Great grape and gales of giggles

I am a devotee of Wende Curtis, the genius who launched the original Comedy Works on Larimer Street in downtown Denver and who then went on to open an even larger (and equally successful) Comedy Works at Landmark Plaza in Greenwood Village.

I know all about her working class beginnings, her self-made business woman story (which is heart stopping and a little bit unbelievable) – and how her raison d’être is to give every stand-up comic the chance (often several chances) to perform and hone their act.

What I didn’t know was that Wende, who knows a thing or two about business and particularly about show business – and knows more than anyone in Colorado about the business of comedy – also knows wine. With the opening of Lucy’s, the upscale restaurant attached to the Landmark Plaza Comedy Works, wine drinkers have every chance they could ever ask for to imbibe really good wine while getting their giggle on.

Look, the girl is bringing wines from Napa and Sonoma Valleys to Lucy’s, including (under the Cabernet Sauvignon list), Robert Mondavi’s Reserve, (Napa, 2005) and a Kenwood “Jack London” 2005 from Sonoma. Her Pinot Noirs can rival any upscale restaurant’s list and include a Napa 2006 ZD Reserve.

Who would have thought a “comedy club” wine list could include an Opus One Napa Valley 2005 or a Pahlymeyer Napa 2005?

True. These wines are pricey, but both the downtown Comedy Clubs and Landmark Club offer by-the-glass options well within the average by-the-glass price – ten dollar’ish.

If you’re not a wine drinker and you want to join the laughter, you can still enjoy very creative drinks that include crafty cocktails like the Black Cat Snap and Duck Fart.

Say what you want about a girl who barely made it through college and who, when she did finish, had a theater degree under her belt and who then went on to make a living as a waitress. Wende Curtis is adored by the comedy geniuses and celebrities who’ve graced her clubs and who have also praised Curtis above all other comedy club owners across the U.S. – Dave Chappelle, Kathleen Madigan and George Lopez to name just a very few.

The Comedy Works – both clubs, with their distinctively different vibes, but with good or even great wine for lovers of laughter and libations – is testament to a girl who’s managed to combine art, business acumen and bottles of Barolo.

And that’s one stand-up act.

One Winning Wine Tasting:

Whether you’re already a devotee of Balistreri Vineyard or hope to become one, the first of the eight-part Guerilla Book Event Series, “Where is Cheap Cabernet Pouring THIS Week?” takes place Friday, September 24, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the corner of York & 14th Streets in Denver.

Cathie Beck, Denver Post Best-Selling author of “Cheap Cabernet: A Friendship” will be on hand to greet guests with a Cheap Cabernet Porch Party! The event is free and all attendees will get the chance to win a case of 2010 Signature Cheap Cabernet Vino, bottled by Balistreri Vineyard. Dancing wine bottles will be on hand for entertainment, autographed copies of “Cheap Cabernet: A Friendship” will be for sale, and the “Cheap Cabernet-mobile,” will be unveiled.

Visit www.facebook.com/cheapcabernet for further information.

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