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28 Unique Things to do in Denver this Week
Denver has some poppin’ events lined up this weekend. Get musical at The Phantom of the Opera and end it by getting your shopping on at a Thrift Pop-Up. Embrace your inner child with an adults-only Pixar Party. Taste French cuisine at a Celebrity Chef Experience. You can explore more than 300 different events within the city throughout the week from the Denver Film Festival to Denver Fashion Week. The event is a party dedicated to ’80s with new wave, pop, electronic and more blaring from DJ Mike Moses and DJ Sara Splatter. The work is a permanent outdoor projection art program with art from the Limelight Projection Mapping and Sofie Birkin Illustration, with digital animation from Vincent Comparetto and Joel Swanson. It is a giant immersive pop-up that gives you the ability to step inside of your phone for a day with a look at the inner workings of “notifications,” DMs and more. The party will give you an inside look at technology and science used from some hit Pixar films.
Thursday, November 7
The Phantom of the Opera
When: November 6 – 17
Where: Denver Center for the Performing Arts, 1101 13th St., Denver
Cost: $45 – $176 tickets available here
The Lowdown: Denver Center for the Performing Arts presents The Phantom of the Opera. The musical is a Cameron Mackintosh production of the classic Andrew Lloyd Webber hit with performances of the dark and romantic score that tells of the hidden mentor of Christine Daaé.
Phonetopia
When: November 7 – 24
Where: 2750 Blake St., Denver
Cost: Free admission
The Lowdown: Visible presents an interactive installation dubbed Phonetopia. The installation is a giant immersive pop-up that gives you the ability to step inside of your phone for a day with a look at the inner workings of “notifications,” DMs and more.
Night Lights Denver
When: November 7, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Historic D&F Clocktower, 1601 Arapahoe St., Denver
Cost: Free admission
The Lowdown: Experience the launch of Night Lights Denver at the Historic D&F Clocktower. The work is a permanent outdoor projection art program from the Denver Theatre District with art from the Limelight Projection Mapping and Sofie Birkin Illustration, with digital animation from Vincent Comparetto and Joel Swanson.
Denver Arts Week
When: November 7 – 9
Where: Multiple locations check here
Cost: Various prices check here
The Lowdown: Denver Arts Week is back for another year of creation. You can explore more than 300 different events within the city throughout the week from the Denver Film Festival to Denver Fashion Week.
All Night Long
When: November 7, 9 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Where: 715 Club, 715 E. 26th Ave., Denver
Cost: Free admission
The Lowdown: Shake it out at All Night Long. The event is a party dedicated to ’80s with new wave, pop, electronic and more blaring from DJ Mike Moses and DJ Sara Splatter. You can show off your best dance moves and party all night long.
Nightwaves
When: November 7, 9 p.m. – 12 a.m.
Where: Ophelia’s, 1215 20th St., Denver
Cost: $15 – $27 get tickets here
The Lowdown: Ophelia’s hosts an evening of killer DJ sets during Nightwaves. You can get your dance on with sets from The Juan Maclean team who dabble in techno, disco-punk, deep house and more. You can also listen to DJ Boyhollow and local synth-pop band Retrofette throughout the night.
Celebrity Chef Experience
When: November 7, 6 – 9 p.m.
Where: Morin, 1600 15th St., Denver
Cost: $150 – $500 get tickets here
The Lowdown: Taste French cuisine at a Celebrity Chef Experience. Morin will bring together Chef Carrie Baird of Bar Dough and Chef Max Mackissock of Morin as they create an interactive feast. Proceeds from the event will benefit the historic Central City Opera.
Friday, November 8
Pixar Party
When: November 8, 7 – 10 p.m.
Where: Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver
Cost: $50 get tickets here
The Lowdown: Embrace your inner child with an adults-only Pixar Party. The party will give you an inside look at the technology and science used from some hit Pixar films. You can dress up in a Pixar themed costume and play with interactive elements, listen to live music from bands and more.
First Bite: Boulder County Restaurant Week
When: November 8 – 16
Where: Multiple Locations check here
Cost: $29 – $49 per person
The Lowdown: First Bite: Boulder County Restaurant week is back to feed your soul. You can dine from over 30 participating restaurants in Boulder that are offering three courses between $29 and $49 for magical nights of flavor.
Beyonce vs. Rihanna
When: November 8, 9 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Where: Ophelia’s Denver, 1215 20th St., Denver
Cost: $15 – $25 get tickets here
The Lowdown: Celebrate some legendary songstresses during a Beyonce vs. Rihanna night at Ophelia’s. You can rock out to beats from two teams of DJs with KDJ Above and DJ SixxxD on team Bey and DJ Alisha B and DJ Big Styles on team Rih.
Every Human
When: November 8, 6 – 9 p.m.
Where: Understudy, 890 C. 14th St., Denver
Cost: Free admission
The Lowdown: Understudy hosts the opening reception of Every Human, by artist Moe Gram. The exhibition explores the common denominators that connect humans. The goal is to spur empathy and consideration for ourselves and others with the use of data.
Roots Radical Citrus Beet Saison Release
When: November 8, 12 p.m. – 12 a.m.
Where: Ratio Beerworks, 2920 Larimer St., Denver
Cost: Free admission
The Lowdown: Sip on Ratio Beerworks’ first Roots Radical Citrus Beet Saison Release this Friday. The Saison is a bright earthy brew with a bit of a tart bite and a beautiful red hue from the beets it is brewed with. The beer is created with Ratio’s Harvest Week partnership in mind and celebrates the local community.
Detour’s 5 Pointers
When: November 8, 6 – 10 p.m.
Where: RedLine Contemporary Art Center, 2350 Arapahoe St., Denver
Cost: $10 get tickets here
The Lowdown: Redbull presents Detour’s 5 Pointers. The event features a performance and exhibition mash-up created by local artist Thomas “Detour” Evans in collaboration with Redline Contemporary Art Center. The exhibition dives deep into the future of Five Points through the perspective of a band from the future while critiquing issues affecting the community at the moment.
National Bison Day
When: October 8, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Where: Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St., Denver
Cost: Free with $15 general admission here
The Lowdown: Celebrate bison on National Bison Day with the Denver Zoo. The zoo will hold an art show with works from local artists, zookeeper talks, conservation partner stations and more to promote bison conservation.
Good River Beer Taproom Grand Opening
When: November 8, 4 – 10 p.m.
Where: Good River Beer, 918 W. 1st Ave., Denver
Cost: Free admission
The Lowdown: Grab a glass of cold beer at the Good River Beer Taproom Grand Opening. You can explore the new space, sip on new brews and more throughout the evening. For every pour purchased, $1 will be donated to one of the 2% for River Partners, Colorado, Whitewater.
Cotton Collective Vintage Market
When: November 8, 5 – 10 p.m.
Where: Mile High Spirits – Tasting Room, 2201 Lawrence St., Denver
Cost: Free admission
The Lowdown: Find some amazing vintage clothes and accessories during the Cotton Collective Vintage Market. The market is filled with over 20 hand-picked vendors for a special shopping experience. You can start your gift hunting with unique and rare pieces.
Saturday, November 9
Denver Fashion Week Fall ’19
When: November 9 – 17
Where: Multiple locations check here
Cost: Various prices check here
The Lowdown: Get ready for a week of local and national fashion with Denver Fashion Week Fall ’19. The nine-day event is packed to the brim full of workshops, runway shows and more. If you love fashion, this week is perfect for you.
Grandma’s 5th Anniversary Party
When: November 9, 12 – 11:55 p.m.
Where: Grandma’s House, 1710 S. Broadway, Denver
Cost: Free admission
The Lowdown: Say cheers to five years during Grandma’s 5th Anniversary Party. This Saturday you can take part in bingo, a grandma-themed costumed contest, games and more. Grandma’s House will also be release five exclusive brews in celebration of five years in business.
Denver Fashion Week After Party
When: November 9, 10 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Where: Zeppelin Station, 3501 Wazee St., Denver
Cost: Free admission
The Lowdown: 303 Magazine hosts the Denver Fashion Week After Party. You can jam out all night long with Weird Touch and Big Trouble while exploring the Made in Mexico City pop-up. You can also imbibe on cocktails and dance all night long.
Closing Night Party
When: November 9, 10 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Where: The Source Hotel + Market Hall, 3350 Brighton Blvd., Denver
Cost: $65 get tickets here
The Lowdown: Denver Film Festival celebrates its commencement with a Closing Night Party. The party will take place at The Source right after the Closing Night Red Carpet Presentation at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House.
Park Hill Pizza Pie 1M/5k/10k
When: November 9, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Where: City Park, 3001 E. 17th Ave., Denver
Cost: Free – $60 register here
The Lowdown: Sweat it out at the Park Hill Pizza Pie 1M/5k/10k. You can get your fitness on with a one mile, 5k or 10k run around City Park. Following the race, you can grab a finisher’s medal and refuel with a slice of hot pizza pie.
Rocky Mountain Con
When: November 9 – 10
Where: Embassy Suites by Hilton Denver Stapleton, 4444 Havana St., Denver
Cost: $10 get tickets here
The Lowdown: Don your best cosplay for the Rocky Mountain Con. The two-day convention features gaming, anime and comics galore. A portion of the proceed will benefit local programs.
Sunday, November 10
Music in the Galleries
When: November 10, 1 – 3 p.m.
Where: Clyfford Still Museum, 1250 Bannock St., Denver
Cost: Free with $10 general admission here
The Lowdown: View the Clyfford Still Museum in a new light with live music from Roma Ransom during Music in the Galleries. Roma Ransom is a Colorado-based duo of Grace Easley and Gordon Lewis that combines sounds inspired by European cultures with traditional ballads.
Another Brunch In The Wall: The Pink Floyd Brunch
When: November 10, 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Where: Ophelia’s, 1215 20th St., Denver
Cost: Free admission
The Lowdown: Dig into some rocking bites during Another Brunch In The Wall: The Pink Floyd Brunch. Ophelia’s celebrates the 40th anniversary of Pink Floyd’s The Wall this Sunday with live beats from DJ Boyhollow along with Pink Floyd visuals projected on the big screen for the perfect atmosphere. Call 303.993.8023 to reserve your spot.
Open Haus: Celebrating 100 Years of Bauhaus
When: November 10, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Where: Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art, 1201 Bannock St., Denver
Cost: $100 – $150 get tickets here
The Lowdown: Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art presents Open Haus: Celebrating 100 Years of Bauhaus. You can take a look at the museum’s collection of more than 100 works from artists and designers connected to the German art and design school while raising funds for programming and exhibitions.
Self Care Sundays
When: November 10, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Where: Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, 1485 Delgany St., Denver
Cost: Free with $10 general admission at entry
The Lowdown: Treat yourself during Self Care Sundays. Museum of Contemporary Art Denver (MCA) presents a day to slow down and experience the art in the galleries with a new perspective. The goal to be more fully present and enjoy the moment.
Chili Cook-Off
When: November 10, 2 – 6 p.m.
Where: Diebolt Brewing Company, 3855 Mariposa St., Denver
Cost: Free admission
The Lowdown: Diebolt Brewing presents a Chili Cook-Off to heat you up in the chilly weather. You can enter your best pot of chili into two different categories – recipes that include Diebolt beer and recipes that do not include beer – try others’ chilis and sip on some brews. If you win the best chili you will receive a $25 Diebolt gift card.
Thrift Pop-Up
When: November 10, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Where: The Denver Central Market, 2669 Larimer St., Denver
Cost: Free admission
The Lowdown: The Denver Central Market hosts a Thrift Pop-Up. You can shop till you drop in the pop-up for finds in sustainable items, vintage duds and more. It is never too early to start finding those perfect holiday gifts.
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DFW Workshop
When: November 13, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: McNichols Civic Center Building, 144 W. Colfax Ave., Denver
Cost: $35 – $50 tickets available here
Science Riot
When: November 14, 7:30 – 9 p.m.
Where: Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver
Cost: $15 tickets available here
Made in L.A. Launch Party
When: November 15, 7 – 10 p.m.
Where: Zeppelin Station, 3501 Wazee St., Denver
Cost: Free admission
Cuffin’ All Thangs R&B November
When: November 15, 9 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Where: 1134 N. Broadway, Denver
Cost: Free RSVP here
This downtown resident wants 16th Street Mall construction wrapped
Denver’s 16th Street Mall was once a car-free playground for visitors and residents alike to wander, shop, relax, and enjoy semi-public space. The project was an investment in the future but a sacrifice for now. The redesigned block includes pop-up vendors, new light poles, a new bee hive and improved paving. The city celebrated the first of 13 blocks to be re-opened after construction on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, with a parade and fireworks. The 16th St. Mall is the “spine of Denver’s” economic development project and has and been a main attraction for visitors, but some businesses haven’t survived the 16th. Street Mall construction has hurt business, but many were saved and others opened and others have been saved and opened.. Among them included two Starbucks, two Hard Rock Cafe, Montbell, Hardery’s Cafe and McDonald’s. The Cheesecake Factory, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Overland Sheepskin, Blue Agave Grill, Mellow Mushroom and Smashburger have a free block.
Lisa Evans stands on the 16th Street Mall, in a section near her apartment where construction has begun to wrap up. June 27, 2024.
Lisa Evans, a longtime Denverite, moved to the 16th Street Mall, in July of 2021, months after downtown residents pushed Mayor Michael Hancock to beef up policing and crack down on crime.
At the time, downtown had been emptied by pandemic closures. Office buildings sat vacant. Restaurants, dependent on business from office workers, struggled to stay open. Once vibrant streets felt grey.
By April 2022, construction, a decade in the planning, started on the 16th Street Mall.
A pedestrian walks around a construction barrier on the 16th Street Mall. May 31, 2023. Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
The entire strip, once a car-free playground for visitors and residents alike to wander, shop, relax, and enjoy semi-public space, turned into a massive, fenced-off construction site.
The project was an investment in the future but a sacrifice for now.
For Evans, the emptiness caused by 16th Street Mall construction has been a loss.
Unlike other residents who find daily life in the city center to be scary, Evans generally feels safe.
She walks to the store, Union Station, restaurants, Ball Arena and Coors Field.
“I have not seen anyone using drugs,” she said. “And yet I talk to friends that live in Centenial: ‘Oh, I don’t know about coming Downtown.’ I’m like, ‘Come on!’”
Lisa Evans stands on the 16th Street Mall, in a section near her apartment where construction has begun to wrap up. June 27, 2024. Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
For more than a year, she’s been pushing the city to find ways to re-activate Downtown.
“I love Denver,” she said. “There’s so much investment here. But people don’t come.”
On Wednesday, Evans watched the city celebrate the first of 13 blocks to be re-opened after construction.
Evans was there to enjoy the hundreds of people gabbing, dancing to the music and shopping from pop-up vendors.
A brass band played. Councilmember Hinds held a big key. Guests walked through a golden door to see the completed block.
“I just want this activity every day,” Evans said.
The Guerrilla Fanfare Brass Band plays as officials celebrate the reopening of one block of the 16th Street Mall, at Lawrence Street. June 26, 2024. Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Mayor Mike Johnston greets mascots Bernie and Rocky as he steps through a golden door and onto a block of the 16th Street Mall, at Lawrence Street, that reopened after years of constreuction. June 26, 2024. Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
At the festivities, Mayor Mike Johnston described the 16th Street Mall as the “spine of Denver.”
Finally, one vertebra is functioning. And it looks good.
The redesigned block includes pop-up vendors, new light poles, a new bee hive and improved paving.
Restaurants from the Cheesecake Factory, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Overland Sheepskin, Blue Agave Grill, Mellow Mushroom and Smashburger finally have a free block.
Brenda Lucio, owner of Blue Agave Grill, speaks as officials celebrate the reopening of her business’ block of the 16th Street Mall, at Lawrence Street. June 26, 2024. Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
“It’s nice to see so many people on 16th Street,” said Blue Agave Grill owner Brenda Lucio. “It’s been a long couple of years.”
While the construction project has hurt business and been a struggle, she said “the city did a wonderful job” and the mall will be a main attraction for visitors.
Yet some businesses haven’t survived the 16th Street Mall construction, but many were saved and others opened.
Adeeb Khan, head of Denver Economic Development and Opportunity, celebrated a $1.28 million business stabilization program supporting 114 businesses.
“Since the construction has started, we have not lost a local business on 16th Street,” he said.
National businesses and chains, on the other hand, shuttered in droves. Among them included two Starbucks, Chili’s, Montbell, Hard Rock Cafe, Corner Bakery and McDonalds.
Adeeb Khan, executive director of Denver Economic Development and Opportunity, speaks as officials celebrate the reopening of one block of the 16th Street Mall, at Lawrence Street. June 26, 2024. Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Evans, the downtown resident, said her dentist shut down his office.
Even Tea With Tae, a business that launched a 16th Street Mall location as part of the Downtown Denver Partnership’s Pop-Up Denver business incubator, considered extending its lease but ultimately closed down that location.
The owners were frustrated by safety issues and empty streets, as Westword reported.
Happily, some new businesses also opened during construction. Those included: the Thompson Hotel, Chez Maggy, Dragonfly, Ike’s Sandwiches, the Museum of Illusions, Trompeau Bakery, Casa Tequilas, The Yard Milkshake Bar, JARS, Taco Bell, Top Golf, Bezel, Que Rico and Done Deal.
Evans continues to push big ideas about how the 16th Street Mall can recover.
During the mayoral election, she gave both Johnston and his opponent Kelly Brough a three-page memo with suggestions about revitalizing the mall..
In the mix: Incentivize the contractors to finish work in 90 days. Move people experiencing homelessness and panhandlers away from the mall and provide them services. Mandate an end to remote work for city workers and offer daycare and tutoring for their kids.
She proposed the city give residents and city workers discount cards for in-person dining, convert class C office buildings into employee housing for downtown workers, and promote special events and festivals Downtown, among many other recommendations.
Mayor Mike Johnston walks through a golden door onto one block of the 16th Street Mall, at Lawrence Street, as he celebrates its reopening after years of constreuction. June 26, 2024. Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Johnston has pushed some of these policies, though far from all of them.
And Evans continues to want construction wrapped as soon as possible. She has attended public meetings and encouraged the city to allow the contractor to work at night, despite concerns from some neighbors about noise.
“You need to plan festivals,” she said. “Get people down here. Get them loving it again. The only other time this block has looked this good was for the fireworks display. Even Opening Day this year was rather slow.”
Over the past two years, too much money has been spent on branding initiatives, she said.
Not enough has been invested in events to draw new people downtown.
The Downtown Denver Partnership does have some events in the works branded under the My Denver Summer umbrella. That will include daily concerts and a beer garden at Skyline Park.
Downtown Denver Partnership CEO Kourtny Garrett speaks as officials celebrate the reopening of one block of the 16th Street Mall, at Lawrence Street. June 26, 2024. Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
“A place is not a place unless there are people,” said Kourtny Garrett, head of the Downtown Denver Partnership. “So we need each and every one of you to spend your time, spend your money, bring friends, bring family and show off the beautiful new signature spine of our city. We are absolutely committed to rekindling your love of 16th Street.”
Evans hopes that pans out.
“I want desperately for this to succeed,” she said. “We need energy.”
Paul Simon Un-Retires, Announces Dates for 2025 Spring/Summer ‘A Quiet Celebration Tour’
Paul Simon has announced a North American tour for 2025. The tour is called A Quiet Celebration Tour. It will feature multiple nights in a row in most cities. A presale for select shows will kick off on Thursday (Feb. 20) at 10 a.m. local time, with a public on-sale slated for Friday ( Feb. 21) Simon will perform songs from his 2023 song cycle, Seven Psalms, for the first time. He last toured in 2018, and said he would likely never tour again after losing most of his hearing in his left ear during the recording of the song cycle. He performed a duet with Sabrina Carpenter on Sunday night’s SNL50 Celebration special on his song “Homeward Bound.” He’s currently on tour in the UK, Australia, Canada and the U.S., with dates to be announced in the coming weeks. He is currently in the middle of a tour of Australia and the United States, which will end in June.
Explore Paul Simon See latest videos, charts and news
“Quite suddenly, I lost most of the hearing in my left ear, and nobody has an explanation for it,” he said at the time. “So everything became more difficult.” Simon said he thought the issue would “pass” or “repair itself,” though it did not and he conceded back then that he would likely never tour again.
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Then, surprisingly, there Simon was on Sunday night (Feb. 16) opening the three-plus hour SNL50 Celebration special singing a duet with Sabrina Carpenter on his song “Homeward Bound.” And on Tuesday (Feb. 18), Simon announced that he’s hitting the road this spring and summer for a run of North American dates on the “A Quiet Celebration Tour.”
The shows that will have the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer playing multiple nights in a row in most cities, and it’s slated to kick off on April 4 at the Saenger Theater in New Orleans, followed by stops in Austin, TX, Denver, Minneapolis, Kansas City, St. Louis, Dallas, Nashville, Milwaukee, Chicago, Toronto, Vienna, VA, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Long Beach, CA, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Vancouver before winding down with three shows at Benaroya Hall in Seattle; see the announcement poster here.
The gigs in smaller rooms than Simon has typically played, will allow the singer to perform the songs from Seven Psalms live for the first time. According to a release, the settings are “in intimate venues where the acoustics are optimal in consideration of the severe hearing loss that he incurred over the last few years.”
A presale for select shows on the tour will kick off on Thursday (Feb. 20) at 10 a.m. local time, with a public on-sale slated for Friday (Feb. 21) at 10 a.m. local time here.
Check out the dates for Paul Simon’s 2025 A Quiet Celebration North American tour below:
April 4 – New Orleans, LA @ Saenger Theater
April 5 – New Orleans, LA @ Saenger Theater
April 8 – Austin, TX @ Bass Concert Hall
April 10 – Austin, TX @ Bass Concert Hall
April 11 – Austin, TX @ Bass Concert Hall
April 14 – Denver, CO @ Paramount Theatre
April 16 – Denver, CO @ Paramount Theatre
April 17 – Denver, CO @ Paramount Theatre
April 20 – Minneapolis, MN @ Orpheum Theatre
April 22 – Minneapolis, MN @ Orpheum Theatre
April 23 – Minneapolis, MN @ Orpheum Theatre
April 26 – Kansas City, MO @ Midland Theatre
April 28 – St. Louis, MO @ Stifel Theatre
April 29 – St. Louis, MO @ Stifel Theatre
May 7 – Dallas, TX @ AT&T Performing Arts Center
May 8 – Dallas, TX @ AT&T Performing Arts Center
May 11 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
May 13 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
May 14 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
May 17 – Milwaukee, WI @ Riverside Theater
May 18 – Milwaukee, WI @ Riverside Theater
May 21 – Chicago, IL @ Symphony Center
May 23 – Chicago, IL @ Symphony Center
May 24 – Chicago, IL @ Symphony Center
May 27 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
May 29 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
May 30 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
June 6 – Vienna, VA @ Wolf Trap
June 7 – Vienna, VA @ Wolf Trap
June 10 – Boston, MA @ Boch Center, Wang Theatre
June 12 – Boston, MA @ Boch Center, Wang Theatre
June 13 – Boston, MA @ Boch Center, Wang Theatre
June 16 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theater
June 18 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theater
June 20 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theater
June 21 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theater
June 23 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theater
June 26 – Philadelphia, PA @ Academy of Music
June 28 – Philadelphia, PA @ Academy of Music
June 29 – Philadelphia, PA @ Academy of Music
July 7 – Long Beach, CA @ Terrace Theater, Long Beach Performing Arts Center
July 9 – Los Angeles, CA @ Disney Hall
July 11 – Los Angeles, CA @ Disney Hall
July 12 – Los Angeles, CA @ Disney Hall
July 14 – Los Angeles, CA @ Disney Hall
July 16 – Los Angeles, CA @ Disney Hall
July 19 – San Francisco, CA @ Davies Symphony Hall
July 21 – San Francisco, CA @ Davies Symphony Hall
July 22 – San Francisco, CA @ Davies Symphony Hall
July 25 – Vancouver, BC @ The Orpheum
July 26 – Vancouver, BC @ The Orpheum
July 28 – Vancouver, BC @ The Orpheum
July 31 – Seattle, WA @ Benaroya Hall
August 2 – Seattle, WA @ Benaroya Hall
August 3 – Seattle, WA @ Benaroya Hall
“A new renaissance”: African-American businesses, investors celebrating new era on Five Points’ Welton Street
The number of black people who lived in the 80205 ZIP code fell from 7,932 to 5,906, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. The number of white people in the area rose from 15,280 to 22,175, the data did not differentiate between whites and Latinos. Denver’s favored son and basketball legend Chauncey Billups signed on to operate a club/restaurant/bar in the storied hotel. The landmark structure that once saw jazz icons, including Billie Holiday and Duke Ellington, play its lounge was bought by Palisade Partners, a development company run by Paul Books, a white man, for $6 million in August 2017. A refined set of plans for the Rossonian project are scheduled for review by Denver landmark preservation officials June. If all goes smoothly, work could begin a year from now, Palisades officials say. The neighboring building is expected to arrive much sooner and make an impact in its own right.
Whatever is going on over on Larimer Street — the main drag for the River North Art District that, since being formed in 2005, has changed the face and, for some, the name of the west side of Five Points — the owner of Coffee at The Point says African-American entrepreneurship is alive and well on Welton Street.
“There is African-American ownership here right now and more is coming,” said Cobbins, a black man who moved to Denver from Virginia more than a dozen years ago. “I can count 10 black-owned businesses between 26th and 29th street right now.”
Cobbins needn’t look far for an example.
Courtney Samuel and his wife, Jennifer, moved their personal training and fitness studio, Bodies by Perseverance, into a low-slung building at the corner of 29th and Welton in August after 17 years in the Uptown and Ballpark areas. Samuel called the opportunity to operate a business in a historic cultural district once known as the “Harlem of the West” humbling and motivation to work harder. The Aurora native remembers when it wasn’t that way.
RELATED: Denver hoops star Chauncey Billups to open restaurant, jazz club in Five Points’ Rossonian Hotel, developer says
“When I was growing up, Five Points wasn’t a place you were hanging out. It was gangbanging down here,” he said. “We came down for Juneteenth and that was about it.”
Now?
“I mean, it’s like a new renaissance,” he said. “It truly is.”
He notes that nowadays, the neighborhood demographic has changed.
Between 2011-17, the number of black people who lived in the 80205 ZIP code that covers Five Points and other portions of northeast Denver fell from 7,932 to 5,906, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Over that period, the number of white people in the area rose from 15,280 to 22,175. The data did not differentiate between whites and Latinos.
It’s different, but it doesn’t bother Samuel.
“I’m all about community, and I wish we could see more of that, where all of us come together as a community,” he said.
At the five-pointed intersection that gives the neighborhood its name, the long-slumbering Rossonian Hotel is preparing to wake up. And prominent members of Denver’s black community will be there when it does.
The landmark structure that once saw jazz icons, including Billie Holiday and Duke Ellington, play its lounge was bought by Palisade Partners, a development company run by Paul Books, a white man, for $6 million in August 2017. In April of last year, Books and project partners announced plans to revive the Rossonian and build a nine-story, mixed-use building on the corner of 26th and Welton. Denver’s favored son and basketball legend Chauncey Billups signed on to operate a club/restaurant/bar in the storied hotel.
Billups, in his comments that evening, directly addressed the tension inherent in the neighborhood’s African-American heritage and the influx of new investment from developers like Palisade.
“Like all of you guys, I’ve seen the city change in a major way,” Billups said. “I don’t think it’s a negative thing. The only negative thing about it is if they buy it all up and don’t partner with us.”
In the more than a year since that event, work hasn’t yet begun on the Rossonian project. A refined set of plans — which will grow the hotel from 41 to 83 rooms and the jazz club from 150 seats to 300 via a new addition in the middle of the block — are scheduled for review by Denver landmark preservation officials June 4. If all goes smoothly, work could begin about a year from now, Palisade officials say.
The neighboring building is expected to arrive much sooner and make an impact in its own right.
Named the Hooper, for Five Points business leader club owner Benny Hooper, the project broke ground in April. When completed in 2021, it will feature 103 apartments, including 78 “micro” units aimed at lower-income renters, as well as two- and three-bedroom units. It will have a fitness center, rooftop lounge, community kitchen and more than 30,000 square feet of office space.
On the ground floor, 6,400 square feet have been set aside for the first Busboys and Poets location outside of Washington, D.C. Founded and owned by Iraqi-American entrepreneur and activist Andy Shallal and named in honor of the black poet Langston Hughes, the business is part restaurant, part bookstore, part event space.
“Every detail of the Hooper is meant to foster a sense of community and ownership in Five Points, empowering this neighborhood to build upon its diverse and inclusive culture,” Books said in a news release last month.
Palisade is the lead developer on both projects, but African-American investment will be part of both. Recently formed Five Points Development Corp. is an investor in the Hooper and co-developer on the Rossonian project. It is a subsidiary of the Flyfisher Group, a community investment entity created by African-American philanthropist Matthew Burkett.
“Along with Palisade Partners, we want to make sure that this project is a success, not just from a real estate perspective but from a usage perspective,” Haroun Cowans, Five Points Development’s managing director, said of the Hooper.
Cowans, born in Boulder but raised in northeast Denver, has owned, operated and worked for a number of businesses along Welton Street the last 20 years. While working for influential neighborhood developer Carl Bourgeois, Cowans developed a relationship with Busboys and Poets and helped bring it to the Hooper.
Five Points Development owns other buildings on Welton. The company is Samuel’s landlord at Bodies By Perseverance. (Burkett is a mentor of Samuel’s.) In August, it bought Five Points Plaza, home to the Welton Street Cafe and Spangalang Brewery. The brewery now hosts bimonthly “community mashups” led by Five Points Development staffer Norman Harris — just one of the things the young company aims to do to strengthen its ties to the community, Cowans said.
This year, Harris will grow the annual Juneteenth Festival on Welton Street from one day to two. The company has plans to bring young people into the neighborhood this summer to learn about real estate, Five Points history, transformation and preservation.
“Our whole thing as Five Points Developer Corp. is, how do you make sure that the community is there every step of the way and that there is a sense of not only pride but ownership as well as thoughtfulness?” Cowans said.
“Preserve our history”
The Hooper groundbreaking follows another less visible change along the Welton Street corridor. The Five Points Business District has ceased operating for lack of funding, according to now-former executive director Tracy Winchester. The nonprofit economic development organization has essentially been replaced by the business improvement district.
That district, or BID, is a special taxing entity established by neighborhood voters in 2017. It runs the length of Welton essentially from 20th Street to the light-rail stop on Downing Street. Money collected through it funds special events, maintenance, infrastructure and marketing in the cultural district. Right now, the BID brings in about $150,000 a year — enough to fund those operations but not pay a staff, Winchester said.
“Ultimately, the BID will probably get to about $300,000 a year, but that is going to take another four or five years to get to that point,” Winchester said. “With every business that comes in here, that will put more money into the BID and then they will have full-time staff.”
She may be interviewing for new jobs, but Winchester isn’t upset with the way things are growing on Welton Street. This was how it was designed to work when the Five Points Business District was founded in 2010, she said. First came more housing — projects such as the Welton Park Apartments at 2300 Welton and other Palisade Partners efforts such as the Lydian and Wheatly buildings. Now more businesses are popping up to serve the new residents. When Winchester joined the district in 2011, Welton was dotted with vacant lots and blighted properties.
“The thing that makes Welton special is the fact that African-American property owners didn’t sell out,” she said. “It is a wonderful thing that we are able to preserve our history.”
Not everyone is in favor of the new look Welton has taken on during the past decade. Maedella Stiger and her husband, Franklin, have owned and operated the Franklin Stiger Afro Styling Barber Shop at 2755 Welton St. since 1980.
“I don’t like what all these big, old high-rise buildings do cutting off the view of the mountains,” she said. “To me, you know, I’m not familiar with this. I’m more used to small mom-and-pop shops along Welton Street. I like that a lot better.”
Stiger sits on the Five Points BID board, but said the influx of new development and money for neighborhood upkeep hasn’t done much to boost her shop’s bottom line. When a business has been around as long as Stiger’s, its clientele is “already established,” she said.
For Ryan Cobbins, the BID was a critical step in legitimizing the Welton Street corridor and setting it up to become a destination area in the same vein as LoDo or Colfax. Change is never easy, but he remembers how sorely the neighborhood needed change when he opened his doors in late 2010. Now he feels it is on the right path.
“In the end, I don’t want people to come down here because we’re black-owned,” he said. “I want people to come here because great stuff is happening.”
Pops for Champagne Owner Tom Verhey Discusses Iconic Bar’s 30-Year History and Plans for D.C. Expansion
Pops for Champagne has been in Chicago for 30 years. The bar was named one of Esquire’s best new bars in 1983. Owner Tom Verhey talks to Eater about the bar’s success and future plans. “We’ve never really altered from our original concept of being a Champagne bar,” says Verhey. “It’s been a single bullet aimed at the Champagne respect and interest that we have,” he says. “I’m focused on keeping it going. We’re still so unique and we’’re not following any path,” Verhey says of Pops. “After that I was kind of on my own for the rest of time,” he adds of his family’s involvement in the business. “When we first opened it was Linda and I and then she opened it and then I went home and managed the kids,” adds Verhey of his wife and Pops’ current location in River North. “There was the Reiss Bar and I couldn’t shake that feeling that I had to go back home and do it”
When people hit a big milestone, they often pop a great bottle of bubbly to mark the occasion. So imagine what must be happening this month at Pops for Champagne, which celebrates an incredible 30 years of being in business in Chicago. What started out as an intimate Lakeview spot with dark wood and an upscale vibe has turned into one of the city’s most celebrated spots.
After opening in 1982 at the corner of Sheffield and Oakdale, Pops for Champagne was named in 1983 by Esquire as one of that year’s best new bars. Following its initial success, in 1985 owner Tom Verhey acquired the space next door and opened Pops’ Jazz Club. Then in 1991, he closed down the original space to renovate and launch the slightly more informal Star Bar.
But in 2006, after opening and closing a location in suburban Highwood, Verhey decided to move their “front door to where the market is rather than forcing the market to come up to Lakeview.” So he closed Pops up north and moved it down to River North at the corner of State and Ohio, where it, along with lower-level bar WaterShed, has thrived since. Eater talked to Verhey about Pops’ 30 years in Chicago, why it continues to draw loyal followers and plans to expand the concept to other markets.
How does it feel to make it 30 years?
I don’t really think about that as much as moving forward with things and opportunities here. I am please and proud that we’ve been able to withstand a lot of things over the years, but at the same time I’m focused on keeping it going. We’re still so unique and we’re not following any path. We’re able to create our own history here and it’s a refreshing feel that keeps you engaged and active in the business.
What do you think is the appeal behind Pops that people are still coming after 30 years?
Primarily it’s because we’ve never really altered from our original concept of being a Champagne bar. Effervescence and excellence has always been our main focus. We’ve been tempted to get into more food and into other elements, but overall it’s been a single bullet aimed at the Champagne respect and interest that we have. I think it carries over to the public also when you have a single direction and people can wrap themselves around the concept easier. It seems over the years people have respected us for doing that and it’s paid off.
When you first opened in Lakeview, did you ever think you’d be doing an interviewing about the 30th anniversary?
I was probably the only one that did, yes. I can be honest with that and I’m not trying to be cocky. Once I got the name Pops for Champagne and made the decision to do a Champagne bar and found a space, then I said this is the perfect name, it’s exactly what it is I want and intend to do. I said it was going to launch us. The name, on top of the location or anything else, was for me the idea for a long future.
Why did you initially want to open a Champagne-focused bar?
I came from St. Paul to Peoria and then to Chicago. I made my way to the big city and once Bell & Howell [where Verhey worked] moved me up to Chicago and once I got into the city I knew the corporate life wasn’t going to work. I had won a sales trip that took me to Vienna and I knew I wanted to do something else that I could be on my own—something more in nightlife. In Vienna, I happened to see this bar and I walked in and sat down. Almost immediately, even though it was in foreign country, it felt great. And they were all drinking Champagne. I said, ‘There’s something about this place that I think will work in Chicago.’ I went back the next night to see if I felt the same and I did. It was the Reiss Bar. I couldn’t shake that feeling. I got back home and within a week I resigned from Bell & Howell. I knew I had to do it.
You and your wife, Linda, own Pops. Is anyone else involved that deserves credit or thanks?
When we first opened it was Linda and I and then she went home and managed the kids and the home life. After that I was kind of on my own for, well, the rest of time. I’ve had important management people over the years. When we moved down to State six years ago, my daughter Sara’s involvement became the next most important thing in Pops’ history. That was a key element in running this location.
What has changed in Chicago the most that you can look back on over the 30 years, something you miss and something you’re glad is gone?
We were a pioneer back in Lakeview and there were few nightlife places back then; it was a tough neighborhood. The neighborhood came around and I knew it was going to. That transition was beneficial to Pops. I think what we all share is the amazing leap that Chicago has had in the culinary end of it, and that has benefitted us just like any change. As that improves and expands and encompasses people’s interest, that certainly leads into a Pops. As much as the change is, the fact that Pops stays the same, is good. We need to stay the way we are and let everyone else do the experimentations. It’s all about the tastes and flavors and visual stuff in terms of the culinary—and the more [customers] appreciate coming in here and having the same kind of experience with beverage. We are more experienced in finding unusual styles and trends in the sparkling wine business worldwide that we bring into our business here that keeps us moving forward
Looking back over the time, what do you love the most about Pops for Champagne?
I have to answer that in two ways. As far as the public is concerned, that they’ve used Pops as a venue to celebrate their life successes, from business, socially, personally – they’ve used Pops as a place they share in their life successes. I hear those stories all the time: the birth of a child, anniversaries, a new home. There’s more to life than just these dates out there, but there are daily things that used to fly under the radar. The second part is my staff. I think we have invested, and I think it shows, in our staff in the sense we give them a great place to work and we educate them on the products they sell. With that comes a deep respect for the business as well as what they sell. That’s one element I see in Chicago that is so hit and miss as far as food and beverage places. Some of them get it as far as the importance of the staff to know why they’re there and others that don’t.
Why did you decide to move from the original spot on Sheffield down to the heart of River North?
She was getting tired up there. It was time to go. I could have invested a lot of money to try to bring more life back into the joint, but it wasn’t going to happen. The tightness of the neighborhood and ability to attract our type of clientele was getting difficult to do. We brought our front door to where the market is rather than forcing the market to come up to Lakeview.
And what was the motivation to renovate the lower-level jazz bar at the current location into WaterShed?
We had a successful run with the live music up on Lakeview. It was in the same room as the Champagne bar and we did lose a little element of people coming by for a quick drink. Here, since we had this beautiful corner, even though it is separated and that we had the lower space, we separated the jazz bar from the Champagne bar. What happened is that our business is driven by what we sell: beverages. The people that were coming down into the jazz club were more interested in the music than the beverage program. The music element restricted what people could do down there as far as having conversations. It was just not working any longer. If I were to ever open another joint, I’d bring the music element back into the room, but do it more on a relaxed in the corner, no cover charge, part of the atmosphere kind of arrangement. I think WaterShed is a perfect compliment to what we’re doing up here.
You’re planning on taking the Pops concept to other markets, yes?
We’re the longest running Champagne bar in the U.S. now. When we opened, there were five or six that were around, but they’ve closed. With that, I think we have a good reputation around the U.S. and globally; people have heard about us and have visited us from other markets. We’d never do another location like Pops in this area; we’d compromise everything we’ve built here. We are considering moving this concept to another market sometime this year and we’re probably focused on the East Coast to start. We believe that pulls in the largest number of international visitors and business people to the U.S.
Isn’t D.C. one of the cities you’re considering?
It’s one of the top places, yes. It’s a large enough market that we can succeed with what we’re doing. The culinary scene is out of control. There are a lot of star chefs going out there. And it’s small enough that we can get recognized. There aren’t really many high-end wine bars in D.C. with a more upscale environment. It seems to be a void in D.C.
So what’s your favorite Champagne to drink everyday?
It’s probably Bollinger. If I drank it every day, [it’d be] the NV special cuvee. I think they have that little more masculine, richer style that I really appreciate and it connects with my taste buds.
And what’s the best for a special toast – like celebrating 30 years in business?
It has to be a magnum for sure. Because visually and what’s in the bottle, I’d have to say Gosset. That would be the appropriate one to celebrate. The bottle itself is the most well-designed bottle and then it’s a similar style to the Bollinger —rich, well aged —and they’re the oldest Champagne house, 14 generations worth. There’s a generation connection and the longevity of the business connection.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/video/denver-pops-celebrates-5-years-in-business/