Maggie Ireland is our new Miss Colorado. She’s also the sister of Patrick Ireland, a survivor of the Columbine school shootings. He’s the injured kid getting rescued from a second-story window in one of the iconic pictures of the tragedy.
A picture of Maggie is easier to look at than that picture of Patrick – but he’s doing well, she tells me. He’s been married for two years; he’s working in finance. And he’s the inspiration for Ireland’s platform – Opening the Door to Optimism.
“Optimism is the key to life,” she says, all 5 feet, 11 inches of her. “Waking up with a positive attitude – or changing your attitude through a life-changing event.”
Ireland’s talent is Irish step dancing – we hope to see that on the Miss America broadcast, Jan. 26 from Las Vegas.
She says pageants aren’t for dummies.
“Pageants are more misunderstood than out-of-date,” she says. “These are intelligent and driven young women.”
Especially in their bathing suits.
We’ll be rooting for Ireland. And we’ll talk to Colorado’s Hilary Cruz, Miss Teen USA, in an exclusive interview Sunday.
Party up!
What’s the hot new place to have a party? In an airplane hangar. Not the lumbering giant at Lowry. I’m talking high-end, private-jet, spanking-clean hangars.
The Oct. 5 launch party of the new glossy magazine Shine comes down at the XJet hangar at Centennial. You can eat off the floor and feel rich.
And the Sept. 22 Platinum Ball comes down at Rotors of the Rockies, a helicopter operation at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport. Partygoers will swill and dance surrounded by whirlybirds, Learjets and limos. And Rotors will take people on short flights over the city during the invite-only fete.
The hosts for the upcoming Platinum Ball include Matt Carns, Kenton Kuhn, Skye Forrest, Marc Scoggs and Regina Fyola. Call Kevin Larson for more deets: 720-936-2999.
Taylor-made
Great news for theatergoers. Kevin Taylor is set to open Limelight Supper Club and Lounge in the space that held the Theatre Cafe in the Galleria of the DCPA.
This brings to seven his Colorado restaurant empire: Kevin Taylor, Kevin Taylor Opera House, Prima Denver, Prima Boulder, Palettes and Rouge at the Teller House in Central City.
He opens Limelight in a partnership with Centerplate and Theatres and Arenas.
Limelight will have a formal dining room on the left side (lotsa steaks, entrees $18-$30) and a tavern/ lounge/bar on the right (think Kobe burgers, truffle fries, asparagus with béarnaise, $8-$12). It’ll be open Tuesday-Sunday nights, for brunch/lunch Saturdays and Sundays.
City spirit
PBS Travel guy Rick Steves headlines the 2007-08 Town Hall Lecture Series (he’s here Feb. 27); call Jean Hodges 303-698-0230. … Former President Clinton speaks to the Aurora Economic Development Council A-List Luncheon on Sept. 17. … Sez who: “I just bought a new house. It has no plumbing. It’s uncanny.” Morey Amsterdam
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 .
