Table of Contents
Meet New LoDo Board Members at Ajax Downtown
Thursday, Aug. 27 | 5:00 PM–7:00 PM | Ajax Downtown in the Limelight Hotel | Free with a Cash Bar
Join us for a happy hour welcoming the newest members of the LoDo District Board. Connect with neighbors, business leaders, and community members while enjoying Ajax Downtown’s renowned live-fire kitchen and its outstanding beverage offerings.
Colorado Month at Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar
Throughout August at Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar at 1539 Seventeenth Street
All month long, all Big Red F restaurants will celebrate Colorado’s 150th anniversary with dishes and drinks built around its local farm and vendor partners, where “local” is not a buzzword.
Sustainability on the plate starts with water. Jax features farm-raised striped bass from Colorado Catch in Alamosa. Rated “green” (best choice) by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch, this incredible fish is raised using sustainable aquaculture practices in the San Luis Valley. It’s paired with crisp sweet corn from Munson Farm and hydroponic tomatoes from Rocky Mountain Fresh to celebrate a truly resilient Colorado ecosystem. Come in and get a taste of Colorado cuisine at its peak!
Also, Jax launched a patio series, Siren Socials, Fridays from 3 PM to 6 PM, where you can meet the makers of Colorado-based beverages such as Peak Spirits and Leopold Bros (and eat small bites from Chef Duane). It’s the kind of Friday afternoon that makes you remember why you live here.
One More Evening of Beats on the Creek
Tuesday, Aug. 11 | Dinner and Drinks before Music 7:30 PM–9:30 PM
Coohills Restaurant supports local non-profits with its Beats on the Creek concert series. This year it is raising funds for First Descents, which provides life-changing outdoor adventures for young adults impacted by cancer and other serious health conditions.
Admission to the bridge is $10 and there are no advanced ticket sales. Wristbands are available for purchase in the restaurant day of starting at 5:00 PM and at 6:00 PM on the bridge. The series-ending performer is Mr. Majestyk’s 8-Track Revival (’70s)
Welcoming the Savanna Bananas and Fans
Thursday, Aug. 13, Friday, Aug. 14, and Saturday, Aug. 15 | McGregor Square and Dairy Block
McGregor Square, at 1900 Wazee Street, brings the Banana Ball energy all weekend long with watch parties, food, drinks, and one of the best atmospheres in downtown to watch the games, even if you don’t have a ticket.
Watch the TruTV broadcast live on a 66-foot LED screen alongside hundreds of fellow Bananas fans (Aug. 14, 7 PM).
Catch the ESPN broadcast live on the big screen and experience Banana Ball with one of the best crowds (Aug. 15, 6 PM).
McGregor Square Food + Drink will serve beverages in limited-edition Savannah Bananas commemorative cups, only while the Savannah Bananas are in town and supplies last.
Purchase Savannah Bananas merchandise at stands on the plaza:
- Aug. 13, 2 PM–5 PM,
- Aug. 14, 11 AM–10 PM, &
- Aug. 15, 8 AM–5 PM
Dairy Block, at 1800 Wazee Street, rolls out the yellow carpet with specials such as Moo Bar‘s Elvis Shot, Poka Lola Social Club‘s Yacht Rock, and Kachina Cantina‘s frozen banana margarita and refreshing coconut banana aqua fresca. Or stop by Huckleberry Roasters to indulge in a banana bread latte or chai.
In the Maven lobby, the Yellow Fix Pop-up will offer homemade banana pudding and a balloon artist will offer free fun too (Aug. 14, 5–7, & Aug. 15, 4–6).
Dairy Block’s Artist in Residence, Finn Taylor, will host an interactive banana-themed art station in the Alley where people can paint mini baseball bats.
The Maven always offers 20% off your bill with a valid ticket to a sporting event during your stay (you must present your ticket to redeem this offer).
Denver Bazaar at Larimer Square
Sat., Aug. 15 | 3:00 PM–8:00 PM | Larimer Square, 1400 Block of Larimer St. | Free
Denver Bazaar returns to historic Larimer Square for another Saturday for shopping local. The outdoor market will feature a curated selection of 30+ vendors & makers with one-of-a-kind finds. Denver Bazaar at Larimer Square is free, dog-friendly, and open to all ages. Bring your friends, family, and pets for a day of local shopping and community fun!
Second Annual Basecamp Exchange at Market Street Station
Saturday, Aug. 15 | 12:00 PM–6:00 PM | Market Street Station, 1464 17th St. | Free
Basecamp Exchange celebrates Colorado’s outdoor film, culture, gear, and community with 30+ screenings by Matchstick Productions, Great Escape Media x Lindsey Hagen, and adventure documentary filmmaker Roo Smith. Adventure film, live music, outdoor retail, and inspirational industry talks will converge at this free community celebration.
Guests will be able to freely move between the three screening spaces at Basecamp Market Station and discover a diverse lineup of films celebrating adventure, exploration, and the evolving voices shaping outdoor storytelling. Athletes, filmmakers, and industry leaders will participate in Q&A sessions throughout the day. From 5 PM to 6 PM, Downtown Denver Partnership will present a Fireside Chat with participating studio leaders on the Paseo Stage. Throughout the day, attendees can explore a curated pop-up marketplace featuring lifestyle brands, as well as exclusive in-store specials from participating Basecamp retailers, and food.
The music lineup includes Michael Cecere, KelLee Carlile, and Sturtz.
Beverage proceeds will benefit nonprofit Adaptive Sports Center, which helps individuals with disabilities to access outdoor recreation.
Barney Ford and His Building
Find the Barney Ford Building at 1514 Blake Street and in the National Register of Historic Buildings.
While listening to Heather Cox Richardson’s series 250 to 250 (vignettes of U.S. history celebrating the country’s semiquincentennial), your correspondent focused on mention of our city’s name. Barney Ford, an enslaved man, escaped bondage in the South, became an abolitionist, and made his way as a barber and entrepreneur in the West. His connection to LoDo? A building he established at 1514 Blake Street with the wealth he earned in the young city, now on the national registry of historic buildings because of his participation in the Underground Railroad. He is buried in Riverside Cemetery.
Ford was the first African-American to be nominated to the Territorial Legislature. In 1865, Ford successfully lobbied the federal government for Black male voting rights in Colorado and to delay statehood until that was attained.
The Ford building now holds Hapa Sushi Grill and Sake Bar.
