Pinkies out, wine lovers
Saturday. A festival that offers sips, swills and, err, spits? Wine not?
Wine Spectator magazine brings its signature Grand Tour festival to the Sheraton Downtown Denver on Saturday, May 11, for the first time. Local savants will find more than 200 varietals to try, many of which rate 90-plus points on Wine Spectator’s 100-point rating scale. A ticket buys bottomless pours and the chance to mingle with winemakers from around the world. And while you’re at it, try one of the local restaurants that Wine Spectator has awarded for having an amazing wine list, such as Barolo Grill in Denver or Flagstaff House in Boulder.
Wine Spectator’s Grand Tour comes to 1550 Court Place in Denver from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday. Tickets cost $275 for general admission and $375 for VIP via grandtour.winespectator.com/denver. — Tiney Ricciardi
Denver Fashion Week’s spring line
Denver Fashion Week’s spring 2024 events include 8 runway shows, workshops and more. (Provided by Denver Fashion Week)
Sunday-May 19. The spring 2024 version of Denver Fashion Week blossoms Sunday, May 11 and runs until Thursday, May 19 with eight runway shows at The Brighton, a River North Art District venue owned by Non Plus Ultra.
Notably, it includes the return of the All-Inclusive Fashion Show, which is helping evolve the already fast-growing field of adaptive clothing that looks and works great for people with various disabilities, producers said. (During that May 12 show, Brew Crew Films is shooting an episode of its new, unscripted series “Brewability.”) Denver Design Incubator, new pieces from Factory Fashion at the Stanley Marketplace, and more are on tap as well.
See the full schedule and get tickets to individual shows ($35-$65) and workshops at eventbrite.com,, or visit denverfashionweek.com. — John Wenzel
Owl Club’s all-Black debutantes
The Inaugural 1951 Debutantes of East and Manual High School gather for a group photo during their Debutante Ball. (Provided by History Colorado)
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Opening Friday. The overlooked story of Colorado’s Black Debutantes traces a much larger history than its society-trappings would imply. History Colorado Center is illustrating that with a new mezzanine exhibition, “Owl Club of Denver: Legacies of Excellence,” “which explores the rich traditions of a prominent all-Black debutante cotillion club in the Mile High City,” curators said.
The exhibit features oral histories, rare photographs, and other artifacts that recount “the rarely told history of debutante culture from the perspective of African Americans who were historically excluded from the beauty standards of this European-born tradition,” according to the museum, which prompted the club’s formation in 1941, and its first debutante events in the following years.
“Owl Club of Denver” opens on Friday, May 10, at 1200 Broadway in Denver (roughly across from Denver Art Museum) and runs through May 10, 2025. Children and members are free, with $15 admission for adults, and discounts for groups. Call 303-447-8679 or visit historycolorado.org/history-colorado-center for more. — John Wenzel
Icelandic musician Árný Margrét is performing live as part of the second annual Taste of Iceland festival, May 10-11 in Denver. (Iceland Airwaves)
Taste of Iceland, take two
Friday-Saturday. Ever since direct flights from Denver to Reykjavík began in 2012, the Icelandic capital has become a destination for families, adventure-foodies, and a stop-off for Coloradans on their way to Europe, the U.K. and points east.
The cultural exchange continues with the second annual Taste of Iceland this weekend, a free event that “celebrates the best of Icelandic culture, including food and beverage, music, nature, comedy, wellness and more,” producers wrote. Events are spread between Coohills, Invisible City and Globe Hall. There’s also a cooking class and geography presentation with virtual-reality volcanoes.
Admission is free, but food, beverages and other items are an additional cost. Visit inspiredbyiceland.com or bit.ly/4dAeoJt for more. — John Wenzel