Sense
January 30, 2020
Things to Do in Denver: Valentine’s Day Edition
Here in the MCA Denver office we love swapping ideas for restaurants, cocktail bars, and other good spots to check out around Denver. We thought it’d be fun to share some of our favorite spots with all of you, our favorite people.
Valentine’s Day is coming up, and whether you’re in a lovey dovey mood or feeling a touch of existential angst about the upcoming holiday, we’re here with some suggestions to help elevate and inspire your Valentine’s Day plans.
Here are some ideas for dates or Valentine’s Day hangs with friends, a partner, a new boo, your fam, or whoever else you want to spend the day with:
Name/position: Alexandra Stefanec, Visitor Services Associate/ Membership Assistant
Recommendation: Run for the Roses
You like mid-century modernism reimagined for 2020? Run for the Roses is a really cute spot in the basement of Free Market. When you walk down you are welcomed by roses hanging from the ceiling, which is an idyllic setup for a flirty evening. The space is dynamic, well designed, intimate, and has great cocktails. Their cocktail menu is presented as a deck of cards which is fun as an ice breaker for both long term relationships or a first date. Either way, this place is great for a romantic memorable night with a significant other.
Name/position: Lacey Manuel, Shop Buyer & Visitor Services MoD
Recommendation: Gerard's Pool Hall
My favorite spot to end a date night is at Gerard's Pool Hall. We start upstairs with a cocktail and a few body stretches—its a strenuous sport for amateurs. Then with a light buzz and agile bodies, we head down to the billiard room. Our game starts with a friendly/flirty competition and ends in blood and tears—not really, but kind of. Playing pool is entertaining, exciting, and, might I say, athletic? Gerards’ is an especially great place because you may just meet a Pool Shark, or at the very least, a new friend.
Name/position: Kelly O’Connell, Senior Marketing Manager
Recommendation: There
Close your eyes and imagine a small, unassuming restaurant/bar situation. You've arrived around 9:30, the music is chill, the atmosphere is calm, and diners are scooping up their last bite of dessert. You've gathered your favorite girl gang for a night out. The clock strikes 10 and a DJ starts to spin, a familiar jam gets going, and the hum of the crowd heightens. 11PM hits, the music is in full swing, somehow the plush animal heads that you thought were decore are now on your heads as you dance your faces off (literally, in this case). By 12AM you've somehow ended up behind the bar doing a shotski with your gals (something that as an introvert, is fairly surprising, but you go with it). It's around this point you ask yourself, "Where are you?" And the answer is simple, you're There.
For the best girls night out, go There.
Name/position: Sarah Kate Baie, Director of Programming
Recommendation: Sunday Vinyl
I love the sound of great music, playing on a great stereo, turned up real loud. Sunday Vinyl is a wine bar that spins old-school records on a state-of-the-art sound system. The restaurant is brought to you from the same folks who cooked up Frasca in Boulder and Tavernetta in Denver (right across the plaza), and it shows through in the hospitality and the vibe. But the music stands out front and center, with a curated playlist from the Denver record club Vinyl Me, Please, and a record collection designed to make you swoon. Bring your coolest friend, and then ask them “Hey, who’s the coolest now?”
Name/position: Courtney Law, Director of Communications and Experience
Recommendation: The Plimoth
The Plimoth is tucked away in a historic Denver neighborhood near City Park and has a quaint, bistro kind of vibe. It has just a dozen or so tables so the environment is intimate, making it great for a date or other special occasion. Most importantly, the food is sophisticated, contemporary, largely seasonal and local and...delicious. The service and wine list are excellent too.
