Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller’s vision on the field is clear: Sack the other team’s quarter back, then do it again. But without his signature glasses, Miller’s vision off the field would be cloudy at best.

“For me, it all started in the second grade where I got teased (for wearing glasses),” Miller told the attendees of the first fundraiser for Von’s Vision, a nonprofit organization whose mission is “to better the vision of Denver-area youth by providing them needed eye examinations and eye wear to succeed in the classroom and in life.” “I’ve been a geek since day one. This is something I can connect with and support. You wouldn’t believe how many kids need glasses to succeed.”

For Miller, who wears contacts during games and has a stash of replacements standing by on the sidelines, turned his “geek” into “chic” through a collection of 45 pairs of funky and fashion-forward glasses.

Event attendees paid big bucks to mingle with Broncos players who doubled as servers during the celebrity dinner Monday at Ocean Prime on Larimer Square. Players posed for pics, signed souvenir footballs and chatted up the sold-out room of admirers.

And when it came time to be seated in the upstairs dining room, Denver’s football favorites deftly delivered dinner with no reports of spillage.

Miller, who thanked his teammates and sponsors, wrote a $30,000 check for his own charity.

“I’ve been trying to find a way to give back,” Miller told me. “It just hit me that glasses are part of my image.”

Participating players included: Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, Champ Bailey, Wesley Woodyard, Derek Wolfe, Tony Carter, Mike Adams, Kevin Vickerson, Sylvester Williams, Omar Bolden, Terrance Knighton, David Bruton, Duke Ihenacho and Malik Jackson.

For more information on Von’s Vision, go to www.vonmiller.org.

Broncos receiver Wes Welker poses with guest Bradley Joseph, top. Above, Bryant Gunn shows off his autographed football with Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas during Von Miller’s celebrity waiter event at Ocean Prime restaurant for his charity, Von’s Vision.

Punch Bowl Social, the bowling alley, game room and diner at 63 Broadway, celebrates its one-year anniversary with $1 bowling, ping-pong, shuffleboard and billiards through Monday.

Menu and more information at http://punchbowlsocial.com/denver.

Larimer Square is lighting up the holiday season with its “nice list” of events including visits from Santa, carriage rides, carolers, a special window painting exhibit and pet photo contest.

“Larimer Square has always been a favorite place to be during the holidays, whether you are shopping, dining or simply enjoying the block’s ambience of historic charm, lights and music,” said Joe Vostrejs, chief operating officer of Larimer Associates, the company that owns and manages the Square. “Our activities this year simply add to the great traditions on Larimer Square.”

To kick off the holidays, Larimer Square retailers are hosting a winter fashion show lunch from noon to 2 p.m. Nov. 21 at EDGE Restaurant and Bar at the Four Seasons Hotel Denver. Reservations by calling EDGE at 303-389-3343.

Next on the list, locals and visitors alike are invited to shop local on Nov. 30 to celebrate Small Business Saturday. Check www.LarimerSquare.com for a list of promotions and discounts local Larimer Square retailers on this day.

New this year, Santa parks his sleigh at Starbucks near 14^th and Larimer beginning on Small Business Saturday, and then every weekend in December. Santa is available for visits from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Saturday, and from noon to 5 p.m. Sundays as well as from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Visits are free and open to the public.

For the second year in a row, the Yuletide Window Walk will transform storefront windows into works of art. The magic begins Dec. 7 with nearly a dozen local artists creating works of art throughout Larimer Square. The exhibit will be on display through December.

On Dec. 15, the annual Paws and Claus contest will take place from noon to 5 p.m. on the Dog Savvy patio. Take a photo of your dog with Santa, and post it to the Larimer Square Facebook page or Instagram with hashtag #larimersquare and Santa will choose a winning photo in time for Christmas. The winner will receive a $100 gift certificate to Dog Savvy, and will be notified via Facebook.

Complimentary carriage rides will also be available from noon to 4 p.m. on Dec. 15. The Original Dickens Carolers return from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 12 and 18, and from noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 24.

For more information on holiday events, visit www.LarimerSquare.com or follow the Square on Facebook at www,facebook.com/larimersquare.

Former Rocky Mountain News reporter Katie Kerwin McCrimmon has been named Media Representative of the Year by the Colorado Healthcare Communicators.

Since the 1970s, the Colorado Healthcare Communications has honored communications professionals across the state. Every year members nominate a representative of the news media who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to health care reporting. McCrimmon is a writer for Solutions, a project of the Buechner Institute for Governance at the School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado Denver.

More information: http://www.healthpolicysolutions.org/2013/11/04/congratulations-katie/.

The short-lived Cantina, at 1109 Lincoln St., closed last week after a roughly six-month run.

Building owners Curt Sims and his wife, Pam Savage Sims (owners of the Lime restaurants), put some big bucks into rehabbing Cantina’s kitchen and interior, but ultimately decided to let the place go to Stoney Jesseph and Will Trautman, owners of Stoney’s Bar and Grill next door.

Westword reported on Friday (http://blogs.westword.com/cafesociety/2013/11/cantina_stoneys_krewe.php) that the new owners’ concept will be Krewe Crescent Bar B Que, a decidedly New Orleans-esque eatery and a haven for Saints fans.

This year’s Chef & Brew food and foam fest takes place from 7 to 10 p.m. (with VIP ticket holders admitted at 6 p.m.) Thursday at the EXDO Event Center, 4335 W. 44th Ave.

The vent features more than 15 top chefs and brewers in a competition to create the ultimate beer and food pairing. Attendees will have the opportunity to sample a plethora of food alongside regional craft beers. A portion of sales will benefit Project Angel Heart.

“We want people to take their time and notice the true harmonies in the pairings,” said one of the event organizers chef Michael Long.

Last year’s winning dish by Jay Leandro of Pub 17 in the Grand Hyatt (a homemade blue corn pork taco) was such a hit that it made its way onto the restaurant’s menu.

For a list of competitors, more information and to purchase tickets, go to http://www.chefnbrewfestival.com/.

It had been a while since I had been back to Marco’s Coal-Fired Pizza, one of the best pizza palaces in town. I’ve neglected Marco’s not due to any negative experience or less than stellar food, but because too many pesky new restaurants keep opening (and I’m totally kidding here).

So I was delighted when I received an invitation to return to the LoDo place that’s certified to serve Napoletana style pies. Hot off the press and right from the oven is the eggplant rollatini, Marco’s first vegetarian appetizer.

The dish consists of three thin-sliced eggplant dipped in egg batter and stuffed with fresh mozzarella, ricotta and San Marzano tomato sauce. Lip-licking good!

For pizzas, we ordered the tried and true Hell’s Kitchen (mozzarella, pecorino romano, spiecy salami, hot dry-cured coppa, fresh basil and San Marzano sauce) and the newer pistachio pizza with fresh mozz, sweet Italian sausage and pistachio cream – a wild departure from red sauce pies.

Dessert? An adult pumpkin graham latte that hit all the right Thanksgiving notes. Marco’s is located at 2129 Larimer St. Reservations: 303-296-7000 or at www.marcoscoalfiredpizza.com.

Marco’s Coal-Fired Pizza has revamped its menu. (Marco’s Coal-Fired Pizza photos)

Eavesdropping on a man: “Biked to Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield; (it) was like biking in Vermont. Not that I’ve ever biked in Vermont, but very pretty, and stopped for an Old Mill Pilsner in the Old Mill Brewery in Old Town Littleton … and after biking 45 miles, I’m feeling old myself.”

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