This week is all about celebrations. With everything from restaurant anniversaries to National Oyster Day, it seems like the summer fun isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Plus, this Thursday the 5th annual Denver Burger Battle is back and once again 13 restaurants will compete to earn the title of Best Burger. Don’t miss out, and make sure to read on to get all the details.
Food and Booze News
The Nickel’s One Year Anniversary
When: August 7-8, 5 – 11 p.m.
Where: The Nickel, 1100 14th St.
Neighborhood: Theatre District
Cost: Pre-fixed menu $50
The Low Down: Located in the Theatre District’s Hotel Teatro, The Nickel will celebrate its one year anniversary with a prix fixe menu priced at $50 with cocktails pairings. Curated by Executive Chef Chris Thompson, this three-course menu features locally-sourced ingredients. Plus, if you use the secret code, “Happy Birthday,” your first cocktail is on the house.
Denver Beer Co.’s Four Year Anniversary
When: August 8, 2 – 10 p.m.
Where: Denver Beer Co., 1695 Platte St., Denver
Neighborhood: Riverfront
Cost: Entrance is free
The Low Down: Beloved local brewery Denver Beer Co. will host its four year anniversary at its Platte Street location this Saturday. The celebration will feature plenty of beer, food trucks and live music from bands such as Oakhurst and Josh Moorehead and The GuestList. And while entrance is free, all attendees must be 21 and up. So grab your ID and come kick it at this block party style celebration.
Euclid Hall Bar & Kitchen’s Five Year Anniversary
When: August 9, 2015, 4 p.m.
Where: Euclid Hall, 1317 14th St., Denver
Neighborhood: Larimer Square
Cost: $75 including tax and gratuity
Reservations: Available here
The Low Down: To celebrate its 5th anniversary, Euclid Hall Bar & Kitchen is teaming up with local distillery A.D. Laws Whiskey House and South Broadway’s TRVE Brewing Company for a special meal. Created by Chef Jake Grant, this five-course menu features summer favorites like grilled peaches and corn bread as well as more adventurous items like buffalo tongue French dip. All offerings will come paired with beers from TRVE Brewing or whiskeys from A.D. Laws.
Denver Flea Announces Fall Location and Dates
When: September 12- 13
Where: Sculpture Park, 1345 Champa St., Denver
Neighborhood: Theatre District
Cost: FREE, RSVP for a free beer here.
The Low Down: The sixth rendition of Denver Flea returns this fall with a new location. This time around instead of a parking garage or a massive warehouse, Flea is embracing the outdoors and posting up at Sculpture Park. But, as always, the event will host over a 100 unique vendors including multiple cocktail bars so that visitors can browse local goods while sipping on skillfully made libations. View the full list of vendors here.
Bar Fausto Opens Wednesday
When: Wednesday, August 5
Where: 3126 Larimer St., Denver
Neighborhood: RiNo
The Low Down: From the creators of The Populist and Huckleberry Roasters comes Bar Fausto, a new cocktail bar and cold kitchen. Opening on Wednesday, the new 2,000 square-foot space with a mid-century Italian design, will offer a range of signature and classic cocktails ($12), a diverse wine by the glass list (crafted by Matthew Yoss, a candidate for the Master Sommelier title) and a small but curated beer program. Menu items will primarily focus on charcuterie from NYC’s Salumeria Biellese with other snack-able offerings like a bruschetta, crudos and french-style baguette sandwiches.
Upcoming Events
6 Specials to Celebrate National Oyster Day (August 5)
When: August 5, 2015
Where: Jax Fish House, all locations
The Low Down: Jax Fish House, pioneers of the fresh seafood movement here in Colorado, are going all out for National Oyster Day. Beginning at 4 p.m., this nearly two-decade old institution will giveaway 100 free half-dozen oysters at all of its location. It’s first come, first serve so make sure to stop by early. Plus as a bonus, there will be “surprise shuckers” with notable guests hoping on the line. In previous year’s, even Governor Hickenlooper has been known to pop in.
Where: Humboldt Farm, Fish & Wine, 1700 Humboldt St., Denver; Neighborhood: Uptown
The Low Down: Stop by Humboldt Farm, Fish & Wine with your fellow oyster loving friends and celebrate national oyster day with $1 Blue Island oysters all day long. If this deal doesn’t interest you, this uptown eatery also offers a unique “Humboldt Oysterology program,” where a flight of oysters, served by variety, are paired with a matched set of white, rosè or red wines. If wine isn’t your thing, you have the option to swap out for the Lawn Chair cocktail made with Downslope Old Tom Gin, fresh grapefruit, a twist and squeeze of lemon and tart summer herbs.
Where: MAX’s Wine Dive, 696 Sherman St.,Denver ; Neighborhood: Governor’s Park
The Low Down: Known for serving “gourmet comfort food,” this wine-loving restaurant will celebrate National Oyster Day in two ways. First on the menu will be a platter of Nacho Mama’s Oysters, a pile of golden fried Gulf Coast oysters on wonton “chips” with tangy garlic aioli and a spicy habañero salsa. Second are the half baked oysters — raw oysters that are topped with a briny house made shrimp butter and sprinkling of dill weed, then baked “just long enough to melt the butter.” The items can be paired with suggested wines from the extensive wine list, or a cocktail of your choice from the new drinks menu.
Where: Stout Street Social, 1400 Stout St.; Neighborhood: Theatre District
The Low Down: Starting at 6 p.m., Stout Street will celebrate National Oyster Day with $1 Signature Petite Washburn Oysters from the expansive raw bar, plus two-for-one social beers and two for one wines by the glass. Or, if you need to stop by earlier, guests can come in for happy hour starting at 3 p.m. to enjoy the oysters for $1.95 each. If you’re driving, Stout Street Social offers discounted valet parking at the attached Embassy Suites hotel.
Where: Blackbelly Market, 1606 Conestoga #3, Boulder ; Neighborhood: East Boulder
The Low Down: Located in the blossoming east Boulder neighborhood, Blackbelly Market will offer juicy oysters served with classic mignonette for $3 for two. Diners will have the option to pair their selections with a rosé grenache or the Blackbelly Burglar, made with Larceny Bourbon, Domaine De Canton and a splash of Amaro Cio Ciaro.
Where: Argyll Whisky Beer, 1035 E 17th Ave ; Neighborhood: Uptown
The Low Down: If you’re not into traditional mignonettes to go with your oysters, Argyll Whisky Beer plans on offering something a little different. On National Oyster Day, you can try out a dozen oysters on the half-shell, with red-curry ketchup and yuzu-sesame sauce. Plus, if you’re a whisky fan, Argyll is a good spot to throw one back as they have a large variety of single malt whiskies available.
Denver Burger Battle
When: August 6, 2015, 5:30-9:30 p.m.
Where: Sculpture Park
Cost: $69 – General Admission, $109 – VIP
Tickets: Available here
The Low Down: This is your chance to taste 13 of the city’s best burgers while supporting a good cause. For the past five years, burger joints from around the Denver area have competed with the hopes of winning the peoples choice award, the judge’s choice award, or both. This year’s participants include: The Squeaky Bean, Park Burger, Tag Burger Bar, Crave Real Burgers, Highland Tap & Burger, Acorn, Euclid Hall Bar & Kitchen, D Bar, El Toro THE TOT, The Nickel, Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox, Chop Shop, and Kobe An Shabu Shabu. Tickets are selling out fast, so don’t miss your chance to help pick Denver’s best burger.
Mark your Calendars
Brewed Food
When: August 7- September 24, 2015
Cost: All beer and food pairings will be under $10
Tickets: Available here.
Farmers’ Market Community Dinner
When: August 12, 6-9 p.m.
Where: Carmine’s on Penn
Cost: $75 per person
Tickets: Available here.
Chefs for Vets
When: August 13, 6pm
Where: Solera Restaurant
Cost: $100 per person
Tickets: Available here.
The 2015 Caffeine Crawl
When: August 15
Where: Multiple routes throughout Denver
Cost: $25
Tickets: Available here.
Words by Brittany Werges with contribution from Christina Walecka.