Happy hour at Linger (2030 W. 30th Ave.) is so, well, happy, that it’s easy to forget the morbid history of the building.
It’s not like they’re hiding it: Linger occupies a huge, old Olinger mortuary. The original neon sign still beams into the night, but with the “O” removed and the “mortuaries” reworked to say “eatuaries.”
The idea is funny, and it seems to be working. Linger’s weekday happy hour, 4 to 6:30 p.m., is delightfully lively.
Available in the upstairs bar area only, the happy hour deals include price breaks on signature beverages, wine and beer, as well as nibbles from the kitchen. Post-work partiers can fill up and unwind without raiding their bank accounts — and may be tempted to stick around for dinner.
The upstairs bar is fairly gigantic, a long, tall space with a variety of seating options. Highboy tables and comfortable booths seat bigger parties, while a row of two-top mini-booths calls out to couples. (The two-person booths are undeniably cute, but a little short on legroom — even for the vertically challenged.) Seating is open, so there’s no need to check in with a hostess or wait for a seat.
Two places are especially cool to sit: Near the windows and at the bar. Linger’s huge windows offer a stunning view of the Denver skyline. It’s completely unobstructed, making it hard to stop staring as the city lights begin to twinkle at dusk.
The bar twinkles with lights of its own — a rainbow assortment of glowing Lite-Brite pegs. It’s beautiful and adorably retro, bringing back warm memories of childhood. The pretty lights look good illuminating a just-poured cocktail, too.
Linger is big on retro-cool and nudging humor throughout. The first photograph that greets visitors downstairs is a black-and-white snap of a sexy lady popping out of a casket, very alive, with a smile on her face. Upstairs, the happy-hour menus are printed on oversized morgue toe tags. Water is served in slightly creepy, laboratory-looking jugs plainly marked “WATER.” The wine list comes inside the type of metal folder used for medical charts.
Yes, it sounds spooky, but it’s just a little black humor. The overall atmosphere is anything but grim — this isn’t some Halloween gimmick. Service is attentive and friendly, and the food is vibrant. On a recent happy-hour visit, the snacks on sale included Mongolian-barbecued duck in steamed buns and a duo of sesame short-rib tacos, each for $5 or less. Both were delicious.
Who knew hanging out in an old mortuary could be so much fun?
Get a midweek jump-start at the brand-new “Cora Vette’s Humpday Burlesque” at Bar Standard (1037 Broadway) on Wednesday.
Hosted, naturally, by Denver burlesque star Cora Vette, the weekly show will feature Cora and her ladyfriends from the BurlyCuties, including Vivienne VaVoom, Eve Harmony, Lily D’Lovely and Ms. P. Coque. As the mood gets bawdier, Cora takes over with her “Cora’s Naughty Bits” cabaret act.
Doors are at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Advance tickets are available at — otherwise, it’s $10 at the door.
Shows: Support Denver’s “Girls Rock” camp this First Friday with two parties. The “Boys Rock For Girls” benefit will take over the Treehouse Youth Arts School (734 Santa Fe Drive), starring Joshua Novak, Now Forever, Hunting Party and Spokeshaver, plus beer from Renegade Brewing. Admission is free, but a $5 to $10 donation is suggested. The show starts at 8 p.m.
At Sputnik (3 S. Broadway), join in a silent art auction to benefit the camp while a DJ spins records, starting at 6 p.m. Admission to the Sputnik shindig is free. Visit for more information.
It’s a weekend of fresh faces at Beta (1909 Blake St.), starting tonight with bassmaster Figure, followed by upstart tech-house heads the Martinez Brothers on Saturday. Advance tickets are $10 each at .
