It’s that most wonderful time of the year, when most of can’t leave the house without running into one holiday event after another. Many feel more like obligations than celebrations (office shindig, family gatherings), so hit a holiday party of your own choosing. Whether it’s a black-tie cocktail party, a jingle-bell rock fest or a dance party with a dozen DJs, there are plenty to pick from this weekend.
Chillin’ Black Tie
Get dolled up and step out in high style on Saturday night during the Chillin’ Black Tie bash at the JW Marriott (150 Clayton Lane) in Cherry Creek. It’s the highlight event of the year for David Hieb, managing director for ChillinTime productions, who organizes his “Chillin”‘ parties eight times a year. Hieb started the series in 2001 as a means to introduce his network of friends; at the time, he lived in Boulder and worked in Denver and found that many of his like-minded pals from both cities didn’t have many opportunities to meet.
Today, the party series has more than 1,000 regular attendees and their varied guests, focusing on a well-heeled crowd of young professionals who gather to drink, date, and swap cards and connections.
“It’s primarily a group of 25-to-45-year-olds from Denver who want to get out in a no-attitude atmosphere,” Hieb says. “It’s not a traditional networking scene, and it’s very genuine.”
Hieb picks out new or popular locations for each of the monthly events, from restaurants like Sparrow, 9th Door and Boulder’s Bacaro to lounges like Tryst, Sky Bar or Vinyl’s rooftop patio. Hieb typically schedules a break in the fall to help build excitement for the annual holiday event, and has high hopes for Saturday’s bash.
“I always want people asking me about the next event,” he says.
He’s hoping for a crowd of 400 or more on Saturday, including the usual singles crowd, plus a high percentage of couples who attend because of the charity involvement. A portion of the proceeds from the party will benefit the just-launched When I Grow Up Foundation, a new Colorado career program that pairs busy professional with high school kids for job shadows and career advice.
But this is no stuffy fundraiser. DJ Makyo will transform the lobby, bar, and the adjacent party pavilion at the hotel into a dance club for the night, with Mirepoix restaurant serving as the party’s VIP area. Three food stations, a dessert buffet and a full bar round out the scene.
Tickets $50/$75 VIP in advance through chillintime.com, or $60/$85 VIP at the event.
Winter Rockfest
If the necktie-and-networking scene is not your thing, hit the Winter Rockfest at Herman’s Hideaway this Saturday night to catch a slew of talented locals onstage.
Former acoustic duo The Trampolines will take the stage as a full band with two permanent members added this year, joining other local faves Rubber Planet, More Than Medium, No Fair Fights, Epilogue, Anava and Judah Stone. With tickets priced at only $8, that’s barely more than a buck a band.
Winter Rockfest at Herman’s Hideaway, 7 p.m., 21, 1578 S. Broadway, 303-777-5840.
Jazz it up
It may be called the Jazz Bar, but the monthly Soiree series at the Jazz Bar and Milk Bar at 1037 Broadway offers a party crowd that has little relation to your typical jazz scene.
The parties offer two very different vibes so you can switch up the experience throughout the evening. For tonight’s Holiday Soiree, the ninth in the series, plan to relax to live blues inside the Jazz Bar with The Johnny O Band, and then liven things up on the dance floor next door with the Soiree All Stars – DJs Tommy B, Satori-C, Devon Padgett, Vanish, Noah Deep, Aaron Eve, Digital Disko, Elroy, Justin Ortell, Robeb, Sennapede and Conor Nasty mixing up beats on the turntables all night. $10, 9 p.m., 303-572-8700.
Kat Valentine writes about nightlife
Fridays in 7Days. Reach her at kat@kingproduction.com or call 303-820-1568.
