Insider's Tips: dining before the Shakespeare fest

Colorado Shakespeare Festival (CSF) turns 50 this year and it looks fabulous.

Since last year's debut of Philip Sneed as Artistic Director, CSF has added new seats*, a musical ("Woody Guthrie"- and it's really good), a new caterer, and free pre-show talks at every performance. 

Currently, Sneed himself is receiving fantastic reviews for his work onstage as Macbeth.  History is in the making as Julian López-Morillas completes the canon (i.e., will have performed in every Shakespearean play) with his compelling portrayal of Cardinal Woolsey in "Henry VIII".  Plus this year I'm in a show there.  C'mon.

Next week, I'll post some Insider's Tips on stuff to do in tandem with attending a CSF show (nearby museums, crazed bus tours, etc.).  This week, however, is dedicated to the many awesome dining options to try during your visit to the fest.  (See how slick I am with the message of assumed action?)

*Elevations Credit Union sponsored folding seats for the Mary Rippon outdoor theatre.  The gift inspired an intense surge of good will and cultural cache for the donor, as anyone who's sat through a 2 1/2 hour show on a naked stone slab will appreciate.


It doesn't get much better than a summer night in Boulder.  Take advantage of the gorgeous weather, mountain vistas, and free entertainment with a picnic on the Green in front of the theatre.

• Falstaff's offers gourmet picnics to be picked up at the theatre. Order ahead of time, or even when you get to the show.  BYOB--or a non-alcoholic drink is included with the meal.

• CSF fight director (and damned fine actor) Geoffrey Kent introduced me to happy hour at Hapa on The Hill.  Time it right, and you can grab a couple of maki to go for $5.50.

• Wild Oats was born in Boulder and there are two stores very near the festival.  Of course, WO has been swallowed Whole, so you're no longer supporting the local kids by shopping there.  But it still has a yummy deli.

A 15 minute walk from the theatre there's a wealth of options on Walnut and Pearl.

Crazy-popular are the happy hour tapas at The Med on Walnut Street.  CSF dialect coach Sara Phillips (my hero... ine)  praised the bacon-wrapped dates, white sangria, and fried artichoke hearts. "Sounds like a heart attack, but these are the faves!"

Swooning at the sound, I grabbed some gals (GerRee Hinshaw, host of Freak Train; and Dee Covington, director of Curious New Voices) and headed to the Med to do a little fact-checking.  There was a 45-minute wait for a table. The Attack of the Drunken White Men, however, was served up without delay.

We literally ducked down an alley and fled to Centro for mojitos, some amazing sea bass in chipotle sauce, grilled shrimp tacos, and "avocado salad" (apparently they don't serve "guacamole").  The food and service was perfect.  Our bill, however, was probably 3x what it would have been if we'd suffered the wait at The Med.

Sean Tarrant (whose Henry VIII is every bit as sexy and compelling as Jonathan Rhys Meyer's) also suggested the seafood and infused vodka at Jax. 

Sounds like another field trip is in order.  Who's with me?




Speaking of which, Noel Johnson (the most darlingest Griffith in "Henry VIII") has, um, graciously offered the following:

"Take an actor to an authentic Shakespearean dinner! Come see Henry the Eighth, then take an actor (me) to dinner at the Taj Indian Restaurant, up on Table Mesa Road.  Or, the reverse, since I don't think the Taj is open that late; eat first, then see the show."

Noel claims that "Henry LOVED Indian food, and he especially liked to dine on it after he had divorced, beheaded, or just plain left a wife."

To take Noel up on the offer and hear more of his historical fictions, email me.  He's serious.


Topics: theatre , theater , plays , audience , Colorado , comedy , actor , Shakespeare , Boulder , dining , restaurants