Greetings from DIA

Maybe all it took was Sunday's visit from Mary Peters, the Transportation secretary, who vowed to keep the nation's airports operating through the holidays -- and choose Denver as the poster child for last year's dysfunctional flying. Maybe it was the holiday entertainment that kicked off yesterday, which translated to...

By Patricia Calhoun

November 21, 2007

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Maybe all it took was Sunday's visit from Mary Peters, the Transportation secretary, who vowed to keep the nation's airports operating through the holidays -- and choose Denver as the poster child for last year's dysfunctional flying. Maybe it was the holiday entertainment that kicked off yesterday, which translated to an accordian player at the entrance to Concourse A who kept ripping through renditions of "Lady of Spain." Maybe it was those extra TSA workers added on for the seasonal crush. Or maybe it was that, for once, I'd arrived at DIA over two hours before my plane was scheduled to take off.

Whatever.

All I know for sure is that a half hour after getting to DIA just before noon today (even Pena Boulevard was a snap), I was checked in, through security, and sitting at a bar on the A Concourse. Where I've already waited longer for a beer than I did in the security line.

Next time, Secretary Peters, could you vow to do something about the service at the Blue Sky Bar? -- Patricia Calhoun

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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