It’s called the Enomatic. And yes, it’s awesome. Photo courtesy of The Living Room.
Just south of downtown, beer practically flows in the streets. The neighborhood south of Colfax Avenue could be called the Golden Triangle, or “SoCo” if you’re at a nightclub operated by local maven Regas Christou, or maybe Western Capitol Hill. Whatever it is, suds and suds-drinkers abound. From neighborhood bars to booming nighclubs, there’s a place to tipple for every taste.
Well, almost: It’s not the first place to poke around for a relaxing glass of wine. Fortunately, that’s changing. Club owner and neighborhood stalwart Christou is trying to temper the area’s hard-partying character with The Living Room (1055 Broadway), a laid-back wine bar in the heart of the madness, opening Friday night.
Christou has two party places on the same block as The Living Room, Vinyl and Bar Standard, but he’s hoping the new joint will work with City Hall (1144 Broadway), another of his recent additions, to bring in an older, chiller crowd.
“In order to stay in the business, you have to appeal to different people,” says Christou. “This presents an opportunity for us to do that.”
Plus, Christou says, the sedate Living Room reflects his own taste in night life. “Sometimes you can mix business preferences with personal preferences,” he says. “I’m not 25 years old anymore.”
Indeed, The Living Room’s focus is squarely on kicking back and sipping juice. So much so that Christou hired a sommelier, Josh Seawell, to manage his new venture.
Seawell’s new toy is the Enomatic, a self- service station that dispenses wine by the glass and by the ounce, for tasting. Customers load up an access card with money at the bar, then use it as a sort of debit card at the Enomatic. Prices for sips of wine by the ounce range from about $1.25 to $6.
Seawell says the Enomatic is the first of its kind in Denver, and only the second in Colorado. It’s a good deal for drinkers curious about a new wine, but who don’t want to risk dropping $80 on a full bottle. Since high-end bottles often aren’t available by the glass, having a sip first will help.
“People can see the wine and taste the wine for only a couple bucks,” says Seawell, noting that the Enomatic keeps wines from spoiling while they’re in the machine.
Seawell takes an egalitarian approach to wine drinking, disregarding wine’s snooty stigma. “I don’t know why everyone feels like they have to know something (about wine) to enjoy themselves,” he says. “Just know what you like. … It’s not some secret club.”
He also wants to expand the palates of seasoned drinkers with tastings, classes and a club card that tracks a user’s tastings on the Enomatic. “I think people will attach themselves to one or two descriptors of wine,” he says. “But everyone should try something once, just to know what it is.”
There’s beer, too, for those inclined, though the Bud and Bud Light taps sit at the end of a line of Colorado microbrews. A small menu of Mediterranean snacks is available, as well, including olives, hummus, dolmades and cheese-and-meat plates.
Low couches, high-backed booths and a front patio (with hanging bubble chairs!) will help The Living Room live up to its name. Just add people: people who want to have a conversation, hang out and make friends with a bottle of wine. According to Christou, it’s not just this neighborhood that needs a peaceful spot to unwind. “We need something like this all over town.”
– END OF AN ERA –
On Friday, DJ Tyler “Danger” Jacobson will spin his last set at Lipgloss at La Rumba (99 W. Ninth Ave.). After eight years, Jacobson is moving on, leaving his longtime partner boyhollow to fend for himself against the new residents, Soup and c.db.sn. The farewell party starts at 9 p.m. The cover is $6.
– Kathleen St. John
i walked in for the first time .looked at all the nice fictures of the club.ordered a drink and was told he would give me water too drink.i said you are not going to give me what i ordered he said only water.i had not been drinking,and felt awkward at this situation.was i being discriminating against.the way i was dressed.or what.got no reply.why?FOR WHAT REASON.WOULD REALY LIKE TOO NO.ANY SUGESTIONS?HOW TOO HANDEL THIS.
Comment by Anonymous — April 1, 2010 @ 10:44 pm
Discriminated against because of what? Your race? Your gender?
Comment by John Wenzel — April 2, 2010 @ 2:23 pm