It was clear that John Huggins had spent his last day as director of the Denver Office of Economic Development based on the shirt he chose for his going-away party on Friday.

Draped in a shapeless Hawaiian-print, Huggins painfully stuck out among the "suits" gathered in the Pinnacle Club for the good-natured send-off.

"You can always tell when someone's in transition," said former Mayor Wellington Webb, directing his comments about Huggins to Mayor John Hickenlooper. "Normally, you would not let him wear that shirt."

Huggins, 48, joined Hickenlooper's staff nearly four years ago after returning from California, where he made millions in a startup company in Silicon Valley. Before that venture, Huggins served as the city's economic development director from 1992 to 1994.

Huggins' fortune enabled him to buy the Sleeper House (named because it was used in the Woody Allen movie Sleeper), which sold last year for $3.45 million.

Several former colleagues stepped up to roast and toast Huggins (former city attorney Cole Finegan, DPS honcho Michael Bennet, Mayor Hick), but the most hilarious comments came from Tracy Huggins, executive of the Denver Urban Renewal Authority.

"Yes, it's true, we are married," Tracy said, pulling the well-heeled legs in attendance. "What woman wouldn't jump at the chance to marry a man who has an Orgasmatron (from the movie Sleeper) in his house?

"So honey, we've had a good four years. But because you made me sign that prenup and now you're unemployed without that city (parking) hangtag and a direct line to the mayor, it's time for a divorce."

Huggins, whose successes include facilitating high-profile real estate developments such as Dahlia Square, the Lowenstein Theatre, the former Gates site and Denver Union Station, has said he's not sure about his next job, but it will be in the private sector.

TASTY TIME: Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau spokesman Rich Grant can still taste the sweet success of Denver Restaurant Week, a gastronomical romp through metro-area menus that offered meal deals Feb. 24 through March 2.

"I don't think a lot of people realized how much the dining scene in the city had changed. That, to us, is the success of this," Grant said, who added the bureau won't have hard numbers on meals served for a week or two.

Some eateries were impressed enough with the increased business that they extended the offer.

• Fresh Fish Company, 7800 E. Hampden Ave., will offer the $52.80-for-two special March 23-30.

• Sienna at the Courtyard, 333 Perry St., Castle Rock, is extending the same meal deal Sundays and Mondays in March.

• Strings, 1700 Humboldt St., is extending the special every Sunday.

• Dave & Busters, 2000 S. Colorado Blvd., has extended the special through Friday.

• Aix, 719 E. 17th Ave., will run the $52.80 special Tuesday nights in March.

• La Fondue, 1040 15th St., $52.80 menu the month of March.

• The Summit Steakhouse, 2700 S. Havana, is continuing $52.80 on Thursdays through March.

DEVIL OR ANGEL? You thought Heaven and Hell was reserved for the afterlife? No, it's the version of Black Sabbath with Ronnie James Dio as the frontman (filling in for an absent Ozzy Osbourne). While Ozzy's on Ozzfest this year, Heaven and Hell is on tour, including an April 29 date at the Broomfield Events Center. Watch for on-sale information in Friday's Hot Tickets column in Spotlight.

EAVESDROPPING on two men at Ralph Schomp Honda: "If your wife tells you she's just going to babysit a couple of kittens, don't believe her."

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@RockyMountainNews.com.