The Denver Silent Film Festival has announced its 2015 event scheduled for April 24 through 26.

The 2015 DSFF will be held in a new location: Davis Auditorium, Sturm Hall on the University of Denver campus, 2000 E. Asbury Ave.

This year’€™s event begins at 7:30 p.m. April 24 with a centennial celebration of Denver’€™s own Douglas Fairbanks in “The Thief of Bagdad” [sic]: (1924) directed by Raoul Walsh and co-starring Julanne Johnston as the princess.

A full day of films will begin at noon April 25 following “€œA Conversation with Richard J. Meyer“€ (the 2015 Career Achievement Award honoree) and other film preservationists.  Films continue on April 25 starting at 11 a.m. with the last film beginning at 8 p.m.

All films will be presented using the best possible film prints and will feature live musical accompaniment by renowned musicians Donald Sosin, Hank Troy and the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra.

Established in 2011, the Denver Silent Film Festival explores the broad spectrum of silent film by programming a mix of films from the great silent era of cinema.

Ticket prices range from $5 to $12 per film. Weekend festival passes available. For complete film schedule and prices, visit:  www.denversilentfilmfest.org. Tickets available at: Newman Center box office or www.newmantix.com/dsff.

Two of the films shown at the Denver Silent Film Festival, “The Thief of Bagdad” (above) and “The Cheat” below.

Eavesdropping on a man after nine holes to two women waiting to start at the turn at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club: “Stupid game, don’t do it!”

It sounded like a columnist’s dream item when local jobs guru Andrew Hudson posted this on his Facebook page Monday:

“I’m at the condo in Winter Park in the middle of changing a diaper and a friend of a friend calls (with a bizarre NYC area code/number.) I almost didn’t answer it. ‘We need a bass player for a last minute gig that happens to be where you are at, in Winter Park at a big mountain house. It’s just for one hour and its with a trio. Charts will be provided. Can you sight read?’ Uhhh…yeah. I can sight read just about anything.

“‘OK – the normal bass player got the stomach flu. It’ll pay $500, the bass rig will be set up, all you need is your bass.’ I’ve brought my bass to the condo with a small amp to practice, so it’s no problem. I yell up to (wife) Christine to make sure it’s OK. I show up at the gig about an hour in advance. HUGE house. They show me where to park. It’s a big anniversary party for some rich couple, there’s about 50 people there.

“I quickly set up. Simple set up: Yamaha grand piano, a small bass amp and a small drum set. I go through the music. All Billy Joel hits. “Piano Man”, “Just the Way You Are”, “AllenTown”, “New York State of Mind”, “Only the Good Die Young”. Hmmmm….strange.

“And then out of the corner of my eye, I see…. freaking…. BILLY JOEL! What? I’m playing bass with Billy Joel!
I’ve played most of these songs in bands in the past, but I quickly look at key signatures and anything else that might throw me.

“He walks up to me and is pleasant as can be. ‘Just relax and have fun and watch me closely.’ I’m trying to remain cool and not star struck but let him know how much his music has meant to me over the years.

“I nail the gig. Billy Joel looks like he’s enjoying it. We play a few jazz standards that weren’t in the book. No problem. It was an amazing night! He says afterwards, ‘Great job, I really enjoyed playing with you!’ His ‘person’ takes my card and says Billy wants to talk later about some things.

“Still walking on clouds this morning. Can’t believe it!!!!”

Don’t believe it. I did and Andrew got the last laugh: “OMG – you are an April Fools sucker!!!!”

True dat.

Still thinking about making a reservation for Easter brunch? You’d better hop to it, bunny!

The Denver foodie website Eater Denver has compiled a list of “18 restaurants and specials for your celebration”, which includes eateries such as Trillium in the Ballpark neighborhood, Colt & Gray in LoHi and The Capital Grille on Larimer Square which offer brunch on rare occasions.

The list also includes restaurants you wouldn’t think of for brunch such as the Cherry Cricket in Cherry Creek North, which breaks out “the Bene Burger, an Easter-brunch inspired burger topped with American cheese, egg any style, ham and hollandaise to celebrate the holiday”.

If you’re looking for a brunch buffet, consider ViewHouse in Centennial, a building with a view and expansive patio with games for the kiddos. “The brunch buffet features seafood towers, fresh-pressed juices and a custom omelet station. Carved spiral ham and tender leg of lamb will be available, a nod to spring and the Easter holiday. Mimosas are included with the buffet for $36.95.”

Some gal pals and I recently indulged in the ViewHouse Centennial Sunday brunch and were delighted with the array of tasty choices and particularly the seafood tower with crab and lobster. The service, too, was impeccable.

See the rest of what Eater recommends at www.denver.eater.com/2015/3/30/8238981/easter-brunch-2015-specials-lohi-lodo-downtown.

On April 13, get a sneak peak of the highly acclaimed golf movie “The Squeeze” with producer/director Terry Jastrow and producer/actress Anne Archer days before the national theater release.

The event is a benefit for The First Tee of Denver. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. at the Wellshire Event Center & Golf Course, 3333 S. Colorado Blvd., with an open bar and appetizer reception; screening begins at 6:30 p.m. with an introduction from Jastrow.

After the screening, there will be a Q & A session hosted by Jastrow and Archer followed by an informal reception and cash bar.

Cost is $85 for a single and $300 for a foursome. Register at www.TheFirstTeeofDenver.com/TheSqueeze. Sponsorship Opportunities available. Email EventOvations@msn.com or call 303-744-9195.

If you prefer to pay by check, please submit either $85 for individual registration or $300 for a foursome. Make your check payable to: First Tee Denver. And mail: First Tee Denver, c/o EventOvations, 2109 S. Clarkson St.. Denver, 80210.

About the film: Caught in “The Squeeze” Jeremy Sumpter (“Peter Pan”, “Friday Night Lights”) and Chris McDonald (“Happy Gilmore”) tee off in high stakes gambling matches careening through the South and landing in Las Vegas in Jastrow’s feature film directorial debut from his screenplay based on a true story from Texas.

As a partner of the Colorado Rockies, The Tavern Hospitality Group has created ways to bring some fun to the baseball season.

Rockies tickets will be given away every Monday during happy hour at all neighborhood Taverns.  Tavern Downtown has a buy-one-get-one draft beer special with a same day Rockies ticket.  And at Tavern Ballpark in Coors Field, Tavern will give $1,000 to a lucky winner if the Rockies hit a home run in the first inning.

Beginning Monday at all Taverns (excluding Ballpark and Mile High), guests can win Rockies tickets during Rockies Happy Hour Ticket Giveaway from 3 to 7 p.m. Mondays.  Guests can enter every Monday. During the 2014 season, Tavern gave away almost 10,000 tickets and will do the same amount this year.  Rockies Opening Day tickets will be given away at every Tavern on Monday.

Tavern Downtown is the place to head for a complimentary beer after every Rockies home game.  If fans present same day Rockies ticket when they buy any draft beer, they’ll receive another, courtesy of the Tavern.  This promotion is valid after the seventh inning and is not valid with other discounts.

Tavern Ballpark, located on The Rooftop at Coors Field, is running a promotion called First Inning Home Run Payoff.  If the Rockies hit a home run at a home game in the first inning, Tavern will pay $1,000 in cash and prizes to a lucky recipient who is at Tavern Ballpark in the stadium.

Tavern Hospitality Group owner Frank Schultz said, “Rockies season brings a lot of fans to our locations to watch the games, especially when spring fever kicks in and people want to hang out with friends on our patios.  Our partnership with the Rockies allows us to add to those guest experiences and give them another reason to spend some time with us.”

For additional information, visit www.tavernhg.com.

Rags Consignments stores are celebrating 20 years of style and business with a 20 percent off sale from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at all three Rags locations: Boulder (3129 28th St.), Highland (2027 W. 32nd Ave.) and Cherry Creek (201 N. University Blvd.)

Rags Consignments, owned by Margaret Miner since 1995, sells mall and boutique-brand women’s clothing and accessories. Rags is selective about what it consigns, choosing more than 250 items every day to put out on the sales floor. The store is focused on a shopping and consigning experience that is well organized, well curated, well staffed, professional, trustworthy and friendly.

For more information about Rags, visit one of the following: website: www.iloverags.com; Facebook: www.facebook.com/RagsConsignments; Twitter: www.twitter.com/iLoveRags (@iLoveRags); Instagram: www.instagram.com/iloverags/ (@iLoveRags); Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/iloverags/.

Celebrity chef and cutie pahtooty John Besh lunching at Rioja on Larimer Square Saturday.

Besh, based in New Orleans, was in town as the guest speaker for the graduation of the Colorado Culinary Academy. One of the scholarship recipients of the John Besh Foundation was graduating.

Eavesdropping on a realtor to an appraiser: “I didn’t realize that appraisers were busy right now, too.” (OMG!)