Clubs
Some things never go out of style. Mynt Mojito Lounge is a perfect example. The downtown lounge celebrates its four-year anniversary this weekend, and the pretty people still crowd in to sample the house mojitos while mixing, mingling, dancing, and people-watching.
“We’re happy that we’ve been in business for four years,” said Francois Safieddine, owner of Mynt, (1424 Market St.) along with sister lounges Monarck and 5 , and formerly, Lotus nightclub.
“At Mynt we try hard to focus on women with the drink menu and the Thursday night Girls Night Out event,” he said. “In downtown, every Friday and Saturday are busy, so we really try to promote different nights. At 5 it’s Wednesday, and at Mynt it’s Thursdays.”
Mynt’s generous happy hour helps pack in an early after-work crowd; every weekday from 4 until 9 p.m. the lounge offers $3 mojitos and martinis, plus $2.50 wines and wells. After 10 p.m or so, the late-night scene brings dolled-up downtown singles into the mix. This schedule has worked well for Mynt for the past four years, and aside from an occasional decorative face-lift, you can safely expect things to remain largely the same.
“We aren’t planning any big changes right now,” noted Safieddine. “Fours years is a good run and we’ll keep doing the same thing, other than freshening the décor.”
In November 2004 Mynt received a visual update when the interior changed from a stark white, mod design to a warmer look with earth tones, oversized portraits and sumptuous fabric panels. “People like our service, our name, and our product, so we’re able to offer them the same place with a new look by remodeling it every couple of years,” he said.
Saffiedines’ philosophy applies to all three of his lounges, and though last year he closed Lotus, his former nightclub in Union Station, he is still on the lookout for additional locations to expand his lounge-lizard empire. “I would do another nightclub again in a different location, but it was a good business decision to close Lotus,” he said. “We just spread ourselves too thin, and dealing with artists and promoters is hard when we’re used to just promoting our own businesses.”
For now, Safieddine is sticking with what he knows best: upscale lounges. He’s scouting locations in Cherry Creek and DTC and hopes to open two hotspots in the next year.
Flight plan
DC10, the airplane-themed bar and club at 940 Lincoln St., has been off the ground for a few weeks now and seems to have encountered only minor turbulence. Reports of a delayed opening – and a stray flat-screen TV crashing down – marred the opening July 7 shindig, but in the meantime they’ve gotten the nightly flight schedule smoothed out.
A recent Tuesday-evening visit revealed a thin crowd for the club’s nightly “Mile High” happy hour from 4 to 8 p.m., but owner Kostas Kouremenos says his crowds prefer to show up after 11 p.m. on weeknights.
“We’re getting a lot of bottle service reservations, and on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays we’ll get over 600 people in and out of the club,” he said.
Granted, during my last visit I didn’t stick around for the weekly Tuesday ladies’ night event, which includes an open bar for women from 9 p.m. until midnight, so perhaps I gave up too early. (Tip: The summery strawberry martini packs a serious punch despite its deceptively innocent color and flavor.)
Next time, I plan to board my flight later in the evening, when the daylight fades and allows the too-bright white décor to soften into washes of digitally-controlled colors, which show up best after dark. Tonight and Saturday, look for DC10’s “Destination Weekends” with music and visuals inspired by the Spanish party island of Ibiza. Sunday, it’s “Flaunt,” a weekly fashion event, featuring an open casting call for runway models. 303-771-3500.
Kat Valentine writes about nightlife Fridays in 7Days. Reach her at kat@kingproduction.com or call 303-820-1568.
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The Local Scene
Denver’s own “Gong Show”
You Suck! Get off the Stage pits comic hosts Greg Baumhauer and Ben Kronberg against some of Denver’s most shocking, hilarious and worthless performers. And yes, the original “Gong Show’s” gong will actually grace the stage. Check it out tonight and Saturday at the Oriental Theater, 4335 W. 44th Ave. 9:30 p.m. $10.
Matson Jones
Fort Collins’ best band, a cello-punk quartet that stole your mom’s wigs, will play tonight with Monofog, Fastluck and Sour Boy, Bitter Girl. The Aggie Theater, 204 S. College Ave. in Fort Collins. Doors at 8 p.m. $7.
Denver Jazz Quartet
In an attempt to bring new life to Denver’s fraying Civic Center, Civic Center Conservancy will offers a series of free concerts, including one on Saturday from this expert jazz ensemble. Wine and beer for sale for 21 and up. 6:30 p.m. Free.
High Plains Tradition
These middle-aged Colorado boys live up to their name with traditional bluegrass arrangements and regional touring. See them as they celebrate nearly 20 years together. With Doug Newton, Saturday at the United Center, 1440 Colorado Blvd. in Idaho Springs. 7:30 p.m. $10.
Staff writer John Wenzel can be reached at 303-820-1642 or jwenzel@denverpost.com.
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On Tour
FRIDAY|Rockygrass Festival featuring Earl Scruggs, Steve Earle, Yonder Mountain String Band @ Planet Bluegrass Ranch, sold out (through Sunday)|Miranda Sound @ Bender’s, $8, tickets at the door
SATURDAY|The Rentals @ Bluebird, $20, TicketWeb|Ween, Flaming Lips @ Red Rocks, sold out
MONDAY|Jeremy Enigk @ Bluebird, $15, TicketWeb|Bloc Party @ Ogden, $25, TicketWeb|Steely Dan, Michael McDonald @ Red Rocks, $55-$95, Ticketmaster
TUESDAY|Yellowcard @ Ogden, $26, TicketWeb|”Celtic Woman” @ Red Rocks, $75, Ticketmaster|Danava @ Larimer Lounge, $7, BigMarksTickets.com
WEDNESDAY|Rancid @ Ogden, $18, TicketWeb (also Thursday)|The Future-heads, Tapes ‘n’ Tapes @ Bluebird, $12, Tick-etWeb|Sparta @ Hi-Dive, $15, TicketWeb|Tim McGraw & Faith Hill @ Pepsi Center, sold out
THURSDAY|Reel Big Fish, MXPX @ Gothic, $20, TicketWeb|Lonestar @ Paramount Theatre, $39.50-$47.50, Ticketmaster|Manu Chao & Radio Bemba Sound System @ Fillmore, $25.50, Ticketmaster