From expanding musical horizons to use of the word 'ghetto'

There's more than rock

Well, folks: Off the Record and all those other shops that specialize in rock music took all the spots this year in your Best of San Diego issue [Nov. 10].

You know I’ve been in business since 1967 here in San Diego, and while I do sell rock and R&B, I have the largest selection of jazz, folk, bluegrass, original casts, movie soundtracks and novelty stuff in San Diego. Also, I can talk about music with my customers from any era. I think I’m the only shop now that carries a wide selection of 78-rpm records (some going back as far as the early part of the 1900s) in San Diego. Ask Gregory Page about Folk Arts, or Tom Waits.

At any rate, as a shop owner, I have them all beat in the curmudgeon category (call that “old fart who sells records”). I would guess I’m the only record-shop owner in San Diego who’s put together the music for 55 music festivals in San Diego and been on radio in San Diego for 40 years come this December. I’ve also produced and sometimes recorded the music for 52 LPs and/or CDs and written columns for San Diego papers since the mid ’60s.

It seems to me that your readers are pretty limited in their musical choices. Check out my Facebook page. I put up more than 4,000 tracks of vintage music from my own collection (much of it recorded live at various festivals I’ve done). I also preview my Jazz Roots radio show on KSDS 88.3-FM (Sundays from 8 to 10 p.m.) each week. Check Louis F. Curtiss on Facebook.

Thanks for listening to my growl, and drop by the store sometime.

Lou Curtiss, Normal Heights

Insulting characterization

Clea Hantman’s characterization of City Farmers Nursery [“Best of San Diego,” Nov. 10] as the best “ghetto garden store” was insulting to the nursery and Bill Tall, its owner; to his 75,000 neighbors in City Heights, which is not a ghetto by any definition; and to the craft of journalism, which requires news items to be accurate. This news item is inaccurate in its headline and in the cheesy journalism of its final sentence.

You could and should have characterized the nursery as the “best garden store” and left it there. That would at least not have insulted a fine business, its owner and his neighbors, who live in an excellent community.

Jim Varnador, City Heights

Smile-inducing coverage

I just wanted to thank you for such a nice article about my lifelong dream I am living owning City Farmers Nursery [“Best of San Diego,” Nov. 10]. The article was so unique and brought a smile to my face. Thank you again for mentioning the nursery in such a wonderful way.

Bill Tall, owner, City Farmers Nursery

‘Grow up,’ liberals

Let me put it to you like this: If I sent in a letter that said Nancy Pelosi’s policies are “gay,” I would expect to be blasted by your more liberal readers, assuming it was even published.

Libs, grow up. The majority of the electorate is fed up with both Republicans and Democrats. But, that does not give you license to hurl such thinly veiled insults. Right-wing or left-wing does not matter. The American eagle needs both wings to fly.

Bill Purcell, City Heights

This issue of CityBeat is brought to you by people who are popping the popcorn in anticipation of City Councilmembers Lorie Zapf and Marti Emerald’s first throw-down.