PARKER: MySpace has home for DNC

By Penny Parker, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Originally published 12:05 a.m., July 8, 2008
Updated 01:03 a.m., July 8, 2008

OMG! d DNC jst got a whol lot cooler!

MySpace, the hip and happenin' social networking Web site, will set up its headquarters inside The Corner Office, the 2-cool restaurant on the corner of 14th and Curtis streets, during the Democratic National Convention Aug. 25-28.

In MySpace speak, that rox, according to Corner Office marketing and special events manager Valerie Gaddis-Arellano. MySpace will take up the part of the restaurant known as The Oval Office, which is separated from the bar by a curtain of metal beads. The room also faces bustling 14th Street.

"They'll have wireless Internet, video upload kiosks where people upload videos or photos to their MySpace page and be able to blog," Gaddis-Arellano said. "Also, celebrities will be here, we are told, but we don't know who."

The restaurant will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner as usual, and the public is encouraged to stop by the MySpace space where BlackBerry and cell phone recharging stations will be set up, and there's a possibility of videotaped round-table discussions that can be posted on the mega-sick site.

"MySpace came out and were in love with the space," Gaddis-Arellano said. "It looks so cool, and it looks so hip. They were sold right away."

MySpace and The Corner Office are a good funky fit. The restaurant is tricked out with lime green walls, cafeteria-style tables and booths, and servers wearing jeans or goth-like black attire. Some of the female servers and bartenders wear black ripped fishnet stockings, and bussers wear bicycle shirts.

"MySpace scoured Denver to find the perfect venue partner for them for the week and worked out a deal with us to set up shop . . . to be their official communication, media and blogging center," said Sage Hospitality Restaurant Group honcho Peter Karpinski. "We welcome the public to come spend time with us."

So b suR 2 git yor txt & myspace on! L8R G8RS J

HEARTY PARTY: The Black Eyed Peas will headline The Creative Coalition's big bash on Aug. 27 at the Fillmore Auditorium during the Democratic National Convention here. This is considered the celeb-studded party during the DNC because The Creative Coalition is bringing a posse of 25 Hollywood types here (and to the RNC in Minneapolis-St. Paul) to study issues surrounding the election. Check thecreativecoalition.org for ticket info when it becomes available.

BOOZE BEAT: Denver ad man Lew Cady likes to be first - and last. He bought the first beer on the last night of Duffy's, the late, great bar downtown, and the last beer they sold closing night Dec. 1, 2007.

So, it's not surprising that Cady is laying claim to have been the first person to buy booze on Sunday, when liquor-store sales started. He conspired with Char Williams at Coyote Liquors on Colo. 119 near Black Hawk/Central City to have a six-pack of Coors and a bottle of Jack Daniel's waiting on the counter while Cady's stopwatch, synced to atomic time, counted down to 8 a.m. The state's (unofficial) first Sunday liquor sale occurred at 8:00:02, two seconds after the law went into effect.

RACING RIGGS: Former CBS 4 News anchor-turned-TV-producer Stephanie Riggs made it through the triathlon in Loveland on June 28, which raised $150,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. "It was the most fun I've ever had . . . way better than the four marathons I ran," Riggs said.

The race included a 1.9-mile swim, 45-mile bike ride and a 6.2-mile run. "An 89-year-old man passed me on the bike," she laughed. "I thought, I've got to catch up to that stud!"

THE SEEN: John McCain and wife Cindy, shopping at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory on the 16th Street Mall after his speech at the Denver Performing Arts Complex on Monday. "He bought fudge and truffles," said RMCF employee Gwin Adams. And, yes, he paid for them.

EAVESDROPPING at the CSU library: "Never criticize yourself for something you haven't done yet."

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.