It’s the first Friday of the month. You know what that means: Every gallery in town will roll out the wine and cheese, and throw the front doors open to art lovers until late in the evening. Even a few downtown clubs and lounges have caught the art bug. From monthly art exhibits and openings to weekly gatherings for creative types, these places keep both the cocktails and the creative juices flowing.
Double Daughters
Mario’s Double Daughter’s Salotto (1632 Market St., 303-623-3505) is a natural setting for creative types to mingle. The décor is one part Italian carnival and two parts Tim Burton-inspired theatrical set, with blue-and-red tent stripes, glow-in-the-dark doves flittering across the ceiling and black papier-mâché trees stretching up the walls.
For the past year the lounge has hosted monthly ArtHouse events featuring a solo exhibit by a local artist. Tonight is the opening for July’s exhibit of oil paintings by Jenniffer Omaitz. Drop by between 5 and 11 tonight for an informal reception with the artist, and take advantage of $3.50 specials on vodka and Red Bull and house wine.
Double Daughters recently introduced an event on Tuesdays called Self Made to help promote the local arts and design community. Each week a new guest speaker gives a casual presentation about their personal experiences as an artist. “We want people who are inspiring,” says Kevin Delk, who owns the lounge and organizes the art events. “Not necessarily people who have wholly arrived, but motivated people who can talk to people who are trying to get their wings and explain how they got where they are.”
So far the weekly events are a hit, with a few dozen artsy types showing up each week to soak up the atmosphere and information, not to mention the happy-hour drinks. During the event, from 5:30-9 p.m., specials include $2.50 draft beers, half-price cocktails and complimentary hors d’oeuvres. Next week is a break for the July 4 holiday, but the event returns weekly July 12 with local designer and entrepreneur Brandi Shigley of b23 Productions.
B.A.D. girls
Plenty of other clubs in Denver combine art and music; tonight at Club Evolution, (821 22nd St.) it’s a B.A.D. First Friday. Babes Around Denver is a lesbian social and networking group that gathers on the first Friday of the month at different venues around town. Tonight’s party starts at 6 p.m. and includes art by local women and music by DJ Craig C., best known as one-half of the Denver duo the Pound Boys.
The Funky Buddha Lounge (776 Lincoln St.) returns to the weekly art circuit, with the old Tuesday night art parties back on track. After a lengthy hiatus, the artist receptions and changing shows are again a weekly event for creative types to meet for drinks. No more freebies, though. According to one bartender, the complimentary champagne that once accompanied the art shows brought in too many freeloaders.
Art rock
If you prefer your art to come in an audio format, hit the Skivies show tonight. Lead singer and sound bender Von uses a homemade experimental audio contraption he calls “the brain” to tweak the group’s sonic stylings in a variety of directions.
Like most musicians, Von struggles with labels but comes up with “experimental, eclectic, psychedelic music with a heavier weird edge” when pressed. “We’re not just four guys on stage standing there,” he says. “We have lots of different gimmicks so we never have two shows the same.”
Whether it’s a crazy light show, wild costumes or stunts like chugging Windex on stage (he swears it’s the real stuff), The Skivies promise to do something creative to keep you entertained. Catch them tonight with Paperboy Jack and The Take at The Walnut Room; 3131 Walnut St., $6, 21+, 9:30 p.m., 303-292-1700.
Kat Valentine writes about nightlife Fridays in 7Days. Reach her at kat@kingproduction.com or call 303-820-1568.
