We at the Denver Omelette are always looking for a good value. And… we may have just found our go-to cheap date deal of the summer. If you’re looking for me or Pepper Lowell, you might just find us on the patio of Wahoo’s Fish Taco sipping one of these bad boys. <———-

Now I know Wahoo’s is nothing new. They’ve been in Colorado for years. But every once in a while, like a fabulous pair of red shoes hiding deep in your closet, you re-discover an old friend. In this case – we’ve rediscovered a super sour, uber-potent, cheap-o buzz in a pint glass kind of friend. My buddy… I’ve missed you.

Now I’m not going to lie – Wahoo’s margaritas are not hand crafted or freshly squeezed. I cannot say what kind of tequila is used in their preparation. It is quite possible there is nary a lime nor real sugar involved in the making of this drink. Rather, I’d say they’re more along the lines of the pre-mixed, spiked with Everclear and sweetened with apple juice variety of margarita (see also: The Rio). Pepper and I can also attest: they’re a sneak up on you, punch you in the face, leave your car in the parking lot because you lost your keys kind of margarita. I do not lie – it takes only 2 to get there.

They’re also only 5 bucks and served in a pint glass people. Add a fish taco plate and you have dinner and big time buzz for $10.

So yeah – if you’re wearing your hoity-toity fancy drinking pants the margs at Wahoo’s might leave something to be desired. But if you’re down to a $10 in your wallet and you want to do some decent people-watching on a patio with your best cartoon gal pal, head to E 20th & Sherman and kick back with this tall cool neon green concoction. Hello old friend… don’t mind if I do!

available at www.newegg.com!

At a recent Omelette margarita drinking session at Denver’s newest hot spot (otherwise known as Wahoo’s Fish Taco (more on that later!)) Mama and I were discussing a tricycle cruiser bike I had seen someone riding and we decided we must purchase some and furthermore, we must start a Tricycle Gang.

The tricycle bike not only looks cool but we feel that, as people who are not so hot at riding bikes, we will be safer.  Safety is of utmost importance to someone like me who, at the tender age of 13, flipped OVER her bike handlebars and slid down a gravel road on her face, leading her classmates to call her Scarface for much of the 6th grade and breaking 4 bones in the process.  That experience pretty much ended my bike riding days until a few years ago when a friend gave me his vintage Schwinn cruiser when he moved out of the country. I decided I would take it to work one day, feeling confident that nothing bad could happen since I worked only a mile away from home and the route was all side roads.

I WAS VERY WRONG!!!  I actually spilled off my bike and onto a grassy front lawn while trying to avoid a parked truck.  Yep.  That’s right. A G.D. parked truck!!  Turns out I’m still not so great at turning corners.

Now. I realize this may not be the most rousing advertisement to join our bike gang.  Let me assure you, there will never be a dull moment.  May our helmets be sturdy and our rear bike baskets be full of boxes of wine!!

I know this is all true because this used to be me. However, times have changed. Call me an old lady… or call me a snob… I DO NOT CARE! I’ve learned to avoid Restaurant Week like the plague. In my experience the whole thing has become a long line of dumbed down food and overly cranky servers.

So when the hubs and I were craving middle eastern food last week, we first checked the list of participating Restaurant Week businesses to ensure Phoenician Kabob was NOT on it and headed out to satisfy our falafel jones right in our Park Hill neighborhood (5709 E Colfax). Well… turns out I don’t know how to read because Phoenician Kabob WAS in fact a participant in Restaurant Week. AND, that’s right… they sucked me back in.

Phoenician Kabob offers an extensive menu of salads, soup, kabobs and other Middle Eastern specialties, as well as the expected vegetarian fare (hummus, baba ghanouj, falafel, tabbouleh, dolmades, etc.) The hubs and I have no self control when presented with this kind of smorgasboard. We realized that if we went for the $52.80 deal we could try nearly all of the menu staples PLUS 2 desserts PLUS 2 glasses of lebanese red wine. SOLD!

We had a fattoush salad (more than enough for 2 people), the lentil soup, a meat combo and a vegetarian combo. Yep, all bases covered. For dessert we had baklava (of course) and another similar pastry- the name I cannot remember- that was a lot like baklava but stuffed with a cheese custard. Yes, it was in fact, heaven! All of this was a lot more food than we needed on a Tuesday night — but everything we sampled was damn near perfect from the piping hot pita bread we watched the baker pull fresh from the oven – to what might be the most delicious dolmades I’ve ever had. The falafel was dense with a subtle sweetness and the hummus and baba ganouj were truly elevated versions of what I’ve always known them to be. On top of all this – our waiter was friendly, open to questions about the menu and made much appreciated suggestions.

Aside from a few take-out pick-ups, we were the only diners at Phoenician Kabob that night. Hard to believe with it being Restaurant Week and all. I can say this with certainty Denver… you’re missing the boat! Phoenician Kabob is serving up possibly the best Middle Eastern food in the city, Restaurant Week or not. Next year, instead of battling it out with every other Denverite clamoring for their one chance at a cheap steak at Elway’s, why not opt for a true feast at this little E Colfax gem?

Also… just wondering… anyone ever tried the Ethiopian Restaurant next door to Phoenician Kabob? The menu looked amazing! I’d love to hear anyone’s experience?

Did you know The Olive Garden is offering a 3 course Italian dinner for $12.95?? Did you know that The Olive Garden recently opened it’s 4th location in Grand Forks, North Dakota???  Did you know there was a line at The Olive Garden in Grand Forks through February??  Marilyn Hagerty does.  She is about the cutest food blogger ever and if my own grandma didn’t already love The Olive Garden I would adopt Marilyn as my excuse to go to The Olive Garden.   For Marilyn’s review of The Olive Garden she ordered Chicken Alfredo and A WATER!! She turned down the raspberry lemonade!  Who goes to The Olive Garden and turns down the raspberry lemonade!  Apparently the Grand Forks Herald needs to up her stipend. From where I’m sitting I think Marilyn should’ve ordered the alfredo, the lemonade and a g.d. tiramisu!

I feel like sort of a jerk for semi making fun of the 4th Olive Garden in North Dakota but it’s hard coming from a restaurant city like Denver where you are anxiously awaiting the latest Frank Bonanno experience or whatever else the latest celebrity chef has to offer.  New non-chain, amazing restaurants open on the daily here…it’s hard to keep up!

I will admit that Betty (she really is from South Dakota which actually is an actual state) and I are rather large fans of The Olive Garden and nothing says good ol’ college days like a Saturday afternoon consuming Applebee’s fajitas and mudslides so I’m not going to lie.  I’d be just as excited about The Olive Garden (or any other chain restaurant) in Grand Forks, ND…if I even remembered where Grand Forks was.  I’d also like to point out, the only ‘chain’ restaurant in the tiny NoDak town I grew up in is a Subway sandwich kiosk counter type thing in a gas station.

So bring on the Olive Gardens and the Applebees!  I can’t imagine Frank Bonanno is going to open a restaurant in NoDak any time soon…we’ll take what we can get.

For those of you who live in a cave and aren’t familiar with TOMS, they started as a shoe company who gives a pair of shoes to a child in need (of shoes!) for every pair they sell.  They have recently branched out to eyewear as well.

So while this is all good and well, and plenty of kids needs shoes, I found myself totally disturbed by the fact they are Made in China.  I feel as though this totally sort of counter-products the whole One for One thing they are doing.

However. That said.  If I don’t have these ballet flats by TOMS I will die.

DIE!

I MUST HAVE THEM!

But now I have ethical conflicts.  Over shoes!  Whose dumb idea was it to look at the tag!  I like living in denial so much better.

These ballet flats are practically $100 though.  Can it really cost $100 to make 2 pairs of shoes and deliver them to two countries and make a small profit? I just don’t know.

So here’s the deal.  I’m sure I buy plenty of shoes that are Made in China and never think twice about it because really who makes shoes in America anyway?  So if TOMS makes their shoes in China but still manages to do some good…is it really bad at all?  Or is it too much to ask to have a company do ALL good

I decided to research a little and see if I could find any sort of official statement on TOMS being MIC and while I didn’t really find that, I did find this Facebook page against TOMS and I also found this guy who called TOMS ugly and seems really mad at them ( I actually LOVE my TOMS shoes and think they are both cute and the most comfortable thing ever).  Additionally, the first time I researched I found a very intellectual blog that made very good points both ways but of course I can’t find it again…if you can find this blog please send it over!

I just can’t decide.  Discuss.  Make me feel better about spending $100 on these ballet flats please.

I can’t help it. Anytime someone says ‘ninja’ these days, this song is all I can think about. Seriously, Die Antwoord. I can’t look away from you.

This past Sunday, however, The Denver Omelette went all ‘ninja’ in a different (albeit still fucking cool) way. We attended the Denver Craft Ninja‘s crochet event.

In case you don’t know it, Denver Craft Ninjas are a group of fantastic, crafty babes that get together once a month in the basement of a bar (Three Kings Tavern, specifically) to make great things. It is a chance for someone like me (uncoordinated, impatient and distinctly un-crafty) to dig down deep in search of my inner artiste. And, if she happens to be MIA as per usual, at least there are drinks to be had ($3 Bloody Marys, specifically).

Joined by Pepper Lowell, Hezness and Ducky (my beautiful pink-haired sister-in-law), we set out to crochet ourselves some ‘sea pennies’ – aka – pretty little circle/flower-type things that can be used as adornment on just about anything. You can even make a whole bunch of them, sew them together and make a… scarf? Table-cloth? Doily? We toiled away under the tutelage of my favorite girl-crush of the moment – and the lead ninja herself – Miss Becky Hensley…  and some of us found ourselves with pretty little sea pennies in the end. The photo here showcases Pepper’s results. As for me, I have yet to actually make one that looks like anything less than a hairball… but my plan is to keep trying.

Personally, I can’t think of a better way to spend a Sunday. A drink with my best friends, incessant jokes about ‘finding the right hole’ (ahem… we were weaving yarn in and out of a small circles people – it was bound to happen), and the very best part: endless inspiration from a room full of creative women.

Sound like your cup of tea? Join up! There are THREE Denver Craft Ninjas events in March and its all about the drink this time around: beer, wine and whiskey! And as this blog has documented… those really ARE are a few of my FAVORITE things. Hiii-ya!

Recently, said young peeps invited me to Beauty Bar (located on 13th & Pearl in the old Snake Pit location) to try out the $10 Martini/Manicure happy hour special.  I am nothing if not a sucker for a deal, so I agreed to arrive with bells on.  Somehow I talked Sleepy into coming with me.  I told him it was a regular bar that just happened to offer manicures.  I did that because it is truly what I thought!  I swear I’m not an evil girlfriend!

How wrong I was.

You walk into the place and the smell of nail salon is so strong it almost knocks you over.  BUT THEN!  You are double knocked over by the GLITTER! EVERYWHERE!  Seriously. The whole place is covered in glitter.  We decided that the glitter is just a ruse to hide all the dirt.  The Beauty Bar was quite possibly the dirtiest bar I’ve been to and that’s saying a lot. I like to go to some shady places.  I had to hold my purse in my lap because I couldn’t find a clean place to set it down.

Anyway.  We put our names in for manicures and were told there was an hour and a half wait.  So we all ordered cocktails and hung out.  When we decided we were ready for our $10 happy hour martini and asked the bartender how it all worked she yelled at us!  Supposedly there are very strict rules regarding $10 Martini/Manicure specials.  You MUST inform the bartender when you put your name on the list or SHE.WILL.YELL.AT.YOU!  During our hour and a half wait the place cleared out and we were almost the only ones in there.  Our names were called and we were off to the manicure station, leaving Sleepy alone at the glittery/dirty bar.  The manicurist couldn’t have been nicer and although it’s a pretty basic file and polish type of deal, I was very happy with that part of the experience.  Once we rejoined Sleepy at the bar he filled us in on the escort service meet and greet he had witnessed.

The moral of this story is that Beauty Bar is quite possibly the strangest place I’ve ever been to.  However. I am very intrigued by the strangeness off it all and sort of want to go back.  It’s that whole trainwreck theory.

So.  Beauty Bar Friday night anyone?

Well friends, you’ll be happy to know, The Denver Omelette is no exception.

You would think with our mad popularity, good-time reputations and hot wardrobes that the four of us would be laden with invites to stellar parties all over this great city of ours. But, alas… that is not the case.

For the past few years, myself and Betty Steele have tried to institute a Denver Omelette Colfax NYE tradition consisting of sugar steaks with a side of Sinatra at Bastiens, followed by whiskey-fueled shenanigans with Pete and his crew at the PS Lounge, often ending up at my house just a block away with drinks and cursing into the wee hours. Its… familiar, comfortable, a cheap-o cab ride… it’s what we do!

Sadly, that tradition may be ending. I no longer live just a walk down the alley away from the PS… and everyone seems to be broke these days, or a vegetarian, or just generally bored of our tried and true Colfax-ian ways.

Ms. Pepper Lowell herself has suggested a change of venue for NYE 2011 — one far from the familiar streets of E Colfax — to the distant land of RiNo — to one, Jake’s Food & Spirits, where for $20 you get food, a DJ spinning motown sounds all night, party favors and a champagne toast at the stroke of 2012. Sounds like good times, no? Motown and party favors… 2 of my favorite things!

But… but… I’ve never BEEN to Jake’s! Will it be fun? Will there be good beer? Will we love it and dance the night away only to make it our new NYE tradition? Or will this little sports bar be filled with Coors Light, frat boys and drunk slutbags?

All this and more remains to be seen. Check back next week to find out how it went and to get the official NYE slutbag body count. Because if there’s one thing we don’t tolerate here at the DO… it’s slutbags.

Happy New Year … xoxo!

My friend and I recently went to cafebar at 295 Penn St upon the recommendation of her mom.  We decided to go to the back and sit at the bar which was the best choice I’ve ever made in my life.  The bar is in the same room as the open kitchen and there is also a long table with wood stumps for chairs that I can see my next birthday party at.

This is Ted!

We were lucky enough to meet Bryan and Ted, the bartenders who were working.  Now Bryan was a super nice, very informative, friendly guy but Ted ended up stealing our hearts by giving us samples of new cocktails he was working on as well as accidentally spraying some citrus mix into my eyes but giving me a free sidecar as compensation.  Seems like a fair deal to me!

We started by ordering the signature cocktail which was a chocolate pistachio martini.  In hindsight this would’ve probably been better at the end of the meal because it was pretty heavy and dessert-y.  Either way this was a damn good cocktail so thank you for making me drink it in order to have a true-to-the-Omelette blog.   It didn’t really taste overly like chocolate or pistachio, which Ted explained was because the flavors were not combating each other, like so many other mixmasters do with their cocktails. I’ll take his word for it.

My friend ordered the Bourbon mussels, of which I was very jealous.  They came with a heavy side of bread and we were given a bread refill at the end to soak up the delish broth.  It was a pretty big portion for only $10.

I was trying to be good and ordered the Acorn Squash salad.  They let me substitute the dressing because I don’t like rosemary.  It was covered in onions when it arrived, which freaked me out but after moving them to the side, it was all good.  The golden figs really made this salad.

For dessert we let Bryan talk us into the Samoa brownies.  He really had to twist our arms there.  They were amazing.

The place itself was so cozy and inviting, I can see myself back there soon.

And look what I just found on their website!

Stop regifting and join us for a free glass of wine when you buy a $50 cafe/bar giftcard!

Yes please!!

To me, the building itself proved to be the most interesting part of this excursion.  Most specifically, the terraces.  They not only provided views of the surrounding city but had this crazy mini landscaping in them.  It was very topographical and seemed almost out of place in this contemporary museum but very in place in a city full of mountain bikers and hikers.  It also added a nice soft feeling to an otherwise hard (literally concrete) building. There are two of these terraces and I highly recommend making a quick stop on both.

The other really cool part of this museum was the underside of the stairway.  Yes, you read that right.  The underside!  It was smooth wood, almost like a curvy boat.  I wish Sleepy’s picture would’ve turned out but you just really can’t tell what it is so you’re going to have to go for yourself.

Admission is $10 for adults but only $6 if you have a student ID like I do!

Did I mention Clyfford Still was born in North Dakota…just like me??

**It’s a good idea to check what time the restaurant you want to go to after the art museum opens.  We wanted to go to Cuba Cuba but it doesn’t open until 5 so we ended up “wasting” time at Pints Pub and having a scotch sampler as well as a few beers before going to Cuba Cuba for fancy rum drinks.  Moral of the story is I had way too many drinks and ended up ordering random young adult books on Amazon.com and not realizing it until the next day when I saw the confirmation in my email.  But also! Have you been to Cuba Cuba lately?  There was a line out the door at 5 when they opened…and for good reason.  We had a few drinks and a few appetizers and it was all delish.