Despite the conventional wisdom, sometimes it’s OK to mess with a good thing.
Paul Piciocchi is fine with it. After six years of Tryst Lounge (1512 Lawrence St.), Piciocchi decided to go ahead and change the bar’s name and concept — and why not?
“I originally designed (Tryst) six years ago for what I personally liked in a venue, basically an extension of my living room, where I could have friends over for cocktails,” Piciocchi said.
“In the last six years, LoDo has changed and what I look for in a venue has changed, so I just felt it was time to update the experience to something a little more fun and laid- back.”
Tryst is now The Dive on Fifteenth, with a slightly tweaked look and a different feel. Where Tryst was aiming for “sexy lounge,” The Dive is more a casual hangout. Foosball, a dart board, a $3 wheel o’ shots and chalkboard walls help make the place feel like a friend’s tricked-out basement.
A lot of Tryst remains, however. Piciocchi kept the open garage door, strawberry-infused vodka and digital art wall, along with the same, familiar staffers.
“Overall, we tried to keep the warm feeling of Tryst, while adding a more fun and entertaining vibe,” Piciocchi said.
Along with The Dive, Piciocchi has a hand in a string of Denver bars just a block away. The Drink, Mix Music Lounge and Rack & Rye sit in a row on 15th Street between Larimer and Market streets. Each serves its own purpose: The Drink’s the sports bar, Mix the upscale hangout and Rack & Rye is a sedate restaurant and pub. How is The Dive going to fit in with its relatives?
“I like each of my venues to have a different feeling, so Dive would probably be seen as the most casual,” said Piciocchi. “Within a block of each other, hopefully there is a little something for everyone no matter what they’re craving.”
And Tryst die-hards shouldn’t be sad. Tryst isn’t dead — it’s just hopped a plane to Mexico.
“I originally came up with the design of Tryst after visiting Playa del Carmen just before the start of construction,” Piciocchi said. “Next month, I’m taking over a night-life venue in the heart of Playa and will be moving the Tryst brand there. It seemed fitting that after six years, Tryst would move to the beach town that inspired it.”
Isn’t that sweet? Learn more about the new Dive on Fifteenth at .
World class.
Beta’s (1909 Blake St.) star just keeps rising.
The LoDo club announced April 8 that DJ Mag awarded it the No. 19 spot this year on the magazine’s list of the world’s top 100 clubs.
Beta’s one of only two American clubs in the London-based magazine’s top 20. The other club, Space Miami, squeaked above Beta at No. 18 on the list.
Congratulations are in order. Celebrate Beta’s success with Dutch trance-house-electro DJ Sander van Doorn, spinning Saturday at the club. (He’s ranked No. 10 in the world on DJ Mag’s “Top 100 DJs” list, by the way.)
Advance tickets for Saturday’s show are $10 at .
It’s beautiful.
More good news: The Denver location of Beauty Bar (608 E. 13th Ave.) is on track to open in June.
On April 5, the bar announced the grand opening, slated for June 19, via their Facebook page. The news was greeted with joy among BB’s fans — they’re currently pushing 1,000 online friends, quite a feat for a joint that hasn’t even opened yet.
As part of the New York-based chain of ultrahip hangouts, the excitement is possibly due, in large part, to Beauty Bar’s signature Martinis and Manicures happy hour.
Just a couple more months, everyone. Hang in there.
