PARKER: The full Nelson experience

By Penny Parker, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 12, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
Updated August 12, 2008 at 1:33 a.m.

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Dinner, drinks and one-on-one with Willie?

Be careful what you wish for. Four fans will get to hobnob backstage at Red Rocks with Willie Nelson aboard his biodiesel-fueled tour bus, the Honeysuckle Rose IV - and you know what kind of stuff goes on in there.

Nelson's Aug. 26 Red Rocks show benefits Denver for Darfur and Project C.U.R.E., which is shipping $400,000 worth of donated medical supplies to Darfur. A preshow VIP event at $250 a ticket gets fans into a reception at Red Rocks at 5:30 p.m. with food, drink, music by Nina Storey and premium seats for the show (think about it - some acts charge that much for the "cheap" seats).

Of those 200 VIPs, four will end up on the bus, with two spots going to event sponsors and two by random drawing. Tickets are still available online at www.denverfordarfur.org. Would-be sponsors can call Brittany Morris at 303-592-5458 for info.

ROCKIN' RED CARPET: Looking to stargaze during the DNC? Look no farther than the red carpet at Vinyl, 1082 Broadway, where Rosario Dawson, Jessica Alba, Sofia Vergara, Ana Ortiz, rapper Fat Joe and hip-hop artist Malverde will walk the walk for Voto Latino, a fundraiser and GOTV (get out the vote) event Aug. 27.

It's a private party, but photo ops will be had during the parade of pretty people entering the nightclub. Voto Latino was founded in 2004 by Dawson "to promote civic engagement in the Latino youth community." Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson are also on the invite list. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsome co-hosts.

PARTY ON, DENVER: Perennial Strategy Group's Party With a Purpose, a series of celebrations with appearances by noted names, comes to Denver with eight events during DNC week.

Aug. 25: A jazz reception for the National Action Network's "Not This Time" Campaign, a movement to avoid mistakes made during the 2000 presidential election, with curious couple NAN president Al Sharpton and Mayor John Hickenlooper from 4 to 7 p.m. at Snooze, 2262 Larimer St.

Also, a Welcome to Denver reception with DJ Biz Markie, members of the Denver Broncos and Colorado Rockies, and a to-be-named celebrity guest from 9 p.m. to closing at Theorie Restaurant & Lounge, 1920 Market St.

Aug. 26: Party With a Purpose, in conjunction with The Creative Coalition, hosts the Celebration of Civil Rights Icons and Movie Makers With a Message reception honoring Coretta Scott King, Shirley Chisholm, Fannie Lou Hamer and Ron Brown from 9 to 11 a.m. at Earls Restaurant, 1600 Glenarm Place. On the confirmed list: the Rev. Willie Barrow, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Julian Bond, the Rev. Joseph Lowery, Sharpton, Carol Moseley Braun, Dorothy Height, Doris Crenshaw and musical artist Pras.

From 9 p.m. till closing, CSI:NY actor Hill Harper hosts a Manifest Your Destiny reception with DJ Red Alert at Vinyl.

Aug. 27: A breakfast honoring actress Annette Bening, co-hosted by The Creative Coalition, with confirmed guests Susan Sarandon, Spike Lee, Alan Cumming, Rachel Leigh Cook and Quentin Tarantino from 9 to 11 a.m. at Earls.

Also, a reception with comedian Chris Tucker, Kid Capri, DJ Biz Markie and Musiq Soulchild from 9 p.m. to closing at Sherman Event Center, 1770 Sherman St.

Aug. 28: Anniversary celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech with Martin Luther King III, Bernice Albertine King, Danny Glover and cast members of the film Honeydripper from 9 to 11 a.m. at Earls.

And, the Yes We Can Celebration with Black Eyed Peas' Will.i.am "and friends" from 9 p.m. till closing in the tent at the Hyatt Regency Denver Convention Center.

More info on all these events: pwap2008.com.

HYATT, TAKE ME AWAY: If you want a break - instead of a breakdown - post-DNC, the Grand Hyatt Denver Downtown is offering a DNC Recovery Package (sign this columnist up!). The respite includes a stay in one of the hotel's new suites where the rich and famous laid their rich and famous faces Aug. 29 or 30. For every suite stay, the Hyatt will donate $500 to a blacktie-colorado.com charity of the guests' choice.

Hyatt poured more than $350,000 into each three-room unit to make sure their suites were sweeter during the DNC. Reservations: 303-295-1234 or granddenver.hyatt.com.

BIG BANG: Comedy Works South, opening Oct. 10 in the Landmark development between Belleview and Orchard in Greenwood Village, gets the party started with two big-name headliners: Full House and America's Funniest Home Videos vet Bob Saget, Oct. 17 and 18, and Saturday Night Live alum Jimmy Fallon, Oct. 23-25. Tix on sale at 10 a.m. Aug. 21 at 303-595-3637 or comedyworks.com.

EAVESDROPPING on a Secret Service agent to man at Colorado Liquor Mart: "You don't have to wait in line at the Obama speech at Invesco for five hours. The doors open 12 hours before the speech. If you get there then, you'll be fine."

Penny Parker's column appears Tuesday through Saturday. Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail parkerp@RockyMountainNews.com.

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