Founder Mickey Ackerman says the upcoming Mask Project will not be its swan song.
“Let me promise you, this is not the last Mask Project,” he says. “It’s just getting bigger and better. These rumors are nonsense.”
Ackerman brought the Mask Project to Denver 10 years ago — and since then the five biennial parties have raised $3 million for Denver Hospice. The sixth gala comes down May 30 at the Cherry Creek Shopping Center, where the masks will be on display starting May 5.
The rumors, Ackerman says, surface every year. I’d recently heard the project was heading into the sunset because it was too cumbersome, time- consuming and expensive. And its driving force from the beginning, Lisa Herzlich, has moved to Los Angeles. But Ackerman says it will go on.
It certainly looks healthy this year. A visit to the offices of Denver Hospice revealed masks everywhere — some famous, some fun — and some with premiums.
Yoko Ono’s mask comes with a night at the Beatles Suite in the Brown Palace. Comedian/vet Kevin Fitzgerald’s mask comes with a stand-up routine at a party in your house. Chefs Tyler Wiard (Elway’s) and Steve Vice (McCormick’s) will each cook dinner and bring the wine for a party for 10 in your house.
Mark Berzins at Little Pub Company offers a mask and a pub crawl: One round of drinks for eight people at all of his bars: Spot, Irish Hound, Three Dogs Tavern, The Elm, Don’s Club Tavern, Wyman’s and Patrick Carol’s. Huh boy.
Other masks that caught the eye (or are in the mail): Barack Obama, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Mitt Romney, John McCain, President George W. Bush, Blue Man Group, Simon/Paula/Randy, Miley Cyrus, Andrea Bocelli (who’ll sign his mask at the Grammys Sunday night), Harry Connick Jr., Toby Keith, Eddie Murphy, Jenna Bush, Patti LaBelle. Check it out at .
Willie Boy is here.
Looks like Willie Nelson will kick off the entertainment at the Democratic National Convention. Bigtime Dems tell me he’ll perform opening night, Aug. 25, at Invesco Field. Gotta think he’s part of a big lineup.
Nelson has some history with the donkeys. He performed at the 2004 DNC in Boston on closing day.
Opera notes.
Opera Colorado’s Wild West production of “Don Pasquale” opened Friday night and plays a matinee Sunday. But did you know that Kevin Glavin (Don Pasquale) owns a bar in Pittsburgh and smokes cigars?
City spirit.
At Tuesday’s caucuses, Woody Creek Dems appointed the late Hunter S. Thompson an alternate delegate for Obama . . . Sparrow at 410 E. 7th Av. is shuttered with “FOR LEASE” signs on the doors and windows . . . There’s an Anti-Valentine’s Day Karaoke Party at Cherry Cricket . . . Sez who: “I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where / I love you simply, without problems or pride.” Pablo Neruda
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@ . Take a peek at Husted’s next column at blogs.denverpost. com/husted.
