Over the past 12 years, Unique Lives & Experiences has brought to Denver some mighty interesting speakers — all female except for Sidney Poitier, Robert Redford and James Carville (with his wife, Mary Matalin). The roster has included Coretta Scott King, Ann Richards, Maya Angelou, Jane Fonda, Gloria Steinem, Erin Brockovich, Carol Channing and Barbara Bush.
Here’s the 2011 lineup, notably starring Laura Bush on April 11. Add to the former first lady Alexandra Cousteau, Feb. 28; Rita Moreno, March 14; Shirley MacLaine, May 16; Jane Pauley, June 6.
Unique Lives boss Howard Szigeri, who sends these series around the country, is especially excited about Bush’s appearance. “I worked with her twice and fell in love with her,” he says. “She was and is her own woman with her own sense of self and sense of humor. She’s a breath of fresh air; she’s a remarkable lady.”
MacLaine, as you might imagine, is interested these days in 2012 and the end of the world. So what else is new?
The series is considered the ultimate girls’ night out. Single tickets eventually go on sale, but for now, the series of five lectures at the Buell Theatre starts at $154. Call 866-449-8118.
Pizza promo.
Ashley Lewis says she really does love Pizza Hut pizza, but the cheese sticks are her fave. The 17-year-old Eaglecrest High senior, who works weekends at the Highlands Ranch branch at 9385 S. Colorado Blvd., was one of eight kids picked from 250 to proclaim their love for the Hut in a national TV commercial.
“I haven’t seen it yet,” she tells me. “I don’t get to watch much TV, with school and cheerleading and dance and working.”
And she maintains a grade-point average of 4.2. So she has a full plate of pizza while she’s rooting for Pizza Hut. You’ll probably see the commercial during a football game this weekend.
Baby talk.
Jim and Alicia Deters have two babies to be excited about.
On Tuesday, their much anticipated restaurant, ChoLon Modern Asian Bistro at 1555 Blake St., opens at 11 a.m. And earlier that day, Alicia will have a baby boy. She knows this because the cesarean already is scheduled.
This all happened by a happy coincidence, and Jim tells me it is all very lucky in Asia and in the Deters household. A baby boy and a baby business in the same morning!
And keep your eye on ChoLon, the most exciting new eatery to hit Denver in a long time.
City spirit.
Don’t forget the “America’s Got Talent” auditions at the Sheraton Denver Downtown on Oct. 9 and 10; go to . . . . People at Thursday night’s Taste of Greenwood Village were set to run into a happy surprise — offerings from Chinook Tavern, the great restaurant that fled Cherry Creek two years ago. The Georg family is opening a new Chinook early next year at East Arapahoe Road and Interstate 25. . . . Sez who: “And I don’t cook, either. Not as long as they still deliver pizza.” Tiger Woods
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Friday. You can reach him at 303-954-1486 or bhusted@denverpost.com. Take a peek at Husted’s next column at .
