The opening of the new Nancy P. Anschutz Center Boys and Girls Club on Tuesday was a celebration despite a horrific shooting that occurred just 11 days earlier.

Boldfaced names like Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, Phil and Nancy Anschutz, John and Paige Elway and Jack A. Vickers celebrated the opening of the new center at the Jack A. Vickers Boys & Girls Club.

Denver politicos and movers and shakers joined the celebration of a new Park Hill community center that replaced a shopping area that was torched by a gang in 2008.

Boys and Girls Club President and CEO John Aragoni held the sentiments of many in attendance when he said: “The community here had gone through its ups and downs. But we want to recognize its past with an eye on its future.”

‘Mythbusters’ visit Denver

Local pizza place, Patxi’s, is helping the Denver Museum of Nature & Science in preparation for a new exhibit coming to the Denver facility by hosting stars of the Discovery Channel series, “Mythbusters.”

Two of the show’s hosts, Tory Belleci and Kari Byron, will be at the opening party from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at the Patxi’s Cherry Creek location, 185 Steele Street. Call 303-331-1000 for more information.

Guests are invited to stop by Patxi’s for dinner and the chance to meet Tory and Kari, who will be greeting dinner guests from 6 to 8 p.m. The duo will be making the rounds, saying hello to dining guests that evening.

The exhibit, MythBusters: The Explosive Exhibition, is on display at the museum Oct. 11-Jan. 5, 2014. Museum visitors can watch live demonstrations by their MythBusting facilitators and peruse props and gadgets from the show.

To celebrate the exhibit, Patxi’s will give guests the chance to “bust” a common myth: Liquor before beer in the clear? Try it and find out! Add a shot of Jim Beam to any draft beer for just $6.50. Offer available at both Patxi’s locations on Oct. 11-17.

Tory Belleci, left, and Kari Byron will be at Patxi’s on Wednesday to celebrate the new “Mythbusters” exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. (Discovery Channel photo)

Go Peru!

Taita Peruvia Cuisine turns 1 and is celebrating for one week beginning on Monday, Oct. 7 and continuing until Sunday, Oct. 13.  There will be a prix fixe menu featuring the most traditional Peruvian dishes from the Taita menu.  The price is $29 per person and happy hour drink specials will be available all week open to close.  Live music will be featured on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (Oct. 10-12).

Taita Peruvian Cuisine, located at 1521 Marion St. (just north of Colfax Avenue), opened in the fall of 2012 and features a traditional Peruvian menu with a touch of American influence in an upscale and cozy atmosphere.

The menu, inspired from a wide selection of Peruvian delicacies, is Jose “Chef Pepito” Aparicio’s pride: a culmination of over 20 years of cooking experience.

For more information about the first birthday celebration, menu, hours and more, visit www.taitadenver.com or call 720-708-6486.

38^th Cider Days this weekend in Lakewood

The 38^th annual Cider Days returns to the Lakewood Cultural Center this Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 5-6.

The center is at 801 S. Yarrow St. in Lakewood. Admission each day is $7 for adults and $4 for children, 3-12 years old. Saturday’s event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday will be from noon-4 p.m.

This fun event celebrates Lakewood’s agricultural heritage and offers live entertainment, demonstrations, cider tastings and food.

On Sunday, Oct. 6, the event will host a cider tasting at noon, sponsored by the newly formed Rocky Mountain Cider Association. There will be 20 ciders available at the tasting, including 14 from Colorado producers, which will be the largest collection of state-made ciders gathered in one place. Tickets for groups of four 2.5-ounce tasters of cider can be purchased for $5. Other ciders will be from producers in Montana, England, France, Spain and New Zealand.

For more details, visit www.lakewood.org/CiderDays/.

Sign of the times – on a South Havana storefront: “I broke up with my gym. We were not working out.”

Eavesdropping on a driver seeing the name of a South Colorado Boulevard business: “Chin Massage? Sounds like this place has a limited business model.”

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. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com. Want to advertise your business here? Contact Trisha at trilind@hotmail.com.

Every two years, Blacktie-Colorado honors a special humanitarian with the Georgia R. Imhoff Outstanding Philanthropist Award.

This year’s winner will be announced at the 2013 “Have You Met” party at EXDO Event Center, 1399 35th St., on Oct. 15. The “Have You Met” feature is a popular piece on the Blacktie-Colorado website about Denver’s movers and shakers.

Since its inception more than 10 years ago, Blacktie-Colorado has interviewed 400 philanthropists and each one has his or her own unique perspective on helping others. The late Georgia R. Imhoff was a co-founder of Blacktie-Colorado.

Tickets for the “Have You Met” party are just $35 and include one drink and heavy appetizers. Registration is at www.blacktie-colorado.com; event code is  HYM2013.

Denver company’s creative designs for your vintage wines

When you see a creative wine storage unit at a Denver restaurant, it’s likely that the sassy shelving system came from VintageView, a Denver-based company, which displays bottles label-forward.

The sleek, innovative design makes it easier to showcase a wine collection and find the perfect bottle of wine, champagne or spirit.

The company recently held a media event at Ocean Prime, a high-end steak and seafood space on Larimer Square in a private room with a gorgeous wine-storage wall.

In addition to restaurant installations, VintageView offers display options for residential projects. The patented metal system features modular-style racks that can be modified to suit various spaces from personal wine cellars and retail stores to large-scale restaurants and event venues.

“The beauty of VintageView, besides its modern label-forward design, is that it can be tailored to any size space,” said Charles Malek, president of VintageView. “Whether you’re looking to display nine bottles in the privacy of your own home or thousands of bottles in a restaurant, VintageView can be customized to suit any needs.”

The metal racks can be mounted to any wall, attached to freestanding displays or mounted to VintageView’s floor-to-ceiling frames. Finishes include satin black, brushed nickel, copper, brass and chrome.

Denver establishments that have had the wine racks installed include: Rioja, Wash Park Grill, Bones, Grand Hyatt Denver, Lou’s Food Bar, Argonaut Liquors, Osterio Marco, Mizuna, Ocean Prime and Panzano. Other Colorado eateries who use the system are Mod Market and Cured in Boulder, Jax Fish House in Lafayette, Noodles & Co. in Broomfield, Cache Cache and St. Regis in Aspen, The 10th on Vail Mountain and Block 16 at The Sebastian in Vail.

For more details, go to www.vintageview.com.

Wine, women and Woodyard

Are you ready for some football?

Wine, Women and Football, presented by Coloradans for Responsible Energy Development,  is an evening of sipping, snacking and talking smack about any and all Broncos opponents, beginning at 5 p.m. Oct. 15 at Chloe, a Lotus Concepts property at 1445 Market St.

Come and share some X’s and O’s with players Montee Ball, Sylvester Williams, Britton Colquitt, Wesley Woodyard and one of my favorite former players, Rod Smith.

One hundred percent of proceeds benefit Volunteers of America’s Brandon Center, an emergency shelter for women and children. For tickets, go to www.voacolorado.org.

Jive drive

DazzleJazz Restaurant & Lounge at 930 Lincoln St. is hosting a Flood Relief Jazz Drive with a marvelous musical line-up beginning at 5 p.m. through midnight on Thursday. The suggested donation is $10 at the door.

One hundred percent of proceeds will go directly to musicians drastically effected by the flood. In addition, all of the performers are donating their time and talents and Dazzle is donating all profits from the evening.

Here’s the melodic schedule:

5 – 5:45 p.m. – Delta Sonics

5:45 – 6:30 p.m. – Hamster Theatre

6:30 – 7:15 p.m. – Adam Bodine Trio

7:15 – 8 p.m. – Pakow and the By All Means Band

8 – 8:45 p.m. – SUCH

8:45 – 9:30 p.m. – CSU faculty & friends band

9:30 – 10:15 p.m. – CU faculty & friends band

10:15 – 11 p.m. – Greg Harris Band

11 – 11:45 p.m. – Gabriel Mervine Band

More information at www.dazzlejazz.com.

Racines rocks!

Racines, one of Denver’s most popular B, L and D restaurants (breakfast, lunch and dinner) is doing something nice for furloughed federal workers in light of the government shutdown.

The restaurant knows that the shutdown has real consequences for the many Colorado federal employees who have been furloughed.

Whether they need to drown their sorrows or feed their souls, all federal staffers with a valid ID will get 20 percent off their individual food and beverage tab at Racines through the duration of the shutdown.

“Here’s hoping this will be the shortest promotion in Racines’ nearly 30-year history,” said spokesman John Imbergamo.

Love is lovelier…

Prominent Denver attorney Jay Kamlet, a partner at Lathrop & Gage, popped the proverbial question recently to girlfriend Stephanie Keyes, a senior broker at Weststar Commercial.

Kamlet is a Denver native, while Keyes was born and raised in suburban Chicago. She has two boys, Jake and Sammy, 18 and 16, who both go to Cherry Creek High School.  She moved to Denver in 1993.

“We were introduced by our mutual friend, Julie Westfield, in spring of 2011, and we have been dating ever since,” Kamlet told me. “My kids, Alyssa, Ian and Amalia all adore her.”

Kamlet, the hopeful romantic, took Keyes to The Palm where the restaurant’s general manager Cathy Cooney gave the engagement ring to the waiter who presented it on the dessert plate with the cheesecake, which Kamlet insisted that Keyes order.

“She is the kindest, most selfless person I have ever met, and I am blessed to have her in my life,” Kamlet said.

Denver attorney Jay Kamlet and Stephanie Keyes are engaged. (Photo courtesy of Jay Kamlet)

Hot, hot, hot

Former Denver newspaper sports reporter (now with ESPN) Adam Schefter has been plucked by Virgin Atlantic Airways to search for a “Red Hot Reporter” for the upcoming NFL International Series game in London, according to a story posted by MarketingDaily at http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/210228/virgin-atlantic-launches-promo-with-nfl.html.

“The selected person will interview players, go behind the scenes with sideline access and showcase the fan experience from the Virgin Atlantic suite,” the story says. “(The winner) will fly in style to cover the game, between the San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars, at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 27.”

Applicants must first follow @virgin_atlantic on Twitter. They will then create a video on the platform of their choice and tweet the video to @virgin_atlantic with the hashtag #redhotreporter. Schefter will select and announce the winner on Oct. 14.

Go whole hog

This little piggy went to dinner beginning at 6 p.m. Oct. 8 at Restaurant Kelly Liken in Vail.

Restaurant owner Liken in conjunction with Denver butchery expert Mark DeNittis will put a specially raised 4-H hog under the knife for the third annual Whole Hog Dinner.

The four-course nose-to-tail dinner (at $99 per person excluding tax and gratuity) will be paired with hand-crafted cocktails by mixologist Ian Tulk featuring spirits from family owned and operated Colorado distillery Leopold Bros.

To see the menu for the dinner and for reservations, go to www.kellyliken.com.

The seen

As posted by USA Today and former Denver Post sports writer Lindsay Jones on Twitter:

Broncos Coach John Fox on Jack Del Rio, candidate for the USC head coaching job and whom some media outlets reported was in Los Angeles on Sunday night:  “I know he’s focused on Dallas. He wasn’t at LAX. I was with him at Del Frisco’s when that report happened.”

Eavesdropping on a wife and a husband: “I thought you said you were going to change that light bulb.”

“I did. But I didn’t say I was going to change it today.”

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. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com. Want to advertise your business here? Contact Trisha at trilind@hotmail.com.

Bob Brenner, the “Extreme Weight Loss” record breaker on the hit ABC television series, was so transformed by his experience on the show that he has announced plans to become a certified life coach to help others realize weight loss success.

To achieve his life coach certification, Brenner is partnering with the Colorado-based school Coach Training Alliance to become a credentialed coach. He is expected to earn his life coach certification in November.

During his year-long journey on “Extreme Weight Loss” season three (season four is being filmed at the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Health and Wellness Center in Aurora), Brenner lost a record 253 pounds – or 56 percent of his body weight – through a commitment to healthy eating, regular exercise and mental perseverance.

His next extreme transformation is a total career makeover – going from Milwaukee undercover cop to national life coach. Brenner also remains good friends with “Extreme Weight Loss” host Chris Powell. Both guys will be in Denver together this weekend.

Bob Brenner, before his 253-pound weight loss for the ABC reality series, ‘Extreme Weight Loss.’ (Photo courtesy of Bob Brenner, iCoach Transformation)

Bob Brenner bikes and runs as part of his fitness regimen. Below, Brenner and his son. (Photos courtesy of Bob Brenner, iCoach Transformation)

Shooting down brain diseases

Local comedian and former Rocky Mountain News sports columnist Sam Adams will attempt to surpass the career scoring record belonging to NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the span of 24 hours on Saturday at the Hyatt Denver Tech Center.

“Poppin4PSP” is a one-man Pop-A-Shot basketball marathon fundraiser being staged to heighten the public’s awareness of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and related neurodegenerative brain diseases.

Starting at 7 a.m. in the Hyatt DTC atrium, Adams will play Pop-A-Shot basketball for 24 hours, hoping to surpass Abdul-Jabbar’s career record of 38,387 points throughout his 20-year NBA career.

To achieve his goal, Adams needs to average 54 points per game, playing an average of 30 games per hour and attempting 1,300 shots per hour for 24 consecutive hours on a Pop-A-Shot basketball machine.

To donate and support Adams’ goal, go to http://poppin4psp.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1081450&lis=1&kntae1081450=513D98B09F98458B8DDC46565D3578D9&supId=389720211.

Former Rocky Mountain News columnist Sam Adams is testing his shooting aim with a 24-hour Pop-A-Shot marathon on Saturday. Adams, who now is a professional comedian, is raising awareness and money for  Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and related neurodegenerative brain diseases. (Photo courtesy of Sam Adams’ Facebook page)

Volunteer here

For the first time since the initiative’s inception, Xcel Energy employees will be joined by community members in the third annual Xcel Energy Day of Service, in partnership with CBS4, from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

There are nine volunteer projects, and community participation from across the state is welcome. This year should be Xcel Energy’s biggest Day of Service with 1,300 employees and 1,000 community participants.

View the list of project opportunities and sign up to volunteer by visiting www.xcelenergy.ivolunteer.com.

Open wide for “Im-burger-amo”

Take a bite of the “Im-burger-amo” at TAG Burger Bar (1222 Madison) through the month of September and $1 per burger will go to Work Options for Women, an organization that trains impoverished women culinary skills to gain employment.

This great veggie burger, named for Denver restaurant consultant and vegetarian John Imbergamo, combines black beans, garbanzo beans, corn, fire-roasted jalapeños, panko, cotija cheese and tomatillo salsa. It’s topped with guacamole, crispy fried zucchini chips, Sriracha aioli and cilantro slaw, and served on a toasted bun with a side of fries and a house made pickle.

The Im-burger-amo at TAG Burger Bar in Congress Park is a tribute to veteran restaurant guru, John Imbergamo. For every veggie burger sold, $1 will go to Imbergamo’s pet charity, Work Options for Women. 

Domestic violence center fundraiser

The movie “Havana 57,” from the novels of Harlan Abrahams, will be shown during a fundraiser for the Rose Andom Center, a facility that will house a myriad of agencies set up to help those dealing with domestic violence, at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Wolf Theater, Mizel Arts and Culture Center, on the campus of the Robert E. Loup Jewish Community Center, 350 Dahlia St.

“Havana 57″ is the first full-length English-language feature film shot entirely on location in Cuba since the revolution is 1959. The movie was inspired by “Col. Carlo” novels written by Abrahams.

Special guests Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey will share some new news about the Andom Center. Donations requested. Checks should be made payable to “The Denver Justice Center”, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.

Tickets for the movie are free, but an RSVP is required by sending an e-mail to havana57movie@gmail.com. Tickets will be sent via e-mail and collected at the door.

Food and wine time

There’s still time to get in on the Denver Food and Wine action today, Saturday and Sunday. Tonight, Art of the Cocktail from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at The Ritz-Carlton Denver, 1881 Curtis St., will pit chefs and bartenders against each other in competitions to win $500 cash plus an overnight at The Ritz and breakfast at Elway’s in the hotel.

Tickets to the lively and tasty event are $50 at www.denverfoodandwine.com.

On Saturday, the Grand Tasting, the granddaddy of Denver food fests with an expected 4,500 food and wine fans, will serve bites from 35 local restaurant and 600 wines and spirts from Southern Wine & Spirits of Colorado from noon the 4 p.m. under a tent pitched on the grounds of the Metropolitan State University campus. The Grand Tasting is presented by US Foods.

Tickets are $95 at www.denverfoodandwine.com.

On Sunday, the DFW weekend wraps with a wine pairing dinner, beginning at 6 p.m. Sunday at Panzano Restaurant, 909 17th St., featuring Panzano executive chef Elise Wiggins, and Denver restaurant chefs Paul C. Reilly of Beast + Bottle, Bob Blair of Fuel, Aaron Whitcomb of Ya Ya’s Euro Bistro and featuring award-winning chef/author and restaurant owner Brian Polcyn. Reservations: 303-296-3525.

Denver Food and Wine is a fundraiser that benefits The Denver Post Community Foundation, Colorado Restaurant Association Education Foundation and the Metropolitan State University of Denver Hospitality Learning Center.

Light the night

I told you earlier this week that Denver’s City and County building is bathed in teal light this month in honor of ovarian cancer and prostate cancer awareness.

That prompted me to ask Mayor Hancock’s office what other colors, months and diseases make the City and County building glow throughout the year.

Here’s the answer:

* January – holiday lights (through the end of the Stock Show);

* February – red for heart awareness;

* March – blue and pink for the March of Dimes’ premature baby awareness;

* April 1 only – light blue for autism awareness;

* June 4th and 5th – teal for the ovarian cancer walk;

* September – teal for ovarian and prostate cancer awareness;

* October – pink for breast cancer awareness;

* November – purple for Alzheimer’s awareness;

* December – holiday lights.

We’ve got a winner!

The first giveaway winner in the www.blacktie-colorado.com/pennyparker subscription drive is Terri Alexander, client services manager for Project Angel Heart, a charitable organization that provides nutritious meals free of charge for people with life-threatening illnesses.

Alexander won two VIP tickets to Saturday’s Denver Food and Wine Grand Tasting on the grounds of Metropolitan State University (a $500 value).

But wait, there’s more. From today through Wednesday at 6 p.m., anyone who’s a veteran or newbie subscriber will be entered in a drawing to win two Denver Beerathon VIP tickets. The first Denver Beerathon, on Sept. 14, features a self-guided tour of 26 downtown-area bars, pubs, taverns and restaurants offering special deals for ticketholders.

The VIP ticket directs beer lovers to check in between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. is at Fado Irish Pub and Restaurant (1735 19th St.), and includes a VIP-only party with a buffet, prizes and giveaways and a $20 Uber car service pass plus a $25 day of event pass (new Uber users only),  Altitude Peak Fitness two week unlimited pass, $99 room rate at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel among other goodies.

The link for $99 rooms at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel (regularly rooms are about $350) is:  https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/denverbeerathon. More information on the Beerathon at www.denverbeerathon.com.

Eavesdropping on a signature taker to a male voter at a library on Parker Road and Florida: “Are you a Colorado voter?”

“No, Denver.”

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. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com. Want to advertise your business here? Contact Trisha at trilind@hotmail.com.

Hotel honcho Walter Isenberg is known for his mustachioed face as much as he is known for turning Denver dirt into high-end hotels.

Behind every deal – the JW Marriott, The Oxford Hotel, The Courtyard by Marriott and the upcoming Union Station Hotel – there’s been Isenberg’s iconic moustache.

But there’s not much he won’t do for charity – especially when it’s his wife, Christie Isenberg‘s pet charity, Concerts for Kids, an organization that raises funds for children’s charities.

In an attempt to raise $100,000 for the Concerts for Kids’ Celebrity Waiter event on Saturday at Ocean Prime on Larimer Square, Isenberg will (reluctantly) submit his lip fuzz to Denver Mayor Michael Hancock‘s razor during the event.

“I’ve done many a crazy thing in my day, but this is a first,” Isenberg wrote in his pledge plea e-mail. “I’m hoping I can convince 100 people to kick in a grand each to see this happen. Now I know for a fact none of you have (including my wife) has ever seen me without a mustache. Why? Because from the moment I could actually grow one, I did and it’s been floating above my upper lip ever since.”

A few local notables weighed in on Isenberg’s facial hairlessness decision. (I can’t vouch for the authenticity of these quotes, however):

“It’s about time one of Denver’s longest running mysteries will be solved — and no DNA will have to be tested this time,” said Denver DA Mitch Morrissey.

“I can’t wait to put that straight edge to work and slice off that little caterpillar … revealing the real Walter. I’m not even going to practice … hope my hand is steady,” Mayor Hancock said.

“I wish he had done this 25 years ago. That mustache has always made him look sketchy and it certainly didn’t help me attract a better clientele,” said Gov. John Hickenlooper referring to his early days at the Wynkoop Brewing Co.

To help Isenberg reach his fundraising goal (he’s raised $35,000 so far), e-mail a pledge to Rebecca@concertsforkids.org.

For tickets to the celebrity waiter dinner (reservations are being accepted from 5 to 9:30 p.m.), call Ocean Prime restaurant at 303-825-3663. Check out the celebrity waiter lineup at www.concertsforkids.org.

Sage Hospitality CEO Walter Isenberg will have his trademark mustache shaved off if $100,000 can be raised for his wife Christie’s charity, Concerts for Kids.

Light show

The Denver City and County Building in Civic Center Park changes colors from time to time throughout the year. For September, the lighting color is teal in observance of Ovarian Cancer Awareness month.

One in 71 women will get ovarian cancer in her lifetime, and there is no screening test. The most frequent symptoms are two weeks or more worth of bloating, pain in the abdomen, urinary urgency or frequency and feeling full quickly when eating. Getting diagnosed early can save your life.

Next up: The City and County Building will be bathed in pink lights in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

The Denver City and County Building will be lit up in teal to observe Ovarian Cancer Awareness month in September. (Denver City and County photo)

Dining for a cause

Work Options for Women is Parallel Seventeen’s Dining for a Cause partner for the month of September. All month, mention Work Options for Women and 10 percent of your food purchase will go toward WOW’s mission of helping impoverished women gain skills to get out of poverty and to gain employment in the food service industry.

Kick off Happy Hour from 4 to 7 p.m. this afternoon at Parallel Seventeen, 1600 E. 17th Avenue. More information: http://workoptionsforwomen.wordpress.com/

Let go my logo!

When Colorado’s new logo and tagline were unveiled Thursday at The Colorado Innovation Network Summit, Facebook comments lit up the Internet like the City and County building during the holidays.

I asked readers of this column to weigh in on their opinions of the state’s new marketing symbol.

Some said our state’s new symbol reminded them of a hazmat warning. No one who contacted me supported the decision to deviate from the time-honored version of our state flag.

Candice Pulliam wrote, “In my opinion, the new logo design is 1. a waste of money;  2. not very artful;  3.  doesn’t say ‘Colorado’ to me; 4. doesn’t make a strong enough visual to be used in large format … I could go on.

“But mostly, to my knowledge, Denver people weren’t given a choice … To me, this is not an image that identifies Colorado in an interesting or recognizable way. I can, however see it as a tattoo.”

From reader Jules Dworak: “This is an atrocity! Pretty sure the biohazard bag is where they dumped the only logo Colorado should ever have!”

Claire Walter weighed in, “Like the (other) naysayer, it reminded me of Sugarloaf’s long-time logo all in a blah monotone. Bring back this one.”

Gala Grant

One nonprofit will be awarded the first Gala Grant Denver worth an estimated $121,000 in in-kind donations from local industry experts and proceeds to be acquired at the special event through ticket sales and auction items.

Application deadline is Thursday. A major fundraising event will be held to benefit the winner of the Gala Grant Denver award in February, which will tap the resources of some of Denver’s best event specialists.

“The Gala Grant Denver is made possible by a group of presenting partners who decided that giving back to their community together was more powerful than giving individually,” said Shelly St. John, lead auctioneer with The Auction Divas.

These Denver event specialists have come together to offer nonprofits a change at bolstering their fundraising efforts. The Gala Grant presenting partners are:

* The Auction Divas

* Blacktie Colorado

* Bolder Events

* The Hazel Miller Band

* John Tobey Events

* Relish Catering

* The McNichols Building

* Up and Up Creative

Applicants can go to www.facebook.com/galagrantdenver for more information and to apply.

Root Down takes off

Root Down, the lower Highland favorite fresh eatery, opened Monday (Labor Day) in Concourse C of Denver International Airport. The restaurant is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and features a brunch and dinner menu in addition to cocktails, Colorado beers and wine.

Subscribe!

Do you know folks who aren’t subscribing to my Blacktie-Colorado column? Say what?

How ’bout if we give them some incentive to sign up. This evening, one lucky subscriber will win two VIP tickets to Denver Food and Wine, the most fun you can have under a tent, from 11 a.m. (VIPs get early admission) till 4 p.m. Saturday on the grounds of the Metropolitan State University of Denver campus.

Here’s the catch: To be eligible to win the tickets, you MUST be a subscriber. This evening, Blacktie’s accounting firm of PricewaterhouseCooper (see, just like the Academy Awards … hee hee), will draw the name of the winner, who will be notified and announced in my Friday column.

To subscribe, go to www.blacktie-colorado.com/pennyparker. Click on my icon, then click on “subscribe.” VIPs at Denver Food and Wine get a respite from the heat with umbrella-clad tables, fancy fare from The Brown Palace and fine wines in a private area. Ticket value: $500.

The seen

Pop star and teen heartthrob Justin Bieber and entourage was spotted by Facebook posters on Monday who said they saw him at Beta nightclub, 1909 Blake St., and at Chloe Discotheque on 14th and Market.

Spotted on the snowless slopes, “Today Show” fourth-hour host Hoda Kotb with a “new (male) friend” hiking in Colorado’s mountains during Labor Day weekend.

“We did a 2-mile hike straight up a mountain,” Kotb told co-host Kathie Lee Gifford during Tuesday’s show. “You can’t breathe and your chest is about to explode because of the (lack of) air.”

“He has the nicest smile,” Gifford interjected. “What does he see in you?”

On Kotb’s return flight to NYC, she chatted and posed for pictures with singer Aaron Neville who performed during Denver’s Taste of Colorado at Civic Center Park.

Eavesdropping on one male golfer commenting on another man’s watch on the deck enjoying a beer after golf at Fossil Trace: “That’s a nice watch … is it a Rolodex?”

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. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com. Want to advertise your business here? Contact Trisha at trilind@hotmail.com.

High-res images

And to think I remember Andrew Hudson when he was a mere press secretary for Mayor Wellington Webb. Now the once-fledgling spokesmodel is all grown up and recently celebrated his rise to major mogul-dom with what started as a hobby.

Andrew Hudson is stunned at the success of his jobs list. (Photo courtesy of Andrew Hudson)

Last week, Hudson marked the fifth anniversary of AH Jobs List, the go-to online source for job seekers and job givers. Little did he know that in 2008, the country’s economy was on the precipice of collapse and his business model would be an invaluable to displaced workers struggling to recover from lost jobs.

So five years ago, Hudson took what began as a hobby producing a single page Xeroxed list and elevated it to the go-to jobs site with more than 25 million page views (www.ahjobslist.com).

“I had planned on giving the new site three months before making decisions about my future, but the response to the new site was so immediate and overwhelming, I quit my job in less than a week and haven’t looked back since,” Hudson said. “I also recognize how difficult and stressful job seeking can be to the unemployed. But I can also say that job seeking is one of life’s greatest journeys and adventures, and for all of us it’s important to stay true and focused to our passions, our dreams and to never settle for less than what we deserve.

“It is truly a joy and a privilege to connect job seekers with this list of positions each week. Daily, I am humbled to hear from job seekers and employers who share stories about job seeking success.”

Beerathon hops into Denver

From the City That Never Sleeps to the Mile High City comes the first Denver Beerathon, a sudsy festival that originated in the Big Apple for people who love beer.

This is the premier event for those whose enthusiasm for marathons extends to beer runs.  The Denver Beerathon will be held Saturday, Sept. 14 and takes participants on an all-day tasting journey through 26 bars (yikes!) located throughout Denver’s downtown and Highland neighborhood.

And the Beerathon is quaffing for a cause. A portion of proceeds will go to Excelsior Youth Center. Drinking craft beer has never felt this good.

Tickets are $55 per person or $70 for VIP, which includes early check-in and a VIP-only party at Fado Irish Pub with prizes and giveaways.

At one of four designated check-in locations, ticket holders will be carded, receive their laminate, Uber car service pass, Altitude Peak Fitness two-week unlimited pass, special room rates at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel among other goodies. For tickets, go to www.denverbeerathon.com.

Participating venues:  1515 Lounge, 16 Mix Lounge, Appaloosa Grill, The Celtic Tavern, Central Bistro & Bar, Churchill’s Public House, Delaney’s Cigar Bar & Lounge, The Drink, Euclid Hall, Fado Irish Pub, Giggling Grizzly, Howl at the Moon, Ignite, It’s Brothers Bar & Grill, LoDo’s Bar & Grill, LoLa, The Matchbox, Paramount Café, Rialto Café, Rio Grande Mexican, Rock Bottom Brewery, T|ACO, Tony P’s, The Uber Sausage, ViewHouse and The Walnut Room.

Colorado scenery earns raves

According to a poll by “Business Insider”, Colorado was voted to have “the best scenery.” Colorado earned 228 of 1,545 online votes (15 percent). Not surprisingly, neighbor state Kansas was voted to have “the worst scenery.”

Colorado ranked high for “best vacation spot,” “favorite state,” “nicest state” and “the most underrated.”

See results of the poll at www.businessinsider.com/poll-how-americans-feel-about-the-states-2013-8.

Punk Jews

Local community Jewish organization E-3 Events at MACC is selling tickets to Chai Life XI: PUNK, a combination film screening, rock show and street party beginning at 8:30 p.m. Aug. 24 at The Elaine Wolf Theatre in the Jewish Community Center, 350 S. Dahlia St.

The new documentary “Punk Jews”, will screen at the event, followed by a punk rock-themed street party with food trucks, free beer and a performance by the NYC punk band Moshiach Oi.

Advance tickets are available online at http://e-3events.com.

Lawyer not warbler

Former Denver District Attorney Norm Early is known as a tough litigator not a sweet-sounding crooner. Nonetheless, the burly man with close-cropped graying hair gets teased about his likeness to the “King of Calypso.”

“I just got (called) Harry Belafonte again,” Early told me Wednesday at Elway’s Cherry Creek’s last summer concert. He responded in a proper “Belafonte-ish” manner by breaking into “Day O.”

“Daylight come and me wanna go home.”

Jazzed

Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar in Glendale — the fourth location of the Big Red Restaurant Group brand — is offering diners a one-two munch with the launch of a Sunday Jazz Brunch and the opening of Hi Jax, the restaurant’s rooftop deck.

Sunday Jazz Brunch, served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., features fresh seafood and locally sourced ingredients and cocktails accompanied by live music from local group The Hot Club of Pearl Street Band.

Executive chef Sheila Lucero‘s dishes include a blue crab cake Benedict, lobster scramble and smoked salmon quiche.

Brunch cocktails include the Jax Bloody Mary with cucumber-infused vodka and the Thai chelada with Thai chile-infused vodka.

Hi Jax, the rooftop deck opens daily at 4 p.m. serving a variety of steamers, skewers and sandwiches. A happy hour menu is available from 4 until 6 p.m. daily.

For more information or to make reservations, go to www.jaxglendale.com or call 303-756-6449.

Eavesdropping on a woman who kept running into old friends during the last summer concert Wednesday at Elway’s Cherry Creek: “I know no one else than who’s at Elway’s tonight.”

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. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com. Want to advertise your business here? Contact Trisha at trilind@hotmail.com.

“There is no way this is the Grand Hyatt,” I said to myself as I walked into the party to celebrate the “old joint’s” sorely needed makeover.

The functional-not-fun space on 17th and Welton was tired, dated and sterile; the renovated hotel is simply spectacular. A $28 million makeover has bathed the place in the fountain of youth.

To celebrate the transformation, roughly 1,000 invited guests oohed and ahhed as we toured the lobby, guest rooms, the Grand Hyatt Conference Center and the iconic 38th floor Pinnacle Club.

I almost feel sorry for the first-time folks coming to the Grand because they will never understand the true transformation of the spiffy space.

In the lobby, there’s a bar built into the breathtaking far wall made of stone with two lineal fireplaces stacked on top of one another.

The 516 guest rooms and suites are sleek, modern and equipped with all the modern amenities that business travelers expect.

The renowned Pinnacle Club, used for events and meetings, have cherry wood and crystal appointments. But you can’t improve on the view with windows that look out at miles of cityscape and the Rocky Mountains.

The party was a perfect complement to the new jazzy digs. Each of the three floors were rocking with entertainment and lavish food stations and premium bars.

The kitchen created 800 sliders, 950 street tacos, 13 strip loins, 1,200 shrimp, 800 crab claws, 450 lamb chops and countless desserts. And that’s only the half of it.

For more information on the remarkable redesign, go to www.grandhyattdenverredesign.com.

The fireside bar and lobby is just one of the makeovers to the remodeled Grand Hyatt in downtown Denver.  Below, a glorious view from the Pinnacle Club on the 38th floor. (Photos courtesy of Hyatt hotels) 

Bittersweet

For General Manager Greg Leonard, the renovation celebration also served as his goodbye party. Leonard, who’s been at the Grand Hyatt for five years and at the Hyatt Tech Center before that, is going to the Hyatt Regency San Antonio on the Riverwalk and across the street from the Alamo.

“Although my family and I will sorely miss our experience and the friends we formed in Denver, we are looking forward to a new adventure in San Antonio,” Leonard said. “I want to thank the people of Denver for making us feel so welcome during our time here. Denver is a special place.”

The new general manager of the Grand Hyatt Denver is Mark Stiebeling who is moving here from the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort in Carlsbad, Calif. Hyatt began his career with Hyatt in 1992.

Greg Leonard is leaving the Grand Hyatt Denver after five years as general manager. (Photo courtesy of Hyatt hotels)

Snack attack

Capitol Hill will be the site of Snack Attack, a food truck festival from noon to 7:24 p.m. (huh?) Saturday in the Saint John’s Cathedral/Argonaut parking lot (on Colfax and Washington).

The event will have a wide selection of Denver food trucks along with live local music and beer from MillerCoors. Participating tasty trucks include Caveman Cafeteria, Crazy Good Food, Capt’n Crabby, Barbed Wire Reef, Little India, The Panna Cotta Peddler, The Bistro Bus, Crock Spot and Hey PB & J.

Snack Attack is produced by Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods Inc. (CHUN). Find Snack Attack on Facebook at snackattack2012 for event information and updates.

Barbed Wire Reef is one of the food trucks coming to Saturday’s Snack Attack in the St. John’s Cathedral/Argonaut parking lot.

More than one kind of draft at Taverns

The Tavern group of neighborhood restaurants is running a fantasy football draft party through Sept. 5.

For $100 per party, draft parties at each neighborhood Tavern will receive unlimited draft beer for a two-hour period for up to 12 people. The promotion is not valid after 4 p.m. Fridays and reservations must be made in advance. Free high-speed Wi-Fi is available at all locations.

“We always love it when people choose one of our neighborhood locations as their football headquarters,” said Tavern owner Frank Schultz. Each location is adorned with numerous HDTVs. “It creates such a great energy when we’ve got groups of guests rooting on their favorite teams. Our draft party special is just a great way for us to welcome in the football season.”

For Fantasy Football Draft Party reservations, call 303-226-1555. For location and other information, go to www.tavernhg.com.

Think drink

The Corner Office at 1401 Curtis St. recently launched a new cocktail menu including Tini Tuesdays featuring half-priced signature martinis from 6 to 9 p.m.

New martinis include: Flower Child (Bombay Sapphire gin, elderflower, green chartreuse, Crème de Viollete, Sauvignon Blanc and lemon); The Riddling Fig (fig infused vodka, Benedictine, Angostura Bitters, honey and lemon) and Sidecar (cognac, lemon, orange liqueur.

New cocktails include: Just Another Goat Rodeo (Milagro Blanco tequila, liquor 43, pepper, honey and lime); Life’s a Peach (Seagram’s vodka, peach, lemon, cardamom and soda water) and Johnny Boy (Laphroig 10-year-old scotch and jalapeno caramel).

More information at www.thecornerofficedenver.com.

Colorado lands two on top towns list

Two Colorado towns, Carbondale and Fort Collins, were mentioned in a list of Outside magazine’s 18 best towns to live in.

Carbondale, 30 miles north of ski mecca Aspen, was named to list because of its “killer farmers markets on Wednesdays, its quick access to adventure” and plenty of trails for hiking and mountain biking. Outside, an active-lifestyle and adventure-travel magazine, also touted the 44-mile paved Rio Grande Trail runs from Aspen to Glenwood Springs, with a spur up the Crystal River and also noted how residents can visitor has easy access to world-class biking, fly-fishing, rock-climbing, kayaking, and running at Carbondale’s doorstep. Read more about Carbondale at http://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/north-america/united-states/Best-Towns-2013-Carbondale-Colorado.html

As for Fort Collins, the magazine wrote how the beer culture helped support the biking community, particularly mention New Belgium Brewing Co. Fort Collins earned its spot on the list also because of closeness to backcountry terrain (like 10,276-foot Cameron Pass) and prime location on the brown-trout-filled Cache La Poudre River. Read more about Fort Collins at http://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/north-america/united-states/Editors-Choice-Fort-Collins-Colorado.html.

Eavesdropping sent in by a reader: “If FedEx and UPS ever merged companies, would it be called Fed Up Services?”

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. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com. Want to advertise your business here? Contact Trisha at trilind@hotmail.com.

When the Beatles brought its British invasion to Red Rocks in August of 1964, Denver native Cindi McCutchen – barely a teenager – suffered an invasion of her own when she was nearly trampled by the stampede of rabid girls racing for seats.

McCutchen, a golfing gal pal of mine, was reminded of that scary scene when I told her about “1964: The Tribute” coming to Red Rocks beginning at 8 p.m. Friday (gates open at 6:30).

This concert billed as “The No. 1 Beatles Show in the World”  benefits Colorado Public Television 12. But even at the low ticket price of $30 (plus service charges), McCutchen still has her ticket stub souvenir showing what she paid for the show.

“My girlfriend and I stood in line at the old Mammoth Gardens, I believe, to get tickets which were (dare I say it) $6.60 each.

“The day of the concert, my dad took us up to Red Rocks very early in the morning and dropped us off about a mile from the amphitheater.  A few hours before the concert, we were allowed to move up closer to Red Rocks and form two lines.  My girlfriend and I took off running and when we turned around, thousands of people were running too.

“We finally just came to rest on a big rock in the parking lot and that is where the cops told everyone else to line up.  So, we were first in line and first in the stadium.”

But during the foot race to get in the gates, McCutchen had dropped her glasses, stepped out of her shoes while running and dropped her lunch. But the two fierce fans sat in the middle of row two.

“As I recall, the concert didn’t last very long by today’s standards and I had to keep yelling at these stupid girls to quit screaming in my ear so I could hear the Beatles!  Stupid teeny-boppers! But it was something I’ll never forget for sure.”

Tickets for the tribute concert are available on www.ticketmaster.com or www.cpt12.org, or to charge by phone, call 1-800-745-3000.

I think McCutchen will take a pass this time.

’64: The Tribute’ comes to Red Rocks on Friday, Aug.23. The Beatles (the real band) played Red Rocks in 1964 in the band’s lone appearance in Colorado. (Photo courtesy of ’64: The Tribute’)

‘Talent’ tour

Fans of the NBC hit TV show “America’s Got Talent” will have an opportunity to experience their favorite season eight acts (including the yet-to-be-announced season eight winner) when the “America’s Got Talent Live” tour comes to the Paramount Theatre on Oct. 16.

Tickets for the live tour are on sale now through www.tickethorse.com or by calling 1-866-461-6556.

The show will feature an array of performers from singers and dancers to comedians and novelty acts. The TV series airs at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays on KUSA-Channel 9.

Think global, eat local

Charcoal, the 43 W. Ninth Ave. eatery which is no stranger to local media “best lists,” is holding a chef’s dinner beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday featuring fare from chef Greg Lucero.

This month’s meal emphasizes local ingredients from Rocky Ford melons to house-made ricotta starring in a five course feast.

Cost is $50 per person or $70 with wine pairings. More information at www.charcoaldining.com or by calling 303-454-0000.

And speaking of fine fare…

A handful of Vail’s most celebrated chefs held the Second Annual Vail Harvest Dinner last week to showcase summer dishes for the media.

The chefs (generously) schlepped down the mountain to hold the event at The Four Seasons Hotel Denver. Representing the famed ski town were chefs from La Tour, Mountain Standard, Flame Restaurant at the Four Seasons Resort Vail and Game Creek Club & Restaurant.

If you’re planning a trip over Vail Pass this summer, I highly recommend you check out any of these restaurants.

Douglas County’s taste bud tickler

The CenturyLink Taste of Douglas County, the largest food sampling event in Douglas County takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Douglas County Events Center on the grounds of the Douglas County Fair in Castle Rock.

The air-conditioned facility offers plenty of free parking. The Taste will offer nibbles from local nosheries including the Old Stone Church, Outback Steakhouse, John Holly’s Asian Bistro, LoDo’s Bar & Grill, Pegasus on the Square, Black Eyed Pea and Siena Italian Bistro among the 50 participating establishments.

Tickets are $10 in advance or $20 at the door at www.tasteofdouglascounty.com. For more information, call restaurant radio host Mike Boyle at 303-903-0017.

Designer discounts

Denver native  and fashion designer Ann Fanganello who recently opened a space inside ConneXions Boutique in Southwest Plaza Mall (8501 W. Bowles Ave., Littleton) is holding the first sample sale ever for her AnnaFesta line of clothing designed for curvier women.

The sale (up to 70 percent off) of mostly pieces from her spring line (to make room for new fall clothes) takes place from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. Check out her pieces at www.annafesta.com.

Eavesdropping on a customer who just had his back waxed at GQ Barber Lounge:

“I can really feel that numbing stuff you put on my back. … Well I can’t feel it, but I know it’s numb.”

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. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com. Want to advertise your business here? Contact Trisha at trilind@hotmail.com.

The accolades keep coming for Colorado, especially for two suburban Denver cities.

Money magazine ranked its “best places to live” and Louisville (ranked No. 2) and Parker (12th) were cited for their economic success and excellent housing.

Louisville previously had been ranked No. 1 twice on the Money list in the past. The northwest Denver suburb that lies just east of Boulder is noted for “its place in the technology-rich Denver-Boulder corridor” that “has kept the job outlook solid.” Money also said that Louisville is a “great place to raise a family, with well-regarded schools and a safe community. Read more about Louisville here.

Parker was noted for its performing-arts center (particularly its 500-seat theater and outdoor amphitheater) and the H2O’Brien Pool water park. You can read more about Parker here. Money says Parker has rebounded nicely from the housing downtown, citing increased new construction and its 30-minute drive to downtown Denver.

Let the chips fall where they may

As the saying goes, “there’s no such thing as bad publicity.” Especially if it’s free publicity.

Boulder Canyon’s potato chips got a plug on cable TV’s “Breaking Bad” Sunday night when a character in the AMC network series is shown munching on a bag of Boulder Canyon’s sea salt and cracked pepper chips.

In Sunday’s mid-season premiere, Hank Schrader (played by actor Dean Morris), a Drug Enforcement Agency agent and brother-in-law of Walter White, the series’ chemistry teacher turned crystal meth maker – is digging into a bag Boulder Canyon’s chips.

How did Boulder Canyon take the news that its product was featured on a hit cable series about cancer-stricken high school teacher (played by Bryan Cranston) turned drug kingpin?

On its Twitter feed (@BoulderCanyon), the company wrote:

“Now we know Hank’s got good taste in his snacks! We wonder what flavor Walt would like…?” and “Eating our chips clearly helps in the investigative process.”

Boulder Canyon said it did not pay for product placement on the show.

The Boulder Camera first reported the story and you can read it here.

Actor Dean Morris plays the character Hank Schrader, who was munching on Boulder Canyon chips on AMC’s “Breaking Bad.” (AMC network photo)

Telluride rates No. 8 friendliest city

Conde Nast Traveler recently rated “the friendliest and unfriendliest cities in the U.S.” Telluride, one of the most quaint towns in Colorado came in at No. 8. The magazine’s website gave Telluride an 82.9 score and here’s what they wrote:

“Already popular with in-the-know skiers who admire its ‘fantastic’ terrain, Telluride, Colorado, is also lauded for its friendly people. Wonderful restaurants and great live music options add to its charms, and longtime fans also urge new visitors to check out the summer festivals that this “overlooked gem” has to offer. The temperatures might be cold in sophisticated but not pretentious Telluride, but the locals certainly aren’t.”

Moore posted on his Facebook page this tidbit about an upcoming Aug. 29 show:

“Joey McIntyre — yep, the kid from New Kids on the Block — is coming to the Galleria Theatre to workshop his new one-man theatrical musical, called, yep, ‘The Kid,’ Aug. 29 through Sept. 15. It is billed as a ‘deeply personal coming-of-age story.’ McIntyre takes the audience from his hometown of Boston to sold-out stadium tours, as three generations of family drama becomes three decades of stage dreams. … Hmmm … A NKOTB getting all theatrical in the intimacy of the Galleria Theatre? You gotta go see this, right? … Right?”

Tickets are on sale at www.denvercenter.org or by calling 303-893-4100.

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter Randy Couture will host a new reality series, “Gym Rescue,” on Spike TV and the show is looking at Denver gyms to rehabilitate.

The show is based on the hit Spike TV show, “Bar Rescue,” in which host and bar/restaurant expert Jon Taffer brings a team to a failing bar and turns it around. Taffer came to Denver recently to help Zanzibar Billiards  in downtown Denver and Kazbah Lounge in Aurora.

Casting Producer Scott Hiller told Fightline.com that Couture “figures out what the core problem is and with his team of experts, whips that gym back into shape. Gyms can be of any type: fighting or fitness, climbing, gymnastics or yoga. The problems are of any kind and combination, too, such as failing marketing strategies, equipment in disrepair, staffing issues, poor management. A generous gym makeover is usually part of the show.”

Hiller added that production is expected to start later this fall and he is currently looking at Colorado, the Philadelphia/New York City/New Jersey area and Minneapolis for gyms to work with, but “is not limited to those regions.”

The seen

Famous drag queen RuPaul having brunch at Panzano on Sunday. “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Taylor Armstrong and her attorney/boyfriend John Bluher brunching Sunday at Rioja. She was also seen hanging out in the EDGE restaurant at The Four Seasons on Tuesday night.

I’m such a big fan of all the “Real Housewives” shows that I had a star-struck moment chatting with Armstrong, who couldn’t be more charming!

Taylor Armstrong of Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.” (Bravo TV photo)

 

Beer here

New Belgium Brewing, as well as Odell Brewing Co, Avery Brewing Company and Oskar Blues Brewery were named in the top 15 craft breweries in the USA. Read the full story at: http://www.9news.com/news/article/349835/339/4-Colo-craft-breweries-listed-as-top-15-in-the-US

“A Taste of Colorado” is just around the corner and the popular downtown food, music and entertainment festival is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

The Labor Day weekend festival sponsored by the Downtown Denver Partnership is scheduled Aug. 30-Sept. 2, in Denver’s Civic Center Park. The free festival includes entertainment for all ages with music, carnival rides, games, educational exhibits and selection of food.

The state’s largest free-admission outdoor event, A Taste of Colorado draws more than 500,000 visitors annually and is produced by and benefits Downtown Denver’s Events, Inc., the Partnership’s community events non-profit organization.

Six entertainment stages include national, local and ethnic music in a variety of genres, children’s performers, chef demonstrations and more. Kids can combine learning with fun as they enter the KidZone, a family-friendly area with play equipment and many free activities for children of all ages. The Comfort Denver KidzStage presented by radio station MIX 100 will entertain kids with music, magic, clowns and puppets, and other shows.

One of my favorite musicians from the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Aaron Neville, will perform at the Main Stage on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 7:30 p.m. The Neville Brothers, featuring Aaron Neville, have been a traditional closing act for the New Orleans Jazz Fest for decades.

Festival attendees also can journey back to the roots of Colorado and learn about the state’s pioneer past, nature and environment. Artisans will demonstrate Navajo weaving and culture, spinning, rug braiding, lace crocheting and more in the Festival of Mountain and Plain area.

The Raptor Education Foundation will have a booth where families can learn about the natural world while being surrounded by non-releasable eagles, hawks, falcons and owls.

More than 50 of Colorado’s restaurants and food establishments will prepare small portions to full meals. Kid-friendly vendors near the KidZone will sell hot dogs, pretzels, popcorn and more.

A Taste of Colorado needs volunteers who are willing to take a three- to four-hour shift during the four-day festival. If you’re interested in volunteering, email volunteers@downtowndenver.com. If you cannot volunteer this year but want to work other events, email that address to be added to the volunteer mailing list. For more information, contact Lauren Laramee at 303-534-6161.

Festival hours are from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Aug. 30 through Sept. 1, and from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 2. For more information, visit www.atasteofcolorado.com or call 303-295-6330.

Aaron Neville will perform at the Main Stage on Aug. 31 during A Taste of Colorado at Civic Center park in downtown Denver. (Photo courtesy of A Taste of Colorado)

CU-Boulder best college town according to online poll

The website Livability has chosen America’s best college towns to live and visit. The University of Colorado in Boulder snagged the No. 1 pick of top 10 college towns in 2013.

Here what Livability wrote about CU and Boulder:

“You have to wonder how college students in Boulder, CO, find the motivation to get themselves to class. With so many other things to do, from rock climbing, skiing and hiking to sampling microbrews and checking out the latest museum exhibits, it has to be hard to hit the books.

“But Boulder is a city of innovative thinkers, environmentalists and researchers who work as hard as they play. Home to the University of Colorado and a collection of national laboratories, residents place a high value on the city’s diverse perspectives. Breathtaking natural beauty, a sense of cultural freedom and a highly educated population combine to deliver a wildly creative atmosphere where both students and residents flourish.

“Through CU-Boulder’s Volunteer Resource Center, approximately 1,200 students help the city and neighboring communities each year. The VRC collaborates with more than 250 community organizations in the Denver/Boulder area. Outreach efforts extend into course work for many students. A group of environmental design students recently collaborated with the city of Boulder to design and build an outdoor classroom and arboretum in a local park. Leeds School of Business students help low-income families prepare tax filings and teach a semester-long course in finance to middle-school students.”

My husband, Mr. On The Town, had to take issue with the poll. His school, the University of Missouri in Columbia, ranked fourth in the poll. For people who care about these things, and my hubby sure does, five of the 10 schools in the poll are from the Southeastern Conference (including good ol’ Mizzou).

Here’s the link to the story: www.livability.com/top-10/top-10-college-towns-2013/boulder/co.

Tony’s goes from bistro to burgers

Tony’s Bistro Capitol Hill location at 950 Broadway is now Tony’s Burgers serving all natural patties.

A new chef was hired, its menu and name have been changed. The menu’s most popular items — burgers, pizzas and salads — are the focus of the renamed eatery inside Tony’s Market.

The burgers are ground fresh in-house from all-natural local meats. You have the choice of 100 percent grass-fed beef, Kobe-style Wagyu beef, Colorado free-range bison or boneless natural chicken breasts. You also can choose from premium all natural cheeses, plus fresh baked brioche rolls and all toppings are made fresh in house.

The pizzas: The dough is handmade and aged for flavor. Baked at 650 degrees in a stone oven, the dough is crisp and chewy. There’s a selection of classic pizzas and each serves one to two people.

The salads: New entree salads are tossed fresh and include a homemade garlic knot roll. There are an array salad choices, including  chicken Caesar, steakhouse, Italian, Napa or quinoa and kale. Small side salads also are available.

Tony’s still has a selection of beers on tap and in bottles, as well as four wines by the glass.  Plus, you can enjoy an adult beverage while grocery shopping. You also can pour your own fountain drink or choose your drinks in the market.

Hours are from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.  Private parties, room rental and banquet events by appointment. More information at www.tonysmarket.com.

Eavesdropping on a woman talking to a man after the woman found out that her stepmom has terminal cancer:  The man said: “Why can’t cancer get cancer and just die?”

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. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com. Want to advertise your business here? Contact Trisha at trilind@hotmail.com.