Denver Herald 13
August 5, 2021
FOOD & WINE FROM PAGE 1
This year’s event takes place Aug. 11-14 at various locations throughout the Cherry Creek North neighborhood, which is roughly from First to Third avenues and University Boulevard to Steele Street. The lineup of events range from intimate dining experiences and small bites to seminars and demos. Attendees may choose to attend one or two events, or make an entire weekend of it. “Food & Wine offers some neat experiences not offered on any normal day,” McFarland Johnson said. One such event is the Dinner on the Plaza, which takes place Aug. 13. This event includes a multi-course dinner with wine pairing, live music and dancing, and a cocktail hour during which attendees can mingle and meet new friends. The Dinner on the Plaza will be a “beautiful celebration of the community,” McFarland Johnson said. Something else new to this year’s Food & Wine is this is the first year for the event to have a beneficiary. This year, a portion of the proceeds
MINI GOLF FROM PAGE 12
“We have had a lot of people come in just to get pictures with it,” Patrick said of the decorations. He said Spooky Mini Golf’s ownership is opening a second location in FlatIron Crossing mall in Broomfield, which will be much larger and be galaxy-themed. Along with go-karts and a maze, Adventure Golf has three 18-hole courses — Lost Continent, Buccaneer Bay and Adventure Cove. According to Whitlock, Lost Continent is the fan favorite, thanks in part to its island-themed fire and water effects. Meanwhile, Buccaneer Bay is probably the most challenging course of the three, he said, with a pirate theme to the décor and obstacles. Then, Adventure Cove is storybook-themed and has something for all ages, he said. Plus, there are about five other
Wyatt Johnson, an oyster shucker and a pre-med student in New York who is staying in Colorado for the summer, shucks oysters at Blue Island Oyster Bar & Seafood. Shucking is the act of opening an oyster, and attendees of either of Blue Island’s oyster shucking events part of the Cherry Creek North Food & Wine will get to try their hand at the skill.
IF YOU GO To learn more about the Cherry Creek North Food & Wine event, or to purchase tickets, visit https://www.ccnfoodandwine.com/. of every ticket sold to Food & Wine events will go to Food for Thought Denver, which is a local nonprofit that provides food to students across the city to guarantee that no child goes hungry during the weekend. Another not-to-miss Food & Wine event is the Grand Tasting, which is offered twice on Aug. 14. Attendees will get to try small plates and bites from more than 20 restaurants, and sip more than 50 wines curated by experts at The Vineyard Wine Shop. The Grand Tasting also offers the unique opportunity to meet-andgreet with restaurant owners and chefs. Sean Huggard, owner of Blue Island Oyster Bar & Seafood in Cherry Creek North, is looking forward to hosting the Chef and Shucking at Blue Island events. “It’s our favorite event because it puts us front and center with our regular customers — the neighbors of the neighborhood, so it’s exciting courses in Denver and the surrounding area that have unique themes and obstacles to explore as well, such as the pendulums and windmill at Putter’s Pride near Lakewood and Centennial’s scary Monster Mini Golf. Adjusting to the obstacles Last summer, when Colorado’s initial COVID-19 restrictions were rolling back, miniature golf was among the few night-out activities that were open. Considering that many courses are outdoors and groups could social-distance between holes, many took advantage. Jeremy Kopischke, special facilities coordinator for South Suburban Parks and Recreation, which operates Colorado Journey, said the miniature golf course experienced an increase in non-resident use last year. Whitlock said Adventure Golf had a different dynamic last year, simply because of the capacity re-
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to spend time with them,” Huggard said. “Secondly, it gives us the time to promote our brand to people that are coming to Cherry Creek from far away. And maybe it’s (Food & Wine event) the only time they come to Cherry Creek every year.” Likewise, Oscar Padilla, executive chef at Toro Latin Kitchen & Lounge, is looking forward to sharing culture and tradition with Food & Wine attendees. “Denver has a culture of friendly people,” Padilla said. “Toro has that
connection with people. Sharing (culture and traditions) with people is like bringing the opportunity to every guest to feel like home, like family.” Cherry Creek North is so happy to be able to bring the Food & Wine event back this year and promote community togetherness through it, McFarland Johnson said. “It’s a tremendous way to help these businesses get back on their feet and gain solid ground,” she said, “and continue to thrive.”
strictions. However, it also saw the range of customers it could have and now is starting to see with the capacity restrictions lifted. “People drove 30 or 40 minutes to get out of the house and play as a family,” Whitlock said of last summer. Now, Colorado Journey has been busier than ever this summer,
with a steady stream of guests and bookings for large groups and birthday parties, Kopischke said. Whitlock said he and his colleagues at Adventure Golf are likewise thankful to be getting back to the norm, adding that it was very rewarding to see that the demand for miniature golf would always be there.
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