Go & Do: Aspen Rooftop Comedy Festival

Posted on June.12.2009

finesse 1
Former “Saturday Night Life” cast member Finesse Mitchell is one of more than two dozen comics who will perform at the Aspen Rooftop Comedy Festival tonight through Saturday.

We all know the history by now: The HBO-sponsored U.S. Comedy Arts Festival abruptly pulled out of the tony mountain town of Aspen in 2007, leaving a gaping hole in the state’s comedy scene — a hole that web upstart RooftopComedy.com came rushing in to fill (ahem).

Now in its second year, the Aspen Rooftop Comedy Festival has become the biggest, most prestigious event of its kind in the region – which isn’t saying much since it’s still a fairly modest affair, as festivals go. But that’s the beauty of it. Instead of fighting through hordes of publicists and celebrity-watchers, you can do what you’re there to do: focus on the funny.

We talked to Rooftop Comedy’s events marketing director Jenn Stokes in advance of the festival, which runs tonight-Saturday at the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen with 30 comics (including Finesse Mitchell, Lisa Landry, Laurie Kilmartin, Matt Braunger, Pat Dixon and many more), college comedy finals, awards and more.

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John Wenzel @ 6:31 am
Filed under: Denver Comedy and Get Real and Q&A
Nightlife: Minibar thinks big in Cherry Creek

Posted on June.11.2009

minibarDon’t be fooled by the name: Minibar features a spacious, inviting patio and lots of individual seating inside.

Sitting at the bar at Cherry Creek North’s newest watering hole, Minibar, Denver seems miles away.

Wait: “Watering hole” probably isn’t the right phrase. This is Cherry Creek, after all — the word “hole” has no place in describing a purveyor of libations in this neighborhood. It should probably be something more like, “elite night life destination,” or “creative, lounge-style drink-spa.”

Opened in early May, Minibar feels like it should be in Scottsdale or Las Vegas. Everyone seems to be tan and coiffed, BlackBerries at the ready in case a waxing emergency should arise. But, unlike in those hot spots, there’s a relaxed, distinctly Denver attitude that makes Minibar pleasant enough for anyone who bellies up to the bar.

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Kathleen St. John @ 4:29 am
Filed under: Hot Spots / Sightings and Kathleen St. John
Eat Local: Studio 6 Coffee House

Posted on June.8.2009

Studio 6
Studio 6 Coffee House, located in the courtyard of the 910 Arts building. Photo and text by Kristen Browning-Blas.

Even if you’re not an artist or a caff-fiend, Studio 6 Coffee House inside the 910Arts space on Santa Fe Drive will make you feel like part of the gang.

The tiny sandwich shop helmed by chef and artist Michael Keen serves wraps, salads and sandwiches, along with local tea and personalized lattes. (Keen will sketch out your likeness in latte foam. Seriously. See mine at blogs.denverpost.com/thefoodsection.)

There’s plenty of art on the orange walls, but “the beauty is in the sandwich,” says Keen. “You have to layer the flavors and textures. The sandwich is a fine art,” he says as he stacks roasted turkey and provolone atop spring greens and pesto on sourdough bread. The whole thing goes into a flat press that cooks the greens into the bread. “It’s all inward convection amazingness,” says Keen.

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Kristen Browning-Blas @ 11:08 pm
Filed under: Eat Local - Denver and Get Real
Film premiere: “Standards of Ethical Conduct” @ the Bug Theatre

Posted on June.5.2009


The trailer for “Standards of Ethical Conduct,” which premieres Saturday at the Bug Theatre.

Who among us loves our office job? Let’s see a show of hands.

That’s what I thought. Of course, the evil qualities of most corporate, cubicle-based jobs has been the subject of many exemplary pieces of entertainment. I’m not talking “Working Girl” or “9 to 5″ but “Office Space” and TV’s “The Office.”

It’s also the subject of the movie “Standards of Ethical Conduct,” a scrappy film cast and shot entirely in Denver, guerilla-style. We talked to Baltimore-based writer-director Roman Hardgrave in advance of the movie’s Denver premiere at the Bug Theatre on Saturday about filming this low-budget lark and the qualities of not burning down your place of employment.

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John Wenzel @ 11:53 pm
Filed under: Denver Comedy and Get Real and Hot Spots / Sightings and Q&A
Nightlife: A belated patio welcome at La Rumba, Bar Standard, Beta and more

Posted on June.4.2009


Do you see what these fools are doing? You should follow suit this weekend.

If there’s a song that should be on this weekend’s soundtrack, it’s “Party All The Time,” by Eddie Murphy. The comedian’s repetitive pop hit about a fun-loving girlfriend aptly describes the opportunity for nonstop good times in upcoming days. Plus, it’s a big, old wheel of ’80s cheese, and there’s nothing better for dancing than a goofy Reagan-era hit.

Memorial Day’s weather was a bit of a bust this year, so here’s hoping this weekend can help make up for it. It’s just a pity that there isn’t another holiday to accommodate the revelry.

Here are a few suggestions for celebrations to attend — everyone’s invited: La Rumba (99 W. Ninth Ave.) is kicking off “patio season” with two parties to break in its revamped patio. From 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, the patio will be open for business, with free food and tasty drink specials.

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Kathleen St. John @ 5:02 am
Filed under: Get Real and Hot Spots / Sightings and Kathleen St. John
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