![Thirteen was a lucky number for <B>Jill Nelson</B> and <B>Tom Bidell,</B> co-chairs of the Denver Public Library Booklovers' Ball. <!--IPTC: [CUT1]Jill Nelson and Tom Bidell chaired the 2010 Booklovers Ball.[CREDIT]Photo by Joanne Davidson, The Denver Post-->](/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/20101020__20101022_D16_FE22DAVIDSONp1.jpg "20101020__20101022_D16_FE22DAVIDSON~p1.JPG")
We might not need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows (thanks, Bob Dylan) because when it comes to directions, nothing beats a map.
Whether we’re low-tech and carry the paper, fold-up kind, or high-tech with a fancy global positioning device mounted on our car’s dash, maps are what get us from Point A to Point B. And back again.
Maps — specifically the 18,000 found on the fifth floor of Denver’s Central Library — also played a key role in the 13th Booklovers’ Ball.
“Explore,” which raised $212,000 for Denver Public Library services and materials, was a theme that gave co-chairs Jill Nelson and Tom Bidell a lot to work with as they decided on food and decor to be enjoyed by the 580 guests.
They looked to all points of the compass before going with Iceland, Kenya, China and Tahiti for the table themes; Footers Catering did its part by serving food with an international flair. From the quesadillas and smoked-fish appetizers to the grilled tenderloin and duck entrees, the choices were indeed global.
Mike King, an attorney with Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck and president of the Denver Public Library Friends Foundation board, headed the corporate committee and was there with his wife, Elizabeth. TD Ameritrade was the lead sponsor, and company officials David Kimm, Peter Sidebottom and Skip Schweiss were among the guests.
Others enjoying the no-speeches, no-auction policy that has made Booklovers’ a favorite with regulars on the black-tie circuit were Denver’s first lady, Helen Thorpe; architect Dennis Humphries; former event chair Judy Joseph; Ander Murane of Yahoo!; James O’Donnell, executive vice president at Vail Resorts, and his wife, Heather; Tim Van Binsbergen, general manager of Mountain States Toyota; Bob Sarlo, owner of Interlock Construction, and his wife, Leslie; Laurie and state Sen. Chris Romer; Library Commissioners Karen Rokala, Jay Mead and Alan Salazar; City Librarian Shirley Amore; and Virgil Scott, the Friends Foundation’s new executive director.
Coming right up
On Saturday, RedLine Gallery celebrates its second anniversary by staging An Evening of Engagement and Surprise. Tickets are $100 and include cocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres and the chance to mix and mingle with artists and others involved in the downtown art scene. Call 303-296-4448. . . . Actor Jesse Ogas, former Colorado first daughter Monica Owens and community volunteer Faye Washington are among those who’ll be tripping the light fantastic Oct. 30 when Cleo Parker Robinson Dance hosts Dancing with the Denver Stars. Chairmen John Wagner and Moses Brewer note that the $150 admission includes dinner at the Renaissance Denver Hotel. Call 303-295-1759. . . . Stephen Leonard, Susan Barnes-Gelt and Don and Carolyn Etter are among those being honored Nov. 3 when Historic Denver has its annual awards dinner at the Brown Palace Hotel. David and Stephanie Tryba are chairing the $150-per-ticket affair; call 303-534-5288. . . . The Rocky Mountain Indian Chamber of Commerce is having its Indian Scholars Gala on Nov. 4 at the Doubletree Hotel, 3303 Quebec St. Learn more by visiting … The Denver Broncos Quarterback Club has asked comedian Sam Adams and former Bronco Billy Thompson to emcee its Nov. 8 roast of Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Floyd Little. The $20 admission includes a buffet supper at Red & Jerry’s. Call 303-948-2363.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, and GetItWrite on Twitter
