Back in the day, the Denver Rustlers, a group of deep-pocket Denver dudes, would fly on a donated plane to and from Pueblo for the Colorado State Fair junior livestock auction.
In these more conservative economic times, they hop on buses after schmoozing and buffet-lunching at Del Frisco’s in the Tech Center.
The high-powered group, founded by Larry Mizel, Tim Schultz, Dick Robinson and Gary Levine, deck out in their trademark Rockmount Ranch Wear snap-front shirts and cowboy hats, and head ’em up and move ’em out to the auction to purchase livestock that will help pay for college for the cowgirls and cowboys who raise the critters.
“I’m surprised there isn’t steer wrestling in the middle of the dining room with all these politicos locking horns,” said event marketing guru Bradley Joseph, taking in the powerful politico powwow Tuesday.
Practically everybody who’s anybody running for office cowboyed-up for the event. Among them: gubernatorial opponents John Hickenlooper and Dan Maes, Senate candidates Michael Bennet and Ken Buck, and potential Denver mayoral candidates Michael Hancock, Doug Linkhart and James Mejia.
Mizel and company formed the Rustlers in the ’80s when the Colorado State Fair was in danger of suspending the livestock sale.
“They were in trouble, and they asked for help, and we all jumped in,” Mizel said. “Helping these kids has been fabulous. Most of the money goes to the kids to go to college, and part of it goes to the Food Bank of the Rockies.”
To date, the Rustlers have raised more than $1 million, Mizel said.
Child’s play.
Only Christie Isenberg could get otherwise buttoned-down big shots to don bawdy costumes for charity.
She pulled it off again this year during the Concerts for Kids Celebrity Waiter event Aug. 28 at Shanahan’s in the Tech Center. I took a shift behind the bar and had a blast.
But the real action was out in the dining room, where big-wig biz types such as Steve Farber, Dick Robinson, Tim Brown, Tom Botelho and Walter Isenberg slipped into outrageous costumes to make extra tips for the charity.
The Moderators, a CEO cover band led by Ed Haselden, chairman and chief executive of Haselden Construction, rocked the house. Phil Anschutz‘s son-in-law Tim Brown took a stab at “Mustang Sally,” while his wife and Anschutz’s daughter, Libby Brown, played the drums.
The event raised nearly $50,000 for Colorado children’s charities.
Foodie fodder.
I can’t tell you what is going into the Colorado Convention Center space that most recently housed the Spire condominium project’s sales office, but I can tell you who took a pass.
Frank Schultz, co-owner of the Tavern Hospitality Group, was a whisker away from signing a lease but backed off.
“I just didn’t think it was right for me,” Schultz said. “I do a neighborhood tavern, and that isn’t a neighborhood yet.”
Convention center general manager John Adams was sorry he couldn’t land Schultz but says he is actively looking for the right restaurateur to fill the bill.
• Two chefs with hot spots on Larimer Square are expanding their presence with upcoming new eateries.
Troy Guard, owner of TAG, will open TAG/Raw Bar in the walkway space that connects the Market Street garage with Larimer Street.
The 20- to 30-seat space will offer a full bar and wine list with dinner featuring oysters and sashimi, and lunch with grab-and-go options such as sushi, edamame and salads.
Joe Vostrejs, Larimer Associates chief operating officer, said his office is breaking that under-utilized space into 400-square-foot pieces that will be leased. So far, a denim store will be one of the tenants.
Frank Bonanno, co-owner of Osteria Marco, is opening Wednesday’s Pies, a bakery in the space downstairs from Bistro Vendome where Below nightclub formerly resided.
Vostrejs said Bonanno has leased 5,000 square feet where he’ll do an additional super secret double probation concept.
• Golden-based Good Times Burgers & Frozen Custard has gone to the dogs, so to speak. The burger chain has added Paw Benders, a $1 doggie dessert, to its menu.
It’s a scoop of vanilla custard topped with peanut butter and dog biscuits. A percentage of proceeds goes to animal organizations in Colorado.
EAVESDROPPING
On a broker at an Aurora Board of Realtors meeting:
“I read a report today that seven out of 10 houses on Sesame Street are in foreclosure.”
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.
