Fourth of July is right around the corner and if you aren’t escaping the city for the holiday weekend, be sure to get your fill of barbecue, fireworks and good ol’ fashioned picnics in the city. Plus, some of our favorite restaurants are celebrating summer the right way: margaritas, guacamole, and refreshing seasonal eats.

End of an Era

Session Kitchen to Close on July 12

Session Kitchen. Photo by Roman Tafoya

Session Kitchen. Photo by Roman Tafoya

Words by Brittany Werges

Where: 1518 S. Pearl St., Denver

Neighborhood: Platt Park

The Low Down: Critically acclaimed restaurant, Session Kitchen announced it will close its doors in two weeks. The Breckenridge-Wynkoop concept cited low weekday sales as the cause of its shuttering. The restaurant opened in October of 2013 and received a slew of rave reviews including several “Best New Restaurant” awards. Currently, it is unknown what will occupy the massive space that was redesigned to include large art installations and specially commissioned murals. Final dinner service is scheduled for July 12, with regular dinner service lasting throughout its remaining two weeks.

Independence Day

Perfect Picnics by The Corner Office & Second Home

Photo courtesy of The Corner Office.

Photo courtesy of The Corner Office.

Where: The Corner Office (1401 Curtis St., Denver) & Second Home Kitchen + Bar (150 Clayton Lane, Denver) 

Neighborhood: Theatre District & Cherry Creek 

Cost: $40 / Basket; $30 / Pie 

The Low Down: This weekend, let The Corner Office and Second Home do all the work. Call ahead and order up a perfectly packed picnic basket from The Corner Office. Each basket serves 3-4 people and comes packed with house-smoked beef brisket, cole slaw, cornbread, house baked beans and an assortment of old-school sodas. But no American picnic is complete without a pie, so be sure to head over to Second Home where they’ll be serving up apple, cherry, and key lime pies for takeout. Call ahead to reserve your basket now.

LOLA Fourth of July Barbecue

Photo by Lindsey Bartlett

Photo by Lindsey Bartlett

 Where: 1575 Boulder St., Denver

Neighborhood: Highlands

When: July 4, 2:30 p.m. (Taco eating contest starts at 3:30 p.m.) 

The Low Down: LOLA is celebrating the Fourth of July with unbeatable barbecue specials, live music, a taco eating contest and killer drink specials to help quench your thirst and beat the heat. Order up one of their picnic plate specials: 1/2 slab pork rib barbacoa with sweet habanero barbecue sauce, pollo asada with chile rojo, and 1/2 dozen smoked chicken wings with lime and de arbol wing sauce all served with truck stop pickles, street corn and jicama slaw. Wash it down with $5 blanco coin margaritas, $5 palomas, $4 Post drafts, and $2 Tecate cans. And if you’re up for the challenge, sign up for the second annual Taco Eating Contest which kicks off at 3:30 p.m. Learn more about the festivities here.

Red, White & VIEW!

Photo courtesy of The View House.

Photo courtesy of The View House.

Where: ViewHouse Ballpark (1501 Market St., Denver) & ViewHouse Centennial (7101 S. Clinton St., Centennial) 

Neighborhood: Ballpark & Centennial 

When: July 4

The Low Down: Join ViewHouse Ballpark for an all-day Independence Day party or head down to ViewHouse Centennial to rock out with Under a Blood Red Sky – The U2 Tribute. Both hot spots will be serving up $10 slow-cooked BBQ brisket sandwiches with coleslaw and dill pickles, $16 BBQ platters with ribs, BBQ pork, coleslaw and corn succotash, $5 specialty margaritas and $5 Sam Adams beers. But the fun doesn’t stop there, be sure to stop by either location for an American-themed Sunday Funday party. Check out all of the weekend festivities here: Ballpark or Centennial.

Post Brewing Co.’s Backyard Jubilee

Photo by Delmy Gooch

Photo by Delmy Gooch

Where: Post Brewing Co., 105 West Emma St., Lafayette

When: July 4, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. 

Cost: $15 / plate

The Low Down: What’s more American than ice cold beer and authentic barbecue? Post Brewing Co. is throwing it down with their backyard smoker and whipping up with BBQ pork shoulder, ribs, and all the fixins’. But don’t worry, they’ll still have their signature fried chicken hot and ready. Once you’ve had your fill, head on down the block to watch the fireworks over Waneka Lake (show starts at dusk, learn more about festivities happening over at the lake here.)

Dinner with a View

Photos by Camille Breslin

Photos by Camille Breslin

Where: 1691 Central St., Denver

Neighborhood: LoHi

When: July 4 (Happy Hour 2 – 6 p.m.) 

The Low Down: Looking for the perfect spot to enjoy the holiday fireworks? Make a reservation on Central Bistro’s spacious patio and snag the boxcar burger and fries for $15 all night long. For more information about one of our favorite summer patios, check out our latest edition of The Happiest Hour.

Eat Now

TOKIO Welcomes Summer

Photo courtesy of TOKIO

Photo courtesy of TOKIO

Where: TOKIO, 2907 Huron St. Unit #103, Denver 

Neighborhood: Ballpark

The Low Down: When it’s too hot for a steaming bowl of ramen goodness, opt for the warm-weather dishes on TOKIO’s new summer menu. Order up the Tantanmen (a spicy dish blending ground chicken with Shanghai bok choy, scallions and lettuce with a sesame and chili oil sauce) or the Abura Soba (a bowl that features barbecued pork with radish sprouts, pickled bamboo, scallions, organic greens and a boiled egg). Both dishes are served over imported Japanese ramen sans broth. And if you’re looking for a new take on your favorite Japanese beverage, be sure to try the frozen sake.

Guacamole Festival at Tamayo

Photo courtesy of Tamayo.

Photo courtesy of Tamayo.

Where: Tamayo, 1400 Larimer St., Denver

Neighborhood: Larimer Square

When: July 1 – September 30

Cost: $12 – $16

The Low Down: Back by popular demand, Tamayo is serving up an assortment of guacamoles to please any palate during this year’s Guacamole Festival. Savor the flavors From Baja with kiwi, jicama, strawberry, mango and mint, or be a little adventurous and order the grasshopper infused (and protein-packed) Flavors From The South.

Drink Now

Happy, Happy Hour with Chipotle

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Where: Participating Chipotle Restaurants

When: Thursdays in July, 4 – 8 p.m. 

The Low Down: Chipotle is helping you beat the heat with the happiest of hours, every Thursday during the month of July head down to a participating restaurants and enjoy two-for-one Patrón Silver margaritas.