I nearly made a getaway, but the wriggling ball of fur under my coat gave us away. Georgie, Hotel Monaco's cutey-pahtootie new director of pet relations, wasn't ready to ditch his new position after his Thursday evening debut.

Not even for all the dog treats in Denmark.

The occasion was to officially mark the retirement of Lily Sopris, the Jack Russell terrier who retired after six years of doggie duty, and introduce Lily's replacement.

Georgie Mac, a 7-pound (he's only 4 months old) golden Shih Tzu from Nebraska, will take over the all-important job of greeting guests, riding on the bellmen's carts and sticking his wet nose wherever he feels like.

OK, so I didn't really try to dognap Georgie. I just wanted to "borrow" him so my dogs, Buddy and McCaffrey, could sniff the new kid on the hotel block.

Georgie was chosen after the Monaco put out an RFP (Request For Pooch) to find the cutest and cuddliest canine to slip into Lily's collar.

"He had the personality, charm and charisma reminiscent of Lily," said Beth Johnston, the Monaco's director of sales, adding that Georgie beat out 14 other canine contenders. Georgie's owner, Kevin Siegrist, who works for the hotel and the restaurant Panzano, will chauffer the doggie director to and from work.

Nonprofit groups may request an appearance by the pint-sized pooch, and guests and fans can e-mail him at georgie.mac @hotelmonaco.com. One of Georgie's human colleagues will respond to e-mails, as the darling doggy has not yet perfected typing.

RESTAURANT ROSE: Panzano super chef Elise Wiggins took time to stop and smell the rose during dinner service Wednesday night, where she and her crew were cranking out more than 300 meals for hungry Denver Restaurant Week patrons.

The unknown diner sat at the chef's counter in front of the fast and furious action. At the end of his meal, the handsome stranger produced a single rose and bestowed it upon a wowed Wiggins.

GREENE'S SCENE: Kelly Greene, Denver's lord of leasing, has left Trammell Crow Co. to join David/Hicks Brokerage.

Greene, who has 24 years of experience in the brokerage biz, has had a hand in a substantial number of restaurant deals on Larimer Square and all around town.

DONALDSON'S DEBUT: Stacey Donaldson, the former weather woman on KDVR-Fox 31, debuts Monday on the CBS 4 morning news. The meteorologist will join Tom Mustin and Brooke Wagner. A.J. & B&D: Country crooner Alan Jackson is teaming with Brooks & Dunn for a summer tour, including an Oct. 5 show at the Pepsi Center. No info on tickets yet.

COLD COMEDY: Rocky reporter Erika Gonzalez is braving single- digit degrees in Aspen to bring you blog updates on the annual U.S. Comedy Arts Festival. Catch her reports on RockyTalk Live at RockyMountainNews.com.

EAVESDROPPING. . . on a woman and a man at Bud's Cafe & Bar in Sedalia:

"Just exactly when is Mardi Gras?"

"I think it's already over."

"It can't be. Fat Tuesday is next Friday."

Penny Parker's column appears Tuesday through Saturday. Listen to her on the Caplis and Silverman radio show between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-AM (630). Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail parkerp@RockyMoun tainNews.com.