Grapes & Hops...not so much

Wellllllll Friday night Grapes & Hops at the Botanic Gardens was not that awesome... primarily because it was a freaking downpour...but also because the set up was awkward and strange.

The line to get in was the first bad impression (they didn't have an efficient check-in process), and then they had all the vendors under one big tent, so when the rain really started coming down, everyone crowded under the tent, and you couldn't get to any of the food or beer tables. Also, the lines for the beer tables were crazy long. And I think that was because they gave you these plastic beer mugs when you checked in, and you were supposed to use them for sampling...but that just created long lines as you waited for the beer people to fill up everyone's mugs (instead of just having pre-filled cups ready to go). Does that make sense? I finally just gave up and left to get a cab.

But the night was not lost! We FINALLY got a cab (while huddling under a bus shelter in the pouring rain) and went to Cherry Creek Grill in Cherry Creek North (http://www.cherrycreekgrill.com/) Ah! I finally got my glass of wine and was able to relax. The food was (and is always) awesome. Seriously, try anything, and you'll be impressed. And the atmosphere is warm and cozy.

Afterward, we went to the Milwaukee Street Tavern for a quick, tipsy game of mini bowling and a cocktail. http://www.milwaukee-st-tavern.com/

Soooo even though the night got out to a rough start, it ended well, and we had a great time! I would recommend only going to the Grapes & Hops if the weather is nice... wear comfy shoes and bring your own lawn chairs to chill and watch the band (which was playing Ricky Martin's Livin' la Vida Loca while I was bee-lining toward the exit).