Lew Cady, publisher and owner of the Central City newsletter Little Kingdom Come, said he came to this year’s National Western Stock Show to buy a belt and a belt.
The belt he chose was brown leather with snaps so he could slip on the brass “KD” buckle that his brother had made for both Kady brothers.
The other belt was a long slug of Coors original at the Cowboy Bar, perhaps the most popular place in the National Western Complex during the show that continues through Jan. 24.
This year’s Cowboy Bar, inside the steer-holding area where the animals are blow- dried and preened for showing, is bigger with more tables to take a load off your booted feet and high-top tables for bellying up to a beer and a shot of Jack Daniel’s.
The peanuts are still free, and discarding shells on the concrete floor is highly encouraged. Speaking of bars, brand new this year is the Tack Room Bar, a bit tough to find unless you’re determined to hit the happy hour where a Coors draught is $4 ($6.50 after 4 p.m.).
It’s tucked behind the practice paddock for horses in the Events Center. It’s motto? “We open when we open, we close when we close.” Tack Room barflies can play horseshoes or darts.
Also new this year is Island Noodles, a franchise owned by James Tredway, who will tell you he’s from Denton, Texas, as if you need to ask. The accent gives him away.
Buckwheat noodles are wok-fired with 21 vegetables, soy sauce and garlic. The traveling stand will be back in Colorado at the Fairplay burro races, Salida in June and the Greeley Stampede.
Foodie fodder.
Swing Thai, a popular Thai restaurant, opened its fourth Denver location inside the Jet Hotel, at 16th and Wazee streets, on Wednesday.
On Monday at 10 a.m., Buddhist monks will be at the new spot to perform a blessing. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The Denver Biscuit Co. recently opened at 3237 E. Colfax Ave., sharing space with the Colfax hangout Atomic Cowboy.
Last year, owner Drew Shader opened Fat Sully’s in the front of the Atomic Cowboy, serving New York-style pizza. The Denver Biscuit Co. features Southern-style comfort food with house-made sausage gravy, buttermilk fried chicken and home- cured pickles. Hours: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekends; 4 to 11 p.m. weekdays.
Eavesdropping
on a woman talking about the giant revolving hamburger at the Monster Burger stand at the stock show: “My husband says he won’t go to any hamburger stand that talks to him.”
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.
