Parker: Holiday lights, music, action on tap for performing arts center

By Penny Parker, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published September 14, 2006 at midnight

Text size

More News Columns & Blogs

It's beginning to sound a lot like Christmas. Or Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa. Erik Dyce, Denver's own Jack Frost, has put together a package of lavish lights and music at the Denver Performing Arts Complex as part of the annual Mile High Holidays program.

"We are going to animate the Performing Arts Complex, from Nov. 24 through Dec. 29, with lights and live music. And I want to make it world music so people can celebrate whatever holiday it is in different countries," Dyce said.

Lighted snowflakes and candy canes will be strung between the 16th Street Mall and the Denver Performing Arts Complex on 14th Street.

The Convention Center garage will even offer a discount (at $7 all day long) so 'burb dwellers, including yours truly, will come downtown.

"Curtis Street has been blah," Dyce said. "We'd also like to have the horse and carriage folks picking people up at various restaurants and bring them to the DPAC. We want everybody to feel the holiday magic," said Dyce, who works for the city's Division of Theatres and Arenas.

PASTA, PASTA, PASTA: I am one lucky chick, not for having had breast cancer, but for the great things that have come from the experience.

For example, Don Howe, the red-headed boy wonder at CBS Radio, came to me several months ago with a fundraiser in conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

He cooked up the Penne For Penny promotion: local restaurants will offer a penne pasta dish during October and donate $2 from each special sold to the Denver chapter of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Cool.

To kick off the monthlong event, we're throwing Cook For The Cure, a pasta party, from 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 28 at The Jet Hotel, 1612 Wazee St. Tickets are $75 ($100 at the door) and include fab fare from Denver chefs Frank Bonanno (Mizuna, Luca d'Italia), Jennifer Jasinski (Rioja, Bistro Vendome), Ed Kent (Strings) and Troy Guard (nine75, Ocean), along with guest chef Christopher Covelli (L'Uva Restaurant, Provincetown, Mass.). Tickets: pennefor penny.com

AIKEN FOR A NEW CD: American Idol's poster boy Clay Aiken has a new CD (A Thousand Different Ways) on shelves Tuesday. The local CD release party will be held at 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Hard Rock Cafe in the Denver Pavilions.

The $18 admission price includes dinner, door prizes and party favors. At midnight, the party people will move to the Denver Virgin Megastore to allow fans to buy the CD. More info: e-mail denverclayparty@yahoo.com or RSVP at clayaikencdparties.com/forums and select Colorado.

JUST DESSERTS: Pat "Gabby Gourmet" Miller lives by the line, "Eat dessert first," but she never thought someone would take her seriously. That was until she brought Food Network pastry chef and Challenge series host Keegan Gerhard to dinner at Barolo Grill last week.

Chef Brian Laird, knowing Miller's penchant for all that is chocolate, sent an amuse to the table.

"There were three mini desserts," Miller said, laughing.

"They were chocolate, chocolate and chocolate. You should have seen the looks on people's faces. Now, everyone's going to want one."

THE SEEN: Former bass player for The Smiths Andy Rourke lunching and drinking screwdrivers Saturday at Sketch.

EAVESDROPPING on a mother and son at the Night Shift Saloon: "I need to see Nine Inch Nails."

"Do they make nails that big?"

"Mother, it's a band."

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 303-954-5224 or e-mail parkerp@RockyMountainNews.com.

Subscribe to the Rocky Mountain News