The Soiled Dove flew the LoDo coop back in January, and it’s landing in Lowry this weekend. While the old location has been revived as the Tavern Downtown, the new digs at 7401 E. First Ave. in the Lowry Town Center include the Tavern Lowry, a restaurant and bar, and the Soiled Dove Underground, a separate music and event venue downstairs.
With the Tavern Uptown on East 17th Avenue and a new Tavern DTC scheduled to start construction this fall, co-owner Frank Schultz is understandably pleased with the progress.
“We’re still in our honeymoon stage downtown,” Schultz said. “I wanted to put an upscale sports tavern there and stick it out, and now the block’s coming around again.”
And though he’s clearly happy with the changes downtown, the new Lowry space incorporates the best of downtown and uptown. “The Tavern Lowry has a great outdoor area,” he said. “We learned from the Tavern Uptown that people really like the greenery and the water features, so the (Lowry) patio has a waterfall, a creek, a koi pond, and all the tables are arranged around the water.”
Schultz applied the same idea for the new Soiled Dove Underground. “I made changes based on all the things we picked up in nine years at the Soiled Dove,” he said.
His plans included a better flow between the bar and venue areas, improved sight lines and acoustics, and even a recording studio to capture live shows. He hopes that the upstairs portion will serve as a neighborhood hangout, with the Soiled Dove used for special events, private parties, and occasional music and comedy shows.
Both locations officially open Monday, but you can have a sneak peek tonight when Hazel Miller performs at the Soiled Dove Underground as part of a fundraiser for the Lowry Foundation; Saturday they’ll host an open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. before a private VIP party in the evening.
Those naughty French
Here’s one for mile-high Francophiles: The lovely ladies of Denver’s Burlesque As It Was will grace the stage at Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret (1601 Arapahoe St.) this Saturday for “Burlesque Francais.” Similar to the club’s Tuesday night Retro Vaudeville series, Burlesque Francais will include skits by performers like Honey Touché, “the sweetheart of burlesque.”
Touché plans a French gypsy jazz number and will join the entire troupe onstage for an updated rendition of the can-can. Also planned: French poodles, café parodies, contortionists and comedy.
“The MC is doing comedy in between each act,” Touché said. “There is also something with a puppet, and there’s definitely an accordion involved. And then there’s the oyster girl.”
Think you’re ready for the oyster girl? Head down Saturday at 8 p.m. to see the show; call 303-293-0075 for reservations.
Prom night for grownups
Gals, it’s time to dig out the old prom dresses. Or the old bridesmaid dresses, or that wacky Halloween number you put together last year. Crashing Prom 2006 is coming to the Denver Turnverein (1570 Clarkson St.) on June 17, so you have hereby been given sufficient warning to find something appropriate to wear.
“Last year we heard from too many women who didn’t go because they didn’t have time to find a dress,” said Brian O’Haire, one of the organizers of the event, a fundraiser for The Gathering Place. “So this year we’re trying to get the word out earlier, and we changed the dress from the ’80s to all eras, so there’s no wardrobe stress.”
By “all eras,” he means anything goes, from Rapunzel to Napoleon Dynamite, as long as you make an effort. They’ll crown a Prom King and Queen – based on “shameless campaigning” during the party – and the winners will receive custom crowns by local artist Sean Doherty. DJ Tom Hoch of Mile High House will provide the dance music, and admission includes complimentary beer, 2 drink tickets, and a full bar.
Tickets to this adult prom run $35 for singles and $65 for couples; call 303-903-9164 for details.
Kat Valentine writes about nightlife Fridays in 7Days. Reach her at kat@kingproduction.com or call 303-820-1568.
