PARKER: Famous names from Friedman to Raitt to be in city for symposia

By Penny Parker, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published June 14, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Expect to see boldface names from Hollywood, television, journalism, commerce and politics gathering in Denver for the 2008 Symposia of the Rockies, a series of think-tank discussions that will be open to the public Aug. 25-27 during the Democratic National Convention.

I obtained the impressive list of confirmed attendees from a secret source, and Jim Polsfut, head of the symposia series confirmed the participants. Here's the list so far: CBS' The Early Show co-host Harry Smith; An Inconvenient Truth producer Laurie David; media mogul Ted Turner; Google Inc. exec Andrew McLaughlin; former FCC chief economist Michael Katz; Level 3 VP Don Gips; Time Warner Telecom Inc. CEO Larissa Herda; former Secretary of State Made- leine Albright; The New York Times columnist Tom Friedman; former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle; and former U.S. senator from Colorado Tim Wirth.

Singer Bonnie Raitt and Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano also have RSVP'd to attend, according to my spy, but Polsfut couldn't 100 percent confirm those names. And invites are still out to U2 lead singer Bono and others that Polsfut declined to name.

Invited but not able to attend is heartthrob actor George Clooney, who will be out of the country during the DNC, according to his L.A.-based publicist, Stan Rosenfield. That cracking you hear is the sound of hearts breaking throughout Colorado.

The symposia, which will cover topics including global poverty, wellness and prevention, economy, technology, Social Security and retirement, emergency preparedness and the climate, will take place in Boettcher Concert Hall, and The Space and Ricketson theaters.

"We're working on opportunities for Coloradans to be represented and see some of these distinguished individuals," Polfsut said, but details on ticket sales aren't set. "This is a citizens' initiative of individuals who realize a lot of very important and engaged people will be coming to Denver - some of them Democrats and some not - because of this historic event. They will sit down with each other at round tables, and a lot of Coloradans are going to see it happening."

SWIM SALE: The big fishes at swimclub32 in the Highlands have decided to say arrivederci to the lounge/small plates concept and reopen as a pizza place. To make the change (sc32 will close mid-July), they're selling off furnishings and fixtures. To see pictures and descriptions of items plus prices, go to web.mac.com/powertothepeaceful/ SC32_sale_site/swimclub_sale/swim club_sale.html.

THE SEEN: Food & Wine Magazine Classic in Aspen attendees and shoppers drinking Veuve Clicquot champagne with Ivanka Trump during her jewelry show at the J. Mendel Boutique on Friday. According to my spy, Trump is skedded to strap on skis and schush down the one run open on Aspen Mountain today.

EAVESDROPPING on a student 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.

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