April 8-14, 2004

mailbag

Letters to the Editor

by the Readers

We Were Just Kidding

The press gave us international raves when we opened our doors two years ago, but nothing says "you've arrived!" in Philadelphia like being afforded the same reportorial reverence usually reserved for SEPTA, Rocky and City Hall ["Kimmel Goes Indie," April 1, 2004].

Thanks for the boost to our edgy image, and please invite your readers to our world music dance parties this July, when we really will remove all the theater seats to make way for a dance floor. And if anyone wants to know who on the Kimmel staff is sporting tattoos (and where), we suggest stopping by our third annual all-night Summer Solstice festival (June 26), when we all ditch our gowns and tuxedos in favor of ripped jeans and baby Ts.

Oh, and just to set the record straight: Mervon Mehta drinks Molson, not Yuengling. He's from Canada -- which explains a lot of things.

Gotta go -- Death Cab for Cutie's publicist is on the phone and now they want to play the Kimmel instead of the Khyber.

Margie Smith,

Director of Communications
Kimmel Center, Inc.

Not Funny

The recent column featuring statements by Log Cabin Republicans would be funny if it weren't so sad [Political Notebook, Mary F. Patel, March 25, 2004].

John Partain, president of the local chapter, refers to the "big tent" fantasy of the 2000 campaign -- funny, I haven't heard any straight Republicans refer to the "big tent" this time around. Donald Carter, ever the optimist, or should I say self-delusionist, claims that Bush is up for re-election and his advisers are telling him he has to cater to his conservative base. That may be true, but I seem to recall the big flap over the statements made by U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum last year.

In a July 30 New York Times article, Bush was quoted as saying "there is reference to the need to codify marriage as between a man and a woman." Back then, I got on the phone to both Santorum's office and the White House to protest Santorum's statements, and I called several other friends, both gay and straight, to ask them to call Santorum's office.

Yet the delusion continues.

Rachel Garber
South Philadelphia

Play Ball

I recently met coach Robert Price and his Hunting Park Ballers ["Affirmative Reaction, Daryl Gale, March 25, 2004]. I had a lot of fun working with the young ballplayers, and the parents and other coaches seemed to appreciate the equipment I brought and the time I spent with the players. It was a very enjoyable, enlightening and rewarding experience for me. I plan to return as much as I can and will hopefully be able to secure more equipment from my network of friends and sports-equipment business associates. My mother often spoke of "the power of the pen." The power of your pen has done some good for a lot of people in Hunting Park and for me as well, Daryl. Thank you!

Tim Horan

Horan Sports
Conshohocken

Correction

Due to a reporting error, a story about Joe Torsella (Primary Platforms, April 1, 2004) incorrectly cited a recent poll placing him three points ahead of opponent Allyson Schwartz, and stated that two independent surveys had been conducted. In fact, Torsella had a one-point lead in the Daily News /CN8 Keystone poll, which was the only independent poll taken for the 13th District U.S. Congressional race. City Paper apologizes for the error.