The Wynkoop Brewing Co. on Saturday crowns the 2008 Beerdrinker of the Yearan honor bestowed annually on the person who best represents the love of beer and all the good things that attend it.
Richard Pedretti-Allen drinks from McKinney, Texas, and says, “Beer is made for sharing.”
J. Mark Angelus drinks from Nehalem, Ore., and says, “I share the history of beer as the foundation of civilization with whoever will listen.”
He sure sounds like fun.
Matt Venzke drinks from Yorktown, Va., and says, “I’m consumed with visiting as many breweries as I can.”
Many are called, few are chosen.
Last year’s winner, Diane Catanzaro, says the experience has been mind-blowing. “I’ve had the opportunity to talk about beer on television and satellite radio, have my own beer brewed at the Wynkoop and was offered free beer for life. . . . I was invited to be Beer Queen at a beer carnival and led the parade on a golden throne toted by half-clad gypsies. Beerdrinker of the Year has helped me to dream big and realize that with beer, all things are possible!”
Honey, I wrote the book
Essence magazine gives a big shout out this month to Carleen Brice. Her first novel has been picked by the mag’s book club as its recommended read. “Carleen Brice’s ‘Orange, Mint and Honey,’ a new novel about real-mama drama, will have you hooked from Page One,” touts the mag.
The story is set in Denver, with visits to the Mercury Cafe, Blackberries Ice Cream and Coffee, Tattered Cover Colfax and City Park. Characters talk about local jazz chanteuse Dianne Reeves, but only the ghost of Nina Simone makes an appearance.
Brice will be at the Tattered Cover Colfax at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26, and at West Side Books at 7:30 p.m. March 8.
Meet me in Denver
August is a big month for conventions in Denver. The International Association of Fire Chiefs comes in with 15,000 the week before the Democratic National Convention. The Dems will bring in 35,000 Aug. 25-28. The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association invades with 30,000 the week after. That’s 80,000 in three weeks.
City spirit
Sightems: “The West Wing’s” Bradley Whitford at the final performance of “Our House” on Saturday night at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Seems his niece, Molly Ward, had a lead in the show. Earlier in the run, Whitford’s wife and Ward’s aunt, Jane Kaczmarek, caught the show. . . . Channel 9’s Cheryl Preheim had a baby boy, Joshua, her second, the morning team announced Saturday. . . . John Elway and posse having dinner at Jing on Saturday night. . . . About 2,000 are expected at Project CURE’s March 5 luncheon for Margarita Zavala, the first lady of Mexico, with a VIP reception the night before at Steve and Neyeska Mut’s Cherry Hill’s manse. . . . Sez who: “There must be more to life than having everything.” Maurice Sendak
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 at bhusted @denverpost.com. Take a peek at Husted’s next column at .
