Sinbad is back in Denver June 1 for the opening night of the new Soiled Dove Underground at Lowry. It’s a $50-a-head benefit for Community Reach Center – and Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly is the opening act.
“I’m not hip to Rick,” said Sinbad on the phone from Dallas.
Well, I explained, Reilly is a writer, and a funny one at that, but this will be his first time doing stand-up.
That was fine with Sinbad.
Gigs in Colorado are a kind of homecoming for the comic. He played basketball for the University of Denver 1974-78.
“But I saw more of Denver when I became a comic,” he said. “When I was in college nobody had a car, so we didn’t get around much. We had to take buses everywhere.”
“Star Search” discovered Sinbad in the mid ’80s and jump-
started his career. Now he’s on the road doing 200-plus dates a year. He’s a good pick for the benefit – one of those comics who’s funny and clean.
As for Reilly, who knows what to expect. He told me a while ago, “I always wanted to try stand-up. This should be the end of another dream.”
Spell this
Get ready to root for the homies when the 2006 Scripps National Spelling Bee airs on KMGH-Ch. 7 at 7-9 p.m. Thursday. Repping Colorado are Maithreyi Gopalakrishnan from Boulder and Kayla M. Hudson from Denver.
We have a proud history at the bee, winning seven national championships since 1925.
The winners and their words: 1957, Dana Bennett, schappe; 1959, Joel Montgomery, catamaran; 1979, Katie Kerwin, maculature; 1980, Jacques Bailly, elucubrate; 1982, Molly Dieveney, psoriasis; 1989, Scott Isaacs, spoliator; 2002, Pratyush Buddiga, prospicience. Piece of cake.
Passages
An unlikely grouping of birthdays came down this month: Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains turned 90; the downtown YMCA turned 100; the Donkey Den bar turned 1.
Sleeper
Denver Realtor Rollie Jordan is just back from the gala reopening of the $18 million Le Cirque restaurant in NYC. Woody Allen was in the bold-
name crowd, and she asked him if he remembered the house where he made “Sleeper,” a.k.a. the Sculptured House which Jordan has listed. Yes, Allen said, and how was the architect, Charles Deaton? Er, he passed away, said Jordan.
City spirit
George Mahaffey received raves at The Little Nell and Conundrum, now he’s the exec chef at the Hotel Jerome …”CBS Early Show” is broadcasting from Denver July 14, deets to follow … People visiting Vail for Memorial Day weekend were disappointed to find Sweet Basil closed for “an extensive remodel,” reopening in mid June … The Aspen Writers’ Foundation brings to town June 24-29 Denise Chavez, Tony Hillerman, William Kittredge, N. Scott Momaday, Stewart Udall … Tuesday night Concerts at the Crescent at Belleview and DTC Boulevard start June 6 with Chase N The Dream, Chris Daniels and the Kings there June 13 … Sez who: “If you look good and dress well, you don’t need a purpose in life.” Robert Pante
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.
