Love/Hate Mail
Editor’s note
Given our public vacillations over the years about Desperately Seeking the News—to run it or not to run it, to fire media critic Henry Walker (more than once) or hire him back—it should come as no surprise that we’ve changed our minds again. After pulling the column last year, we’ve now decided to run it periodically, probably not every week, but just whenever we damn well feel like it. So, inside this week’s issue you’ll see it resurrected once again. You’ll see our in-house writer Matt Pulle’s name atop it. Happy reading. —B.D.
A rocker’s mom writes
My daughter participated in the Southern Girls Rock ’n’ Roll Camp, and this article portrayed the week beautifully (“For Those About to Rock,” Aug. 14). It was awesome for my daughter and her friends. As a mother, watching the final concert, I had tears throughout the evening. These young ladies were absolutely fantastic. My admiration goes to Kelly Anderson and all the volunteers for teachings these kids more in one week than they will ever learn in a year sitting in a classroom.
Nancy Potter
moudyp@comcast.net (Murfreesboro)
Warm fuzzies
Many thanks to Vicki Brown and the Scene for the article on the group of foster care youths working to improve the odds for all young people in the system (“Sparrows in a Hurricane,” Aug. 14). We all need to hear more stories like this, reminders that miraculous, hopeful and inspiring things are present all around us if we’re willing to look for them. Who would predict that these youths, in many ways “the least among us,” could accomplish what they have? Bravo to the young adults on the Tennessee Youth Advisory Council and to the folks at VIPPS and the Casey Foundation who believe in them.
Jane Fleishman
jfleishman@oasiscenter.org (Nashville)
Defending the “no” crowd
Your editorial about the commercial area on Belmont at Dallas and the redevelopment of Forrest Hills makes it look as though you are in the knee-jerk pro-development camp (“NIMBYism Run Amok,” Aug. 14). Zoning is always an important issue, and affected residents have every right to be involved. In addition, the Forrest Hills site is within the I-440 Impact Area, where special procedures are required for reviewing development that is stimulated by accessibility to the interstate. We don’t need to be lectured about the “new urbanism.” Midtown neighborhoods like Belmont-Hillsboro were the urban movement during the ’70s and ’80s, before it became fashionable (largely because we showed that it worked). The developer who bought Forrest Hills in 1998 assumed that he could get a zone change. Now he wants to sell it for a profit, and the new developers, who are buying it for an even higher price, threaten a shabby development unless they get what they want.
The 18th District is the most densely populated in the county. In addition, there is lots of traffic to Vanderbilt and downtown, and it increases every year. Traffic impacts are pertinent each time a new development is considered.
Gene TeSelle
2007 Linden Ave., Nashville
A written finger wag
There’s nothing better than a restaurant review that starts off bashing a town that some of us less educated and apparently less cultured natives are proud to call home (“No Style, No Substance,” Aug. 14). Last time I looked, not too many real Nashvillians were ashamed of bouffant hairstyles and rhinestone-encrusted shirts. I don’t know about everyone else, but I for one am weeping with joy that Kay West lived through her initial Nashville shock and decided to stay here.
If I were a food critic like the homecoming queen of Manhattan hip that Kay West is, I would think it prudent to take an establishment for what it is. For example, a sports bar is just that—a sports bar. It’s loud, it’s smoky, it’s “testosterone driven.” Perhaps some abstract art or maybe some chintz curtains would really help the patrons cheer on their favorite team. It’s a fairly simple equation: If you don’t like sports, then don’t go to a sports bar. And what would you prefer from a pizza place? Nothing would say pizza parlor better than a lowly lit room with velvet draperies. Maybe some of us want to go to a friendly unpretentious place and have a few drinks and a pizza, for god’s sake. Doesn’t anyone tire of the contrived hipness and ridiculous prices of some of our newly “renaissanced” neighborhood restaurants? Doesn’t anyone want to watch a damn football game, drink cheap beer and eat cheese sticks anymore?
Hate it all you want to, Kay, but I find greasy food, alcohol and more sports than you can handle a more fitting homage to our old beloved Music Row than sushi, fancy martinis and black-clad hipsters ever will be. See you at the karaoke bar, Kay.
Amanda McCrary
afmccrary@prodigy.net (Nashville)
Complaint department
I don’t like the new layout of the Scene. Now you have to look through the whole paper before you can find the free movie passes selection. Before, all you had to do is look to page 3 or 4, and there you could find it. Now it’s harder to find. Please go back to the other way.
Joi Cash
joicash2002@yahoo.com (Nashville)
