DougCo Drop – Jan 22: Steak, surveys, and local stuff

I’m heading to the Stock Show today and am looking forward to wandering around, grabbing a drink at Wide Open Saloon’s residency, eating some Riot BBQ, and catching a bit of live music before heading to watch the rodeo.

Quick heads-up: dinner club spots will be closing soon. We’ve got over 50 people signed up at this point, so if you’re thinking about joining us, be sure to grab a seat here!

Now onto something new.

As I mentioned last week, Jack’s Modern Steakhouse opened on Thursday, and I was able to get over there to try it out. If you are looking for a high-end experience and a genuinely good night out, this one is worth having on your radar.

As a rough frame of reference for how upscale it is, I did not wear a hat for the first time in forever. They do list the dress code as business casual when you book, but I did see a few hats, and they did not kick me out for not having a collar.

Jack’s started on South Pearl Street in Denver and has built a strong reputation for wood-fired steaks, dry-aged seafood, and more composed dishes than your typical steakhouse. The Lone Tree location is their second restaurant and was designed to be larger and more versatile.

They are dry-aging fish and wet-aging steaks, with a level of detail around sourcing and prep that is hard to miss. I do not pretend to fully understand all of it, but the results speak for themselves. Our server had every detail memorized, including which fish came from where and how many days it was dry-aged, and managed to keep all of it straight (how would I know).

What stands out:

• Jack’s entire steak program is Australian Wagyu. There are no non-Wagyu steak options.

• Dry-aged seafood program, with fish aged 7 to 28 days and visible through glass.

• Steaks wet-aged roughly 60 to 90 days.

• Wood-fired cooking using a blend of oak and pecan.

• A serious whiskey program, including barrel-aged pours and smoked presentations.

• A well-curated wine list that clearly gets as much attention as the food.

You can view their menu here.

The 5,700-square-foot restaurant replaces the former Mimi’s Café near Park Meadows and is laid out across two floors, with the first floor reserved for private events and regular dining upstairs in the main dining room, bar, and lounge.

What we ordered:

• Quadruple combo sashimi ($40). The otoro stood out.

• Shells on Fire ($36). Shrimp and scallops served in sea shells with a yuzu coconut sauce that will make you seriously consider drinking straight from the shell.

• Crispy Asian Brussels sprouts ($13). Easy must-order side.

• Australian Wagyu ribeye ($88), Champion style (+$6). Champion style is topped with duck fat fried cheesy potato cakes, foie gras butter, and roasted Calabrian peppers. Worth trying at least once.

• Signature lemonade mocktails ($7). House-crafted and actually delicious.

We skipped the Champion Filet Bites this time since we were planning to go Champion-style ribeye, but they are one of their signatures and a popular starter.

Desserts rotate and are not listed online yet. They had a crème brûlée key lime pie, blueberry cheesecake, and one chocolate something that I failed to properly write down. I skipped dessert because I was stuffed, but I will be back for that once my wallet recovers, or if you invite me.

Good to know:

• Happy hour runs daily from 2:30 to 5:00 pm.

• Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday.

• Valet parking is available.

• Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends.

All in all, I enjoyed my experience and think Jack’s is a meaningful addition to the DougCo dining scene, especially if it saves you a trip into Denver for this kind of meal.

If you want to see more, I shared a video of our time there on Instagram. You can check it out here.

Saddle Up

🎤 Music & Concerts

🎤 Tyler Stanfield
📅 Date: Thursday, January 22
⏰ Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
📍 Location: The Studio, Parker
🔗 See event details

🎤 Jeffrey Alan Band
📅 Date: Thursday, January 22
⏰ Time: 7:30 PM - 11:30 PM
📍 Location: Tailgate Tavern & Grill, Parker
🔗 See event details

🎤 Supersonic
📅 Date: Friday, January 23
⏰ Time: 7:30 PM - 11:30 PM
📍 Location: Takoda Tavern, Parker
🔗 See event details

🎤 Jeff Goodwin and The Front Range Cowboys
📅 Date: Friday, January 23 and Saturday, January 24
⏰ Time: 8:00 PM
📍 Location: Wild Goose Saloon, Parker
🔗 See event details

🎤 The Fuzzheads
📅 Date: Friday, January 23 & Saturday, January 24
⏰ Time: 8:30 PM - 12:30 AM
📍 Location: Tailgate Tavern & Grill, Parker
🔗 See event details

🎤 Burns Twice
📅 Date: Saturday, January 24
⏰ Time: 7:30 PM - 11:30 PM
📍 Location: Takoda Tavern, Parker
🔗 See event details

🎤 Cryptic Writings and The Ultimate Sin
📅 Date: Saturday, January 24 and Sunday, January 25
⏰ Time: 8:00 PM
📍 Location: Wild Goose Saloon, Parker
🔗 See event details

🎤 Two Guys Co.
📅 Date: Sunday, January 25
⏰ Time: 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
📍 Location: The Studio, Parker
🔗 See event details

🍽️ Food & Drinks

🍷 Blanchard Family Wines Guided 4-Wine Tasting
📅 Date: Friday, January 23
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
📍 Location: COFF33, Castle Rock
🔗 See event details

🍫 Blanchard Family Wines Wine and Chocolate Tasting
📅 Date: Saturday, January 24
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
📍 Location: COFF33, Castle Rock
🔗 See event details

🥃 Whiskey Tasting-Bourbon and Rye
📅 Date: Saturday, January 24
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Cherokee Ranch & Castle, Sedalia
🔗 See event details

🎨 Arts & Culture

🎤 Shrek the Musical
📅 Date: Friday, January 23, Saturday, January 24 and Sunday, January 25
⏰ Time: 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM
📍 Location: PACE Center, Parker
🔗 See event details

🐅 Passport to Culture The Jungle Book
📅 Date: Saturday, January 24
⏰ Time: 1:30 PM
📍 Location: Lone Tree Arts Center, Lone Tree
🔗 See event details

🐅 Sensory Inclusive The Jungle Book
📅 Date: Saturday, January 24
⏰ Time: 4:00 PM
📍 Location: Lone Tree Arts Center, Lone Tree
🔗 See event details

🍹 Nightlife & Entertainment

🎤 Comedy Night with Don Jamieson and Pub and Grub Comedy Tour
📅 Date: Thursday, January 22
⏰ Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
📍 Location: Wild Goose Saloon, Parker
🔗 See event details

🎤 Studio Trivia & Music Bingo featuring Kayleigh Royce
📅 Date: Thursday, January 22
⏰ Time: 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
📍 Location: The Studio @ Mainstreet, Parker
🔗 See event details

🎤 Optimus Club Karaoke at The Studio
📅 Date: Friday, January 23
⏰ Time: 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM
📍 Location: The Studio @ Mainstreet, Parker
🔗 See event details

🎤 Colorado School of Dance Presents Dance for a Difference: Where Art Has Heart
📅 Date: Sunday, January 25
⏰ Time: 1:00 PM & 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Lone Tree Arts Center, Lone Tree
🔗 See event details

🎙️ Myxed Trivia, Karaoke, & Top Gun Poker
📅 Date: Tuesday, January 27
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM - 11:00 PM
📍 Location: Wild Goose Saloon, Parker
🔗 See event details

🃏 Ladies Night, Line Dancing & Poker
📅 Date: Wednesday, January 28
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Wild Goose Saloon, Parker
🔗 See event details

❓ Trivia Night
📅 Date: Wednesday, January 28
⏰ Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
📍 Location: Sterling Center, Sterling Ranch
🔗 See event details

🏔️ On the Horizon

☕ Afternoon Tea at the Castle
📅 Date: Thursday, January 29, Friday, January 30 & Saturday, January 31
⏰ Time: 1:00 PM
📍 Location: Cherokee Ranch Castle, Sedalia
🔗 See event details

🎮 Game Show Night
📅 Date: Thursday, January 29
⏰ Time: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
📍 Location: Southridge Recreation Center, Highlands Ranch
🔗 See event details

🎤 The Country Music Project
📅 Date: Thursday, January 29
⏰ Time: 7:30 PM - 11:30 PM
📍 Location: Tailgate Tavern & Grill, Parker
🔗 See event details

🐈‍⬛ Nat Geo Live: Wild Cats Revealed with Sandesh Kadur
📅 Date: Friday, January 30
⏰ Time: 7:30 PM
📍 Location: Lone Tree Arts Center, Lone Tree
🔗 See event details

Need more events? Check out https://dougcoevents.com (new URL)

Hometown Headlines

Douglas County may streamline “agritourism” rules
TLDR: County is looking at zoning updates so things like farm markets, fall festivals, classes, and small on-property ag businesses are easier to launch without people getting crushed by land-use red tape.

A new event center is coming to Sedalia
TLDR: The old Gabriel’s / Tuscan Bar building is getting converted into an event center, with the Theater of Dreams owners behind it. Think ticketed shows (magic, comedy), mystery dinners, classes, plus occasional restaurant operation. I was there last month and heard from the owners and some of the stuff they have planned sounds very exciting.

Origins Trailhead upgrades (High Line Canal)
TLDR: DougCo allocated $450K (with matching funds) to improve Origins Trailhead: better parking/trailhead, restroom, connections, shaded “pause places,” interpretive signs.

Douglas County Art Encounters: call for sculptors
TLDR: Artists can apply for the 2026–27 outdoor public sculpture exhibit (Castle Rock, HR, Lone Tree, Parker, Roxborough). Selected artists get a stipend.

Highlands Ranch Senior Center hits 1 year
TLDR: Nearly 44,000 visits in its first year, 2,300 total members, and Wednesdays are already packed with 200+ people per day. Fitness classes lead the way, and the center is quickly becoming a major community hub for older residents.

Castle Pines is asking residents about housing affordability
TLDR: The city is exploring an “affordable housing fast track” review process and an overlay zone, and they’ve got a quick survey open right now to guide it. If you live in Castle Pines (or work nearby), this is one of those rare “your input actually shapes the plan” moments.

Need more events? Check out https://dougcoevents.com (new URL)

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