Celebrity whirlwind blows here, there and everywhere

By Marty Meitus, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 28, 2008 at 12:14 a.m.
Updated August 28, 2008 at 12:26 a.m.

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It was a long day of celebrity watching, capped by the ultimate snub by a major star.

Earlier Wednesday, Josh Brolin, Ben Affleck, Rosario Dawson, Taye Diggs, Kerry Washington and others gave a reading from the upcoming film "The People Speak."

Sure, the stars were hustled in and out without talking to the audience, but that wasn't much of a surprise.

However, when you're waiting at a red carpet event, you're expecting to chat with the stars, just like they do before the Academy Awards. Burned a lot these days with star no-shows and competing parties, the media were relatively small at the Voto Latino party at Vinyl, where reporters and camera crews were crammed next to each other to watch some major Latino stars walk a short red carpet.

With the sound of motorcycles and an occasional truck roaring down Broadway, the media waited one hour for the stars to show, with the anticipation of a big payoff. J-Lo herself was rumored to be the surprise guest. So was Leo DiCaprio, but we'd heard that story before.

The ultra-unglam setting was a rather strange choice for such an important red carpet, but as if feeling our pain, the stars — Jessica Alba, Rosario Dawson, Fat Joe, Wilmer Valdeerrama and Sofia Vergara, chatted easily and posed graciously for pictures arriving in quick order yet spending over an hour outside the club.

Meanwhile back in the club, J-Lo had already ducked inside through a back door, unseen by one and all, and came out surrounded by her security, just as the press was turning to leave. She gave a quick wave and smile as she was hustled into her car.

Honest, toots, this is Denver, you couldn't stop for a second and talk about the importance of Latino voters to the small phalanx of photographers and reporters who stood there for almost three hours hoping for a word?

After that disappointment, there was a rumor of STARS at 5 Degrees on Larimer. Hope springs eternal and sure enough, Ben Affleck and his wife, Jennifer Garner, were sharing a table with Forrest Whitaker, Kirsten Dunst and some other stars, although they were tucked in a corner on the porch surrounded by party-goers and staff, and it was difficult to see who else was there.

Danny Glover was at a nearby table. After trying to jockey closer, this star gazer was rewarded by a genuine smile from Jennifer Garner, who flashed those beautiful dimples when we made eye contact, ending the day on a Rocky Mountain celebrity high after all.

• August 28, 2008

  7:06 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  rushrulesbaby writes:

  Awww, jest gives me goose bumps!!

• August 28, 2008

  7:45 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  roadstar writes:

  "Honest, toots, this is Denver" Toots? What decade are you from, Marty?

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