Comrade Brewing
Cherry Creek Shade & Drapery
Boulder Barbers
Bird Songs At Dawn
Gentle breezes, chirping birds, picnic baskets, and flowers in bloom. Best of the best: It’s the end of winter! It was the Beatles’ George Harrison who sang it best: “Here Comes the Sun.”
Goodbye clouds, hello bright April skies. April brings new sounds, like bird songs at dawn and frog croaks by ponds. April’s flowers, the daisy and sweet pea, bring joy to April-born.
Beautiful, sun-kissed days. Cool, crisp nights. The sights and smells of spring. Here are our fresh, fragrant choices for shopping, dining, and entertainment to put a spring in your step:
View the film and musical montage for Naruto in Denver for the first time at the Ellie April 1, 7:30 p.m. Sing along with the two-hour event synchronized to a live orchestra performing Toshio Masuda’s original score. Information: 720-865-4220.
Enjoy the arrangements, harmonies, and onstage energy of the musical foursome Windborne entertaining at Swallow Hill’s Daniels Hall April 4, 8 p.m. Information: 202-777-1003.
Youth concert Destination Denver with Robinson Dance, rapper Nelo Tyler, and the Symphony plays Boettcher Hall April 17, 2:30 p.m. Information: 303-623-7876.
Want warm, hearty comfort food? Sam’s No. 3 — Glendale & downtown — serves over 100 breakfast, lunch, & dinner items. Large portions, fair prices. Downtown since 1927, Glendale since 2013. Denver 303-534-1927; Glendale 303-333-4403.
Join Glendale Sports Center’s Adult League basketball, outdoor soccer, volleyball, tennis, table tennis, & pickleball. No joining fees or contracts. Membership includes classes. Leagues all year. Fitness programs for all ages. Information: 303-639-4711.
Touring band Daruma plays at Dazzle in The Arts Complex April 17, 7 p.m. Group plays blend of improvisation, electronics, & grooves. Information: 303-839-5100.
See and hear Irish post-punk band Fontaines D.C. — formed in Dublin in 2014 — entertaining at the Mission Ballroom April 22, 8 p.m. Information: 720-577-6884.
Catch the music of Tempe, Ariz.-based rock band Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers coming to play at the Bluebird Theater April 24, 8 p.m. Information: 303-377-1666.
Hear CNN Anchor & 60 Minutes Correspondent Anderson Cooper at the JFS Executive Luncheon in the Sheraton Downtown Hotel April 22, noon-1:30 p.m. Event supports life changing services of Jewish Family Service that help everyone in need regardless of race, faith, age, or income. Information: 303-579-5000.
Blossom by blossom the new spring begins with all its splendor, all its birds, and all its blossoms. The promise of warmer days, plus its simplicity, playfulness, and unpredictability.
As this month begins, it brings the soft laughter of April’s sun, along with the shadow of April showers. April is recognized as “the angel of the months, the young love of every year.”
On April Fools’ Day believe nothing, trust no one. Just another day. Why do omelets love April Fools’ Day? They enjoy practical yolks. Summer texted us; she’s on her way.
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com
Gaylord Rockies Completes Phase Two Transformation
In Just Two Years: Five New Dining Outlets, An Enhanced Grand Lodge, And Mountain View Event Space Redefine The Resort
by Mark Smiley
Old Hickory Steakhouse Bar
Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center has completed Phase Two of its multi-year enhancement plan with the debut of Garden + Grain, Copper Table, and the reimagined Old Hickory Steakhouse Bar in November 2024. These new dining outlets represent the final elements of a transformative investment that has redefined the culinary and guest experience for Colorado’s largest combined resort and convention center.
Garden + Grain, a first-of-its-kind concept within the Gaylord Hotels brand, delivers a whole-food-forward dining experience rooted in top-quality, organic ingredients and sustainable practices. Avoiding fryers and refined foods, the restaurant emphasizes nutrient preservation and bold natural flavors.
The menu features fresh grain bowls, stone-fired pizzas with seasonal toppings, and vibrant salads — crafted without seed oils, refined sugars, or processed elements. Sustainability is central to Garden + Grain’s mission, reflected in its commitment to sourcing the finest fish, lamb, produce and other ingredients from trusted suppliers who prioritize humane treatment and sustainable agriculture. The restaurant further supports sustainability through initiatives such as composting food waste, harvesting honey from on-property hives and sourcing from local farms like Superior Farms and Hazel Dell Mushrooms to minimize its carbon footprint. Guests are welcomed into a greenhouse-inspired space with a stone-clad bar, an exhibition kitchen, custom murals, and a signature stone-fired pizza oven.
Paying homage to Colorado’s rich history, Copper Table delivers a con
Garden + Grain Entrance
temporary twist on classic Western dishes. The menu delivers signature dishes such as bison meatloaf and burger, rotisserie duck, and Superior Farms lamb, complemented by artisanal cocktails and craft beers from local breweries including Telluride Brewing Company, Dry Dock Brewing Company, and Prost Brewing Company. The restaurant’s design showcases a striking bar at the entrance, leading to a conservatory-inspired dining room illuminated by a grand skylight. At the rear, an open exposition kitchen with its cornerstone copper hood serves as a tribute to the restaurant’s namesake. Throughout the space, warm wood, and copper accents, along with locally sourced art and furniture, echo the themes of Colorado’s agricultural roots.
The newly reimagined Old Hickory Steakhouse, Gaylord Rockies’ flagship upscale dining destination, blends opulence with regional character. The refreshed space includes a wrap-around bar, intimate seating areas, a striking fireplace, bold belt-buckle inspired lighting, and a stunning mural made from dyed bison hides.
Staying true to its roots, Old Hickory continues to serve expertly prepared premium steaks, with an expanded menu that highlights prime-grade beef from Greater Omaha and domestic Wagyu, dry-aged in-house and carved tableside for an unforgettable presentation. The menu also fe
Copper Table Bar
atures elevated takes on nostalgic classics, including truffle creamed spinach and the Mile High Roller Baked Potato, topped with luxurious caviar, truffles, Nueske’s bacon, mornay sauce, and crème fraîche. Old Hickory Steakhouse takes pride in crafting its own salts, alongside a carefully curated selection of cocktails, premium wines, and cheese boards featuring both domestic and imported varieties.
The opening of these new dining concepts has added over 60 jobs to the local community, supporting a diverse range of culinary and hospitality talent.
“Each new concept was designed with intention — from the ingredient-driven menu at Garden + Grain to the refined Western flavors at Copper Table and the reimagined elegance of Old Hickory Steakhouse,” said Suzy Hart, General Manager of Gaylord Rockies Resort. “This marks a defining moment in our resort’s evolution, elevating the guest experience while setting a new standard for hospitality in the region.”
Phase One investments at the resort were completed in April 2023, featuring a redesign of the outdoor lawn spaces and the addition of dining terraces for Old Hickory Steakhouse and Mountain Pass Sports Bar. Phase Two enhancements began in June 2023 and progressed through 2024, with highlights including the successful openings of Embers Lodge Bar, The Fortunate Prospector, and the event space Mountain View Pavilion in mid-2024. The phase culminated at the end of the year with the debut of Copper Table, Garden + Grain, and the redesigned Old Hickory Steakhouse.
The Gaylord Rockies Resort is located at 6700 North Gaylord Rockies Boulevard. For more information about the resort or to make a reservation, visit www.gaylordrockies.com.
