Reiver’s celebrates its 30th anniversary this weekend. My head hurts already.
The bar on Old South Gaylord has welcomed jocks and preppies and God knows what else since 1977, a lot longer than most gin mills in this city.
I hung out there plenty, back in the day, when I learned there were two 4 o’clocks. And you could stay up even later at Reiver’s discussing Vietnam with founder Bill Jones.
My ex-wife used to say you could find anything you wanted at Reiver’s – except a marriage counselor.
Doc Roberts, who’s been working on Gaylord Street for 30 years and at Reiver’s for 18, says they’ll celebrate with drink and food specials Thursday through Sunday. Saturday night is Alumni Night – for old customers and employees.
Will Frothingham, who opened the joint with Jones, is coming down from the mountains. And maybe bar-hopper Teddy Thaxter will come back from Connecticut.
So how can a bar last 30 years? Jones, who sold it nine years ago, says: “It’s all about luck in this business. When we picked that location, everyone thought we were nuts. But it’s a wonderful neighborhood – and at the time we did it, there were very few decent neighborhood taverns.”
It’s also a salute to Dan Shipp, says Jones, who bought the place nine years ago and gave it a big redo last year.
I figure it’s the people. The ones who lived through it, anyway. See you Saturday night.
To the MAX. The annual MAX fashion show comes down Dec. 1 at Exdo Event Center at 3500 Walnut St. The party starts late (fashion show is at 10 p.m.) and goes late – with half-naked models, the swankiest swells in the city, cocktails, craziness – and dancing to tunes from a DJ flown in from Berlin.
“There’s always a new crop of young men and women at the party,” says host Max Martinez. “And I think this is the strongest collection of clothes I’ve had in 23 years.”
It’s a benefit for the Volunteers of America Brandon Center. Former Channel 4 anchor Stephanie Riggs is the honorary chair. Front-row tix are sold out at $250; general admission is $50. Call 303-307-7335.
Beerhouse Five. The Wynkoop Brewing Co. honors the memory of Kurt Vonnegut (he died Nov. 11 last year) at 3 p.m. Sunday with Kurt’s Mile High Malt at the bar, after a reading of Vonnegut at the Tattered Cover LoDo and a contest for the worst Vonnegut-style essay.
City spirit. Colorado author Kent Haruf is on Fox 31’s “Good Day Book Club” at 9 this morning – talking about his novel “Eventide,” the upcoming dramatic adaptation of “Plainsong” by the Denver Center Theatre Company and his upcoming book “West of Last Chance,” a touching look at the West with photographs by Peter Brown and text by Haruf. … Sez who: “I finally have a dental plan. I chew on the other side.” Janine DiTullo
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Husted also appears Tuesdays and Fridays on “Good Day Colorado” on Fox 31. You can reach him at 303-954-1486 or at bhusted@denverpost.com. Take a peek at Husted’s next column at .
