November Nightlife: Denver, CO

Welcome to Nightlife Insider, a new monthly feature where PlanetOut.com readers submit their Top 5 picks of cool things happening in their neck of the woods.Send us an email to find out how you can become a Nightlife Insider!

Below are Jim's November picks for Denver, Colorado.

by Jim Guttau
gay.com Xavier_Jagger
www.guttaupr.com

Breckenridge Ski Resort Opening Day
Coloradans celebrate the arrival of snowflakes in November, and there’s no better place to welcome winter than at Breckenridge.  On November 12, Breckenridge opens the ski season with a kick-off celebration by serving up free pancakes and waffles on the Bergenhof deck starting at 8:30 a.m. Lifts start running on Peak 8 at 9:00 a.m. And on Friday the 13th, Comedian Craig Robinson performs at the Riverwalk Center.  You’ll remember Robinson from “The Office,” “Pineapple Express,” and “Knocked Up.” Grab dinner before the show at my favorite bistro, Modis.
www.breckenridge.com

Event
A Night in Old Union Station
November 11
Still a transportation hub today, Denver’s Union Station was first built in 1881 and underwent many transformations over the years.  The Mizpah Arch welcomed guests to the Mile High City starting in 1906 and was torn down in 1931 when it was deemed a traffic hazard—with the advent of automobiles. 
Union Station Advocates will host a fundraising party entitled “A Night in Old Union Station” on Wednesday, November 11 from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.  Funds raised from the event will help resurrect a replica of the historic Mizpah Arch.
The event festivities will utilize many parts of the historic station with a corporate sponsor “raw bar” repast on the mezzanine, a speakeasy in the train departure tunnel, and conductor tickets being assigned to the Great Hall.
The celebration will culminate in the Great Hall historic reception room at the end of the evening; the hall’s 65 foot high ceiling will provide for a spectacular conclusion.
www.ANightinOldUnionStation.com



Restaurant
The Fort
Touting that it sells more buffalo steaks than any other independently owned restaurant in the country, The Fort definitely embraces Denver’s roots as a “cow town.”  Featuring elk chops, a 20 ounce bone-in buffalo ribeye, and grilled teriyaki quail, The Fort’s menu is influenced by the cuisines of pioneers along the Santa Fe Trail, mountain men, and Native American tribes.  This adobe-style eatery is also serving a traditional Thanksgiving dinner; prices are $36 for adults and $18 for children.
www.thefort.com

Theater
Adams Mystery Playhouse
Last December, my friends surprised me with a birthday party at Adams Mystery Playhouse, Colorado’s only theater specializing in interactive dinner mysteries. While the food was mediocre, the interactive atmosphere of the show was the best.  The actors didn’t have a clue that my friends had no problem taking center stage and throwing random twists into the storyline, like a secret love affair in Mexico between the detective and myself. 
www.adamsmysteryplayhouse.com


Hotel
Oxford Hotel
The historic Oxford Hotel has played an integral part in the history of Denver since 1891.  As Denver’s first hotel, the Oxford maintains the charm of its “Wild West” roots but boasts today’s finest amenities and modern conveniences—right in the heart of the lively Lower Downtown (LoDo) district.  Have a fabulous martini right inside the hotel at the Cruise Room and don’t miss the ultra-affordable happy hour at McCormick's Fish House.
http://theoxfordhotel.com

If you think you got what it takes to play nightlife correspondent, send an email with "Nightlife Correspondent" in the subject line to letterstotheeditor@gay.com and we'll take it from there. Help make nightlife fun for all!