It’s a good thing that Denver Theatres and Arenas chief marketing officer Erik Dyce has a skin as thick as Ozzy Osbourne’s accent.
A lesser man could have been brought to tears during the roast that was thrust upon Dyce at the Walnut Room on Friday night. The event, which was billed as a “tribute” to the gent who’s had his hand in marketing Red Rocks as well as the recently dubbed Denver Theatre District, was more of a bare-knuckled bash – all in good fun. KBPI radio personality Matt Need kicked off the zing fest. “I had no idea there was a D-list in Denver,” he said to the crowd who gathered for the evening that doubled as a fundraiser for Youth Biz, a charity that helps at-risk kids develop entrepreneurial skills. “How tough can Erik’s job be (Red Rocks) is a 50,000-year-old natural amphitheater. Erik paved the bottom of it and said, ‘Check this out’ ” On the Denver Theatre District around the Denver Performing Arts Complex: “(Erik) gave it enough lighting so we could see the really handsome homeless people.” Local vocal Angie Stevens: “Erik tells me you need to build an image and look a certain way. This coming from a man who wears pink and purple” Jay Ruybal, who used to work for Dyce: “Talk about Erik’s ego. I’m not sure how we all fit into this tiny little room.” But Dyce got the last word: “This is a first in a series to bring people together to understand it is about the music. If I’m the first lightning rod, I’m happy to be so. What is great is the individual talent we have here tonight.”
RESTAURANTS REPEAT: So, silly, you missed out on making a reservation at your favorite hot spot for Denver Restaurant Week on Saturday through Feb. 27. Take heart. More than half of the 224 eateries that signed on to offer $52.80 multicourse dinners for two ($26.40 for one) have extended their meal deals through the following week.