Nightlife in Commerce City

At Legends of Aurora, philly cheesesteak could mean a traditional sandwich, a pizza, or a 24-inch sub food challenge. For more than 20 years, Legends of Aurora‘s hand-tossed pizza dough has formed the foundation for this and other pies, including the supreme and the White pizza, a sauceless number with cheese and tomato slices. And though their patrons order enough pizzas each year to pave a route from Peoria to Buckley, they somehow find time to nosh on pepperoni pizza rolls, Rocky Mountain oysters, calzones, chimichangas, salad, and wings as well.

Tunes pour from the jukebox at The Dirty Duck Bar, where bartenders help customers forget their thirsts and hearty grub slakes hunger. At the bar, frothy beers and mixed drinks command attention, with a selection that includes feel-good spirits in terms of their production: the bar proudly serves Idaho’s American Harvest organic spirit, for one, which is produced using sustainable agricultural methods and wind power. While barkeeps dispense drinks and help guests learn the proper knot for a cherry stem, the kitchen churns out classic pub fare from bacon cheeseburgers to pizza.

More than two dozen flat-screen TVs line the walls of Cleatz Sports Bar & Grille, casting a glow across an arsenal of pool tables, poker games, and decadent fare created by the kitchen’s veteran chef. As the wait staff shuffle around deep-fried mushrooms, catfish poboys, and buffalo wings drenched in a spectrum of sauces—from sweet molasses to XXX hot—a DJ spins live tunes before the munching and swaying crowd. On Friday nights, live jazz music replaces the electronic beats, and musicians welcome locals on stage to jam with the band or turn their middle-school diary into a new song. As for every other night of the week, the bar hosts a range of events, such as pool leagues, poker tournaments, and karaoke.

Five times a week, Impulse Theater's cast of comedy players fields spontaneous audience suggestions and molds them into 10–12 original scenes that make up 90 minutes of improvised comedy. Though the fast-paced, interactive shows split sides with a mostly family-friendly brand of hilarity absent of profanity, some scenes may deal with situations or themes more appropriate for an audience suited to view a PG-13 movie or a no-holds-barred political ad. Inside the intimate theater, guests file into seats with unfettered views of the stage, where they can order their one-drink minimum, which includes nonalcoholic beverages.

Belly up to the bar or kick back in marshmallow-like sofas and prep your palate with a specialty sip. MiniBar's inventive cocktail menu includes everything from mouth-watering martinis (try the miniBar'tini with Grey Goose L'Orange vodka, citrange, white cranberry, and a spritz of lime, $8) or a bubbly miniBar bellini (Lunetta prosecco, white-peach puree, and peach schnapps, $6). Small plates such as the spiced nuts (coated with kicky Cajun spices) or bacon-wrapped medjool dates are prime for sharing (served 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., start at $5 for one item). MiniBar also features a well-edited selection of salads, dips, and cheese plates to satisfy more intense cravings. Try the caprese salad ($9), flatbread and dips ($8), or the barbecue baby back ribs ($11).

Exposed-brick walls, soft string lights, and eye-catching art serve as the backdrop for a relaxing night over carefully selected wines, small plates, and conversation at Sienna Wine Bar & Small Plates. Shareable dishes include Toblerone chocolate fondue, house salads, and gourmet pizzas to tantalize taste buds and fill diners' stomachs, complemented by sips of wine from the bar's large list of libations.