It took a while, but it looks like Denver is finally getting the Cow Parade.
The idea is to match up 150 wildly painted, life-sized, fiberglass cows with sponsors and put the bovines all around town. Then the cows are auctioned off to aid local charities. It’s been done in cities all over the world – to great success.
Marketeer Amy Venturi tried to bring the cows to town in 1999. But she couldn’t mooooooove the city into the deal, which was too expensive, officials said. Don’t have a cow, man! Seems the city has signed off this time, so the herd is on its way.
At a press conference Thursday, local organizer Creative Strategies Group will announce plans for the project. The cows will be displayed for eight weeks starting July 22, 2006. They’ll stand in various “pastures” around town, including Cherry Creek North, Cherry Creek Shopping Center, Larimer Square, 16th Street Mall, the Denver Pavilions and Stapleton. Each cow sponsor will be matched with a Colorado artist by the Cherry Creek Arts Festival, one of the groups to benefit from the auction, along with the Denver Foundation, the Children’s Museum and the Denver Zoo.
“We’re very excited about this,” says arts festival board chairman Lisa Herzlich. “It’s going to be an udderly amazing experience for the city.”
EATS
Chef John Broening knows the ups and downs of the restaurant biz. He was praised for his food at Brasserie Rouge – which the owners quickly closed, despite the good reviews and great grub.
He went on to work at Udi’s, a sandwich shop/bakery that never sounded like a great fit. But that’s where he met his girlfriend, Yasmin Lozada-Hissom, which illustrates why God laughs when we make plans.
On Monday, Broening and Lozada-Hissom opened Duo Restaurant at 2413 W. 32nd Ave. The new neighborhood place is owned by
Keith Arnold and Stephanie Bonin; Bonin describes it as an “eclectic, rustic, homey space” serving “familiar food but much better.” Also coming to the neighborhood is Cafe Mondo, a wine bar/coffee house involving the boys from Mondo Vino wine shop. It’ll be at West 34th Avenue and Tejon Street, opening in December. And Frank Bonanno’s Harry’s Chophouse next to Milagro is thisclose to opening.
Pressing matters
The Denver Press Club holds a big meeting Thursday night. An e-mail to members says, “The club’s situation is serious. We need all members to be involved in decisions concerning its future course.”
DPC management committee member Jane Earle writes, “Payroll checks to at least two employees bounced this week and the Club’s financial affairs are in disarray, to say the least.”
City spirit
Three of my favorite Denver women celebrated birthdays last week: Jewelry designer Lisa Olsen, film fest flack Britta Erickson and actress/emcee Michelle Beisner … The Oxford Hotel celebrates its birthday Oct. 25 with a Bayou Magic party to benefit the rebuilding of New Orleans. $100, call 303-893-4260 … Sez who: “Everything has been figured out except how to live.” Jean-Paul Sartre
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.
