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Nightlife


Nightlife

Denver has replaced Milwaukee as the brewing capital of America and Lower Downtown's continually growing number of brew-pubs ensures that the area is vibrant and alive during the week and positively jumping at the weekend. Live music can be found there most nights, as well as at Cherry Creek. Country is prevalent, as is jazz and blues, and with a bit of searching you'll also find venues offering folk, bluegrass, hard rock and pop. In the clubs, you can expect to dance to everything from 60s and 70s tunes to hip-hop, house and jazz. Dressing is informal and anything goes provided it is tidy and clean. Under state licensing laws alcohol can be served 0700-0200 but only to people over the age of 21. People under 21 years may not engage in gambling of any kind. Licensing and gambling laws are strictly enforced and young people may be asked to produce proof of age to gain entry to casinos, bars and clubs.

Bars:
There are numerous brew-pubs and micro-breweries in Denver (see the Further Distractions section for details). Denver also has the ubiquitous chains of Irish pubs springing up all over the place, but Nallen's Pub, 1429 Market Street, at 14th Street, is the quintessential Irish bar - the genuine article complete with Irish owner - and the place to drink Guinness. Brendan's Pub, 1624 Market Street, is also a good bet, serving great food and beer and doubling up as a popular live blues venue. For something a little more sleek and stylish, try Blue, a martini bar on 15th Street, with over 50 different martini-type drinks on offer.

Many good bars in Denver can be found within restaurants, such as Wazee Supper Club, Wazee Street, or Redfish, on Wynkoop Street. Wazee is open late and has an informal, bohemian diner kind of atmosphere; while Redfish has an enormous, popular bar and often jazz or bluesy live music.

Casinos:
All the gambling is out of town in the historic mining communities of Black Hawk and Central City, some 56km (35 miles) west, or at Cripple Creek, 129km (80 miles) south. Casinos are strictly controlled, only blackjack, poker and slot machines are permitted and stakes are limited to a maximum bet of $5.

Colorado Central Station Casino
, Black Hawk is one of the largest casinos in Colorado and the most popular in Black Hawk. It features three floors of tables and gaming machines as well as a restaurant and entertainment. Famous Bonanza Lucky Strike, 100 Main Street, Central City is one of the last small, family-run casinos. Situated in a Victorian building, there are 175 slot machines, three blackjack tables and a poker table, plus a restaurant serving a prime rib dinner for under $3 and some of the best Mexican food around.

Clubs:
I-Beam, 1427 Larimer Street, is currently the place to see and be seen in LoDo. This is a dance club and disco, which also hosts some live jazz. It's free on Wednesdays and Thursdays and has a moderate cover charge on other nights, although it is closed on Sundays and Mondays. Amsterdam, 2901 Walnut Street, at 29th Street, is the biggest and most popular club in town for techno music, attracting a gay and mixed crowd. It is open until 0500 but does not serve any alcohol (or food). Not so young, cool or trendy, but seriously good fun nonetheless, Poly Esther's Culture Club, 2301 Blake Street, is a 70s and 80s-style nightclub, complete with disco balls and coloured squares that light up on the dancefloor.

Live music:
Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson and The Beatles have all played Denver's most spectacular venue, the Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Red Rocks Park (tel: (303) 458 4850). Audiences of 9000 come to listen to symphony orchestras, jazz ensembles and pop groups against the magical sunlit glow of the 70-million-year-old red rocks. In conjunction with Red Rocks, the Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, 6350 Greenwood Plaza Boulevard (tel: (303) 220 7000) and Mile High Stadium, 2755 West 17th Avenue (tel: (303) 640 7334) put on a regular summer season of concerts.

For reggae, jazz, folk and blues, The Bluebird Theatre, 3317 East Colfax Avenue (tel: (303) 322 2308), a revamped old movie theatre, presents live music Wednesday to Saturday. Every weekend in the Swallow Hill Music Association, 1905 Pearl Street (tel: (303) 777 1003), there are concerts of bluegrass, blues, cajun, celtic or country, as well as lively informal music sessions. Herman's Hideaway, 1578 South Broadway, is probably Denver's top rock venue with live music from Wednesdays onwards. This is where to see the up-and-coming stars of tomorrow at the Wednesday night New Band Showcase. If you've read Kerouac's On the Road, you'll be familiar with the legendary jazz joint El Chapultepec, 1962 Market Street. Crowded and smokey this blast from the past still has the best jazz in Denver.




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