University of Colorado history prof Patricia Limerick, the official “University Fool,” is subbing for Maureen Dowd as a New York Times columnist for two weeks. Dowd is on book leave, Limerick is ready for the job.
She was appointed “University Fool” at her own request in 1988, having held similar positions at Harvard and Yale. As the “Fool,” she tours campus in costume every April 1 telling people to lighten up – something CU-Boulder could use.
“The New York Times asked me to write as a Western historian, not the ‘University Fool,”‘ Limerick said. “I think we’ll keep those roles separate.”
She says she is a little intimidated taking Dowd’s real estate, but notes that she has written a slew of newspaper columns over the years.
I’m no lefty, but I like Dowd. You never know where she’ll stand on an issue. Will Limerick be as unpredictable?
“Oh yes,” she says. “I used to be contemptuous and controversial, and now I’m cooperative and congenial.”
Her first column was Wednesday, but it was not particularly congenial. In it, she agrees with Wallace Stegner that the American West is the “native home of hope.” But she quickly points out that it’s the “second home of tension, conflict, regret, dismay, gloom and bitterness.”
Ouch.
Another mask
Some people mark the passing years by birthdays or New Year’s Eves. Me? I know two years have gone by when I’m back at the Mask Project Gala.
Here it comes again. The mega-funder for the Hospice of Metro Denver is already sending out masks to be painted by celebrities of every ilk – local, national, big names, little names. The party, which fills the Cherry Creek Shopping Center with swells, is April 22, 2006. Are you hyped up yet?
I am seeing the unpainted masks arrive at local media outlets. People are getting to work. Some faces already in: Kingston Trio, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Pamela Hayden (the way-hot actress who is also the voice of Bart Simpson’s friend Milhouse van Houten), Jay Leno, Marin Alsop, Terri Clark, Sara Evans.
Million-dollar movie
The low-budget movie “Throttle” was shot in Denver last year for $1 million, with all the action in a five-level garage in the DTC. They also shot scenes at Flow nightclub and a house in Cherry Creek North. The thriller stars Grayson McCouch (“As the World Turns”) and former Broncos cheerleader Michelle Beisner. You can see it at 3, 5:15 and 7:45 p.m. today at Starz FilmCenter.
City spirit
Donald Trump has been hired to speak at Bixpo 2005, a business expo Sept. 14-15 in Loveland … Sloan Anderson is Miss Cherry Creek in this weekend’s Miss Colorado America pageant in Longmont. She’s a staffer at Elway’s … Chef Michael Wahaltere celebrated his marriage to Sidra Smith with a party at The 9th Door last Sunday, then finished his job there on Saturday. His contract was up, he’s planning on opening his own joint in Boulder … The cast of “Stomp” (whose Buell run ends today) spotted loading up on natural foodstuffs at Wild Oats for its upcoming three-week tour of Mexico … Sez who: “One doesn’t have a sense of humor. It has you.” Larry Gelbart
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Husted also appears on Fox 31 News. You can reach him at 303-820-1486 or at bhusted@denverpost.com.
