Stranahan’s distillery returns to roots with new Aspen taproom

Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey is taking it back to the beginning. The whiskey maker, which was founded in 2004 and has often been billed as the first new distillery to open in Colorado since Prohibition, plans to debut a new tasting room, Stranahan’s Whiskey Lodge, sometime this winter in Aspen, according to the company. This “marks … Read more

Fodor’s Go List 2024 includes Boulder for recreation, beer

Fodor’s influential “No List” discouraged travelers from visiting the American West in 2023, citing the increasingly dry Colorado River and the millions of residents who depend on its water. But for 2024, the company’s travel experts have recommended one place in Colorado that should be on every vacationer’s bucket list. Boulder is one of 24 … Read more

Apple Blossom restaurant in Denver’s Hyatt closing Dec. 8

When siblings Paul and Aileen Reilly debuted a new restaurant inside the Hyatt Centric Downtown Denver hotel two years ago, it felt like a real win for the fans of their old Uptown farm-to-table spot Beast + Bottle. Beast + Bottle, which highlighted seasonal Colorado ingredients, had closed its doors in June 2021, but Apple … Read more

Stoney’s Cantina closes after two years on South Broadway

Stoney Jesseph said adios to a restaurant he opened on South Broadway in 2021. The restaurateur, who owns three remaining Stoney’s locations around Colorado, said the one at 30 S. Broadway branded Stoney’s Cantina never made a profit. The biggest culprit: a year of road and sidewalk construction on the bustling commercial strip. “You can’t … Read more

Camping will cost 25% more at one Colorado national park in 2024 – The Denver Post

Federal officials said last week that camping and boating fees will rise in two popular Colorado parks: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area. “Campground fees have remained unchanged since before 2016, while boat launch fees have not changed since at least 2003,” according to a statement from the National … Read more

For a memorable holiday party, personalize the punch – The Denver Post

By Rebekah Peppler, The New York Times Holiday party drinks can take many forms: punch bowls, batched cocktails, a bathtub of bubbles, a tray of shots. What unifies them is a festal shared experience for guests to gather around. This year, keep the communal theme, but drop the one-drink-fits-all approach. “To me, hosting parties is … Read more

On the border, the perfect burrito is a thin, foil-wrapped treasure – The Denver Post

By Pati Jinich, The New York Times CIUDAD JUÁREZ, Mexico — One bite of a chile verde con papas burrito at Burritos Sarita in Ciudad Juárez has the power to shatter whatever preconceived notions you have about burritos. In it, a pillowy-soft flour tortilla, with hints of smoke from the griddle, swaddles a fragrant mix … Read more

Wings, pizza, burritos, pho, more

If you had to sign a waiver before a meal, would you? Raina Huang does it for sport. The Los Angeles-based competitive eater visited Denver in November and shared videos of her completing various food challenges with her 435,000 Instagram, 497,000 YouTube and 3.6 million TikTok followers. Food challenges bring competitors like Huang from around … Read more

A cozy one-pot chicken for a fuss-free holiday

By Melissa Clark, The New York Times The Yiddish word tsimmes, or tzimmes, means to make a big fuss over something. It’s also the name of an Ashkenazi dish of sweet potatoes, carrots, dried fruit and sometimes flanken or brisket, traditionally served at Jewish holidays. You’d think, with a name like tsimmes, it must be … Read more

Grist Brew Co. closing; Living the Dream moving in

In a one-two move in Denver’s southern suburbs, Grist Brew Co. said Wednesday it will close its 12-year-old Highlands Ranch taphouse, at 9150 Commerce Center Circle, at the end of the year, while Littleton’s Living the Dream Brewing will take Grist’s place in January. Living the Dream is also moving into the small bar that … Read more