They used to smoke at Rodney’s in Cherry Creek. Before the statewide smoking ban went into effect on July 1, the subterranean bar/restaurant was a smokers’ den for 21 years. The customers smoked before lunch and dinner, between courses, during courses. The place reminded me of the “brown cafes” in Amsterdam, where years of cigarette smoke have actually turned the joints brown.
I was at Rodney’s the the other night for some prime rib and his famous 1-pound baked potato (loaded), and guess what? The place was jammed. For good reason. Owner Rodney Utz always sold good food for low prices, the wine list is a bargain and the drinks are big and strong. And now it smells like a new can of tennis balls.
“I’m up 100 percent for the same week last year,” said Utz. “Friday night was the biggest Friday night we’ve ever had.”
The stink? He’s been scrubbing the walls with vinegar, ammonia and baking soda and leaving a dozen soup bowls filled with white vinegar out at night. This works so well I might try it at my house.
Kiss me Katie
Katie Couric slips into town today to connect with the people and hype the stature of KCNC-Ch 4, which will air her “CBS Evening News” come Sept. 5.
But she won’t be alone in Denver. Couric is traveling with an eight-person entourage – including her stylist, two producers, the CBS Evening news publicist and her personal publicist.
One person who won’t be here is KCNC-Ch. 4 GM Walt DeHaven, out of town on family biz.
Suri surfaces
This week’s Us magazine asks, “Where’s Suri?” Next week it tells us – the baby girl of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, a.k.a. TomKat, is in Telluride, where Cruise has a house.
In a three-page spread, the fanzine has pics of Katie walking around town, but no pics of the missing kid or Cruise. But some locals told the mag that they’ve seen Suri. A clerk at a natural goods store said the baby is “funny looking.”
Welcome home.
bVote early
President George Bush is due in July 21 at a funder for Republican congressional candidate Rick O’Donnell hosted at the house of Charlie and Diane Gallagher. $1,000 to get in the luncheon, $4,200 to get your picture taken with Bush.
Stephen Stills takes time off from his three CSN&Y Red Rocks concerts to glad-hand for congressional hopeful Ed Perlmutter’s funder Wednesday at the swank offices of Haddon Morgan Mueller Jordan Mackey & Foreman. Tix are $250- $1,000.
And today, Michael Schiavo is here to support congressional hopeful Peggy Lamm at a private Polo Club residence.
City spirit
Look for a five-page loving spread in Food & Wine on Boulder’s The Kitchen … Sightem: Judge Reinhold at Buckhorn Exchange. Asked by manager Angie Norkus to send in an autographed pic for the wall, he said he would and write: “It was the the best yak I ever had.” A funny line from “Seinfeld’s” close-talker … Sez who: “I’m known a little bit for being a nut.” Jerry 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.
