Museum Quality Drinking starts pouring at MCA tomorrow

Denverites love their patios, and one of the best in town will extend its summer hours starting tonight. The Museum of Contemporary Art Denver will be staying open until 9 p.m. on weeknights so that visitors can experience the museum, enjoy a cocktail and relax in the summer air on...

By Patricia Calhoun

May 27, 2014

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Denverites love their patios, and one of the best in town will extend its summer hours starting tonight. The Museum of Contemporary Art Denver will be staying open until 9 p.m. on weeknights so that visitors can experience the museum, enjoy a cocktail and relax in the summer air on the MCA's rooftop deck. But the view isn't all they'll have to enjoy: Museum Quality Drinking will return to the MCA on Wednesday night. See also: Ten patios for cocktails and conversation this summer Starting on May 28, Museum Quality Drinking will feature specialty cocktails and food offerings from local food and beverage purveyors on the deck every Wednesday. Some of the summer's highlights include tastings from Leopold Bros. on June 11, a visit from Hogshead Brewery on July 23, and a session with Alex Seidel's Fruition Farms on August 20.

The mix of art and cocktail artistry was a big hit last summer, and should be just as hot this year -- even though construction across Delgany Street has robbed the rooftop of some of its view. "We've lost one view, but I think we have gained another -- now we have a front-row seat into some of the coolest real estate in town," says Sarah Kate Baie, the museum's head of programming (aka "Chief of Fictions"). "It's a different view, but I am sure it will prove to be exciting."

Particularly since from the rooftop, you can now look right into the pool level of the new building across the street.

Museum Quality Drinking is just one of the programs that will tickle your senses this summer at the MCA. Starting on May 30, the rooftop garden will feature live local music every Friday. And on June 5, the mixed Taste program will return for the tenth season as "Re-Mixed Taste." Tickets to that series are now on sale, with a members-only season VIP pass for $175.

Admission to the museum itself is always free for members and just $5 after 5 p.m. for non-members. For a complete lineup of the MCA's summer art and entertainment, go to mcadenver.org.

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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