Westword’s annual “Best Of” collection of the weird, wacky and wonderful in Denver is on the streets, and as usual, DU hasn’t been left out.
For 2009, the University has garnered meritorious mention in two distinct categories: ceramics and cookbooks. The culinary citation offers praise to Penrose Library for the 9,000 books and magazines that comprise its famed Margaret Husted Culinary Collection. It won Best Way to Spice Up the Kitchen Like It’s 1899.
The Best Ceramics Show award honors Myhren Gallery for the show that director Dan Jacobs organized of “eye-popping” sculpture done over four decades by artist Paul Soldner. Images of his work can be found atwww.paulsoldner.com.
The Husted cookery collection includes tips on food and health published as far back 1683 and is one of the three largest such collections in the United States. The material was acquired by the Boettcher Foundation and donated to the University in 1985.
DU has been included in Westword’s list on a number of occasions over the years for accomplishments from art to athletics. Examples include Cab Childress, who was named Best Architectural Visionary in 2004, and DU hockey, which earned Best College Sports Team honors in 2005. The Ritchie Center was named Best New Building in 2000 and former DU forward Paul Stastny was designated Best Avalanche player in 2007.
The Westword selections are chosen largely by nominations from staffers, but some unscientific public balloting also occurs.
Many of the categories are coveted, such as Best Talk Show Host, which went to Sandy Clough of 104.3 FM The Fan. But others are designed to fit the honoree, such as the band The Hollyfelds, which won for Best Band Playing Country the Way it Was Meant to be Played.