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Friday, July 19, 2002

SEEN's Best Dressed is always good for laughs

While reading the paper every day, as I usually do, I always turn to the Magazine section to check out the SEEN page. My God, Marylynn, where do you find these people that you've crowned "Best Dressed"?

	A pair of SEEN's recent Best Dressed: Brandy Miller in a Britney Spears get-up for Phat Man Dee's costumed wedding bash last week. (Franka Bruns, Post-Gazette)

I find it hard to believe that you've ever left the Pittsburgh area if you actually believe these people are truly the best dressed. My co-workers and I can hardly wait to see who you've chosen each week, as we find it a hilarious, entertaining break from our work day ... so, thank you!

Next time, please try to pick someone with some taste, class and at least enough fashion sense to fill a thimble. By the way, you should let this Monday's winner know that the school-girl, anklet/pump, tie-up halter look is long gone, as if it were ever in. She must be from Jeannette. Thank you and keep the laughs coming!

D. BERND
Cecil

You call that Best Dressed?

Gee, Marylynn, I know the July 15 "Best Dressed" was a joke, but that makes me wonder, of your selections over the year or so we've been watching your SEEN column: Which have NOT been jokes?!

	And Mary DiAntonio in a shocking pink outfit for the opening of The Andy Warhol Museum's Ron Galella exhibit and "The LP Show." (Darrell Sapp, Post-Gazette)

Now, WE don't show up in Lagerfeld or Gucci very often, but, DAMN! Some of the ladies (and some of the men for that matter) you select as best dressed are simply terrible! I realize sometimes you're obligated to pick the occasional Hillman or other celebrity host or hostess, but some of the outfits are horrid!

For example, the 40-ish "fashion designer" who appeared a few weeks ago in a get-up Britney Spears wouldn't be caught dead in ... or ladies in scarlet red with black stockings and winter heels at a spring party. Or, Nathalie Lemieux in Gap & Limited.

If you're not going to be serious about fashion, please do tell us in advance that your selections are really for the "worst dressed" and let us imagine that someone, somewhere in Pittsburgh knows something about fashion.

SUE HAUMAN
Mt. Lebanon

Soho too much of a slam

I was appalled by the vitriolic restaurant review of Soho by Sarah Billingsley that slipped past your editorial review in the Weekend Magazine (July 12). No one individual should have the power to single-handedly destroy a new business in such a fashion. I don't know what expertise Ms. Billingsley has in restaurant management and in food preparation, but she clearly exceeded her reach. This kind of a hatchet job should never have been permitted to reach the print stage, and your editors have some responsibility for seeing that articles like this one do not see print.

TRUDY COHN
Edgewood

Dining review spot-on

I so enjoyed Sarah Billingsley's review of Soho Restaurant. Her unique writing style, with her spot-on adjectives, put the reader at the table with the "fishy and stinky" snapper, the salad "ravaged by a greasy plague of wonton," the "musty pickled ginger" and "runny wasabi." As to "the video poker machine made incongruous by the ... waiters' formal uniforms" -- what a visually verbalized oxymoron!

What a wordsmith she is! I certainly hope the Post-Gazette chooses Ms. Billingsley as its food editor (although I am sure many restaurateurs are quaking in their aprons at the very thought of her discerning eye and palate).

I applaud her for bringing some measure of accountability to the table. How reassuring for readers to know that the review will be a delicious read -- even if the meal and the restaurant are disappointments.

KAREN PHILLIPS
Bethel Park

'Minority Report' a classical treat

	We want your feedback Send letters, along with your real name, neighborhood and daytime phone number to Feedback: E-mail: letters@post-gazette.com. Fax: 412-263-1313. Mail: Feedback, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 34 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh

I was so proud to see the role of classical music as seen through the movie "Minority Report." Although the film is based on action and drama, even a novice musician and/or movie-goer would be able to recognize the prominence that classical music had in this film.

Schubert's "Unfinished Symphony" had a very timely and fixated place throughout the movie as the officers tried to foresee a crime. A J.S. Bach organ piece was also played (by the prison guard, no less!) to relax the inmates. And with all the futuristic details and sophisticated computers, we even saw a little boy practicing his saxophone lessons!

Kudos to the artistic directors of "Minority Report."

Viva la Musica!

ALICIA GIOVE
Churchill

Nothing like Tchaikovsky and fireworks

I hope Ronald Flucker's letter last week was not representative of those listening to the Pittsburgh Symphony's Independence Day celebration. July Fourth celebrations aren't exactly solemn occasions, and "The 1812 Overture" is one of the best pieces of explosive music to play with fireworks. Now if we were talking about Armistice Day, then, yes, "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "Onward, Christian Soldiers" would be among the few appropriate songs for that occasion.

But for the Fourth, a wide-open-let-freedom-ring-this-is-America kind of day, well, just about anything goes. Which means the music does not have to be exclusively marshaling or traditional Americana.

Is Mr. Flucker suggesting that on the Fourth, orchestras can select only from Sousa's 135 marches? Heck, Sousa's parents were both born overseas. Maybe Sousa isn't even patriotic enough for Mr. Flucker. Thank you, PSO, for "The 1812 Overture," and long live Tchaikovsky!!!

ANTHONY L. BOERIO
Ben Avon

Field Institute lacks experience

I was disappointed to find in "Trail Mix" (Weekend Mag, July 5) yet another plug by Bob Batz Jr. for the Western Pennsylvania Field Institute. This supposed "resource" to the community duplicates and detracts from the well-established efforts of other outdoor groups in Pittsburgh. Instead of working to promote and support other groups, said to be part of its mission, it confuses prospective outdoor participants by touting its own neophyte programs over better-run, more satisfying trips.

Having participated in programs with the Sierra Club, Outside Adventures, Audubon Society and AYH, I've found much of the pleasure of their events comes from sharing the wealth of experience their leaders display. These groups also have consistently shown a willingness to work together, recognizing that working to increase awareness of outdoor events in Pittsburgh helps the entire community.

The Field Institute seems to want to justify its grant money by running numerous trips that sometimes suffer from poor planning and lack of experience. Perhaps the Field Institute should not turn its back on the groups that have been doing the same things, and doing them well, for years. The Post-Gazette would do well to recognize other outdoor groups, not just the one with the best publicity machine.

JUNE BRANDT
Jefferson Hills

More news is bad news

KDKA-TV's plans to add an additional afternoon hour of news programming starting at 4 p.m. is a revolting development. This so-called "new" program will replace the "Rosie" show, which will be ending soon.

It's hard to understand why KDKA-TV would replace a show that entertains with another hour of reporting doom, gloom, graphically shown and described murders, disasters, etc., including tons of commercials. That's a solid five hours of the same old monotonous, rehashed and replayed news and tapes that were reported during the 5 to 7 a.m., noon, 5 to 7 p.m. and the 11 p.m. newscasts. Change in set design and paint color won't cut it. Repetitious news is dull and tiresome. To add another hour of the same old stuff is totally ludicrous.

The local TV market is consumed and inundated with an overabundance of these stale news telecasts. It's quite possible the KD management team has lost sight that the primary purpose of TV is to entertain, not depress.

Why can't the Rosie show be replaced with something entertaining, maybe locally produced? What happened to innovation and creativity on the part of management, producers and directors at KDKA-TV? Why take the easiest and cheapest way out by adding another boring news hour? No imagination here ... no effort either.

Thank goodness for cable TV and the OFF switch on my clicker.

RALPH J. SANTARCANGELO
Point Breeze