For a person who has spent most of her career following or chasing celebrities on the national or local level, even I was star struck on Thursday when Oakwood Homes owner Pat Hamill invited me (once again) to attend the after party for the Jack A. Vickers Invitational 2013 golf tournament at Castle Pines Golf Club, a benefit for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver.
I went accompanied by my star stalker “gusband” (gay husband), Bradley Joseph, who drove through Tech Center rush hour traffic to get us to Castle Pines.
We were over the moon from the moment we drove up to the entrance (thank you Castle Pines’ valets, who are fab).
It was hard to choose between hunger – which was taken care of by Del Frisco’s, Shanahan’s, Elway’s, Castle Pines, etc. – and our desire to pay homage to the celebs who attended the event.
I think the most satisfying part of being around Colorado’s notable folks is just how genuinely nice they are. Take for example John Elway, perhaps the most famous Coloradan we can claim as our own.
John Elway poses with On The Town columnist Penny Parker at Thursday’s after party for the Jack A.Vickers Invitational golf tournament at Castle Pines Golf Club. (Bradley Joseph photo)
I’ve probably seen and spoken to Elway a jillion times, yet he is still the kindest famous person I know. And his wife, Paige, what a dish! And she is as nice as she looks.
Bradley and I paid the proper props to Mr. Jack A. Vickers for being our host for the evening, and tried to meet as many “green jackets” as we could.
Brian Griese, former Denver Broncos quarterback, was there and couldn’t have been sweeter. He and I have struck up a friendship since he left the Broncos. When he was wearing blue and orange, he never felt comfortable in his skin and didn’t trust the press. But after he retired, he’s been nothing but lovely.
But my “pinch me because this isn’t real” moment came when Bradley pushed me toward Peyton Manning. I protested because I didn’t want to be “that” person who was drooling over herself from meeting one of the most famous NFL players EVER!!!!
What a doll! Of course, I tripped on my words because I was fairly tongue tied. But how lucky are we, as Coloradans, to have such a wonderful ambassador for our state. And what you can’t figure out from TV is that Manning is actually bigger than Elway.
They were standing really close together and you could see the difference. Manning, of course, has to maintain his playing weight, and Elway has reduced to a size that fits him off the field, but it was striking to see them nearly side by side.
And then I met some guy named David N. Siegel, who I wouldn’t have known from a hole in the wall, except he gave me his card. What the what? He’s the president and CEO of Frontier Airlines, a company I have supported since I can remember.
In fact, my husband just did research on flying me to New York City for my VIP experience on the Hoda and Kathie Lee hour of the Today show, and found me a Frontier flight which was the best bang for the buck (read cheapest).
So, Mr. Siegel, would it kill you to send me a couple of drink tickets? I’m a nervous flyer, even though I grew up in an airline family because my dad worked for Pan Am and then United.
So, I’m still basking in the afterglow of an amazing evening. Thank you, Pat Hamill, I owe you big time. And thank you to all of the fame and fortune folks that we encountered.
Peyton Manning enjoys Thursday’s after party for the Jack A. Vickers Invitational golf tournament at Castle Pines Golf Club. (Bradley Joseph photo)
Triple Crown No. 2
The Celtic Tavern at 1801 Blake St. is hosting the second of the three Triple Crown parties this Saturday. The restaurant opens at 8.15 a.m. You will be able to place your bets all day at the Off Track Betting facility inside the Celtic. A Dixieland jazz band will entertain all afternoon. Call 303-308-1795 to reserve a table.
Big Break
We told you about former University of Colorado All-American women’s golfer Emily Talley participating on Golf Channel’s reality show “Big Break” on Wednesday.
After the airing of just one show (Monday), Talley already has seen an elevated level of fame.
“I posted that I was going to be on the show on Facebook and it was the most response I have ever had,” Talley said. “I don’t think I could say I’m getting married and get that much response. But it’s fun, you see how many people love the show, how many people are rooting for you.
“A lot of people you don’t know connect with you on a TV show, you have a lot of people rooting for you,” Talley said. “Maybe I made them laugh or maybe they felt my frustration.”
“Big Break,” which was filmed at an Iberostar resort about 45 minutes south of Cancun in Mexico, airs at 7 p.m. Mondays on the Golf Channel.
Last July, Talley heard she had made the first round of cuts and would be brought in for an interview. But it wasn’t until November that she heard anything. She was at the Arizona State Open when she got a call saying that she had made it to the third round of interviews. Then after missing her LPGA card by three strokes at the third stage of qualifying school, she got the call that would change her life.
“You don’t hear anything forever,” Talley said. “I had a feeling they were waiting for Stage 3 to be over, because if you do well there, you have your card, you don’t need your Big Break.”
It was then another six weeks before she would leave for the filming of the show, which took 31/2 weeks.
But it wasn’t all margaritas.
“It was a stressful situation,” Talley said. “But it was some of the best fun I’ve ever had. We had to get up at 4:30 a.m. every morning, we were mic’d up by 5 and by the time we were at the course, had the competitions, it was 5 p.m. before we were back. We’d all have dinner together and then you’re shooting interviews until midnight, and then you do it all over again. But when it’s something like a once in a lifetime opportunity, your body just figures out how to cope with it.”
The seen
Prince Harry at The Market on Larimer at 10:30 Monday (and to think I was just there last Friday).
Eavesdropping on two women: Overheard at an anti civil unions rally at the Capitol: Dan Caplis telling a woman, “My wife won’t let me Tweet.”
Did you hear that I have a new column, “Mile High Life,” in Colorado Community Media’s 17 weekly newspapers circling Denver? Be sure to like my Facebook page! Also, here’s where you go to get my column emailed to you Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I’m now the social-media liaison for the Mile High Chapter of the Colorado Restaurant Association, so read my latest restaurant news there. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com.
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