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PARKER: Travel + Leisure misses the boat with its DNC tips

By Penny Parker, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 6, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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The August issue of Travel + Leisure Magazine purports to have the inside poop on where the action will be in Denver and Minneapolis-St. Paul during their respective presidential conventions.

Hold on there. For the Democratic National Convention scoop look no further than your reliable Rocky Mountain News. But it's always fun to see what outsiders are saying about our fair city.

The mag recommends the Hyatt Regency Denver for a Barack Obama sighting. It could happen, but we told you first that the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate will be bunking at the Westin Tabor Center.

For good eats, T+L nominates Fruition, a tiny but delightful restaurant at 1313 E. Sixth Ave. But remember folks, it's hard enough to get a reservation there on a normal night. "Latte-loving liberals" should get their caffeine fix at Ink, with stores at 17th and Lawrence streets and at 1590 Little Raven.

And, finally, the story says that while "the week's most illustrious guests" may be attending private parties at the Denver Art Museum "mere mortals can nab a seat at Red Rocks Amphitheater where George Clooney and others are rumored to be emceeing A-list concerts." Oops, they did it again. Heartthrob Clooney will be a no-show to the DNC, according to his L.A. publicist.

PARTY AT THE PALM: Just because the Democratic Big Cheese Obama is staying at the Westin Tabor Center during the DNC doesn't mean that the popular eatery The Palm will have to lock its doors.

"Hopefully it will be business as usual," said Palm GM Cathy Cooney, who hasn't received specific instructions from the Secret Service. "They would have to pay me a lot of money to close us down. I don't have all the answers yet, but we're definitely open." Reservations: 303-825-7256.

OPEN HOUSE: While The Fort in Morrison was the place for an official dinner for world leaders during the Summit of the Eight in the summer of '97, the restaurant is taking the opposite approach during the DNC. Instead of hosting politicos and celebs who typically buy out a restaurant for the evening, The Fort is inviting locals to "beat the political heat in Denver" and head for the hills.

"We sent e-mail campaigns to our loyal customers and added seats in the house so people can get out of Denver, enjoy the fresh air and enjoy a nice meal outside of the hustle of downtown," said Wayne Lindsey, The Fort's marketing and public relations manager. The Fort did, however, sell out the restaurant for a couple of delegation lunches during the DNC.

If you go to thefort.com, you can download a coupon for a free prickly pear margarita. Reservations: opentable.com or 303-697-4771.

BUY OUT: LoLa, the popular Highlands area restaurant owned by Dave Query, will be center stage for a party of 250 of Obama's peeps from 9 p.m. to midnight on Aug. 26. I hear that the Big O himself will be there, but no one's talking. The restaurant also will be the site of another private party from 3 to 5 p.m. for Service Employees International Union, which endorsed Obama, and is working on clinching a deal with a third party yet to be confirmed. LoLa won't be open to the public that day.

POOL PARTY: The Pair O' Dice Poolroom at The Skylark Lounge, 140 S. Broadway, is queueing up Obama supporters for Shoot Straight for Change, Sunday evening get-togethers with free pool starting at 6 p.m. every Sunday until "Sen. Obama's inauguration." Obama volunteer information and voter registration are available.

JOE SHOW: MSNBC's Morning Joe show with Joe Scarborough will be broadcast from 4 to 10 a.m. Aug. 25-28 at Sam's No. 3 downtown, 1500 Curtis St., rather than with the rest of the cable crew who will be broadcasting from an outdoor set behind Union Station at 1701 Wynkoop.

CHOTIN'S CHUGGIN' ALONG: Denver financier Steve Chotin has been moved from ICU to a multitrauma room at Swedish Hospital after a nasty motorcycle accident Friday 70 miles west of Steamboat on his way to Montana.

"He is recovering very well and is expected to have a full recovery," said his Harley-riding pal Steve Rosdal who was with the "other Steve" when Chotin's motorcycle flipped three times. "He has a lot of road rash, but no internal bleeding and no internal harm. Although he's in pain, he's in good spirits."

Chotin is expected to be released from the hospital at the end of the week. The Chotin Group owner and his family "have requested that calls and visits be curtailed over the next few weeks to ensure he has the necessary time to rest and heal," according to a news release.

EAVESDROPPING on a man to a woman: "You all need your gays. Do you know what you would look like without us?"

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.