In these wallet-flattening economic times, charitable organizations are ever searching for ways to part partiers from the cash they can.
When 5-year-old Concerts for Kids faced trying to attract a rock star who typically gets six figures or more for a one-time performance, founder and president Christie Isenberg had to build a new box to think inside.
She and her staff have created Denver Day of Rock on June 6, when homegrown hip-hoppers the Flobots will headline at the Fillmore Auditorium while 50 other live-music venues will showcase local acts for free.
The Flobots donated their time, and Live Nation donated the Fillmore, but there will be a ticket charge to cover expenses and raise money for local children’s charities.
The Corner Office restaurant inside the Curtis Hotel will host a full-out Flobots pre- and post-concert party with good grub and dandy drinks for VIP ticket holders and patrons.
Some of the freebie venues include Fillmore Plaza in Cherry Creek and one of the theaters in the Theater District. The rest of the revelers will swing into various nightclubs around town.
“People will be able to text a donation or buy 20 downloaded songs for a $5 donation and get 20 great songs for Concerts for Kids,” Isenberg said.
And if the economy turns around, Isenberg said, she’ll consider luring a big name back to Denver next year.
“Financially, we were really afraid to take the risk of hiring a national band then, not knowing what our sponsorship-renewal rate would be,” she said.
Tickets for the Flobots concert go on sale April 10 at .
Sweet!
A hot-dog joint seems an unlikely place to hold a cupcake contest, but Steve Ballas, owner of Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs at 3525 E. Colfax, is a pit bull when it comes to throwing parties at his place.
Pat “Gabby Gourmet” Miller is devoting her KHOW-AM (630) radio show from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday to the chowdown that includes cupcakes from Happy Cakes, Lovely Confections, Yum Yums Delights, the Shoppe, Big Fat Cupcake, Nomelie Cupcakes and Hi*Rise Handcrafted Breads.
A panel of judges will determine the cupcake king or queen.
Eavesdropping on a man at the Church nightclub asking a girl to dance: “Do you want to dance?”
She looked him up and down and said, “No, I don’t think so.”
He replied, “Hey, don’t be so picky. … I wasn’t.”
She got up and danced with him all night, and they left together.
Penny Parker’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Listen to her on the Caplis and Silverman radio show between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-AM (630). Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.
