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PARKER: Hollywood stars to shine for DNC

By Penny Parker, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published June 20, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Director Spike Lee is among the Hollywood celebrities slated to attend the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

Photo by Matt McClain / The Rocky/2008

Director Spike Lee is among the Hollywood celebrities slated to attend the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

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The list of celebrities who will attend the Democratic National Convention here and the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis is growing.

The Creative Coalition, a nonprofit organization that hosts 25 Hollywood types to attend and hold discussions on topical issues during the convention, has added to its roster Quentin Tarantino, Spike Lee, Susan Sarandon, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Neil Patrick Harris, Dana Delany, Barry Levinson, Matthew Modine, Alan Cumming, Cheryl Hines, Rachael Leigh Cook and Wendie Malick. They will be joined by co-chairs Tim Daly, Kerry Washington, TV writer Tom Fontana and director/writer/producer Sue Kramer.

Also during DNC week, the CC will host a luncheon honoring actress Annette Bening and saluting the 14 women senators in Congress, along with issue-oriented lunches, dinners and receptions.

Still to be announced are the musical headliners the CC will bring to Denver for its Aug. 27 gala (venue still TBA) that will benefit the New York-based organization. During the DNC in Boston four years ago, The Creative Coalition brought in the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

"We use that spotlight of the entertainment industry to shine a light on issues of social importance," CC Executive Director Robin Bronk told me in March. She couldn't be reached by phone on Thursday.

SWEET SUITES: When Colorado's slate of deep-pocket delegates gather for the Democratic National Convention in August, they'll be sleeping in the new lap of luxury at the Grand Hyatt Denver downtown hotel.

The renovation to the six suites and concierge floor was planned, but Hyatt moved up the date to coincide with the DNC.

"We were ready to renovate, but we made a few modifications to do it before the DNC rather than wait until after it," said General Manager Ed Bucholtz.

The hotel is ponying up $3.9 million to renovate the hotel's suites plus the Grand Club in time for the donkeys. Each of the three-room units will have a customized color palette, leather furnishings, built-in LCD TVs, granite-counter kitchenettes, free-standing bathtubs and TV sets embedded in the bathroom mirrors.

The hotel hasn't been told who in addition to the Colorado delegation will be staying in the new digs.

CROW TO FLY HERE: I have it on good authority that singer Sheryl Crow has been booked for a Red Rocks show exclusively for DNC delegates on Aug. 24, the Sunday before the convention begins.

THE SEEN: Rockies pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez dining at a table for eight and playing games in ESPN Zone Wednesday. Rockies righty Manny Corpas also lunching with friends in the Screening Room at ESPN Zone Wednesday.

EAVESDROPPING on a woman customer and a female server at a bar in Whitefish, Mont.: "I'll have whatever is cool and local."

"That would be the bartender."

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.