P.J. O’Rourke will speak at the Independence Institute’s gala dinner Nov. 19. In 2006, the right-thinking think tank hosted controversial Ann Coulterand some are said to still have digestion problems.
That won’t happen with O’Rourke, the funniest conservative since W. O’Rourke’s books and articles include “Give War a Chance” and “Holidays in Hell.” For tix, go to .
A less serious thinker, Jesse Metcalfe (the “Desperate Housewives” gardener who tills the soil for Eva Longoria), will host a birthday celebration Oct. 22 at Marquis for Paulina Szafranski and Taylor Kennedy (celebutantes, not debutramps).
I do, I do.
Former Rocky reporter and current associate editor at Denver Magazine Jeff Kass and his bride, Jolie Coursen, were featured in The New York Times’ Sunday Vows column.
This is prime real estate in the world of wedding announcements. The ceremony came down Sept. 12 in Woody Creek, home of Kass’ mentor, the late Hunter S. Thompson.
Seems Kass and Coursen live in the same old building in Denver. She oversees the King Tut exhibits traveling the country, one of which stops at the Denver Art Museum from July 1 through Jan. 2, 2011.
They met when her Chihuahua, Jose, yipped viciously at Kass. They met again in the building’s laundry room, then went back to his place for a drink, so she could enjoy the accouterments of his life, which include an “ugly black futon” and a “jar with a pickled cobra head.”
But that’s nothing compared with their first date: dinner at a Thai restaurant, then on to Kass’ apartment, where he read to her works by Thompson. That could have been a real deal breaker. It should have been a deal breaker.
But Kass figured it was a good and honest move. And it worked. “Who knew that Hunter S. Thompson could pen a Valentine?” Kass says.
They share an apartment now. Hope they tossed the futon.
Cookers.
Denver Magazine gathered a lotta foodies at the D&F Tower on Monday night to hand out its first restaurant awards. Denver Mag food writer Stacey Brugeman picked four people for each of five categories, then the staffed picked the winners, who are: Chef of the Year, Alex Sidel, Fruition Restaurant; Specialty Chef of the Year, Justin Brunson, Masterpiece Delicatessen; Pastry Chef of the Year, Yasmin Lozada-Hissom, Olivea and Duo restaurants; Rising Star of the Year, James Rugile, Venue Bistro; and Mixologist of the Year, Sean Kenyon, Steuben’s and Vesta Dipping Grill.
City spirit.
Saturday marks the first Creative Adoptions Fashion Show on the patio at Elway’s Cherry Creek. Threads by Neiman Marcus, cute kids, wowza models, Elway’s food and drink, for $200; call 303-730-7791 . . . Hey, Lady GaGa, keep a grip on your mic. You’re at the Pepsi Center on Dec. 2 with Kanye West . . . Sez who: “Seriousness is stupidity sent to college.” P.J. O’Rourke
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Friday. You can reach him at 303-954-1486 or at bhusted@ denverpost . Take a peek at Husted’s next column at blogs. . / husted.
