Is this it? Is summer finally here?
After a few weeks of touch-and-go nasty weather, it seems that things are finally clearing up and we have weeks of patio time to savor.
This means it’s time for the Annual Patio Column: A quick compendium of spots to soak up the sun and put away a few chilly beverages. Here are a few ideas among the many worthy options around town.
Low-slung lounge 3014 (3014 E. Colfax Ave.) underwent some serious changes during the spring. About a third of the building was partitioned to create another space: Odelay Tacos, an in-house taqueria.
The rooms still are connected by a door, but 3014’s large streetside patio has been split in two. It doesn’t matter much — one’s just closer to the tacos, that’s all.
The big changes downstairs haven’t hurt 3014’s hidden gem: The upstairs patio. It’s hard for newbies to believe, but there’s a secluded, walled-in patio tucked away on the building’s hard-to-see second level. A full bar slings drinks, too, and if it’s slow, the bartenders will keep the rounds coming to your table without delay. 3014’s upstairs deck is especially great during daylight hours, when you can stay cool and shady while watching clouds pass over.
Just a couple of blocks away, Mezcal (3230 E. Colfax Ave.) will make use of its Colfax-facing patio for “Grilled Meats and Tasty Beats” throughout the summer.
For the “Grilled Meats” portion, Mezcal chefs set up a Mexican barbecue and al pastor feast on the patio from 5 to 10 p.m. After dinner, DJs will set up their decks and spin records under the stars.
The next “Grilled Meats and Tasty Beats” party hits Mezcal on June 16, starring DJ Styles Davis. The cookouts run every other Thursday through July 28.
Also on summer Thursdays, MiniBar (222 Columbine St.) rocks Cherry Creek North with its patio concert series.
The inside of MiniBar is small, naturally, but the below-street-level patio is the place to spread out. Every Thursday, MiniBar hosts live music outside from 6 to 9 p.m. After 9, a DJ takes over for late-night carousing.
This week’s music lineup includes Number Station and Seth Slaughter, followed by DJ Davon Williams. The evening’s specials are a Mexican mix: $1 tacos, $3 tequila shots and $4 house margaritas and Mexican beers.
There are lots of outdoor drinking spaces in LoDo, but few can compare to the back patio at My Brother’s Bar (2376 15th St.).
Filled with trees and lined with cozy wooden booths, My Brother’s patio is the place for hard-core relaxation. There’s a nice selection of beers on tap, too, meaning My Brother’s patio is really a glorious beer garden.
My Brother’s Bar is meant for conversation. The music is soft, the pace is easy, and ridiculous behavior is rare. It’s an oasis — a much-needed one during summertime.
Closing-time blowout.
News: LoDo staple 5 Degrees (1475 Lawrence St.) closes its doors for good on Saturday. As a final goodbye, 5 Degrees hosts a closing party on Saturday: $20 gets all-you-can drink wells, and select bottles are $50 off. DJ Squirt will spin top-40 hits to send the club out on a high note. Call 303-260-7505 to make a reservation.
Check ’em out.
Shows: Tonight, pick up some good vibes at “The Roots Dance: Back to Basics” at Wash Park Underground (266-B S. Downing St.), presented by the Dubwise Collective and starring DJs Uplifter and Da Teacha. The cover charge is $5; music starts at 9 p.m.
On Saturday, Lannie Garrett presents her new show, “The Chick Sings Frank” at Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret (1601 Arapahoe St.). The concert is a tribute to Ol’ Blue Eyes — Garrett sings the megahits and also tells tales of the crooner’s legendary life. Saturday’s show starts at 8 p.m.; tickets are $35. “The Chick Sings Frank” runs Saturdays through July 30.
