Name withheld by request
Burn there, done that: I wasn't born in Phoenix, just raised here, and I've been just aching to say how very sorry I am for the people who have lost their beautiful, expensive, Preserve-view homes, but I haven't been able to stop laughing long enough to do so. Hell, yeah, burn, baby, burn!
Instead, I'll just wish the arsonists luck in keeping their fires under control and in evading the snowpigs with their guerrilla tactics, although I fear that your coverage may have provided too much information for them to remain free for long. From the tone of your source, I also fear they might get cocky and diverge from tactics that seem to be working without causing other than superficial harm.
Linda Wilson
via Internet
Indifferent Strokes
Garnish her wages: Carey Sweet's recent review of Suroeste Grille ("Snooze Flash," January 18) was appalling for its inconsistency and bias. Some of her inconsistencies: She decried the grill marks on the chicken, yet loved the burnt flavor the grill marks gave to the steak. She mocked the diced yellow, red and green peppers dusted on every plate for presentation as "sleepy, predictable" (a signature presentation technique of chef Emeril Lagasse), but wanted the chef to "kick it up a few notches" (another Emeril signature). I'll tell you what sleepy, predictable presentation is: ubiquitous sprigs of parsley. Someone does something different, and it becomes "tired" -- please! Sweet complains about the menu -- "Watch out, there's little warning of packed heat on the printed description" -- but then wants "food that tastes as spunky as it reads." Obviously, both Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde wrote this review. How do you please a person who can't make up her mind as to what she wants?
I recently moved to the Club West area from Chicago, and this review reeked of anti-Ahwatukee ("world's largest cul-de-sac") sentiment. There are only four roads in and out of Ahwatukee from I-10. I only need one, why does Sweet need more than four? Be sure to let her know about Pecos Road opening up in the fall. It seems, from past reviews, that Ms. Sweet was upset with having to travel south of Baseline.
At least she got one thing right: "The people behind Suroeste care, it's apparent. It's obvious in the friendly, warm service and the consideration behind menu descriptions." I've been looking for a place like this since I moved, and now that I've found it, I'm going back for more.
David Farnesi
Phoenix
Trap Dorm
Hall of shame: I'd like to thank you for the story about ASU residence halls ("Dorm Warning," Robert Nelson, January 25). I am a resident assistant who works in the building and therefore have firsthand experience of all the problems that exist. We have complained as loudly as possible about the building conditions to no avail. I think this sort of outside pressure from the press and public might now be the only thing that will get things done. I also truly appreciate the way the article didn't look down upon the Manzanita dorm experience as a whole. Thank you for pointing out that we do a much better job with student programs and the like.
Name withheld by request
