Happy New Year, Colorado! Let’s make this an amazing 2023 full of fulfilling food, beverage, arts, culture, and travel opportunities in our glorious state, starting with what we find to be In Good Taste in January.
Ongoing Events We Find to be In Good Taste in January:
Aspen Gay Ski Week, Jan. 15-22, is the oldest annual, week-long gay ski event in the nation. Skiers enjoy four mountains of varied ski and snowboard terrain plus cross-country, snowshoe, and winter hiking trails. It’s also an annual fundraising event for AspenOUT.
Bison Days at Number Thirty Eight run Jan. 7-22 and include Country music concerts from national and regional musicians including Joe Nichols, Jackson Dean, Double Wide, Sugar Britches and others. There’ll also be specialty food and drink and lots of dancing.
Black Rock Coffee Bar is launching new drinks in January: the Honey Cold Foam Matcha, Coconut Milk Shaken Espresso, Hot Ginger Peach Tea with Honey and Lavender Black Tea.
BEEN THERE, LOVED THAT Blossoms of Light runs through January 7 at Denver Botanic Gardens’ York Street location. See thousands of lights and sculptural items throughout the gardens. Tickets must be purchased in advance and sell out quickly.
Celebrate Lunar New Year at The Inverness, Jan. 20-Feb. 4, with a dinner series, available Tue-Sat. Special a la carte menu items include hand-made dumplings, salt and pepper wings or tofu, Cha Siu BBQ pork platter, chili fried whole red snapper and more.
BEEN THERE, LOVED THAT Cook Street Culinary has a great lineup for January in which you learn a ton and eat what you learned. Classes we noted as being In (particularly) Good Taste include Street Food: South America Jan. 13; Ramen, Jan. 18, and Culinary Date Night: Spain, Jan. 28.
BEEN THERE, LOVED THAT Cucina Bella, by brothers Luis and Heriberto Gutierrez who have 20 years of culinary experience in Colorado, has opened across from the Lowry neighborhood. Don’t miss the Crispy Calamari, Linguini al Pesto, Chicken Piccata, and Peach Budino for dessert.
Dali Alive continues, running through January 29. The experience showcases Dali’s challenges and triumphs and lets visitors step into the art and the artist’s mind.
BEEN THERE, LOVED THAT Downtown Denver Rink at Skyline Park, offers free ice skating in the shadow of the Clocktower. It is available through Feb. 14.
Kini’s, serving Greek island dishes, launches weekend brunch with dishes including shakshuka, file au poivre and eggs, a spicy pepperoncini martini, and other cocktails.
Latin Lite at Toro restaurant helps you stick with your resolutions to eat more healthfully while also deliciously. The special menu is available all month and includes dishes like Zucchini Tiradito garnished with cucumber aguachile, spicy pumpkin seeds, roasted garlic and cilantro and Blackened Shrimp Tacos with pickled jicama, mango-mint salsa, bibb lettuce and additional toppings.
Little Women, the Broadway Musical, presented by Performance Now Theatre, runs Jan. 6-22 at the Lakewood Cultural Center. Based on Louisa May Alcott’s novel about the four March sisters, the musical covers vignettes of the girls’ life unfolding.
Ike’s Love & Sandwiches has opened a second location. The Highlands Ranch spot will have two sandwiches exclusive to the location, the “Castle Isabel” with roast beef, bacon, creamy honey BBQ and cheddar and the “Rotherwood,” a vegetarian version of the same sandwich.
Immersive Monet & The Impressionists runs through Jan. 2 at Lighthouse Artspace Denver with more than 1.2 million frames of video projected onto 500,000 cubic feet, showing the artist’s brushstrokes, colors, and works with a dreamy score to set the mood.
National Western Stock Show, running Jan. 7-22, is a Denver tradition with events including rodeos, Wild West Show, Horse Shows and more. The Kick-Off Parade happens on Jan. 5.
The Empire Lounge and Restaurant in Louisville has introduced a new menu under new management. Darren Pusateri brings 25 years of hospitality experience. The “80s-in-New-York” focus includes a Guinness Braised Reuben, Gravlax Benedict, Steak Frites, Oyster Rockefeller, and French Onion Soup plus a creative bar menu.
The Fort has a $49 Stock Show Special all month with a choice of buffalo prime rib dinner or beef T-bone steak plus breads, salad, and sides. They are also launching new menu items such as Josepha’s Buffalo Empanadas, Buffalo Short Ribs, and Panna Cotta Custard.
The Great American Trailer Park Musical has a stripper on the run, an agoraphobic, trailer park in Florida and loads of music from blues to disco to R&B. It runs Jan. 37-March 5 at the Miners Alley Playhouse.
The Roommate, presented by Vintage Theatre, runs Jan. 13-Feb. 19. Is a dark comedy about two middle-aged women – one of whom needs a roommate and the other who needs to completely transform her life.
Tony Ortega, Denver artist, has an exhibit running at William Havu Gallery through January 21. The In Good Taste team are big fans of his colorful and immediately recognizable work.
Wally’s Wisconsin Tavern has new menu items including the Rockin’ Robin 19, a house marinated grilled chicken sandwich with Swiss cheese, tomato, lettuce and chipotle aioli, served alongside fries, sweet potato fries or tots.
Winterskӧl ™ is a “toast to winter” in Aspen, going back to 1951 when locals wanted to celebrate their special, alpine lifestyle. The four-day event, Jan. 12-15, includes lots of on-mountain activities, fireworks, a torchlight descent down Aspen Mountain, snow sculptures and more.
Zoo Lights at the Denver Zoo gives us a chance to stretch out the holiday frivolity with more than a million lights. It runs through January 15.
Dated Events We Find to Be In Good Taste in January
January 1 – Happy New Year!
Barcelona Wine Bar will help you recover from the night before with Short Rib hash, Olive Oil Pancakes, Tres Leches Overnight Oats plus their own Bloody Mary and specialty mimosas.
Hair of the Dog Brunch is hosted by The Original. There’s a special cocktail menu including the “Hydrated Dog,” a mix of Pedialyte and vodka, the “Like a Rockstar” shot with syrup, lemon, and cayenne pepper.
Onsie Brunch Party at Federales is a comfy-cozy-PJ-clad party with Mexican food including Chilquiles and Churro French Toast. There’s a DJ and fun décor too.
Tamayo serves their traditional Bottomless Brunch with unlimited small plates and brunch cocktails from 10:30am-3pm. Brunch is available without alcohol too. They’ll also serve dinner until 10pm.
Toro serves their Bottomless Brunch, with or without alcohol, 10am-3pm.
January 5
Urban Farmer Denver celebrates the National Western Stock Show’s kick-Off Parade with prime viewing of this tradition featuring cattle, horses, bands and more. The special menu includes Steak & Eggs with sausage pepper gravy, Pork Belly & Green Chili Benedict, and Shrimp & Grits.
January 6
Art & Asana, at Warren Station in Keystone, combines yoga that helps guest find focus and thank about their life goals. The event includes a journaling exercise and vision board craft to help you get ready for the year ahead.
El Dia de Los Reyes Magos, at Corrida, is a special one-night dinner celebrating Three Kings Day. Normally a two-day celebration in Spain, family and loved ones gather for parades, a hearty meal and to exchange gifts. At Corrida, there will be a multi-course menu inspired by the tradition. Reservations can be made on OpenTable.
January 7
PJs and DJs is Ironton Distillery & Crafthouse’s invitation to stay comfy-cozy while enjoying a dance party, a craft cocktail and some spent-grain pizzas.
January 11
Infinite Monkey Theorem American Sign Language Happy Hour happens on Jan. 11 and 25, giving attendees the opportunity to support the deaf community, learn to sign, and enjoy wine. No prior knowledge of ASL is necessary for this fun event.
Point Easy Tuscan Wine Dinner is a 5-course dinner event that highlights the flavors of Tuscany. Each course, which includes a radicchio salad, beef tartare, gnocchi sardo, wine braised beef short rib and bombolone for dessert, is paired with a perfectly matched wine.
January 12
Boulder Social will host a brewery grand opening party. Explore five house beers including two new offerings tapped at the event. Each guest receives one complimentary Social Beer plus 10% off crowlers during the event and free beer koozies. The first 10 attendees get a free Boulder Social glass stein.
January 13
6th Annual DDAM Fundraiser Drag Show at The Clocktower Cabaret is a fun-filled night with proceeds supporting the DorianDe Long Arts & Music Scholarship Foundation which helps students continue an education in the arts.
Aloy Thai Eatery opens in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. It joins Boulder’s Aloy Thai Cuisine and Downtown Denver’s Aloy Modern Thai. The new spot focuses on fast service and delivery while making scratch-made, farm-to-table, authentic Thai fare.
Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloe is described as creating a “sensuous atmosphere with a lingering explosiveness residing just underneath the surface,” in the Colorado Symphony Orchestra notes. That’s good enough to entice us. Performances run Jan. 13-15.
January 14
Lafayette Oatmeal Festival returns for its 26th year. With a focus on healthy lifestyle, plan on an oatmeal breakfast and 75 toppings.
January 15
A Hall Pass to the Galaxy, presented by Stories on Stage, is a performance of funny and thought-provoking Si-Fi tales including Hugo award-winning Ted Chiang’s “What’s Expected of Us.” A virtual performance will stream on January 19 and thereafter.
January 16
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Marade” starts in City Park and makes its way to Civic Center Park for entertainment, awards, and a celebration.
January 18
The Life and Times of Colorado Barbecue at History Colorado Center has Denver’s own James Beard Award-winning author Adrian Miller talking about Colorado’s place in BBQ history and present.
January 20
41st Annual Colorado Indian Market & Southwest Art Fest, running Jan. 20-22, features 150 juried artists and craftspeople plus tribal dances, culinary booths, and interactive attractions.
CoArk Collective, labelled as a “New Style Food Hall, has opened in Centennial. Concepts include Bibim House, Koco Street Food, Poke Island, and Momo Bing ice cream dessert and boba. The Asian-themed spot in a former Golden Coral space lets you order from one main spot encouraging ordering from a variety of vendors.
Gilbert & Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore is performed at Boettcher Concert Hall Jan. 20-21. If you’ve never seen this musical operetta with a fun storyline and iconic tunes, this is your chance.
Shucking 101 with Tammen’s at Il Posto is a night of all you can eat oysters with one-on-one shucking instruction from the pros and a welcome champagne.
January 21
Big Band Royalty: Dukes, Counts and the Greats of Jazz, featuring vocalist Marion Powers happens at two locations, Jan. 21 and 22. Hear a fresh take on interpretations from these greats.
Italian World Cup: A Wine Pairing Dinner takes you on a 5-course culinary journey through the mountains of Northern Italy. The event happens in Keystone.
Saints + Sinners Ball is a 21+ party at the Denver Art Museum inspired by, and including viewing of their Saints, Sinners, Lovers, and Fools exhibit.
January 22
Ace Eat Serve is celebrating Lunar New Year with a suckling pig feast carved tableside, accompanied by sides and fixings plus desserts. There are also drink specials available to add to the meal. Dinners must be reserved in advance as supplies are limited.
Front Range Supper Club at Sunnyside is an Italian dinner paired with imported wine.
Tatiana Eva-Marie & Avalon Jazz Band performs a celebration of Django Reinhardt, the father of “gypsy jazz.” It’s a tribute to Eva-Marie’s French and Romanian Gypsy heritage and love for the Parisian art scene of the 1920s-60s.
Shucking 101 with Tammen’s at Il Posto is a night of all you can eat oysters with one-on-one shucking instruction from the pros and a welcome champagne.
January 26
Cider + Menu Tasting with The Cider Maker is a new event between FlyteCo and Haykin Cider. Dan Haykin walks you through four delicious ciders paired with FlyteCo’s Chef selections.
January 27
Friday Lunch Bunch: Purnell Steen & the Five Points Ambassadors is your opportunity for inserting some fabulous live jazz music into the middle of your day at Dazzle Jazz.
Mozart & Now with Peter Oundjian provides three different opportunities, over Jan. 27-29, to compare and contrast the music of Mozart with four of today’s composers.
The Blind Café Experience: Music and Dinner in the Dark happens Jan. 27-29 with Rosh & The Blind Café Orchestra. The positive social change pop-up dinner includes social impact discussion, live music and dinner in 100% darkness.
Ullrgrass Music & Beer Festival, Jan. 27-29, in Golden, is named for the Norse God of Winter (Ullr). The mid-winter event celebrates community, beer, live music, the arts, and Viking garb.
Untitled, at the Denver Art Museum, kicks off the 2023 season with local creatives Melissa Ivey whose work centers around music and advocacy for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR), and Sofie Birkin, illustrator and installation artist.
January 28
Dinner Society features a three-course dining experience by Chef Carrie Baird of Fox and the Hen. The evening, held at MCA Denver, includes an exclusive tour of the museum’s exhibition, The Dirty South: Contemporary Art, Material Culture, and The Sonic Impulse.
Denver Winter Brew Fest happens at Mile High Station with unlimited samples of beer, cider and hard kombucha plus live music and food trucks with food for purchase. Evening VIP ticket holders also get a special beer and cheese pairing.
January 29
Mavens of Movies launches, a new cinema series that includes the movie, popcorn and candy, plus cocktails and food for purchase. Held in the Windsor room at The Mavin, the lineup is Top Gun: Maverick, Jan. 29, 13 Going on 30, Feb. 23, and Jurassic World Dominion on March 30.
January 31
Factory Fashion’s Dali Fashion Show inside the Dali Alive Exhibit combines art and fashion in a novel way. Enjoy a cash bar cocktail time before the show and then designs from SKYE/AIRE, Menez to Society, Rachel Marie Hurst, and many other designers.
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