Eavesdropping on two men during the Colorado Wine luncheon: “How did you get into wine producing?”

“Drinking.”

You can look, but don’t touch those friendly looking police dogs at Denver International Airport. They’re on the job working to protect travelers, and can’t use the distraction.

9News reported last week that DIA has come up with a creative solution to petting police dogs: trading cards.

“Brian Brown, a technician with the Denver Police Department Explosive Detection Unit has worked with his bomb-sniffing partner, Nnikos, for nearly four-and-a-half years,” the 9News report said.  “He says his four-legged coworker gets a lot of attention, especially from kids.

“We do not let anybody touch the dogs.  Mainly, it’s for liability purposes,” Brown said.  “They’re still working animals. We still have a job to do and … I want my dog to go out and work as hard as he can.  And the best way to do that is not let people touch them.”

In keeping with the “look-don’t-touch” policy, Brown hands out cards to the kids so they can get to know the dogs better without getting too close.

“DIA has developed some pictures of the handlers and the K-9s and put some information about our dogs onto these cards,” Brown told 9News.  “What we try to do is pass those cards out to especially the kids so they have a little bit of a memorable moment with the K-9.”

“Brown says he hasn’t been asked for an autograph yet, but he thinks the cards leave a lasting impression with young travelers.

“They usually love them,” Brown said.  “You’ll see them walking around with their parents and they still have that baseball card in their hands, so you realize they’re probably pretty special to them.”

See the whole story at http://www.9news.com/rss/article/367502/337/DIAs-bomb-sniffing-dogs-get-their-own-trading-cards.

DIA dog-sniffing trading cards handed out to airport visitors. (9News photo)

E-3 Events, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing together Jews in their 20s, 30s and 40s, has opened online ticket sales to Heebonism 2013, a Christmas Eve tradition in Colorado for two decades. All proceeds from the event go back into the Denver community.

Want to go without paying the dough? Just sign up to subscribe to this column at www.blacktie-colorado.com/pennyparker for a chance to win free tickets.

The annual celebration is the largest local gathering of young and youngish Jewish professionals. Heebonism, with an expected attendance of more than 500 revelers, moves to The 1Up Colfax, a concert and video game venue.

“Every year the nonprofit puts together a lively party for the local community, and it’s going to be awesome to show off our new space to such a fun crowd,” said Jourdan Adler, owner of The 1Up Colfax. Adler’s company is expanding the current 2Up vintage arcade and bar further into its historic Colfax digs by adding a music venue with a killer sound system and raised stage.

“Not only will people be able to play classic video games in the cleaned-up arcade side of the bar, but they’ll be able to dance and socialize on the ballroom side,” said Eric Elkins, who, along with Ean Seeb and Ezra Shanken, formed E-3 Events in 2008.

Heebonism starts at 8:30 p.m. with an hour of cocktails from Golden Moon Distillery until 9:30. Admission price is $18 in advance or $25 at the door. The door price will be reduced to $20 for anyone who brings new socks, gloves or hats for Jewish Family Service of Colorado.

For more information, go to www.e-3events.com.

Swallow Hill Music’s grand piano is about to retire, and it could be yours (or yours to give) this holiday season. Thanks to a generous donor, Swallow Hill is receiving a new piano, and will auction off the Nordiska Grand to support its scholarship fund. Bidding on the piano will close on Dec. 20.

The 5-foot 10-inch Nordiska has been the main stage piano for more than 10 years, and has been played by some of the most talented musicians that have come through Swallow Hill Music, including George Winston, Leon Redbone, Suzy Bogguss, Raul Midón, John McCutcheon, Marcia Ball, Alpin Hong and Matt Morris.

Bids for the Nordiska Grand Piano can be submitted to community@swallowhillmusic.org. The winning bidder will be notified on Dec. 20. The approximate retail value is $5,000; the minimum bid accepted is $2,500. Home delivery has been donated by Move and Tune, Inc. Those who wish to see and play the piano may call Swallow Hill Music (303-777-1003) to reserve a time on December 16 or 17.

For more information, visit www.swallowhillmusic.org for more information.

Scott Chester, creator of the Acid cigar brand, will make his Denver debut during a late-night bash on Friday at CY Steak, 1222 Glenarm St..

Acid Cigars are dipped in a mixture of Middle East spices to produce their effect. Acid is also a design studio owned by Chester, based in Brooklyn, N.Y., which takes elements of street art, graffiti and cutting-edge industrial design. He combines them to create art work in clothing, car and motorcycle design and cigar bands.

Friday’s event starts at 10 p.m. Tickets are $25, which includes one drink and snacks from chef Doug Mace. For reservations, call Cliff Young at 720-327-7596.

Scott Chester, creator of Acid cigars, will be making his Denver debut at CY Steak on Friday. (Scott Chester photo)

Food & Wine magazine has included Palettes in the Denver Art Museum among the “Best Museum Restaurants in the U.S.”

“Across the country, ambitious empire builders have turned boring museum cafeterias into destination restaurants,” the story says.

About Palettes, F&W wrote: “Chef Kevin Taylor opened this museum café in 1997. His new American menu spans from Anaheim chiles rellenos to a silken corn soup with barbecued shrimp (made famous at Zenith, Taylor’s long-gone notable noshery).

“Some dishes play on the restaurant’s name: Ingredients in the Cobb salad are arrayed like a painter’s palette. Others are riffs on the museum’s exhibitions. During a recent Yves Saint Laurent show, the menu included chic takes on retro French staples like trout amandine and steak frites.”

Check out the rest of the best list at http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/best-museum-restaurants-in-the-us?xid=TTIPS121013FullListFantasticMuseumRestaurants.

Comeback coach, author and local sports announcer Mark McIntosh will be giving a Pep Talk and signing copies of his new book “Life Is A Roller Coaster: Tips For The Dips” from 10 a.m. till noon Saturday at The Shack restaurant, 151 W. Mineral Ave., Littleton.

McIntosh is donating a portion of sales proceeds that morning to Sense of Security (www.senseofsecurity.org), a charity that provides Colorado breast cancer patients with financial assistance to cover utility bills, rent, and other life expenses while they are undergoing treatment.

Mark McIntosh is donating part of the proceeds to his pep talk and book signing Saturday to breast cancer charity Sense of Security. (SeekVictory.com photo)

Entrepreneur and gay rights activist Tim Gill shipping an overnight letter at Mail It! Pack It! Ship It! in Cherry Creek North.

Eavesdropping on a mom: “Right when I’m getting ready to make waffles for my boys, my youngest has to tell me, ‘That’s the George Foreman grill, mom, not the waffle iron.’ In need of cooking lessons for sure!”