23 NOVEMBER 24-30, 2022 westword.com WESTWORD | CONTENTS | LETTERS | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | CAFE | MUSIC | Sunday Vinyl 1803 16th Street 720-738-1803 sundayvinyl.com Brought to us by the Frasca Hospitality Group, which also owns Tavernetta next door and Frasca in Boulder, Sunday Vinyl is a wine bar, but it’s also so much more. Backed by the expertise of Bobby Stuckey, a certifi ed Master Sommelier and powerhouse in the Colorado culinary scene, the space has an elegant edge and a lively soundtrack, with a staff that makes wine approachable, telling stories of the mak- ers behind the bottles as they pour. Pair your vino with indulgent happy hour bites, or settle in for a full meal and experience hospitality taken to new heights. Sundown Saloon 1136 Pearl Street, Boulder 303-449-4987 boulderdowntown.com/go/sundown-saloon Boulder: Bask in the sun as it rolls over the foothills…blah blah blah. Ever wanted to duck into a windowless watering hole while your aunt from out of town shops for a fl eece vest at Patagonia? Descend into the subterranean Sundown, which promises booze and plenty of it. As its name implies, it’s dark. It’s also dirty (we think; you can’t really see inside), and there are pool tables (we’ve been told; you can’t really see inside). It’s a place where you can completely forget that you’re in Boulder, which is exactly what Boulder calls for at times. Tatarian 4024 Tennyson Street 303-416-4496 thetatarian.com Tatarian makes it a trio for Lenka Juchelkova and Mike Huggins, who also run Union Lodge No. 1 and the Arvada Tavern. This one’s dedicated to the high art of cocktails and the delicate balance of sour, sweet, boozy and bitter. The decor is posh penthouse; your drink might be smoked or bolstered by house bitters and tinctures. Tatarian, named for a type of shady maple that once graced every yard in the neighborhood, is the fanciest branch on the family tree. Thank Sool Pocha 2222 South Havana Street, Aurora 720-485-3682 thanksool.com This hopping spot fi lled with people speak- ing both Korean and English is just plain fun. While it’s often fi lled with families digging into meals during the early eve- ning hours, as the night grows later they’re supplanted by groups of all ages focused on knocking back tiny glasses of soju and enjoying everything from steamed sea snails and cow-stomach barbecue to mix-your- own rice balls, kimchi pancakes and Korean fried chicken. All of it is served in a lively, convivial atmosphere that’s so comfortable you’ll feel like a treasured regular by the time your check arrives. Tight End Bar 1501 East Colfax Avenue 303-861-9103 tightendbar.com Denver’s fi rst gay sports bar is owned by Steven Alix (co-owner of the Squire Lounge) and Sudy Kudva. Watch the game from nine televisions, sip a boozy beverage on the sound-equipped patio, and enjoy a safe space to take in all sports. The drink list has all your sports-bar favorites, such as beer — lots of beer — as well as shots of liquor and simple mixed drinks. On quiet nights when there aren’t any big games, the Tight End also hosts karaoke and drag bingo, which to some are the greatest sports of all. TrashHawk Tavern 1539 South Broadway 303-320-7798 trashhawktavern.com Beer-and-shot combos, Montucky cans, Malört and “trash charcuterie” (aka Lunch- ables) are on the menu at TrashHawk Tavern, which opened in October 2021 in the former home of Alternation Brewing Company. In this era of craft-cocktail bars, it’s a refresh- ingly low-key addition to Overland that’s poised to become a neighborhood go-to for game days, trivia nights and conversations with strangers over a cigarette on the back patio. Stay trashy. Union Lodge No. 1 1543 Champa Street 720-389-0447 unionlodge1.com Lenka Juchelkova and her husband, Mike Huggins, have a knack for planting excellent bars in neighborhoods in desperate need of good watering holes. After they gave Olde Town Arvada the Arvada Tavern, they went to an underserved block off the 16th Street Mall, nestling the Americana-appointed Union Lodge No. 1 among outposts of fast- casual chains. Deftly executed American classics — the bar’s list pays homage to pre- Prohibition mainstays like the Martinez and the Brandy Crusta — draw a mix of in- the-know drinkers, fi rst dates and visiting business types. Vesper Lounge 233 East Seventh Avenue 720-328-0314 vesperdenver.com In the fall of 2012, fi ve-time James Beard semi-fi nalist Frank Bonanno took over one of the town’s most notorious watering holes: the Lancer Lounge, located right between Mizuna, the fl agship of Bonanno Concepts, and the current location of Lou’s; Luca D’Italia is around the corner, too. Here, there’s no fuss over housemade bitters, no two-hour waits, no specially chipped ice. There are, however, reason- ably priced drinks and some very good snacks with a Middle Eastern fl avor. Not to mention good company: This may not be the Lancer, but it’s defi nitely a solid neighborhood bar. Wide Right 2100 Curtis Street 720-420-9898 widerightdenver.com With cheap drinks — like $3-house-cocktails cheap — solid bar food and tons of events, Wide Right is a haven for artists with a punk- rock edge, right on the edge of downtown. On any given night, you might fi nd an open mic or comedy or karaoke here. Need to es- cape the world outside? Drop into the Wide Right: You might fi nd just the kind of party you didn’t know you needed. The Wild 1660 Wynkoop Street thewilddenver.com Jake Soffes knows how to build a bar: His fi rst two efforts were Hudson Hill and Lady Jane. His third, the Wild, is casual and airy, polished and mature — but never cold or uninviting. Located in a set-back courtyard right across the street from Union Station, the bar feels like a secret place a few steps removed from the noise and pressure of downtown. By day it leans more toward a coffee joint with a full breakfast menu. At night the lights lower and the food becomes charcuterie and small snacks, perfect for pairing with cocktails and wine. Yacht Club 3701 Williams Street yachtclubbar.com Bar pros Mary Allison Wright and McLain Hedges resurrected Yacht Club — once located inside the Source — next door to Brasserie Brix- ton in late 2021. The new spot effortlessly mixes high and low with a killer wine list and cocktails alongside a menu of hot dogs, all paired with a low-key vibe that’s still cool enough for a fi rst date. In 2022, their efforts were rewarded when Yacht Club was named one of four U.S. fi nalists for Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar at the 2022 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards. While it didn’t take the top spot, it’s an addition that the city is lucky to have. . Drink Here continued from page 22 Bull & Bush turned fi fty last year. Inga’s was inspired by a Swedish ski cabin. EVAN SEMÓN EVAN SEMÓN
