Wish (511 W. Colfax Ave.; 303-825-0852), the new nightclub from local party king Kevin Larson, opened Sept. 5 in a flurry of buzz and omnipresent promotion. Billed as a sophisticated hangout for party people over age 25, as well as an events center for rent, Wish promised “an embracing, organic environment.”
Just before the grand opening, Larson hosted a VIP-and-press party on Sept. 3. The place was getting packed as early as 10 p.m. When free drinks are at stake, Denver’s VIPs mobilize.
Wish is “embracing,” all right. The club is a small labyrinth of rooms and nooks, and it’s a little dark in the spaces between them. With a few too many drinks in the tank, it’d be easy to get lost, wandering about with mouth agape at all the pretty lights (Candles are everywhere.).
Organic? There aren’t any windows in the place, but plant life is indeed in evidence, scattered throughout the club in vases. There’s a, well, “conversation pit,” too, that has faux tree trunks at its corners. It’s a good idea for a club in Colorado, a place that lives on its outdoorsy reputation.
Live entertainment is a cornerstone of the Wish mission — accordingly, a chanteuse crooned as the crowd swelled. The stage is the focus of Wish’s main room, and it’s the first thing guests see upon walking into the club.
But if the night’s entertainment doesn’t appeal, there are lots of places to get away and relax.
One of Wish’s finer features is its ample seating. Huge banquettes and comfy couches are readily available, and there is the waitstaff ready to help.
Wish is next door to the Diamond Cabaret, so rumors swirled that Wish is going to incorporate a little tasteful nudity, too. I didn’t see anything while at the press party, but online party pictures from the official grand opening showed some burlesque action onstage. Gentlemen, your wish has come true.
Wish is open to the public Friday and Saturday nights — it’s available for rent the rest of the week. Cover charge on the weekends is $5 for ladies and $10 for guys.
Bark and bite.
The Bulldog Bar (3602 E. Colfax Ave.; 303-333-4345) is not a place you’d expect to find a raging karaoke night. The East Colfax watering hole is a dose of old- school reality in the rapidly gentrifying neighborhood around the Bluebird Theater.
On Saturday nights, though, the Bulldog fills with a lively crowd looking to knock back a few and belt their hearts out.
The choice of songs at the Bulldog is pretty impressive, too. The book is big — Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” is in there, of course, but so is The Smith’s “This Charming Man.”
In true Bulldog form, this night isn’t for the faint-hearted. The DJ on a recent Saturday sang a distinctly foul-mouthed rendition of Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine,” much to the delight of the crowd.
The Bulldog is the opposite of trendy, so go somewhere else to get appletinis and mod furniture with your karaoke. Come to the Bulldog when you’re ready for booze, bar stools and the opportunity to sing a suite of Color Me Badd songs.
Dig the ‘Weed.
John Digweed isn’t just a superstar DJ. He lives and breathes the music he loves.
When he’s not spinning house and trance, Digweed is hosting his U.K. radio show, “Transitions.” Or he’s producing new music under different aliases. Or promoting shows — also under aliases.
He’s got hustle, that’s for sure. On Thursday, that hustle brings him to Beta (1909 Blake St.; 303-383-1909) for a sure-to-be- packed show. He’s making a quick swing through the United States on his latest world tour, and Denver’s one of only four U.S. dates.
That’s right: Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York and Denver. Just another sign that Beta is putting Denver on the world map of electronic-music hotspots.
Presale tickets are $10 at .
