I hope everyone appreciates the risk we amateur journalists take, because getting this photograph was a rather harrowing experience. 17th Avenue is a pretty busy street just about any time there is sunlight.

The Thin Man has been my favorite bar for about as long as I’ve been old enough to drink (possibly a little bit longer; I don’t quite recall). I met this guy at a wedding reception a few weeks ago, and he was careful to let me know that he only really gets to write in a “rushed-instant aesthetic” but I think his review is spot-on. The Thin Man is not the best place to be on a Friday or Saturday night.

But that’s not what this post is really about. I’ve been looking to branch out a bit, and the obvious choice seems to be Denver’s emerging jazz club scene. I’ve mentioned Wednesday nights at Mead Street which is nestled right in blogger central. It’s the sort of place where you never feel underdressed.

Which brings me to this evening’s excursion to Dazzle. I’ve been hesitant to try anything other than El Chapultapec because (for one) it’s near impossible to find venues where people are actually there to hear the music. At a swank place like Dazzle, at least the people are there to be seen rather than to get sloppy drunk. Tonight I learned an important lesson though. It’s a lot more laid-back than I originally thought, and the food is, like… cheap. You’ll still pay $13 for a glass of Oban (compared to $10 at the Thin Man and $7 at the PSG) but the beer selection is great, Sunday is a great night, and the bartender let me in on a little scotch secret: Order a double. Trust me.

I’ll be at the Thin Man this Thursday at 6pm for an informal Denver blogger meet and greet, and everyone is invited. Meanwhile, what are everyone’s favorite watering holes?