Denver Parks and Rec is getting into the free outdoor summer movie biz.
The 14 movies will be shown on giant inflatable screens in a rotating series of Denver parks. It starts in Montbello Park on June 23, film TBA, and ends in Green Valley Ranch on Aug. 26 with “Shrek 2.” Oink for “Babe” in Wash Park on June 24. Look for movies near you at Harvey Park, Skyline, Four Mile House, Argo Park, Platt Park and others. More deets later this week.
Run Marion Run
Marion Downs is walking the Bolder Boulder today. “Isn’t everybody?” she asks.
Well, not everybody who’s 92-years-old, as is Downs. She’s walking the race with her daughter, two granddaughters, and her 16-year-old great-granddaughter who is running it.
“My daughter and granddaughters think they have to come to support me,” says Downs. “Actually, I walk faster than they do.”
Downs is Denver’s poster child for growing old. She has recently written her advice book on aging: “Shut Up and Live!” She’ll read it and sign it 2-4 p.m. June 10 at The Bookies.
She said she wrote it because she was frustrated by the advice books on aging written by whippersnappers in their 50s and 60s. “They have no idea what it takes to get into the 90s,” she says. “I have all sorts of problems. It’s not easy.”
In one memorable passage, Downs explains what it’s like to get out of bed every morning. She breathes her inhalants (for smoker’s lungs; she quit when she was 55); loosens up her hip bursitis; puts in her partial dentures; puts drops in her drying eyes; does a head maneuver to eliminate dizziness; sticks in her hearing aids; takes her blood pressure medicine plus Alleve and Nexium; does Thera-Band therapy for torn shoulder ligaments; places a Band-Aid on a scruff of skin; checks on sutures from a recent brain tumor surgery; changes bandages on her leg’s skin cancer; stretches and lifts weights; reads The Denver Post – then heads out for two hours of tennis.
Like she says, it ain’t easy.
Cookies
Organizers have gathered some big toques for a Boulder versus Denver Flatiron Chef Cook-off. On June 8, six chefs from each town will enter a battle royal at Omni Interlocken. Competitors will have one hour to make a meal. Let’s just hope there aren’t too many chefs.
The Denver cookers are: Frank Bonanno, Mizuna; Elise Wiggins, Panzano; Rebecca Weitzman, Cafe Star; Timothy Opiel, formerly with Fourth Story; Eric Roeder, ex-Bistro Vendome; and Tyler Wiard, Elway’s.
The Boulder gang: Will Chenworth, Meritage; Hosea Rosenberg, Jax; Corey Buck, John’s; Matt Jensen, Mateo’s; Daniel Cofrades, Trattoria; and Cameron Grant, Laudisio.
City spirit
June 7 is FREE DAY at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science … Video crews are spotted around town following individuals, assumed to be “Real World” cast members. And all over LoDo and downtown video crews are shooting B-roll of bars, nightclubs and restaurants – and a giant white bus parked in front of Rio Grande the other night … Sez who: “I wake up at the crack of ice.” Joe E. Lewis
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Husted also appears Tuesdays and Fridays on “Good Day Colorado” on Fox 31. You can reach him at 303-820-1486 or at bhusted@denverpost.com.
