A chile welcome for Barack Obama

Good enough for the Oval Office. Barack Obama can’t get enough of Colorado. On Saturday afternoon, he’ll be in the Union Avenue Historic District in Pueblo – on his second trip to the Centennial state in just seven days, and his fourth since the Democratic National Convention in August. Last…

Veggie Girl: Osteria Marco

I enjoy dining at nice restaurants as much as the next person. Two problems: not only am I usually broke, but it’s also hard to find a satisfying vegetarian meal at many of this town’s finer estbalishments. While I’d love to try Fruition, the idea of paying $21 for what…

Lime finally squeezes an opening date out of Landmark

The Landmark development in Greenwood Village is a strange kind of place, a “European-style village,” according to its website, springing from the ground like a weird, sci-fi bubble-city in the middle of what used to be a strip-mall-and-office-park nowhere. But not springing up too fast; the project has undergone numerous…

Marco’s Coal-Fired Pizzeria is hot!

Wednesday night, I had a pizza. Doesn’t matter from where — let’s just say it was from a well-known chain, well-known for serving halfway-decent ingredients atop cardboard crusts to drunken frat boys, suburban families and, occasionally, lazy restaurant critics. Let’s just say the name rhymes with Papa Juan’s. Friday night,…

Komanawanaleia at Earls

What would Chelsea Handler do? I’m a huge fan of Chelsea, and recently saw her at a benefit performance for NewGenesis, a wonderful organization that provides a transitional community for the homeless (www.panhandlingsucks.com). Although I’m not nearly as funny as Chelsea, we have other things in common. For example, we…

The Squire is one of Denver’s greatest dives

The cops are everywhere by the time we roll up to the Squire Lounge (1800 East Colfax Avenue) just after 8 p.m. — two squads blocking (and facing) eastbound traffic, another pulled halfway onto the sidewalk, all of them screaming red and blue, all of it a familiar and strangely…

Armando’s is in a state of reddiness

Just as Marco’s Coal-Fired Pizzeria presents an uncompromising take on authentic Neapolitan pizza, with its magical pizza ovens and transplanted pizza man, Armando’s Ristorante in Aurora (one of three metro locations) presents an uncompromising take on another Italian-food experience. Here it’s a museum-quality reproduction of the classic (and, some would…

Naturally Boulder Days highlights an organic industry

Spreading the word: Justin Gold. There’s a $62 billion industry whose dirt-encrusted hands, good-intentioned heart and green-tinted soul reside in Boulder. Naturally Boulder Days 2008, which runs through October 30 at the St. Julien Hotel and Spa in Boulder, helps put a face to this growing movement. Naturally Boulder Days…

Fritangas out, La Parrallida coming in

Closed: Fritangas, a modest little Mexican joint at 2505 Federal Boulevard that had won a lot of fans with its authentic food. Coming: In the former home of Fritangas, yet another Mexican joint, Las Parrallida. The “grand opening banner” is up, but there’s no word on when it will open…

Attack of the Rib Shack!

The Rib Shack is hard not to notice. The Rib Shack 4736 East Colfax Avenue 303-322-0212 Pulled pork sandwich (with a side of fries) $7.99 It’s hard to miss the Rib Shack. It’s jammed into an old school,red-and-white Aframe that looks like it used to be a drive-through of some…

For each restaurant closing, three openings

Indulge Wine Bar For all the restaurateurs closing their joints and blaming the economy (see: Via), three times as many seem to be opening — this week, at least. On Monday, it was Indulge Wine Bar, which will be serving up two dozen vintages by the glass; lunch and dinner…

Marco’s Coal-Fired Pizza is hot!

Mark Dym plays with fire at Marco’s. On Wednesday night, I had a pizza. Doesn’t matter from where—let’s just say it was from a well-known chain, well-known for serving halfway-decent ingredients atop cardboard crusts to drunken frat boys, suburban families and, occasionally, lazy restaurant critics. Let’s just say the name…

Via con dios, Via

The Ice House has swallowed another restaurant. Via Modern Tratteria & Bar has gone the way of Brasserie Rouge, Anita’s Crab Shack, and Cucina Cucina, which all occupied the same space in the Ice House at 1801 Wynkoop Street. Jason Sheehan raved about James Mazzio’s menu (he loved Brasserie Rouge,…

Sloppy Joes at McCain headquarters

Those wacky Republicans! The McCain-Palin Colorado campaign is hosting its seventh — and final — Iron Chef phone bank this evening, starting at 5 p.m. at the Centennial headquarters. This week’s special ingredient is “Sloppy Joes,” in honor of Joe the Plumber. Phone-bank participants are encouraged to bring homemade dishes…

Another chance to indulge: Indulge Wine Bar

Now you can indulge yourself in Highlands Ranch, since Indulge Wine Bar will open its doors at 4 p.m. today, and then stay open seven days a week — from 4-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, from 4 p.m.-midnight Friday, from 11 a.m.-midnight Saturday, and from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday. And the hours…

Getting baked in Boulder

Problem One: It’s 1:33 a.m, you’ve been studying all night, and you want a cookie. Solution: Boulder Baked Boulder Baked offers 24 varieties of cookies, including the Kona: a chocolate espresso, macadamia nut and coconut cookie. But this bakery doesn’t just sell cookies; it also has whole pies and simple…

A fall feast: Auguste in November

Auguste Escoffier woud be honored by the celebration in his honor. For all you hardcore food nerds, there’s an event coming up where you can seriously get your geek on. On November 9, the Colorado chapter of the American Institute of Wine and Food will celebrate the life and cooking…

Is Cantina Margarita on the rocks?

Have these drinks been chilled? When Jack Martinez, founder of the beloved Jack-n-Grill at 2524 Federal Boulevard, franchised his New Mexican restaurant concept to Anthony Javazon, the Jack-n-Grill at 16221 East 40th Avenue became a favorite stop for recalibrating the tastebuds after flying into DIA, and earned a Best of…

Milking It: Frankenberry

Frankenberry General Mills Rating: Three-and-a-half spoons out of four Cereal description: Pacman-shaped bits made of whole grain corn — although it’s hard to believe that these unnaturally red (almost neon) morsels have anything organic in them whatsoever. (The pieces are so bright that they’d be perfect for using as a…

WaterCourse Foods no longer under wraps

No sooner had WaterCourse Foods moved from 13th Avenue into its new, bigger home at 837 East 17th Avenue than the building was suddenly covered with construction scaffolding and attendant crap. Obstacles like this are often enough to sink a restaurant, but WaterCourse continued to do a healthy — very…

Candy Girls: Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory

With Halloween fast approaching, the Candy Girls found themselves craving the delicious fall treat of caramel apples. They knew that Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory always had heaps of beautifully covered apples on display, but they never could have imagined the true bounty of caramel, chocolate and nut-covered goodness to be…