The Empire, 816 Main St., Louisville; 303-665-2521;
Where’s the fire?
In Brendan McManus’ belly, apparently. The volunteer firefighter has joined the line with former Tante Louise chef Jim Cohen to fill a space left vacant by Pasquini’s, and the gaping holes in our stomachs. The whole place — decor to dessert — has been reinvented into a loungey spot where you can belly up to the historic bar for an old fashioned made from cherry infused bourbon, or settle in for a full meal that starts with a plate of grilled oysters with a little lime butter and watercress, and ends with a chocolate and caramel tart dressed with a dash of fleur de sel.
Liberation theory
Black History Month Lecture Series, Monday-Thursday, 4 p.m., UMC room 247, University of Colorado; affairs/cma/events.htm
How struggle works
Black History Month gets rolling with a lecture series and panel discussions examining liberation. Reiland Rabaka, Ph.D., goes first, with “The Beautiful Struggle of African-American Radical Politics and Social Movements,” on Monday. Other events, including films and a poetry slam, round out the offerings for the month.
Sweet tour
Chocolate Affair, 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. Saturday, in historic Olde Town Arvada. $5 to taste; $15 to take a carriage ride. Tickets: 303-420-6100
For the love of chocolate
There’s plenty sweet somethings going on Saturday in Arvada. Ride around town in a horse-drawn carriage, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m.; sample the wares of local chocolatiers, bakers and restaurants, 1-3 p.m. at the Old School House; take the family on a chocolate bit treasure. Along the way, make sure to gawk at the giant hearts bearing declarations of love hanging from lampposts. One might be for you!
