“West Side Stories” is a full-length documentary that tells the tale of Denver’s west side, the neighborhood where so many influential Jewish residents grew up.
Well, it’s not full length yet. It gets a “work in progress” screening at 7:30 p.m. April 6 at the Hebrew Educational Alliance, 3600 S. Ivanhoe St.
Everyone is welcome — but be ready for an appeal for funds to finish the project.
“It’s 90 percent done,” says producer Steve Feld. “We just need to finish the music mix and get a final online version up. It’s been a long labor of love.”
The movie features interviews with more than 50 prominent Jewish Denverites from the west side — including Steve Farber, Irv Brown, Jordan Perlmutter, Dick and Eddie Robinson, Bob Loup and Warren Toltz.
The movie also mentions some of the neighborhood’s historic star power: Ted Maiman, the inventor of the laser, and one-time resident Golda Meir. It’s free. RSVP to Ron Bernstein at 720-482-7770.
It’s a charm
In his fourth trip to the Wynkoop Brewing Co. finals, well-traveled and beerly refreshed Phil Farrell of Cumming, Ga., finally won the crown Saturday as Beerdrinker of the Year.
He even sang a song for the judges, which might have won him the title. Here’s a hat tip to Billy Joel.
“Chicken Man”
It’s four o’clock on a Saturday /The Beer Judges all shuffle in/There a rubber chicken sitting next me/Asking “Phil, when are you going to win?”/La de da diddy da, etc.
Brew me a beer you’re the Chicken Man/Pour me a beer tonight /’Cause we’re all at the bar at the Wynkoop/ And beer gets us feeling all right.
Beauty notes
A few e-mails came in commenting on my Sunday column on Blair Griffith, the “homeless” beauty queen headed to June’s Miss USA Pageant as Miss Colorado USA.
What seems to burn people up is the “homeless” angle because Griffith and her mom lost their home, and now they are staying with friends, not in a shelter.
“How many (real) homeless people do we have on the streets and this ‘beauty queen’ is getting everyone’s sympathy? Yeah, she’ll have a tough time finding a place to stay. Why is this relevant? Who cares?” writes Ryan.
“I guess ‘anything is possible’ if you whine long enough, create an excuse for everything,” writes Crystal.
The 100
Denver comic Jared Ewy wants to perform 100 comedy shows in 10 days — all to benefit Volunteers of America. This is a way for him to warm up for his show March 15 at the Avenue Theater. He will come to you, be it home, office, bar, wherever. It costs you $10 for 10 minutes of yuks, or you can go longer. Check it out at .
City spirit
Where in the world was Matt Lauer all last week? At the Westin Riverfront in Avon; he checked out Sunday. . . . Littleton’s Graham Stookey plays the guitar on “Oprah” today as one of her “All Time Smartest, Most Talented Kids.” . . . Sez who: “Mmmmmmmm. Donuts/beer/erotic cakes.” Homer Simp son
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 blogs. .
