About Denver's Platt Park

This year, Denver's BrewGrass Music Festival will be held on the 1200 block of Old South Pearl, on Saturday June 11th. Being earlier in the summer this year, I would expect that it will not be blisteringly hot. Admission for the BrewGrass Music Festival is a mere $5.00 per person, and starts at 12:00 noon and close at 10:00pm. The event will be held rain or shine.

Food and drink is available at the BrewGrass Music Festival including a good selection of local micro breweries. If you haven't been to one of these events previously, I highly recommend it. Parking can be a problem in the area, so I suggest taking the Light Rail to the Louisiana/Pearl Station and walking the one block to the festival.

Several bands will be playing the BrewGrass Music Festival including:

Split Lip Rayfield
Truth & Salvage Co
Ryan Montbleau Band
Missy Raines & the New Hip
Whitewater Ramble
The Giving Tree
Loose Cannon

See you on the 11th at the BrewGrass Music Festival with a cold brew in hand!

It's that time of year again!

Starting June 5th and going through October 30th, the Farmers Market will be back on Old South Pearl Street on Sunday mornings from 9:00am - 1:00pm.

The street will be blocked off on the 1500 block of south Pearl and vendors will be setting up their tables and stalls and offering their goods.








Things that you will find at the market include:

Fruits and vegetables
fresh pastries & bread
fresh cut flowers
spices & herbs
sausage and meats
chocolate dipped bananas and caramel apples
ready made food
help on setting up your own organic garden and composting

Some of the highlights of this years Farmers Market are:

June 5th - Green Fair

July 17th - Health and Wellness Fair

August 21st - Eat Local Day

September 18th - Pet Fair

October 16th - Chili Cook Off

October 30th - Halloween Festival

Stop by and see what local vendors have to offer!

Many years ago my favorite show on TV was Cheers...it was about a neighborhood Boston area bar/restaurant that "Everybody Knows Your Name." I think Hanson's on Old South Pearl St in Denver might just be the mile high version of Cheers.

When you first walk into Hanson's you will notice a very comfortable feel to the place...a Bronco, Rockies, Avalanche or Nuggets game will usually be on the tube...beer will be flowing...and the place will be buzzing with the nightly food special....if you like the feel of a neighborhood bar you will love this place.

The nightly specials are an interesting mix....burger night on Monday is incredible...great burger for only $4....pasta night on Thursday is a favorite...and the ribs on BBQ night (Thursdays) are wonderful. Compliment the fun food with the large (for a neighborhood bar) wine list and incredible ice cold beer choices.

The Old South Pearl St retail strip is located in the Washington Park - Platt Park area near the Louisiana Light Rail Station (convenient if you have one too many). This tends to bring in a fun and eclectic group of clients...you will never run out of interesting people to talk with...lol

The website for Hanson's is: www.hansonsgrill-tavern.com

If you are in the area make a visit to Hanson's and stay for dinner....you will be glad you did!

The Village Cork is located on the Southeast corner of Louisiana and Pearl St in Historic Platt Park, just one short block from the Louisiana Light Rail Station. I visited the Village Cork this past week when the temperature only got up to 67 degrees. My friends and I sat at the back of the Village Cork next to the windows amid the quaint, mismatched tables and visited while the cool breeze came gently through the open window. It was heaven on Earth!

I thought that the list of wines that the Village Corkoffered was limited. Being an Old Vine Zinfandel enthusiast, I noticed the absence of my favorite wine on the list. However, my friends and I enjoyed the '07 Jaqk Cellars "22 Black" Cabernet for $19 per glass. The "Jaqk Black" is a bit steep in terms of price, but, if you visit the Village Cork Monday through Friday between 4:30pm and 5:30pm, you can enjoy that same glass of wine for $9 per glass! You can also enjoy the same special after 9:00pm during the week. The Village Cork also offered their Open Bottle Special which is a glass of wine from and Open Bottle for $5 per glass.





I do think that the Village Cork should incorporate a larger regular selection of moderately priced wines, let say $5-7 per glass, on their menu. All that being said, I do intend to visit The Village Cork again!

The Blues & Brews festival on July 10th at the 1200 block of Old South Pearl Street was a huge success! All the bands did an outstanding job of rocking...or should i say bluesing the night away. The food and beer choices were excellent....including many of Colorado's ever expanding micro-brew industry.

My favorite band of the day was Lionel Young Band with Erica Brown. They were in great voice and really turned the blues up a notch when they hit the stage in the late afternoon. The choice of food, from Mexican to pizza to BBQ to huge turkey legs was outstanding. Some local vendors were selling everything from bamboo dresses and shirts to cowboy hats to jewelry and hand bags.

Some rain showers fell in the early afternoon but it did not dampen the spirits of the festival goers...or the bands. The Blues & Brews festival is one event I will be heading back to year after year!