On Diversity
We promoted your 50 Most Influential People list (“This Changes Everything,” April 2013) on the Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs’ social media, and it did really well—people were really pleased to see how many arts and culture folks were included in the list (something like 25 percent by my count!). 

In my role at the Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, I’m also charged with promotion of the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, which celebrates and presents African American arts and culture. When we shared the story on the LHPAI Facebook page, we got a different reaction—a comment about the lack of diversity among those named. The city is dedicated to race and social justice, and I wanted to make sure the comment got to you. There are many great artists and activists of under-represented populations that could have been included!
Calandra Childers, Seattle, via email

 

More Diverse Influentials
What about Aaron Dixon, James Donaldson, Dr. Millie Russell, Dr. Paul Killpatrick, Dr. Quintard Taylor, Chris Hopkins... (“This Changes Everything,” April 2013). There are many more. 
ibrother via seattlemet.com

 

Hit and Miss
Where’s Tom Douglas (“This Changes Everything,” April 2013)? Love the Matthew Inman inclusion though.
Mary Beth King @MaryBethKing1 via twitter.com

 

But Wait, There’s More
The 50 Most Influential People in Seattle right now (“This Changes Everything,” April 2013)? I have a few I’d add, but this is a good start. 
Iva Jean @iva_jean via twitter.com

 

Where’s the Tech?
Seattle Met usually does a good job with tech, except with this list (“This Changes Everything,” April 2013) #FAIL.
Red Russak @RedRussak via twitter.com

Best Grind
Great article in Seattle Met about my fave coffee shop, Milstead and Co. (“Roasting Revolution,” February 2013). So lucky to have it right down the street. 
Scott Dierdorf @sdierdorf via twitter.com

 

 

Toke Smart
I’m a longtime Seattle resident, but unfortunately I am currently in jail due to narcotics and alcohol. In response to the new legalization of marijuana (“Wait, How High Am I?“ March 2013), I enclose this statement.

Being a longtime recreational weed user and brother of an exceptional marijuana grower, I feel the writer had to use the stereotypical description of his marijuana high as being a paranoia freakout! I understand at times this can happen (i.e., “I feel everybody knows I am high”…“Why are they looking at me”). But I think it will be awesome to have the potency of weed printed on the packaging. This can help determine what kind of weed you want to smoke due to your activities of the day. A low dose to smoke before work and maybe a higher dose when you’re home listening to your favorite music, with less reality functions to deal with…

All in all, I think it will be great for patients, and recreational users of all kinds, to know the potency, of their marijuana.
Kyle Hodges, Capitol Hill, via mail 

 

Not So Fast
On speed (“Thursday Jolt: Safe Speeds and ‘The Perfect Resignation Letter,’ ” PubliCola, March 21, 2013): Anything that will slow people even a tick on certain neighborhood streets is worth it. There are people who may ease off the accelerator coming around a corner if they see a 20 mile per hour sign, not because of the threat of police intervention, but because they may want to comply with the law. Most speeders aren’t scofflaws; they’re distracted. A gentle reminder on a neighborhood street may be effective. And if it results in even a marginal decrease in pedestrian-car accidents, it’s worth it. Moreover, fatalities aren’t the only metric that matters. Most people hit by a car will suffer injuries that will alter their lives significantly and, perhaps, permanently. All this gnashing of teeth over the possibility of five fewer miles per hour on the speedometer!
Lincoln via seattlemet.com

 

Tiny Speed Trap
They should lower the speed limits in places where people/cyclists actually walk and not just use it as an excuse to augment city coffers in areas where people are more likely to speed (“Thursday Jolt: Safe Speeds and ‘The Perfect Resignation Letter,’ ” PubliCola, March 21, 2013). This is exactly what they did on 35th Avenue Southwest in West Seattle next to the Guadalupe school. They put speed cameras on 35th where people are supposed to slow from 35 to 20 for less than half a block. Meanwhile no children go onto 35th; all pickups and drop-offs of children occur on a side street off of high-speed 35th. The state, and McGinn, just knew that they could make a lot of money ticketing motorists here.
rbj via seattlemet.com

Game of Fans
I can’t believe I missed this contest for tickets to the season 3 premiere at Cinerama (“The Game of Thrones Cast Members Coming to Seattle Are...” Culture Fiend, March 19, 2013). I’m the biggest Game of Thrones fan. If any lucky winner would have me as their guest I’d give them money, my first-born child, anything! 
keenan.cottone via seattlemet.com

 

Losers, Weepers
I’m so gutted that I didn’t win, but I’m sure whoever did will enjoy it nearly as much as I would have (“The Game of Thrones Cast Members Coming to Seattle Are...” Culture Fiend, March 19, 2013). I’m not crying, I’m just cutting onions! 
Mellzah via seattlemet.com 

 

Cheese Please
No review of this sort is complete without a shout-out to the new Beecher’s on Concourse C (“One Flight Away: Sea-Tac Airport Secrets,” March 2013). World’s best mac and cheese beats airplane cheese plates any day. 
erikawags via seattlemet.com

 

Prince Comes to Seattle
!! (“Prince to Play Two Nights at Showbox,” Culture Fiend, March 21, 2013)
Larry Choate III @LarryChoateIII via twitter.com

 

Head for the Tropics
I’m in the Turks and Caicos Islands as we speak (“Hey Seattle, Where Are You Going?” February 27, 2013)...it’s no wonder they have world famous beaches here—this place is so beautiful it leaves me speechless, and I can’t quit staring at the fluorescent turquoise water!
heidi.green.121 via seattlemet.com

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Corrections
In the April 2013 cover story (“Best Bars Right Now”), we listed the wrong URL for Liberty bar; it should be libertybars.com. In the same issue, the spring fashion feature (“Natural Order”) included a typo on makeup artist Yisel Serna’s website; the correct spelling is skincarebyyisel.com.

Published: May 2013