Jo Davis jdavis@coloradocommunitymedia.com
The residents of Lakewood and surrounding communities await “The Great Wait in Line Event,” also known as the grand reopening of Casa Bonita restaurant. For those impatient for the May 23 opening, there are events like the recent Casa Bonita Sip & Paint, hosted by Westfax Brewery and Arts in the Open.
The idea for the Sip & Paint arose from the brewery’s successful previous events, according to manager Carrie Aslinger.
WestFax Brewing Co. owners Jackie and Anthony Martuscello host various events each week.
The “Great Wait in Line Event” was just an opportunity to do something fun at the brewery and include Casa Bonita.
Aslinger said the WestFax team "thought people would be really interested because they are really enamored by Casa Bonita's reopening. So, they thought it would be a good idea.”
The event sold out fast and a second night was added to accept the overflow.
The WestFax team also was ready for inclement weather.
“Plan B was to set up in the brewery, which is also cool, but doing it outside with Casa Bonita right there," Aslinger said. "I feel like it’s the perfect spot.”
The participants were largely new to painting and there for their love of the landmark.
Heather Abreu and her companion for the event, Matthew Davis, artistic director for Arts in the Open, were teaching a few painting skills along with a trivia game for prizes.
Arts in the Open sponsored the Sip & Paint events, according to Davis. This was the first Denver-area event, and more are planned.
Abreu said that the event was going well. The painters were filling their canvases with color, and many expressed relief at seeing the canvas. Abreu pre-sketched the architecture of the building on each canvas.
“People are a little nervous because it's architecture," Abreu said. "I was a little nervous about the architecture as well. But I pre-sketched everything on the canvas for them, so it's more of a paint-by-section instead of ‘I’m painting a building.'”
She then shouted to the crowd, “How are you all feeling?”
A confident “Wooo!” rang out and the party continued.
Check out the Arts in the Open calendar for upcoming events. See WestFax Brewing Co. “Taproom Events Calendar” for more information.
