Normally shy and retiring Helen Thorpe, wife of not-so-shy-and-retiring Mayor John Hickenlooper, stepped up in front of an audience Thursday at RedLine Gallery for a reading and signing of her new book, “Just Like Us,” a true account of four Mexican girlstwo undocumented — “coming of age in America.”
The book-release party, sponsored by the Latina Chamber of Commerce and the Mexican Cultural Center, gave attendees a rare encounter with Thorpe, a journalist who has written for national magazines.
The book, published by Scribner and priced at $27.99, follows four Denver teenagers at the same high school beginning on the eve of their prom and continuing into their future.
“I used to be so scared of Juanita when I met her because of all of her energy,” Thorpe said to co-hostess and real estate broker Juanita Chacon, a 5-foot-10 tower of power.
“We thank you for your courage and passion,” Chacon told Thorpe. “You delivered the message about us (Latinas).”
Man magnets.
Cosmopolitan magazine, arguably the arbiter for all that is hip, says in its October issue that gastropubs are supplanting sports bars as the new places to meet “hot guys.”
Who knows? I just find the term gastropubs so annoying that I hope Denver’s done using that vague noun, which is supposed to mean “a pub that serves high-quality food,” according to Internet definitions.
We soon will have four: Jonesy’s EatBar; Argyll; Colt & Gray; and the yet-to-open Downtown Gastropub, 1320 15th St.
Green team.
Mayor Hickenlooper will do the honors of plugging in a new 20-kilowatt photovoltaic solar- energy system on the south-facing barrel roof of Racines restaurant, 650 Sherman St., at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Hizzoner Hick will complete the connection to Spectrum General Contractors and Howard Electric’s new system, which uses photovoltaic tubes instead of the standard flat solar panels.
Mag man.
Dan Brogan, the founder, editor and publisher of Denver’s 5280 magazine, has been elected president of the City and Regional Magazine Association’s board of directors.
CRMA, which represents more than 80 local and regional lifestyle magazines throughout the U.S. and Canada, provides industry advocacy as well as research and promotion to the advertising community.
Paying it forward.
Denver’s major mogul Phil Anschutz and his wife, Nancy, are the winners of the 2009 William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership for the couple’s “entrepreneurial and inspiring approach to charitable giving.”
The Anschutzes were lauded for their donations to medical centers, cultural institutions, leadership networks and human-service groups “that help people to help themselves.”
The award — named in honor of the late philanthropist William E. Simon, a former U.S. Treasury secretary and Olympic Committee chairman — includes a $250,000 cash prize. The Anschutzes are donating the money to the Denver Police Foundation, which helps out officers and their families during medical emergencies, long-term illnesses or death in the family.
Clean coats.
Dependable Cleaners’ Coats for Colorado drive will collect coats from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday at KMGH-Ch. 7, 123 Speer Blvd.
The seen.
Rockies part-owner Linda Alvarado and husband Robert, as well as ex-Denver Fire Chief Larry Trujillo and wife Michelle, celebrating the team’s playoff-clinching win Thursday at Morton’s LoDo.
Eavesdropping
on a man in Cherry Creek North: “I get up at 5:30 a.m. By 6:30, I’m ready for lunch.”
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.
