Famous 70-year-olds: Elton John, Hillary Clinton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and, as of this week, Gaetano’s.
The iconic red sauce restaurant has outlasted, well, just about everyone and everything, surviving recessions, neighborhood changes and ownership switcheroos. For its 70th birthday bash, taking place Nov. 7-11, Gaetano’s will be hosting mob tours, throwing a party and bringing back dishes from the restaurant’s past. Here’s the line-up:
Tuesday: Speakeasy Night begins at 5 p.m., with whiskey tastings and specials all night long.
Wednesday: Denver Post alum Dick Kreck will be talking about the history of the Smaldone family (the original Gaetano’s owners) at 3 p.m.
Thursday: Mob tours of the neighborhood! Buses leave at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. ($30; reservations required.)
Friday: Mob Night party, with a live band (beginning at 8:30 p.m.), throwback cocktails, anniversary beer and prizes for the best mobster costumes.
Saturday: Mobster Brunch begins at 11 a.m., and an evening gala — complete with formal dress and birthday cake — gets going at 6 p.m.
Gaetano’s: 3760 Tejon St., Denver, 303-455-9852;