause. So of course we helped out the best we could. Crowds of people came into Jax and their drink of choice was the Martini. There were Martinis of every color and combination from wall to wall. The bar itself looked like a martini lineup as they cooled with ice waiting to be filled. [Read more →]

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Here is an email I just got on Vita. Thought I would pass it on because today is BEAUTIFUL and I should be sitting on their patio right now writing a review in the sunshine.

Not only is VITA’s patio open and offering TWO new Happy Hours - - they are NOW serving Sunday Brunch! Starting this Sunday, March 25th Brunch will be served from 10:00 to 2:00 pm and Happy Hour begins 2:00pm – 6:30pm. Come down and soak up some sun and martinis on Vita’s patio this weekend!

IT’S FRIDAY - - so don’t forget about VITA’s TWO new Happy Hours (not only on Friday but EVERY DAY)!:

Happy Hour Times: 3:00pm – 6:30pm AND 9:00pm – Close (7 days a week!)

Food Specials: 2 for 1 (antipasto platter, olive hummus, calamari, bruschette, and specialty cheese and cracker spreads)

Drink Specials: Wines are 2 for 1 by the glass, and Bud, Bud Light and Italian Peroni and Moretti beers are $2.

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Here is another great spot you have to try. Tom’s Home Cooking located in Five Points is some awesome southern delights.

Fried catfish, fried chicken, collard greens, black eyed peas and more are there for your selection. During lunch you want to get there early. 11:30 is the magic number for me. And there will be a line when you get there and the line will be longer when you leave.

The operation is simple enough. Imagine the soup nazi from Seinfeld without the attitude. Folks churn through the assembly line and call out their main course plus two sides and you get it handed to you, in your styrofoam box, and you are off. Oops, I almost forgot the cornbread and drink are included. This is important because they brew and serve authentic sweet tea. The folks I know from the South swear it is the real thing, and they consume it by the gallon when we go.

Once you get your food grab a seat quickly before they all disappear.  If all the seats are gone, just wait a minute or two.  The turnover is quick among these small diner style tables in a small area filled with Southern antiques and signs.  Take a look around at the wall artwork, it is sure to get a laugh.  And you’ll notice there are signs warning of fees for cell phone usage while ordering or just being high maintenance.  This is where the Seinfeld reference comes from.  No catfish for YOU!!

If you are really hungry go ahead and upsize your catfish from two pieces to four, or add on a slice of pie. Either way you will not walk but roll out the door. This may not be healthy for you, but it is good. If it is any consolation, one of the most recent Scientific American articles talks about how it is healthier to eat everything you want and include alot of good stuff than it is to try to never eat anything bad. Really, or maybe we can just rationalize anything.

Yum. This is a gotta do item for anyone in Denver. Let me know what you think.

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A friend passed this on suggesting it was Urban Brain Worthy. I agree.

At least we can laugh at ourselves.

Jeff Foxworthy on Colorado

( It was only a matter of time before Jeff Foxworthy took a couple of shots
at Colorado)

You are a Coloradoan if …………..

1. You switch from “Heat” to “A/C” in one day.

2. You know what the “Peoples Republic of Boulder” means.

3. Your sense of direction is: towards the mountains and away from the
mountains.

4. You’re a meat-eating vegetarian.

5. The bike on your car is worth more than your car and you have your own
special bike lane.

[Read more →]

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I mentioned in yesterday’s post that we headed out to an Av’s game. It was a last minute magic ticket, and we needed a good spot to grab a beer and some grub before the game. We narrowed it down to My Brothers Bar or Wazee Supper Club. We ultimately picked Wazee after finding out that a couple members of our group had never been there before.

How can anyone have never been to the Wazee Supper Club? Are you as shocked as I am. Then I realized [Read more →]

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Wayback Wednesday, a great way to get ready for Thanksgiving tonight

DenverMix.com and Slim 7 have launched WAYBACK WEDNESDAYS. Get down as we take you back to the era of cheap drinks and Cheap Trick. All the songs you know and love, but never hear– a unique blend including everything from old-school hip hop to rock n’ roll! Digital Underground to Duran Duran; Bon Jovi to The Beastie Boys; Led Zepplin to L.L.!

Never A Cover Charge

Bottle Service- $95 Bottle Of Absolut

For the Ladies Only:
Absolut Drinks- $3 ALL NIGHT
$4 Floot Champagne
$6 MUMM Champagne Splits
1/2-Price Bottles Of

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I just had breakfast at Mona’s and saw the workers cleaning the glass at the new Vitamin Cottage and you can see the inside is almost set up. Ah, fresh fruits and veggies in the downtown area…. about time don’t you think.

Here is the story from the Rocky Mountain News.

Vitamin Cottage moves into Riverfront area
New grocery in trendy district is No. 24 for family owned chain
Steven R. Nickerson © News

Cheryl Raff stocks vitamin shelves in preparation for the opening of the Vitamin Cottage store at 15th and Platte streets in Denver’s Riverfront neighborhood. The 10,000-square-foot natural foods grocery will open Nov. 14.
STORY TOOLS
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By Janet Forgrieve, Rocky Mountain News
November 4, 2006
Liz Isely was doing one of her favorite parts of the job Friday afternoon - setting up store No. 24 in her family business.
Isely is a Vitamin Cottage vice president and part of the second generation team that runs the growing Lakewood- based chain of natural markets their parents started in 1955.

“I love opening new stores - I like organization,” she said with a grin, her work-gloved hands poised to move more boxes at the company’s first real urban location.

The 10,000-square-foot space at Platte and 15th streets likely will lure more walk-in traffic from the increasingly trendy neighborhood, said marketing director Nancy Flynn.

So, while most of the space will look much like the company’s other locations - vitamins and supplements on one side, grocery on the other - there will be some tweaks, she said.

The center of the store will hold more convenience food items - ready-made sandwiches, drinks and snacks - that customers can grab and go. Also, it’ll be the first Vitamin Cottage store to stock fresh meats.

The spot is within walking distance for residents in the Highlands and Riverfront neighborhoods.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if it became a top store for us because the area has been so underserved for so long,” Flynn said.

There are two main entrances. Near the Platte Street side, two express registers will help speed pedestrians on their way, Flynn said.

The door on the other side opens onto the store’s parking lot - customers enter through a high-ceilinged lobby and can use either stairs or an elevator to get up to store level.

When the store opens on Nov. 14, manager Daniel Masias will supervise a staff of 22, about half of them from other stores in the chain.

Chris Smith, who coordinates all the natural health and beauty offerings in the stores, has made a few changes as well.

In a nod to the younger residents of the area, Smith has downsized the baby products sections to fit more shower gels and more upscale products, she said.

At 7 a.m. Thursday, about 50 vendors and workers descended and began unpacking. By Friday afternoon much of the packaged goods were in place, and the team was still chugging along.

Vendor Roger Simmons, which has sold Now Foods supplements to Vitamin Cottage stores for 14 years, said the chain is now his company’s No. 1 customer.

“The expansion has been huge,” Simmons said. “Now, with all the renovation and revitalization of this neighborhood, they’ll get a very metro clientele.”

Vitamin Cottage grows

• What: Vitamin Cottage Natural Market, the 22nd in Colorado and 24th for the Lakewood-based chain

• Where: 2375 15th St., Denver

• When: Opening Nov. 14

• Next up: The company is scheduled to open its next store in January in Dillon.

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Best to just quote the papers on this one… Check it out and let me know if you agree.

Their website is here.. at the time of this post it was still under construction.

The Lure -

“When The Lure joined the downtown lounge scene earlier this month, it immediately scored points among well-heeled thirtysomethings for its simple approach to style and quality. Chef Eric Roeder designed the menu of elegant dinner entrees and small plates - served until 1 a.m. for high quality late-night eats - and the drink menu leans heavily toward wine, champagne, and high-end cocktails without relying on the overdone crutch of bottle service.

The long, narrow space offers half-round booths down the left side and bar seating on the right, and subtly rustic touches lend the space a vaguely lodge-like vibe. An antler chandelier greets you at the entrance, fur trim lines the kick plate beneath the bar, and exposed brick and stone play up the classy lighting and dark, classic décor.

The Thursday-night ladies’ night is popular already; as a chic variation on the traditional cheap drink specials, the Lure instead advertises half-price bottles of champagne. A $60 bottle of J sparkling wine goes for a mere $30, and a $115 bottle of Veuve Cliquot Yellow Label is a deal at $57.” –Denver Post 10/20/06

The Lure, 1434 Blake St.; 303-446-2222.

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For the last few months I have been hearing about a new seafood restaurant in the Highland area by the name of Highland Pacific. Hearing about is not the best description, a few buddies of mine have been RAVING about this new spot in their neighborhood. They go there, throw back oysters and drink beer to their hearts content. I had to check it out.

So this past Saturday we went. After hearing how awesome it was supposed to be we called ahead for a reservation and then headed on over.

First impression, great little place. It’s warm, it’s cozy. The small bar is set up to easily serve a few people their shellfish in comfort with a few tables around for casual dining, plus another small dining room. It wasn’t very crowded, just a steady flow of folk when we got there and throughout our meal. We didn’t need our reservation to have a table, but one never knows so I still recommend it.

We started with, of course, Martinis. My own preference is a dirty martini so you can pair the salty taste of certain oysters with the brine in the Martini. YUM, and when we asked what Vodka’s they carried the response was “we have so many it might be easier if you ask if we have the one you want..”. Good answer.

I recommend getting the Oyster tour, which lets you try a variety. Oysters come in so many flavors, some with hints of melon, others more salty. One we tried made you feel like you just swallowed salt water, probably someone’s favorite but not mine. And I love strong tastes. But without ordering the tour you might miss the subtle differences in the various types from various locations, so give it a try. As Oysters go, I give HIghland Pacific an A+.

We then had the goat cheese appetizer. WONDERFUL!! It had been a chilly night and the warm goat cheese spread over the toasted bread chips wonderfully, paired with marinated tomatos and a great olive spread. It melts in your mouth, and the perfect second course.

For dinner I selected the slow roasted Salmon with lentils. The salmon was cooked perfectly and just floated flavor in my mouth. The lentil pairing went well with the fish, and some greens thrown in with a touch of balsamic. YUM!!

Overall, go check it out. We spent a bit more than we expected, about $140 for two with two martini’s each. But worth it! Next time the fried oyster po boy is on the agenda. If you have been, let us know what you think.

Since I had trouble finding a list of all the types of Oysters Online, if you know of a good web site reference please post it.

If you just want to learn more about Oysters and oyster type you should check out these links…

Oyster types and locations
Wikipedia on Oysters
Oyster Recipes
Kumamoto Oysters
Types of Oysters

Or for a GREAT book on the history of Oysters in New York, and I mean from thousands of years back to today, check out the best seller The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell

Happy Shelling!!

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