LoDo Annual Meeting, Limelight Awards

Step out for the 20th Annual LoDo District, Inc. Annual Meeting and Limelight Awards on Wed., March10, at the Seawell Ballroom and catered by Epicurean Catering.

Master of Ceremonies Ashton Altieri Meteorologist at 9 News will join LoDo notables, dignitaries and leaders who will be recognized for their achievements throughout 2009. The festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. with dinner following at 7 p.m.

Enjoy live music by Mistura Fina and the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, dancing, delectable food and an array of silent auction items while celebrating the unique historic neighborhood of LoDo.

RSVP by March 1, online at www.lodo.org, info@lodo.org or call 303-628-5428. See ad this page.

Mardi Gras Benefit for SafeHouse Denver

Join us again this year for the fourth annual, Mile High Mardi Gras event to benefit SafeHouse Denver and the Puksta Foundation on Fri., Feb. 19, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Parkside Mansion. Guests will enjoy complimentary libations, delicious Cajun food and a live DJ. Grab your mask and your friends for a night that’s not to be missed.

SafeHouse Denver’s mission is to assist women, children and youth in reclaiming their right to a life free of domestic violence. The mission of the Puksta Foundation is to provide the opportunity for freeing Colorado students to pursue a college education and to develop a commitment to citizenship, leadership and civic engagement.

For more information and tickets, visit www.blacktie-colorado.com/rsvp and enter code: MardiGras2010.

2 for 1 Ticket Bargains

Denver 2 for 1 Tix has great bargain prices and discounts for cultural and entertainment attractions on a weekly basis. The offers are sent out via a weekly email and contain offers from between four and eight cultural and entertainment attractions.

The offers change from week to week, with the email going out on Wednesdays and offers valid Thursday through the following Wednesday

For more information, visit www.Denver365.com.

Toad Tavern February Concerts

Fri. Feb. 12, Country/Rock, Tequila Mockingbird’s CD release party, Melanie Susuras Band, Zeut, Holly Hathaway Band, 7:30 p.m., $10.

Sat. Feb 13, Hip Hop, Broken Tongues, Audible Abilities, S.T.O.I.C., Made Fresh Daily, Take Over Kings, Sick Illutions,, 8 p.m., $5, $3 w/ticket.

Sun. Feb 14, Rock, Valentines Day, Family Night, with: J.C. & The Water Walkers, 6-8 p.m., $5, all ages.

Thurs. Feb 18, Hip Hop, Hypnautic Presents:, Best of Denver’s Hip-Hop Showcase, 8 p.m., $5.

Fri. Feb 19, Rock, Filthy Children & Opie Gone Bad, with Square 1, 7:30 p.m., $7, $5 w/ticket.

Sat. Feb 20, Acoustic Rock, Ryan Long, Mark Wagner, Jake Ousley, 4 p.m. matinee show, $10.

Sat. Feb 20, Acoustic Rock, Super-Seed, Matt Nasi Band and special guests, 8 p.m., $5, $3 w/ticket, Sun. Feb 21st - Variety, Family Night with The Sock Hop Band, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., $5.

Wed. Feb 24, Acoustic Rock, Sarah Bettens (of K’s Choice), with: Clayton Senne and special guests, 7 p.m., $17, $20, day of show.

Thurs. Feb 25, Adult Rock, Sharla Jackson Band, Old Dogs with New Tricks, Revolution, Scott Saunders, 7 p.m., $3.

Fri. Feb 26, Rock, The Best Response & No Bueno, with: At The Forefront, Eudea, Alive In Stereo, 8 p.m., $6, $4 w/ ticket.

Sun. Feb. 28, Blues, Toad Tavern Blues Fest, Featuring: The Delta Sonics and Paul Soderman & Bluezhouse, with: Reckless Red, Teresa Lynne Band and Roadhouse Joe, 4 p.m. show $8, $10, day of show.

Tickets available at ticketswest.com or King Soopers.

Born Broken: Eugene O’Neill at DPL

Fresh City Life hosts this panel discussion that brings together local artists, actors and theatre academics to discuss one of the greatest American playwrights, Eugene O’Neill.

Company members from Paragon Theatre and Buntport Theatre will also be on hand to talk about their upcoming productions. Paragon will be reviving Long Day’s Journey Into Night while Buntport launches The World is Mine, an original production that takes place inside the mind of O’Neill.

The Life and Works of Eugene O’Neill Born Broken: The Life and Works of Eugene O’Neill Mon., Feb. 22, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Central Library, Level B2 Conference Center.

For more information, contact the Denver Public Library.

Honor Stars at Tourism Hall of Fame Dinner

Denver’s second largest industry will honor some of the top Tourism Stars at the Tourism Industry Hall of Fame dinner March 4, in the Grand Hyatt Denver.

Tourism Star awards are presented to organizations and attractions that had a significant impact on Denver’s tourism industry during the preceding year. Award-recipients for 2009 are Sportaccord, the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 30th Annual Convention & Business Expo and the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), which in 2009 celebrated its 20th anniversary.

“Last year was a great year for Denver’s tourism industry with two prestigious events that each in their own way helped elevate Denver’s national and international reputation,” states Richard Scharf, president & CEO of Visit Denver, The Convention & Visitors Bureau. “In addition, SCFD has a 20 year tradition of helping more than 300 cultural organizations. We are honoring each of these three organizations for their great contributions to the city’s image.”

In addition to the “Tourism Star” awards, three people will be inducted into the Tourism Hall of Fame: Pat Bowlen, president & CEO of the Denver Broncos; Curtis Fentress, president and principal-in-charge of design, Fentress Architects, and Walter Isenberg, president & CEO of Sage Hospitality.

The Tourism Hall of Fame serves as the highest award for Denver’s travel industry, which registered its best year ever in 2008 with 12.2 million overnight visitors generating more than $3.1 billion in spending. The industry supports more than 65,000 jobs in the metro area.

The gala is a fund-raising event for the Visit Denver Foundation, which has given out more than $239,000 in scholarships to Colorado students pursuing higher education in the fields of tourism and hospitality.

For more information and tickets, contact 303-571-9405 or smazone@
visitdenver.com.

Luscious Gift Ideas on Larimer Square

The shops on Larimer Square have great Valentine’s Day gift ideas for your loved one. Think martini glasses, robes, jewelry and designer shoes. Pink Sale Women’s clothing boutique Eve is having a Valentine’s Day Pink Sale.

All items in the store that have pink in it (or a color close to pink) qualify for a 30 percent discount. From lingerie, to jewelry, dresses and belts, Pink is the new everything at Eve. Sale ends Feb. 14.

Mariel will transform into a wonderland this month with designs from an upcoming movie inspired by Alice in Wonderland. The high-end women’s boutique will soon be carrying a few designs and hats featured in the upcoming Tim Burton film Alice in Wonderful (March 5 release date).

Tune in on Tuesday, Feb. 9 to 9News at 10 a.m. to see these colors come to life on Colorado & Company.

Element is embracing romance this month by offering discounts, romantic original art pieces and a Valentine’s jewelry trunk show on Thurs., Feb. 11.

Meanwhile, Capital Grille unveils its specialty Comfort Food Menu for a limited time. Your best-loved dishes from decades past are getting a gourmet makeover.

Also, why not join Bistro Vendome every Thursday evening until April 15, for its Classic French Rotation, serving a specialty French entree each week, including Coq au Vin and Boeuf Bourguignon.

For more information, contact Larimer Square.

Tastefully Simple Twist on Food Drive

Tastefully Simple consultants from across the state are donating protein-rich food items to local food shelves. Due to the high cost of protein-rich food, struggling families and food banks alike are finding it difficult to obtain enough of this vital nutrient.

On Feb. 12, hundreds of Tastefully Simple consultants will donate protein-rich food items to the Food Bank of the Rockies. The items will be collected throughout the day at the Inverness Hotel and Conference Center and then sorted, bagged and distributed to the Food Bank of the Rockies between 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.

As a crucial part of a healthy diet, protein consumption is necessary for healthy bones, teeth, blood cells and skin. Protein deficiency can negatively affect brain function, immunity and overall health.

Tastefully Simple is proud to partner with Share Our Strength, the leading national organization working to end childhood hunger in America, that helped identify the need for protein donations. The efforts within Colorado are part of a larger national effort to collect 100,000 ounces of protein and donate it to food shelves around the country.

According to Share Our Strength, 12.4 million children were at risk of hunger in 2008. In 2009, nearly 17 million kids in America suffered from hunger, an alarming increase.

“It is appalling to think that there are so many children that don’t know when or where their next meal will come from. With over 28,000 consultants in communities all across America, we have the capacity and resources to do something that will make a difference in the lives of many,” said LaTresse Snead, Tastefully Simple’s community relations team lead.

For more information, visit tastefullysimple.com and strength.org.

OpenAir Film Festival at Civic Center

Denver’s Civic Center has the opportunity to be home this summer to the U.S. debut of the internationally-acclaimed OpenAir Festival of Film, a one-of-a-kind outdoor cinematic experience featuring local food, beverages and first-run movies against the iconic backdrop of the Colorado State Capitol and Denver’s skyline.

The month-long event utilizes less than 10 percent of Civic Center park, and event organizers will pay for any wear-and-tear, including sod replacement. Fourteen-hundred (1,400) tickets will be available each night, a fraction of the attendance at Civic Center’s large annual festivals. During the day, the giant high-tech screen will lie flat so as not to obstruct any views.

The Denver Post recently named OpenAir one of the top five cultural attractions of 2010, just one example of the incredible buzz this event is generating throughout the region.

The Downtown Denver Partnership’s Position Denver City Council will soon be deciding whether to approve or reject this incredible opportunity for both Civic Center and Metro Denver. As advocates for increased usage and activation of Civic Center Park, the Downtown Denver Partnership is a strong supporter of this festival.

The Partnership also recognizes the ability of OpenAir to help generate much-needed revenues for the City and specifically its parks. The Partnership is planning to voice its support of OpenAir at tonight’s City Council hearing. What can you do?

E-mail City Council to encourage them to support the OpenAir contract allowing movies in Civic Center.

For more information, contact info@downtowndenver.com or 303-861-4633.

Mandolin Orchestra at Wynkoop

Join the Wynkoop Brewery and the Mandolin Orchestra as they transform our turn-of-the-century mercantile showroom into a symphony hall for as many as 20 mandolins once a month and every month throughout the year.

For more information, contact the Wynkoop Brewery.

Women’s Bean Project Needs Volunteers

On Saturday, Mar. 6 , 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., we need four volunteers. We are looking for volunteers for our table at Camp Experience’s Mini-Camp.

Camp Experience will be raising money and awareness for the Bean Project all year long, so please check them out and consider attending Mini-Camp or their 3 day camp at Copper Mountain this coming September. Responsibilities include: Pick up Women’s Bean Project products on Mar. 4 or 5, set-up our table at the Ritz Carlton, sell products and bring it all back to the Bean the next week. Great for a small group.

On Saturday, April 17, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1 p.m.to 4 p.m. four volunteers are needed for each shift. Women’s Bean Project was selected as a site for Doors Open Denver. We’ll be opening our doors to the public this Saturday for tours of Firehouse #10 and the opportunity to purchase products. You’ll be assigned to help out as a tour guide, greeter or other help as needed.

Tuesday, April 27, 11:30 a.m. to 1p.m. unlimited volunteers are needed to be passionate, enthusiastic table captains for our annual graduation celebration and fundraising luncheon. This a great opportunity for those interested in making a longer-term commitment than a one-time event.

For more information, contact Diana Lachiondo at the Women’s Bean Project.

Transform Downtown into Creative Capital?

With Governor Ritter’s recent press conference regarding tax cuts, business incentives and greater access to capital for the creative industry sector, members of the Partnership are asking each other: What would it take to make Downtown the Creative Capital of the West?

We already know this is an attractive job sector. In addition to arts related retail-art galleries, music and bookstores, Denver’s largest employment categories within the creative sector include architects, editors and graphic designers. Colorado’s roughly 186,000 creative sector jobs are among the fastest growing in the state, making it the fifth largest economic sector. In addition to providing jobs and additional tax revenues, these jobs are often the cornerstone of tourism and community revitalization.

Take Jiberish, a new hip hop apparel store specializing in artist-designed ski and snowboarding gear sold at 43 retailers and in 16 countries. Last month they opened their first Downtown Denver location, with a $15,000 boost from the City’s Create Denver Revolving Loan Fund. Roughly $200,000 has been distributed to 16 other local, creative businesses through this fund, which is a joint program of the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs (DOCA) and Denver Office of Economic Development (DOED).

Jiberish is a shining example of the type of retail destination that makes Downtown Denver unique, while creating jobs and tax revenue that bolster our local economy.

“The Downtown Area Plan gave us a simple directive to encourage the growth of existing arts-oriented retail uses, while creating an environment for more diverse and distinctive businesses,” said Tami Door, President & CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership. “This will make us not only a more economically healthy city, but a more interesting city as well.”

Tami Door (DDP), Andre Pettigrew (City Office of Economic Development), City Councilwoman Judy Montero and Mayor Hickenlooper stand with Jiberish store owners at their ribbon cutting event.

What can WE do in Downtown Denver to make sure creative businesses thrive?

Post your available space: Creatives are utilizing DOCA’s free, online Creative Space Agent tool. Designed to advertise available space to Denver’s space-starved creative community, property owners and brokers post space, for creatives in need of performance, rehearsal, studio, business and live/work space that meets their unique needs. If you know of an under-utilized space in Downtown, we encourage you to consider listing it for consideration.

Participate in Create Denver Week: From Apr. 10 through 17, the city will seek to validate the claim that Denver is the Creative Capital of the Rocky Mountain West. Create Denver Week will kick-off with the 5th Annual Create Denver Expo on Saturday, April 10, and will showcase Denver’s creative community, including individuals, associations, organizations and businesses in this sector. There is not cost to attend, and sponsorships are available. Learn more here, or sign up to receive the Create Denver eBulletin.

Support the Downtown Denver Leadership Program The Partnership’s 2010 Downtown Denver Leadership Program is partnering with DOCA and the Create Denver Advisory Council to investigate precisely what the growth of the creative class means to Downtown Denver, and how creative industries can contribute to the economic and social success of Downtown. A final presentation will be delivered in November 2010 to Partnership members, but watch for updates in the interim!

Explore our local creative firms The next time you need to hire creative talent such as advertising agencies, architects, graphic designers, etc., consider hiring from within our local talent pool. Denver has a phenomenal offering, and we want to encourage growth in this sector.

For more information, download the Denver Gallery Guide online.

WordNerds Wednesdays

Fresh City Life (DPL) is partnering with Novo Coffee, Mad Greens and Mad Wine Bar to bring word nerds, bibliophiles and grammar freaks together once a month to test their skill, learn new small words and find like-minded community.

Prizes are gift certificates donated by Novo Coffee, Mad Greens and Mad Wine Bar. Upcoming WordNerds are Wed. Feb. 24, and Mar. 31, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Novo Coffee, 1200 Acoma, across from the Denver Art Museum Hamilton Building.

For more information, contact the Denver Public Library.

LoDo District’s Annual Meeting and Limelight Awards

By Ellen Wilensky

The gatherings began 20 years ago as modest yet lively affairs in bars, restaurants, conference rooms, lofts and various LoDo venues. For two decades, the citizens of the Lower Downtown Denver Historic District have been meeting annually to celebrate the community and to recognize leaders and businesses that contribute to the amazing quality of life that LoDo offers. As the neighborhood flourished the annual meetings grew bigger and better. More and more members attended the events that included speakers, roasts, music and even last year’s comedian. But over time one thing hasn’t changed— the main attraction has always been the opportunity to mingle with neighbors and friends, old and new, who all share a connection to Denver’s premier historic district.

So it seems to LoDo District that after all this time, a real party is in order; a party that features great food, music, dancing and socializing. No lengthy speeches, no data or statistics, no business (but for the election of our board) just an opportunity to honor outstanding achievements during 2009, enjoy a spectacular silent auction, and have fun in the gorgeous Seawell Ballroom.

On March 10, the tradition continues. Our celebration of 20 years of neighborhood stewardship and a community of the brightest, most creative and forward thinking history lovers in the city is sponsored by the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, Mercury LDO Reprographics, Seawell Grand Ballroom and Epicurian Culinary Group.

The evening begins at 5:30 PM with a cocktail reception and silent auction followed by dinner at 7:00 PM, then mingling and dancing. Enjoy the music of the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra and Mistura Fina. Several seating and table options are available, including Sponsor Tables, Patron Tables and individual tickets. To ensure the best seating, LoDo recognition and upgraded wines, purchase a Sponsor Table. This event, the proceeds of which support the activities of the LoDo District, Inc., often sells out, so be sure to RSVP no later than March 1 at info@lodo.org, 303-628-5428, or purchase tickets online at www.lodo.org. We hope to see you in the limelight!