Drink of the Week

As friends and family can attest, I have many quirky habits, such as only eating candy that is yellow or red. (Forget green M&Ms and blue Skittles -- bring on the Hot Tamales and lemon drops!) So naturally, when it comes to alcohol, my new favorite libation is the Strawberry Starburst martini at Blue Ice. Made with Ketel One vodka, Malibu rum, orange and pineapple juices and grenadine, this bright-pink treat of a cocktail ($7) is topped with whipped cream and a cherry and tastes like a fruity piña colada. Blue Ice is pretty tasty itself, a spacious Broadway bar complete with huge brushed-metal paintings and plenty of low couches that are perfect for people-watching while sipping one of the bar's other fabulous martini possibilities, like Millie Vanilla or Banana Nut Brownie. It's the hot alternative to the downtown lounge scene, a little more diverse and a lot less pretentious, with a daily happy hour from 4 to 8 (two for one, you call it) and nightly entertainment by local DJs and groovy jazz combos. As Denver heats up, Blue Ice is the place to chill.