I’m Punk and Proud of It

I’m Punk and Proud of It

An upstanding post-punk member of the community, Dave Dalton, says thanks. Meanwhile, Italian Colors defends Montclair, and there are more pro-Harbor Bay Club letters.

I’m co-owner of Die Laughing Records and founder of Screaming Bloody Marys. I just want to say it was a great, great September issue with the article and pictures of us Alameda punks and misfits! [“Post Punk Paradise”].

As a resident here on the Island, I want to calm folks down and reassure the “Alameda Peeps and Poops” on Facebook: Look, we are not going to take over and cause havoc! It’s really kinda funny because, we, too, have families and friends here that are punk and some that aren’t punk! We all work here or have businesses here and our kids go to school here, and, yes, we even pay our taxes just like everyone else!

I personally got at least 32 private messages on Facebook from people who were fearful that this will bring outcast punks here to our island haven. Alameda, you have nothing to fear but fear itself!

Dave Dalton, Alameda

 

Bring It On

As a longtime member of the Harbor Bay Club, I’m writing to tell you how much I am looking forward to the new club on North Loop Road, especially the expanded studio space.

The benefits of having four dedicated studios for group exercise, spin, Pilates, and yoga is HUGE! I love the classes the current club offers, but the room set up with equipment in it, such as bikes for spin and reformers for Pilates, makes accommodating all the participants difficult. Classes such as Amy’s TNT and Nicole’s Dance Boogie are often so full that late arrivals can’t join the class. If you’re in a class before Kelly and Paulette’s super-popular spin classes, you’ll need to rush out so that spinners can get their bikes set up. The kid’s fitness programs are terrific and quite popular, but they also compete for the same studio.

I truly look forward to new pools, new locker rooms, and a new restaurant with poolside dining. The whole layout will be resort-like and a place that will grow with our children and their future families.

Eve Courtland, Alameda

 

Montclair Great

We are honored to be the Readers Choice for top Italian Restaurant in Oakland for three years in a row. So you can imagine how we felt when Derk, once again, in his review of Chowhaus [“Haus Rules at Chowhaus,” September], suggested that there are no good eats in Montclair. Why does your reviewer have to knock us while he is reviewing another restaurant? For the second time. That just seems downright mean-spirited. And if we are only “Montclair Good,” then why do we rate highly with all Oaklanders?

Steve Montgomery, Italian Colors, Montclair