Hypes and Gripes

• Hypes to Gracie’s Bridal owner Andrea Alcorn for giving a new prom dress to 16-year-old Central High School student Haley Stevens, who is suffering from late-stage ALS (though, at press time, Haley wasn’t going to be able to attend). Andrea does a lot for local charities; we applaud her for her giving spirit, even when there’s no press release to go along with the act.

• Gripes to whatever is to blame for O’Connell’s Deli closing downtown, be it “chainwashed” consumers, economic downturns or whatever. Downtown’s venerable, comfortable eateries are disappearing at an alarming rate. Acoustic Café, Merle’s, Casper’s and The Rickshaw are a few that seem to be bucking the trend. But for how long?

• Hypes to Big Whiskey’s, Missouri State’s Plaster Student Union, Kaldi’s Coffeehouse and MudHouse, our four top distribution spots as identified by circulation director Dylan Whitaker. Thanks for giving us the space for racks, and for having people who know good, free stuff when they see it.

• Hypes to PFI’s Diamond Ridge Market. We are not, by any stretch of the imagination, cowboys, but a recent trip to the gourmet food and wine shop (formerly Club Nutrition and Fitness) was a revelation of tasty cheeses, aromatic coffees, delicious wines —with free tasting!—and faux cowboy accents. We loved it, saddle smell and all. The next time we host a party, we know where we’re going.

• Gripes to the two guys with shaved heads (possibly brothers, possibly gay, definitely jerks) who skipped out on their tab at 5 Spice China Grill last Monday after devouring a plate of lettuce wraps. It wasn’t the service; their food was up, about to be delivered. If we had a time machine, we’d trip them as they sprinted past our table. Since we don’t, we’ll call them for what they are: Scum.