Hometown crowd just what I need

Yes, I have interviewed national celebrities including Oprah and Richard Simmons during my many years as a journalist. But nothing thrills me more than to be recognized by our local notables.

So the May 20 cocktail reception for the Jack A. Vickers Invitational Golf Tournament, a benefit for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, was a fame fun fest for me.

I loved reconnecting with Hall-of-Famer Broncos QB John Elway and his buffed wife, Paige, who dished with me about being on Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live” with my favorite talk-show host Andy Cohen.

Paige confessed to following most of the “Housewives” franchises (I am obsessed), and I urged her to add “The Shahs of Sunset” to her playlist.

I also sidled up to former Broncos QB Brian Griese, who doesn’t age, and retired NBA great Chauncey Billups, who asked me where I have been. Really? Don’t ask me what I said because I was overwhelmed that he even knew who I was!

Andrisen-Morton menswear spokesmodel Craig Andrisen started the live auction by commenting on the inclement weather, “This is the first annual Jack Vickers snowball fight. Next year we are going to Vail.”

Billups took a turn at the mic. “Thanks to Mr. Vickers for supporting my neighborhood. Give what you can because it’s going to good people. I remember going to the rec center every day of my life.”

The hearty partiers hit the Castle Pines links the next morning. Bless their frozen selves.

Steuben’s coming to Arvada

Josh Wolkon, the Denver-centric restaurateur who has brought this town Vesta Dipping Grill, Steuben’s and Ace, is branching out to the ‘burbs with a second outpost of Steuben’s in Olde Town Arvada, according to a story on Eater Denver’s website.

Wolkon, who opened the diner/comfort food concept in Uptown nine years ago, said that the reception he received from the Arvada Office of Economic Development encouraged him to venture outside the comfort of Denver’s city limits. That and the fact that he could purchase the real estate in a former Gunther Toody’s space at 7355 Ralston Road.

The Steuben’s sequel will take its culinary direction from chef Brandon Beiderman.

“We see a lot of guests Uptown from the Arvada direction, so the concept is clearly a good fit for the demographic,” Wolkon told Eater Denver. “The Arvada Office of Economic Development has been instrumental in attracting us to Arvada. They have been great to work with and are very proactive throughout this process.”

The new Steuben’s is slated to open late this year. See the whole story at www.denver.eater.com/2015/5/15/8611627/steubens-olde-town-arvada.

Ground broken for Z block

Ground was broken in May for Z Block, on Wazee Street between 18th and 19th streets, a hotel and retail/restaurant project being built by McWhinney, a Colorado-based real estate investment, management and development company.

McWhinney has joined with former Union Station partner Sage Hospitality, together with Newmark Grubb Knight Frank and longtime property owner Grand American, to redevelop Denver’s historic Windsor Dairy Block.

Slated to open in the fall of 2016, Z Block features McWhinney Real Estate Services as the managing partner, Sage Hospitality as the hotel manager and operator, and NKGF as the project’s office and marketing partner.

“Z Block is an outstanding project that will make the entire state proud,” said Chad McWhinney, CEO and co-founder at McWhinney. “By further revitalizing LoDo, Colorado is increasingly attractive to new business, workforce and tourism.”

For additional information, visit www.zblocklodo.com.

‘Price is Right’ – in Denver

Ready to test your shopping savvy?

Tickets went on sale May 22 for “The Price Is Right Live!” at 8 p.m. Oct. 3 in the Bellco Theatre, 700 14th St.

Reserved tickets are $ 39.50 to $ 49.50 plus service charges, and available online at www.axs.com. To charge tickets by phone, call 1-888-929-7849.

Playing to sold out audiences for nearly nine years, “The Price Is Right Live!” has given away more than $ 10 million in cash and prizes and sold more than 1.2 million tickets.

Downtown Denver’s best honored

On May 21, the Downtown Denver Partnership presented seven awards for people, places and businesses driving progress toward an economically healthy and vital downtown at the 54th Annual Downtown Denver Awards Dinner.

Awards were presented to:

Denver Public Library 125th Anniversary

Mile High United Way Morgridge Center for Community Change

Renaissance Denver Downtown City Center Hotel

Emily Griffith Campus and Downtown Denver Expeditionary School

Stout Street Health Center and Renaissance Stout Street Lofts

Regional Transportation District’s Free MetroRide

Denver Union Station

“We are grateful for the opportunity to pause each year to celebrate the excellent achievements that advance us toward our vision of a world-class center city,” said Tami Door, president and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership. “This year’s winners are city builders who have made Denver stronger, and they are instrumental in establishing Downtown as the economic engine that drives the city, state and region.”

The seen

My former colleague Dale Ulland (such a nice guy!), a Denver Post copy editor, recently had a close encounter of the celebrity kind. He posted this on Facebook:

“Oh, you know, was just browsing the shelves at Old Firehouse Books in Fort Collins, and this woman accidentally bumps into me – heck, I almost spilled my Diet Coke. She apologizes profusely, and I recognize her as Dana Perino. I ask how her book, “And the Good News Is …” is doing. She says, ‘Not bad.’ Long story short, we sit down at a nearby table and talk for what seems like an hour, all the while sharing some croissants and OJ. As I get up to leave, she asks, ‘Dale, would you like a signed copy of my New York Times list best-seller?’ I say, ‘Sure!’ (I mean, what else COULD I say?) And then she hands her cellphone to the store manager, who snaps a photo of us. Pretty cool. Celeste (Dale’s wife) and I hope to have her over for chips and salsa soon.”

Overheard

Eavesdropping on one woman to another at Brooklyn Pizza on Leetsdale and Monaco: “I try watching the Kardashians, but I get so mad that I’m not that rich nor that stupid.”

Penny Parker’s “Mile High Life” column gives insights into the best events, restaurants, businesses, parties and people throughout the metro area. Parker also writes for Blacktie-Colorado.com. You can subscribe and read her columns (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) at www.blacktie-colorado.com/pennyparker. She can be reached at parkerp1953@gmail.com or at 303-619-5209.

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