Fall is finally here, and it feels like it: changing leaves, chillier breezes and a peculiar frisson in the air that says Halloween is coming soon.
It’s time once again for the Annual Spooky Bar Column. Get in the spirit of the season by visiting some of Denver’s old haunts, places where it’s easy to pretend that the boozehounds of bygone times are still lurking around the bar.
Here are a few suggestions for joints to investigate. They may or may not be haunted for real — probably not — but it’s fun to let the imagination run wild.
The Ship Tavern at the Brown Palace Hotel (321 17th St.) is a suitably storied spot to attract wandering souls. Tucked away in a corner of the huge, old hotel, the Tavern feels like a step into the past.
It’s dark inside, and at certain times strangely quiet, with lone travelers drifting in and out. The decor is based on old maps and nautical memorabilia. Is that guy sitting at the bar in a fedora trying too hard to look cool, or is he a strange visitor from the past?
The Ship Tavern and the Brown Palace don’t give off any “The Shining” vibes, but there’s a thrill in exploring the building’s old-school glamour and rich history.
Another hotel bar, Charlie Brown’s (980 Grant St.), boasts a famous literary background. Charlie Brown’s occupies the northwest corner of the Colburn Hotel, a former hangout for the Beats: Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and their merry band of artistic free spirits.
Despite a recent, tasteful remodel, little has changed at C-Brown’s. Strangely, it also has hints of a nautical theme, including old model ships docked inside a case above the bar. (Elvis is up there, too.) They can be hard to see, though — Charlie Brown’s is comfortably dark once the sun goes down.
Often, in the early evenings, a band of seasoned regulars gathers around the bar’s piano to sing 20th-century songs: Patsy Cline’s “Walkin’ After Midnight,” tunes from “The Music Man,” a couple of Rat Pack favorites. If you sit in the amber light and listen, it’s easy to imagine that some of the voices might be ringing from another plane.
High-end cocktail lounge Green Russell (1422 Larimer St.) is on the newer side, but its speakeasy ambience is a throwback to more elegant — and dangerous — times. The subterranean room is dim, appointed with comfortable chairs and intimate booths. Cocktails are expertly crafted, expensive and served with a flourish. This is not the place to get loud and stupid: It’s a class joint, pal, so straighten up, and behave.
Except for the glowing in-house garden, Green Russell’s replication of an early- to mid-20th-century hangout is a little eerie. The urge to wear T-strap shoes and a flapper dress is strong. But maybe that’s just something blowing in from one of the underground tunnels that supposedly run beneath the streets of LoDo.
The truth is out there, people. Halloween’s a great time to look for it.
A lovely weekend.
Beta’s (1909 Blake St.) got the usual lineup of big-name DJs for the weekend, including big beat/dub/grime player Bare tonight and superstar Pete Tong on Saturday. Sunday’s party is a touchy-feely departure for the club, however: It’s “Puppy Love Sunday.”
Dogs and their people will be welcome at Beta for an afternoon of canine good times, including a bazaar of pet businesses, contests and, of course, drinks. The all-ages party benefits MaxFund, a no-kill animal shelter in Denver. Visit for more information, including links to show tickets.
