To The Editors:

Regarding Sam Boykin's article about NoDa ("NoDa Veterans Welcome Changes," April 3), he is right about some things. There has always been a lot of talk about what NoDa might be one day, but it just never seemed to happen. I have been going to the gallery crawls since 1994 and hanging art since 1996. There have been a lot of different artists, businesses, and galleries come and go over the years. Even after going up there on a regular basis, I wasn't sure what the area would become. We just kept plugging away, showing art, hoping someone would notice.

Then all of a sudden, houses are getting bought and renovated by young folks, a sign goes up across from Fat City about some lofts, the Highland Mill renovations, the Colony, then the big whammy: Crosland buys Pat's, 23 Studio, and Wrightnow Gallery. A lot of us have been hanging art in those galleries, and drinking beer at Pat's, for eight and 10 years now. It is gonna be strange when they tear those three places down. It's been fun, but I was always disappointed with the lack of support for local artists in this city, by both the public and the media. There has been some really great art in 23 Studio and Wrightnow galleries over the years. Not always great, mind you, but a lot of really good art. We have often wondered what people in this town have on their walls. Ansel Adams prints from Wal-Mart?

Mr. Boykin should have interviewed a few artists, as well as Paul and Paul, and he would know that it is not just "clueless boho wanna-bes" that are concerned about NoDa, but artists who have been showing art in the area for a decade. I guess he is just upset that the Observer beat him to the gentrification angle.

Randy Crawford
Charlotte

Amen To Wal-Mart Column

To The Editors:

All I have to say about the article in this week's CL entitled "Wal-Mart Sells Manure" (by Tara Servatius, April 3) is AMEN! It was very good and incredibly accurate.

Valerie Krasinski
Charlotte

Tell It Like It Is

To The Editors:

Boy, you guys have guts to tell the well-known truth about Wal-Mart stores, one of the richest (maybe the richest) companies in America. Ms. Servatius is absolutely right: Wal-Mart may sell things cheaply (and that is debatable) but their service is so bad you can't even call it service. I've found that some of the people who work there are nice and will try to help you, or at least not mess up what you've bought. Too bad that's only some of the people, though. The trouble is that they seem to just hire anybody with a pulse off the street and put them in positions where they have to deal with the public. Bad mistake, since most of them don't seem to be all there, or maybe they just don't want to be there. Keep on telling the truth, you guys do a great job.

Kevin McCraw
Charlotte

Hiding On The Corner

To The Editors:

I may agree with Tara Servatius' article on "Wal-Mart Sells Manure" as far as the quality of service goes, but I am offended by her racist comments regarding some of the Wal-Mart employees. Comparing a group of people to Al-Qaida is a very serious accusation and you better be ready to support your claims. Tara, your ancestors, like many other hard-working Americans, probably also came from a "far-flung nation" and stood hiding at a store corner at one time. Give these folks a break. It is not them who are at fault but the store's management. Tara, your comments leave a lot to be desired (but again, I guess that's why you write for CL and not WSJ, or even the Observer for that matter).

Jaime Emmanuelli
Charlotte

We Have A Choice

To The Editors:

I just read with great amusement the column about Tara's trip to Wal-Mart. All I can say is. . .get rid of her! What a waste of newspaper space. Has she ever heard of Target? This is not Russia. We have a choice of places to shop and we vote for them with our money. (And, no, I don't work for Wal-Mart.) While I, too, find the Wal-Mart on Eastway Drive leaves a lot to be desired, I go there for the prices and convenience to my home. Sometimes we have to make sacrifices in order to save money and most economizing people understand this. I guess there are enough of us out there since this store is always crowded. If it hadn't been for the same "grassroots" people that she embraces so lovingly the rest of the year, Tara would be shopping at a new Target on Albemarle Road by now and would be able to look down her nose at those of us who choose Wal-Mart.