Epic Bluebird Bodega Block Party Takes Over Colfax This Weekend

The BRT construction is about to be drowned out, at least for a day: The Bluebird District will be overflowing with live music, pop-ups from local makers and stores, mural painting, food, drinks and more this weekend.

The festival, dubbed Bluebird Bodega, will take place at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 27, across nine blocks along Colfax Avenue, from St. Paul to Harrison streets. The $20 tickets ($30 day-of) will grant visitors access to all the event has to offer, although you’ll need to RSVP for the after-party performances from Bonfire Dub and headliner Nikki Lane at Lost Lake Lounge from 6:30 to 11 p.m.

The Bluebird Business Improvement District has been hosting block-party events since the BBID was created about twelve years ago, says boardmember Don Novak, including Tasty Colfax and Boo and Brew. “The Bodega started a few years back, and then this year, with all the things going on on Colfax, we just decided to take all the events that we’ve done over the years and cram them into one thing,” he explains.

“It’s about all the businesses. We need to remind people that we’re still here, please don’t avoid us,” he adds, noting how BRT construction has had a negative impact on businesses along the avenue. “We’ve had a particularly rough time: We’ve lost two of our best restaurants in the last couple of months, Q House and Middleman. It’s just really sad.” (Middleman, at least, will reopen as Lowbeam next month; Q House closes October 4.)

“For the last three years, [BBID has] known that this was coming but didn’t know in what way, shape or form the BRT was going to end up, so we started socking away some funds because there’s no reason to spend money on capital improvement projects when we have no idea what the streets are going to look like,” Novak says.

The BBID puts its tax levies right back into the neighborhood, Novak says, and is also offering incentives for businesses to join Bluebird Bodega. “There’s a lot of fear and frustration; people are just worried, bottom line, about staying open,” he adds. “So now it is even more important that we band together and take this on as a team.”

Artists will be painting murals as local vendors sell their wares. “Oak Bloke will be in front of Goosetown, and Reverie is doing a box in front of Stella’s,” Novak says. “And Shay Guerrero is doing the box in front of the Bluebird Theater.” There will be live music at most of the businesses: Along with DJs at many spots,”Manny Band will be playing at Mama Joe’s Biscuits and Barbeque, and then the Flying Hot Saucers will be playing at Hooked on Colfax.”

Alongside other offerings such as chalk art, clown photo ops, DJs, comic book deals and more than twenty local vendors, a number of local businesses are taking part in the event, listed below:

• Goosetown Tavern
• Lost Lake Lounge
• Molotov Kitcshen + Cocktails
• Trattoria Stella
• Machete Tequila + Tacos
• Fat Sully’s
• Atomic Cowboy
• Denver Biscuit Company
• Mezcal
• Hooked on Colfax
• Mama Jo’s Biscuits & BBQ
• Cerebral Brewing
• Lawrence & Larimer
• Hollywood Nail Salon
• Certified Tattoo Studio
• Cult of Mane Salon
• Base 6 Fitness
• St. Paul Tavern
• Z Cycle Shop Denver
• Big Hairy Monster
• My Local Boutique
• Spirit Ways
• Scavenged Goods
• Lova Cannabis
• All in a Dream Comics & Books
• Robert Anderson Gallery-fine art and photography
• Enzos Pizza
• Twist and Shout
• Colfax Guitar Shop

“We just want to have a good time, relax and just remember how much we all love Colfax and why we live and work here,” Novak concludes.

Bluebird Bodega, 2 p.m. Saturday, September 27, Bluebird District. Tickets are $20.