Four years ago when Justin Klomp and his dad, Ralph, came up with the idea of using customers and other notable locals modeling Trice Jewelers jewelry on the pages of the annual catalog, Justin thought, “Who in the world would do this? I had to say, ‘Please, be a model, please.’ And they would say, ‘Well, I don’t know.'”

But model they did, and the catalog caught on to the point where the Klomps’ cup runneth over with willing volunteers. In a break with tradition that featured a prominent woman on the catalog cover, this year’s glossy magazine (mailed to subscribers on Thursday) features Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey, the official Trice spokesman.

“All the girls helping me on this catalog said, ‘You’ve got to put him on the cover,'” Justin said. “I said I’ve got to make sure Champ is OK with this. He texted right back and said, ‘I’d be honored.'”

The cover shot shows Bailey wearing a Breitling for Bentley watch with a price tag of $12,000. Did Bailey get to keep the bobble? “No, but maybe we can work out something with him,” Justin joked.

The current catalog includes 32 models dripping in diamonds including TV personalities Natalie Tysdale and Susie Wargin, Miss Colorado Hannah Porter, former Bronco Mark Schlereth’s daughter, Alex Schelereth, director of Denver Broncos cheerleaders Teresa Shear, wife of Broncos head trainer Steve Antonopulos, Susan Antonopulos, Kathy Lee from The Fox radio and pilates and yoga instructor Meredith Hutson.

Prior to press time, Justin eats, breathes and sleeps the catalog. “It’s my baby,” he said. “It makes a pretty big splash in town.”

Trice prints 80,000 copies of the catalog that are available in the store at 6885 S. University Blvd., Centennial, or by mail. And though Pauline Fortuna, the photographer of the past three catalogs, moved to Japan, Trice opted to fly her to Denver for this year’s photo shoot.

As for topping the fourth catalog with the fifth? “It keeps me up at night worrying about what am I going to do next year,” Justin said.

Champ Bailey, above, graces the cover of the 2014 Trice Jewelers Wishbook. Several of Denver’s most famous Denver women (including Bailey’s fiancee, Jessica Herrera, below, grace the catalog wearing some Trice’s gems and diamonds. The Trice family, including owner, Ralph Klomp, and son, Justin, also took part in the photo shoot, bottom. (Trice Jewelers photos)

The dining district in the Lowry neighborhood has been on the drawing boards for months since Larimer Associates and Hartman-Ely Investments announced the ambitious project that aims to house roughly 12 chef-driven eateries in the mixed-use commercial development.

Giancarlo Macchiarella, executive chef of Denver restaurant Locanda del Borgo (an On the Town family fave), will be the first restaurant to open in the new dining district with Café Mercato, a modern, warm and casual neighborhood destination featuring sharable Italian dishes and an expansive wine “library.” The restaurant is expected to open at Hangar 2 next fall. Cafe Mercato will serve lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.

On Tuesday, Mayor Michael Hancock led a group of the project’s muckety mucks in a ground-breaking ceremony at the site. The Hanger 2 dining district was designed by Semple Brown Design and is being built by Rand Construction. Initially financed through a public-private partnership, the project received $2 million in Tax Increment Financing from the Denver Urban Renewal Authority.

“The Hangar 2 development is a wonderful example of the significant impact intentional public-private investment can have on the economic prosperity of our neighborhoods,” Hancock said. “The transformation of the Lowry neighborhood is creating hundreds of jobs and will generate new tax revenue for the City and County of Denver for years to come.”

For more information, go to www.hangar2lowry.com.

“The Book of Mormon,” the smash hit Broadway musical currently playing a record-breaking engagement at The Buell Theatre, will be back by popular demand for a limited engagement Aug. 11-Sept. 12, 2015, at The Ellie Caulkins Opera House.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday with a limit of eight per household.

“The Book of Mormon” holds the all-time single ticket on-sale record for The Denver Center for the Performing Arts with more than 38,000 tickets sold on June 10. The previous record also was “Book of Mormon” for its 2012 national tour launch.

Tickets for the return of the musical start at $35, and are available by calling 303-893-4100 or at the Denver Center Ticket Office in the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex lobby or online at www.denvercenter.org.

(Photos by Joan Marcus, provided by The Denver Center)

The folks at Udi’s Foods were slated to open Braun’s Taphaus & Grille in the old space of the Archive Room in Olde Town Arvada today.

Eater Denver reported Braun’s will serve “traditional German cuisine and American comfort food with 20 rotating beers on tap.”

Located at 5601 Olde Wadsworth Blvd., Braun’s is in the heart of a burgeoning area in Arvada that will only get grow when the RTD FasTracks Gold Line opens in 2016.

The Archive Room opened in 2009 and recently former Dixon’s chef Aaron Youngblood revived the menu from bar fare to more of a seasonal offering, but the place closed last summer.

See the full story at www.denver.eater.com/archives/2013/11/13/udis-foods-will-open-brauns-taphaus-grille-a-german-taphouse-in-arvada.php.

Remember Trader Vic’s famous cocktail bowls meant for two to four folks? You’d gather around a liquor wading pool full of rum and tropical juices and suck down the bowl o’ beverage with a long straw.

The Corner Office at 14th and Curtis streets is bringing back the throwback punch bowls in themes that will rotate every few weeks.

The first punch bowl to be featured is “What the Dickens,” honoring Charles Dickens, an amateur craft bartender who was known to serve signature punch bowls at his dinner parties. What the Dickens, a recipe from bar manager Benjamin Anderson, is concoction of Gray Eclipse Rum, E & J Brandy, special bitters, pineapple juice and black tea.

Each punch bowl costs $45, serves 10 to 12 glasses per bowl, and is designed for groups of four or more.

The Corner Office is serving throwback punch-bowl drinks for up to four people, a la Trader Vic’s. The first punch bowl to be featured is “What the Dickens,’ honoring Charles Dickens. (Corner Office photos)

Crowfoot Valley Coffee/Crowbar in Castle Rock (734 Wilcox St. No. 102) is having its third annual MS/ALS fundraising party on Saturday.  Blue Stone Mojo will perform on an outdoor stage from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., followed by a performance by Andrew Wynne from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Two 100-pound  pigs will be roasted in the back as well.  The Crowbar is offering a selection of food, wine and beer for $20. All proceeds from the sales go to MS/ALS.

More information: www.crowfootvalleycoffee.com.

While most blooming plants are dormant for the winter season, the Denver Botanic Gardens creates bountiful manmade bouquets during Blossoms of Light at the York Street location and Trail of Lights at the Gardens at Chatfield from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. nightly Nov. 29 through Jan. 1.

More than 1 million colorful lights are on display at Denver Botanic Gardens and Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield throughout the holiday season.

At York Street, seasonal entertainment is presented on select evenings. A synchronized holiday light and music showcase illuminates the UMB Bank Amphitheater, and themed gardens enhance the experience.

At Chatfield, twinkling lights illuminate a variety of paths throughout Colorado’s countryside; a shorter route takes visitors directly to the children’s play area, while an extended path allows visitors to explore the Green Farm barn and silo before continuing to the children’s area and homestead.

Also featured are seasonal entertainment and hayrides are available on select evenings; synchronized music and light showcases; illuminated antique and model tractors and a warming hut and fire pit. Warm drinks, treats and HoloSpex 3-D glasses are available for purchase at both locations.

More information at www.botanicgardens.org.

Trail of Lights at the Gardens at Chatfield  starts on Nov. 29. The Blossoms of Light begin the same day at the Denver Botanic Gardens on York Street.  (Denver Botanic Gardens photo)

Eavesdropping on a woman driving to work through Thursday’s snow: “If you are missing your village idiots, they are out here on the roads.”

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