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Valentine Venues, Values You’ll Love As Valley Commences Cupid Countdown

Valentine Venues, Values You’ll Love As Valley Commences Cupid Countdown

by | Jan 24, 2020 | Feature Story Middle Left

Chronicle’s annual Valentine courier gives you the ins and outs of when, where, and how to celebrate the month of love. You’ll discover movies, parties, dining and themed events to enjoy with your love and the family you love.

Prom Prompts: Mercury Café again hosts a Valentine’s Day prom benefiting Flyers for Kids. This year’s event is at the California St. café on Feb. 1, 8 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

For better or worse, this is the month the Cherry Creek Valley becomes Venus, the Goddess of Love. It’s the sweetest time of year though it can occasionally be a stormy, swooning affair.

But fear not guys and girls, love conquers all. The Chronicle has dimmed the lights and lit candles to help young and old alike make it through all 29 days of partying to commemorate cupid’s holiday.

From Singing Valentine serenades, to a night of dancing and cocktails at a Valentine Prom and scrumptious dining specials, the Valley is definitely spreading love this February.

Here’s our annual lover’s guide to the ins and outs of when, where and how to celebrate:

Art Of Love

Hearts For Art — Show your love for fine art by placing a paper heart on the floor in front of your “artwork crush” at the Denver Art Museum. Dates last year were Feb. 11-15. This year’s dates are to be announced. Information: 720-865-5000.

V Day D’art Reception — Santa Fe art district gallery hosts a reception for two artist exhibition titled Elements Feb. 14, 6-9 p.m. Information: 720-486-7736.

Entertaining Romance

Haflet Hobb Love Party — Sing and dance as talented musicians play a set list of Middle Eastern and North African songs at the Mercury Café Feb. 8, 7:30-9 p.m. Information: 303-294-9258.          

Love Letters — Enjoy Vintage Theatre’s Pulitzer Prize nominated play with coffee cocktails and dessert at Cherokee Ranch (6133 Daniels Park Rd. in Sedalia) Feb. 15, 7 p.m. Information: 720-627-7175.

Party & Movie — Theresa Mercado hosts the 35mm film Hell On Wheels (1996) at the Sie FilmCenter on Colfax Feb. 14, 9:30 p.m. Event begins with a “Vicious Valentine Party” prior to the film Information: 720-381-0813.

Tequila Lovers Festival — Winter Tequila Festival connects tequila lovers with great tequila at the Blake Street Tavern Feb. 22, 3-6 p.m. Information: 303-675-0505.

Valentine Prom — Enjoy a night of dancing and cocktails at Mercury Café’s annual prom downtown on California St. Feb. 1, 8 p.m.-1:30 a.m. The event is a benefit for Flyers for Kids. Information: 303-294-9258.

Valentine’s Weekend With Phil Hanley — Love becomes a laughing matter as you watch the stand-up comedian perform at the Comedy Works in Larimer Square, Feb. 13-16.

Flower Power

Colorado Garden & Home Show — You and your love will enjoy the multitude of fragrances as you stroll through more than an acre of professionally landscaped gardens (11 in all) at the Colorado Convention Center, Feb. 22-March 1. Information: 303-932-8100.

Dishing Out Love: Take your love to Date Night Valentine Cooking Class at Park Coworking on Old South Gaylord Feb. 5, 6-9 p.m.

Love Potions From The Vine — Celebrate the month of love with a captivating tour of exotic tropical plants that have inspired myths and tease the senses at the Denver Botanic Gardens 3-4 p.m. Dates are Feb. 7, 8, 9 & 13, 14, 15. Information: 720-865-3500.

Orchid Showcase — Love blossoms as you stroll with your love viewing hundreds of colorful orchid blooms in the Orangery & Marnie’s Pavilion at the Denver Botanic Gardens, Feb. 1-16. Information: 720-865-3500.

Valentine’s Day Blooms — Grab your love and participate in a fun afternoon of flower arranging at Kingman Estates Winery Feb. 9, 1 p.m. Information: 720-560-7270.

Love Bites

BE Loved Dinner — Enjoy a three course Valentine meal for two at the BE Kitchen located at 2364 15th St. Feb. 14, 7-10 p.m. Information: 303-284-6652.

Coohills’ Valentine’s Day Celebration — Restaurant across the creek from the Pepsi Center at 1400 Wewatta St. is offering a six course cupid New York Strip dinner Feb. 14-16, 5 p.m. to close. Information: 303-623-5700.

Date Night Valentine Cooking Class — Sip on vino as you and your sweetie shake up classic Italian cocktails and create a sensual Italian menu together. Cupid event is at Park Coworking on Old South Gaylord Feb. 5, 6-9 p.m. Information: 303-726-6054.

Edge Prix Fixe Dinner — Join Edge Restaurant in the Four Seasons Hotel downtown of a dinner to fill your heart. Eatery is featuring a three course Prix Fixe menu Feb. 14th alongside the regular dinner menu. Information: 303-389-3050.

Greek & American Specials — In the Greek language cupid is known as Eros, an ancient St. Valentine symbol. The Monaco Inn Restaurant south of Leetsdale on Monaco is offering a menu of Greek (Lamb Shank & Lamb Chops) and American (Prime Rib, Filet Mignon & Lobster Tail) specials Feb. 14, 4 to 9:30 p.m. Information: 303-320-1104.

Rave Series Valentine’s Day Edition — Enjoy a candlelit four-course dinner and cocktail pairing as live band serenades you at LIBERATI Restaurant & Brewery on Champa St. Feb. 15, 6-9 p.m. Information: 303-862-5652.

Swanky Surprise — The New York French bistro Le Bilboquet in Cherry Creek North’s luxury St. Paul Collection on St. Paul St. is offering a prix-fix V Day menu. The swanky spot will post the surprise special on their website three weeks prior to Valentine’s Day. Information: 303-835-9999.

Valentine Dining Double — Charcoal Bistro on Old South Gaylord is offering their second annual Vegan Valentine’s Day Dinner Feb. 13. They then followed it up with a special price-fixed menu by Executive Chef Amy Brown Feb. 14. Information: 303-953-8718.

Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar — The eatery in Glendale’s CitySet is offering a four-course menu with optional wine pairing Feb. 14 beginning at 3 p.m. The happy hour menu will be offered from 3-6 p.m. Raw bar menu with oysters and crab will be available all night. Information: 303-756-6449.

Musical Romance

A Symphonic Valentine — The Colorado Symphony plays the most romantic music in the orchestral repertoire at Boettcher Concert Hall, Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m. Information: 303-623-7876.

Irresistibly Delicious: Monaco Inn Restaurant is serving Greek and American specials Feb. 14, 4 to 9:30 p.m. Lamb Shank slowly braised in a Greek sauce with spices and red wine is one of specials. Eatery features an extensive wine list.

From Venice With Love — Venetian songstress Giada Valenti sings songs from the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and ’90s at the Lone Tree Arts Center Feb. 15, 8 p.m. Information: 720-509-1000.

Oysterhead Valentine Jam — Jam-band supergroup composed of guitarist Trey Anastasio (Phish), bassist Les Claypool (Primus) and drummer Stewart Copeland (The Police) entertain at Broomfield’s FirstBank Center Feb. 14-15, 8 p.m. Information: 303-410-8497.

Valentine’s Day With The Eli Young Band — One of country music’s most exciting bands with hit singles like “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” and “Love Ain’t” plays the Fillmore Auditorium Feb. 14, 7 p.m. Information: 303-837-0360.

Valentine Serenade — The Sound of the Rockies Chorus will deliver a Singing Valentine to serenade your love by quartets from the local chorus. Information: 303-335-0825.

Runaway Love

The Course Of Love — Couples run together at the 5K, 10K and mile LeCourse de l’Amour at Denver City Park Feb. 8, 8-11 a.m. Information: feetonthestreet.com.

Valentine’s Day 4-Mile — Dress up as your favorite couple for the annual RunDenver Series at Wash Park Feb. 9, 9-11 a.m. Information:runningdenver.com.

V Day Hook-up

Marriage Ceremony — Denver Clerk & Recorder’s Office at 201 W. Colfax Ave. has judges and clergy on hand to perform free marriage ceremonies Feb. 14, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Information: 720-913-1311.

After 86 Years, Three-Story Development Is About To Replace The Bonnie Brae Tavern

After 86 Years, Three-Story Development Is About To Replace The Bonnie Brae Tavern

by | Jan 24, 2020 | Main Articles

by Glen Richardson

One of the Cherry Creek Valley’s longest continually owned and operated family businesses is about to become history. The long-running Bonnie Brae Tavern that opened in 1934 with an old-school ambiance, dishing out red-sauce Italian and American dishes, is likely to be scraped-off by redevelopment.

End Of Era: One of the Valley’s longest continually owned and operated family businesses, the Bonnie Brae Tavern will likely close later this year. It will be replaced by a three-story building with condos on the top two floors plus ground floor retail.

Early-stage development plans submitted to the city indicate that the 0.76-acre site at 740 S. University Blvd. will be replaced by a 40-foot, three-story building with 43 apartments plus, in theory, 16,500-sq.-ft. of retail on the ground floor. The development would also have one level of below-ground parking. At this point there is no guarantee that the plot will in fact be sold or exactly what any development will look like. Some anticipate that the retail will be jettisoned as it has been in other so-called “mixed use” projects and the entire development will simply be one more apartment/condominium project. The property owners have obtained a non-historic designation for the building and demolition certificate which is valid until May 1, 2024.

Plans are listed under the name Joe Jundt who is developing the project with two local partners. Jundt reportedly envisions one of the floor-level retail units as a higher-end restaurant, noting the area is surrounded by pricey Belcaro and Wash Park homes. A Bonnie Brae Tavern rebirth is unlikely, however, as there have been no discussions of the Tavern reopening in the project.

Changing History

The east end of the Tavern building is leased to In & Out Cleaners. The Tavern property also includes the building at 750 S. University. Formerly a Bank of the West site, the building now is home to Wish Gifts. Both businesses would be demolished according to plans for the new project.

Celebrated Spot: This is what the Bonnie Brae Tavern looked like when Carl and Sue Dire opened the eatery in 1934. An early 9030s photo shows Carl Dire behind the bar.

Carl and Sue Dire bought the block of land in 1933 when University Boulevard was a dirt road. The Dires opened a gas station on the corner and Bonnie Brae Tavern was opened at its current location in 1934, the same family still runs it. Looking east was sagebrush as far as the eye could see until Colorado Boulevard, interrupted by a dairy farm or two. To the west, instead of today’s pop-tops of prime real estate, there were modest bungalows of a young neighborhood named Washington Park.

The tavern’s lack of pretentiousness made it a favorite hangout for those in Glendale who viewed themselves at the time as far more agrarian than urban. Well into the 1950s Bonnie Brae Tavern was considered by many as part of greater Glendale rather than Denver.

Carl Dire – he died in 1982 – invested every dime he had in the weeds and dirt along the east side of the street. With prohibition out, Dire had decided to open a bar in what was one of the driest neighborhoods in Denver. Dire and his wife Sue – she passed away in 2002 – named the business after the housing development Bonnie Brae that surrounded it. Like the restaurant, the neighborhood took time to grow into its name, which is Gaelic means “pleasant hill.” In 1934, it was nothing more than a scandal-ridden development that had gone bankrupt a few years earlier.

High Property Taxes Drive Sale

The impetus for the proposed sale has been the steep rise in property taxes for commercial property in the City and County of Denver. The last tax bill increased the levy by $30,000 for a $73,000 total. The owners noted that some businesses in the area are paying as much as $10,000 a month, which he finds would be prohibitive for many small independent businesses. It brings into question for some, can the Bonnie Brae commercial area on University survive? The old “Campus Lounge,” long a popular hangout like Bonnie Brae Tavern, is on its third proprietor in just a few years. As many small businesses are fleeing Denver, some do hang on as highlighted in the article on Page 1, “Old School Holdouts.”

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