Every time Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning yelled out “Omaha!” in Sunday 26-16 victory over  the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship, $800 will be donated to Manning’s Peyback Foundation.

Eight Omaha-based companies pledged to donate $800 to Manning’s foundation for at-risk kids. “Omaha” was trending on Twitter after Manning shouted it 44 times against the San Diego Chargers in last Sunday’s NFL divisional round playoff game. Manning reportedly barked “Omaha” 31 times on Sunday against the Patriots, earning $24,800 for the Peyback Foundation.

Manning told the media last week: “I’ve had a lot of people ask what ‘Omaha’ means and, uh, ‘Omaha’ is a run play. But it could be pass play or a play-action pass, depending on a couple of things,” Manning deadpanned amid laughter from reporters this week in Denver. “Wind. Which way we’re going (on the field) and, uh, the jerseys that we’re wearing. It varies, really, play-to-play. There’s your answer to that one.”

More important, the Broncos are heading back to Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday, Feb. 2 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., to play the NFC champs, the Seattle Seahawks. It will be the Broncos’ seventh trip to the Super Bowl and their first since a 34-19 victory over Atlanta in Super Bowl XXXIII on Jan. 31, 1999 in Miami.

More love to Manning came from Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, which named one of its recently born penguin chicks Peyton.

Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker and his country star (pregnant) wife, Jessie James Decker — arguably the NFL’s cutest couple — are featured in an eight picture spread in the February edition of GQ magazine and on www.gq.com.

The couple are snapped in provocative poses – cooking together (at least licking the bowl), canoodling in bed, bubble-bathing, “working out” in the home gym, horsing around among memorabilia — with Decker clad in distressed jeans (how distressed can they be when they fetch up to $700 a pair) and James in her unmentionables.

The point of the article – other than to feature titillating photos of a ridiculously attractive couple – is a denim discussion.

“When Denver’s newly ascendant star Eric Decker isn’t wearing his Broncos uniform, he’s kicking back in jeans with his (pregnant!) country-singer wife, Jessie James, and the crew of their reality series, “Eric & Jessie: Game On.” Here, he sports the season’s best beat-up, broken-in, and distressed denim — the kind you (almost) never want to take off.”

The story continues, “At the moment, James is lying low in Denver, pregnant with their first child, while Decker continues to build on his best season to date. In early December, he set the Broncos’ all-time record with four TD receptions in a single game. (‘I just cried the whole game,’ James says.) Decker’s teammates, meanwhile, have been enthusiastic about his entry into helmet-less television. ‘You’d be surprised,’ Decker says. ‘A lot of guys wanted to try and get on the show after the first couple of episodes.’ So what if walk-on roles were mostly limited to helping Eric pick out jewelry for Jessie? What are teammates for?”

Read more at http://www.gq.com/style/fashion/201402/eric-decker-jessie-james-distressed-jeans#ixzz2qaoEpHUX.

Jessie and Eric Decker pose for GQ photographers for a magazine layout. (Jessie James Twitter photo)

Late-night talk show host David Letterman used his national forum to ask the question on many football fans’ minds when former football great, talk-show host and Fox-TV NFL analyst Michael Strahan guested on the show Tuesday.

“I’m so tired of people screaming, ‘Omaha’…,” Letterman told Strahan, referring to Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning‘s favorite cue at the line of scrimmage. “Why does he do that?”

“Because (he) likes the steaks,” Strahan said.

Letterman also questioned why Manning moves around so much prior to the snap.

“When he goes to the line he looks like he’s got another job,” the talk-show host said. “He looks like he’s working part-time at a gift card store picking out stuff, running around, ‘Oh my God,’ we’re out of ribbon.’ Then he comes back and takes the snap. Is he the first guy to be so darn busy at his second job as a quarterback?”

“I don’t think anybody has made it look as difficult as Peyton,” Strahan said. “I’m still not buying all that is necessary. I think he says, ‘I’m doing all of this so kids at home think I’m cool.’ There’s no way, Dave, the other 10 guys on offense understand all that stuff. They’re not that smart.”

As to Strahan’s prediction for the Super Bowl? “Denver Broncos versus the Seattle Seahawks. But I could change my mind on Sunday.”

Former New York Giants defensive lineman and current TV host/analyst Michael Strahan, left, and David Letterman talked football, specifically Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning on ‘The Late Show With David Letterman” earlier this week. (Late Show/CBS photo)

Broncos former tight end and 2011 Pro Football Hall of Famer turned TV NFL analyst Shannon Sharpe will be the keynote speaker at The Journey, the Junior League of Denver’s fundraiser to support literacy efforts in the Denver metro area, on March 13.

A lesser known fact about Sharpe is his dedication to literacy and education. It wasn’t until his early teen years that he learned to read, guided by his grandmother’s influence.

All proceeds support the Junior League of Denver’s focus, which is changing lives through literacy in the Denver metro area. Funds raised enable the organization to provide financial and volunteer support to its community partners.

“Attendees are helping us get books and tools to families in need in the Denver metro area,” said Junior League President Lisa Lumley. “In addition to our literacy programs, we sponsor One Book 4 Colorado, in partnership with Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia and the Mile High United Way.”

The March 13 event starts with cocktails at 6 p.m., followed by Sharpe’s speech and dinner at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center. Tickets are $125 per person. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.jld.org or call 303-692-0270.

Former Broncos tight end and current CBS Sports pregame analyst Shannon Sharpe is returning to Denver to speak at a March 13 event for the Junior League. (CBS Sports photo)

The giant Joe Flacco photo hanging outside Sports Authority Field at Mile High (next to Peyton Manning‘s same-size photo) is creating a load of flak in Broncos Country.

What’s worse is that the Baltimore Ravens quarterback’s mug decorates much of downtown on banners that seem to be reproducing like rabbits. Make it stop, say fans on various websites and Facebook pages.

Flacco’s name and image are still sensitive subjects since the 2012 Super Bowl winners booted the Broncos out of the running when the Ravens beat the Broncos in double overtime during the playoffs last season. Flacco’s “Mile High Miracle” pass in the waning seconds of regulation sent the game into overtime. It still hurts.

But the agreement to plaster Flacco’s face all over the Mile High City was sealed between the NFL and the Broncos when the pro football honchos offered our city the coveted NFL season opener.

“The NFL equally promotes both teams as part of its annual Kickoff Game, and we are working closely with the league regarding our compliance to NFL guidelines for exterior signage and other promotional efforts for the game,” said Patrick Smyth, the Broncos executive director of media relations. “This is why fans may notice some promotional art outside Sports Authority Field at Mile High and around town that features both teams.”

That explanation is of little comfort to fans outraged by what they deem a “desecration” of our football field and downtown.

They took out their frustrations Tuesday all over websites, social media and on sports radio shows. One frustrated fan went so far as to craft a petition to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. The petition was posted on Sports Illustrated Audibles:  http://nfl.si.com/2013/08/27/joe-flacco-banner-mile-high-denver-broncos/. It reads:

To: Roger Goodell, @nflcommish, National Football League

Take the Joe Flacco signage off my Mile High Stadium! Broncos Nation will not endure this detestable and audacious act. Who in their right mind thought that we would just let this fly?! We stand united against your unbearable Joe Flacco signage.

Sincerely, [Your name]

CBS4 sports anchor Vic Lombardi, a Denver-area native, went berserk, and crossed the line between objective reporting and acting on his passion for his hometown team. Lombardi was recorded on www.tout.com (ever heard of it?) vandalizing Flacco banners along the 16th Street Mall (http://www.tout.com/m/v3kkob?ref=tw3dl5di).

He used a Sharpie to draw mustaches on Flacco’s face, and then resorted to masking tape plastered across the offending banners.

“If you’re a Denver native, this is a crock of crap,” Lombardi told former Bronco Alfred “Big Al” Williams and Darren “D-Mac” McKee on The Drive radio show Tuesday afternoon on 104.3 The Fan. “The NFL is pushing us around. The mayor (Michael Hancock) is a big Broncos fan. He can’t be happy about this … come on!”

Lombardi’s boss, CBS4 news director Tim Wieland, said he was well aware of the sports anchor’s antics through posts on Twitter.

“If you know Vic, you know that he likes to get involved in the reporting,” Wieland said. “In this case, Vic’s intent was to have a little fun with a subject that’s clearly irritating to many Broncos fans.” But condoning vandalism? Really?

Even “Big Al” Williams couldn’t get on board with Lombardi’s actions.

“This is a bunch of nothing,” Williams said. “That stadium will be filled with 85 percent Broncos fans.” NBC is televising the season opener at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 5 on 9News.

The Joe Flacco banner at Sports Authority Field at Mile High is drawing the ire of Broncos fans. (Sports Authority Field photo)

Fossil Trace GC gets top 10 nod in Forbes

Fossil Trace Golf Course in Golden is listed among the “10 most unusual U.S. golf courses,” according to “Forbes” magazine contributor Larry Olmsted.

The writer raves about course designer Jim Engh, calling him “one of my favorite golf architects and way underrated by the general public, though the industry holds him in high acclaim.”

Olmstead also notes Fossil Creek’s preservation of rustic mining equipment and the history lesson the course provides with prehistoric dinosaur tracks through holes 11 to 15 left some 64 million years ago. “Triceratops footprints have been well-marked next to the 12th green so golfers can take a look, and more fossils, plaster footprint casts, and ancient history are in the clubhouse,” Olmstead notes.

He forgets the great views the course offers from every direction, especially from holes No. 1 and 10, and the commune next to the 16^th tee box.

Read about all 10 courses and Fossil Trace here.

The approach to No. 12 at Fossil Trace Golf Course with an old mining crane in the background. (Fossil Trace photo)

PGA Tour is on the (golf) ball

The PGA Tour is not run by a slew of stooges.

Witness the television commercial already out touting the 2014 BMW Championships, part of the FedEx Cup playoff tournament series that will be played at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village.

The advertisement features four of Denver’s best-known sports figures, from the Broncos: John Elway, Peyton Manning and John Lynch and ex-Denver Nuggets star Chauncey Billups (now with the Detroit Pistons but a Denver resident and native).

So Todd Helton and Joe Sakic are chopped liver?

The BMW Championship is the next to the last tournament of the FedEx Cup series that narrows the field to the final 30 that play at The TOUR Championship the following week. Next year’s BMW Championship will be played Sept. 4-7 at Cherry Hills. Tickets are already available online for the 2014 BMW Championship.

Check out the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEeVNzcrYZU.

Steuben’s has something to crow about

Steuben’s, the feel-good restaurant at 523 E. 17th Ave., was recently selected as one of America’s best chicken and waffles spot by Travel + Leisure magazine.

“Despite being mile-high, there’s a down-home essence at Steuben’s, from the old diner décor to the super-friendly staff,” the article says. “And chicken and waffles don’t get more classic than chef Brandon Biederman’s version. The meat is brined in buttermilk and seasoning for a day, then dredged in seasoned flour and fried to order. The waffles are traditional Belgian, served with a red-eye gravy made from Jim Beam bourbon, coffee and bacon. Afterward, waddle next door to sister restaurant Ace, with plenty of Ping-Pong tables.”

Check out the story at http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/americas-best-chicken-and-waffles/7.

Now for the rest of the story: Steuben’s only serves the chicken and waffles for brunch on Saturday and Sunday and as the Sunday dinner special. You can order Steuben’s popular fried chicken (with mashed potatoes gravy and a biscuit) any day of the week.

Another 9th Door

The Beauvallon building on Ninth and Lincoln has been a revolving door for restaurants since it opened. But that doesn’t seem to bother Bill Kennedy, owner of The 9th Door, 1808 Blake St., who will open another outpost in the eatery-challenged building.

The Spanish tapas restaurant is slated to open in October, according to a story on Westword.com. Check out the details:

http://blogs.westword.com/cafesociety/2013/08/spanish_tapas_9th_door_opening_beauvallon.php.

Eavesdropping on a woman discussing the Flacco banners: “What if the Yankees put up a 40- foot picture of Big Papi (Red Sox slugger David Ortiz)? That would never happen.”

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.

Thrillist.com, a digital lifestyle website for men with local features on 21 cities (including Denver), rated its top 10 swankiest, tastiest, booziest bowling alleys in America and our fair city’s Punch Bowl Social was named to the list.

Punch Bowl Social, located in the hot SoBo district, is a hip eater-tainment establishment at 65 Broadway and offers great eats, drinks, bowling and more.

Here’s what Thrilllist had to say about Punch Bowl Social:

“Combining every great old-man game (bowling, shuffleboard, telling dirty jokes to 22-year-old girls) and young-man game (arcade games, karaoke, telling dirty jokes to 72-year-old girls) under one gigantic roof, this enormous man cave rocks gastropub-style food (think buffalo meatloaf & duck pastrami) in addition to craft cocktails from multiple bars, including a rotating selection of punch served up in huge bowls (see, it’s not just a clever name).”

Punch Bowl Social on Broadway was named one of the top 10 “swankiest, tastiest and booziest bowling alleys in America” by Thrillist.com (Punch Bowl Social photo)

A Denver public library … on wheels

Denver Public Library is coming to you … on a specially made tricycle.

DPL has developed a new service — DPL Connect — a pedal-powered mobile library and wi-fi hotspot.

DPL Connect launches its inaugural ride on Wednesday, August 7 on the 16th Street Mall. The trike provides free wireless internet access and will be stocked with a rotating collection of books tailored to the bike’s location (i.e. cookbooks and urban farming for farmer’s markets, bike repair and Denver maps for bike trails, etc).

The librarian riding DPL Connect also can provide traditional library services, including help with digital downloads (eBooks, audio books, and digital magazines), reading suggestions, assisting with research and registering new customers for library cards.

Here’s a schedule for DPL Connect in the upcoming weeks:

August 7, 4:30-6:30 p.m. | 16th Street Mall Garden Block (between Curtis and Champa)

August 8, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Civic Center Eats (among the food trucks – Broadway & 14th Street)

August 11, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m | VIVA Streets (Berkeley Regis Neighborhood – Tennyson St. & W 46th Ave.)

September 7, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Tour de Fat (City Park)

September 13, 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Bike-in Movie series at Civic Center Park

The DPL Connect pedal-powered mobile library. (Photo courtesy of Denver Public Library’s Facebook page)

‘Football On Your Phone’ rap by the Mannings

You’ve probably already seen the Mannings — Denver Broncos QB Peyton and his younger brother, the Giants’ Eli — in the “rap video” promoting DirecTV’s Sunday Ticket for NFL game coverage.

But just in case you were under a rock on Tuesday, here’s the link the Manning brothers’ “Football On Your Phone” rap.

Personally, I think Eli got a lot of the better lines and the Mannings’ dad, Archie, makes a cameo on the video that was filmed in New Orleans, the Mannings’ hometown.

Peyton, left, and Eli Manning performed an outlandish ‘rap video’ to promote DirecTV’s Sunday Ticket. (Photo by DirecTV)

Trader Joe’s to add a third store in Colorado

One Trader Joe’s coming to Colorado was fantastic news for this California girl. Two put me over the moon, especially since it was announced No. 2 would be located on 8th and Colorado near my Capitol Hill abode.

Now, the California-based specialty grocery store I grew up on is adding a third store in Greenwood Village.

The Denver Post reported Trader Joe’s has signed a lease at the Cherry Hills Marketplace at 5901 S. University Blvd. on the corner of East Orchard Road.The first two stores — in Denver and on Boulder’s Twenty Ninth Street mall are scheduled to open in 2014 as will the Greenwood Village store.

Chipotle coming to a Farmers’ Market near you

Chipotle Mexican Grill is already on every corner in Denver – or so it seems – but now the Colorado-bred chain is  participating in National Farmers’ Market Week.

Chipotle will conduct salsa-making demonstrations, give scavenger-hunt activity books to the kids and encourage shoppers to buy locally from their community farmers’ markets with $10 currency tokens that are redeemable for food at that market location).

Shoppers also will receive buy-one-get-one deals they can redeem at any Colorado Chipotle location. The coupon is valid for a burrito, burrito bowl or order of tacos.

Here are the markets Chipotle will visit this week (they’ve already hit the Broomfield and Lowry Farmers Markets): Aspen Grove Farmers Market, Wednesday, August 7; Highland Farmers Market, Southwest Plaza Farmers Market, Colorado Farm and Art Market and Larimer County Farmers Market, all on Saturday, August 10.

Eavesdropping on 9News’ Facebook page:

9News executive producer to Kim Christiansen: “A study for the fire-eating Kim, ‘Your love of spicy foods means you’re a risk-taker!'”

Kim: “I love it except the fact I would never bungee jump, sky dive, etc . Too scary.”

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.

So the Stray Cats aren’t going to be here, but most of the rest of the rock ‘n’ roll world wil be during the Denver Day of Rock, a free day of music on May 26 when 25 bands take to five stages for Concerts for Kids, the third annual fundraiser honoring children’s charities from 2:30 to 9:30 p.m. along the 16th Street Mall.

Included in this year’s line-up are TOTO, Toad the Wet Sprocket, The Samples, Fishbone, Something Underground, John Common and Blinding Flashes of Light, Go Home Joe, Jeff Brinkman, I-Tones Brass Band, Offbeat Revolution, Lee Avenue, Alicia Witt, Tracksuit Wedding, Tatanka, Smack Thompson, Strange Americans, Jet Edison, WhiteWater Ramble, Amanda Capper, match supreme txt femmes Air Dubai, Dwayne Dopsie & The Zydeco Heallraisers, The Railbenders and The Peacemakers.

In addition, the Downtown Denver Arts Festival will take place featuring 125 Colorado artists who will exhibit and sell their wares from May 25-28.

“Denver’s music and arts scene come together with Denver Day of Rock on 16th Street and the Downtown Denver Arts Festival, kicking off the summer outdoor festival season in Mile High style,” said Richard Scharf, president and CEO of Visit Denver.

For a full list of concerts and events, go to visitdenver.org.

Tebow trivia

From Adam Schefter, NFL commentator for ESPN and former football writer for The Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post on Twitter: “Tim Tebow clearly is in a New York state of mind. (Tebow) said his dog Bronco has been renamed Bronx.”

Racines rocks!

Congrats to Racines the fab eatery that celebrated its eighth year in the second location on Sixth and Sherman across from Denver’s 7. Denver gadfly and all around good guy Tim Jackson, chief of the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association, sent Racines owners Lee Goodfriend and David Racine a bountiful bouquet, which reminded Goodfriend of the anniversary date.

Delish

D Bar, the fabulous dessert joint next to Strings on 17th and Humboldt, is opening a second spot next to Denver-based breakfast place Snooze in San Diego.

D Bar, owned by husband and wife team Keegan Gerhard (of Food Network fame) and Lisa Bailey, celebrates with a pre-opening party from 7 to 10 p.m. May 23 at 3930 Fifth Avenue, San Diego.

Everybody in the pool

The Four Seasons Hotel new jordan Denver opens Level 3, the poolside bar, beginning Thursday and continuing from 5 to 10 p.m. Thursdays throughout the summer.  Opening night will be a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.

“There’s nothing else like our rooftop pool scene in town,and we’re looking forward to re-opening Level  3 for the season,” said Thierry Kennel, Four seasons general manager. “Plus, our opening night will give back to charity – what better excuse to enjoy a martini?”

Eavesdropping on a woman: “Stop the world I want to get off, and the world never stops!”

My Facebook page has moved. Be sure to like it! Also, here’s where you go to get my column emailed to you Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com.