Bon Jovi Inspired By SAME Café; Armadillo Owes Big

DENVER—Jon Bon Jovi may be a rock star, but he's also a philanthropist. He even took some notes from Denver for his recent restaurant project that opened last October. The Washington Post profiled Jovi's Soul Kitchen in New Jersey, a restaurant concept modeled after Denver's SAME Café on Colfax and Vine Street. Jovi says he was inspired to open Soul Kitchen, a restaurant that allows people to pay what they can, after watching a story about SAME Café by NBC's Brian Williams. [WP]

LITTLETON— Employees at the now shuttered Armadillo told 9 News that they haven't been paid for weeks of work. Between bounced checks and a chunk of rent debt, it appears the Armadillo is under the thumb of financial pressure. [DP]

VAIL— After an excuse to do what they do best, Denver Off The Wagon crew has recapped the Big Beers, Belgians and Barleywines Festival after drinking their way through the offerings. Not only have the bloggers listed their beers of choice, but some of them are of the opinion that the fest trumps the Great American Beer Festival. How you ask? It's smaller and the servers are also the brewers/owners. [DOTW]