Landmark decisions: Bravo! The Best of Denver 2000 was informative, irreverent and funny! I take exception to a couple of your choices, however.
Best Public Golf Course: Arrowhead is a beautiful course, but it's a private course, open to the public. If you're looking for a public -- aka municipal -- course, check out Saddle Rock, in far southeast Aurora. It's a long way to go, but well worth it.
Best Movie Theater -- Traditional: Okay, I admit that the Mayan is really nice to look at, and it does win in this category, but only because of lack of any competition. Have you ever sat through a film in the main theater? The sound is the worst, and the seats are in sore need of repair or, better yet, replacement. If the movie I want to see is on the main screen, I'll wait a few weeks until it has moved to the viewing rooms upstairs or else wait for it to come out on video. Too bad somebody didn't buy the old Colorado 6 in Glendale and turn it into an art theater; at least it was comfortable to watch a film there, unlike in the current selection of art-film houses in Denver. Come on, Landmark, spend some money.
Tony Sharp
via the Internet
No doubting Thomas: Steve Thomas, author of the Best Book About the JonBenét Ramsey Murder, rocks. Alex Hunter and his minions couldn't bear the scrutiny of a trial on their malfeasance in office, and they continue to block any scrutiny of their actions by a special prosecutor, should Governor Owens ever gather up the gumption to take them down. The reason Thomas hasn't been challenged is because the DA's office knows full well that what he said is true. With the vindictiveness shown by Hunter regarding Fleet White and others in the investigation, he knows what would come down.
Thomas's book was a fascinating indictment of the Boulder District Attorney's Office and should ring some bells in the political establishment. However, what should ring is the alarm clock: They're all in bed together in their guilt over this case.
Governor Owens, give justice a chance and recuse the Boulder DA from the Ramsey case. Open up the case files from the grand jury to a special prosecutor, and slam these people in the door they've made for themselves!
Connie Alsip
San Pedro, CA
Creaming the competition: We are owners of an ice cream parlor and were eagerly anticipating the Best Ice Cream category, since you had it last year. What happened?
Glen Wielandt
Aurora
Nothing but blues guy: I believe that Kai Turner's blues radio show is on The Fox, not The Hawk!
Jennifer
Aurora
The falafel truth: Here's an idea! Instead of nursing a tattered and torn BOD in the back of my SUV for a year, how about a PDA version? With selectable downloadable Best Ofs, say, if I wanted to find the best place for falafel. Bam! There it is on my Palm Pilot, brought to you by the Mile High Coors/Pepsi CenterField. God! I am such a yuppie. I'll leave now.
Lance McGinn
Denver
Black-out: I'm a regular reader of your paper, and I always enjoy your articles, but I must be blunt. Who did the interviewing or whatever for this Best of Denver 2000? Were there any Afro-Americans involved or what? You left out R&B nightclubs, funk and hip-hop, soul food (speaking of which, did you even go to any black-owned BBQ places?), Pierre's Famous Catfish, and the up-and-coming black designers. Denver has at least three of the country's top gospel groups (like Focus), a famous (best) black rodeo that comes to town every year, the best Juneteenth celebration, etc. I think next year you need to send somebody else into the field who will not be biased!
R.D. Tarv
Aurora
You dogs! I am writing to express my extreme disappointment in your paper. I own and operate a doggy daycare and dog-training center in central Denver. I collected over fifty ballots for my business, the Dog House, to be voted best doggy daycare and training center in Denver. We both know this did not happen. Yet you can have a category for best toilet paper! What a load of crap! I am a small-business owner and could use the help that being voted best in this category would have brought me. I feel that you have cheated me out of something that I deserved, and if I sound upset, you are right.
Betsy Kelso
Denver
We'll drink to that: I wanted to thank John La Briola, Laura Bond and the rest of the Westword staff for including Buzz Bomber and the M-80s as a Best of Denver recipient for Best Charity Gig by a Bunch of Drunks. I would especially like to show my appreciation for Bryon Woodard at the Cricket on the Hill for being the real hero. For the last several years, he has busted his balls, organizing the Cricket's Children's Hospital/Toys for Tots Benefit, often raising thousands of dollars for the kids. From all three of us and every damn band that's ever played at the Cricket on the Hill, thank you, Bryon, Thom and the rest of the hardworking staff at the Cricket. You all rule the planet!
Mike Mayhem
Denver
That's the ticket! Thank you for listing www.artstozoo.org as the Best Ticket Deals in your Best of Denver 2000 issue. We would, however, like to point out that the Arts to Zoo Web site is not owned by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District. It is owned by Arts Communications, Inc., a nonprofit that helps arts organizations promote their activities. ACI is supported by a variety of sponsors, including SCFD, many of its member organizations and the Denver Post.
Marianne Goodland, treasurer
The Arts Communications, Inc., board
No shelter from the storm: Regarding the Best Move by Mayor Wellington Webb, the new homeless shelter for women and families: Wow. Did Webb write that by himself, or was it one of his minions? Did anyone on your staff actually check into this announcement by the man who, according to the Denver Post, would be secretary of state? As I understand it, Webb's going to cut off hotel vouchers and, in approximately four weeks, create a homeless shelter for women, children and families. Neat trick! Oddly enough, none of the Denver Social Services staffers at a recent East Village meeting had a clue as to how this amazing program could be implemented in thirty days. You might want to phone a few of Denver's direct service providers to see if the mayor's vision is anything more than an eleventh-hour plunge into crafting his legacy as friend to the downtrodden. Bah!
Patricia C. Kelly
Lakewood
Editor's note: The mayor's minions -- who did not write any of the Best of Denver 2000, by the way -- assure us that the thirty-day time frame was for the selection process, not the completion of the shelter, and that selection of a shelter provider is well under way. As for the rest of these Best of comments: For the record, not every category -- Best Ice Cream, for example -- appears in every Best of Denver edition. We're always looking for new items, and often that means rotating out old categories. Nor does collecting a large number of write-in votes guarantee that a certain business will appear in the issue (if it did, the 2000 edition would have a page full of hair salons). R.D., Best Catfish is one of those categories that took a breather this year -- but if you visit Blest Bar-B-Que, you'll realize that not only are the owners black, they make the town's Best Barbecued Brisket. And Lance, while the PDA is a good idea, for now, readers -- yuppie or not -- will have to be satisfied by the fact that this year's Best of Denver, as well as previous editions, is available at all times on the Web. Jennifer, you're right: Kai Turner's "Strictly Blues" show is on The Fox, 103.5FM.
Now for two more corrections: The Best Bar Burger is indeed at Dazzle, 930 Lincoln Street, but the correct phone number is 303-839-5100. And while the Best French Fries can be found at Piscos, 1120 East Sixth Avenue, the correct phone number there is 303-777-8222. Our apologies.
Absolutely Fabula: Being a fan of many area restaurants (Potager, Aubergine Cafe, Highland's Garden Cafe, 240 Union, Sushi Den, Piscos and Radex are at the top of the list) that Denver has been blessed with over the past few years, I was impressed with the new direction and menu of La Fabula. I have visited the restaurant five times in the past few months, trying new dishes each time, and was pleased with each dining experience. Rome and Ron would come by each table, chatting with their customers, enhancing the overall evening.
After reading Kyle Wagner's review ("Say What?" June 15), I could not believe that we had gone to the same restaurant. I do not ever remember "tri-colored chips," but I do remember warm cheese bread served with three wonderful salsas. Understanding that each dish is freshly prepared, I was never anticipating a "chain restaurant" delivery; I knew service would depend upon the preparation time of that particular entree.
My main issue/concern with Kyle Wagner's weekly restaurant reviews are the continual "acid attacks" within most of the articles. Denver's best food critic (in my opinion) is Bill St. John -- his reviews continue to have balance. The restaurant business is very challenging, and an article like Kyle's review on La Fabula (the only negative review I have seen since it opened) can cause more damage than is necessary.
Debra Mountain
Denver
Editor's note: For more on La Fabula and other Best of Denver food fallout, see Kyle Wagner's The Bite.
In Julie Jargon's May 4 story, "The First Step," Westword erroneously stated that the Internal Revenue Service had charged Werner Erhard with tax evasion. Although Mr. Erhard was involved in a nasty tax dispute with the IRS, he was not charged with a crime, and all tax issues were resolved by way of legal rulings in his favor and/or payment of taxes due.
