Happy birthday, Maggiano's

Maggiano's in the Denver Pavilions turns ten this week, and its is a real reason to celebrate. Unlike so many corporate-concept restaurants, this Maggiano's -- a link in a Chicago-based chain -- pays attention to the community in which it is located, doing innumerable good works even while it serves...

By Patricia Calhoun

November 12, 2008

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Maggiano's in the Denver Pavilions turns ten this week, and its is a real reason to celebrate. Unlike so many corporate-concept restaurants, this Maggiano's -- a link in a Chicago-based chain -- pays attention to the community in which it is located, doing innumerable good works even while it serves good food.

It's even run by good sports, who hosted a millionth meatball ceremony seven years ago -- and then rolled with the punches when I threw a curveball in my "Blowing Boeing" column.

For the record, over the past decade, Maggiano's claims to have served up 61.5 tons of meatballs; 185,000 pounds of spaghetti; 450,000 pounds of lasagna and 910,000 carryout bags -- those portions are huge.

So happy birthday, Maggiano's. Here's to many more -- birthdays, and meatballs. -- Patricia Calhoun

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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