D Note, a music/restaurant hotspot in Olde Town Arvada, wouldn’t be the D Note in any other location.
The uniqueness of Olde Town is what inspired the DeGraff family – Matthew, his wife Monica, Adam and Jeremy – to establish the venue eight years ago, offering live music, food, a full bar, artwork for sale and dance classes.
“My husband and my brother-in-law, Adam, found the space and it really spoke to them. They were able to imagine their dreams within those brick walls,” says Monica DeGraff.
One of the biggest reasons for D Note’s success is its status as a music venue, where many music styles, from Indie to rock, take the stage. Whether it’s open mic night where local favorites like Cellar Door jam with friends and fiddles, or an intimate concert with well-known names like the Fray or the Flobots, D Note draws an audience.
Monday nights are open stage, when a variety of local musicians assemble to play covers and original songs, along with dramatic readings and the candid DJ Jay Ryan. Transcendental Blues Jam is on Wednesdays, with swing lessons at 7 p.m. ($5) and the Clam Daddys band on stage at 7:30 p.m.
The D Note stage sees a different side of the musical realm as well. On Sundays, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., D Note hosts “Baby Boogies” where kids ages 1 month to 12 years get a shot at a spread of instruments to play with or dance to, and once in awhile a guest musician comes to entertain tikes and parents alike. The fun (and free) activity gives parents and kids a chance to make new friends in the community.
D Note also hosts other activities, such as Zumba dance classes on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Combining exercise with energetic Latin dance moves, the hour-long classes cover everything from salsa and cha-cha to hip-hop and reggaeton. Dancers can drop in for a class for $8 ($15 if they bring a friend), or purchase a multi-class pass ($60 for 10 classes or $100 for 20). On Saturday afternoons, various drop-in dance classes are also available.
D Note features local artists’ work on the walls throughout the dining area, which not only serves as a cycling art gallery, but a place to buy artwork.
“The D Note has definitely grown with us,” Monica says. “We always wanted to be a community-minded space… that has remained constant.”
But D Note is much more than its music and art. In addition to the musical side, the food is a contender for what attracts visitors.
“There are many reasons people are drawn to the D Note, but at the top of the list is the food,” Monica says, especially calling out their award-winning pizza, which includes vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free options. “My favorite pizza is the Taj Mahal – our house-made hummus on our yummy pizza crust with tomatoes, feta, lettuce, kalamata olives and red peppers.”
For those who like beer, D Note has the Pint Club. Members (age 21 and over) can attend free monthly beer tastings from breweries like O’Dells, New Belgium and Stone Brewing Co., plus every time members purchase a pint, they get 20 ounces for the 16-ounce price. Other freebies include a special D Note Pint Club glass and T-shirt, as well as notifications on upcoming club events.
“I like to think we have something for almost everyone,” Monica says. “With so many different options every month, there is bound to be very few folks out there who leave the D Note unhappy.”
If You Go
D Note
7519 Grandview Ave.
Arvada, Colorado 80002
303-463-6683
www.dnote.us
Zumba Dance Classes: Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. and Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m.
Pint Club: $35 registration fee (must be 21 years or older).
The D Note’s website has an event calendar that usually has multiple events listed daily