July in Colorado: The #HitList

July in Colorado: The #HitList

What to hit up in Colorado during July. You won’t want to miss anything on our #HitList.

Cherry Creek Arts Festival

cc-arts-festival-2015

 
When: July 3-5, starting at 10 am.
Where: Cherry Creek North, from 2nd to 3rd Avenues between Columbine St. and Steele St.
What: The signature festival is a cultural celebration of the visual, performing and culinary arts. It’s a great experience for the whole family with the Artivity Avenue, a full block of interactive activity for youngsters, the Cultural Pavilion, where performing arts come to life, and the Culinary Avenue, featuring some tasty snacks and live cooking demonstrations from popular eateries around Denver. Free for all who wish to attend.

Street Arts Festival @ Breckenridge

breck-arts-festival

 
When: Friday, July 3, 4-8 pm.
Where: Ridge Street Arts Square, Breckenridge, CO.
What: A celebration of street, pavements and graffiti arts featuring guest artists specializing in each media. Also on the schedule is live music (starting at 8 pm), a chalk art contest, and stenciling workshops including kid’s graffiti. No admission fee.

Independence Eve Celebration

civic-center-fireworks

 
When: Friday, July 3, beginning at 8 pm.
Where: Civic Center Park (Colfax & Broadway).
What: Start your 4th of July early at the 6th annual FREE community celebration featuring a concert, light show, and fireworks. The concert will feature Funkiphino and 101st Army Concert Band from Buckley Air Force Base. Lawn seating will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis so get there early! Attendees are welcome to bring their own picnics, but concessions will be available as well.

Park Hill 4th of July Parade

jul_4th_car

 
When: Saturday, July 4, kicking off at 1:30 pm.
Where: Along 23rd Avenue, from Dexter St. to Krameria St. View route here.
What: Celebrate Independence Day with family and friends by watching the 6th annual Park Hill parade featuring more than 50 groups including floats, marching bands, costumed characters, classic cars and more! The parade will run along 23rd Ave., with viewing areas available along both the north and south sides of 23rd. Get there early to set up blankets and chairs, then relax and enjoy the fun!

The Outlaws and Fireworks!

outlaws-july-4th

 
When: Saturday, July 4, starting at 7 pm.
Where: Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
What: Watch the Outlaws, Denver’s professional lacrosse team, face-off against the Boston Cannons this 4th of July. Then after we take home the big W, enjoy the fireworks show- pyrotechnics paired with visuals on a 220-foot wide, HD screen! Tickets start at $28 available for purchase here.

Biergarten Festival

denver-biergarten-fest

 
When: July 10-12; Friday 4- 10 pm, Saturday 11 am- 10 pm, Sunday 10 am- 5 pm.
Where: TEV Edelweiss festival grounds in Morrison, CO.
What: Celebrate traditional German culture with food, entertainment, music, dance and beer! There will be activities for children and a real German all-you-can-eat Frühschoppen (brunch) for $15 on Sunday morning from 10 am- 2 pm. Price of admission: Friday & Saturday $5, Sunday $3 (or $1 before noon); children 12 & under are free.

Colorado Irish Festival

irish-fest-denver-2015

 
When: July 10-12; Friday 5- 10 pm, Saturday 10 am- 10 pm, Sunday 10 am- 7 pm.
Where: Clement Park, Littleton, CO.
What: Experience the largest Irish celebration in the Rocky Mountains  with traditional Irish music performances and dancing, Irish drama and storytelling, crafts, games and food and drinks. Known throughout the west for its display of kilts, bagpipes and Irish step dancing, this year’s Irish Festival promises to be a memorable weekend. Price of admission: Friday $10 (or free before 6 pm), Saturday & Sunday $13; children 12 & under are free. Tickets are available online here, King Soopers/Ticket West outlets, and at the event gates.

The Tinder Party + Stephanie Maxwell’s Birthday Celebration

tinder-party-vie-nightclub

 
When: Friday, July 10, starting at 9 pm.
Where: VIE Nightclub Denver.
What: Meet the person you’ve been stalking on Tinder! Or find your match among Denver’s hottest singles. Show your Tinder app at the door to skip line/cover. And join us as we celebrate Stephanie (a.k.a Sirvo’s fearless leader) turning 27 with bottles galore and beats provided by DJ GARMAN!

West End Tavern’s Jul-IPA Festival

IPA-festival-boulder

 
When: Saturday, July 11, 12- 4 pm.
Where: Millenium Harvest House in Boulder CO.
What: Third annual celebration of the best & baddest IPAs organized by The West End Tavern. Try IPA’s from 30+ breweries, enjoy live music from The Goonies & Sixty Minute Men, and food from The West End Tavern. Tickets are $35; 100% of proceeds to benefit Safehouse.

303 Magazine Day Pool Party

303-summer-pool-party

 
When: Sunday, July 12, 11 am- 6 pm
Where: The Breakers Resort Denver
What: To celebrate the opening of the Riviera at the Breakers Resort, a lounge and internet cafe, 303 Magazine is throwing a series of  pool parties throughout the summer. The next one is just around the corner, and will be featuring DJ Kate Elsworth on the 1’s and 2’s. Tickets are $26 and only available online. Get them here ASAP because they’re going fast.

Pairsine “Taste of Elegance Beer”

pairsine-competition

 
When: Wednesday, July 15, 6- 9 pm.
Where: The Omni Interlocken Resort in Broomfield, CO.
What: Ten beer-savvy chefs from around the town will compete to create up to 20 dishes to be paired with one of 20 award-winning beers. On the day of the event, chefs will be preparing then serving their dishes alongside samples of each beer. A panel of food and wine experts will name the winners for “Best Chef” and “Most Creative Chef”, and attendees will also get to cast their votes to decide the winner of the “People’s Choice Chef”. Tickets are on sale here for $75.

Denver Beta Inaugural Event

denver-beta

 
When: Thursday, July 16, starting at 6:30 pm.
Where: Galvanize Platte in Denver, CO.
What: Colorado’s premiere startup party where members of the Galvanize community, local startup scene and all who are interested come together to enjoy conversation, cocktails, giveaways, and interactive demos from presenting startups including yours truly. We’ll be showing off Sirvo and giving away some free shwag, so come and support us! Tickets are available for $15 here.

Global Dance Festival

global-dance-2015

 
When: July 17-19, starting at 5 pm.
Where: Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO.
What: If you like electronic music, this concert is definitely for you. The greatest EDM artists from around the globe travel to Colorado to play for thousands of enthusiasts under the open sky at Red Rocks. The lineup includes Tiesto, Kaskade, Above & Beyond, Benny Benassi and many more. Get your tickets here before they sell out!

The Big Eat

the-big-eat

 
When: Thursday, July 23, 6- 10 pm.
Where: The Galleria at the Denver Performing Arts Complex.
What: Enjoy bites from over 40 of Denver’s best independent restaurants, then wash them down with cocktails from Denver’s top mixologists and craft beer from our favorite breweries. And like every BigEat, expect surprises and countless fun to benefit EatDenver. Tickets are available online for $55 here.

Denver Summer Brew Fest

denver-summer-brew-fest

 
When: July 25-26, 7- 10 pm.
Where: The Mile High Station in Denver, CO.
What: The Summer Brew Fest at Mile High Station will celebrate craft beverages from around Colorado and beyond, not to mention live local music, food, and other vendors. Tickets are available online for $35 here, or on the day of for $45. Proceeds benefit Swallow Hill Music Association.

Yoga on the Rocks

yoga-on-the-rocks

 
When: July 25, 7- 8 am.
Where: Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO.
What: Get your yoga on in one of the most awe-inspiring venues in the world. After the event, visit the Top Plaza for goodies from participating sponsors. Tickets are $12, available online here; $1 per admission will go to the Whole Planet Foundation.

Film On The Rocks- ‘Pretty Woman’

fotr-pretty-woman

 
When: July 31, starting at 7 pm.
Where: Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO.
What: Gather your friends and family and head up to Red Rocks to enjoy this classic. Tickets are $12, available online here.

 

 

Restaurant Employees Cheated Out Of Money and Rights

Restaurant Employees Cheated Out Of Money and Rights

Pilot study published by the Center on Policy Initiatives and San Diego State University uncovers wage theft, discrimination, and break violations among restaurants in San Diego County.

“Overwhelming numbers of restaurant workers reported they had been cheated out of money they were owed in wages and tips, as well as their break time.”

Professor Jill Esbenshade, quoted above, is the principle investigator of recently published study Shorted: Wage Theft, Time Theft and Discrimination in San Diego County Restaurant Jobs, which includes results from a survey of 337 employees working in more than 160 distinct dining establishments in San Diego County, as well as 30 in-depth interviews and observational data collected at 40 top local restaurants.

The findings reveal disturbing numbers of labor laws violations and other exploitive workplace practices at restaurants of all kinds, from fast food to fine dining:

  • More than 75% of employees surveyed reported that their employers had illegally shorted them on wages or tips during the past year.
  • 25% of respondents said that wage theft is a regular part of their jobs.
  • 84% reported violations of rights to meal breaks and rest breaks, and 23% said restaurant managers made them falsely record unpaid meal breaks although having worked through the break.
  • Wage theft was found to most often target women, Latinos, and back-of-house staff.

This study’s findings replicate what has been reported in other studies conducted throughout the country; the violation of employee rights is far too commonplace in the restaurant industry and warrant further exploration as well as the development of policy solutions.

Read full study here.

How Strong Is My Cocktail?

How Strong Is My Cocktail?

Ever wondered how much alcohol is in the cocktail you just made, or drank? Use this simple formula to calculate cocktail proof. 

alcohol content × liquor volume  ⁄  total drink volume × 100= 

% of alcohol by volume or cocktail proof

The measurements needed:

  1. Alcohol content and volume of each liquor used. In order to calculate cocktail proof, or percent of alcohol by volume, you need to know the alcohol content by volume as well as how much of each liquor was used. This tells you the volume of alcohol you’re adding per liquor.
  2. Total drink volume. The total volume of the cocktail, including alcohol, mixers and melted ice if used, is also necessary so be sure to measure the volume after shaking but before drinking!

A few things to know:

  • The alcohol volume can be found on the liquor bottle label. If you are using the proof, divide it by 2 to get the % of alcohol by volume. For example, 80 proof is 40% alcohol by volume.
  • After you know the alcohol volume, move the decimal two places to the left before using the equation. So 40% will be .4 when doing the calculation.
  • If you’re using a few different types liquors in your drink, remember to add the alcohol content contributed by each before dividing by the total drink volume.

Let’s use a margarita for example:

  • 1.5 oz silver tequila (70 proof, 35% abv)
  • 1 oz triple sec orange liqueur (80 proof, 40% abv)
  • 0.5 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
  • Ice (0.5 oz melted)

[(.35 × 1.5) + (.40 × 1)]  ⁄  (1.5 + 1 + 0.5 + 0.5)] × 100

[( .525 + .40 ) /  3.5] × 100

[.925 / 3.5] × 100

.26 × 100 =

26% ABV or 32 proof

And there you have it! Now you’ll never wonder how much alcohol was in that last cocktail, or 5.

5 Reasons to Find a Job This Summer

5 Reasons to Find a Job This Summer

You’ve probably seen quite a few Now Hiring signs since summer started, and whether you’re looking for a summer gig or something more permanent, here’s why you need to capitalize ASAP.

  1. Employment on the rise. The job market isn’t as bleak as it was once was with job growth reaching a 15-year high in 2014, and projections of stable or even increased growth throughout 2015. And it’s looking like the economists are going to be right! According to the Manpower Group nearly 25% of U.S. employers expect to add to their workforces during the upcoming months, which evens out to about 16% after adjusting for seasonal variations.
  2. Even more so when it comes to summer jobs. Looking for some extra cash this summer? If so, the time is right with 80% of employers expecting to hire the same, or more, seasonal employees as 2014. The industries expected to add the most summer positions are hospitality and retail, with eating and drinking establishments alone projected to add at least 500,000 jobs this summer season.
  3. Competitive pay. If you’re worried about getting stiffed at your summer job when it comes to your paycheck, think again. Summer employers are expected to pay an average hourly wage of $11.52, up from last year’s $10.39. In fact, 53% of employers plan to pay summer works $15 per hour or more.
  4. Potential for long-term. On average, employers are expected to fill at least 35% of their summer positions with previously hired workers. That means that landing a job this summer could mean you’re set for the next few if need be. Not to mention, work experience is a valuable commodity these days and goes a long way in either turning your summer gig into a full-time job or securing your next position.
  5. Flexible work schedule. Summer means vacation for many whether it’s getting outdoors more often than not or going on trips with friends and family. Since most summer positions are part-time, averaging 27 hours per week, you can still find time for both work and play!

Need help getting the ball rolling? Sign up for Sirvo beta to find your next job.

June in Colorado: Festivals, Events and #ShitToHit

June in Colorado: Festivals, Events and #ShitToHit

Summer is here! And so is our #ShitToHit for June in Colorado. Enjoy!

 

Charc Week

Charc Week Denver: June 1-6

Not to be confused with Discovery Channel’s shark week, this weeklong celebration is all about the art of Charcuterie. Masters of the craft from Colt & Gray, The Nickel, The Plimoth, and Vesta Dipping Grill will be serving special charcuterie offerings made in-house, sourced from local farms and suppliers. And all you need to do to get in on the action is mention Charc Week when making a reservation (or four). Also part of the event is the official Charc Week tasting party, which will be held on Thursday evening at the Taxi Event Space where each chef will showcase their wares, alongside craft beer and spirits. Tickets are $45 and can be purchased here.

Super Troopers

Film on the Rocks- Super Troopers: June 2 at 7pm

In honor of Super Troopers 2, the original will be screened at Red Rocks for your viewing pleasure. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased here.

bellwether club open

Bellwether Club Open Call: June 3 from 12-5pm:

This soon-to-open whiskey and bar/clothing boutique located in Denver will be holding open call interviews for the following positions: baristas, barbers, bartenders, managers, retail specialists, stylists and all hospitality positions. Be sure to bring resumes, referrals and full body picture to the interview. For more information, email [email protected].

Boats, Bands, and BBQ

15th Annual Loaf ’N Jug Boats, Bands, and BBQ at Riverwalk of Pueblo: June 5-6

The event features a Nationally Sanctioned BBQ Event by the Kansas City BBQ Society, live entertainment, beer gardens, great food, boat rides and much more! Fri. 5-11pm & Sat. 10am-11pm. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for kids (ages 3-12).

Manitou Springs

2015 Manitou Springs Colorado Wine Festival: June 6 from 11am-5pm

You can never have too much wine! Not to mention live music and food. All of which will be available at the Colorado Wine Festival. Twenty-five Colorado wineries will be pouring tastings of their wines and selling bottles. Vendors and food booths will also be stationed throughout the event. Tickets are $30, available online here until June 4th, and at the festival gates until 4pm, which include admission to wine tasting and a Colorado Wine Festival wine glass.

The Shining

Film on the Rocks- The Shining: June 9 at 7pm

All work and no play makes everyone a dull boy… so go see The Shining at Red Rocks!

rose wine fest

2015 International Rosé Wine Festival: June 11 at 5pm

Denver’s First-ever Drink Pink Vino International Rosé Wine Festival held at the Omni Interlocken Hotel. Celebrity hosts will include Top Chef Season 5 Winner Hosea Rosenberg of Blackbelly Market, Madeleine de Jean (aka Madame Champagne) and Barrie Lynn, The Cheese Impresario. General admission tickets are $65, or you can go VIP for $95 and go an hour earlier plus enjoy a Raw Bar and Rosé Champagne Reception.

snowmass mammoth fest

Snowmass Mammoth Fest: June 12-14

Music, brews, and chili in Snowmass Village? Yes, please. Get down with a grand beer tasting featuring 25+ microbreweries, International Chili Society tastings, and live concerts from 15 musicians not to mention on-site camping if that’s your thing. If not, there are also lodging deals available! Tickets (including 1-day passes) range from $55-275 and can be purchased here.

boulder block party

Boulder Block Party: June 12 from 6-11pm

Join the celebration of the ever-booming Boulder creative scene! Drinks, entertainment including music by Captain Planet and DJ Ivy, and hashtags (#boulderblockparty) will be provided. Tickets are $10 and all proceeds will benefit the Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA) of Boulder to help families who have nowhere else to turn meet their basic needs. RSVP here to reserve tickets.

FARMCAD

FARMCAD Food, Art + Craft Market: June 13 from 10am-2pm

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design is hosting this first-ever event featuring food trucks, pop up boutiques, and fresh produce. Discover local artists and vendors selling their handmade goods and flavorful eats.

the princess bride

Film on the Rocks- The Princess Bride: June 15 at 7pm

Watch this classic love story with friends and family at the beautiful Red Rocks!

bbq challenge

Frisco BBQ Challenge: June 18-20

The event kicks off on Thursday, June 18, with an evening of live music. The BBQ Challenge will run Friday, June 19 from 11:00am to 9:00pm and Saturday, June 20 from 10:00am to 6:00pm. Approximately 70 BBQers will compete for a variety of awards. Other BBQ favorites include Chef Demonstrations presented on the Viking Stage; Pig Races; a Whiskey Tour (advance registration required); and a variety of musical entertainment.

breck kingdom days

Breckenridge Kick Off To Summer- Kingdom Days: June 19-21

For an entire weekend, this real town turns upside down to pay tribute to gold fields and mining, exploration and adventure, brothels and saloons, booms and busts. Be sure to try your hand at gold panning with the Gold Prospectors of Colorado during their Colorado Gold Panning Championships and check out the Outhouse Races on Sunday, June 21st on Ridge St. Kids entertainment includes face painting, bounce house, strolling characters and more.

westword music showcase

Westword Music Showcase: June 20

The Showcase is a celebration of our state’s vibrant music scene, featuring Flume as well as the Black Angels, MisterWives and over 100 more of the best bands and artists from Colorado and beyond on a dozen stages in Denver’s Golden Triangle neighborhood. Tickets start at $30 and are on sale here.

pride fest

PrideFest 2015: June 20-21

Now one of the largest pride celebrations in the U.S., Denver PrideFest turns 40 this year! Honoring community, family, heritage, and culture in the form of an enormous party at Denver’s Civic Center Park, this two day festival is free for all, so come join the fun!

brews and bites

Brews and Bites: June 27 from 6-8:30

An afternoon of food, drink and fun in “Colorado’s Home,” the Governor’s Residence at the Boettcher Mansion. Enjoy tastes of the Colorado Brewers Guild member’s masterfully crafted beer paired with the culinary creations of the chefs of the Colorado Chefs Association while wandering the rooms and gardens of the mansion. The proceeds raised from tickets will benefit the Governor’s Residence Preservation Fund, an inclusive, non-partisan 501(c)3 dedicated to preserving the historic Governor’s Residence at the Boettcher Mansion. Tickets are available here for $80, or go VIP for $200 to start an hour early, receive a VIP gift bag, and more.

taco fest

Denver Taco Festival: June 27-28

A master collection of Denver’s best Tacosmiths all in one place on Saturday from 12-9pm and Sunday from 12-8pm, Denver Glitter Dome. Tickets range from $5-60, available online here.