- Ophelia’s is hosting a party from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. with all-day brunch, Patrón purple margs and drink specials, prize giveaways, DJs, live music and more.
- Kachina Cantina will open early at 10 a.m. Specials include to-go burritos ($9), Odell Lagerado ($5), Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey Lemonade ($7) and more, including the purple-hued Margarita on the Rockies ($11).
- Rhein Haus is offering a $12 brat and beer special, plus $2 purple beers.
- Poka Lola Social Club is opening at 1:30 p.m. and will have several drink specials, including the purple Bougie Baller Lavender Ranch Water ($13), purple Butterfly shots ($8), Montucky and Tullamore Dew ($10) and more, plus live music and a 360° photo booth.
- Deviation Distilling will offer its spring Rockies Fizz cocktail, made with purple butterfly pea flour, lavender syrup, Blood Orange Gin, lime juice and soda water, to go for $8.
- Westbound & Down is transforming its alley patio into a Backyard BBQ for the entire weekend, starting Thursday with live music from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Expect a baseball-themed photo op, festive decorations and the debut of a Rockies-themed Coloradan Mexican-Style Lager can design.
- Union Station’s Opening Day party on the patio starts at 10 a.m. and includes beer from Ratio Beerworks, frozen palomas, Rockies brats and more, as well as a DJ, stilt walkers and a themed photo booth. Many Union Station restaurants are offering specials, as well.
It’s also Easter weekend! Check our list of this year’s best Easter brunch specials, then keep reading for more of the best food and drink events this week and beyond, including the return of Civic Center Eats in May and Westword’s inaugural Out to Brunch event this June.
Through Sunday, April 23
Tamayo in Larimer Square and Toro in Cherry Creek are serving up Viva Abejas, a menu featuring food and beverage specials made with edible flowers, bee pollen, honey, avocado and other bee-centric products. Special items include enchiladas doradas with honey-bell pepper sauce, honey panna cotta (Toro only) and a honey-lavender margarita. Guests who order from the Viva Abejas menu will get packets of wildflower seeds, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the World Bee Project and the Akumal Cultural Foundation.
Wednesday, April 5
Join the team at Eiskaffee, located inside the 11th Avenue Hostel on Broadway, for a Game Board Night from 6 to 8 p.m.; there’s a rotating game every month (April’s is Munchkin) with prizes up for grabs. To participate in the bracket-style tournament, arrive by 6 p.m. (there will be a host to teach the rules of the game and guide the play). Open Table Play will also be available with classics like Sorry, Chess, Unstable Unicorns and Battleship.
Local sauce makers Lost Sauces and Chin Dribblin’ are teaming up for a collaborative wing pop-up at Pizzeria Leopold in Lakewood. The event kicks off at 6 p.m. and continues until it sells out.
Wednesday, April 5 through Saturday, April 8
The Taste of Vail returns with a packed event schedule. Tickets are on sale now for a variety of events, including wine dinners, a mountaintop tasting, booze education sessions and the Grand Tasting on Saturday, April 8.
Friday, April 7
Attend the opening reception of a new exhibit that will run through May 21 at the Art Students League of Denver (200 Grant Street), delecTABLE: The Fine Art of Dining. The show features functional ceramics from over seventy artists offering their take on how art can enhance how we enjoy food and drink. Tickets for the opening event are $15 and available online.
Saturday, April 8
Munchies and Mimosas: The Live Brunch Series returns. This all-day party kicks off at noon at ReelWorks Denver (1399 35th Street) and will include food, complimentary mimosas, a lineup of DJs and more. Tickets are $65 and available online.
Monday, April 10
Head to Black Cat Farm in Longmont for the return of its Harvest Celebration Dirt Dinners, which take place every Monday through the growing season. Each menu focuses on a vegetable at its peak of flavor and freshness — cowboy hats welcome. The four-course prix fixe menu and a welcome cocktail are $75 per person. Reservations can be made on OpenTable.
Keep reading for future events…
Thursday, April 13
Foraged, at 1825 Blake Street, is hosting a Pappy Van Winkle tasting dinner that starts at 6:30 p.m. with a welcome cocktail, followed by a four-course meal at 7 p.m. Tickets are $150 per person, and the menu includes dishes such as Australian lamb and grilled cherry venison sausage, each paired with a pour of Pappy variations. Reserve your seat on OpenTable.
Wednesday, April 19
Join Rioja (1431 Larimer Street) for the April edition of its monthly wine dinner series, which is all about seafood. Taking inspiration from sister restaurant Stoic & Genuine, the Frutti di Mare dinner includes a five-course meal created by chef Kylil Henson that incorporates the freshest seafood in Denver paired with specially selected wines from the Spanish wine group Terras Gauda. Tickets are $125 per person and are available on Tock.
Saturday, April 22
Throw it back to the ’80s at the Arvada Beer Fest, which will take place at Freedom Street Social (15177 Candelas Parkway) from 4 to 7 p.m. Tickets, $35 for early-bird general admission and $50 for early-bird VIP, include unlimited beer samples from over twenty breweries plus a costume contest, games, access to eats from the food-hall vendors and more.
Sunday, April 23
Blanchard Family Wines is hosting the second annual Colorado Wine Walk. The Grand Tasting takes place during two sessions, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 to 6 p.m., with a dozen of the state’s best winemakers. Tickets are $50 and include unlimited wine samples, a commemorative wine glass, discounted wine purchases and the opportunity to chat with winemakers and winery owners. There is also a kickoff winemakers’ dinner on April 22 that includes four courses for $150 per person. More information and tickets are available at coloradowinewalk.com.
Monday, May 8, through Sunday, May 14
Westword is bringing back Burger Week, with seven days of $7 burgers from participating restaurants and a chance to win prizes. Watch for details at westword.com.
Wednesday, May 17, and Thursday, May 18
Civic Center EATS, an annual summer gathering of some of the city’s best food trucks, will be back for the 2023 season every Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. through September 14, starting May 17. For more information, visit civiccentereats.com.
Saturday, June 10
Westword is introducing a brand-new event, Out to Brunch, that will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at York Street Yards (3881 Steele Street). The festivities will include bottomless beverages and unlimited trips to a fest-sized Bloody Mary bar, plus unlimited bites from restaurants like Safta, Citizen Rail and The OG. Tickets are available now; general admission is $35 and VIP is $60, which includes early entry and exclusive access to the VIP lounge — but prices will go up soon, so get yours early.
Know of an event that belongs on this calendar? Send information to [email protected].
