Colorado is known as a state that stays in motion, not only in health and fitness but also for the meetings and events industry. After 12 years as editor, of Colorado Meetings + Events, I am no longer surprised at the state’s ingenuity but the amount of new venues, restaurants and hotels launching in the Denver metro area now and in the future has definitely caught my attention. Here are just a few highlights, and watch our Spring 2017 issue and website for more!
Colorado Meetings + Events is thrilled to be among the first to host an event at The Hangar at Stanley (our Best of Colorado awards on March 13), featuring 18,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space at Aurora’s Stanley Marketplace, which is located within the former Stanley Aviation headquarters. More than 50 businesses will make up Stanley Marketplace with most opening in early 2017. The Hangar mixes old and new, such as red hangar doors originally built in 1954 that open to an 8,500-square-foot outdoor patio. Steel beams, polished concrete floors, large wooden spools and industrial light fixtures are among the other restored features.
Stanley Beer Hall also has launched and is a modern take on the traditional beer hall serving up rustic cuisine with a French influence and 25 to 28 rotating draft beers, with an emphasis on suds from Colorado and the West Coast. Also look for cocktails on tap, cold brews highlighting local roasters, a concrete slab bar, communal tables, and two large overhead doors that open up to a year-round, indoor-outdoor bar and green space with bocce ball and other games.
Another new event and party venue is Larimer Social in downtown Denver, offering more than 6,800 square feet of space and holding up to 200 seated guests and 480 for a standing reception. The venue’s high ceilings and windows provide a sunny backdrop during the day while the glow of canopy lights overlooking historic Larimer Square add ambiance to the second-floor space for dinner and dancing. Another unique feature is that Larimer Square restaurants provide the catering, including Troy Guard’s TAG, Jen Jasinski’s Bistro Vendome, Frank Bonano’s Osteria Marco, Richard Sandoval’s Tamayo and more.
Not far away, Hotel Indigo Denver is opening in LoDo (lower downtown) this month. The 180-room, LEED-certified boutique hotel features nearly 1,200 square feet of meeting and event space accommodating groups of up to 200 and artwork that evokes memories of the Colorado gold rush. The hotel is pet-friendly, offering treats, canine cocktail hours and dog-walking services. For humans (and groups), Hotel Indigo employees are Denver experts who live, work and play in the Mile High City and guests are encouraged to interact with the “RiNo Guru,” the “Theatre Smarty Pants,” the “Bowling Master” and other associate experts.
Que Bueno Suerte! opened in Denver’s Platt Park neighborhood in mid-December with Work & Class Chef Dana Rodriguez overseeing the restaurant as consulting chef along with Executive Chef Vicente “Vinny” Sosa. Que Bueno serves upscale, modern and eclectic Mexican cuisine for dinner and late night and offers an extensive tequila and mezcal list and a variety of seasonal cocktails. The upper mezzanine level can be reserved for private groups of up to 65 seated and 90 standing.
From the supplier front, Danielle Phippen and Heidi Brown have introduced Max/Livie, Inc., a Commerce City-based specialty event furniture rental company offering unique and varied furniture styles. The company’s inventory consists of lounge seating, dining and cocktail tables, chairs and barstools, bars, back-bars, buffets, wall structures and a variety of accent accessories such as centerpiece vases, pillows, rugs and throws. Inventory is available on a piece price, and pre-styled packages also are available to make decisions quick and easy when planning an event.
