Blush & Blu

{{Short description|Lesbian bar in Denver, Colorado, U.S.}}

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| name = Blush & Blu

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| address = 1526 East Colfax Avenue

| city = Denver, Colorado

| country = U.S.

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| coordinates = {{Coord|39|44|23.5|N|104|58|8.5|W|type:landmark_region:US-CO|display=inline,title}}

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| owner = Jody Bouffard

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| type = Lesbian bar

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| opened = 2012

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| website = {{URL|http://blushbludenver.com/}}

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Blush & Blu was a lesbian bar located on East Colfax Avenue in Denver, Colorado.{{Cite web |title=Blush & Blu |url=https://www.westword.com/location/blush-and-blu-5182082 |access-date=2021-10-18 |website=Westword |language=en}} It was the city's last lesbian bar, down from a peak of seven, and one of approximately thirty-three remaining in the United States.{{Cite news |last=Bye |first=Gabrielle |date=2021-05-18 |title=Blush & Blu Is One of the Last Lesbian Bars Left in the Country |language=en |url=https://www.westword.com/restaurants/blush-and-blu-is-one-of-the-last-remaining-lesbian-bars-in-the-country-11971873 |access-date=2021-10-18}}

Blush & Blu was owned by Jody Bouffard who previously owned tHERe Coffee Bar and Lounge from 2005 to 2011 and Her Bar from 2008 to 2011. Bouffard also worked at a bar called The Elle.{{Cite news |last=Ricciardi |first=Tiney |date=2021-06-24 |title=Denver is home to one of just 21 lesbian bars in the U.S.; here's why it matters |language=en-US |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2021/06/24/blush-blu-denver-lesbian-bars/ |access-date=2021-10-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703191409/https://theknow.denverpost.com/2021/06/24/blush-blu-lesbian-bar-denver/261272/ |archive-date=2021-07-03}}{{Cite news |date=2021-06-10 |title=21 lesbian bars remain in America. Owners share why they must be protected |language=en-us |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/21-lesbian-bars-remain-in-the-america-owners-share-why-they-must-be-protected |access-date=2021-10-18}} In 2012, she reacquired tHERe Coffee Bar and Lounge's space, which she reopened as Blush. It gained its current name in 2013 following an expansion, which also included Voodoo Doughnut's first Colorado location.

Bouffard is also an artist, and her work decorates the bar's space.{{Cite news |last=Austin |first=Nic |date=2021-09-28 |title=How Denver's Blush & Blu Survives as a Last Remaining Lesbian Bar |language=en |url=https://www.advocate.com/exclusives/2021/9/28/how-denvers-blush-blu-survives-last-remaining-lesbian-bar |access-date=2021-10-18}}

Blush & Blu closed in October 2024 and at the time was Colorado's last lesbian bar. Reports indicated the space would be used by a gay bar operated by Bouffard{{Cite web |date=2024-10-07 |title=Colorado's only lesbian bar closes its doors |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/denver-colorado-only-lesbian-bar-closes-blush-blu-rcna174126 |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=NBC News |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-10-04 |title=Blush & Blu is closing this weekend. But it’s not the last lesbian space in Denver |url=https://denverite.com/2024/10/04/blush-blu-denver-lesbian-bar-closing/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=Denverite |language=en}}