In the airline industry, whose skies haven’t been so friendly to many carriers, Southwest Airlines’ celebration of its 40th birthday Saturday marks a major milestone.
To celebrate, the Dallas-based airline wants passengers to raise a toast on all flights Saturday, where travelers 21 and older will get a free cocktail.
And don’t be shocked if the flight attendants delivering drinks don hot pants, go-go boots and mini-dresses from back in the day when they were called stewardesses.
Southwest, Denver’s No. 2 carrier behind United Airlines in domestic market share, has weathered industry turbulence that saw roughly 15 airlines grounded in the past decade, a worldwide credit crisis and soaring fuel costs.
During its recent shareholders meeting, Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said that his company was “the dramatic exception” to the industry’s bumpy ride.
“While other airlines shrunk, we grew our fleet by 59 percent to 548 aircraft,” Kelly said. “We grew our cities served by 13 to (now) 72. . . . Jobs and pay increased. Our customer experience and brand rankings rose to record levels.”
Golf gifts gear up.
Dads are looking for more fore! in their Father’s Day, according to a recent report from retail giant Golfsmith, which says it sells more golf gear in June than at Christmas.
“Typically our day before Father’s Day is very typical of a regular retailer’s day after Thanksgiving,” said Shawn Corcoran, Golfsmith regional manager. “Denver is a huge golf market for us.”
Golfsmith has metro-area stores at Park Meadows, Westminster and Golden. Leading up to Father’s Day on Sunday, Golfsmith will sell 2 million golf balls, 4 million tees, 150,000 golf clubs and 30,000 hats chainwide, according to the report.
Hit hop.
TAG and TAG Raw Bar chef/owner Troy Guard hopped into first place with his kangaroo slider during the third annual Hot Rocks Griller Challenge, a benefit for the Denver Health Foundation, Wednesday at Elway’s Cherry Creek.
More than 800 local notables sampled sliders from 15 chefs and voted for the best bite.
Second place went to Encore chef Paul Reilly for his North African lamb sausage slider, and Rioja, Bistro Vendome and Euclid Hall chef/co-owner Jen Jasinski took third for her grilled Colorado lamb slider.
FAC.
The other Elway’s, in The Ritz-Carlton Denver, starts a Friday Afternoon Club from 2 to 6 p.m. today with $3 draft beers, $5 wines and $7 select cocktails, plus half-price appetizers, sushi specials and live music.
Martin moving?
With no contract with the Nuggets next season, could Kenyon Martin be making a move out of Colorado?
Perhaps the $1 million reduction on the asking price of Martin’s Greenwood Village mansion is a comment on his future.
The basketball star’s 12,000-plus-square-foot, seven-bedroom, 10-bath, seven-fireplace palatial pad is now priced at $2.2 million. Martin paid $3.55 for the estate in 2004.
Eavesdropping
on a man talking about U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner’s resignation: “Weiner got schnitzeled.”
Penny Parker’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Listen to her on the “Caplis & Silverman” radio show between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-AM (630). Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.
