Best bets.
Breckenridge Brewery’s Hootenanny, The Big Eat and more.
THURSDAY» Some of Denver’s best restaurants are coming together in one place for The Big Eat on July 12 from 6 to 9 p.m. inside the Galleria Theatre in the Denver Performing Arts Complex. (You know you’re in for a treat with this one, or else it would be called The Small Eat, amirite?) In its eighth year, the culinary event celebrates the city’s independent chefs and restaurants (a.k.a., no Chili’s here). So, that covers the Eat part. What makes it Big? More than 60 restaurants and bars will be participating. Restaurants include Ace Eat Serve, Acreage and Aloy Modern Thai. As you can tell, we skimmed the top three because, well, we don’t have the room to post all 60. Local beverage purveyors include Happy Leaf Kombucha, Leopold Bros., Ratio and many more. You can find the entire list of vendors at eatdenver.com/the-big-eat. Be warned: Big eats don’t come cheap. A general admission ticket will run you $65.
Hop over to the Hootenanny.
SATURDAY» It’s Breckenridge Brewery’s birthday, and you know what that means: It’s Hootenanny time.You get to reap the spoils of the brewery’s 28th anniversary when it celebrates with live music, food trucks, live art and, of course, lots of beer. Performers like Mike Gordon, Hard Working Americans and Billy Strings will be providing the background music to your beer education, or providing the bumpin’ tunes that you’ll be dancing to all day. Either way: win, win. General admission is $45 and includes one beer ticket. VIP tickets will run you $110, but include unlimited beer, food catered by local chefs, access to VIP viewing areas, private restrooms and, possibly the most exciting: air conditioned and shaded lounge areas. Can you really put a price on cool? (Like, actually temperature cool, though you’ll look pretty cool, too.) More information at breckbrew.com/events.
The Cherry on top. SUNDAY» If THROUGH you don’t know much about art but have always wanted to learn, Cherry Creek Arts Festival is the event for you. The accessible art event will turn Cherry Creek North into a giant art gallery with work from 265 artists as well as interactive and educational experiences for everyone. The event is free and open to the public. Don’t worry, you won’t just be walking aisles and aisles of fabulous art; there is also food, music and lots of other festival-y things to keep you occupied. Hours are July 6 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., July 7 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and July 8 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Get more information at cherrycreekartsfestival.org.
HausWarming. 12» Did you know JULY there is a home for young professionals in Denver who love art? A Haus, to be more specific. CultureHaus, Denver Art Museum’s young philanthropist group created to inspire the next generation of arts patrons, will hold its annual Hauswarming for a night of mingling and teaching you more about the organization. The summer happy hour will also celebrate the unveiling of a new mural by Denver-based artist Jaime Molina on the poolside rooftop terrace with an open bar at Union Denver (1770 Chestnut Place). Oh, we have your attention now, don’t we? If you decide it’s the group for you, special discounted memberships will be offered for one night only. Memberships get you access to arts and culture events across Denver, private DAM tours, a fancy annual Signature event where you get to dress up and be one of the first to see a new DAM exhibit, and more. Information at culturehaus.denverartmuseum.org. Event is 5 to 8 p.m. at Union Denver. it is free to both members and non-members, but RSVP is required.