Club Scout

There's lots of action at the edge of the Golden Triangle. The old home of the Denver Buffalo Company, at 1109 Lincoln Street, a building that most recently housed the restaurant Cielo and Club Ra, is once again undergoing a transformation. The club portion has already become Club Allure, which is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. And building owner Curt Sims has leased the space once occupied by Cielo to the proprietors of the Donkey Den, a restaurant that will keep Cielo's Mexican accent but have a more casual, cantina-like feel that takes full advantage of a great outdoor patio. (Many of Cielo's more popular menu items, including those award-winning ribs, will soon be featured at Lime, Sims's restaurant/club in Larimer Square.) Look for the Den to open in May.

A couple of blocks away at 776 Lincoln, the patio of Funky Buddha is now open, too. And while the terrific rooftop patio of the Minturn Saloon at 846 Broadway is already open (weather allowing), the resurrected bar/ restaurant celebrates the patio with a party Friday, April 22, featuring Wiggy, a band that's folk/reggae and a whole lot more. The Minturn promises to book more musical acts -- if they're "willing to play for beer and food," the proprietors say. Drop in, have a brew or two, and do your own negotiating. Or just drop in for cold beer/cheap eats specials early in the week, when the deals from 5 to 10 p.m. include 50-cent tacos on Monday, 25-cent wings on Tuesday and half-price appetizers on Wednesday.

Something else has taken up residence in the old home of Somewhere Else, at 3425 South Oleander Court. Club Deep launched there this past weekend, debuting a blend of Arabian, Latin and Brazilian music spun by DJs; regular appearances by flamenco and belly dancers are also planned. And don't forget the wet T-shirt contests every Wednesday!

You're in deep.