Tidbites | Week of February 6, 2014

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Shine owners, The Emich sisters, displaying their yo-faces.

BOTTOM OF THE BOTTOMLESS

Was it the carbs? The gluten? The fact that Marilyn Hagerty didn’t lambast it for being a soulless chain? Whatever the reason, the Boulder Olive Garden said arrivederci last week, taking its bottomless breadsticks and going home.

Darden Restaurants Inc., owners of the franchise, told local media the restaurant was simply underperforming.

Attempts were made to shift employees to other Olive Garden and/or Red Lobster locations in Westminster, Longmont and Thornton.

As for what will become of the now vacant building that Darden Restaurants Inc., owns at 2685 Pearl St., no one yet knows. Which means it would be a perfect time for someone to approach the owners with a sitcom idea about a pair of wacky mountain climbers that decide to leave the mountain life behind them to open an Olive Garden-like restaurant that certain BW food writers may or may not already have a screenplay for sitting in the top drawer of their desks at work. Call us, Darden. Call us.

DINNER AND A DOWNWARD DOG

If you’re a good active urbanite, then you’ve got your after-work workout and dinner routine dialed tight. But if you’ve ever felt the urge to combine them into one effort, then you’re in luck.

On Monday, Feb. 10, Shine will be offering a free yoga class at 6:30 p.m., after which there will be a shiny happy hour. Loosen up the muscles in your back, then loosen up your tongue, all in one fell sukhasana.

Shine is located at 2027 13th St. The class starts at 6 p.m. and is free.

WALK, DON’T RUN

If you’re getting a bit of Boulder fever and feeling the need to stretch your legs culinarily, there’s a grip of restaurant tours going down in Denver this weekend.

On Friday, Feb. 7, from 3 to 5 p.m., the Savor the Flavors tour will be leading foodies on a two-hour walking and tasting tour through LoDo, East Colfax and South Pearl at a cost of $39 per person.

The Denver Top Restaurant tour will be held Saturday, Feb. 8, featuring three of the city’s top eateries, with exclusive pairings and insight. That one costs $99 per person and runs from 2 to 5 p.m.

Tickets for both of those tours are available at www.culinaryconnectors.com.

Also happening Saturday, Feb. 8, is A Taste of the Highlands, which will explore the eateries of Denver’s Highlands Bridge neighborhood. Tickets are available through www.DenverGourmetTours.com. It runs from 1 to 4 p.m. and costs $49.

WOK, DON’T PUN

As Boulder’s favorite vaudevillian Karl Marx once said, from those with the greatest ability to consume wine and Asian food, to those with the greatest need for it.

And this week you can put K-Ma’s words into action with a charity shindig at Wok Eat in downtown Boulder.

Wednesday, Feb. 12, The Asian street food cafe at 946 Pearl St. will be hosting a fundraising event for the Emergency Family Assistance Association. All you have to do is chow down on some Wok Eat delights, drink up on wine flights and snack sideways on desserts.

The event runs from 5 to 8 p.m. Get more info at efaa.org.

Respond: letters@boulderweekly.com