Eat, drink … and be Mary.
That’s the slogan at Hamburger Mary’s – the gay-friendly hamburger joint that’s moving into the former Ruby/Vino Vino/La Scala space at 708 E. 17th Ave. It opens Friday with a benefit for the Colorado AIDS Project 7-10 p.m. From then on it’s open for business – and we mean business.
For now, owner Stew Jackson says Hamburger Mary’s will only rule in the former Ruby space, expanding into the Cliff Young/Dante Bichette space before summer. He’s also building a 2,000-square-foot patio behind the building.
I saw it before pics hit the wall, but much of the atmosphere from former residents survives. There’s Cliff Young in a mural above the bar, painted as Aristotle. The entire place has the strong Italian influence of Vino Vino.
Hamburger Mary’s will be run by Jackson’s daughter, Jennifer Kustok, and her husband, Jeffrey Kustok, who tell me it will not be some wild place, but a fun place. The only drag acts will be on the small stage. The menu, at
hamburgermarysdenver.com, features cala-mary, fishnet salad, “threesome” Caesar salads, pizzas, sandwiches and burgers: Desperate Housewives Burger, Proud Mary Burger, Queen Mary Burger, and the Mile High Flamer Burger.
Tyler two
Tyler Wiard is thisclose to hanging up his toque at Mel’s Bar and Grill and crossing the street to cook at Elway’s. He’s been cranking out some very special specials at Mel’s lately – including a beef trio that recently included Kobe filet, sliced hanger steak and a hamburger slider atop a tower of potato salad. Don’t bother me. I’m eating.
Wiard will be at Elway’s starting Tuesday, but he won’t be at Aspen Food & Wine Classic next month. For the past two years, Wiard has joined Solera’s Goose Sorenson to cook up more than 6,000 servings of quail and lamb for everyone in the Grand Tasting Test. It was the hit of the fest – but Wiard is headed to Budapest that week for a family wedding.
It’s good to be Elway
John Elway was at the Kentucky Derby Saturday – schmoozing with the folks at the Crown Royal Playboy Club. Go to denverpost.com/husted to see a pic of Elway at the Derby eve party with Playboy Miss May 2006 Alison Waite, “unidentified guest of John Elway” and 2006 Playmate of the Year Kara Monaco.
City Spirit
Author Stephen Singular is at the Tattered Cover Cherry Creek 7:30 p.m. Monday with his uplifting tome “Unholy Messenger: The Life and Crimes of the BTK Serial Killer” … Up and coming country star Pete Martinez played for the vice president – and he’ll play for you Saturday night at Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret. New Orleans piano man Henry Butler there Friday … Unusual Mother’s Day brunch spots include Mizuna and Botanic Gardens … The patio at Sketch opens with a party Friday night … Rubi Nicholas of Denver won “Nick at Nite’s Funniest Mom in America 2” laugh-off Tuesday … Barrel No. 1 of Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey gets tapped 4-8 p.m. today at The Distillery … Sez who: “Dawn! A brand new day! This could be the start of something average.” Ziggy
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Husted also appears Tuesdays and Fridays on “Good Day Colorado” on Fox 31. You can reach him at 303-820-1486 or at bhusted@denverpost.com.
