When Aurora native Josh Ackerman first heard Christina Aguilera sing, he said he knew she was bound for pop-singing stardom.

“I remember when Christina Aguilera’s audition tape came in, she was singing like Whitney Houston,” Ackerman said about his fellow Disney’s “Mickey Mouse Club” alum. “I knew that she more than anybody was going to be a mega star.”

Ackerman, who moved from Colorado to Orlando, Fla., when he was 11, answered an open casting call for the famed “Mickey Mouse Club,” and landed a place on the show. During his tenure there (he was the only male cast member who stayed on from the pilot to the last episode when he was 18), Ackerman performed alongside Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Ryan Gosling and (Highlands Ranch native) Keri Russell.

“I was around really, really talented people,” he said. “I learned the importance of collaboration and just the inception of an idea. I definitely think at an early age built the foundation of where I am today. I knew what I wanted to do when I grew up; I was living it.”

But Ackerman’s show business career shifted from in front of the camera to behind it. He learned the basics of what would become his craft by hanging out with editors and producers to learn the intricacies of their jobs.

After graduating from the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts at NYU, Ackerman moved to Los Angeles and pursued an on-camera career doing national commercials for companies including Burger King and Taco Bell.

“But I knew that wouldn’t be my life,” he said. “I still felt a void and wanted to tell stories.”

About five years ago, Ackerman and his business partners built Bodega Pictures from a garage-based fledgling start-up to a full service production house with more than 50 employees and five network deals including shows in development with AMC, E! and the Cooking Channel.

At the end of last month, his show “South Beach Tow” on TruTV returned with a new season. On Sunday, the Bodega-produced show “On the Rocks” premieres on the Food Network. “On the Rocks” features host John Green, founder of a bar consulting company, as he travels around the U.S. in his quest to turn around failing bars.

“He can change little things that can bring in big dollars for the owners,” Ackerman said. As for returning to his Denver-area roots, Ackerman said he hasn’t been “home” for seven or eight years.

“I’ve been building my business,” he said.

‘South Beach Tow’ is just one of the many projects produced by Josh Ackerman’s Bodega Pictures. (Tru TV photo)

I told you Wednesday about Broncos linebacker Von Miller‘s fundraiser for his charity Von’s Vision, which gives glasses to kids in need.

Many of Miller’s teammates showed up to mix and mingle with fans, sign souvenir footballs and serve a multi-course dinner at Ocean Prime on Larimer Square.

Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, who was mobbed by admirers, spoke briefly to me about his short stint on the reality series “Eric & Jessie: Game On,” a show on E! about wide receiver Eric Decker and his new bride Jessie James in the weeks leading up to their wedding.

Thomas, whom Decker calls his best friend on the team (hence the moniker “Black and Decker”), appeared in the episode on Decker’s bachelor party in Lake Tahoe where the manly men vied for the title of MVP.

I asked Thomas about his appearance on the show-and-tell show where the gang golfs and drinks beer and goes out on a boat and drinks beer.

“He’s a buddy so I thought I’d do it for him,” Thomas said about his brief show biz stint. As to the episode? Thomas said he hasn’t seen it.

The editors at Thrillist Nation (www.thrillist.com), an online food and adult beverage website, have chosen the 10 tastiest tailgate cities and Sports Authority Field at Mile High scores.

Here’s what the item said, “The laser focus of parking lot partiers at Mile High is centered on beer. After Portland, Ore., Denver has more microbreweries than any other city in America, and – while Coors may garner lots of Rocky Mountain suds attention, Bronco fans aren’t apt to drink watery brew. If you have to choose one local favorite, Great Divide’s Titan IPA is your move. But don’t forget – the higher altitude will quicken your buzz, so drink accordingly.”

See the entire list at: http://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/tailgate-food-ideas-the-10-best-nfl-tailgates-for-foodies?utm_content=feature&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Nation&utm_campaign=11.14.13%20NATION%3A%20Stupid%20beer%20inventions%20%26%20the%20best%20NFL%20tailgates%20for%20food.

Broncos tailgaters got a shout-out from Thrillist.com. (DenverBroncos.com photo)

When Aurora resident Al Ridl Jr. bought a $100 raffle ticket for the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway, he figured he was doing the right thing by supporting the hospital that doesn’t turn down patients regardless of their ability to pay. But he got more than he bargained for — way more.

Ridl’s name was drawn Thursday morning during “Good Day Colorado” on KDVR Fox-31 as the winner of the $525,000 home located in The Meadows at Historic Castle Rock. The single-family dwelling was built by Oakwood Homes and is approximately 4,300 square feet with five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a bonus room and a three-car garage.

When Ridl was contact by Fox on the air, I’m told he was shocked. His wife didn’t even know he had purchased a ticket to the raffle, and he certainly didn’t expect to win.”

For more information, go to www.dreamhome.org.

The St. Jude Dream Home won by Al Ridl Jr. Thursday. Oakwood Homes built the home in The Meadows in historic Castle Rock. (Oakwood Homes photo)

Humboldt Farm. Fish. Wine. opened just more than a month ago in the venerable 1700 Humboldt space occupied forever by Strings.

But after owner Noel Cunningham’s death, his wife, Tammy, opted out of the restaurant business although she still owns the land. Concept Restaurants, a group helmed by Rock Bottom founder Frank Day, took over the space and gave it a total rehab by adding seats in the bar, tearing down the wall that separated the bar from the restaurant, and opening the kitchen into exhibition style.

On Tuesday, media members were invited to taste test the new menu, which aims to offer “really good food done the right way,” according to chef DJ Nagel, who, with Concept Restaurants director of operations Sean Huggard, designed the menu.

My favorites on the happy hour menu (offered from 3 to 6 p.m. daily) were the cucumber gimlet made with Pearl cucumber vodka, fresh lime and sugar, and the smoked trout dip with homemade potato chips and sweet onion jam.

Other items we sampled were crispy fried oysters, charbroiled Acme oysters and Humboldt baked oysters; jumbo shrimp cocktail; crispy broccoli (which is the best broccoli I’ve ever had), steak Diane; Niman Ranch pork tenderloin, and a variety of desserts including the to-die-for key lime pie and chocolate flourless cake.

Reservations: www.humboldtrestaurant.com or 303-813-1700. Brunch with a “bottomless bubbles” option is brand new on Saturdays and Sundays.

Above, charbroiled Acme oysters; below, steak and fries. (Photos courtesy of Humboldt Farm. Fish. Wine.)

Don’t stash your ‘stache. Instead, wear it with pride during Mustache Fest from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday at Vesta Dipping Grill, 1822 Blake St.

All you have to do is show up and have a great time. Creative mustaches are a plus, but not required. Stick-on and lady ‘staches will be available.

New this year: StacheTats (www.stachetats.com) will be on site providing temporary tattoos starting at 7 p.m. All donations and 10 percent of sales for the night to directly to Make-A-Wish Foundation.

More details and to reserve a table, call Vesta at 303-296-1970.

Bring your mustache to Vesta Dipping Grill on Saturday.

Larkburger’s Littleton location is celebrating its one year anniversary this weekend by offering a steal of a deal to diners.

The Littleton team, at 8555 W. Belleview Ave., will be serving $2 burgers from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday. Check out the menu at www.larkburger.com.

The Larkburger location in Littleton is selling $2 burgers on Saturday to celebrate its first anniversary. (Larkburger photo)

Eavesdropping on a man: “I am going to be on ‘Undercover Boss’ soon. Okay, I am the boss and will be under the covers again tonight. Close enough.”

We love our advertisers; they are what keeps this column running. Want to advertise your business here? Contact Trisha at trilind@hotmail.com or call her at   720-985-6947.

You can’t win prizes if you don’t subscribe. Tell your friends.

Congratulations to Judith Teisl, who won a $100 gift certificate to Opus in Cherry Creek North.

And now for our biggest subscription prize ever … drumroll, please … for our new subscription drive those who subscribe to this column (veterans and newbies) will be entered to win two tickets to the Broadway smash hit “Book of Mormon” for the 7:30 p.m. performance on Nov. 23, seventh row on the aisle. We will be announcing that winner on Wednesday, Nov. 20.

Thanks to Roger Hutson and the Colorado Gas & Oil Association (another On The Town advertiser!) for donating the tickets.

Did you hear that I have a 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. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com.