Is Britney Spears Moving to Denver?

Residents of ski resort town Aspen, Colorado, and their frequent famous visitors will probably breathe a sigh of relief. Rowan Atkinson reprising his role of Mr. Bean won't make the papers worldwide when he dings a VW on his holiday in the mountains. The paparazzi will be stampeding down to Denver to see what Britney Spears is up to.

Spears was in the upscale Cherry Creek North area, according to Bill Husted's Denver Post column citing a former security "guy", and with her "sometime boyfriend" John Sundahl put a $2.2 million deposit on a house. Reports said that the singer may be following Sundahl to the area. The photographers might be disappointed, though, because while the boyfriend is said to be moving to Denver, the rumor mill puts Britney most likely up near Estes Park in the mountains at the Harmony Foundation rehab center, at least for 28 days. Nothing like a geographical cure along with some fresh mountain air, and if she checks herself out this time, she can enjoy the beautiful Rocky Mountain scenery and the only wildlife she'll find won't be interested in photos on the Internet.

So far, this reporter hasn't encountered or heard of anyone here in Denver who's excited about this, except maybe the "CU Boulder Gossip Girls" who are 30 miles away, and saw her passing through in an SUV, according to Husted of the Denver Post. Reporting the news on local country station KYGO this afternoon, a chorus of groans from news staff and DJs alike followed. Even Husted, writing an Arts & Entertainment / gossip column didn't seem to be welcoming the additional material, calling Britney a "pop-tart train wreck." His list of celebrities visiting for the holidays in Aspen gives some idea of why Britney might confuse the Denver area with LA.

The Cherry Creek area of Denver Britney visited is a wonderful, fancy but laid-back place, with Nordstrom and Neiman-Marcus and many other shops for American Express Platinum and Black card holders. Former Broncos QB John Elway has a stylish restaurant there (soon to open along with the Ritz downtown as well) and boutique shopping abounds on the side streets, along with cafés and sports bars. The offices of Internet publishing icon Associated Content also happen to be nearby, where a Britney-cam might be an excellent addition.

A recent article in the Denver Post noted that many of the homes in the area are actually second homes, as Denver is gaining more housing at the multi-million dollar level in Cherry Creek and elsewhere and attracting those who can easily afford it. Hopefully Britney's real estate agent pointed out the free tennis courts nearby, the peaceful picnic areas by Cherry Creek, the romantic gondola rides in summer, and the Botanic Gardens just down the road for her to meditate in the Japanese Garden. Of course, if she moves in with the usual chaos that the tabloids feed on, her neighbors may be fleeing to those serene spots instead!

"Britney may haunt Colo. to kick habit.", Bill Husted, http://www.denverpost.com/popular/ci_7867491

"People: Lawyers dump "impossible" Spears", Internet sources and AP, http://www.denverpost.com/popular/ci_7871288

"Goldie Hawn laments paparazzi influx in once-quiet Aspen", AP, http://www.denverpost.com/entertainment_old/ci_7872799

"Cherry Creek now awash in second homes", Margaret Jackson, http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_7858767

"Rowan Atkinson's Mr. Bean moment: comedian backs into car on holiday", http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=504415&in_page_id=1773