Denver Restaurants and International Women’s Day

On Wednesday, March 8, which is International Women’s Day, people around the world plan to "act together for equity, justice, and the human rights of women and all gender-oppressed people, through a one-day demonstration of economic solidarity." The organizers (who were also behind the Women’s March on Washington) have dubbed the demonstration "A Day Without a Woman," and anyone who is interested and able to participate is encouraged to take one or more of the following actions on March 8: Take the day off from both paid and unpaid labor; avoid shopping for the day (with exceptions for businesses that are small and women- and minority-owned); wear red.

Unlike the February 16 "A Day Without Immigrants" strike, March 8 isn’t resonating as strongly among restaurants in the Denver area. We’ll be tracking local restaurants’ plans for the day here, whether they’re closing, staying open but donating money to women-related charities, or taking other actions in solidarity.

Comal, an operation ran for and by Latino immigrant women who are learning how to open their own businesses through this eatery, is offering 10% off to every woman who stops in for lunch. Dine in or take out between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Oskar Blues Brewery just announced the debut of SHE’Boogie Bop, a limited-release lavender vanilla cream ale. Brewed by women, it will be available at Colorado taproom and restaurant locations starting March 13. Cream ale is a distinctly American style ale known for being light, crisp and balanced. The lady brew crew used a grain bill including corn, wheat and pilsner malt; then they got weird with it – adding real vanilla beans and lavender after fermentation. The music of Prince played while they worked, for added inspiration and style points.

One place in Denver declared its closure for A Day Without A Woman is the Denver Cat Company. Here’s the statement that owner Sana Hamelin issued:

ON OUR MARCH 8 CLOSURE IN SOLIDARITY

On March 8, International Women’s Day, women around the country are going on strike to demand gender equality. Denver Cat Company will stand with them and be closed for business on Wednesday, March 8, 2017.

The cat cafe is a business owned by a woman, staffed entirely by women, and caters primarily to women. I was conflicted about the statement it makes to close such a business. But I have faith in our community and I know you will support us ten times harder all the rest of the week and month that we are open to make up for revenue loss. And, although I want to show solidarity for the cause of liberation and equality, I understand the strike is experienced differently by employees who are not salaried; therefore, cat cafe staff will be paid as if they had worked their usual shifts and will not lose wages because of the closure.

I also wanted to make my own personal statement by striking today: immigrants, like me, are job creators and make meaningful contributions to their communities and to the American economy. Without the opportunities created by feminist ideals, I would not have come to this country at age 21 to make a better life. To the extent any of this work and its doers are invisible, this is one small step to making it more visible. Let’s all honor the contributions of women and immigrants and welcome more of it, not less, and on fair terms.

If nothing else, wear red.

Thanks for all your support and love,

Sana

Owner, Denver Cat Company

In Boulder, at Wild Standard, the team led by chef-owner Brandon Heap just introduced a cocktail list dedicated to influential women. The selection includes a variety of house-made creations named after notable women in history. The Maya Angelou with dry gin, lemon, alpine herbal liquer, mint and prosecco; and the Alice Waters with vodka, celery juice, verjus, elderflower, prosecco and thyme are just a couple of the featured cocktails. Other nods to to J.K. Rowling, Frida Kahlo, Florence Nightingale, and Michelle Obama.

Disclosure: The editor is married to one of the developers behind Taxi, the development in which Comal resides.