Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Electronic edition | Subscription Questions | Extras

PARKER: Who better to be at jeweler's charity benefit than a Nugget?

By Penny Parker, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published December 11, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

Text size  

More News Columns & Blogs

More stories »

Michael Pollak and his Hyde Park Jewelers pals threw a Men's Night Out shopping event Tuesday that packed the place with deep-pocket males who picked up a bauble or two while supporting Denver Health's men's health awareness initiatives.

Prostate cancer survivor and former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb munched Sushi Den delights while checking out the store's treasure trove of trinkets.

"This is a donation to Denver Health, since I was a part of the creation of Denver Health," Webb said. Every invited guest (nearly 350 in all) who donated $50 to Denver Health received a $100 Hyde Park gift card good through Valentine's Day. Five percent of the night's sales went to Denver Health.

The adult beverages flowed, along with fab food from the aforementioned Sushi Den, Elway's (tenderloin sandwiches with caramelized onions, blue cheese aioli and home-cured pickles) and Panzano (lasagna cups and white chocolate bites).

Nuggets star Nene Hilario with his fiancee, Lauren Prothe.

Nuggets star Nene Hilario with his fiancee, Lauren Prothe.

Nuggets star Nene and his fiancee, Lauren Prothe, were the evening's main attraction (if you don't count the jewelry), along with Broncos great John Elway, who posed for plenty of pix.

Prothe, a Fort Collins native, and Nene are set to wed on Valentine's Day at an undisclosed location. The two met through Nene's manager's wife, who played volleyball with the 6-foot-1 Prothe in high school. She speaks fluent Portuguese, Nene's native language.

"What can I say? She's everything," Nene said about his beautiful betrothed. "She's my promise from God. She's all."

Speaking of marriages, Elway said that he and his fiancee, Paige Green, have moved up their wedding date to early 2009.

"It's just going to be her and I," he said, adding that they would most likely get married outside of Colorado. "Marriage is about two people."

SAGE ADVICE: Joel Diner, owner of restaurant Pesce Fresco Bistro in the Tech Center, passed me this chit-chat he had with a customer recently:

"Last night a very good customer of ours and I were talking about how tough business is and how long these troubled times might last. He asked me what he, as a dining customer, could do to help. A difficult question!

"What I told him was to spend his money wisely in these tough times.

Demand a value. If you're not thrilled when leaving a restaurant, don't go back. If you are thrilled, tell your friends and neighbors.

"Ask yourself when selecting a place to go out. Do I care if they will be in business next year? Select wisely, demand a value, eat well!"

TIX TIP: Tickets for Jersey Boys at The Buell Theatre have just been released with seats available starting today through Jan. 3. Call the DCPA box office at 303-893-4100 or buy online at denvercenter.org.

EAVESDROPPING on a man at the men's shopping night at Hyde Park Jewelers: "I've got friends in Hyde places."

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