PARKER: With so much political fodder, Wally the Wonder Dog howling

By Penny Parker, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published October 25, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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The presidential election, the Democratic National Convention in Denver and the shaky stock market have been funny fodder for Tom Edwards, an Evergreen-based political satirist and social commentator who uses pottery as the medium for his message.

Wally the Wonder Dog, Edwards' cartoon spokes-canine, has been finding himself embroiled in politics these days during the election countdown. "He's a little dog that gets along with everybody," Edwards said of his alter ego, which has been with him since 1984.

Wally's world has included commentary on Starbucks, Viagra, anti-depressants, LSD, babies and cats, but Edwards' latest products take on the disastrous stock market, Wall Street CEOs, the Democratic National Convention and Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.

With Palin, he intended to create one cartoon to put on plates, bowls and coffee mugs, but she continues to create so much buzz that he added a second piece to the series.

"Palin is such a rich character that it's easy to come up with something for her," he said. "I could almost see a whole series of her. To tip my hand, I'm not going to vote for her and John McCain, but my consolation prize if they win is I'll be doing jokes and making fun of them for four years."

But don't think the Dems are immune to Edwards' musings. One of his DNC cartoons shows Wally standing next to an empty seat at the Pepsi Center that says, "Reserved for J. Edwards."

The caption says, "Wally gets the last available seat at the Democratic National Convention."

The Wallyware pottery collection is available at wallyware. biz, Mosaic gift shop on Concourse B at DIA, Evergreen Gallery in Evergreen and Earthwood Gallery in Boulder.

MANGIA: Call them crazy for opening a restaurant in these trying economic times, but partners John Richard, who will run the front of the house, and Matthew Franklin, former chef at 240 Union, are opening Farro Italian Restaurant with a target date of Nov. 3 in the old Micceli's Italian Restaurant at County Line Road and Holly.

The northern Italian eatery will open daily at 4 p.m. for dinner.

Richard hasn't owned a restaurant since he bought Starfish in Cherry Creek (now Campo de Fiori) years ago. He sold Starfish and went on to run the front of the house at Ruth's Chris, The Palm and, most recently, Gallagher's.

"I called Matthew to say hello this summer - our wives have worked together as nurses at Children's for years - and he said this place just became available yesterday. I wasn't calling to buy a restaurant, but here we are."

No entree on the menu is more than $15 (for a flatiron steak) and the highest priced bottle of wine is $40. Items on the kids' menu are $6 or less. "We want people to pay for the food, not the china," Richard said.

Look for their Web site farrorestaurant.com to be up and running soon.

RALPHIE ROCKS: Ralphie, CU's female buffalo mascot, will make a guest appearance from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. today at the Blake Street Tavern, 2401 Blake St., during the CU-Missouri football game watch party. The party will spill into the vacant Flying Dog Brewery space next door with a projector screen and seating for an additional 150 folks. Beer specials and free hot dogs, brats, burgers and soft drinks. Donations go to the Ralphie Mascot Fund and the CU Student Athlete Scholarship Program.

THE SEEN: The McCains, John and wife, Cindy, overnighting at the Brown Palace Hotel on Thursday before his campaign appearance at the National Western Arena on Friday.

EAVESDROPPING on a woman talking about the male Calvin Klein underwear models in the Macy's Passport: Fashion Cinema film and fundraiser at the Denver Pavilions: "You've heard of six-pack abs? Those guys have 12-packs!"

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