CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM


    I’ve worked as a graphic artist and writer for various types of publications, and I compliment you on your re-design. Your upgraded look better reflects the city’s burgeoning personality—homey yet sophisticated in its own way.
    May I offer a suggestion for your magazine? I recommend that you represent different voices on your last page—voices that reflect the diversity and character that make up our Island city. This last page is key real estate in your magazine, the last place we visit before closing the back cover. No offense on “Just Between Us” columnist Gina Jaber—she’s a good columnist, but she’s just one voice. Perhaps her column can be moved. In my humble opinion, you are the only magazine in Alameda, and you ought to represent more voices, perspectives and considerations on that last page, perhaps even including images and/or poetry by Alamedans. Thanks for considering my suggestion.

Edna Cabcabin Moran
Alameda

GINA FAN


    The comment I have is that I always go directly to the back page and read Gina Jaber’s full-page commentary on Alameda, “Just Between Us.” In the July/August 2005 issue, I have yet to find it, unless it is buried inside the magazine somewhere.
Royce Gladden
Alameda

    Ed. note: “Alamedia,” a new multi-media and picture page, now occupies our back page for new views of our city, and Gina Jaber’s “Just Between Us” appears near our Snapshots pages.

MAKEOVER KUDO


    The July/August 2005 issue looks great. We hope to post digital copies of the photos [related to Buestad Construction Co. projects] on our Web site, www.buestad.com.
Ken Carvalho
Alameda
   
Ed. note: Carvalho’s billiard room was showcased in the article, and his employer was the contractor on the featured kitchen.

PEER REVIEW


    I come across your magazines at our printer, American Web, every quarter when I travel to Denver to press check The Bark. I enjoy reading both Alameda and Oakland magazines and marvel at the success you’ve achieved in such a short time. That’s evidence of your hard work and serving communities that are thirsting for a public, locally-focused forum. It looks like your ad base is growing as well. It wasn’t so long ago that you were sitting in a weekend class on publishing, and I was part of a panel of “experts” sharing our knowledge. You’re probably well equipped to be teaching a course like that yourself now!
    Please pass along my well wishes to your staff. I particularly enjoyed the articles on Dontrelle Willis [Alameda Magazine, March/April 2004] and Keen shoes [Alameda Magazine, May/June 2005]. It just proves what a diverse and thriving community we live in.
Cameron Woo
Publisher, The Bark
Berkeley