The Ultimate Music Xperience, the official auditions for the Capitol Hill People’s Fair, returns to The Celtic Tavern and Delaney’s Cigar Bar (1801 Blake St.) March 28 and 29.

This free, two-day battle-of-the-bands features roughly 40 local, primarily undiscovered solo and group acts competing for the opportunity to play at one of the largest music events in the state: the CHUN Capitol Hill People’s Fair.  Now in its 44th year, the People’s Fair has provided an opportunity for Colorado bands to make their impression on the local music scene.  The 2015 People’s Fair is June 6 and 7 at Denver’s Civic Center Park.

New this year, the UMX will feature 40 auditioning bands between the hours of 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. both days as well as a People’s Fair Veteran’s Music Showcase from 4 to 7 p.m. each day.  Fan favorite bands from around the state such as Potcheen, Mojomama and others will entertain attendees in half-hour sets during the showcase.

“Each year we try to make fun and interesting changes to our events, and we are excited about the People’s Fair Music Showcase at the UMX,” said CHUN Executive Director Roger Armstrong. “We can’t wait to return to The Celtic Tavern to see great new bands and some of our long-time favorites.”

The UMX is a free event and includes prize giveaways throughout the weekend. The public is invited to be a part of a Colorado tradition, vote for their favorite acts and aid in the selection process for the 2015 People’s Fair musical line-up. The complete UMX schedule (subject to change) is available at www.peoplesfair.com.

Breckenridge Grand Vacations, the most successful single-site timeshare company in the world, was recognized by the timeshare industry with Perspective Magazine’s awards of Best Marketing Campaign and Best Place to Work. These awards are considered the highest achievements in timeshare, as the winners are decided by a vote of their peers. Perspective Magazine, a leading independent trade publication, presented the honors at its Gala Awards Ceremony during the GNEX 2015, held Feb. 17 in San Diego.

The Perspective Best Place to Work award was not the first time the employees of Breckenridge Grand Vacations have seen its company chosen as a top place to work. The company has also been honored in its home state of Colorado as 33rd out of 1,300 companies statewide as the best place to work, and as the only mountain company to rank in the top 100 employers in the state. Measurements are based upon work environment, training, career advancement prospects and atmosphere. Considerations also include team building, pay and benefits, personal development and management support.

Breckenridge Grand Vacations took home a second award for Best Marketing Campaign for the integrated launch campaign for their fourth resort, the Grand Colorado on Peak 8.

“We don’t need proof that our company is the best place to work, but we always appreciate hearing it,” said Ginny Vietti, vice president of marketing for Breckenridge Grand Vacations. “These awards are a confirmation of our continued excellence in customer service and the company wide support of our team. GNEX 2015 was our first foray into the Perspective Magazine awards program and we are honored to be among the excellent candidates that were nominated.”

For more information, visit www.breckenridgegrandvacations.com.

Denver Broncos new defensive coordinator and former head coach Wade Phillips playing poker at Ameristar Casino Resort Spa in Blackhawk Friday. According to my spy, Phillips left the casino early to catch Garth Brooks’ concert Friday.

“What a nice guy,” my spy said.  “He walked away a winner.”

Eavesdropping on a mom to her toddler son leaving after lunch at El Jardin Mexican restaurant in Commerce City: “Do you have all of your super heroes?”

I am officially an egg head.

To thank me for judging the fourth annual Farm to Fork Culinary Competition – a part of Colorado Agriculture Day Wednesday at the Colorado State Capitol – the Colorado Egg Producers Association donated 70 dozen eggs on my behalf to the Food Bank of the Rockies.

That makes me feel sunny side up!

But I was happy to donate my time and taste buds, along with fellow judges Kevin Seggelke, president and CEO of Food Bank of the Rockies and Denver Post reporter William Porter, to test entries from 14 chefs using made-in-Colorado ingredients.

The runaway winner of the culinary contest was Sanctuary Golf Course Executive Sous Chef Rhett Montague with his smoked lamb barbacoa tacos, which tempted me to break my one-bite-only rule whenever judging a food competition.

And the judges were also unanimous is awarding top dessert honors to Mike DeGiovanni, executive chef at MorningStar Senior Living for his caramel frosted blondie made with Hacienda Maize’s hot pepper jellies.

At the end of the competition, it was a food frenzy in the State Capitol’s hallowed halls while hordes of legislators, lobbyists and lookee-loos swarmed the chefs’ stations for a free lunch.

Denver Botanic Gardens has earned the distinction of being the most visited public garden in North America with 1,411,116 visitors in 2014. The major increase in attendance is attributed in large part to the hugely successful Chihuly exhibition that attracted visitors from around the globe, but the addition of two new structures (the Science Pyramid and the outdoor Hive Garden Bistro) as well as the opening of the Ellipse garden contributed as significant draws. The popular Summer Concert Series, Blossoms of Light, Trail of Lights, Pumpkin Festival, Corn Maze and Plant Sales also spurred attendance.

In addition to the attendance record, the Gardens is included in the North American Garden Tourism Conference’s “Top 10 North American Gardens Worth Traveling For” 2015 Awards. The Garden Tourism Awards are presented to gardens that have distinguished themselves in the development and promotion of the garden experience as a tourism attraction.

Full recipient list (in alphabetical order):
The Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, British Columbia; Chanticleer Garden, Wayne, Pa.; Denver Botanic Gardens; Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, Ariz.; Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami, Fla.; Huntington Botanical Gardens, San Marino, Calif.; Jardín Botánico de Culiacan, Culiacan, Mexico.; Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pa.; Montréal Botanical Garden, Montréal, Quebec; Vallarta Botanical Gardens, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Part of the Chihuly glass exhibit. (Denver Botanic Gardens photos)

Tom Curley has been named general manager of The Westin Denver International Airport. Curley comes to the hotel from The Westin Denver Downtown, where he has served for the past 12 years as general manager. Curley will continue to serve as area managing director for Starwood Hotels and Resorts in Colorado overseeing Westin, Sheraton and St. Regis brand hotels.

Curley serves as a board member for Visit Denver and has chaired the Convention Committee as well as serves as a board member for the Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association.

“We were delighted that Tom has been named GM for The Westin Denver International Airport,” said Denver International Airport CEO Kim Day.  “He is a well-respected professional, a wonderful community partner and we look forward to working with him in his new position.”

Curley came to Denver from the Radisson Resort and Spa in Scottsdale where he served for four years as general manager and area managing director. Previously, Curley served for 26 years with Starwood Hotels and Resorts (the ITT Sheraton Corporation) in various management positions in Phoenix, Ariz.; Atlanta, Ga.; Los Angeles, Calif.; San Diego, Calif.; Boston, Mass. and Philadelphia, Penn.

Curley graduated from Villanova University with a BA in social sciences. He attended Duke University Fuqua School of Business Executive Education.

The Westin Denver International Airport is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of this year. The 14-story hotel is part of the new Hotel and Transit Center, which also comprises an outdoor plaza and a public transit center with rail service to downtown Denver.

Each of the 519 guest rooms, including 35 suites, offer floor-to-ceiling windows with sweeping views of the Rocky Mountains and/or Colorado’s High Plains. The 37,000 square-foot conference center will feature a grand ballroom and a junior ballroom, both divisible by two as well as 15 meeting/board rooms of varying size.  The meeting space also boasts a 10,000-square-foot pre-function area that showcases a panoramic three-story floor to ceiling glass curtain wall that is approximately 100 feet wide.

Amenities include the WestinWORKOUT Fitness Studio and the 11th floor indoor swimming pool overlooking the iconic tent roof of the DIA terminal while the pool and hot tub overlook the Colorado landscape, airfields, downtown and the Rocky Mountain Front Range. Multiple dining venues will serve a variety of cuisines and SuperFoodsRx options.

Maxfund Animal Adoption Center will host its 21st Annual Chili Cook-off from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday at LoDo’s Celtic Tavern, 1801 Blake St.

Patrons and participants will take part in the chili tasting and judging process, followed by the chili winners reveal at 4 p.m. Patrons can pre-register to judge the event at www.blacktie-colorado.com/online_sales/rsvp_ticket_purchasebt.cfm?rsvpid=8088, for the discounted ticket price of $10, or register at the door for $15 ($5 for children 12 years and younger).

Chili categories are red, green, white, vegetarian and celebrity chef – a category created for local restaurants and chefs to enter their recipes. This year’s celebrity contestants will include chefs from Hard Rock Cafe Denver, Randolph’s Restaurant & Bar, Palettes at the Denver Art Museum, Que Bueno Mexican Grille and more.

Maxfund Animal Adoption Center, Denver’s no-kill shelter,  is a nonprofit organization founded by Dr. Bill Suro and his wife, Nanci, in 1988. Maxfund offers adoption of both dogs and cats, a foster care program, low cost vet care and more. Over the years, the shelter has found homes for over 26,317 dogs and cats, and spayed/neutered 30,159. More information at www.maxfund.org.

Stoic & Genuine teams up with the beverage professionals at Peak Spirits for the first Counter Culture Dinner on Wednesday at the Union Station restaurant. Guests can choose from 6 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. chef counter or bar seating for this special event pairing Peak Spirits products with the food stylings of Stoic & Genuine Chef Jorel Pierce.

“We’ve been big fans of Peak Spirits since we opened Stoic & Genuine last year, said Pierce. “It seemed like a perfect fit to kick off our Counter Culture Dinner Series.”

Pierce has crafted a menu highlighting the talents of his Stoic & Genuine staff and suppliers while showcasing the beverages from Peak Spirits.

Peak Spirits is located at Jack Rabbit Hill Farm in western Colorado’s North Fork Valley and produces CapRock Colorado Organic Gin, vodka and brandies along with Jack Rabbit Hill Wines and New Avalon Cider.

The 70-acre Jack Rabbit Hill Farm grows 18 acres of grapes, eight acres dedicated to CapRock Vodka and Bitter programs, and 10 acres for its Jack Rabbit Hill Farm bottled wines.

Tickets are available at the restaurant for $100 per person plus tax and gratuity.

Named to 5280 magazine’s Best Restaurants in Denver and Best New Restaurants lists, Stoic & Genuine debuted at Denver’s Historic Union Station in July, 2014. For more information, go to www.stoicandgenuine.com or call 303-670-FISH.