New Zealand

Ask a Stoner: Does smoking pot cause strokes?

Ryan McPhun of the Ruby Suns on being totally obsessed with Nirvana as a 'tweenager

The Ruby Suns is the brain child of Ryan McPhun, whose New Zealander ancestry lead him to the land of his father before he joined his first actual band. Before that, he had played along to Nirvana in his parents' garage. That experience, coupled with what he learned as a member of the Brunettes and ... More >>

Ken Kodys wins the 42Below Cocktail World Cup

Bartender Ken Kodys left Colorado on September 3 for the 42Below Cocktail World Cup in New Zealand with one mission... to bring a third title back home. The bartending competition is our craft's version of the Olympics, in which 21 of the world's best bartenders representing six countries (and one a ... More >>

Ken Kodys goes for the gold in the Cocktail World Cup

Ken Kodys is a beast -- and I mean that in the most complimentary way. No, I'm not referring to his size, although he is a large man at 6'6". I mean that creatively he is a beast, and a stone-cold killer in cocktail competitions. Ken is also one of the most energetic bartenders I have ever met. He h ... More >>

Four essential terms every wine lover needs to know, demystified

Wine -- just like every sport, art form, hobby or leisure pursuit -- has a language all its own. And while someone just learning to cook would likely realize that the intimidating task of understanding what terms like "sauté" or "chiffonade" mean is simply another step in that process, why is it th ... More >>

Ruban Nielson of Unknown Mortal Orchestra: "My musical career is like one big ticky tour"

Unknown Mortal Orchestra (due Friday, March 16 at the Gothic Theatre) is based on Portland, Oregon. The band's frontman, Ruban Nielson, however, spent nearly a decade in punk band the Mint Chicks while based out of Auckland, New Zealand. After a few records on the legendary Flying Nun label, Nielson ... More >>

Around the World in 80 Sips at Mile High Station

​What can you expect from an event called Around the World in 80 Sips? Wine, of course, from all around the globe, including vintages from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Chile, France, New Zealand, Spain and the United States. Tonight's event runs from 7 to 9 p.m. (starting at 6 p.m. for VIPs) ... More >>

R U Buzzed? The drunk-o-meter iPhone app comes to Android...and in Spanish!

Four zesty New Zealand sauvignon blancs to sip while you wait for summer

​While the arrival of summer is mere weeks away, it's been too damned cold here to think about any of the best springtime wines, never mind all the fantastic rosé that's piling up on liquor and wine shop shelves around town. But while it's still chilly outside, in our hearts and minds we're a ... More >>

Stallion semen: better than Red Bull?

A Flickr PhotoSaddle up​Need a quick pick-me-up? Skip the Red Bull; how about a shot of stallion semen instead?

Today in Stoke: Nature Valley Ski Big Air Challenge at Denver Big Air

​The 100-foot launch tower erected in Civic Center Park for the Denver Big Air competition will see its first official action today at 5 p.m. (doors open at 3:30 p.m.) for the Nature Valley Ski Big Air challenge, a Battle of the Brands format that will pit the ski teams from Icelantic, Line Sk ... More >>

Pinot Posse wines spark Old World vs. New World debate

​Last week's post featuring the wines of the Pinot Posse sparked much debate over the respective merits and flaws of modern, new world-style pinot noir. At one end of the table, we had the new world wine lovers, who revel in bottles bursting with ripe, mouthwateringly juicy fruit, and (though ... More >>

Crocodiles

Saturday, January 22, Larimer Lounge, 303-291-1007.

Stupid ad of the week: Sky TV's maniacal mower lady

Mower rampage!​While most television commercials pander to humanity's desire for love, affection and acceptance, some ads go straight for our most primal instinct -- that is, to employ a lawn mower for transportation to wonderful far-off climes in search of our 'happy place,' while carelessly ... More >>

Scratching the Surface: Antiserum, December 4 at Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom

Diocletian

Tuesday, December 7, Blast-O-Mat, www.myspace.com/blastomat.

U.S. gov gets tough on cigarette labels, but not really

Halloween, fun!​When it comes to advertising that is geared to deter someone from something, the most effective -- and most often chosen -- tactic is to use images that scare the shit out of any would-be buyers or doers. This is often seen in political ads and AIDS awareness ads, and now it is ... More >>

Five stellar New Zealand reds under $20

​New Zealand produces some damn fine wines, and it's high time you started drinking them. Surely by now you've consumed more than your fair share of Australian red wines, right? Plenty of big, fleshy shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and merlot, each of which bears the telltale signs of an Aussie s ... More >>

Pavement's Bob Nastanovich on reunion tours, the Fall and dealing with inner-band conflicts

Tarina Westlund​Pavement is among the most influential rock bands of the '90s, despite not quite becoming a household name, and you can hear the band's influence in virtually all underground rock since then, from the slightly off-center rhythms, the jagged but melodic guitar riffs and the fasc ... More >>

ROCK IT OUT

"Chill in my Vein" will chill your brain, possibly fatally

​The Internet is full of amateur musicians with big aspirations. The talented ones can be truly inspiring and occasionally even rise to superstardom (hello, Justin Bieber!). The less-talented ... well, they are awesome in their own, special way and the very best/worst of them become famous in ... More >>

Tonight: South of the Equator white wine tasting

​As the northern hemisphere tilts toward the sun during this season, the increased heat and humidity (what there is of it in Colorado, anyway) tends to drive oenophiles away from the full-bodied reds and toward the lighter, crisper whites. South of the equator, it's wintertime, but that's no r ... More >>

Swirl Girl: Three reasons why wine tops give a good screw

Enjoy a good screw​The wine world has been buzzing all month over the latest issue of Wine Spectator magazine, which has finally acknowledged that not only are screw tops (aka Stelvin closures) perfectly acceptable for wine, they actually fared better than traditional and synthetic cork in te ... More >>

Swirl Girl: Five perfect spring party wines

​As the weather finally starts to warm up, invitations to springtime parties are sure to arrive in your mailbox (or inbox, as it were). A thoughtful guest will always inquire as to what they might bring as a thank-you for being invited; a lovely bottle of wine is a no-fail option. If you're t ... More >>

Team USA wins 42Below Cocktail World Cup: More reason for Happy to be happy

​Mark Stoddard, a mixologist at Happy and its late-night alter-ego, Bitter Bar, was in New Zealand last week, competing in the 42Below Cocktail World Cup with fellow TeamUSA members Todd Thrasher of Washington, DC, and Sean Hoard of New York City. This contest is not for the timid. Over fiv ... More >>

Behind the bar with Jared Boller

​You can find Jared Boller behind a number of bars -- at TAG, Root Down and Corridor 44. He says he loves working with the different styles and clientele at each location and that it makes him a better bartender. It certainly makes him a winning bartender: Last month, Boller took top honors i ... More >>

LaLa's Wine Bar uncorks bottles from the Southern Hemisphere

 Calling all grape geeks: Tonight, between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m., Lala's Wine Bar, 410 East Seventh Avenue, is uncorking five wines from several countries in the Southern Hemisphere -- New Zealand, Australia, Chile and Argentina -- which is as good a cure as any to wash away the rainy day blues. S ... More >>

Pacific Pride at the hi-dive

Over the weekend: Cut Off Your Hands at the hi-dive

Cut Off Your Hands Sunday, March 8, 2009 Hi-Dive, Denver Better Than: Not seeing this band before they're playing bigger venues. Cut Off Your Hands plays pretty straightforward pop rock. Just the same, frontman Nick Johnston displayed considerable amount of vigor, leaning into the mike and gyrating ... More >>

Cut Off Your Hands

Sunday, March 8, hi-dive, 720-570-4500.

Sledge Hammer

Gary Pera brought whitewater sledging stateside.

Liam Finn

Friday, May 9, Walnut Room, 303-292-1700.

Resource Madness

A local fest showcases native stories.

On the Download

The best in legitimate, artist-approved exclusives.

The Working Women of Wellington

Strip Search!

Yeah, I'm "4real"

More Messages: Back to School

Scratching the Surface

Freq Nasty

Drink of the Week

Passionfruit Cosmo

Tech N9ne

Thursday, April 29, Ogden Theatre, 303-830-2525.

The Clean

Anthology (Merge)

The Frogs

Hopscotch Lollipop Sunday Surprise (Scratchie)

Welcome Home

A fugitive makes her way back to Denver.

Take the Money and Run

It took sixteen years and international extradition, but the Colorado Attorney General’s Office finally got its man.

Off Limits

Bob Enyart finds his New Zealand accomodations rather confining...

Thrills for the week

MAORI 'N THE HOOD

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