Parker: Denver band shares in the shine of Hollywood success story

By Penny Parker, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published December 13, 2006 at midnight

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In all the Grammy fuss over The Fray and India.Arie, we overlooked what might be Denver's biggest success story in music this year. The soundtrack for Little Miss Sunshine was nominated for best movie soundtrack, with most of the music on the disc scored by local band DeVotchKa.

"When you think about it, what are the chances a polka band from Denver with no label could end up here?" DeVotchKa leader Nick Urata e-mailed Rocky rock writer Mark Brown from the road (DeVotchKa headlines the Ogden Theatre on Dec. 30 and on New Year's Eve).

Little Miss Sunshine is a dark-humored Steve Carell movie about a hilariously dysfunctional family that has done surprisingly well at the box office - nearly $60 million domestically, $84 million worldwide.

"I knew when it was done that real everyday people were going to love the movie, but I feared the press might eviscerate it. But as it turned out even some of the snobbier publications loved it," Urata writes. "The only bad review I read of it was right here in our hometown."

Urata also has been nominated for a Satellite Award for Till the End of Time, a song written specifically for the movie. Both Variety and Hollywood Reporter predict Till the End of Time will be nominated for both an Oscar and a Golden Globe.

"The coolest part is the directors heard us, by chance, on KCRW in Los Angeles, which is public radio. There were no backroom deals. They chose us because of our song," Urata says. "It's a thrill, of course, but we are not having any delusions of grandeur. We all know how these things work. The award will probably go to Big Momma's House 2."

CULINARY CLASSIC: The Food & Wine Magazine Classic in Aspen, the Super Bowl of culinary gatherings, turns 25 this year. To celebrate, Food & Wine magazine plans to raise $1 million for Farm to Table, a national effort to support local farms through the Grow For Good campaign.

To kick off the fundraising, F&W will donate 4 percent of the cost of every F&W Classic ticket to Grow For Good. Tickets for next year's event, June 15-17, are on sale for $975 apiece at foodandwine.com/classic or by calling 877-900-WINE.

"I think this year will be the largest gathering of superstar culinary talent Aspen's ever seen, and all for a cause that will make a significant impact on the future of our farms," said Denver PR princess Sheri Heedum, who's handled press at the event for 15 years.

Cooking demos include Emeril Lagasse's "New Orleans Fish House," Thomas Keller's "Secrets From the French Laundry," Giada De Laurentiis' "Everyday Pasta" and Masaharu Morimoto's "Sushi and Sashimi Morimoto Style."

Danny Meyer, owner of several New York restaurants, including Grammercy Tavern and Union Square Cafe, will present a seminar on "Green Grapes and Ham" and wine expert Josh Wesson will explore "Like Wine For Chocolate."

MARIAH'S MOVES: If you're hitting the slopes in Aspen or Snowmass on Christmas Day, you might want to watch out for singer Mariah Carey picking her way down the hill.

Carey, who gorgeously graces the cover of Aspen Peak magazine's holiday issue, confesses to being "not a great skier."

During her Glamour Gulch holiday this year, the Grammy-winning singer plans to try snowboarding. "I haven't gotten past the 'fall on your buttocks stage yet,' " she tells Aspen Peak, "so I'm waiting for that to happen."

Carey says she's been coming to Aspen during Christmas since 1997, and would like to build a place of her own on the outskirts of town. Carey plans to host an invite-only Boxing Day party at the Hotel Jerome on Dec. 26 to talk about her new CD and part in the movie Tennessee.

THE SEEN: Singer Judy Collins and her family dining at Prime 121 in Cherry Creek last week.

EAVESDROPPING on a man at Elway's talking about the tuba concert on Larimer Square: "There was so much hot air at Tuba Christmas you'd think it was the Democratic National Convention."

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.

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