From Grapes to Gorillas, Twelve Tastiest Events on the Culinary Calendar

You'll go ape over all the culinary activities this weekend! First Bite Boulder starts today and runs through next week, with special menus from over forty Boulder restaurants. Tomorrow you can join in the gorilla run and fight whiskey wars. And on Sunday, why not dive into a hot tub social? Keep reading for a taste of what's on the culinr calendar.

Friday, November 13

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse in Englewood is teaming up with Tender Belly for a Bourbon and Belly dinner, featuring four courses paired with four premium bourbon cocktails. Tickets to the event, which starts at 6:30 p.m., are $95 per person. For reservations and more information, call the restaurant at 303-768-0827.  

The tenth annual First Bite Boulder restaurant week kicks off today and runs through November 21. Over forty Boulder restaurants will be serving special, three-course menus for just $29 per person—some for even less. For more information, including a complete list of participating restaurants, check out firstbiteboulder.com.  

Saturday, November 14 

From 6 to 10 p.m. today, Roosevelt Park in Longmont will be the backdrop for Nitro Fest, a celebration of all beers smooth and creamy. The circus-esque festival will be under a big top, and will feature beers from forty breweries, “mystical performances” of fire dancing, acrobatics, stilt-walking and aerial artistry from Lunar Fire, Fractal Tribe and the Boulder Circus School, and more. Tickets are $50 for general admission, $75 for VIP and $25 for designated drivers. Get all the details here. 

Duck and cover down to the Celtic Tavern for Whiskey War today. You can get in the whiskey trenches and enjoy whiskey tastings, with live entertainment, traditional Irish fare, games of skill and chance, cigars and more, all to benefit the veterans' aid organizations Semper Fi Fund and America’s Fund.The war begins at 6 p.m. and runs through 10 p.m. Tickets will be sold in three tiers: the enlisted ($65), the officer ($100), and the war hero ($200). You can grab tickets and learn more at whiskeywar.com. 

The twelfth annual Gorilla Run will go ape at The Westin Westminster today. Participants can choose to run the charity 5K as a banana or a gorilla—the suits are yours to keep—and then attend the Silverback after-party where there will be food, drinks and more. Registration for the race is $100 for first-time gorilla runners, $60 for first-time banana runners, $40 for returning adults, $30 for first-time runners under twelve and $15 for returning children. If you don't feel like monkeying around with the race, you can get tickets for the after-party for $10. The 5K helps raise funds for the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund; learn more at denvergorrilarun.com.

Breakfast Beers and Brats will bring coffee, beer and breakfast fare to Wurstkuche. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. guests can sip Ratio Beerwork's Novo Coffee Hold Steady and its Method Roasters Domestica, paired with breakfast brats and food from Wurstkuche. For more information, check out the event's Facebook page.  

Locavore Beer Works is celebrating one year of brewing for Denverites today from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The One Year Extravaganza will feature special tappings, live music by The Fabulous Boogienauts, food, door prizes, games and more. For the full scoop, check out the Locavore Facebook page.

Today from 7 to 9 p.m., author and Sommelier Paula Mitchell will be at BookBar discussing her guidebook and journal, Exploring Colorado Wineries. For the full story, visit bookbardenver.com.

Vinue Wine Bar will host a Wine Tasting and Relationship Conversation for Singles today at 8 p.m. Laura Menze, life and relationship coach/matchmaker with LifeQuest Alliance and Ready-Match, will be facilitating the discussion and answering questions while guests sip wines and join in on the conversation. There is no cost for the conversation but registration is required; you can register here.

Axios Estiatorio is throwing a Proper Wines Fall Release Party today from 3 to 5 p.m. Taste Proper's newly released Syrah while enjoying appetizers and shopping for wines directly from Proper. For more information check out properwines.com.   

Sunday, November 15  

Enjoy two masterpieces paired with a six-course meal during the six-and-a-half-hour The Godfather Double Feature at Alamo Drafthouse. The Godfather and The Godfather II will be played back to back and will be paired with an Italian feast to die for. Tickets to the double feature are $60; get yours here. 

DADA Art Bar is getting wet and wild again during another edition of Hot Tub Social. During Dive In Movie Night, the bar will be screening Hot Tub Time Machine 1 and 2. You can get tickets for one screening for $15 or both films for $20. Tickets and more information can be found here.  

 For more Food & Drink events, go to our online calendar. If you know of an event that should be included in that calendar, send information to [email protected].