Welcome to Blacktie-Colorado’s new periodic column for nonprofit organizations! If you have questions about this email, please write to Brett McCann-Lehl at brett@blacktie-llc.com.

BLACKTIE-COLORADO.COM

NEW INTERIM PRESIDENT AT PENROSE-ST. FRANCIS HEALTH FOUNDATION: Andy Barton.

VAIL USA CRITS WEEKEND to benefit Timmy Duggan’s Just Go Harder Foundation.

TODAY FROM BLACKTIE’S PENNY PARKER: “One of Denver’s most spectacular weddings took place earlier this month when Peter Marsico, of Marsico Capital Management fame, wed the lovely Mari Wieleba, a merchandising associate for eBags and a Cherry Creek High School and University of Kansas grad.”

SAME-SEX COUPLE SUES conservative nonprofit over photo use.

BLACKTIE’S SISTER COMPANY, Efficient Tickets, will handle ticket sales again this season for Colorado Chorale. The first event, “A Night at the Theatre,” is Oct. 12.

YOU SHOULD USE EFFICIENT TICKETS for your next ticketed event. Online ticketing is inexpensive, consumer-friendly and provides your organization with valuable purchasing and entrance data. Contact Brett McCann-Lehl at 303-339-3819.

LATEST EVENTS ON BLACKTIE
* Denver DOVIA Salutes Amazing Volunteers, at the Wildlife Experience.
* Lutheran Family Service Hosts 19th Innkeeper Dinner, at U.S. Air Force Academy Press Box.

FOUNDER OF AURORA NONPROFIT suspected of sex crime.

HITS COLORADO THEATRES: Pro-reform education movie, sponsored by The Daniels Fund.

NONPROFIT KAISER PERMANENTE opening offices in Fort Collins, Loveland.

RECEIVES MORTGAGE-FREE HOME FROM OPERATION HOMEFRONT: Colorado veteran Jesse Bowser.

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENT on Blacktie-Colorado for just $150 a week. Email Brett McCann-Lehl at brett@blacktie-llc.com.

ASTRONAUT VANCE BRAND to present student scholarship next week at CU-Boulder.

SUN TO POWER Denver Habitat for Humanity homes.

THE ACTION CENTER hosted the annual Betty Proctor Fund Luncheon, which featured more than two dozen local celebrity waiters, including Arvada Mayor Marc Williams, House District 22 state Rep. Ken Summers, (R)-Lakewood and Jefferson County Commissioner Donald Rosier.

DID YOU KNOW? You can advertise your nonprofit event easily and affordably to 300,000 readers in the 17 Colorado Community Media newspapers from Thornton to Castle Rock? Blacktie offers discounted rates to organizations that have not previously advertised in the CCM publications. These publications include Arvada Press, Castle Rock News-Press, Centennial Citizen, Douglas County News-Press, Englewood Herald, Golden Transcript, Highlands Ranch Herald, Lakewood Sentinel, Littleton Independent, Lone Tree Voice, Northglenn-Thornton Sentinel, Parker Chronicle, Westminster Window, Westsider and Wheat Ridge Transcript. Call Brett McCann-Lehl or Don Knox at 303-832-2903 for more details!

COMING EVENTS ON BLACKTIE
10/3/2012 – Centro San Juan Diego 8th Annual Archbishop Jose H. Gomez Gala
10/4/2012 – Arapahoe Douglas Mental Health Network’s 8th Annual Raising Spirits Wine Tasting & Auction
10/4/2012 – There’s Something About Mary
10/5/2012 – Denver Rescue Mission: Evening of Exploration

DO YOU HAVE SUGGESTIONS FOR A FUTURE ISSUE OF BLACKTIE FOR BUSINESS? Send an email to the editor, Don Knox.

One of Denver’s most spectacular weddings took place earlier this month when Peter Marsico, of Marsico Capital Management fame, wed the lovely Mari Wieleba, a merchandising associate for eBags and a Cherry Creek High School and University of Kansas grad.

According to my spies, the Marsicos wed at Cherry Hills Country Club where cocktails were served, then had shuttles take guests to Peter’s parents home where more appetizers were passed and cocktails were poured during dancing to a 23-piece orchestra brought in from New York City.

The musicians’ play list included songs from Led Zeppelin, The Black Eyed Peas, Usher and Cee Lo Green, but had to shut down the music at 11:30 to respect the neighbors. Epicurean Catering served amazing food at the event with lobster medallions with greens, choice of entrée cooked to order and all servers were dressed in tuxes and white gloves.

The tented event featured huge cream draping everywhere with chandeliers and centerpieces with hydrangeas, roses in shades of sand, pale pink, cream and white.

After the wedding reception, guests were shuttled to the JW Marriott in Cherry Creek North to wrap up the festivities.

“It was the most tasteful obscene expenditure of money I’ve ever seen,” said my spy. ” It was beautiful, class, class, class.” My spy added that the darling duo of guests Barry and Arlene Hirschfeld rocked it on the dance floor. The band reportedly played 14 songs in a row during the reception after toasts to the couple.

Trifecta

Three Denver hotels were included in Conde Nast Traveler Magazine’s readers poll of the 15th annual business travel awards, which presents hotels in 15 cities that had the highest-scoring business facilities.

They are: The Ritz-Carlton Denver, The Curtis: A Doubletree Hotel by Hilton and the Oxford Hotel. Highlights from the poll include comments from readers praising hotel employees, clean rooms, excellent service, a well-trained staff and a good location.

For the complete list, go to http://www.cntraveler.com/daily-traveler/2012/09/best-business-hotels-accommodations-los-angeles-new-york-london?MBID=social_#slide=12.

Author, author

Thirteen authors will gather during this year’s Pen & Sword Literary Festival, a free event open to the public, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Denver Press Club, 1330 Glenarm Place.

Here’s the schedule of author appearances:

10-10:15 — Denny Dressman and Dr. John Elliff, Sterling Heroes of World War II, As It Was Lived – In Their Own Words

10:20-10:35 — Dusty Saunders, Heeere’s Dusty, Life in the TV and Newspaper World

10:40-10:55 — Kevin Vaughan and Jim Davidson, The Ledge, An Adventure Story of Friendship and Survival on Mount Ranier

11-11:15 — Robert Greer, Astride A Pink Horse

11:20-11:35 — Michael Madigan, “The GyPSy Line” in Gem Street

11:40-11:55 — Pat McNulty, Great Music Radio.com, The Tattered Cover’s #1 Best Selling Author

Noon-12:15 — Joe McGowan, From Fidel Castro to Mother Teresa, An Associated Press foreign correspondent’s experiences abroad in the 1960s

12:20-12:35 — Terry Frei, Olympic Affair, A Novel of Hitler’s Siren and America’s Hero

12:40-12:55 — Peter Eichstaedt, Consuming The Congo

War and Conflict Minerals in the World’s Deadliest Place

1-1:15 — Alan Kania, Wild Horse Annie, Velma Johnston and Her Fight to Save the Mustang

1:20-1:35 — Casey Demchak, Essential Sales Writing Secrets

1:40-1:55 – Warren Hern, Risus Sardonicus

2-2:15 – Sharon Cooper, The Night of the Witching Moon

A continental breakfast buffet will be served for $6 featuring $4 Bloody Marys. The authors’ books will be available for sale. More information: 303-571-5260 or visit www.denverpressclub.org.

Cool dining

Coohills, a fine dining restaurant at 14th and Wewatta, hosted A Taste of Iceland in Denver press event Wednesday to promote a celebration of Iceland’s food, music and film open to the public through Sunday.

The multiday Icelandic invasion will showcase the best of the country’s culture and lifestyle through a series of events.

Guest chef Hadon Mar Ovarsson collaborated with Coohills chef Tom Coohill to offer a special Icelandic menu that will include arctic char, langoustines, free range Icelandic lamb and Icelandic Skyr mousse on the special menu. For reservations, call 303-623-5700 or visit www.coohills.com.

Munching and movie

The Ritz-Carlton Denver is hosting its final Pop Up Dinner and Movie  with a taste of Americana and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday. Executive chef Justin Fields invites guests to gather ont he outdoor plaza for a multi-course tasting menu paired with cinema.

Cost is $75 per person not counting tax and tip or $125 with wine pairings. Reservations: 303-312-3826 or e-mail allyson.fredeen@theritzcarlton.com.

Eavesdropping on a woman: “Sausage is my favorite thing in the world and I have the two chins to prove it.”

Did you hear that I have a new 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. I’m now the social-media liaison for the Mile High Chapter of the Colorado Restaurant Association, so read my latest restaurant news there. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com.

BLACKTIE-COLORADO.COM

ALARM BELLS SOUNDING: They’re the pride and backbone of American higher education, doing essential research and educating en masse the next generations of scientists and engineers. But a new report argues the mission of the country’s 101 major public research universities is imperiled by budget cuts amounting to one-fifth of their state funding over the past decade, the Associated Press reports. In Colorado, cuts are nearly twice the national average.

HONEYMOON TRAGEDY: CU Foundation employee badly injured in crash that killed husband.

WANTS TO HEAR FROM NONPROFITS: Boulder sheriff.

LATEST EVENTS ON BLACKTIE
* Walk of Dreams, at Hyatt Convention Center

HONOREE NAMED: Denver-based Bridging Hope, a Franciscan-founded nonprofit helping needy women and children in Viet Nam, is honoring Anh “Joseph” Cao as its “Ambassador of Hope” at its 5th Annual Art and Vietnames Cultural Fundraiser Event Oct. 6.

LAUNCHING FINANCIAL PLATFORM FOR NONPROFITS: Western Union.

THE ARTS, CULTURAL AND CREATIVE INDUSTRY generates nearly $75 million in annual economic activity to the city of Fort Collins Metropolitan Statistical Area.

AIMCO EVENT raises $200K for military families.

TREES FOR FREE: Arbor Day fund gives to CU.

NEW ADVERTISER: Colorado Horsecare Foodbank is promoting its Sept. 29 event “Hay Bales & Horse Tales” on the Blacktie calendar page.

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENT on Blacktie-Colorado for just $150 a week. Email Brett McCann-Lehl at brett@blacktie-llc.com.

DID YOU KNOW? You can advertise your nonprofit event easily and affordably to 300,000 readers in the 17 Colorado Community Media newspapers from Thornton to Castle Rock? Blacktie offers discounted rates to organizations that have not previously advertised in the CCM publications. These publications include Arvada Press, Castle Rock News-Press, Air Jordan Femme Centennial Citizen, Douglas County News-Press, Englewood Herald, Golden Transcript, Highlands Ranch Herald, Lakewood Sentinel, Littleton Independent, Lone Tree Voice, Northglenn-Thornton Sentinel, Parker Chronicle, Westminster Window, Westsider and Wheat Ridge Transcript. Call Brett McCann-Lehl or Don Knox at 303-832-2903 for more details!

ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS USA meeting next month in Boulder.

MORE COVERAGE OF GEENA DAVIS EVENT, this time from Huffington Post.

SOME NONPROFIT EXECS in Aspen see pay cuts.

LEGAL AID FOUNDATION receives $8K from charity event.

COMING EVENTS ON BLACKTIE
9/29/2012 – Denver Area Sustainable Living Tour
9/29/2012 – Colorado Horsecare Foodbank’s 2012 Hay Bales & Horse Tales
9/29/2012 – Pirates of the Cure-A-Being 2012 Denver Gala
10/2/2012 – Artful Expressions Launch Party
10/3/2012 – Centro San Juan Diego 8th Annual Archbishop Jose H. Gomez Gala

DO YOU HAVE SUGGESTIONS FOR A FUTURE ISSUE OF BLACKTIE FOR BUSINESS? Send an email to the editor, Don Knox.

BLACKTIE-COLORADO.COM

“I WANT TO PICK WOMEN IN CHARGE OF THEIR OWN FATE’ Academy-Award-winning actress Geena Davis gave an amusing and passionate keynote speech during The Women’s Foundation of Colorado 25th anniversary luncheon Friday at The Colorado Convention Center, Penny Parker writes for Blacktie-Colorado. “The film that had the most impact on my life was Thelma and Louise,” Davis told the packed room, which erupted in applause. “First, I had to get cast. The movie was already cast, but they kept changing actors and in the end there were three Thelmas and Louises. My agent called every week for a year.”

GEENA DAVIS EVENT grossed $928K.

GEENA DAVIS CITES the feminist implications of “I Dream of Jeannie.”

HIGH-PROFILE SPECIAL MASTER: Kenneth Feinberg, the man called in to navigate compensation issues in nearly every American crisis, was appointed Friday as the “special master” to oversee the distribution of money donated to the Aurora Victim Relief Fund. At a late afternoon news conference at the Capitol, Feinberg said the nearly $5 million in air jordan 1 donations for victims of the Aurora theater shooting should be delivered “quickly without restriction.”

LATEST EVENTS ON BLACKTIE
* Women’s Foundation 25th Anniversary Luncheon, at the Convention Center
* Pink & Blue United, at the Ritz Carlton
* Third Annual Celebration of Women in Transition, at Mile Hi Celebration Hall
* Boys and Girls Clubs Take Flight to Luxury, at Centennial Airport

BOULDER NONPROFIT FOOD BANK uses volunteers on bikes to pick up food.

BIG NONPROFIT SALARIES in Aspen. 

LAWYER/PHILANTHROPIST BRUCE DEBOSKEY on “philanthropic love.”

VISIT DENVER OFFERS the “Great Denver Art Escape.”

NEW ADVERTISER: Colorado Horsecare Foodbank is promoting its Sept. 29 event “Hay Bales & Horse Tales” on the Blacktie calendar page.

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENT on Blacktie-Colorado for just $150 a week. Email Brett McCann-Lehl at brett@blacktie-llc.com.

DID YOU KNOW? You can advertise your nonprofit event easily and affordably to 300,000 readers in the 17 Colorado Community Media newspapers from Thornton to Castle Rock? Blacktie offers discounted rates to organizations that have not previously advertised in the CCM publications. These publications include Arvada Press, Castle Rock News-Press, Centennial Citizen, Douglas County News-Press, Englewood Herald, Golden Transcript, Highlands Ranch Herald, Lakewood Sentinel, Littleton Independent, Lone Tree Voice, Northglenn-Thornton Sentinel, Parker Chronicle, Westminster Window, Westsider and Wheat Ridge Transcript. Call Brett McCann-Lehl or Don Knox at 303-832-2903 for more details!

HOT OFF THE PRESSES: The latest Blacktie-Colorado Have You Heard newsletter.

U.S. BISHOPS tap Denver Catholic Charities CEO as justice department head.

PLEADS GUILTY TO THEFT: Charity-calendar operator.

COMING EVENTS ON BLACKTIE
9/27/2012 – Keynote Address: The Promise of Sports-Based Positive Youth Development for Girls
9/27/2012 – Networking and Information Sharing Lunch for Colorado Leaders
9/27/2012 – Sustainability Dine-a-logue: Renewable Energy in Colorado
9/27/2012 – A Night of Excellence with the BBB
9/27/2012 – Colorado Youth for a Change 6th Annual Back to School Night Comedy Benefit
9/28/2012 – ADCD 2012 Annual Awards Show
9/29/2012 – Yampa Valley Wellness Conference 2012 – Building A Caring Community

DO YOU HAVE SUGGESTIONS FOR A FUTURE ISSUE OF BLACKTIE FOR BUSINESS? Send an email to the editor, Don Knox.

Academy-Award-winning actress Geena Davis gave an amusing and passionate keynote speech during The Women’s Foundation of Colorado 25th anniversary luncheon Friday at The Colorado Convention Center.

The Women’s Foundation’s mission is, “To build resources and lead change so that every woman and girl in Colorado achieves her full potential.”

In keeping with that theme, Davis discussed some of her pivotal acting roles that led her to becoming a staunch advocate for women’s issues and founding The Geena Davis air jordan 3 Institute on Gender in Media, an organization that challenges television and film creators to increase the perrcentages of female characters in media created for children 11 and  younger.

“The film that had the most impact on my life was Thelma and Louise,” Davis told the packed room, which erupted in applause. “First, I had to get cast. The movie was already cast, but they kept changing actors and in the end there were three Thelmas and Louises. My agent called every week for a year.”

When she finally got an audience with the director, Ridley Scott, she says she spent a half-hour pitching him on why she should play Louise.

“So you wouldn’t play Thelma?” Scott asked. “I thought about it, then spent 20 minutes saying why I had to play Thelma. That film changed my life. People were stopping me and grabbing on my clothes talking about Thelma and Louise. Some would say, ‘We re-enacted your trip and now we have guns.'”

Davis said these days she’s in charge of choosing the roles she plays.

“I want to pick women in charge of their own fate. I have the luxury of picking roles because I haven’t run out of money yet.”

Caption: Gov. John Hickenlooper and Geena Davis. Blacktie photo by Pam Cress.

Mall marriage

I’ve seen a lot of activities (both legal and not) along the 16th Street Mall, but a wedding? Not so much.

But Shafiqa and Greg Nguyen tied the knot last month in front of invited guests and mall walkers and gawkers on the corner of 16th and Glenarm.

“We chose this spot specifically because the Denver Pavilion’s sign is located close by and it is at the very heart of the Mall,” the bride told me. “At the ceremony, there were a lot of spectators. They all seemed interested in the wedding and a lot stayed and watched. There was a lot of applause afterwards.”

Shafiqa said the couple chose the unusual venue because their first date inadvertently included a stroll along the Mall. The two Aurora Central High School students met in an AP English class. For extra credit, they were given the option of going to the Tattered Cover for a book reading by Frank McCourt, the author of Angela’s Ashes.

But their seats were behind a wall so they could neither hear nor see the author. Shafiqa suggested they leave the event.

“We ended up walking around 16th Street, sipping Jamba Juice and just talking,” she said. “He told me later that it was that night he knew he wanted to be with me.”

Greg is a software analyst and Shafiqa is a masters student at the University of Denver working on teaching degree.

Booze and bonding

The quarterly booze bash at The Brown Palace – this time the pairing was cigars and scotch – was Thursday, where roughly 50 high-profile men get together in a smoke-filled room during the super secret, double-probation event.

I get invited to these dinners with the strict understanding that no names are revealed. The only exception to the rule is to give a nod to The Brown’s executive chef William Dexter, air jordan 4 who served a sublime meal that included duck confit salad with red spinach, seared scallops with spiced pumpkin seeds, beef tenderloin with potato cake and fall vegetables and a three-way chocolate dessert.

The scotches that were sipped and savored were Maccallan Fine Oak 18 year, Highland Park 12 year, Highland Park 18 year and the very rare and highly allocated Highland Park 40 year.

The evening ends with one appointee given the task of searching for a woman’s sacrificial shoe that serves as a liquor luge, and all of the attendees must drink out of it. “It’s like Communion,” joked one participant as the scotch-filled shoe wetted his whistle.

Gritty and witty

The annual Gridiron Show, a benefit for the Denver Press Club (the nation’s oldest press club), will feature entertainment from local politicians and media types starting at 7 p.m. Oct. 12 at the L2 Arts and Culture Center, 1477 Columbine St.

Entertainers and introducers include Gov. John Hickenlooper and the Hick-Tones with Tom Clark and Neil Westergaard; Mike Landess, Cynthia Hessin, Jim Benemann, TaRhonda Thomas; House Democrats Reps. Beth McCann, Dicky Lee Hullinghorst, Dan Pabon, Su Ryden and Jonathan Singer; House Republicans Mark Waller, Cheri Gerou, Amy Stephens, Ray Scott and Libby Szabo; and Mike Littwin and yours truly reunited since leaving The Denver Post.

Tickets are $20, and proceeds benefit the press club and its scholarships for journalism students. Available at www.blacktie-colorado.com.

Fall into new fare

Celebrate ChoLon’s second anniversary and learn about the debut of the metro-area’s own Zagat guide during a family-style dinner where chef Lon Symensma will introduce new fall dishes, beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the restaurant at 1555 Blake St.

Zagat is partnering with ChoLon in this inaugural Presents event into the Denver market as the restaurant guide prepares to introduce a book for solely our area for the first time. Past guidebooks have lumped the Denver/Boulder restaurant scene together with other mountain states. Cost is $70 for four courses, or $98 for four courses with wine pairing. Reservations: 303-353-5223.

Eavesdropping on a man at the super secret scotch dinner: “Drinking scotch is like joining the Navy. It’s not a job, it’s an adventure.”

Did you hear that I have a new 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. I’m now the social-media liaison for the Mile High Chapter of the Colorado Restaurant Association, so read my latest restaurant news there. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com.

Rodney’s, a 27-year Cherry Creek North institution for bar flies and value-oriented diners, will shut its doors for good after dinner service Saturday.

Rodney Utz, the affable owner who last year closed his Tamarac Square restaurant after 19 years, said the building at 2819 E. Second Ave. has been sold to a developer who eventually plans to level the two-story structure and build first-floor retail space with condos above.

“I’m no spring chicken any more, I’m ready,” said Utz during a packed dinner business Wednesday night. “I don’t know what I’m going to do when I grow up.” Utz added that he’s taken back over air jordan 4 ownership of the Rodney’s in Castle Rock and will continue to run the place.

Already closed

Both Wine Loft locations in LoDo and at the Landmark development in the Tech Center have shut their doors. The Landmark phone has been disconnected, and the phone at the LoDo store had a constant busy signal Thursday afternoon.

The Landmark also lost Lime, a Mexican spot owned by veteran restaurateurs Curt Sims and Pam Savage, just before the Labor Day weekend.

At issue was a lease dispute with the landlord, Savage told me. Instead, the husband-and-wife team will concentrate on opening a new Lime in the Denver Pavilions as well as keeping Lime XS on Sixth Avenue and the Lime in Winter Park cooking.

Top toques

Three Colorado chefs have been chosen among the new class of 10 cheftestants on season 10 of Bravo’s hit series Top Chef. They are: Tyler Wiard, executive chef of Elway’s steak houses; Jorel Pierce, chef de cuisine at Euclid Hall; and Eliza Gavin, chef and owner of 221 South Oak Bistro in Telluride.

“Tom Colicchio, Padma Lakshmi, Hugh Acheson and Gail Simmons will return as judges along with world-famous chefs Emeril Lagasse and Wolfgang Puck for the 10th season, which filmed in Seattle,” according to Bravo’s website. More information: http://www.bravotv.com/blogs/the-dish/top-chef-season-10-is-coming-your-way.

Beer here

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock did a bit of quaffing while grinding barley under pedal power at the Denver Beer Company during an event Wednesday to promote Denver Beer Fest Oct. 5 through 13.

“The mayor was involved in all steps of making a beer, which will be unveiled at the Denver Beer Company at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 5 to kick off the fourth annual Denver Beer Fest,” said Visit Denver booster Rich Grant. “The beer is an as yet unnamed pumpkin-style ale. Denver citizens can help name the beer by going to http://denv.co/name-the-beer.”

The mayor pedaled a bicycle grinding machine, helped clean the spent grain out of the tank and added hops and pumpkins to the new brew. The beer will be served, while it lasts, at the Denver Beer Company during Denver Beer Fest. More information: www.denverbeerfest.com.

Rizzi rocks

Jon Rizzi, editor of Colorado Avid Golfer magazine, has been named the Todd Phipers Media Award winner by the Colorado Section of the PGA of America for the second time in three years.

The award, named after the late Denver Post sportswriter, “recognizes individuals for their contributions in the area of promotion and public awareness, air jordan 5 and who have helped to elevate the status of the PGA professional and Colorado Section.”

Rizzi, a seasoned pro who puts out a top-notch publication, well deserves the accolade.

Local vocal

Samuel Mouton, the Fort Collins contestant on NBC’s The Voice, will perform Saturday at FORToberfest in downtown Fort Collins, according to www.coloradoan.com.

The website says, “During the 8 p.m. performance on the main stage in Old Town Square, Mouton will give a reggae-style solo performance, including his version of Bob Marley’s Redemption Song.”

Mouton was selected to be on Maroon 5 musician Adam Levine’s team on The Voice.

For more information on FORToberfest activities, visit www.DowntownFortCollins.com.

Top dog

Forbes.com has named Denver’s Biker Jim’s among the nation’s 10 top hotdog destinations. The site said, “Biker Jim’s serves more than just your average dog—the franks are made with exotic meats including elk and even Alaskan reindeer. Cooked on the central grill, the spicy Elk jalapeño cheddar dog is always popular, especially when topped with Biker Jim’s Classic, a mix of cream cheese and caramelized onions.” http://www.forbes.com/pictures/emej45hjlf/biker-jims-gourmet-dogs/

Rockin’ Robin

The fourth Colorado location of Red Robin’s Burger Works will open Monday in the new Hotel and Hospitality Learning Center at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Similar to the locations in Stapleton, Boulder and the 16^th Street Mall, the new restaurant will feature some classic Red Robin burgers, but it also gives guests a build-your-own-burger option with a variety of toppings.

Eavesdropping on a Mizzou grad husband to his wife before the Arizona State-Missouri game: “My team’s about to play in eight minutes. Don’t you have a couple of Ambien you can take?”

Did you hear that I have a new 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. I’m now the social-media liaison for the Mile High Chapter of the Colorado Restaurant Association, so read my latest restaurant news there. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com.

Perhaps no other Colorado football coach needs more cheering up these days than the beleaguered Jon Embree, CU Boulder’s gridiron chief, whose team has a dismal 0-3 record.

So knowing that Embree could use a boost, longtime sports information director Dave Plati enlisted some help from Denver music master Chuck Morris, who’s a cell phone call away from several rock n’ roll legends.

As it turns out, Embree is a big fan of Earth Wind and Fire and local legend Philip Bailey in particular, although he now lives in L.A.

“Jon started playing music at select air jordan 6 times during practice last year (and continued into this year), and EWF was on constantly, so I found out it was one of his all-time favorite groups,” Plati said. “Jon knew Philip had roots in Denver, never had met him, so I thought it would be nice after our (rough) start to do something nice for Jon and see if I could surprise him with a call or visit.”

Morris, with an assist from his AEG Live assistant Jan Martin, made the call happen. While Plati declined to discuss the discussion, he did say that Bailey indeed lifted Embree’s spirits. “Although a win would do a lot more,” Plati added.

Bailey not only has strong roots in Denver as an East High School alum, but he has ties to CU. “He played drums in the marching band from 1970 to ’71,” Morris told me, and added that he was happy to have had a part in the sweet surprise for the coach.

Bailey will be CU’s guest at the USC game in Los Angeles on Oct. 20.

You’re invited

Wedding professionals and my fans are invited to a little shindig (free) at 5 p.m. Thursday at the fabulous Palazzo Verdi, a top-of-the-line event venue in Greenwood Village.

The purpose is to introduce Penny Parker Weddings, my new weddings announcement website.

Come see me and enjoy the venue as well as tasty treats from Epicurean Catering. Let us know you’re coming by registering through Blacktie at https://www.blacktie-colorado.com/rsvp/rsvp.cfm?eventcode=%27%3A%3B%3AH307Y%20P%20%20%0A

A few weeks later, you can grab a gal pal and head down to Palazzo Verdi for Wine, Women and Football, an evening of networking, food from Epicurean, wine from Fetzer Winery and Little Black Dress Wines, a silent auction and schmoozing with former Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith, along with current players Demaryius Thomas, Willis McGahee and Britton Colquitt.

The event is from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 9, and is presented by CBS4 and Southwest Airlines, as a benefit for Volunteers of America’s Brandon Center, an emergency shelter for homeless women and children. Tickets are $55 at www.voacolorado.org.

Baby break-down

Fox-31’s Good Day Colorado reporter daffy Dan Daru didn’t score any points among the diaper set when he made a baby boy cry on live TV Tuesday, but the tearful trauma got a national nod when the Today show picked it up.

Daru, who was doing a live shot at Miller Farms for its annual harvest festival, tried to buddy up to the little buddy who was sitting in his stroller. As the reporter, air jordan 7 his microphone and the camera zoomed in on the tyke, terror came over his face and it was pretty clear the shot would not go well.

Little Drew (not to be confused with Daru) burst into tears as Good Day Colorado anchors punted. Melody Mendez good naturedly chastised Daru about making the baby cry, while Nick Emmons covered his face with his script.

The Today show crew groaned sympathetically while clearly taking sides with the tot. To see the segment, go to http://kdvr.com/2012/09/13/dan-daru-makes-a-baby-cry-on-live-t-v/.

Denver’s Dailey

The Dailey Method, a barre workout studio franchise, is celebrating the grand opening of its first Denver location at 4342 Tennyson St., Saturday and Sunday with free classes and a raffle for several prizes.

“I am so excited to bring The Dailey Method back to my hometown,” said Denver native Jill Dailey, founder of The Dailey Method. “This will truly change your life.”

More information: www.thedaileymethod.com.

Eavesdropping on a Twitter post during Monday night’s Broncos’ game: “In the first half, I thought I was watching the Broncos-Falcons game. Turns out it was Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.”

Did you hear that I have a new 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. I’m now the social-media liaison for the Mile High Chapter of the Colorado Restaurant Association, so read my latest restaurant news there. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com.