Still groaning from Thursday’s overindulgence ?
If you’re not worn out from hitting the holiday shopping rounds, head out tonight to burn some calories on the dance floor. Here is a roundup of places to try:
Euro House. Hit the rooftop at Vinyl (1082 Broadway) tonight for the Rooftop Sessions, featuring Âme + Dixon. Expect a high-BPM mix of Euro house beats, with Kristian Beyer and Frank Wiedemann, a.k.a. Âme, bringing eclectic and soulful house mixes (they’re the German duo behind the 2005 tech-house club hit “Rej”) and Berlin-based Dixon’s pounding German house music keeping the club hopping on top. Inside, DJ Craze and beatboxer Killa Kela will drop hip-hop, breaks, and drum & bass on the main floor, and the party continues afterhours with the Ame + Dixon after party at 2AM Afterhours (1144 Broadway). Drop in before 11 p.m. for discounted $5 cover.
Winter wonderland . The hills are alive with the sound of skiers. If you’re heading slopeside this weekend, stop in Vail for the three- year anniversary weekend at Samana Lounge (228 Bridge St.). Tonight, it’s DJ Rithma (Om Records) bringing deep beats and live vocals to the club, and Saturday night, Spain’s Tres Manos makes his first appearance at Samana, with Denver’s DJ Ivy opening. (Catch Tres Manos late on Saturday night at the “Got Bump?” after hours party at 2930 Larimer St., with Jack Roldan, Uriah West, Miss Audrey, Travis Press and Ejay. The party starts at 10 p.m. Saturday and wraps at 5 a.m. Sunday.)
Acoustic classics. If you’d rather chill to some laid-back acoustic rock than rock it on the dance floor, drop by the Highland Pacific restaurant and bar to catch guitarist/vocalist Dewey Paul and members of his Dylan66 band perform a free acoustic set tonight.
Dylan66 is a collective of local all-star musicians who gather to play variations on the music of Bob Dylan, but tonight’s set will include Paul’s original songs, plus covers of artists such as Johnny Cash, Van Morrison, The Band and more. Leftover Salmon‘s keyboardist Bill McKay will sit in, along with other guests TBA. The show starts at 10 p.m., as does the late happy hour from 10 p.m. to midnight, with $3 shots, drafts and wells. 3934 W. 32nd St.
Game on. Maloney’s Tavern opened two weeks ago at 1432 Market St. in LoDo, and though it’s part of a national chain, the spot has an immediate neighborhood-bar appeal.
Anyone who remembers the space as Bara Sushi, Tommy Tsunami’s or the Tom Tom Room from recent years is in for a surprise. The remodeled bar and game room areas leave no reminders of former occupants. The main room is filled nearly completely by a huge oval bar crammed with bar stools, with a scattering of tables and booths surrounding it. Up two steps to the left, the adjacent game room offers billiards tables and other table sports.
On opening night, the place was packed to the hilt with partiers taking advantage of the open bar for the first few hours. And though the spot offers up a handful of signature 12-ounce martinis, most patrons opted for the basics, with beer, wine and mixed drinks making far more appearances than the martinis. My crew found the food bland at best, but judging the menu based on an opening night freebie bash is nowhere near decisive.
We did love the music, a slightly cheesy but crowd-appropriate mix of ’80s pop and rock hits (Madonna‘s “Material Girl,” Def Leppard‘s “Rock of Ages”), and the staff obviously enjoyed it as well, rocking out behind the bar and booty-shaking through the crowd.
Overall, if you’re looking for an upscale downtown-lounge atmosphere, go next door to Mynt or Monarck. But if you’d rather find a low-key hangout to watch the game, play pool, grab a drink and nosh on bar food, Maloney’s fits the bill.
Kat Valentine: 303-954-1568 or kat@kingproductions.com
