PARKER: New Kids older but still rock the block

By Penny Parker, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 15, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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The fan fawning over the (much older) New Kids on the Block, in town Friday for a Broomfield Events Center concert, reached a fever pitch at the Ritz-Carlton Denver late Thursday.

"It's insane," my spy e-mailed me from Elway's at the Ritz. "Girls are acting like they're 13 again, but in a nice safe way. Jordan, Jon and Danny are here. They've done some photos and autographs, holding court a little. Our waitress said this is crazier celeb response than during the (Democratic National Convention).

"There are women here following them to the bathroom and out to smoke. It makes me cringe. But I'm here with my best friend, and it's like our preteen obsession has come full circle."

My smitten spy, whose gal pals got her out of bed for this glimpse at her youth, admitted she brought all the letters she wrote to the boy band back in the day but never mailed.

"There was also a list of my future children with Jon . . . all 13 of them," she said. "What is wrong with me? OMG! You'll be embarrassed to know me."

Earlier that day another spy spotted all five older New Kids - Jordan Knight, Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood - shooting hoops at Forza Fitness at the Ritz.

"I trust they still sing better than they (play) ball," he said.

NKOTB enjoyed super stardom as a boy band - that helped pave the way for Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC - in the late '80s and early '90s. After selling 70 million albums worldwide, the band disbanded in 1994. They reunited this year and have been touring to promote their new album The Block.

WAKE-UP CALL: Parker's Ponderosa High School office manager Shannon Smith discovered a big oops when she found out parents were awakened around 3 a.m. Friday when the school's automated phone message system called every student's home.

The message - intended for 3 p.m. Friday - reminded parents to set up parent-teacher conferences and that their student's progress reports would be posted online Friday afternoon.

"It was totally human error," Smith said, chuckling. "I did it. I own it. I'm hoping it won't happen again."

Smith swore she had set the system to make the calls at 3 p.m., but when she checked it Friday, she discovered her error. "Thankfully, our parents have been awesome about it," she said. "We should see a great turnout for parent-teacher conferences on Tuesday."

MEN, MEN, MEN, MEN: There still are seats left at the annual manly Men's Event, starting at 6 p.m. Monday at The Palm. The event, a benefit for AMC Cancer Research Center, includes a steak-and-lobster dinner, open bar, goodie bags, door prizes, live auction items and a raffle for a two-year lease on a 2009 C-300 from Mercedes-Benz of Westminster. Tickets are $750. Call Ellen Robinson, 303-698-1151.

EAVESDROPPING on a man at Barolo Grill's annual truffle tasting dinner: "I want to be covered in truffles when I'm buried."

Penny Parker's column appears Tuesday through Saturday. Listen to her on the Caplis and Silverman radio show between 4 and 5 p.m. Friday on KHOW-AM (630). Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail parkerp@RockyMountainNews.com.

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