How does a new film that is yet to be released nationwide become a catalyst for real and immediate change? When thousands of supporters rally behind it in a call for action.

The wild horse is an American icon, yet the species is being systematically wiped from the open lands of the western United States.

When horsewoman Ellie Phipps Price watched roundups of wild horses and realized that more than 50,000 wild horses have been torn from their natural lives to stand stagnant in government holding, and just 32,000 were left in the wild, she knew she had to take action.

Along with director and former Denver dweller Monty Miranda and producer Henry Ansbacher, she created “American Mustang, the Movie,” a 3-D nature documentary. Narrated by Daryl Hannah, the film presents the wild horse issue with striking visual acuity featuring the majestic wild horses of the American West.

When the film premiered to sold-out audiences at the Starz Denver Film Festival in November, the filmmakers knew they were on to something. With mainstream press coverage and similar success at the Napa Valley Film Festival the following weekend, “American Mustang” sparked passionate energy and momentum that continues to build in support for wild horses.

Last week, American Mustang launched a Kickstarter Campaign to raise $40,000 in funding to bring the film to audiences around the country. Within one week, more than $31,000 already had been raised.

For more information, go to the American Mustang Kickstarter campaign at  www.kickstarter.com/projects/americanmustang/american-mustang-opening-in-theaters.

The Lone Tree Arts Center’s intimate theater will host famed singer-songwriter Randy Newman, who will perform to an audience of less than 500 people no further than 60 feet from the stage, at 7:30 p.m. March 12.

Newman is the recipient of two Academy Awards for Best Original Song (“from “Monsters, Inc.” for Bonnie Raitt, and “You Can Leave Your Hat On” for Joe Cocker, a Colorado resident).

This acoustic concert is one of only three one-night stops for Newman in Colorado: Lone Tree, the Vilar Center in Beaver Creek, and the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen. The 2013 inductee to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will perform his greatest hits as well as share stories and memories from his lifelong journey in music.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. on Thursday. Prices range from $60 to $90 and can be purchased online at www.LoneTreeArtsCenter.org or over the phone at 720-509-1000.

Randy Newman will perform in an intimate setting at the Lone Tree Arts Center on March 12. (Photo by Erika Goldring/randynewman.com)

Local radio and TV star Denise Plante exposed her faux pas on Facebook last week for an accidental credit card debacle.

She said, “Wow, haven’t done something this stupid in a while. While putting gas in (the) car, cleaned out trash and accidentally threw my debit card away. Three hours later, realized I must have thrown (it) away in (the) trash. Had to go back and dig in trash to find it. Someone said, ‘Aren’t you the lady on TV?’ Ugh!! So embarrassing, but I found it!!”

All’s well that ends well.

KOSI radio talker and KUSA-Channel 9 host Denise Plante admitted she had to dig through some trash recently to find a treasure — her debit card. (KOSI 101.1 FM photo)

Eavesdropping on a female Broncos fan before Thursday’s loss to San Diego: “We are going to the game tonight. Should be fun but cold!  Look for us on TV. We’ll be the ones in orange.”

More than 5 percent of the money spent on wine by Coloradans goes to wines made in the state, according to a new study commissioned by the Colorado Wine Industry Development Board.

The study, conducted by Colorado State University’s Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, shows that the Colorado wine industry’s economic contribution has more than tripled to more than $144 million since a similar study was conducted in 2005.

Representatives from the Colorado Department of Agriculture and Colorado’s wine country presented the findings during a luncheon Tuesday at Acorn, the fabulous new restaurant inside The Source at 3350 Brighton Blvd.

Bottom’s up! The report concluded that local vineyards are helping quench Coloradans’ thirst for wine. The state’s wine consumers are outpacing national consumption by drinking approximately 3.1 gallons per capita annually, 24 percent more wine than the U.S. average.

While the Front Range, now home to more than half of the 108 wineries in the state, has seen the biggest jump in production, the economic growth has benefited the entire state through grape growing, wine sales, wine-inspired tourism and industry employment.

Key findings include:

• Colorado’s wineries create 460 jobs directly through sales and expenditures within their communities.
• Including the spillover spending from tourism and wine-related activities, wine supports 1,665 jobs in the state.
• The industry has experienced 27 percent growth in volume and 65 percent growth in estimated sales value over the past five years.
• The Colorado wine industry has maintained a 16 percent average annual growth over the last 20 years.
• Colorado wine sales surpassed $28 million in fiscal year 2013, up from $11 million in 2005.
• Colorado wine consumers spend more per bottle on local wines than other wines.

“We see this as an indication that Colorado wine drinkers consider our local wines as a special occasion selection, perfect for their holiday feasts,” said Dawn Thilmany, a professor at CSU and lead author/researcher for the study.

“The significant expansion of the Colorado wine industry’s impact through tourism is particularly exciting,” said Doug Caskey, executive director of the CWIDB. “The local industry encouraged state residents to contribute $56.3 million to Colorado’s economy by attending wine festivals and events, or visiting tasting rooms instead of taking their money to wineries in another state. We are very gratified that Colorado wine adds one more item to the long and exhilarating ‘to do’ list that the state offers its visitors.”

Wine tourists from outside Colorado also brought $46.7 million into the state. All told, wine tourism at festivals and events, coupled with tasting room visits and related tourism spending, generated  $103 million for Colorado’s economy.

“The Colorado wine industry is increasingly strong and vibrant,” Caskey said. “We are ecstatic about the results of the study, and excited to see these numbers validate all of the hard work of our growers, winemakers and everyone involved in wine production.”

Data from Colorado’s wine industry shows that nearly 2,000 tons of wine grapes worth more than $3 million are harvested annually. That is a tremendous shot in the arm to Colorado’s fruit-growing industry and agricultural economy, especially in view of the recent crops losses for peaches, apricots and cherries.

To view the study in its entirety, visit http://coloradowine.com/cms/index.cfm/category/97/economic-contribution-of-the-colorado-wine-industry.cfm.

A handful of eateries and foodie retail spaces have opened recently. I told you earlier about Olive & Finch, the Mary Nguyen-owned space adjacent to her original restaurant Parallel 17 on 17th Avenue.

And right around the same time, Pikkas Peruvian Cuisine & Pisco Bar opened in the former Abrusci’s and Campo de Fiore space at 300 Fillmore St.

Pikkas, which officially opened on Dec. 2, held a press dinner this week featuring menu samples including baby octopus with haucatay sauce, ceviche clasico, pescado en salsa de cilantro, Portobello ravioli crema and alfajor with lucuma ice cream.

It’s a nice addition to the eclectic Cherry Creek North dining scene.

I’ve yet to try chef/restaurateur Troy Guard’s new ventures Los Chingones and Sugarmill at 2463 and 2461 Larimer St., but am planning a visit soon and will file a full report.

Guard, an established Denver chef with TAG, TAG Raw Bar and TAG Burger Bar joined forced with Noah French to bring us the new concepts.

Los Chingones is Guard’s take on Mexican food in the hot RiNo district serving familiar favorites like guacamole, ceviche and tacos with a TAG twist.

On the sweeter side, chef French whipped up Sugarmill, a bakery, lounge and dessert bar.

Opened earlier this week was Lower48, a contemporary American restaurant on the corner of 21st and Lawrence streets. The menu changes daily and is inspired by regional ingredients and culinary traditions.  The menu features natural preserving techniques, artisan breads, heritage breeds, heirloom vegetables and house-made pastas.

Entering the food retail arena is Western Daughters Butcher Shoppe at 3326 Tejon St. in the trendy LoHi neighborhood.

The 720-square-foot butcher shop carries an array of boutique grocery items such as small-batch condiments, sauces, cheeses and marinades, as well as dry goods to accompany Western Daughters’ High Plains meat. Beef, pork and lamb in addition to seasonal game meats are available in a variety of cuts along with semi-prepared foods and items such as stock, marrow butter and deli meats.

Fiancée team Kate Kavanaugh and Josh Curtiss began the Colorado brand after training in New York under two seasoned butchers in conjunction with Fleisher’s Grass-fed and Organic Meats. The duo’s promise is that each animal, farm and community is treated ethically from ranch to table.

Every cut is antibiotic and hormone free and raised on open range. The entire animal is utilized for its various components. This is reflected in the butcher shop’s dozens of specialty cuts and products from animals raised for Western Daughters, and all sourced and harvested from within 250 miles of the shop.

“We see animals from the inside out, and it’s with that perspective that we’re able to verify the health of the animals and help support sustainable ranching and land management practices,” co-owner Kavanaugh said.

Curtiss added, “We’ve moved away from truly knowing where our food came from; we want to be a window from Denver into those ranches, from the life of the animal to the lives of those that raise the animals.”

Seasonal events, lectures, classes, farms visits, butcher demonstrations and community dinners will all be added to the Western Daughters agenda next year. The butcher shop also will be expanding their line of semi-prepared foods and sandwiches.

More information at www.westerndaughters.com.

Emmy Award-winning fashion guru Tim Gunn and Denver’s own Mondo Guerra will co-host Goodwill’s Fourth Annual Good Exchange Fashion Show & Clothing Swap from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 6 at the EXDO Event Center, 1399 35th St.

Gunn, co-host and mentor of Lifetime’s “Project Runway’’ – and host of the upcoming fashion competition television show “Under the Gunn” – will join Guerra, also of “Project Runway” fame, for an evening of fashion and fundraising for Goodwill Industries of Denver.

Guests will get a sneak peek at some of Denver’s up-and-coming young fashion designers during the event, which will feature  designs by students from Goodwill’s youth programs at local high schools. Area celebrities will also model clothing from Goodwill’s Déjà Blue Boutique, the high-end clothing and accessories division of Goodwill .

In addition to the unique runway show, the event will include a clothing swap. All guests are asked to bring 10 items to swap with other attendees.

“I’m thrilled to be joining Goodwill again for this incredible night,” said Guerra, who will be featured in Gunn’s new television show as a mentor to aspiring designers. “Each year, the event has grown bigger and better and I can’t wait to see how the student designers express their creativity.”

To purchase tickets, visit http://www.goodwilldenver.org/exchange. Regular tickets are $60. VIP tickets – which include a private reception, a meet and greet with Gunn and Guerra, and priority seating – are $150. All proceeds from the event will benefit Goodwill’s career development programs for at-risk youth, struggling adults and people with disabilities.

Tim Gunn, left, and Mondo Guerra will host Goodwill’s Fourth Annual Good Exchange Fashion Show & Clothing Swap Feb. 6 at the EXDO Event Center. Gunn is the mentor and co-host of Lifetime Network’s hit reality series, “Project Runway.” Guerra, a Denver designer, won “Project Runway All-Stars” and will appear in Gunn’s new Lifetime series, “Under the Gunn.” (Lifetime Network photo)

The NCAA has selected Denver to host two upcoming sporting events: The 2015 NCAA men’s lacrosse quarterfinals and the 2016 NCAA Division II Spring Sports Festival.

The lacrosse selection continues Denver’s growing reputation as one of the go-to lacrosse cities of America. In the last nine years, Denver has hosted three Major League Lacrosse All-Star Games, two National Lacrosse League All-Star Games, and in 2014 will host the FIL World Lacrosse Championships.

The bid to host the event was submitted by Denver Sports, an affiliate of Visit Denver, in partnership with the University of Denver Athletics and Recreation, Sports Authority Field at Mile High, the Denver Broncos and Denver Outlaws. The 2015 NCAA men’s lacrosse quarterfinals will be played in Sports Authority Field at Mile High, home of the Denver Outlaws.

“We are thrilled the NCAA has entrusted Denver to host this event,” said Ken Chin, executive director of Denver Sports. “This decision is a testament to the hard work put forth by our city’s grassroots lacrosse community, Denver’s two professional lacrosse teams – the Denver Outlaws and the Colorado Mammoth – and to the lacrosse program built by the University of Denver Pioneers head lacrosse coach, Hall of Famer, Bill Tierney.”

Assisting in the bid was Tierney, who said, “Everyone associated with lacrosse in Denver should be very excited about this announcement, and I thank all that worked so hard to make it happen. The opportunity to host such meaningful Division I games in the NCAA tournament is something we will embrace to make the experience second to none. Our guests, visitors and television viewers will assuredly get to find out why Denver is truly ‘The Lacrosse Capital of the West.”

According to Chin, the popularity of lacrosse in Colorado has been exploding in recent years.  The Denver Outlaws have led the MLL in attendance for seven straight years and there are now more than 11,600 Colorado students playing lacrosse, almost double the amount in 2006.

“The increasing popularity of lacrosse in Colorado was one of the key factors in Denver being chosen to host the 2014 FIL World Lacrosse Championships, and no doubt also played a significant role in the NCAA’s selection today,” Chin said.

He added that being strongly associated with a growing sport is a real positive for the city. “Denver will receive national television coverage and exposure from both the FIL World Lacrosse Championships and NCAA men’s lacrosse quarterfinals, and we’re confident our local lacrosse community will come out and support both of these events.”

Denver’s second award was for the 2016 NCAA DII Spring Sports Festival, a six-day event that will be held in The Mile High City for the first time. The Spring Sports Festival includes six championships (men’s golf, women’s golf, women’s lacrosse, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, and softball) rolled into one event. A unique feature of the sports event is that all teams stay for the entire six-day festival, even if their team has been eliminated, thereby increasing the number of overnight stays and the economic impact.

“The NCAA’s decision to bring this event to Denver is a testament to the leadership of Metropolitan State University’s president, Stephen Jordan, and to the quality of their athletic program, led by their director of athletics, Joan McDermott,” Chin said.

The 2016 NCAA DII Spring Sports Festival is the only place in the NCAA where six champions will be crowned in a single event. The festival experience provides an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of more than 1,000 DII student-athletes from more than seventy schools. In addition to high-level athletic competition, the NCAA also recognizes academic achievement in the various sports represented at the festival.

“This is a very prestigious opportunity for our university to host the Spring Sports Festival,” McDermott said. “Denver Sports has worked tirelessly on this bid and we are excited for the exposure for our brand new athletics facility as a result. The softball, lacrosse and tennis championships will all be played at The Regency Athletic Complex at MSU Denver on our campus.”

More information at www.visitdenver.com/denversports.

Despite the single-digit temperature on Dec. 6, Denver law firm Bachus & Schanker Cares Foundation’s fifth annual Joy of Giving benefit raised more than $12,000 for free legal services to the underserved.

The event, held at the Denver offices of Bachus & Schanker, is a fundraiser that engages the legal community in support of Justice and Mercy Legal Aid Clinic (JAMLAC).

Bachus & Schanker opened the office to more than 60 colleagues and friends who share the foundation’s commitment to supporting the community and those affected by life changing tragedies. Funds were raised via a silent auction and direct ask, and surpassed last year’s total by just under $3,000.

Above,  a guest enters a bid during the silent auction. Below, (from left) Taylor Thomas, Darin Schanker and Dawn Rozecki. The law firm’s fifth annual Joy of Giving event raised more than $12,000 to provide free legal services for the underserved. (Blacktie-Colorado photos)