Can we tweak this liquor law?
Re: “Fine dining to enjoy in Dallas,” by Bruce W. Jolesch, Saturday Letters.
If Dallas would like to take the next step toward offering a truly world-class dining experience, restauranteurs and consumers should petition the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to make a slight tweak in their liquor licensing laws.
Currently, holders of a wine and beer license can allow patrons to bring in wine and pay corkage; holders of a wine, beer and spirits (“mixed beverage”) license cannot, which rules out virtually all fine restaurants and clubs. Permitting the latter to also allow collectors to bring wine and pay corkage is a truly win-win situation: the dining establishment gets to make money on a product they did not have to capitalize, and it encourages patrons to eat there more frequently. Wine aficionados also would have alternatives where they may enjoy their wine other than home.
I used to host an annual wine-pairing dinner for 60 people at my local country club as a fundraiser for a local charity using the wines from my personal cellar. It was a lot of fun, gave attendees the opportunity to appreciate wines at their peak and made money for a community charity. Unfortunately, neither myself nor other collectors can host such an event until the rules are changed.
Greg Polito, Dallas
Appreciation, and a question
To the governor, lieutenant governor and all elected officials of Texas: Greetings! I appreciate how hard everyone strived to remove any impediments to the profits of the gas and electric industries in our beloved state, thereby assuring hundreds of millions of dollars would flow into the pockets of industry leaders.
I appreciate, as well, that a fair portion of those dollars were then channeled into your various campaign funds as a reward for your work and as insurance that you would continue to work in the best interests of the select few.
The news is now filled with stories and reports of the severe winter weather impacting the West and Midwest — snow and cold equaling or surpassing that which Texas experienced last February. In watching these reports, I note a common theme. The electricity was working in every instance.
Isn’t it interesting that none of these regions have been subjected to deregulation? How, exactly, do you explain the ways deregulation is better for the people whom you are supposed to represent?
Tim Barnett, Waxahachie
Thanks for the letters recap
Re: “Some of our favorite letters of 2021,” Sunday Letters.
I always look forward to the Sunday after Christmas for the “favorite letters” page. It’s not only fun to be reminded of what was important the past year, but I enjoy it when I remember reading some of those letters.
This year was especially fun for me when I spotted “She’s a happy sheep.” Not only did I cut that particular letter out to share with others because I was so taken with it, I took it upon myself to write Charlotte Camilla Koford a snail mail letter of admiration for her oh, so clever letter. She was even gracious enough to send a note back!
I’m just sorry that I didn’t predict in my note that it would be one of the letters of the year!
Danna Zoltner, Denton
Struggling to understand this
As the holiday season wanes, thoughts of rebirth and renewal fill our souls. We all have hopes for a better 2022. Unfortunately a recent occurrence spoils the prospect of a brighter future. That is the egregious, unfathomable welcome of a disgraced former president to one of the largest protestant congregations in Dallas.
An attempt to prevent the peaceful transfer of power in our democracy was not enough for the leader of that congregation to consider what damage this gesture of welcome could do to our country. Did he not consider the death of a policeman guarding the U.S. Capitol, the suicides of two other officers following the event or the 150 officers hurt and traumatized by this riot spurred on by the man he welcomed so enthusiastically? Even Sen. Mitch McConnell declared the former president “morally responsible” for the Jan. 6 riot.
Perhaps this pastor is able to disregard the many courts of law that ruled the election as valid even as his friend, the former president, claims otherwise. Are his other lies also so easily disregarded?
Carolyn Bedinghaus, Waco
Let’s hear it for consistency
A recent Monmouth University poll shows that 43% of Republicans do not want the history of racism taught in public schools whatsoever. How ironic it is that many of the people who misguidedly claim that removing Confederate statues is erasing history are the same ones who are actually trying to remove the teaching of history in our classrooms when it concerns racism.
Rich Latta, Fort Worth
Missing Rice’s voice
Re: “Before ‘Vampire,’ Rice encountered North Texas — Author’s passion for writing and her future husband were found in Richardson,” by Tommy Cummings, Dec. 19 Arts & Life.
I enjoyed this article about Anne Rice. I wasn’t aware she had once lived in the Dallas area.
I used to be a regular visitor to the Amazon Christianity forum when it was hosted by Amazon. Rice was a regular visitor to it as well.
She posted to it using her real name, not a pseudonym like most of us. She always answered any question asked of her and would get right in the thick of it with all of us. Always gracious, honest and helpful to all. I never read any angry replies from her to anyone.
That forum has been closed and I miss reading her posts to it. RIP, Anne.
Charles McGuyer, Sulphur Springs
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