Duck! The brickbats have been flying in our online comments sections lately, with a good portion of them coming from the direction of the kitchen. Bella Brava's customers, ex-employees and co-owner gave each other a good talking-to in reaction to Brian Ries' review of the new menu; O Bistro! drew a point-counterpoint exchange; and, as the Tournament of Burgers drew to a close, we heard plenty of suggestions for deserving contestants (including plugs for Square 1 and Green Iguana). Follow the links to read (and maybe join in on) the conversations.

We also got plenty of suggestions for things we missed on our Don't-Miss Lists in the latest Urban Explorer's Handbook, with some particularly passionate declarations in favor of Elements Global Cuisine of Gulfport. (And yes, we know; the numbering in the North East St. Pete map that ran in the print version of the Handbook was seriously off; the online version is correct, however.) Speaking of passionate declarations, our theater critic often inspires them, though not always in agreement; this week, however, a commenter comes to praise him, not to bury him.

Recent stories on sex offenders, solar power, mobile homes and the controversial herb salvia have also generated some heat. But you'll find some of the most heated debate in the comments that followed Megan Voeller's profile of painter Jeff Whipple. Be forewarned, however: You may suffer drowning by verbiage when you dive into sentences like this one from commenter neroito00: "It strikes me as unlikely that you are ignorant of the conundrum inherent to offering critical commentaries on the Web that nearly always result in one's putting at risk current or future employment opportunities, exhibition opportunities, etc., in the art as well academic worlds."

Ouch.

Re "Main Street eclectic," by Anthony Salveggi, Urban Explorer's Handbook (March 26): We are extremely saddened to learn that many new travelers to Gulfport will not have the benefit of a mention of Elements Global Cuisine in your Urban Explorer's Handbook. What they will miss is the welcoming ambiance; a diligent wait staff, fine cuisine, and a delightful opportunity to interact with the chef and his wife, a remarkable dessert chef. We hope that in the future you will include this restaurant in your write-up about Gulfport!
Paradox

Re "Salvia: What's all the buzz about?" by Alex Pickett (March 26): Salvia should NOT be outlawed! It has a place in meditation and, when used properly, can be a helpful tool in achieving altered states. Just because it has been overly concentrated, packaged in psychedelic colors and hyped as a recreational drug by a greedy few, should not make anyone possessing the substance a criminal!!! Salvia is not a "fun high" but can offer views into our own psyche.
Tchan

Re "A speedy Hamlet at American Stage," by Mark E. Leib (March 19): I want to mention how much I enjoyed your review of Hamlet. While I have not seen the production (having consciously chosen not to for many reasons), your review painted what I perceive to be one of the clearest representations of theatre I've ever read. The objective review identifies the salient features of all elements of production, separating the form from content. Suffice it to say, I understand the director's intent and vision of this production based on the review.
D.Davis, Tampa

Re "The Whipple effect," by Megan Voeller (April 2): The arrogance of these building owners who think that it is "cool" to "throw the dog a bone," by offering artists unusable, badly lit and often un-air-conditioned space is offensive. However, in this particular case, Jeff Whipple's art does absolutely nothing to enhance that space in any way, so it is a fair trade. His work is boring, trite, derivative and utterly unchallenging to the viewer.
neroito00

Re neroito00's comment on "The Whipple effect": "Some of us (like Jeff and me) have the balls (not a sexist comment) to put our names on our thoughts. Try it when you grow a pair so people who know who you are can have a good laugh.
Lee Frank

Re "Mobile home holdouts," by Eric Snider (Feb. 20): Your article was fantastic. Believe me, we were interviewed by a lot of reporters but yours is one of the best I've read.
Sandra Short

Re "Sex offenders in Palm River on the move," by Alex Pickett (March 19): Most sexual abuse goes underreported. According to Meganslaw.ca.gov, "90 percent of child victims know their offender, with almost half of the offenders being a family member." So we're succumbing to fear and wasting a lot of energy chasing a few names on a list/scaring the already-convicted out of society while the problem runs rampant and unspoken in many of the "normal" homes on the block.
Dawn Morgan

Re "Here comes the sun," by Alex Pickett (April 2): Public buildings should get in on this as well. Since I am a USF student, I must wonder how much money in this time of budget cuts could be saved if just about all of the buildings were sporting solar panels.
Zachary Pleat

This article appears in Apr 9-15, 2008.