Letters to the Editor

What You Say

But we're caught in a bad romance!

Boring, dreary and predictable [Cover Story, "Top 21 Albums of 2009," Dec. 24]. These tracks have no beat, no relevance, no courage. Funny how going to Amazon to hear one track automatically leads to the same "top albums," recommended from other buyers. You have no taste and did no work! What do you listen to for fun? Can't be this shiite and you shoulda outgrown Lady CaCa by now even though she is clearly the only ballsy new act on this list.

David Snyder writes: "Fourteen years ago, Philly's dining scene appealed to a much older crowd — to the extent there was a dining scene at all" [Food, "Pie's the Limit," Dec. 24].

Ever hear of the restaurant renaissance? Ever hear of yuppies? Philadelphia has had an exciting restaurant scene since at least the mid-'70s. All along it has been at least partially driven by young professionals. Stephen Starr is an important part of today's restaurant scene, but I don't recall the Continental being all that groundbreaking other than serving a bunch of flavored martinis.

David Snyder responds: Holly, I am familiar with the restaurant renaissance of the late '60s. But you're the first person I've encountered to suggest that its momentum continued through the '90s or to give it such credit for the vibrant restaurant scene we enjoy today. In the research I've conducted over the years, it's Starr's arrival that's often credited as being the catalyst for what is generally seen as a separate (and the current) restaurant renaissance.

Bacon was embarrassed by aspects of city life like fruit vendors [Cover Story, "The Future is Now," Nathaniel Popkin, Dec. 17]. He wanted to stamp out every Old World vestige in this city. His goal was to reorient the city by creating a strong Market Street axis. Market Street itself leaves a lot to be desired, but Bacon shouldn't take all the blame. On the other hand, let's all be grateful that his South Street Expressway failed.