Here's the thing about Sunday brunch at Pierre's Supper Club: From the outside, the place, at 2157 Downing Street, looks closed. Sure, this fifty-year-old Denver institution can still pack 'em in on Friday and Saturday nights, but on Sunday afternoons -- when you would think a supper club should be closed -- the parking lot in the back is often empty, the windows are usually dark, and the big front doors are shut. But don't be fooled, because inside, there's definitely something going on. For the past six weeks, Pierre's has been hosting a gospel brunch as a way to attract the legions of worshipers from long congregational services at community churches who come staggering out with aching knees, hands sore from clapping -- and a biblically powerful hunger that no Denny's Grand Slam is ever going to satisfy.
Rob Ullman
Rob Ullman
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Pierre's new owner, John Lewis, noticed that famished parishioners were leaving the Five Points neighborhood after their services were done, sometimes driving across town to find a buffet where they could sit down with their closest friends and feed their collard-greens-and-cornbread jones. According to Pierre's general manager, Evelyn Young, this seemed a shame to Lewis, considering he had a club that would be more than adequate for the task. Folks in the area already knew that Pierre's made a bone-sucking barbecue, had one of the great, secret hot-sauce recipes of our time and fried up some mean catfish. The trick was to convince them to check out Pierre's for Sunday soul food.
"People don't expect Pierre's to be doing a buffet," Young explains. "We got everything: catfish, ribs, mac and cheese, and collard greens. We got cornbread. Everything."
And she's not kidding. Southern-fried buffet cuisine is custom-made for standing up to the abuses of brunch service. Where your average hotel spread of eggs Benny, link sausage and carved prime rib begins to suffer immediately after leaving the kitchen, the soupy greens, deeply smoked and oh-so-tender ribs, macaroni and cheese, and buttery mashed potatoes at Pierre's only improve under low heat -- and it all seems to taste better when eaten to the accompaniment of the good gospel music loudly pumped in over the speakers.
Salvation may be expensive (depending on the caliber of your sins), but all Pierre's wants is $11.95 for all you can eat. Brunch service runs from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Sunday from now till Judgment Day. If the Rapture really is coming, aren't you happy to know that at least it'll be catered? -- Jason Sheehan
Girls' Night Out gives women some space
THUR, 7/3
Calling all feisty working women and sassy stay-at-home moms: Truck on down to Girls' Night Out at Mynt True Lounge, 1424 Market Street, every Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. Girls' Night Out features guest speakers' insights on careers, passions and life. It also offers complimentary champagne, appetizers and Godiva chocolates. "I see the value of getting women together to share their lives and experiences, network -- just have a good time," says hostess and organizer Michelle Barnes. "Women relate to each other differently when there are no men there."
The featured speaker this week is Bija Bennet, a local yoga practitioner and author of Emotional Yoga: How the Body Can Heal the Mind. Posh Salon will also be on hand to provide complimentary manicures, makeup and hair consultations, and chair massages.
"It is harder and harder for women to take time off during a hectic day for beauty services," says Barnes. "Women can stop into the bar after work, meet a few of their girlfriends and catch up and touch up. What else could a girl want -- men?" Hmmm. Yes or no, when the clock strikes 8 p.m., the doors open to men -- who have no doubt gathered outside.
For further information, contact Barnes at mb@michellebarnes.com or call Mynt at 303-825-6968. Julie Dunn
Going Wild
WED 7/9
Looking for a crazy summer night? Skip LoDo and head for the Denver Zoo's new WildNights program, where the entertainment includes a Komodo Dragon and Mongolian Bactrian camels. Designed to explore the influence of animals on music, cuisine and beliefs from around the world, WildNights features everything from African storytelling and drumming to Native American and Polynesian fire dancers. "We wanted to help people learn how the animals that we have here at the zoo relate to different cultures," says Patrick Phelan, who is in charge of special events and promotions at the zoo. "For example, snakes play a large part in Latino culture." WildNights will run every Wednesday in July, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. "We're really reaching out to the people who can't make it to the zoo during the day, both families and single twenty-somethings," says Phelan. "So we're trying something new with this, like offering salsa dance lessons."
Tickets are $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and $4 for kids ages three to eleven; children two and under are free. The Denver Zoo is located at 2300 Steele Street; visit www.denverzoo.org or call 303-376-4800 for a complete schedule of WildNights activities. -- Julie Dunn
Art of the Fourth
Cherry Creek Arts are as American as pie
FRI, 7/4
