Make yourself at home at Tooey's

A couple years back, I stopped by Club Boca on one of its weekly goth nights, which always looked like a high-school makeout party — only darker. Soon after I walked in, I spotted this dude wearing a ponytail and a wife beater entangled in the arms of a goth gal; with one long swoop, the guy ran his tongue from her chin all the way up her face. But goth nights — and Club Boca itself — soon dried up. Finally, after the space at 1521 Marion Street had been vacant for more than a year, Tooey's Off Colfax opened last November, right behind Kinga's Lounge, which had taken the place of the Boca Room at the corner of Colfax and Marion.

When I dropped by Tooey's just after it opened, I thought the place had potential, so I was pleased to hear that it's attracted its fair share of regulars over the past few months. I joined them last week and found the bar looking more lived-in; the owners have warmed it up by putting in some couches, a big-screen TV, a Family Guy pinball machine and a jukebox, which I was stoked to find had albums by Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Fela Kuti and John Coltrane.

It looks like the owners have dialed in some live entertainment, as well. The Ooh La La Burlesque gals and the Pawn Ticket Trio recently visited the bar, and DJs Deftron and Ginger, who are part of Mommy's Little Monster at Bender's Tavern, have set up shop here on Sundays. And starting at 7 p.m. Saturday, January 31, Tooey's will host a PBR art contest (one of Tooey's owners was a PBR rep); bring some PBR-inspired art to show and you might find it displayed on billboards across Denver.

Club scout: Mykel Martinez has been on one wild ride since he closed the 15th Street Tavern a couple of years ago. When plans to resurrect 15th Street on Park Avenue West didn't work out, he opened the Tiki Torch Restaurant and Bar at 5280 West 25th Avenue last August. He's now in the process of selling that spot in order to buy the Continental Club at 475 Santa Fe Drive. That venue closed after New Year's Eve, but Martinez hopes to reopen it by the end of February as One-Eyed Jack's.

On Thursday, January 29, DJ Klaw and the Mommy's Little Monster crew at Bender's (314 East 13th Avenue) will bring in well-known, New York-based house DJ Sean "Cobra" Krames; on Saturday, January 31, the club hosts Rockstar Aaron's monthly Lollipop! Dance Party with Pinky 500. Beta (1909 Blake Street) has a killer weekend planned, starting with Dave Dresden of the famed Gabriel and Dresden DJ/producer team on Thursday, January 29; remix king Tommie Sunshine with Matthew Brian on Friday, January 30; and superstar DJ Donald Glaude on Saturday, January 31.

On Thursday, January 29, Golden Bowl Bar & Lounge (525 24th Street in Golden) will kick off its Superstar Karaoke Contest, with semi-finalists selected every Thursday night from February 5 through May 14 and the finals held May 22-23. Semi-finalists win Golden Bowl gift cards, second- and third-place winners win cash prizes, and the grand-prize winner gets a trip to Las Vegas (including airfare and hotel for three nights) and the chance to win $5,000 or record a CD.