We are in the process of contemplating our navelas Denver and Colorado both get examined this fall in magazine and book.
5280’s November issue is all about Denver and its 150th birthday on Nov. 22. Publisher Dan Brogan has hired a slew of Colorado authors, past and present, to write articles “to explore what Denver means to them.” On the docket: Former Denver reporter and Pulitzer winner J.R. Moehringer, GQ staff writer Andrew Corsello, “Now You See Him” author Eli Gottlieb, “She Was” author Janis Hallowell and 5280’s acclaimed Maximillian Potter.
Brogan isn’t telling what they’ll be writing about — except that it’s all first person, some of it historical, some of it personal.
And the book “State by State” comes out Tuesday. High-profile editors Matt Weiland and Sean Wilsey commissioned 50 writers to pen 10-page profiles of all 50 states. Ann Patchett writes about New Jersey, Jhumpa Lahiri writes about Rhode Island, Anthony Bourdain writes about New Jersey — and Benjamin Kunkel, author of the highly acclaimed novel “Indecision,” writes about Colorado.
He was born in Eagle in 1972 from hippie parents. His take on Colorado is both loving and forlorn, seeped in his affection for the state, the mountains, the “pure light and gin clear air,” “the smell of rained-on sage bringing out an unsuspected sweetness from the land.”
But trouble looms. “Colorado has been one of the proving grounds of romantic individualism, and lately has come to illustrate the contradictions of romanticism as mass phenomenon. The contradictions are inevitable when everyone seeks seclusion in the same pristine spots; there goes their seclusion and pristineness.”
And then we have global warming to deal with. Well, it was fun while it lasted.
We’re number what?
“State by State” ends with a series of tables ranking the 50 states for various highs and lows. Colorado is 22nd in population, 5th in population increase (1950-2000), 8th in birthrate, 22nd in unemployment rate (4.4 percent), 8th in roller coasters per capita, 4th in breast-feeding rate (86 percent), 48th in obesity rate, 6th in suicide rate, and a proud 48th in toothlessness rate. Smile!
Yes, tonight, honey.
Denver Post reporter Doug Brown takes his book “Just Do It” to the Tattered Cover LoDo at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday — to sign it, read from it and answer questions about the time he and his wife, Annie, had sex for 101 consecutive days. Starting with NBC’s “Today,” Doug has done dozens of TV, radio and print interviews, and everyone wanted to know why. Here’s your chance to find out.
City spirit.
What a way to say Danke Schoen. Wayne “Mr. Las Vegas” Newton will emcee the Patriot Dinner on Friday night at the Congressional Medal of Honor Society Convention . . . “Your Friend Says You Need A New Bra” is a segment on this morning’s “Weekend Today” at 6 a.m. with Denver’s SOL co-owner Cindy Johnson. She’s an ace at the bra-makeover . . . Sez who: “Each year, millions of skiers come to Colorado to experience its superb emergency medical facilities.” Dave Barry
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 blogs. .
