Parker: Watering hole getting a taste of 'Real World'

By Penny Parker, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Saturday, April 15, 2006

One resident of MTV's Real World house at 1920 Market St. will get fully immersed in Denver's gay scene when he takes a job at JR's as a bartender's assistant.

According to my spy, who would not go on the record due to a confidentiality agreement, two of the seven residents on the Denver version of the popular reality series are gay.

"There is a lesbian and a gay guy, that's all we know," my spy said.

"They want one of them to work at the bar. Where else would he work?"

JR's, a 17th Avenue watering hole catering predominantly to gay men, is the most popular gay hangout in town. The Real World contestant, who I'm told is not an experienced bartender, will work as a "bar back," replacing glasses and bottles of booze behind the bar.

"They will pay the gay guy to work (at JR's)," my spy said.

"When they film here, there will be a big sign outside that says if you come in here, you have to sign a release form."

Although neither MTV nor the show's production company will confirm the exact address of the Denver location, construction crews are busy hammering out a new house inside the old B-52 Billiard's building in time for occupancy next month. The 24-episode series is set to air in the winter.

In other JR's news, bartender Jeffrey Jensen, known as "Jeffrey J," will move across the street to become the manager of Hamburger Mary's, the gay-friendly restaurant going into the old Dante Bichette's building.

Will mighty Mary's pose a threat to JR's turf?

"It's going to be good for us," said JR's owner Larry McDonald. "It brings more gays to the area."

BEACHY: Jim Sullivan, Sullivan Restaurant Group czar, is looking to buy beach art and artifacts from local collectors and artists. His new eatery, Ocean, is set to open on Sullivan's birthday, May 12, in the old Mao space in Cherry Creek North, and he doesn't want the decor to be a bore.

"We're so landlocked, it's hard to find fun campy beach art," Sullivan joked.

If you can part with some art, e-mail Leigh Sullivan at lsullivan@sullivanrestaurantgroup.com.

BEYOND AND SPY BYE-BYE: Beyond and Spy Bar nightclubs in the Denver Pavilions closed last week while owner Curt Sims and his landlords "re-evaluate the situation," according to Sims.

"We're still negotiating to reopen, but not as Beyond," Sims said this week about the spaces that have roughly seven years left on their leases. Both clubs will be open for the charity events and special events already booked there.

It's unclear whether the clubs' closure had anything to do with an April 5 shooting that left one person dead and another wounded after Beyond patrons reportedly took an argument outside to the 16th Street Mall.

Neither Sims nor Denver Pavilions management returned calls on Friday asking them to clarify the closing.

FOODIE FORE: Americans are used to teeing off against Europeans in the Ryder Cup golf match every other year.

In the spirit of that competition, Fleming's steakhouse, 191 Inverness Drive West, Englewood, is hosting a five-course wine dinner on April 28 that sounds like a hole in one.

Par for the courses include appetizers from Ireland, salad from America, cioppino fish stew from Italy, flat iron steak with pisto from Spain and Kentucky Derby pie from the U.S. Cost is $85 per person, not including tax or tip. Reservations: 303-768-0827.

EAVESDROPPING at Tony's Lounge in Fort Collins: "If money is power, then I'm the Wizard of Oz."

Penny Parker's column appears Tuesday through Saturday. Listen to her on the Caplis and Silverman radio show between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-AM (630). Call her at 303-892-5224 or e-mail parkerp@RockyMountainNews.com.