Sitting at the bar, I thought I recognized the early strains of a killer Mates of State song, “Ha Ha.”
But then the guitar kicked in, and U2’s “The Sweetest Thing” let down my indie- rock addiction.
It’s a game I like to play – call it Name That Song as Fast as You Possibly Can – and most of the time I play alone. But this time my friend Becky was with me at Cru, the new wine bar in Larimer Square. Right as I was about to express my disdain for this overrated and played-out U2 track, I realized our bartender, Mike, was singing along with the song, ever so softly.
And he knew every word.
Mike was cool, so I let it pass. Until another U2 song came on. And another.
It’s a small pet peeve, but I believe a bar should have great music – and it should always be presented mix-tape style. Even if I’m the president of U2’s fan club I don’t want to go to a bar to listen to “Rattle and Hum” or a U2 compilation.
Thankfully the sounds of conversation and clinking wine glasses drowned out the music overhead. It was gorgeous outside, so the doors were opened to a sunny and bustling Larimer Street.
And oh yeah, the wine.
Cheers to Cru for having the confidence and style to truly pull off the idea of flights. While many restaurants offer wine flights, Cru specializes in them and presents them in a way that makes them an everyday experience.
First, they’re affordable. In the $10-$20 range, it’s simple and fun to sample three wines. They’re also fun, with names such as First Class Chardonnays, Backpacking Through Europe, Better Blends and Sexy Shiraz. You could go with a friend, order two flights and sample six quality wines for less than $25. And the informative cards that come along with the flights are ideal for tucking away until that next trip to Argonaut.
It’s good news for everybody except the dishwashers.
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Cru Wine Bar
1442 Larimer St., 303-893-9463
Funky: Don’t miss the downstairs lounge. Stairs are in
the rear.
Skunky: The stemware is emblazoned with the restaurant’s logo, which is kind of cheesy.
