Denver can count Jack A. Weil among its blessings. The almost 106-year-old founder of Rockmount Ranchwear served as the official sign changer at the Thursday ceremony switching the Wazee Street sign to Tooley Street.

Weil, whose birthday is March 28, gave the sign's cover a mighty tug to reveal the name that will remain for a week, in honor of former Denver District Attorney Dale Tooley. In all the years that Jack A. and his "much younger" son Jack B. Weil (and grandson Steve Weil)have attended the annual event, this was the first time the senior Weil had a task.

"We're a big city, but we're still a small town," Jack A. said after the ceremony in front of McCormick's. "A lot of big cities wouldn't do something like this. I love it every year."

Denver City Auditor Dennis Gallagher read Mayor John Hickenlooper's official proclamation with a flourish, singing the end of the missive. St. Patrick, aka Pat Minehane, a host of Hibernians, public works employees dressed in lime green vests, and a bagpipe player rounded out the crowd that adjourned inside McCormick's for a feast of corned beef and cabbage, lamb stew and bread pudding.

The city's 45th St. Patrick's Day parade begins at 10 a.m. March 17 at 20th and Blake streets.

BOWLED OVER: Gov. Bill Ritter acknowledged that he was double booked when he took the podium as the keynote speaker Thursday at the LoDo District's 17th Annual Meeting and the Limelight Awards at Coors Field.

"Mayor Hickenlooper is the kind of guy who will start bowling without me and count my frames as zero," he told the LoDo-ites, explaining why he had to make his speech and skeedaddle to Lucky Strike Lanes. That's where his team, Let's Roll, "bowled over" Mayor Hick's team, Motion to Strike, during the annual benefit for Concerts For Kids.

After the last pin was KO'd, the teams had raised nearly $30,000 for the charity, which will feature Michael McDonald in a June 8 concert at the CityLights Pavilion in the Pepsi Center parking lot. Ticket info to come.

ROCK ON: Tommypalooza, a three-day celebration of music and art, wants to rock your world Friday through Sunday at The Toad Tavern, 5302 S. Federal Circle in Littleton.

Named for Denver music man Tommy Nahulu, the event will raise money for The National Center For Missing and Exploited Children. More info: blog.myspace .com/rockoncolorado or toadtav ern.com.

THE SEEN: The Wellshire Inn has been the politicos' place this week, with members from both sides of the aisle visiting the venerable spot. U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo brunching on Sunday; former Interior Secretary Gale Norton lunching on Monday; Mayor Hickenlooper, Centennial Mayor Randy Pye, Aurora Mayor Paul Tauer and Denver Chief of Police Gerry Whitman attending Monday's Open Door luncheon.

EAVESDROPPING on a man at the Limelight Awards: "I turned 61 last week. You know what they say about 61? It's the new 60."

Penny Parker ON THE TOWN

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 park erp@RockyMountainNews.com.