It started out as a fresh idea. Brittney Wilson wanted to prove to her dad that she could make a living with her art degree from Auburn University.
She found a vacant space in bustling Cherry Creek North and set up shop. Canvas and Cocktails opened with little fanfare four months ago, and with advertising and word of mouth, Wilson was building her business.
Until someone ratted her out to Denver’s Excise and License Department. Last week, a detective paid her an unannounced visit to check out the operation.
During the day, Wilson runs the store like a retail outlet selling handmade pottery and jewelry. Wednesday through Sunday nights, she holds public painting classes for groups up to 52 where attendees are invited to BYOB and learn to paint pictures on canvases.
During a subsequent visit to Excise and License, Wilson learned she was indeed in violation of the liquor law. Instead of holding public classes, Wilson has to make the classes private, lock her door during the event, and record names of guests, which essentially cuts off her ability to do retail trade for three hours.
Her next move was to apply for a beer-and- wine-only liquor license, but no go, according to Alan Dill, a Denver attorney whose firm, Dill Dill Carr Stonbraker & Hutchings, specializes in Colorado’s liquor laws.
“There’s no license that fits her,” Dill said about the various types of liquor licenses available. “That’s why you can’t go into a barbershop and sell liquor. In Colorado, the two don’t fit.”
A hotel and restaurant license, for example, requires an establishment to operate a full sanitary kitchen with 25 percent food sales. A tavern license covers only those establishments whose primary business is selling alcohol.
“She can close her store to the public, and they can bring their own liquor and sit and paint,” Dill said. “That’s like inviting someone over to your house.”
A little help from her friends.
A 15-year employee at Highland’s Garden Cafe is fighting stomach cancer without the benefit of insurance.
Fellow employees are throwing a fundraiser for her from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday where all of their tips and 100 percent of food sales will go to her to help cover medical expenses.
Reservations: 303-458-5920 or at .
Reid’s needs.
When Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid came to town Thursday to discuss the political power of the West, his load was a little light.
Before heading to the Colorado History Museum, Reid and his Secret Service entourage filled in the blanks of the senator’s to-pack list. Missing were a pair of socks, a book and a yoga mat.
Don’t know about the socks and the book, but the yoga mat? They pulled up to CorePower Yoga on East 13th Avenue near Grant Street.
“I didn’t know who he was, but I knew he was somebody important,” manager Meghan Burney said. “We had people coming out of class and wanting to know who the Secret Service were here with. We invited him for class, but he was just looking for a mat, so we helped him out, he paid for it and he left.”
Eavesdropping
on two men at Andrisen Morton men’s clothing store in Cherry Creek North: “What are you doing this weekend?
“I have a wedding to attend.”
“You excited?”
“No. Quite frankly, I don’t even like attending my own weddings.”
Penny Parker’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Listen to her on the Caplis and Silverman radio show between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-AM (630). Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.
