The last month of summer is coming in hot (and rainy). Let’s really enjoy it before we’re complaining about all the snow. See what we did there, cooling you off a little by putting that thought into your head? We close out our summer roundups with our wonderful partner, the Keystone Neighbourhood Company, who has sponsored, and therefore made possible, several of these roundups. See how they’re rounding out summer with a little flurry of fun festivals, below. And when you go, please thank them for their support and general awesomeness as we bring you what we find to be In Good Taste in August.
Give a big “howdy” and “thank you” to our friends at the Keystone Neighbourhood Group who have made several recent What’s In Good Taste roundups possible for you as our generous sponsor. They’re squeezing the most out of summer and early fall by hosting three remaining festivals: The Bluegrass & Beer Festival August 5-6; the Mountain Music Festival, August 19; and Oktoberfest, Sept. 2. Click on the bar below for details on each one.
Ongoing Events In Good Taste in August
Been there, oved that Antlers at Vail hotel celebrates summer with a “Wildflower Power Package,” through Aug. 20. With a two-night minimum stay, guests can book a studio condo and a flower-forward roundup of goodies, perks, and activities That includes a visit to the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, $50 to spend at Root & Flower for its wines, botanical-inspired craft cocktails, plus a guided wildflower walk, and more.
News Apple Blossom presents The Rooftop at Apple Blossom on the 15th floor outdoor Terrace of the Hyatt Centric Downtown Denver Hotel. Available Fridays and Saturdays through early fall, enjoy a menu of finger foods and fried goodness including fresh seafood, raw oysters, fried chicken and veggie snacks and a curated menu of sparkling wines by the bottle or glass and canned and bottled beers.
Avenue Q kicks off at the Miners Alley Playhouse, running August 11 – Sept. 17. Appropriate for teens on into adulthood, the classic addresses real life issues in a fun way including sex, drinking and surfing the web for porn.
B-Side Music Fridays at the Museum of Contemporary Art kick off their season with weekly concerts by local bands performing up on the roof.
Biere Ovale makes its once-a-year return to Our Mutual Friend Brewing Company. The award-winning beer can be enjoyed as of August 19 as well as two other specialty beers including Dome Flow and Moneta, a Saison.
Bohemian Nights presents Thursday Night Live in the Old Town Square with concerts every Thursday evening.
Bright Nights at Four Mile, running through Oct. 1, is a new event created by the largest Chinese lantern festival producer in North America. Walk amongst larger-than-life, illuminated sculptures across the Park’s 12 acres.
Brunch with Kachina Cantina is available on Fridays (in addition to Saturday and Sunday) from 10am-2pm. Look for the Pork Green Chile Burrito, Churro Waffles, and Huevos Rancheros among other offerings.
CBurger is now open inside Sanitas Brewing Co’s new taproom. The new fast casual burger restaurant by the duo behind Corrida, serves 100% regenerative, organic, and local beef prepared smashburger-style. Believing that regenerative beef is a necessity for the future of our planet, the restaurant has options including the CBurger Double Cheeseburger, a Portobello Mushroom Burger, and Golden Fries.
City Park Farmers Market runs through October 28 with an expanded lineup of more than 100 local, food-focused vendors appearing every Saturday. Check the website for chef demos too. This month it’s Paul Reilly of Coperta.
Civic Center EATS continues, every Wednesday and Thursday, with a variety of food trucks to choose from for a different kind of lunchtime downtown.
Colorado Historic Opera House Circuit has a great summer planned in Aspen, Central City, Leadville, Ouray, and Telluride with activities including “Brush Up On Your Shakespeare,” jazz concerts, musicals, poetry plus food, art, and film festivals. Click the link for the full schedule.
Colorado Carnival is Number 38’s way of celebrating Colorado’s statehood (Aug. 1) with five days (Aug. 2-6) of games, activities, pop-ups, art, and live music plus patio time, beer and food.
Dazzle, the jazz club and restaurant, has moved up the street to its new location at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Catch some of the early shows. Coming this fall, there will be the El Chapultepec Piano Bar at Dazzle, presenting “The Late Set” 11pm to 1am Thursday-Saturday nights, featuring a variety of favorite bands from the iconic “Pec.”
Denver Food & Wine Festival tickets are on sale for the Sept. 6-9 event. Click the link below for our DISCOUNT PROMO CODE and to learn more about the fun.
Denver Union Station Farmers Market runs every Saturday through Sept. 16. It includes more than 35 local vendors including Vital Fungi, Birdy’s Bakeshop, The Cherry Stand and others. There will also be cooking demos, ready-to-eat foods, live musicians, and Fitness on the Plaza.
Eiskaffee has an “After School Special” the rest of August. Parents get an affogato and kids get a kiddie scoop for $5.95.
Junebird Echo, the August Artist on the Rise at Dairy Block, will play two free summer concerts in the Alley. The Denver-based Americana/folk band performs Aug. 12 and 20.
Been there, loved that Keystone Concert Series happens every Friday, 4-6pm through the summer. Featuring local musicians, these free concerts end the week well and allow you to toddle off to dinner right after.
KOOZA by Cirque du Soleil is in town July 5-Aug. 13 with dramatic acrobatics, humor, live music, and human connection.
Little Man Ice Cream celebrates summer with a variety of events at all of their locations, from live music and dancing, Bingo, magic shows, and board games. Check their website for the full schedule at each location.
Maine Shack starts selling Lobster Roll Kits Aug. 16 through Aug. 30 for pickup Aug. 31-Labor Day, Sept. 4. Get all the details below under Aug. 16.
Miss Rhythm – The Legend of Ruth Brown continues. Read our article about it, here.
News Mom Juice wine, a Colorado-based brand founded by two women, has expanded their wines to Colorado. The wines, bottled in Napa, includes a Rose, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Bland, and Red Blend. The BIPOC company’s Mom Juice products are available at Applejack Wine & Spirits, Bonnie Brae Liquors, and other retailers.
Next Level Burger has teamed up with Meati Foods for a Sizzling Summer Duo: The Carne Asada Burger and Carne Asada Fries, both featuring Meati’s 100% vegan, MushroomRoot-based protein. Aug. 11-17, the first 50 guests in each store get a BOGO offer to purchase the burger and get the fries free and from Aug. 18-24, all app users get a BOGO offer to purchase the burger and get the fries free, all while supplies last.
Night BAZAAR season is upon us where people can shop local vendors, drinking from the Market Bar, dining from food trucks and street and music.
One Ohana Guest Bartender series continues at Adrift Tiki Bar. For August, the Northern Lights cocktail has grapefruit juice, French gin, Singani (a Bolivian distilled spirit), Cocchi Americano, St. Germaine Liqueur, Lime Juice, Butterfly Pea Flower tea, and Matkrut leaves. A portion of proceeds of this colorful-hued cocktail will benefit the Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado and Wyoming.
People + Produce at Belleview Station resumes for its 4th season running every Sunday from 9am-1pm with more than 50 craft, fresh produce, and street food vendors.
Been there, loved that Postino WineCafe needs your help deciding which of their chef’s competition bruschettas will be given a permanent place on the menu. Running through Labor Day, two options will be pitted against each other for two weeks in the Battle of the Brushetta. You eat, you vote, and so it goes, bracket style. Deliciously clever! Click the purple bar below our image to learn more.
News The Sexploratorium has opened on South Broadway, offering a shop, art exhibits and sex education classes for grownups because, hello, the questions didn’t end in middle school sex ed.
Dated Events In Good Taste in August
August 1 – Colorado Day and National Spritz Day
Jovanina’s Broken Italian celebrates with three specials, Old Italian Spritz, Sicilian Spritz and Mela Miele. Each is $14.
August 3 – National IPA Day
Denver Burger Battle pits more than 18 area restaurants against each other to crown the best burger in Denver. Contenders this year include established and new restaurants. Enjoy unlimited samplings of burgers, sides, desserts, and drinks.
Sip, Shop & Stroll is a new, monthly community happy hour series featuring shopping specials and activations hosted by FREE MARKET in the Dairy Block.
Sip & Greet Wine Tasting, featuring Aperture Cellars Winemaker Jesse Katz pairs For{a}ged’s modern Japanese-inspired cuisine with several wines.
Wynkoop Brewing Company, Denver’s first brewpub, is pouring pints in celebration of National IPA Day including their LoDo IPA, Denver Lotus, and Affable American IPA.
August 4
Dune Valley Distillery, the new distillery, local market, and outpost for Carbone Wine, has monthly five-course dinners, starting August 4-5. The meal, produced by Chef Steven Rodriguez of Boriqua Food presents a local food experience, accompanied by live music. Space is limited and reservations are required. Stay tuned for our In Good Taste Denver Podcast conversation with one of the partners of the distillery’s family-run business.
August 5 – National Oyster Day
25th Annual International Aerial Dance Festival Performance Showcase, Aug. 5-6, has innovative and new work from internationally-renowned artists. The Festival also honors the legacy of Terry Sendgraff, the mother of aerial dance with a re-staging of her gorgeous piece: Scorched.
Bluegrass Beer Festival in Keystone happens Aug. 5 and 6. See our Sponsor section at the top of the list for details.
Brent’s Place Block Party is the third annual, family-friendly, carnival-themed event that includes live entertainment, water activities, food trucks and carnival games.
Colorado Scottish Festival runs Aug. 5 and 6 in its new home in Sedalia. Enjoy traditional Scottish music, piping and drumming competitions, Scottish dancing, heritage information, and heavy athletics.
Colorado’s Taste of Ethiopia Festival celebrates one of our favorite cuisines. Learn more about the delicious flavors and interesting textures as well as Ethiopian culture.
Le French serves raw oysters on the half shell on their brunch, lunch, and dinner menus, served with a bright mignonette sauce. Get four for $17.
Lowdown’s BrewGrass Festival at Lowdown Brewery includes bluegrass music, craft beer from a variety of local brewers and art including flash tattoos, vendors and pop-up collaborations.
National Oyster Day is celebrated at Jovanina’s Broken Italian with two creative twists – the chilled raw oysters come with a pomegranate mignonette and the wood oven-roasted ones are baked with prosciutto-herb butter.
Rush Bowls, a Colorado-based, fast-casual concept is opening its Thornton location. They’ll serve blended fruit/veggie bowls, smoothies, grab-and-bo protein bites, and products for pups.
The Saturday Serve is the monthly drag brunch at The OG, with resident host queen, Laura Menorah. Enjoy a drag queen performance plus brunch food and drink favorites.
August 6
Back-to-School Resource and Health Fair will be held at Mile High Flea Market, in partnership with Adelante Community Development, to help families with children offset the cost of back-to-school expenses. There will be health screenings and free supplies for kids. Hang around for rides, food, and bargains.
LAPOMPE will be the final performers at City Park Jazz. They’ll bring their gypsy swing, blues, and soulful originals.
National Root Beer Float Day at Eiskaffee offers Buy-One-Get-One (BOGO) floats all day long.
Stranahan’s Colorado Day Bash is celebrating with an all-day party with live music, food trucks, $5 distillery tours. All proceeds will be donated to the Volunteers of Outdoor Colorado.
Summer BBQ at The Westin Riverfront, hosted by Stoke & Rye by Chef Richard Sandoval, is held at the Gondola Plaza from 3-8pm. The menu includes smoked brisket, chicken, pork & rope sausage, potato salad, cole slaw, mac ‘n cheese and veggie options. Prices range from $7-$24.
August 7
MAKfam, the soon-to-open brick-and-mortar spot we’re really excited about, helmed by Doris Yuen and Chef Ken Wan, has teamed up with Novel Strand Brewing for A Moment in Time Vol. XII a four-course beer pairing dinner under the stars. The dinner will be a preview of MAKfam’s tradition-inspired Chinese cuisine.
August 8
Sinful Three Dinner at Devil’s Kitchen, is a three-course pairing dinner, developed with seasonally-available products, curated to showcase the restaurant’s regional partners and purveyors across Colorado.
August 9
Anniversary Celebration at Noisette, Aug. 9 and 10, offers every guest a complimentary glass of sparkling wine and an amuse-bouche (bite-sized appetizer) with dinner.
August 10
Noisette Anniversary Celebration. See Aug. 9.
Monster Battle unites monsters, beasts and all kinds of creative creatures for an epic class of the costumes at Denver’s Cheesman Park Pavilion.
August 11
39th Annual Sculpture in the Park and Art in the Park run Aug. 11-13 in Loveland, combining two events that celebrate art in a variety of mediums.
Colorado Brazil Fest 2023, Aug. 11-13, at the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, is the largest festival of its kind in Colorado and one of the nation’s largest. Celebrate the heritage of Brazilian music, dance, food, and culture.
Lumonics Immersed is a pioneering light art project that combines light, music, and sculptures for a unique immersive experience. There will be a short documentary followed by the exhibit.
Open Mic Night, hosted by the Denver Art Society, lets amateurs and professionals sign up in advance for a time slot and then perform comedy, music, petry, rapping, spiken word and more. Slots are limited.
August 12
2023 Denver BrunchFest celebrates with bites from Denver’s master brunch chefs from more than 30 eateries. Bottomless mimosas and Bloody Mary’s are included in the ticket price which starts at $59.99.
Colorado Brazil Fest 2023 – See Aug. 11 above.
Denver Urban Gardens (DUG) holds their annual Fall Plant Sale. Learn more about preparing for a fall garden, and pre-order seedlings, compost, straw, trees, and garlic. There’ll also be music and food from Same Café.
Downtown Aquarium Wine Fest lets you drink with the fishes instead of swimming with them. Enjoy more than 75 wines from Sonoma County and beyond in the Aquarium’s Garden area with music, food, animal interactions, and a grape stomp. See why we love Sonoma County so much in this article.
Estes Park Wine Festival, August 12 & 13, celebrates its 8th year with wines to sample from more than 20 Colorado wineries. Tickets get you a wine glass, wine tote, and unlimited tasting for $35. Non-drinkers and DD’s are $10. Bring your own snacks, chairs, and blankets and enjoy live music, food, and vendor tents.
Estes Park Wine and Chocolate Pairing Dinner is a four course dinner pairing wines with chocolate at Latitude 105 Alehouse, in the Ridgeline Hotel. The Chef’s menu is inspired by regional Colorado products.
Havana Street Global Night Market lets you enjoy a summer’s evening while tasting cuisines from around the world. Admission is free and includes live music. Purchase from various food and drink vendors.
Mountain Roots’ Feast in the Field is a dinner featuring ripe produce grown, and wines produced nearby, plus live bluegrass music, an entertaining auctioneer who’ll help raise funds for Mountain Roots’ local food and hunger relief efforts.
Pints 4 Pups fundraiser at Rocky Mountain Tap and Garden is a dog party supporting Rocky Mountain French Bulldog Rescue. The main focus is to raise vital funds for the life-saving surgery for Sir Winston the Goblin, a rescued French bulldog puppy in urgent need of medical intervention due to PRAA.
Pro Roe Bake Sale at The Infinite Monkey Theorem, benefitting Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, features baked goods and cans of wine by local chefs, bakeries, and restaurants. Pay for goods with $5 tickets purchased at the door. Raffle tickets are available for restaurant gift cards and special merchandise.
August 13
Colorado Brazil Fest 2023, see Aug. 11 above.
August 14
Chopsticks for Change at Osaka Ramen is a late-night popup event with a portion of proceeds going to benefit CHOW (Culinary Hospitality Outreach Wellness, a nonprofit connecting hospitality industry workers with mental health resources.
High-Plains Comedy Festival Showcase at Warren Station at Keystone, is an 18+ night of laughter featuring Adam Cayton-Holland and lineup of other comedians.
August 15
Dinner with the Champions is a fundraising dinner at Guard and Grace downtown. Hosted by Pro Football Hall of Famers Steve Atwater and Terrell Davis and Broncos Legend Mark Schlereth, the evening will celebrate the great tradition and excellence of the game of football while raising awareness and funds for mental health or substance misuse services through Fund Recovery.
August 16 – National Bratwurst Day
Five-course Morocco Beer Pairing Dinner at Spice Trade Brewing featuring Moroccan-inspired dishes and exclusive beer releases. Vegetarian options will be available. Purchase tickets in-restaurant or through OpenTable.
Maine Shack starts selling Lobster Roll Kits Aug. 16 through Aug. 30 for pickup Aug. 31-Labor Day, Sept. 4. Two kit sizes are available: 1-pound (with 6 New England-style buns, mayo, butter) + 2 large Whoopie Pies for $95 or a 2-pound kit with 10 New England-style buns, mayo, butter and 4 large Whoopie Pies for $180. Add on Lobster Mac and Cheese, Clam Choder, Slaw, Potato Salad and other a la carte takeout items.
Rhein Haus celebrates National Bratwurst Day with a $13 beer and brat special.
August 17
Vegan Harvest Dinner at Jill’s Restaurant, is a three-course meal that includes welcome cocktails, passed appetizers, and wine pairings to accompany the meal featuring in-season vegetables and produce.
August 18
Camparty and Oysterpaloozza at Il Posto brings two of their most popular events together in a big patio party with oysters a la cart, small bites from the kitchen, Negronis, Spritzes, and Campari Sodas for purchase. The first 50 people to show up get a FREE surprise. Tickets can be purchased here.
Colorado Mambo Orchestra performs Latin tunes you’ll want to dance to. Arrive early for free dance lessons. While there, enjoy classic cars celebrating Cuban culture.
Havana Nights is a salsa dance night in the lobby of the Dairy arts Center and outdoor patio. Dance to music by DJ Byron.
Llamaste is a Llama Yoga Experience at Grand Hyatt Vail. The experience is complimentary for hotel guests.
August 19
ElevAsian Night Market Fundraiser includes an ElevAsian Passport, a new culinary program that lets guests sample dishes from five designated vendors. Guests can also access artwork and handcrafted goods.
FlyteCo Tower celebrates turning one with an anniversary weekend that includes a community drone show and fundraiser. Running Aug. 19-21, the big event is a fundraiser on Aug. 19 that includes dinner, drink tickets, door prizes, and access to the on-site golf simulators, exe throwing, bowling, mini golf, and arcade dreams.
Global Fest celebrates its 10th year in a celebration of cultures around the world through food, music, dance, a Parade of Nations, art displays, shopping and creative activities for kids.
Mountain Music Festival in Keystone. See our Sponsor block, above.
Sloan’s Lake BEER FEST happens and includes unlimited sampling from a wide variety of breweries, cideries, distilleries, and canned cocktails. There’ll also be a 1970s dance party with DJ, food trucks, street food, costume contest and more.
August 20
FlyteCo Tower celebrates one year. See Aug. 19.
Sunday Beach House Party at the Museum of Outdoor Arts. Reserve a mini-dip pool and umbrella for up to five friends or bring your own blanket and chairs and enjoy water features, yard games, food and drink and DJ tunes.
August 21
FlyteCo Tower celebrates one year. See Aug. 19.
August 22
Tomato Dinner at OAK at Fourteenth honors the heirloom fruit with a dinner in conjunction with Speedwell Farms and Red Wagon Farm. The five-course menu, with each course curated by a different OAK chef, includes Caramelized Fennel Ricotta Cheese Fagottini with tomato broth and confit cherry tomato, Tomato-rubbed halibut and a tomato ricotta cheese tart with peach ice cream.
August 23
National Conveyor Belt Sushi Day at Sushi-Rama celebrates owner Jeff Osaka’s birthday. Each store will be decked out in balloons and some of Chef’s favorite things will appear around the belt including candy, Ruffles, and a special roll.
UnWine Wednesdays closes out the UnWine season for the year at Museum of Outdoor Arts. Enjoy a Colorado sunset, wine, food truck, yard games and the music of Apple Valley Road, a husband-and-wife duo.
August 24
Breckenridge Wine Classic, Aug. 24-26, has wine tastings and seminars, outdoor adventures and fine dining options. The Grand Tasting features hundreds of wines to taste.
Chicken Fight, aka the Denver Fried Chicken Championships includes bites and drinks from area restaurants and bars. There’ll also be live music and unlimited roller coaster rides seeing as how it’s held at Elitch Gardens.
Colorado Wine Makers Dinner kicks off the Colorado Wine Walk (see Aug. 25) with a 5-course dinner created by For[a]ged that is paired and presented by five different Colorado wineries.
YWCA Boulder County, the Boulder-based nonprofit dedicated to eliminating racism and empowering women, is hosting its Better Because of Her Luncheon. This year’s awardees include Congressman Joe Neguse; Shannon Peterson, a mechanical engineer in the aerospace industry who supports Indigenous students in STEM education; and Jane Miller, a pioneer and C-Level female executive at Fortune 500 companies like Frito Lay/PepsiCo, Inc.
August 25
Breckenridge Wine Classic, see Aug. 24.
Colorado Wine Walk, hosted by Blanchard Family Wines, is a Grand Tasting featuring a dozen Front Range and Western Slop wineries plus live local music.
Loveland Corn Roast Festival, in its 127th year, runs Aug. 25 and 26 with roasted corn, a parade, beer garden, kid-zone, and live music.
Party in the Paseo is a Friday night celebration at Market Station. Check out outdoor-focused retails, cocktails from Cocktail Caravan, music from Sweet Pork Band and Kat King, and food truck food from Mukja Food Truck. Admission is free but drinks and food are sold separately.
August 26
Breckenridge Wine Classic, see Aug. 24.
Loveland Corn Roast Festival, see Aug. 25.
Nederland Jazz & Wine Festival includes live jazz, unlimited drink tastings, art vendors, food trucks and booths.
Relief for Maui is Golden Mill’s 2nd annual Reggae on the Creek with proceeds directed toward Maui Strong, a fund developed by the Hawai’I Community Foundation. In collaboration with state and county leaders, nonprofit organizations, and community members, funding will support evolving needs, including shelter, food, financial assistance and other services. Food specials include oysters, Mexican ceviche and shrimp cocktail, Msubi for Maui, a traditional Hawaiian snack of fried spam and rice wrapped in nori, and Happy Cones Ice Cream will host a Maui Waui blender takeover.
Rosenberg’s Brunch Takeover at Clayton Hotel & Members Club includes an assortment of bagels and toppings including smokes salmon, caviar, carving boards, pastries, smoked fishes, passed apps, deli salads and more plus Bloody Marys, mimosas and champagne and live music. RSVPs are required. Email events@clayytondenver.com.
Summer Art Market, hosted by the Art Students League of Denver, runs Aug. 26 and 27. View and shop art by emerging and established artists, displaying a variety of visual arts, live artmaking demonstrations, a KidArt area plus food and drink vendors.
Yappy Hour on the Plaza, at Terminal Bar at Denver Union Station, is a dog-friendly gathering, with a non-profit rescue partner, local pet businesses, Doggy Ice Cream Sandwiches and, for the humans, special cocktails from Tito’s Handmade Vodka.
August 28 – National Red Wine Day
National Red Wine Day at Postino WineCafé serves up reds and red blends by the glass and bottle from around the world.
August 30
Restaurant Olivia hosts Jake Muse of Maui Nui Venison for a one-night, multi-course dinner spotlighting sustainable red meat.
August 31
Bacon Day at Snooze A.M. Eatery runs through Sept. 6 to celebrate International Bacon Day on Sept. 2. Six bacon-centric food and drink specials will be served with 20% of the proceeds from these dishes benefitting World Central Kitchen up to $35,000. MySnooze Bennyfits loyalty members who order a Bacon Day item during Bacon Week get $5 their next visit.
Painkiller Weekend, running Aug. 31-Sept. 2, is Adrift Tiki Bar’s celebration of the Pusser’s Rum signature drink. The Painkiller® first emerged during the 1970s at a true British Virgin Islands watering hole named Soggy Dollar Bar. Because it had no dock, patrons had to swim their way to the bar. Daphne Henderson created a cocktail to reward their efforts and “kill their pain.”
Upcoming Events In Good Taste:
September – Colfax Canvas mural festival with a neighborhood block party Sept. 16
September – The Museum of Illusions opens
Sept. 1 and 2 – Boriqua Food 5-Course Local Food Experience at Dune Valley Distillery
Sept. 2 – Keystone Oktoberfest
Sept. 10 – Honey Festival
Sept. 15-16 – Loveland Oktoberfest
Sept. 15-17 – Vail Oktoberfest
Fall – El Chapultepec Piano Bar at Dazzle, presenting “The Late Set” 11pm to 1am Thursday-Saturday nights
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