John Rebchook is a former Rocky Mountain News reporter with more than 30 years of experience in writing and communications... 
Dee "almost-50" received the surprise of her life on Sunday night.
Well played, Margaret Jackson!
Well played, Jim Theye!
Jackson, the real estate reporter for the Denver Post, and Theye, Dee Chirafisi’s husband and c0-owner of Kentwood City Properties, conspired to throw a surprise birthday bash for Dee’s upcoming 50th on Sunday night. (For an earlier blog about Dee’s birthday, please visit this blog.) About 70 people – including developers Susan Powers and Jerry Glick, and the Post’s Penny Parker and Westword’s Patricia Calhoun, attended the surprise party in the basement of TAG restaurant, 1441 Larimer St.
Sneaky friend, husband
This is how the caper went down.
About a month ago, Jackson, in league with Theye, suggested to Dee that they have dinner together before Dee turns 50 on March 28. Dee suggested they turn it into a “spa day,” so they pampered themselves with massages and manicures at the Ritz Carlton Denver, as well stopping for a couple of glasses of wines at Vita Restaurant, 1575 Boulder St., in the Highland neighborhood, before taking the elevator down to TAG’s basement.
Before they arrived, a number of people wondered if they could pull it off, because so many people were in on the secret.
Clearly, by the stunned expression on her face, as well as the tears running down her cheeks, everyone know that she had not suspected a thing.
They pulled it off, even though Dee noted that she had probably been in contact within every single person in the room in the past week or so.
History may repeat itself for the Aries in 2060.
“I hope to see you all again at my 100th birthday,” Dee said.
Contact John Rebchook at JRCHOOK@gmail.com or 303-945-6865.
