Like the music industry, Westword is becoming a dinosaur. The former underground mag needs to be replaced. Wake up to the 21st century, Westword. Other than that, great job!
David Parks
Bennett
Rock on:Thank you for mentioning progressive rock with the Best Prog Label. It's great that this genre of music is finally getting the respect it deserves. Dave Kerman has produced some amazing music here in Colorado, and it's great to see him recognized.
Phil Satterley
Littleton
The light stuff:The person who didn't get mentioned that irritates me is the light man at the hi-dive on Wednesday nights named "Phil the Fan," who's the icon of lights in this town. The hi-dive won the Best New Club because of his hard work on Wednesday nights. I've seen people dancing in his light show in complete and utter joy. I want him to receive his much-earned award. He's one of the smartest and most dedicated artists I know in this entire town.
Frank Winters
Denver
Thanks for the memories:I sure enjoyed reading Patricia Calhoun's excellent "How the Best Was Won," in the Best of Denver issue. I couldn't help but reminisce about downtown Denver as it was thirty years ago. Calhoun mentioned the Denver Tearoom housed in the Denver Dry, which my family used to frequent and which was a real treat. It would definitely qualify as the "best of the best" by Westword standards. The exquisite ambience was never rivaled by any other place along 16th Street.
The "new" Woolworth's at that time was also a nice place to grab a delicious turkey sandwich and a soft drink. I don't think they had that horrible-looking pizza back then!
The streets were lined with very exclusive stores like Neusteter's, I. Magnin, Fashion Bar and the Denver, just to name a few. I miss these businesses so much. "They" should have left well enough alone and not built the mall. I'm sure a lot of others feel this way, too -- especially natives of Denver, like myself. Did the Wellington Webb crew come up with this idea, or was it Federico Peña?
People always use the cliche "That's progress." Is it really?
Rosemary McManis
Denver
Seek and ye shall find:Great Best of Denver issue. The only thing missing is a more convenient way for your readers to get all those recommendations. (It is difficult to keep that massive volume intact in a car and at home.) How about a PDA version that is searchable? For example, when my wife and I are out for a movie and looking for the Best Sushi recommendation, we would have that and all the rest at our fingertips. You could probably charge a small download fee and sell advertising. Millions own PDAs now...
Lee Kramm
Denver
Man with a plan:I love your Best of Denver edition and look forward to reading it each year. I am hopeful that a full listing of the 2004 winners can be made available in pdf format. Also, it might be worthwhile to show the Best Of winners on a map of the city with a corresponding legend, so that visitors can make plans when visiting an area of the metroplex!
Thanks again, and great job on another great issue of Westword!
J.T. Capps
Highlands Ranch
Editor's note:That's it -- the rest of the Best (not including dozens of thank-you notes). For those who missed the issue, it's now archived online at www.westword.com; we'll also look into our readers' suggestions for PDA/pdf versions. For those who won awards, the Westword office is working on your plaques; editorial@westword.com for an ETA.
We'll Drink to That!
A glass act:I read Patrick Osborn's "Drunk of the Week" every week. He is truly great! I sit here in my place of work usually laughing my arse off while I am reading his column. He hits things right on the nose most times, and I loved the March 18 piece. It sounded just like me and my fifteen-year-old, who I am trying desperately to keep as my little girl. Keep up the good work.
Dana Parrott
Denver
Playing the Racist Card
Funny money:I was going to send Stuart Steers a critical e-mail until I saw that he wrote about the funding that Dick Lamm received from Richard Mellon-Scaife ("It's Not Easy Being Green," March 18). Having read David Brock's Blinded by the Right, I consider him to be one of the most vile people in America. If Lamm takes money from Scaife, it's irrelevant, but when the Sierra Club accepts money from anonymous donors, then that's a major campaign issue. I don't think Lamm is racist, but he is illogical at best and hypocritical at worst.
Thanks for an article that, unlike Fox News, was fair and balanced.
Jim Wilkinson
via the Internet
