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Wine and cocktail lounge taking former Squeaky Bean space downtown

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:03:55 GMT

The restaurant: The Velvet Cellar, 1500 Wynkoop, DenverAbout: Friends Reilly Chunn, 38, and Chris Dominey, 39, have known each other since they were 15. , and the duo has wanted to open a wine and cocktail lounge for years. The idea for the Velvet Cellar was born over a couple of drinks. Dominey, a sommelier, is working toward his Level 4 Diploma in Wines and wanted a platform to share his education, while Chunn has a background in business.The Velvet Cellar is taking over the former Squeaky Bean space downtown, which has been vacant since the brunch spot closed in 2016. It will be an upscale, yet approachable, wine and cocktail lounge with a chef-driven menu.“The landlord has purposely left the space vacant for so long because he’s been fortunate enough to be selective on the lease,” Chunn said. “Luckily, he was willing to take a chance on us.”Who’s cooking: Chef Todd Bobrovicz has worked his way through the Denver food scene over the past two de...

The espresso martini is back, baby, and is better than ever

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:03:55 GMT

Based on the menus across Denver, espresso martinis have graduated from a quirky novelty to a classy cocktail served with as much seriousness as a Manhattan or a Gibson.Head to the Art Hotel for one of the drinks featured during the Espresso Martini Fest, the Nighthawks Espresso Martini. (Provided by the Art Hotel)“Over the last two years, anybody and everybody is drinking them,” said Brent Rutgers, bar manager at A5 Steakhouse in downtown Denver. “There’s alcohol and caffeine in it, and it’s delicious as a pre-meal drink, a post-meal drink or even dessert.”Really, he added, an espresso martini works with whatever mood you’re in, it’s that versatile. Just don’t try and pair it with savory food. Due to the bold coffee flavor, sweetness and booziness, nothing — save for select desserts — goes well flavor-wise with one. Not that that should stop you from ordering it.“The espresso martini has that fajita effect,R...

CenturyLink customers with “Price for Life” deal see bills increase

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:03:55 GMT

CenturyLink customers in Colorado who signed up for the telecommunications company’s “Price for Life” promotion say they’ve run into a problem: Their costs unexpectedly jumped earlier this year, thereby invalidating their lifetime deals.The company debuted the service in 2017, with prices at the time recorded as 1.5 mbps to 25 mbps for $45 monthly, 40 mbps to 80 mbps for $55 monthly, 100 mbps to 140 mbps for $65 monthly and 200 mbps to 1 gbps for $85 monthly.The requirements: Remain on the same plan and don’t switch home addresses.Allan Rotgers, 53, signed up for the “Price for Life” deal in October 2020 at $65 monthly. In April, he noticed a $10 price increase hit his account.He contacted the company several times about the issue. A representative initially told him that “a special team” would handle customers affected by the situation, then credited his account $10 for the “known issue.” But Rotgers never heard back...

Draw! It’s cowboy vs. cowboy at the Denver Art Museum and MCA

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:03:55 GMT

It’s hard to imagine two exhibitions that might complement each other as well as the pair of cowboy art shows that opened here over the past two weeks.At the Denver Art Museum: “The Russells in Denver, 1921,” which aims to recreate the spirit of an exhibition the Western art icon Charles Marion Russell staged at the city’s landmark Brown Palace Hotel 122 years ago.Related: Now at MCA Denver: A provocative new exhibit blows up the myths of the sturdy western iconAt the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver: “Cowboy,” a multi-media group show that documents how today’s artists are depicting the oldest profession this side of the Mississippi.The set-up is nearly perfect. Coming at us from one direction, one of the great myth-makers of American art. And from the other, a horde of myth-breakers, who trade on tearing down cultural stereotypes.You should see both, though I suggest starting with DAM. That is where this story begins.“The Russells in Denver, 1921” is a modest exhibition by the mu...

3 cozy recipes to jump your taste buds into fall

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:03:55 GMT

Editor’s note: This is part of The Know’s series, Staff Favorites. Each week, we offer our opinions on the best that Colorado has to offer for dining, shopping, entertainment, outdoor activities and more. (We’ll also let you in on some hidden gems).Fall is my favorite season. Wearing a big sweater and eating a warm, comforting bowl of something yummy while I watch “Gilmore GIrls” is a level of peace I just can’t get any other time of the year.While I don’t subscribe to the belief that soup is a seasonal food, fall is undoubtedly the best time to slurp up a big bowl. As a soup fanatic, the recipes below (plus a pasta for the soup haters) are my favorites. Both make great leftovers and are filling enough to stand alone or act as a side or starter.Happy fall, ya’ll. And happy cooking!Minestrone SoupSince I was a kid, this family recipe has been one of my favorites and I’ve perfected it over the years. It’s packed with veggies and feels like a w...

Boulder area scene of high-tech real estate projects — one completed, one in works

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:03:55 GMT

A 112,000-square-foot new science and technology office building is planned for Boulder, an area seen as among the country’s top life sciences markets.The developer, Boulder-based Conscience Bay Co., has received approval from city officials for the Ridgeway Science  + Technology project, with groundbreaking anticipated for the second quarter of  2024.Down the road from Boulder, in Louisville, another high-tech real estate transaction has closed. The CBRE Group said Monday that Colorado-based aerospace company Tendeg has leased a new 100,000-square-foot facility on the Bolder Innovation Campus for its new headquarters and manufacturing facility.The science and tech project in Boulder will be a state-of-the-art building targeting Colorado’s growing life sciences and technology industries, said Daniel Aizenman, director of development and design at Conscience Bay Co.A report by the real estate firm JLL ranks Boulder No. 8 among the country’s top life sciences industr...

Coloradans will have choice to cap property tax growth in 2024

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:03:55 GMT

A proposal to cap property tax growth has qualified for Colorado’s 2024 ballot.Initiative 50 would cap property tax revenue increases at 4% per year, though voters could decide via statewide ballot to let the government retain tax revenue beyond that. It is being run as an amendment to the state Constitution, meaning it will need 55% of the vote to pass.Advance Colorado, the conservative advocacy organization, backed the proposal. Michael Fields, head of the nonprofit’s policy arm, highlighted how quickly they were able to gather the signatures to qualify the measure for the ballot as proof of its popularity. Fields noted the proposal wouldn’t cut property taxes, but it would limit their future growth.The proposal comes as Coloradans across the state reel from spiking property valuations and the coinciding growth in taxes owed on their property. In the spring, assessors along the Front Range reported median property value increases between 33% and 47%.“Growth in go...

Steve Garvey running for California's U.S. Senate seat in 2024

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:03:55 GMT

Former Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres first baseman Steve Garvey announced Tuesday that he will run for California's U.S. Senate which will be up for grabs in 2024. As a Republican, Garvey will face an uphill battle running for a seat in a blue state that had been held by Democrat Dianne Feinstein since 1992. Feinstein, who was 90, died at her home in Washington D.C. of natural causes on Sept. 29. Garvey joins an already-crowded race featuring several strong Democratic candidates, including Congress members Adam Schiff of Burbank, Katie Porter of Irvine and Barbara Lee of Oakland. If elected, Garvey says he will bring change and conservativism to the U.S. Senate. Laphonza Butler, who was named by Gov. Gavin Newsom to fill Feinstein's vacant seat, has not announced whether she plans to run. Garvey's baseball career spanned nearly 20 years during which he won a World Series in 1981, made 10 all-star appearances and was named the 1974 National League Most Valuable Player.

Former Dodgers star Steve Garvey launches bid for US Senate

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:03:55 GMT

Former Dodgers star Steve Garvey made his foray into the crowded U.S. Senate race official Tuesday morning, launching a bid as a Republican.For Garvey, who played 14 seasons with the Dodgers before he finished with the San Diego Padres for five seasons, a move into the political arena isn’t much of a curveball. He’s advocated for fitness-related bills in Washington and considered a political career right after his retirement from baseball in 1987, though he was sidetracked by issues in his personal life for a while.But Garvey says it’s the increased animosity in politics, “the bickering back and forth” among politicians, that made him finally take the plunge.“All through these years, I’ve had this wonderful life, but I’ve always been interested in politics,” Garvey, 74, said in an interview ahead of the announcement.“The last few years, I’ve been more and more concerned about what’s happening in our society and ...

49ers Week 6 primer: What awaits in first visit to Browns since 2015?

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:03:55 GMT

SANTA CLARA – Another week, another challenge to Nick Bosa’s reign as the NFL Defensive Player of the Week.But who is the bigger threat this Sunday, the Cleveland Browns’ pass rusher Myles Garrett or 49ers’ linebacker Fred Warner?Garrett registered 5 ½ sacks and 13 quarterback hits before the Browns (2-2) retreated to their Week 5 bye. The 2017 draft’s No. 1 pick is expected to play Sunday despite leaving last game in a walking boot for a foot injury, Cleveland.com reported.Warner is coming off prime-time stardom for the undefeated 49ers (5-0). The two-time All-Pro linebacker produced a forced fumble, a sack and an interception in Sunday night’s 42-10 home win over the Dallas Cowboys.Warner downplayed award chatter after that game. As for last year’s honors, Garrett finished fifth to Bosa; the runner-up was Dallas’ Micah Parsons, who didn’t touch the 49ers’ Brock Purdy on Sunday night.Bosa has 1 ½ sacks and 14 quarterback hits this season. (The Steelers’ T.J. Watt has a NFL-best eig...