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The cosplayers I met this weekend were out of this world and had a quality higher than I have ever seen or could expect. Kronk and Yzma were on point to a spectacular degree while Deadpool was as hilarious and irreverent as the character in the comics.

Some other amazing cosplayers included great takes on old favorites as well as meticulously designed masks and avatars, the level of detail and care was astounding.

As great as all the dedicated cosplayers were, I have to say the highlight of the weekend were the informative and entertaining panels.

A post shared by Nick (@truenortherncolorado) on Jul 2, 2017 at 3:39pm PDT

It was amazing to see some of my childhood heroes so up close and personal. Weird Al told  amazing stories that many never get to hear and his plans for future in not only music but also TV and movies. James and Oliver Phelps from the Harry Potter movie series were authentic and hilarious as they relived their years on set of possibly the most iconic movie franchise in history

The panel with Luke Cage actor Mike Colter and Iron Fist actor Finn Jones made me so excited for the upcoming season of Luke Cage and even more excited for the Defenders series that promises to be epic. These two had such great chemistry together and I cannot wait for the upcoming series.

A post shared by Nick (@truenortherncolorado) on Jul 1, 2017 at 2:37pm PDT

The best panel by far however was with Kate Mulgrew who played Captain Janeway in Star Trek Voyager and Red from Orange is the New Black. Her panel was ferocious, full of strength and extremely inspiring. I was lucky enough to get to asker her a question about how Janeway’s background in science informed and influenced her leadership as the captain of Voyager. She answered directly to me and at length with such honesty and earnestness. It was an amazing moment I will cherish forever.

If you ever get a chance to go to Denver Comic Con or any other Comic Con, I highly recommend it. What a great experience.

The post Denver Comic Con Was a Heroically Amazing Weekend appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

The first taster I had was of Sugarfoot, a Belgian Style Table Beer that won Spangalang gold at Great American Beer Fest last year. This beer is everything that the gold medal promises as coriander and citrus notes characterize this easily drinking beer that I could see complementing nearly any dish you could think of.The Protocat is a traditional Gose that is true to form salty with a slightly tart palate that makes it extremely refreshing. Beatrice is a clean and crisp Saison that has predominant spice notes and a slight bitterness that makes this beer incredibly fun to drink. The D-Train IPA is a fairly standard IPA that has a fresh hop-forward profile that is not overly intimidating and quite accessible.

Now for my two favorites; these two beers are now in my top five local favorites and they are something truly special. Volume II is their Kettle Soured Pure Funk except it has been dry hopped with a pound of hops. Cherry notes dominate a tart and sour base that has amazing depth due to the superb Brettanomyces yeast, it finishes dry and extremely clean. Finally, their Barrel-Aged Nightwalker Con Alma is an Imperial Stout that has been aged in bourbon barrels. Chocolate and coffee dominate the first sip and are further opened up by notes of berries and grape. The 9.75% ABV is hardly noticeable in this extremely complex and smooth beer, making it dangerously palatable and warming to the soul.

Sadly Spangalang does no bottling or distribution whatsoever, making it a true local diamond in the rough. If you are ever anywhere near Denver Colorado it is imperative that you make your way to the heart of Five Points and indulge in the wonder that is Spangalang.  

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When Linger opened in Denver, Colorado. it was the place to eat and everyone scrambled to get reservations.  With people planning upwards of 30 days out, it became the hottest spot to go on any night for food, drinks, and a great atmosphere.  It was buzzworthy, hip with all the crowds, and quickly became the place to go on a date, after work, before the game, or just because.  It’s food does not define a specific notion of when and why to have it, and the atmosphere is eclectic without going over the top.

I have been to Linger a few times, often on dates trying to impress (Let’s be honest, sometimes getting a seat at the hottest restaurant in town gives me a little edge).  But time and time again, I had found myself craving the small plates and eclectic atmosphere less and less.  It was no less hip, no less the place to be, and by far no less busy than before, but it had all grown a bit stale to me.

My last trip though was my last, and it does not pain me to write those words.

I found myself bored with the food, bored with the attempts of layered flavors that often overwhelmed and didn’t compliment.   This is a major thing with the small plates; the flavors should be wowing me, not overwhelming my tongue.  Last night, a group of friends and I ordered 14 different plates, and honestly as I sit here now, less than 24 hours away, I can only remember the allspice coated spring rolls, barbecue sauce mixed ketchup, and the sadly underwhelming buns.  Oh, and the service.  In a span of 2.5 hours, we received the plates one by one, and for a table of 7, that was a bit odd.  The tables around us would get 3 or 4 at a time, but here we were cutting things in half to share and then sitting around waiting for the next dish.

Our waitress was seemingly only around to take drink orders, with the runners taking additional orders and being more present than anyone else.  I wont say that the full service was bad, but to only see your waitress 4 times in the span of 210 minutes was a bit disappointing.  And thinking back more, I actually don’t think all the food was delivered.  We ordered the pork belly and duck buns, but only got 2 pork and 1 duck bun when 5 were promised with each order, and a few other dishes never made it out.  The waitress even claimed halfway through the meal that everything had been delivered, and couldn’t remember what else was ordered.  Neither here nor there, it didn’t help the situation.

There are not all bad experiences.  The drinks are amazing; my Manhattans were always delicious, even though prepare inconsistently (neat up, neat short, on the rocks), and the other drinks around the table were enjoyed, especially the Ginger Collins.  The atmosphere is amazing, and the views are perfect as well.  In terms of physical presence, it hits the nail right on the head, but has slowly begun to promise more than it could deliver with the whole reason we were there.  The food should be the main course, should be the reason I return and the moments I crave.  But I don’t; not anymore.

So enough about this last experience.  I think the point is made, no?  I won’t be back, and I won’t miss it.  I hate to be one of the few locals to say it, but Linger got stale.

The post A Linger’ing Feeling in Denver appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Over the years, many restaurants have tried to make the best burrito, and some have come close enough to turn into chains, such as Chipotle and Qudoba.  And while these chains can produce some quality, fast, and delicious meals on the spot, the flavors and stigma of heading to a chain often leads to a bit of disappointment.  Often, after devouring a tightly wrapped, stuffed to the brim burrito from one of these chains, one is left not knowing what flavors they tasted.  They tend to be, well, blah.

So we went on the hunt in Denver for the best burrito.  From Big City Burritos, a franchised chain with each one being a bit different, to Santiago’s, a favorite for breakfast, we finally found Illegal Pete’s off the 16th Street Mall in Lodo.  Looking a bit like a dive from the outside, you walk in and see the scuffs on the floors, stickers covering the walls, and a menu of food with amazing details associated with each item.  You know exactly what is going into each burrito, and the ambiance definitely set the joint apart from the others we had visited.

After the standard made-in-front-of-you burrito experience came the first bite.  Typically, burritos at the chains are filled with glops of ingredients, and left unmixed at the end.  With those, you get a bite of sour cream, a bight of beans, some rice, the meat, then cheese and the leftover of the burrito.  Not with the Illegal Pete’s burrito.  In my hands was tortilla-wrapped gold, filled with slow roasted pork, corn salsa, cheese, and lettuce, all perfectly mixed before the final wrap and delivery.  In my hands was a piece of delicious heaven.

So here we were, after a long quest to find the perfect burrito, sitting in a restaurant covered in stickers, looking like a dive bar.  And that’s when it hits you.  This is how a burrito should taste.  It’s not just about the ingredients, but how its all put together, the care and understanding that each ingredient must compliment the other.  It was not too filling or overwhelming, hitting the spot just right.

It’s at this moment we came to realize our journey to find the best burrito in Denver had possibly come to an end.

The post Is this the best damn Burrito in Denver? appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

So we have checked out and found three boutique hotels in Denver worth you checking out for your next visit to the 5280.

Hotel Teatro is one of Denver’s most luxurious hotels. It’s also the most dramatic: The Denver Center for the Performing Arts is just across the street.  Filled with inspired the decor of the arts center, featuring masks, playbills, and wardrobes from past productions.  The hotel has a presence in the community of class, style, and fashion, all while not being too outlandish or pompous.  Think class and style is subtle from the outside, all while delivering the dramatic presence inside.  With a wide variety of rooms available at all price ranges, the Hotel Teatro provides the luxurious escape needed for any weekend, be it a visit to town for business or a weekend away with the lady.

Why do we like it?  The hotel delivers everything and more for the traveler.  It is classy and stylish at every angle, with car service and valets out front, an amazing front desk staff, and proximity to some of the most amazing and established night life in Denver.  This is not the hotel for the college crowd, and the area is filled with fine dining options, wine bars, and unique shopping experiences.  Overall, it provides a central resting spot for a busy time in town.

The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa is located in the heart of downtown Denver, and is a long standing icon filled with tradition and history. A historic building from 1892, the luxury hotel has been a four-star and Four Diamond hotel since 1977.   Sitting off 17th Street, this hotel has a presence at every angle, with the brown stone climbing from the grey streets.  The classic styling  stands out among the modern surroundings.  The details are exquisite: a dramatic nine-story lobby is topped with a beautifully stained-glass ceiling.  The Victorian rooms have sophisticated wainscoting and Art Deco fixtures.  But the hotel has done an amazing job of incorporating modern amenities into the rooms to keep everyone comfortable.

So why do we love this hotel?  It’s simple; from President Eisenhower to the Beatles, this hotel has been filled with history and elegance.  While a bit of a walking distance from the central night life, it is still close enough to some of the best restaraunts in town and a quick cab ride to the stadiums, theater, or LoDo for the night life.  And with all the talk of class and style, we cannot look past the cigar room, Churchills.  Classically adorned in big leather armchairs with low light, this is the perfect hotel for a guys weekend away to catch a game, eat amazing steak, and smoke a feel stogies.

In the heart of Denver’s LoDo, The Oxford Hotel is an eclectic class of its own.   During the Victorian era this hotel was an elegant fixture on the Denver landscape, and civilized touches like complimentary shoe shines, afternoon sherry, and morning coffee remain.  The 88 rooms are all uniquely  furnished with French and English period antiques, and the Cruise Room bar re-creates an art deco ocean liner.  Walking distance to some of the hippest bars and nightlife in town, while still keeping a separate atmosphere around it, the Oxford can only be missed when walking by.  The awning with a small sign above it is the only thing that lets you know you are there, and while minimal in nature, the rest of the hotel more than makes up for it.  Walking into lobby, the fine dark woods, deep leathers, and classic lines take all the guests back.  And with McCormicks Restaurant on-site, there is access to some of the best seafood in Denver and a delicious Sunday brunch.

So what makes it worth this list?  Beyond the 88 unique rooms, it’s all about the location for this one.  The most central of the three hotels reviewed, it was 5 minutes from everything in Denver, including the newly renovated Union Station and brand new Light Rail stations.  Only a few blocks from Coors Field, home of the Rockies, and all the great bars, restaurants, and concert halls, this is the perfect hotel to escape to after a major night out, no matter the theme.

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