Scooter culture is strong in Denver – seems more and more of the putt-putts are zooming around town. And on the cover of September’s Dealernews (the industry ‘zine) you can see Erico Motorsports owners John and Tai Beldock scooting through downtown Denver, outside the Brown Palace. He’s in a tuxedo, she’s in a cocktail dress. The headline: “High Society: John and Tai Beldock Court the Unconventional Customer.” That means Denver swells.
The shot should make them the toast of the national dealer conference next month – but they’re not going to be there. And they don’t care. They’ll be leading a scooter tour through Tuscany.
A group of 14 Colorado customers joins the Beldocks in an eight-day trip through the Tuscan hills, on Vespas. They’ll be using my favorite town, San Gimignano, as a base. A tour like this has been talked about in Denver for a decade, but finally it’s going to happen.
Vrrroooommm.
The perfect storm
At 3:30 Sunday afternoon, you had the Broncos playing at Invesco Field, the Dalai Lama speaking at the Pepsi Center and Oktoberfest coming down on Larimer Square. Violence, peace and debauchery in lederhosen. The Denver Triangle.
Hizzoner Hickenlooper introduced His Holiness thusly: “There are a lot of hard things you have to do as mayor. This is not one of them. This is really cool.”
His Holiness draped Hick in a white scarf, a blessing. So he’s got that going for him, which is nice.
The heart of rock ‘n’ roll
The prize auction item at Saturday night’s Children’s Hospital Gala was the opportunity to sing with Huey Lewis on stage. Two people wound up paying $15,000 for someone else to warble. Ben Doud anted up to have his buddy Jack Overstreet sing. Michael Whalen paid the 15 large to get his daughter Kelsey Whalen on stage. The gala raised $2.3 million.
Lights out
Twenty-eight thousand conventioneers in town last week made for some busy downtown restaurants – but Saturday was a tough one for the guys at Vesta Dipping Grill and 9th Door. Both restaurants were totally booked with hundreds expected for dinner – when the power to the kitchens went out at 5 p.m. It didn’t return until after 11 p.m. – so all business was lost for the night. Big bummer.
City spirit
Rekha, the piano woman/singer who plays Elway’s, Mel’s and various hot spots in town, is out with a CD titled: “I Miss Everything but You.” She wrote all the songs, which include “Save Me,” “No More Tears” and “Love Has Forgotten My Name.” How ’bout a chorus of “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” … Larimer Square and 5280 host a fashion show Sept. 28 at Mile High Station called Scene Stealers – a benefit for the Denver Film Society. Go to larimersquare.com … First lady Frances Owens and Lt. Gov. Jane Norton welcome the first lady of El Salvador, Ana Ligia Mixco Sol de Saca, Sept. 25 at a luncheon at the Adam’s Mark for Project C.U.R.E. … Sez who: “There isn’t anyone who doesn’t appreciate kindness and compassion.” Dalai Lama
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 303-954-1486 or at bhusted@denverpost.com.
