Letters 09-21-2000

Loved the barbecue article ["The Art of Smoke," by Robb Walsh, August 24], especially the history of the four major styles of Texas barbecue. My stomach was set on a mission before I'd even finished reading the article.

Matt Sisk

Deron Neblett

Bayousphere: Sunday's finest: Courtney Collier and a parasol-toting Erin Jones head to Pleasant Hill Baptist Church.

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• Bernice Beckerman Houston
• George Polydoros
• Tim Lincoln Houston
• Marene Gustin
• Christoph Eschenbach

Houston Race and Rasp?

Start your engines: I don't know if you'll print this, because they're one of your advertisers, but I saw your ad for the downtown Texaco Grand Prix race [August 24 issue], and I've been asking this question over and over ever since: How can this be happening? We're having an air-quality crisis here; all you have to do is flip on the news to hear about proposed "no-drive days," light-rail travel and further restrictions on vehicle emissions and (hopefully) industry.

Those of us who work with kids are asked to watch the ozone reports and use our judgment about keeping them inside for recess. But we're going to run a car race through downtown Houston? Having grown up near Indy, I know what such an event does to the air. How many thousands of gallons of fossil fuel does this happy little event burn and throw into the air? It must bring a ton of money into the city.

Susan Shafer
Houston

Miracle Man

Keeping the faith: I especially liked Wendy Grossman's article ["Left for Dead," August 24]. Tracey is to be commended for her recovery. Wendy is to be commended for her excellent research in the case. My physical therapist knew we had similarities: being shot in the head and left for dead.

In 1981, as a student at the University of Texas, I walked into a convenience-store robbery. I was shot in the brain with a .38 and left to die. I've learned many lessons. One of these is the importance of a good support system. My girlfriend, Sharon (now my wife), dropped out of school to be with me. Through her love, as well as other factors, I beat all odds. I'm a social worker at Memorial Hermann Hospital, primarily trying to help families and patients cope with head injuries and other catastrophes.

My message is simple: Sometimes hope can be miraculous, and one should never give up. Tracey did not. Congratulations to Tracey for her determination and to Wendy for her excellent writing.

Michael Jordan Segal
Houston

Camera Perfect

Pleasure shots: Excellent article by David Gerst ["Click Art," August 17]! Refreshing insights and terrific writing. It was a true pleasure to read his article.

Chuck Malaise
Fort Worth

Don't Be Cruel

Melissa's magnificent: I am frankly amazed at how you allowed such an obviously biased music critic like Rob Patterson to write a review for a genre he has no affinity for [Rotation, Firefly, August 24]. So why do you have him writing reviews for the folk genre?

I would think a magazine with your reputation would audit your critics occasionally. Melissa Adams deserved a fair review, not one so obviously biased. The man was cruel and heartless. That's not what I call a review.

April Hilland
CypressFond of Felix

Nachos and nostalgia:My recollection of Felix Mexican Restaurant is somewhat different from Geneva Harper's ["Combination Plates," by Robb Walsh, August 31]. I have eaten at Felix's since Mr. Tijerina opened for business in a little bungalow near Woodhead and Westheimer.

He is a wonderful man who never considered himself anything other than a fellow human being, an American. From what I heard, he never considered himself a minority. Felix did not tailor his food to the tastes of gringos. He was interested in serving the kind of food he may have grown up with, and food that he learned to develop because of its exquisite taste. Quality food is quality food.

Felix Restaurant is in a class with James Coney Island, a class that emulated Houston, where the powerful sat down to dinner with the least powerful of those days' society. Jesse Jones and Bob Smith could be seen there. It was a wonderful time in our history.

Paul C. Engelbrecht
Conroe