Paul Newman usually slips in and out of the Grand Prix of Denver like Butch Cassidy on the lam. But this weekend, he stuck around – to watch his team (Newman/Hass) race, play with the drivers and mix it up at a cocktail party.
He flew into town Thursday and rented a dirt track in the ‘burbs to stir up some dust with his drivers.
On Friday night, Newman went to the Gatsby-esque Cherry Hills mansion of Bob and Julie Sutton for the Grand Prix’s grandest party. Bob is chief executive of Centrix Financial, owner of Grand Prix of Denver – and an old pal of Newman from the Baja 1000.
“He’s doing a great job promoting this race,” Newman told me. “But I just say that because I’m in his house.”
Newman said he liked the Denver racetrack. “Nice,” he said. “Wide. And that was some race last year.”
Indeed. His driver Sebastien Bourdais came from behind and won – a feat Newman described with considerable excitement.
Looking over half-moon glasses as he sipped a Fat Tire beer, Newman talked to the glitzy gang and took the time to sign a mask for Lisa Herzlich and her Mask Project. He also took a mask kit home for his wife, Joanne Woodward.
This was Herzlich’s weekend goal – and she got the checkered flag.
Movable feast
A little rain didn’t stop 30 people from marching to five restaurants in Cherry Creek last week. It was the Gabby Gourmet’s First Progressive Dinner – and people are still talking about it and still stuffed.
It started at Fourth Story with mushroom strudel and champagne. On to Piatti for ensalada caprese and white wine. Then Amore for risotto and red wine.
Mel’s stepped up with grilled wild salmon atop paprika mashed potatoes; mussels and fennel slaw; and gazpacho.
The crew then had to stagger across East First Avenue to Elway’s. GM Tom Moxcey was out playing crossing guard with an umbrella. Then he served the assembled Ding Dongs, chocolate brownies à la mode, raspberry cheesecake, cones filled with tiramisu and crème brûlée, and homemade s’mores – all washed down with port.
It was such a hit, the Gabb plans to take the movable feast to other neighborhoods, like Sixth Avenue and LoDo.
Mountain men
Ran into author Annie Proulx, an occasional LoDo resident, in Dixon’s recently with painter William Matthews. She said she had not yet seen the movie of her short story “Brokeback Mountain.” The edgy homoerotic Wyoming tale stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger and Randy Quaid and is directed by Ang Lee with a screenplay by Larry McMurtry. That’s some lineup. It’s out in December, already with Oscar buzz.
City spirit
Lance Armstrong is in town Wednesday for the grand opening celebration of 24 Hour Fitness at 7600 E. Academy Blvd. … In my travels lately, I noted two great town mottos: “Boulder: Close in … but still far out!” and “Downtown Cheyenne: People – Places – Parking” … Evergreen band Hanna-McEuen, sons of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band founders Jeff Hanna and John McEuen, are on with Leno on Thursday night, then on stage at the Taste of Colorado on Sept. 5. … Sez who: “The computer is down. Let’s hope it’s something serious.” Stanton Delaplane
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 bhusted@denverpost.com.
