FULLY BOOKED

Alex Pickett's article ("B&N earns mixed reviews," Nov. 1-7) stated Bayboro Books has had trouble remaining competitive since Barnes & Noble purchased the campus bookstore. In fact, we have remained very competitive during the three years they've run the textbook store. We have, however, had to work harder since USF assigned the responsibility for public record requests [for professors' reading lists] to Barnes & Noble. The article implies that our requests for records have been completely denied. Actually, they have withheld 10 to 20 percent of the textbook records requested. After Bayboro Books retained legal counsel last semester, B&N agreed to completely comply starting in the spring.

—Susan Comas, Owner, Bayboro Books

YES, OFFICER

It is sad to read again ("About That Night," by Alex Pickett, Oct. 25) about the tragic death of the young man in St. Petersburg and the ensuing riots that rocked the city. However, one fact still stands true. If you obey the commands of a police officer and do so in a polite and timely manner, you greatly increase your chances of surviving that confrontation. Both men in the vehicle that was pulled over that day failed to do so, and look what happened.

—Joe Dunn, Tampa

Shocked, I Tell You! Shocked!

What a shocker that the Creative Loafing (it should be Creative Loathing) staff would pretty much select EVERY Democrat in each race ("Election 2006: This Time It's Personal," by CL Staff, Nov. 1-7). Yeah, I'm sure Jim Davis will keep the taxes low, stimulate the Florida economy and clamp down on endless litigation. I don't believe I've ever seen any Democratic candidates who want to limit government and not stick it to the taxpayers. A vote for Jim Davis is a vote to see more of your money go down the shitter.

—James, Via website

BRIAN AIN'T LYIN'

Thank you, Brian ("More Bland for the Buck," by Brian Ries, Nov. 1-7). You are exactly right. My wife and I dine out regularly twice a week, more before the price of gas and everything else rose faster than the national debt. Value has now entered the analysis when choosing where we dine. With the number of decent restaurants in the Tampa Bay area, we have become increasingly critical of quality of food for our dining dollars. Having previously worked in the restaurant business for many years (who hasn't?) and dined in many fine establishments, both here and in Boston, I fancy myself as a bit of a critic, as does everyone in the biz. And it is the critic that helps cull the wannabes from the restaurants that we cherish. And as you correctly pointed out, we as diligent consumers should look for value in dining, like we do when we shop at the mall. To that end we rely on those with the knowledge and expertise and expense accounts to give us some direction. Cheers!

—Bruce Insana, Via website

Fuckin' asshole — that's what I get called daily. I even changed my name on MySpace to "asshole" because I got called it so much. Even though I don't agree on some of your reviews, you are entitled to your own opinion. And if I'm paying $80 for a dinner, I better be getting some ass out of it!!!

—Brockstar, Via website

RIES (RHYMES WITH "PIECE")

I'm expressing an opinion because I want you to know that you have lost a reader today. It is not because of a political stance, lack of interesting commentary or even insightful explorations into what makes Tampa tick. It is the simple fact you continue to print Brian Ries's food articles in your paper.

I was to understand that critics were supposed to bring insightful, meaningful, unbiased opinions about service, food and wine to the public. This service provides both the patron and restaurant a chance to achieve a better level of enjoyment and success for both parties. That is not what happens in Mr. Ries's pieces (no pun intended). Mr. Ries continues to write pessimistic, obtrusive and clearly negative reviews on most restaurants in the Tampa area, large or small, corporate or not. If a fleeting comment of praise is offered in one of his columns, it is only matched with one of disdain and condescension. His words are used not to creatively help but to wittily manipulate all facets of the restaurant. His playful forays into the finer points of culinary excellence continue to fall short of their mark and are merely used like daggers to cut into the hearts and minds of readers who subject themselves to his opinions. I want to believe that what he is doing is good, honest and in the right, but the nagging feeling in my stomach merely reminds me that this is not correct. This process should not be overlooked as mere journalistic commentary but as a direct attack on those businesses merely trying to provide Tampa with a better, more creative culinary scene.

This town is in flux, trying to find itself and trying to determine whether it will remain what it has been for years, or turn into the city that so many people believe it can be. You need someone that sees the bigger picture of Tampa … and Tampa's restaurant scene. One that wants to support, encourage and nourish those restaurants that are trying to make a name for themselves and ones that have already put in their time to be recognized, if not for culinary accomplishments, then for business know-how, to still be open after decades.

Being born and raised in Tampa, I have found one true and honest fact about this town. You either get us or you don't, and clearly Mr. Ries does not, and for that I am truly sorry for him.

—Ty Rodriguez, Tampa

True Zoo

Thank you so much for having the intestinal fortitude to research and print front page the Lowry Park Zoo issues ("Endangered Species," by Alex Pickett, Oct. 25-31)! You are a very valuable source for Bay area residents to receive information that hasn't been hindered and or censored by "Big Money." Keep up the great work!

—Brian, Via e-mail

It takes a lot of courage to come forward and "blow a whistle." I wish I had had the courage 3+ years ago when I left the zoo for many of the same reasons listed in the article. It is frustrating to hear that nothing has changed in years. In fact, it seems that conditions have further declined. A note on keepers: I was no different than any of my fellow keepers, I loved my animals and would do anything I could to improve their care and well-being. Zoo work is a physically and emotionally demanding career. Keepers do not choose this field for financial stability (my starting gross income: $14,560/year), they work because they love and respect animals and want to do their part to make sure the animals' welfare comes first. Even after the keepers' departure from the zoo, they continue to care, and this article is evidence of that. Thank you Jeff and Coleen, Brian and Carie for coming forward. Thank you to Creative Loafing for writing and publishing this article. Perhaps this will be the start of greatly needed improvements at the zoo. A good place to begin, cut Lex's $5,000/week paycheck in half. I'm sure the staff could find an effective way to utilize the extra cashflow.

—Meghan, Via website

This article appears in Nov 8-14, 2006.