Question: Which of These Alleged Meth Heads Is Dumbest?

Decisions, decisions. This week at Schmuck of the Week headquarters, we find ourselves faced with a conundrum. To whit: Which of these alleged meth heads recently busted by the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office is dumbest — the woman accused of trying to sneak a pipe into jail or the man…

Reader: Happy to See Mezcal Is Sticking Around

After twelve years as a mainstay on East Colfax Avenue, Mezcal closed in May for a reboot of both Mezcal’s look and menu, with new direction from longtime owners Chris Swank and Lori Venegas and Chris Douglas taking over the kitchen. “We want to keep the things that give Mezcal its identity,”…

The Twelve Best Concerts and Festivals in Colorado This Weekend

It’s a huge weekend in live music in Colorado. Brandi Carlile headlines Red Rocks, Jason Isbell and Sufjan Stevens are among the many artists featured at Folks Festival and the Foo Fighters stop by Fiddler’s Green on Sunday. There’s plenty more — let’s get straight to our picks:  ALL WEEKEND…

Reader: The Nostalgia for Griff’s Is Baffling

The last Griff’s will soon leave Colorado. The burger chain got its start in Wichita in 1960, and this summer still had two locations in metro Denver. But the Arvada Griff’s is already gone, and the Griff’s at 742 South Broadway will close by the end of the month, inspiring…

Reader: Beer Snobs From Around the Globe Buy All the GABF Tickets

The Great American Beer Festival won’t hit the Colorado Convention Center for another six weeks, but already news of related events is pouring in for our GABF week calendar. And it’s a good thing that calendar will be full, because GABF tickets got fast. Says Ken: Beer snobs from around the globe…

Photos: Pretty Lights and Fans at Red Rocks

Pretty Lights played a pair of packed shows at Red Rocks over the weekend. It’s been a short trip to huge crowds for the DJ/producer born Derek Vincent Smit, who was playing relatively small opening slots just five years ago. Now, he’s got a worldwide fan base, his own label…

Photos: 40 West Gets a Mural Makeover at the West Colfax MuralFest

The Lakewood community embraced new public art at MuralFest Saturday in the 40 West Arts District, as seven local artists put the finishing touches on murals along 16th Avenue. Writer/photographer Lindsey Bartlett hit the mural beat to bring back these images from the festival.   Now see the full West Colfax…

The Eight Best Concerts in Denver This Week

This week’s best concerts includes Nicki Minaj’s much-discussed Pinkprint Tour, as well as an appearance by Iron and Wine at Red Rocks and a pair of impressive shows at Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox. The full list of our picks follows.  MONDAY, AUGUST 10 Iron & Wine $45-$65 8:00PM Red Rocks Amphitheatre…

Reader: Hopefully the Yuppies Won’t Ruin the Ophelia’s in Arvada

As Mark Antonation reported last week, there are two Ophelia’s in the metro area: very different restaurants connected by nothing but a name. Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox, which Gretchen Kurtz just reviewed, opened this spring in the Ballpark neighborhood; meanwhile, there’s an Ophelia’s in Olde Town Arvada, where Louise Vigil has been…

The Ten Best Concerts in Colorado This Weekend

It’s a great weekend for breakout hometown acts — Fort Collins EDM superstar Pretty Lights plays a pair of headlining shows at Red Rocks, and Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats (fresh off a rousing Tonight show performance) play in Boulder. The rest of our picks follow.  ALL WEEKEND Pretty…

DISH, Now With Tacolandia: Get Your Tickets Before Prices Go Up Today

Welcome to DISH, now with Tacolandia!  Mexican food flavors so much of Colorado’s culinary tradition. Recognizing that, we’ve added a special feature to this year’s DISH, our 21st annual celebration of Denver’s food and drink scene. Set for Sculpture Park at the Denver Performing Arts Complex from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m…

Reader: Denver Is Lucky to Have Justin Cucci and Ophelia’s

“Over the years,” Gretchen Kurtz writes in her review of Ophelia’s, “I’ve come to think of Justin Cucci as a mad genius, twirling his thumbs and cackling as he ponders what dominion to conquer next. Who else could take a gas station and some vegetables and make Root Down one…

Photos: LEGO Sculptures Invade the Denver Zoo

A new variety of animal will officially pop up at the Denver Zoo when Nature Connects, a collection of creatures constructed from LEGO blocks opens to the public on Friday, August 7, for a wild run through November 1. Here’s a sneak peek from photographer Brandon Marshall — can you tell the real animals…

Reader: Another Restaurant Where You Can Break the Bank and Leave Hungry

Gretchen Kurtz loved almost everything about Solitaire when she reviewed the new restaurant in Highland, but some of our readers have taken issue with the service there, as well as the big price tags on of small portions. In response to one such Solitaire comment, David says: Yes, another example of tiny portions for full…

Dae Gee Opening Third Location on Broadway

Dae Gee, a Korean restaurant that won fans in Westminster, opened a second spot at 827 Colorado Boulevard a year ago, and quickly made even more fans.  “We’re letting them know what Korean food is about,” 33-year-old chef/owner Joseph Kim told Gretchen Kurtz when she reviewed that location seven months…

Our Guide to Every Recreational Marijuana Store in Metro Denver

What’s the first question a Coloradan is asked when traveling outside this state? Inevitably, it’s something about the legal marijuana industry. How much money is the state making? How’s the experiment working? And, most often: Can you really just walk into a store and buy pot?  Why, yes, you can…

Photos: Freaks and Felines at the 2015 Denver County Fair

Hoards lined up to meet meme kitty Lil BUB and marvel at freak-show feats at the 2015 Denver County Fair, where beautiful pies were awarded blue ribbons – and decimated in pie-eating contests – while folks enjoyed carnival rides, live music, a drag-queen contest, the Robot Opera and dozens of…