Best Post-American Idol Performance by a Colorado Contender 2010 | Ace Young | Best of Denver® | Best Restaurants, Bars, Clubs, Music and Stores in Denver | Westword
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Best Post-American Idol Performance by a Colorado Contender

Ace Young

He didn't win season five of American Idol, but long-locked Boulder boy Ace Young landed the role of Berger, the leader of a band of '60s hippies, in the Broadway revival of Hair in March. And his hair wasn't the only thing hanging down in the infamous nude scene.

Best Radio DJ

Nerf

Known almost as much for his afro as for his penchant for local music, Nerf still mans the fort at KTCL as both program director and afternoon-drive guy. Musicians should be glad he's stuck around; Nerf was an early champion of bands like the Fray and Meese, and he remains committed to pushing the scene. But he also does his bit for bad music, too: "Make It Stop," a 4:05 p.m. daily feature during which he plays a song that sucks and doesn't pull the plug until a caller correctly names the artist and title.

Best Hair on a TV Personality ? Male

Eric Kahnert

Eric Kahnert, who joined the Channel 9 weekend team late last year from an NBC affiliate in Albuquerque, is young and serious — and very, very slick. In fact, he sports a mini-Ed Grimley oil-slick cowlick in front. It's a popular look these days: bed head for the post-college crowd.

Best LEGO Collection

NetDevil

Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory has nothing on NetDevil. The Louisville-based video-game company is developing LEGO Universe, an online game based on everybody's favorite building toy, and as part of its research, the toy manufacturer sent the outfit a sampling of some of the building blocks it would be working with. NetDevil now boasts in the vicinity of ten million LEGO bricks, one of the largest known collections in the world. Not surprisingly, the company's HQ is like a super-sized version of every kids' dream: LEGO models everywhere, video games stacked sky-high, energy-drink-guzzling techies zipping around the cavernous space on scooters. The bad news is that aside from VIPs and a handful of very lucky local school groups, very few outsiders have gotten a chance to see this stash. Still, when LEGO Universe comes out later this year, Coloradans can be content in the knowledge that the inspiration for this wacky online world is just down the road.

Best Sign of the Times

Belcaro Paint and Decorating Center

Coming or going, rush hour on Leetsdale Drive is a toxic sea of traffic and exhaust. Which makes Belcaro Paint's changing electronic sign a breath of fresh air. Not content with simply offering the temperature and time, this sign will occasionally make you laugh out loud by flashing such come-ons as "We shake our cans for you," "We have big tints" or "Pick up gals. here." We brake for funny.

Best News About Boulder

It's Happy!

It took Gallup two years to do all the research for its Well-Being Index, asking 1,000 Americans key questions about aspects of their lives ranging from emotional health to physical health to work environment. The result of all that nosiness? Boulder was crowned the happiest city in the country.

Best Beer-Drinking Politician

Mayor John Hickenlooper

Yeah, he co-founded the Wynkoop Brewing Company and ran it for many years thereafter, but mayor and now gubernatorial candidate John Hickenlooper didn't turn his back on beer after becoming a politician. In fact, Hick can be seen imbibing around town every so often, whether it's at an event, a personal dinner or even a political fundraiser. Hell, Hick even served beer at the grand opening of his campaign headquarters in February. At last, a politician we can drink to. And with. Cheers.

Best TV Newscast ? Morning

Channel 9

Now that business boy Gregg Moss has rejoined longtime co-anchors Gary Shapiro and Kyle Dyer, as well as affable sports reporter Susie Wargin and weathercaster Becky Ditchfield, it's once again safe to turn on the television when you wake up. This low-key crew delivers news and morning chit-chat in equal measure, without becoming strident or silly. We'd missed Moss, whose informative, entertaining business reports are a real pleasure. With him back in the fold, local TV's most functional family is back in top form.

Best Hair on a TV Personality — Female

Gloria Neal

Longtime local radio personality Gloria Neal is a welcome sight on television — particularly now that she's contributing reports at 6 p.m., when we're a little more awake than we were during her morning appearances and able to appreciate her down-home delivery. Since Neal's hair is shorter than that of most male anchors, viewers can stay focused on the story and not an impossibly complicated spray job.

Best Decorative Weaponry Collection

Ray R. Brannaman VFW Post #3971

Just like little old ladies, who like to share their whimsy through yard art, little old veterans like to share the grandiosity of their glory days through yard artillery. The strip of lawn surrounding the parking lot of the Ray R. Brannaman VFW Post is groaning with glory in the guise of three big guns, a troop transport vehicle, a jeep truck and a baby-dolphin-sized shell casing hanging beneath the front eave. A classic cannon protects the entrance, which is backed up by a pair of matching howitzers. Don't let the heavy armaments deter you from thanking these fellows for their service and letting them know this place is the bomb.

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