Heads up, nightlife denizens: A Denver location of the groovy Beauty Bar chain is in the works.
It’s taking over the former Snake Pit space at 608 E. 13th Ave., and it’ll be quite a change from the Snake Pit days of yore.
The Snake Pit was a place to drink seriously and listen to loud music while surrounded by an unpredictable assortment of misfits. If other Beauty Bar locations are an indication, Denver’s Beauty Bar is destined to be a favored hipster hangout.
That’s right — we’re talking tallboys of PBR, DJ nights and cool, kitschy decor. None of these things is bad, of course; they’re just hallmarks of the hipster invasion to come.
The location is just about perfect for the latest Beauty Bar, too. The neighbors include Wax Trax Records, Kilgore Books and Comics and Benny Blanco’s late-night pizza — a trifecta of awesomeness for cool kids about town.
Beauty Bar Denver is one of a burst of new locations for the New York-based chain, including upcoming joints in Portland, Ore., and Chicago. The new bars join locations in New York; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Austin, Texas; and a select few others to spread the Beauty Bar way of drinking: Sly, ’60s-obsessed and with a knowing wink.
The original Beauty Bar, in Manhattan, sets the template: Old-fashioned hair dryers for seats, checkered floors and retro styling all around. A weird fusion of golly-gee soda fountain and Grandma’s hair salon, Beauty Bar adds booze to the 20th-century formula and shakes well.
It’s not all for show, either. Beauty Bar New York claims to have invented the popular “Martinis and Manicures” combination that bars everywhere have adopted to lure in female customers. It’s very possible — the first Beauty Bar opened in 1995, eons ago in nightlife years. Expect the dynamic duo to be on special in Denver too.
The building’s facade doesn’t reveal much of what’s going on, but Beauty Bar Denver co-owner Noah Ray McMahan says they’re in the process of renovating the space.
Beauty Bar Denver is slated to open in mid-January. Start working on your best “Mad Men” hairdos and stay tuned.
“Gapers” welcome.
Behold the “gaper,” the scourge of the slopes: tangled skis, snow- soaked jeans and the famous gaper gap — a strip of exposed skin between goggles and hat.
Celebrate this treasured ski-town stereotype at the second annual Gaper Party at Oak Tavern, 1416 Market St. The LoDo bar is inviting everyone to wear their lamest ski gear: Totally ’80s neon jackets, dorky snow pants, lame hats and other awful items. Take a spin through your old ski stuff — it’s very possible you were a gaper at some point.
The party starts at 9 p.m.; there’s no cover.
Party for Jewish revelers.
Christmas Eve finds many party people holed up with the family, sipping eggnog and wearing ugly sweaters. For Jewish nightlifers, though, it’s a bonus night of party possibilities.
On Thursday, Heebonism 2009 capitalizes on the Friday day off with a blowout aimed at Denver’s young, Jewish scenesters. Hosted by E-3 Events at the Jet Hotel, 1612 Wazee St., the all-night bash features DJs Max Klaw, Ginger and Vajra on the decks, plus lots of mixing and mingling. An open bar after-party starts at 2 a.m.; fortunately, the Jet is offering $100 room rates.
The party starts at 8:30 p.m. Advance tickets are $18; admission is $25 at the door, or $20 with a donation of three nonperishable food items. For advance tickets and more information, visit .
