Beloved Denver restaurateur Noel Cunningham was a friend to power players and powerless orphans.
At his restaurant Strings, he fed the rich and famous as well as the homeless.
He was a selfless champion of lost causes and lost souls, and one of the finest human beings I have ever known.
Noel died Thursday. He was 62.
Though his obituary appeared in Friday’s Post, I couldn’t help adding my own tribute.
On Friday, members of the restaurant community were already putting their heads together to come up with a proper tribute to the man who was one of them for more than 25 years.
“I told them whatever it is, make it big,” said longtime close pal Pat “Gabby Gourmet” Miller. “I’m not sure there’s a place big enough to hold all the people who will want to come.”
Noel and his lovely wife, Tammy, celebrated Strings’ 25th anniversary in July. Notable locals who attended spoke and paid tribute to the couple, who raised countless dollars for local charities and for the relief organization Project Mercy in Ethiopia.
Not one for praise, Noel squirmed in his seat while the adorations from friends and fans poured forth.
Yes, indeed, one of the good ones got away. He will be sorely missed.
A lighter note.
How big of a deal was it for The Ritz-Carlton Denver to win the prestigious AAA Five Diamond Award two years in a row?
Big enough for Elway’s restaurant owners Broncos great John Elway and Tim Schmidt to show up for the celebration. The property’s Five Diamond designation also covers the hotel restaurant.
Ritz general manager Andrew Rogers, in his typical selfless style, raised a glass to acknowledge his “team,” whom he credited for the award.
Visit Denver booster Rich Grant was even more effusive. “Do you realize this is the only Denver hotel to ever win Five Diamonds?” Grant asked. “This is a big, big deal.”
Grown up.
The Wizard’s Chest, Cherry Creek’s venerable costume store, recently celebrated 30 years in business where more than 50 former employees posed for a photo op in front of the store.
The popular dress-up shop started in an 850-square-foot space at 287 Columbine and moved locations to the present multilevel 237 Fillmore St. space.
We’re No. 1.
Colorado has the top ski resort and No. 1 ski hotel in North America, according to readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine.
Beaver Creek resort earned top honors on a list of the top 20 ski resorts, and The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa at Beaver Creek Mountain ranked No. 1 on the list of top 50 ski hotels. The entire list, which includes other Colorado resorts and ski hotels, is printed in the December issue.
Expansion.
Lodo’s Bar and Grill in Highlands Ranch is getting ready to reopen with one of the largest year-round rooftop bars and dining areas in Colorado.
The redesigned restaurant will reopen at 8545 S. Quebec St. on Dec. 19.
Rockin’ Elway’s.
Rocker Kid Rock and his crew dined at Elway’s Cherry Creek on Wednesday night. They had a Thursday concert at the Fillmore Auditorium.
EAVESDROPPING
A young man on a cellphone:
“Video games are important, but they are not as important as life.”
Penny Parker’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.
