You deserve this ramen
It’s cold outside, so you probably want some ramen. Lucky for you, Kazan Ramen Bistro opened Dec. 22 in the former Axios Estiatorio space. So what makes this ramen different from the ? Kazan cooks the ramen right there in front of you, via a 572-degree stone bowl and red volcano-esque cover that steams when your soup is ready for slurping. 3901 Tennyson St., Denver, 720-535-7252;
Give trees a chance
Have you, too, long lamented Denver’s lack of tree-themed bars? Well lament no more, because Tatarian, the tree-themed bar by the Union Lodge No. 1 and Arvada Tavern team, opened Dec. 26. Tatarian (a kind of maple tree, in case you’re wondering), will mix up earthy cocktails named after and inspired by trees. The Pirangi (named for the world’s largest cashew tree) is a blend of cachaca (similar to rum), becherovka (herbal liqueur), ginger liquor, cinnamon, hibiscus lemon syrup, angostura and lemon bitters. See? You want to try it, don’t you? 4024 Tennyson St., Denver, 720-840-3462;
Well we all Shine on
New year, new location for Shine Restaurant & Potion Bar. The oh-so-Boulder spot closed up in September on 13th St. (), but will open up at a new location in The Village Shopping Center on Jan. 5. If you’re curious about the potions part of the name (and I know you are), a press release describes them as being, “enchanted beverages” that “through a harmony of nourishing adaptogenic herbs, vibrational essences, sound-frequencies and more” are “tuned to a specific intention.” So that’s totally normal. 2480 Canyon Blvd., Boulder; 303-449-0129; ; Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 9 a.m.-11 p.m.