Out and About

The Denver Police Department's investigation into the shooting outside Union Station early on Saturday, July 23, seems to be stalled, but Lotusis moving on. Earlier this month, the club at 1701 Wynkoop Street introduced Fresh, a Friday-night dance party. "I was approached by Lotus for something new, and I decided, 'Let's do it,'" says Michael Beatty, the night's promoter. He had a very successful gay dance party at La Rumba three years ago, moved it to Serengetiwhen it outgrew that space, then took a year off. "I really didn't think I'd find another venue that would be another step up," he explains.

But Lotus is just that venue. "The space is amazing," Beatty says. "You park in front of one of Denver's most historic buildings, then turn around and see Denver's heritage all around you. You can't get any better. If you would have asked how I'd see this unfold, I wouldn't have imagined this." Following a soft opening on September 9 and a grand opening on September 16, Fresh is already an institution in LoDo -- even if Beatty confesses to "tummy twitters" every Friday morning -- that brings in a new crowd to unwind, have dinner at nearby restaurants, then return to Lotus to dance, dance, dance. "I do what I do to give back to Denver's gay and lesbian community -- and those who like to party with us," Beatty says.

Party on.

Mark your datebooks: Sputnik (3 South Broadway) is starting a bingo night (!) on October 2. The D-Note(7519 Grandview in Arvada) hosts a Hurricane Katrina benefit on October 8, with the Scooterz, Stars Are Scarsand King for a Day. The event was organized by Simon Levene, a nurse by day who's also a member of King for a Day. Levene, who lives in Broomfield, noticed that there wasn't much going on for hurricane relief in his part of town -- "and there's no music," he says, "so I got some bands based in the north suburbs together to do a benefit gig." Admission is a minimum $5 donation; for more information, call 303-GO-DNOTE. And this is all very hush-hush, but it looks like Dave Chappelle will be back on stage at the Comedy Works (1226 15th Street) for three dates November 14 to16. The booking doesn't appear yet on the Comedy Works website (if you register at www.comedyworks.com, you get advance news of special shows), but it was mentioned in a September 12 MTV.com story on Chappelle.

Finally, don't forget to Get Out to Help Out on October 5, when dozens of local restaurants, clubs, taverns and nightlife spots will donate a portion of the night's proceeds to survivors of Hurricane Katrina. For a complete list of participants, go to www.coloradorestaurant.com.