OK, the lockout bites - we all agree on that. But what to do? Well, my  wife, three kids, a friend and I (Slader) were over from Italy during August and we decided to hit Denver's hottest spot: Jake's food and spirits, run by none other than DS's own  Andrew Feinstein. 

Now many of you in the Mile High area have probably already had the pleasure, but Jake's really was a treat for me. It is physically a neighborhood tavern, with a homey atmosphere and things you'd expect like pool tables and sports on the TVs. But then you discover a very pleasant and spacious patio with a ping-pong table. Plus it turns out they have excellent local microbrew on tap, a real advantage for me, as I dislike mainstream American beers. 

Fine so far, but what about the food? Another nice surprise. We ordered a variety of sandwiches, burgers and wraps, all very good - including unusual items like fried onion strings and a spicey shrimp wrap.

Baseball on TV being incomprehensible to people raised in Italy, my kids were a bit at loose ends when they finished playing ping-pong. But then the evening was borne foward by a very well-organized trivia quiz, in which Team Slader placed a respectable third. Next time through the big D, we are gonna win it all, clean up. No prisoners.

So thanks again Andrew, for a great evening. And all you Stiffs who haven't been to Jake's, go check it out.