One month left for LoDo steak house

Sullivan’s, the LoDo steak house owned by Texas-based Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group, will close May 30 at the end of its lease, according to a story last week on The Denver Business Journal’s website.

The restaurant, popular for its nightly live jazz music in the bar, was a 15-year-old fixture in a historic building on the corner of 17th and Wazee streets.

The hotspot has been a favorite of Rockies fans who stop in for a quick drink and bar bites before and after games at nearby Coors Field.

“We truly value the employees that made Sullivan’s a favorite amongst our appreciated guests and have programs in place to make sure they are taken care of during this time of transition,” Del Frisco’s Group said in a statement to the DBJ.

Sullivan’s operates 16 steak houses across the country. The restaurants are owned by parent company Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group, which operates a high-end restaurant in Greenwood Village and plans to open a more casual Del Frisco’s Grille in Cherry Creek North later this year.

The new location at First Avenue and St. Paul Street will have an 8,000-square-foot restaurant plus a 9,000-square-foot rooftop and feature a menu that combines classic bar and grill meals at a lower price point that its sister restaurant Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse.

Cherry Cricket, Wynkoop not on block

A recent Facebook post caused a fuss when it said The Cherry Cricket building at 2641 E. Second Ave. is up for sale, but no need to panic.

Wynkoop-Breckenridge LLC real estate holdings, including The Cricket as well as the Wynkoop Brewing Co. at 1634 18th St., are being sold and leased back for 20 years with four five-year options. The existing restaurants will stay put.

It’s just a financial move, according to Wynkoop-Breckenridge honcho Lee Driscoll, who said the company will use the money to pay off debt and subsidize further expansion.”We hope to enter into a sale leaseback,” Driscoll said. “We sell the building and take back a 20-year lease with four five-year options. This is really a financing transaction, given we will be the tenants for the next 40 years.”

The Wynkoop Brewing Co. was founded by Gov. John Hickenlooper, who started the brewery after he was laid off from his job as a geologist.

Dancer hosts book signing May 6

Karina Smirnoff — “Dancing With The Stars” professional dancer and author of “We’re Just Not That Into You: Dating Disasters from the Trenches” — will host a book signing at Denver Union Station’s Great Hall from 4 to 6 p.m. May 6.

Written by Smirnoff and her best friend and manager Lindsay Rielly, “We’re Just Not That Into You” dishes on their dating escapades with Hollywood celebrities and average guys – from crazy pickup lines and incredible moves to laugh-out-loud relationship tales.

Smirnoff, who is currently on a national “Dancing Pros: Live!” tour, has also released a line of fitness videos under the DanceFITNESS brand and runs a dance school in Los Angeles. Rielly is the president and co-founder of Continuum Entertainment Group, a Los Angeles based creative agency.

The event is free and open to the public, and copies of “We’re Just Not That Into You” will be available for purchase from Tattered Cover Denver Union Station.

Local authors’ toast to Italy

Denver dwellers Bryan Jansing and Paul Vismara, authors of “Italy Beer Country,” are bringing their expertise to six-day excursions through the best of the Italian craft beer breweries.

Their flagship tour will run twice a month throughout the year. Each tour will lead beer aficionados, fans and foodies through the Italian countryside for an elite behind-[soft hyphen]the[soft hyphen] scenes experience to meet and greet notable leaders of Italy’s craft beer movement. As champions of the movement, Jansing and Vismara will also share their knowledge and insider secrets with each attendee.

Cities visited throughout the tour include: Milan, Parma, Tortona, Genoa, Piozzo, Torino and Chieri. Breweries visited include: Birrificio Italiano, Del Ducato, Toccalmatto, Montegioco, Maluas Faber, Baladin Brewery, Birrificia Rurale, Black Barrels Brewery, Grado Plato and Croce Di Malto. Accommodations are high[soft hyphen] end and subject to change, but are similar venues to Westin Milan, Hotel Verdi, Casa Baladin and others.Go to www.italybeertours.com for more information.

Yoga at ViewHouse

Strengthen your core and enjoy the warmer Colorado weather with free yoga classes at both ViewHouse locations on select Sundays throughout the summer. To get the stretching started, bring your own mat for the kickoff party at 10 a.m. May 17 for the first class at the Ballpark location. Stay after each class and get a complimentary bottomless mimosa or cold pressed juice with the purchase of brunch. All levels are welcome.ViewHouse is located at 7101 S. Clinton Street in Centennial and 2015 Market St. downtown. Find more information at www.viewhouse.com. 

Ballpark Yoga on the Green dates, 10 a.m. starting times: May 17: Yoga Kickoff Party at Ballpark; May 31; June 14; June 28; July 19; Aug. 2: Wear neon; Aug. 16; Aug. 30; Sept. 13: Wear Broncos colors; Sept 27.

Centennial Yoga on the Green dates, 10 a.m. starting times: May 24: Memorial Day Weekend – Yoga Kickoff at Centennial; June 7; July 12: Wear neon; July 26; Aug. 9; Aug. 23; Sept. 6: Labor Day weekend – Wear your red, white and blue; Sept. 20.

Overheard

Eavesdropping on a man on Facebook: “There’s very little that’s more hilarious than listening to radio sports talk hosts who complain about the media circus surrounding Tim Tebow’s return to the NFL spending two hours talking about Tim Tebow.”

Penny Parker’s “Mile High Life” column gives insights into the best events, restaurants, businesses, parties and people throughout the metro area. Parker also writes for Blacktie-Colorado.com. You can subscribe and read her columns (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) at www.blacktie-colorado.com/pennyparker. She can be reached at penny@blacktie-llc.com or at 303-619-5209.

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