I learned about something new as I was listening to the City Cast Denver team record the podcast version of this monthly guide – Summerween! Apparently, the animated series “Gravity Falls” had an episode in 2012 where the characters all celebrated Halloween during the summer, and somehow that tradition has caught on! Anyone out there want to carve a Rocky Ford “jack o’melon” sometime?
Check out our Summerween pick, plus plenty more August recommendations from Bree and two of our favorite contributors – green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval and man about town Adrian Felix.
👻 Celebrate Summerween at Scr3am & Sugar
This spooky-themed coffee shop in Overland is the Summerween destination for Denverites, according to Justine. She says the drinks at this spot are all horror themed and very creative, and the staff there is incredibly nice. ”It's not just a gimmick-themed coffee shop,” she adds. “They are making really great coffee in there!”
🛼 Skate the Night Away at ReelWorks
Adrian’s favorite thing to do right now is roller skating, and this monthly themed skate at ReelWorks is the place to be, with killer music and a light show. ”They do serve drinks on the floor while you skate, and they offer them in sippy cups so that you don't have to worry about when you biff [it],” Adrian says. The monthly skate is adults-only, held on the third Friday of the month, and the themes are always fun, like “neon”!
🎸 Check Out The Big New Album From lil piñon
One of the founding members of Denver’s Chicano funk staple Los Mocochetes – the group who created the theme song for City Cast Denver – has split off to release his first solo album. Recording now as “lil piñon,” Joshua Randy Abeyta is releasing a new album called “Don’t Even Trip.” Bree says “ he's been working for over two years on this project in particular, so definitely worth checking out.”
🍎 Get Your 2000s Pop Punk On for Food Justice
Bree wants to send some love to Denver Food Rescue, the local food justice nonprofit that rescues over 700,000 pounds of fresh, nutritious foods to benefit more than 200,000 Denverites each year. She recommends the all ages fundraiser hosted by local cover band Blink 90210 on Aug. 30 at the Hi-Dive. They’re calling the event “Feed American” as a play on Jimmy Eat World’s seminal 2001 album, “Bleed American,” because the show is all local bands playing emo and pop punk classics. Plus, your $15 ticket goes to a good cause!
🍷 Save Room for Dessert at Venice Ristorante and Wine Bar
Adrian is celebrating his birthday in August, and he’s got just one wish: someone take him to Venice! I’m sure he wouldn’t turn down a plane ticket to Italy, but his heart is with the pasta and fantastic wine list at this spot across from Union Station. ”At any upscale restaurant like this, I'm going to judge you by your desserts,” Adrian adds. “And they have one of the best crème brûlées in the city of Denver, which is my favorite dessert.”
🍕 Pizza, Ice Cream, and a Walk in Wash Park
Bree and her husband had a lovely summer night in Wash Park recently, and she recommends the entire itinerary: First stop at Homegrown Tap & Dough for the family-friendly patio and the “pigs and pears pizza,” which is roasted garlic, mozzarella, goat cheese, butternut squash, pear, candied bacon, arugula, and balsamic drizzle. Then a 10-minute walk to Bonnie Brae Ice Cream, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this summer. “ It's just that quintessential old-school Denver, old-school ice cream parlor.”
🎭 A Bonus Recommendation from Me!
As a longtime fan of local poet Bobby LeFebre, I was flattered when he invited me to participate in the Mixed Taste event series he hosts for the Museum of Contemporary Art. Each Mixed Taste brings together two Denverites to tell stories about totally different topics, then Bobby and his talented friends (and the audience) help draw creative connections through music, poetry, and jokes! I’ll be giving what I will call a Blucifer-adjacent talk about a local conspiracy theory that I’ve been obsessed with, and joining me as the other speaker will be none other than City Cast Denver contributor and Westword co-founder Patty Calhoun. It costs $20, and it’s more than worth it for all the entertainment they pack into these events. Consider this your personal invite from me.
But that’s not all! We asked Adrian and Justine for unique ways to beat the heat this August, but you’ll have to tune in to the podcast to hear their recs!
