It’s time for me to say goodbye to the clubs column. Now that I’ve hit the married-with-children stage of my life, the days of greasy breakfasts at 2 a.m. and after-hours dancing until 4 a.m. have faded away, and staying out past midnight now constitutes a late night.
Next week I’ll be handing the reins over to someone new. So after seven years of covering the nightlife scene in town — and considering the annual slump that is the weekend after New Year’s Eve — I thought I’d sign off by offering up a few of my perennial favorite neighborhood joints for whiling away the night.
Belly up.
Next time you’re looking to belly up solo somewhere, Cafe Cero (1446 S. Broadway) is always a welcoming spot. Over the years this place has offered various types of bar food, a local-music stage, killer Halloween parties and plenty of private after-hours gatherings. It’s a favorite of the neighborhood’s creative types and struggling musicians, with a few hard-drinking barflies and DU frat boys thrown in for good measure. I’ve always loved the staff, and the quirky angles of the old Victorian structure that houses the bar. Best part? Every time I’ve popped in solo, I’ve ended up deep in conversation with the person sitting next to me.
Guilty pleasure.
I imagine that we all have our guilty pleasures. Mine is located in the back corner of Charlie Brown’s Bar & Grill (980 Grant St.), where Patrick the piano man holds court every Tuesday through Saturday from 10 p.m. until last call. CB’s is a well- worn old hotel bar with a “Cheers” atmosphere and, somewhat randomly, awesome Greek pizza. The piano is surrounded by bar stools, and a rotating cast of regulars sings along together to show tunes, classic rock, pop hits and Irish drinking songs. Many of my hipper-than-thou associates wouldn’t be caught dead singing along to “Wild Rover” with a tipsy, often off-key chorus that ranges from 20-somethings to octogenarians, but for me, it’s a classic.
Perfect patio.
The Platte River Bar & Grill (5995 S. Santa Fe Drive) is a biker bar for both weekend warriors, whose Harleys line the front parking lot on sunny weekends, and cyclists who drop in off the South Platte River trail in the rear. The menu features decent salads, sandwiches, burgers and beers, but the real draw is the patio. A huge, multilevel deck surrounds the building on three sides, and was built around a handful of tall cottonwood trees that provide dappled shade in summer, while allowing the sun to warm the area in the colder months. My favorite part: the view over the South Platte River and off to the foothills adds a mountain-town getaway vibe to this oasis in the ‘burbs.
Wine & cheese.
Old South Pearl Street has plenty of worthwhile destinations, but Village Cork (1300 S. Pearl St.) has been my go-to wine bar since it opened. The ever- changing list of wines and artisan cheeses always satisfies, and the cozy space is ideal for small gatherings of friends. Brick walls and dark wood lend a vintage atmosphere, and the walls of windows are lined with “curtains” of strung corks. Pull up a spot with a larger group at the community table in the newly expanded back room, or plop down at the bar to meet a few new friends.
Classic dive.
Though some may argue that calling Gabor’s (1223 E. 13th Ave.) a dive bar is unfair, I stand by the description and intend it in a most affectionate way. The black- and-white floor tiles are worn, the wine is served from a jug, the pool cues are warped and the bathrooms are only marginally functional. But the jukebox rocks, and the cheery strings of white lights, framed black-and- white photographs of Hollywood starlets, and comfy red vinyl booths give Gabor’s a timeless charm that can’t be beat. My advice? Skip the wine (you’ll thank me in the morning) and order up something old school. The gimlets are first rate, and you’ll never go wrong by ordering an icy-cold dirty martini or Manhattan at the bar.
Kat Valentine has written The Denver Post’s Clubs column since 2000. Next week, Kathleen St. John takes over.
