Dulcinea's to re-open as Pete's Monkey Bar

When it opened in 2002, Dulcinea's 100th Monkey was hip jazz, blues and funk spot, but within a few years it gradually morphed into more of club that embraced the jam nation. It was a fine addition to the Bianchi brothers empire that now includes Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom, Quixote's and Sancho's Broken Arrow...

By Jon Solomon

September 2, 2009

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When it opened in 2002, Dulcinea's 100th Monkey was hip jazz, blues and funk spot, but within a few years it gradually morphed into more of club that embraced the jam nation. It was a fine addition to the Bianchi brothers empire that now includes Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom, Quixote's and Sancho's Broken Arrow and most recently, Owsley's Golden Road. But the brothers are now passing the bar to one of their bartenders, Pete Penzastadler, who will re-open the spot as Pete's Monkey Bar in mid-September.

"The place is nice and beautiful," Jay Bianchi says, "but it needs love and attention that only a new owner can bring. We have been reluctantly trying to sell it for awhile, but sometimes we need to be coaxed kicking and screaming to the table."

Polytoxic will play the Dulcinea's final show on September 7, which incidentally marks the day that he saw his first Grateful Dead show at Red Rocks 24 years ago and is also two days before his wife's fortieth birthday.

"Although we are saying goodbye we will always have fine memories of Dulcinea's," Bianchi says. "Dulcinea's 100th Monkey may be gone, but it is certainly not forgotten. The legend grows and looms large."

Bianchi says Owsley's will be carrying on Dulcinea's fine tradition.

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