PARKER: Big Pelosi salute rumored

By Penny Parker, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 15, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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DNC rumor du jour? Tony Bennett, James Taylor and (dreamy) John Legend will perform during a salute to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, beginning at 8 p.m. Aug. 25 at the Seawell Ballroom, according to a Thursday posting on a politico.com blog called Shenanigans.

The blog banter goes on to say that Tony Award-winning actress Idina Menzel (star of monster musicals Wicked and Rent) will perform at another Pelosi event Aug. 27 at the Pinnacle Club at the Grand Hyatt to honor women members of Congress.

Shenanigans is calling the upcoming celebrity fest DenVen, but I like DemDenVen even better. This is blogosphere stuff that I couldn't confirm because they are not Democratic National Convention Committee-sanctioned shindigs.

OPRAH LAYING LOW? The Big O Oprah Winfrey wants to blend into the crowd of roughly 70,000 folks who will cram into Invesco Field to see the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama make his acceptance speech Aug. 28.

According to a Los Angeles Times blog, Winfrey's best friend and employee Gayle King says Winfrey will shy away from the main stage.

"Oprah has not been asked to introduce him, is not expecting to be asked to introduce him and I would doubt that she would want to introduce him," King said in the blog. "She thinks this is his moment. I know that she is planning to be there."

While Winfrey is busy blending in (as if that could happen), King will be hosting Oprah & Friends, an XM Satellite radio show that will broadcast from the DNC.

WEIL'S WAY: I'm sorry, but I can't believe Jack A. "Papa Jack" Weil is gone. I've always thought of him as a Timex watch . . . he just kept on ticking. So the news of his passing Wednesday night at the age of 107 shook me.

The last time I saw him was in May during Curious Theatre Co.'s annual Denver Stories, a series of vignettes about Denver denizens. After the mini-play about him was performed, Jack A. addressed the crowd and continued to tell stories until his grandson and Rockmount Ranch Wear President Steve Weil ended the monologue.

"Papa Jack, it's Andy Warhol on the phone and your 15 minutes are up," Steve teased. It was priceless, as was the vignette that told Jack A.'s story in 107 short plays. So, if you'll indulge me, I'd like to reprint some Papa Jack-isms from Denver Stories:

* "I came to Denver in 1928. There were 200 people here; now there's 2 million. Damn Californians!"

* "They say I have an amazing memory for my age. I say, 'Who the hell is going to contradict me?' "

When a New York Times reporter interviewed Weil about the passing of Sam Walton, the Wal-Mart czar who pestered Weil to mass produce shirts for the massive retailer, Weil replied, "I don't have too much to say about him except he was a hillbilly (SOB)."

A remarkable man, a remarkable life, a remarkable legacy. I will miss him dearly. His memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Sunday at Temple Emanuel, 51 Grape St.

B-DAY BASH: Bachelorette alums Trista and Ryan Sutter threw a big B-day bash for their son, Max, who turned 1 recently. The event in Avon had a Candyland theme with a 10-foot table covered with more than 200 pounds of candy (oh, my aching teeth!).

The proud parents filled a hand-painted treasure chest overflowing with toys for their baby boy. "The greatest thing about being a dad is watching Max grow and seeing him do new things every day," Ryan, 33, told Life & Style magazine.

PET PEOPLE: Woof! The Hotel Monaco has been named one of the Top 10 Pet Friendly hotels in the country by TripAdvisor.com. Look for Hercules, director of pet relations, in his "pet-riotic" red, white and blue get-up during the DNC. The darling doggie will be on duty every day to make two- and four-legged guests welcome.

Each pet guest receives complimentary amenities, including pooper scooper bags and walking map, in-room bowl for food and water, and a doggie bed. More info: monaco-denver.com.

THE SEEN: Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys owner, dining with a small group at Jing on Wednesday.

EAVESDROPPING on two women in a restroom (one in a stall, the other looking in the mirror) in Montana: "Oh, these wrinkles."

"Don't worry, you're still beautiful."

"I was talking about my pants."

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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