February 5-11, 2004

mailbag

Letters to the Editor

by the Readers

More Subways

With decades of neglect, do you really think the city has the will to follow through on its word to improve, beautify and preserve Fairmount Park, and what is your vision of how the Parkway will look ["Disappearing Act," Amy Webb, City Space, Jan. 29, 2004]? I think naming the Parkway Museum Row sounds tacky. Also, I believe strongly that the car should be de-emphasized on the Ben Franklin Parkway and a greater network of subways needs to be at least discussed and considered. I don't think this is straying too far from your article, since we are all concerned about how to best use with intelligence, vision and fun the spaces in this city.

John Litzke
Via E-mail

Next of Spin

I must say that I was quite disappointed when I read the recent article about Next BYOB on South Street ["Get in Line," Elisa Ludwig, Jan. 29, 2004]. I have been there several times and have consistently had a meal that I believed to be superb. Although the famed Django is around the corner, I have found my meals at Next to be much more pleasurable. The atmosphere is more comfortable, there is a great deal of space in between tables (unlike the cramped setup at Django and other area BYOBs) and I found the food to be extraordinary -- especially coming from such a young chef. The woman who reviewed this restaurant went back and forth in her review and sounded unsure about what she was saying. She would begin by complimenting a dish, but then would change her opinion instantaneously. I am curious what her credentials actually are -- does she have extensive experience in the restaurant industry or is she just another journalism grad who has never had the pleasure of experiencing great cuisine?

Jacqueline McQuillan
Via E-mail

More Fuss Over Pus

Give me a break! I could not believe that story about a South Philly girl, Annie Roberts, who claimed to have eaten bad Chinese food stuffed with a used Band-Aid ["A Fuss Over Pus," Deborah Bolling and Helen i-lin Hwang, Jan. 22, 2004].

Oh, poor baby; give me a break! I have had more than my share of bad Chinese meals and never did I need a colonoscopy or an endoscopy (then again, I never hired a lawyer just because my tummy hurt).

The article states that poor Annie is only able to eat about 20 percent of her normal food intake -- really? Then how come poor Annie put on (by her own mother's admission) over 50 pounds since the alleged incident back in October 2000? Good thing she only eats 20 percent of her food; if not she might be able to enter a Haystacks Calhoun look-alike contest.

Some advice, kid: Take the five grand the owner of the restaurant has offered you, graduate from high school, then get a real life; also, be happy that you were able to get five grand just because you had a bellyache.

People like you, and your attorney, make me really sick!

Frank Chille
Via E-mail