HBO’s U.S. Comedy Arts Festival is coming home to Aspen for the 13th year, Feb. 28-March 4.
The insult humor of Don Rickles will be one of the fest’s highlights when the old-timer (whose act is pretty old) gets the USCAF Pinnacle Award. They’ll also screen a rough cut of a John Landis doc based on Rickles’ career, “The Rickles Project,” with a Q&A with Rickles and Landis following.
Also in the lineup: A salute to the cast and creators of “Entourage” with Kevin Connolly, Adrian Grenier, Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrara and Jeremy Piven. I’m ready to party with E, Vince, Drama, Turtle and Ari.
Doing stand-up at the Wheeler Opera House: George Carlin, Steven Wright and rapper/comic Katt Williams.
Talking the talk on blogging will be Mark Lisanti (defamer.com), Harvey Levin (TMZ.com) and Jessica Coen (formerly gawker.com, now at vanityfair.com).
Tix at uscaf.com, $125-$650.
Comedy fest CEO Bob Crestani notes that this is just the first announcement – more big names and events are upcoming. “We think we have a great blending this year. We have 20 stand-ups from all over the world. Aspen has always been about discovery.”
Two Pecs?
El Chapultepec, long regarded as Denver’s quintessential funky, jazz-driven LoDo dive – is set to open El Chapultepec Too bordering the trendy Highlands neighborhood. The grand opening at 3930 W. 38th Ave. is Jan. 19.
Anna Krantz, daughter of Pec owners Jerry and Alice Krantz, says the family wanted a second location that would have more parking, more seating and “less congestion and rowdiness.”
Wait a minute: They want less congestion and rowdiness? That’s what the Pec is all about! “We wanted to do some more jazz,” she says. “And the new place (where the Blue Corn Lounge was) has more room and gorgeous new bathrooms.”
The original Pec is still in business and plans to stay that way, Anna says.
Foxy lady
Colorado actress Pam Grier tells New York magazine this week that she likes living here instead of Hollywood. “I can live here and be happy. I don’t have to live out there and be rejected all day long.”
The “Foxy Brown” actress is always working, though – most recently on “The L Word.” But she says she’s done making waves. “The one thing you don’t do is that you don’t go out there and preach and upset people and make them feel uncomfortable.”
Humm. Then how come she’s also quoted in the same article, saying, “They didn’t hit the New York Trade Center, they hit the World Trade Center. They attacked the world, saying, ‘Please – leave us alone.”‘
City spirit
The best food in Aspen is at Montagna at the Little Nell Hotel, according to national critic John Mariani’s Virtual Gourmet newsletter … Man-about-town Josh Hanfling is now a partner in Campo de Fiori in Cherry Creek – we can all celebrate Jan. 24 … Early Red Rocks dates include Celtic Woman, May 23; Big Head Todd, June 9 … Sez who: “All right, I think we’ve heard just about enough from Mr. Newspaper today.” Homer Simpson
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Husted also appears Tuesdays and Fridays on “Good Day Colorado” on Fox 31. You can reach him at 303-954-1486 or bhusted@denverpost.com. Take a peek at Husted’s next column at denverpostbloghouse.com/husted.
