Union Station eateries gain global cred

When Travel + Leisure magazine, a national consumer publication, recently posted its picks for the nine best train station restaurants, two Denver eateries were included in that prestigious short list, which included entries from New York, Hong Kong, Paris, London and Tokyo.

T+L lavished the love on Stoic & Genuine and Mercantile Dining & Provision in Denver’s revamped Union Station.

Here’s what the magazine said about the local dining establishments: “When Denver’s Union Station reopened last year after extensive renovations, it brought with it a clutch of new –; and worthy –; restaurants. Stoic & Genuine, a seafood temple from Denver chef commanded attention even before it opened. Between its raw bar, ‘seafood tower of power,’ and ‘surf in turf’ dish of big-eye tuna wrapped in New York strip steak, Stoic & Genuine won strong reviews and was even named one of 5280 magazine’s top 10 new Denver restaurants.

“In a stroke of fortune, Denver Union Station’s remodel project actually yielded two highly regarded restaurant projects. Mercantile Dining & Provision, run by chef , is one part casual restaurant and one part food market selling charcuterie, cheese, jam and more. The menu here offers a variety of pasta dishes such as squid ink bucatini, Spanish octopus a la plancha, a crispy half chicken, and family dinners like a bone-in 36-ounce rib-eye or roasted lamb shoulder, each served with a variety of sides. Mercantile, too, was named one of 5280magazine’s best new restaurants in 2015.”

While the recognition of this level of culinary prowess causes pride in Denver diners, it makes local restaurant pundit downright delighted.

“It seems that every time a national list of restaurants hits the web, Denver’s culinary community searches in vain for a representative, whether it’s Best Ice Cream, Best New Restaurant or Hot New Chef,” Imbergamo said. “In 25 years of working with Denver restaurants, this might be the first time that Denver scored two slots on an international top restaurant list. Are we finally winning a few converts to the Mile High culinary scene?”

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Upstairs Circus opening in Landmark

Upstairs Circus, a social bar where people can create DIY art and design projects, will open its second metro-area location at The Landmark development between Jing and Masters Gallery in Greenwood Village.

The first Denver location opened in LoDo in November 2013. The Landmark branch is expected to open in September.

“The Landmark is the social center of the DTC area and we’re thrilled to welcome Upstairs Circus’ unique and fun concept to the community,” said , the partner at East West Partners overseeing The Landmark development. “Upstairs Circus has a loyal crowd of followers in downtown Denver and we think the social art experience will be a huge success at The Landmark.”

While Upstairs Circus space at The Landmark will have a similar vibe to its LoDo sister, founders and will create new programming based on the neighborhood’s individual needs.

Hours of operation are planned to be 2:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays; 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Upstairs Circus offers a full bar and a limited food menu. For more information, go to www.upstairscircus.com.

Organic produce coming to Source

For the summer season, Cure Organic Farm will be selling its produce from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday in the common area at The Source, 3350 Brighton Blvd.

Located six miles east of Boulder, Cure Organic Farm is a commercial family farm growing 100 different varieties of certified organic vegetables, herbs and flowers.

The farm was founded in 2005 by and who reside on the farm with their family. All crops grown on Cure Organic Farm are distributed locally to restaurants, farmers’ markets and the farm store on site.

Tickets on sale for art festival

Tickets for the inaugural Breckenridge International Festival of Arts, a celebration of adventure, play and creativity, went on sale June 1, and may be purchased in person at the Riverwalk Center Ticket Office at 150 W. Adams Ave., by phone at 970-547-3100, or online at www.breckcreate.org.

The festival runs Aug. 14 through 23, and features entertainment from public radio icons and Chicano rock legends to acrobats on poles and blue-colored trees in places and spaces throughout Breckenridge.

Celebrity in Aurora

My former Denver Post colleague had an accidental close encounter of the celebrity kind recently at Starbucks on Parker Road and Iliff in Aurora.

He said, “OK, I am sitting here drinking some tea while listening to the baseball game and these two ladies sit next to me. One of them looks like . The other lady sees me and politely asks what I am listening to. I say the Rockies and the other woman asks how is playing? I couldn’t resist and tell her she looks like Jane Curtin. Her friend says, ‘That’s because she is Jane Curtin. She is my sister-in-law.’ I tell her I am a fan, we chat for a few minutes and then go back to what we were doing. Nice lady. And, for the record, she really is a big Tulo fan.”

Overheard

“So, I’m 6-foot-2. My daughter just came to me in the kitchen wearing her three-inch pumps, and was pretty darn close to being eye to eye with her old man. She said, ‘Dad, I like the weather up here.’ BTW, she’s 14.”

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