Here’s something that’ll expose what goes on after hours at the Denver Public Library:
On a recent Saturday night, long after doors of the Central Library had closed to the public, a crowd began making its way inside. Some were wearing evening gowns and tuxedos; others were done up in costumes that were black, white or “re(a)d all over.”
It was the night for Exposed: the 12th annual Booklovers’ Ball, and the 400-plus were there to enjoy a festive evening that raised $200,000 for DPL collections and programs.
Judy Joseph chaired the dinner-dance with help from a committee drawn from the membership of the Denver Public Library Friends Foundation.
The proceeds, Joseph said, will be put to good and immediate use. “Library usage is up dramatically,” she noted. “We have 44,000 new cardholders this year, and circulation has increased by 250,000 items.”
City Librarian Shirley Amore helped Joseph welcome such notables as the gala’s honorary chairs — Gov. Bill and Jeannie Ritter and Mayor John Hickenlooper and Helen Thorpe — and retired state Supreme Court Justice Luis Rovira and his wife, Lois Ann, president of the Denver Library Commission.
Representatives from such sponsors as Target, Mountain States Toyota, Oz Architecture, Robinson Dairy, Paros Press and Interlock Construction also were on hand, along with commissioner Fofi Mendez and Tony Bierbrauer; Dennis Humphries and Georgia Burleson; and past Booklovers’ Ball chairs Janet Raasch and Kevin O’Connor.
Cowboy up.
A hardy band of ballet and art fans donned their cowboy boots and hats and trekked to FG5, the Parker home that artist Carrie Fell and Steve Guenin have spent the past year and a half gutting and turning into a stunning residence and studio for her contemporary Western art.
The occasion was Fell’s Cowboy Ball, an al fresco gathering that raised money for the Colorado Ballet.
The 140 guests did avail themselves of the opportunity to explore the home, but most of the action was outside, where 10 dancers performed selections from the ballet “Rodeo.”
As the evening temperatures dipped, guests gathered around the stone fire pits or inside Carrie’s studio to enjoy a buffet that included quesadillas and beef and crabcake sliders.
Among those attending were Colorado Ballet’s executive director, Jack Lemmon, and his wife, Beverly; artistic director Gil Boggs; development officer Tiffany Grady; and such board members as Christin Crampton Day and Marc Musyl, who was there with his wife, Regina.
Also on hand to see the FG5 (ranch shorthand for the Fell-Guenin’s 5 acres) were Melly Kinnard and daughter Kerry; Bill and Mary Beth Jenkins; radio talk-show host Les Shapiro, the evening’s emcee, and his wife, Paula; Masters Gallery owners Paul and Bonnie Zueger; and Rayla Kundolf, who was down from Vail to represent the Masters Gallery there. Kundolf’s husband, Taylor, provided the party’s piano music.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, and GetItWrite on Twitter
