Byline: Penny Parker, Rocky Mountain News
The Denver real estate market's squishier than a Nerf Ball, so Jonathan Power and his pals at Crux Co. knew they'd have to be creative when trying to sell a $1.1 million spec home in Observatory Park.
The Denver developers decided to throw a party tonight in the house at 2511 S. Garfield and offer it up for auction.
'A number of houses in that neighborhood have not sold,' said Jody Power, Jonathan's better half and premier party planner. 'They decided to do something to at least make the money back that they put into it.'
The sellers intend to donate any money over their costs to University Park Elementary and The Rise School, two neighborhood elementary schools. 'They're just trying to create a win-win-win situation,' Jody said.
The 3,100-square-foot new construction includes four bedrooms and 4.5 baths built on a scraped-off lot. Minimum bid is $1.02 million (the property appraised for $1.135 million, according to Jody). The party/auction runs from 6 to 9 tonight. Other silent auction items have been donated, with proceeds going to the schools. LEW'S DO: Lew Cady, longtime Denver ad man and publisher of Central City's Little Kingdom Come newspaper, turns 70 on Monday. I asked Cady, a baseball and Coors beer fan, to offer some 'deep thoughts' on his big day.
'Age is a three-letter word. Aged is a four-letter word. I kind of like being the oldest person in the room, but I'm not crazy about having the worst knees in the room. I looked it up and it's not a sin to covet thy neighbor's knees. You're only as old as you drink. And: I would like to report that Section 18-6.5-103 of the Colorado Criminal Code provides special penalties for people who assault old people.'
SOULFUL SOUP: When I attended the first Soup For The Soul fundraiser for Porter Hospice and Hospice of Peace, we were a hearty bunch sipping soup from a handful of restaurants inside the Seawall Ballroom.
Thursday night's seventh annual Soup For the Soul Event at the Adam's Mark Hotel welcomed 850 soup sippers, silent-auction art lovers and supporters savoring samples from 14 of the metro-area's 'souper' chefs.
Soup stand-outs: Elway's shrimp and andouille gumbo, Mizuna's vichyssoise, Rioja's cauliflower apple soup, Steuben's black bean soup and Dazzle's beer cheese soup and Swedish meatballs.
I want to thank Centura Health at Home CEO Erin Denholm and her staff for giving me the Legacy Award of Courage for my public battle (and victory) against breast cancer. As I said in my acceptance speech, there are many more deserving women out there, but I accept the award on behalf of all of us survivors.
MORTON'S FOAMS HOME: Morton's downtown knows foam. And the superb steakery will share the secrets of its new foamy concoctions during a cocktail class from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
There are four new 'heavenly' foamers: a pomegranate martini, palm beacher, cosmopolitan and a margarita. All are topped with a cloud of yumminess (I know, I sampled the sips). The class, which includes appetizers, is $35 per person. Reservations: 303-292-4148 or cm.mdv@mortons.com.
EAVESDROPPING on a woman talking to Rockies mascot Dinger at Coors Field: 'You need a good vacuuming.'
