Balloons! Presents! Cookies! Candy! Milkshakes!
Who doesn’t love a birthday party?
The Civic Center Conservancy marked its 10th year by hosting a birthday-themed gala at the historic McNichols Civic Center Building, an event where a sold-out crowd of 300 enjoyed these elements and more while raising an estimated $130,000 for the conservancy’s continuing efforts to maintain Civic Center as a thriving urban oasis.
“The best of Civic Center park is yet to come,” declared Gov. John Hickenlooper, who attended the pre-dinner cocktail reception before dashing off to another event with girlfriend Robin Pringle.
Hickenlooper, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and his wife, Mary Louise Lee, were honorary chairs of the celebration chaired by Yvette and Chris Frampton and Christy and Ferd Belz.
Chris Frampton is chairman of the conservancy board; Ferd Belz is its treasurer.
In keeping with the birthday theme, Catering by Design served the dinner’s first course — vinegar-roasted beets layered with Haystack Mountain goat cheese on a toasted honey-quinoa crumb crust — in a shiny red box tied with a yellow ribbon. Floral centerpieces, from By Design Event Decor, were in the shape of birthday cakes.
The conservancy’s executive director, Lindy Eichenbaum Lent, helped welcome such VIP guests as conservancy founder Elaine Asarch, who was there with her husband, dermatologist Richard Asarch, their twin sons Adam and David and daughters-in-law Olivia and Anna; Genia and Denver City Council president Chris Herndon; Kevin Patterson, the governor’s chief administrative officer, and his wife, Sarie; landscape architects Tina Bishop and Bill Wenk; Stacie Loucks, the city’s director of excise and licenses; state architect Larry Friedberg; Denver Parks and Recreation director Lauri Dannemiller; the mayor’s chief of staff, Janice Sinden; Suncor Energy VP Shelley Powell; and preservationist Ruth Falkenberg.
Mardi and Brown Cannon were at a table with conservancy board member Susan Noble and her husband, Howard. Architect Dennis Humphries was there, too, along with Susan and Bruce Heitler; Mary and Larimer Associates chief Joe Vostrejs; Margaret and Mike Wilfley; Christy and Steve Owen and former City Councilwoman Carol Boigon with her husband, attorney Howard Boigon.
After dinner, master of ceremonies Reggie Rivers invited everyone to join 120 young professionals for an after-party that continued the birthday theme with a balloon artist, alcohol-infused ice cream from Twisted Cream, dancing to Soul X and a doughnut wall for a late-night sugar rush.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, jdavidson@ or
Online: More pictures from this event
Goodwill en vogue
Project Runway’s Tim Gunn returned to Denver to help host, for a second time, a benefit for Goodwill Industries. He was joined by Mondo Guerra, runner-up in Season 8 and winner of the inaugural “Project Runway All-Stars.” Joanne Davidson has details in the Mile High Style blog blogs.
