In Denver, it was the weekend that was. The city seemed to be at a crossroads, in some kind of cultural vortex.
It started with sex. It ended with cake.
By 6 Friday night, you couldn’t move in Jing, Charlie Huang and Mike Ditchfield‘s edgy suburban Asian lounge. It was undulating with cosmo-swilling clusters of women in Manolos both before and after screenings of “Sex and the City.” The scene was repeated throughout Denver as the movie marched to $56.8 million.
(Fun facts: According to the N.Y. Daily News, in the TV series, Samantha bedded 41 men and one woman, Carrie hit the sheets with 18, Charlotte 18 and Miranda 17.)
That same night, about 350 people showed up for the Denver Active 20-30/Leukemia & Lymphoma Society bachelor and bachelorette auction at the opening of Tavern DTC. Wild!
On Saturday, Elway’s weekend piano-woman Jenn Lane was at Soiled Dove for a CD release party — bringing down the house.
The Mask Project Gala broke records, attracting 1,200 people (and almost $1 million for The Denver Hospice) to the Cherry Creek Shopping Center. Steve Chotin bought his own mask for $70,000, bidding against some gangs in L.A. roused to action by former masked-woman Lisa Herzlich. Barack Obama‘s mask went for $4,400. John McCain‘s mask went for $800. Hill‘s & Bill‘s masks never made it to the party. Other masks of note: Robert Redford: $2,300; George Clooney, $1,100; Miley Cyrus, $608. The crowd included D.A. Mitch Morrissey, police Chief Gerald Whitman, fire Chief Nick Nuanes; and organizer Geoff McFarlane and his cheerleader girlfriend, Lindsay McBride.
Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton supporters chanted “Denver! Denver! Denver!” in Washington, D.C. — decrying the rules panel’s decisions on Florida and Michigan — vowing to bring the fight to the DNC.
On Sunday morning, The Denver Post reported that plans to build the 51-story, 200-unit, condo building at 14th and Lawrence streets had been scrapped due to lackluster sales.
And at 10 a.m. people started pouring into Beatrice & Woodsley, a new high-concept restaurant at 38 S. Broadway — the most exciting new eatery to hit town in a very long time. From the ceilings to the sinks, you gotta check it out. Pronto, pal.
A few hundred people crawled into Taste of the Nation at 6 p.m. Sunday. Chefs from 25 top-notch restaurants teamed up with Denver bold names to feed the well-heeled — and raise money to feed the hungry. Gary Hart was there as honorary chairman. I sat at Rioja’s table, manned by Jen Jasinski, Beth Gruitch-Verucci and Neil Maxwell. The dreamy meal of beet carpaccio, green-pea risotto with halibut and seared filet with foie gras ended with angel food cake.
City spirit.
Janet’s Camp pitches its tent in Janet Elway‘s backyard Friday night . . . Campo de Fiori’s Second Spring Fling ramps up 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday . . . Sez who: “When did it stop being fun and start being scary?” Carrie Bradshaw
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. Take a peek at Husted’s next column at .
