Denver party titan Kevin Larson is backwith a vengeance.
Last year, he opened a nightclub upstairs at the Diamond Cabaret called Wish. He says he did this on the day the recession was officially proclaimed. “I couldn’t of had worse timing,” he says.
Nightclubbing takes no prisoners. Larson was known for putting on one-night events, which is a lot different than trying to lure people to a nightclub night after night. Losing money and despondent, he shut the place in April.
Now it’s party time again.
Larson is hosting his 10th annual Victorian Fetish Ball on Oct. 24 at the Diamond Cab and his old Wish space. Known for both its naughtiness and its nudity, the party ($25) features 70 live performers — including Rubber Doll, the star of the Berlin Fetish Show who promises the “pretty, the pervy and the profane,” with Swiss electro band FAQ. Larson expects 1,200 people at the “costume mandatory” event. In addition to Rubber Doll, look for Japanese bondage, live snakes, human marionettes, blood-bath shows, submission and dominance exhibitions, stilt walkers and living balloon sculptures. Excuse me for a minute while I wipe down my keyboard.
OK. Next up is Larson’s Haunted Hotel Halloween, taking over the Hyatt DTC for the night on Oct. 31. Boo.
And his most sedate showpiece, the 8th annual White Rose Gala on New Year’s Eve, moves this year to the Ritz-Carlton. Swanky! He can take in 900 people at $135 each (open bar). Check them all out at .
Like father.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Artist Austin Matthews, 25, is the son of artist Willy Matthews, one of Denver’s best. And Austin, whose art is more urban and graffiti-like than his dad’s sweeping Western watercolors, has a show opening Friday night at his dad’s LoDo gallery at 1617 Wazee St.
“Art kind of runs in the family,” Austin says. “Everyone dabbles in art. I think my dad influenced me through life, looking at things, just being around him.”
Hal.
Hal Holbrook will be in Denver Nov. 14 to receive the Excellence in Acting Award at the Denver Starz Film Festival. He’ll come with his new movie, “That Evening Sun,” and his wife, Dixie Carter, who also appears in the film.
If any actor deserves an acting award, this trouper does. Now 84, he’s been performing “Mark Twain Tonight” since 1954. Last time that old horse was in Denver was March 2008. In fact, he’ll arrive in Denver after performing it in Iowa. I saw him do it when I was in high school. He needed more makeup back then.
City spirit.
The theme of CASA’s Saturday night gala at Green Gables Country Club is “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate factory,” with special guest Denise Nickerson — who played Violet in the original movie . . . I hope “30 Rock’s” Tracy Morgan wears his golden shoes for his sets at Comedy Works South on Saturday and Oct. 18 . . . Sez who: “That’s why I can’t watch ‘American Idol.’ It’s like karaoke without the booze.” Tracy Morgan
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Friday. You can reach him at 303-954-1486 or at bhusted@denverpost.com. Take a peek at Husted’s next column at .
