Rugby photo: No big deal
Let me tell you something: I am a homeowner and a Lakeview resident. I chose Lakeview because it is a great neighborhood. I am also a regular patron of Borderline Music on Broadway, and I have had many conversations with Scott, the owner (“Boystown residents, store debate racy pics,” Dec. 29).
His store is one of the businesses that add to the diversity and culture of the neighborhood. You are not going to find some of the dance music imports that I am looking for in, let’s say, Schaumburg, so I go to Borderline–not Virgin Megastore.
I have also seen said poster. It is a rugby player shirtless. Big deal. It has been there for months. There is nothing suggestive about it, except it makes you feel like hitting the gym.
I think if this poster offends this person or anyone else, the solution is simple: Move!
Paul Rykiel, 40, Lakeview
Move along
I would like to comment on [the racy rugby photo controversy].
I don’t have a problem with the picture and have seen it many times. I find it kind of humorous. I agree with the poster board: This is America, and business owners have a right to express themselves.
I think the people moving into the Boystown area should relocate if they have problems with the area. Simply put, you knew what the area was about before you moved there. If you don’t like it, you shouldn’t have moved in the first place.
Jerome Monegan, 23, Lincoln Park
No-class poster
I wanted to make a comment on the article that was written regarding storefront images in Boystown.
Back in February-March, I was walking my dog along Halsted between Belmont and Addison when I noticed one store had a painting of a naked guy. Now, this painting was around 6 feet tall and it showed all, and I mean ALL. I like art, but honestly, it was vulgar.
Then just two stores down, there was a picture of a man coming out of the water, and the water just covered his [genitals]. Now, I understand this is Boystown, but with this neighborhood, [people] feel they should be allowed to do whatever they want, which isn’t the case. It would be fine if I were in Amsterdam, but in Chicago … no.
I came home and told my husband that I was really surprised to see stores have displays like that and noted that I bet families are not happy with it. So it was a shock to open the RedEye and see your story.
And to [Borderline Music owner Scott] Jannush’s statement of “I guess she forgot we live in the United States of America and the heart of Chicago’s Boystown”: Well, Mr. Jannush, it’s called class. You don’t have to display men’s genitals in your window to show it is Boystown and that we are gay–it’s already known.
I live in Wrigleyville, where it’s pretty much 100 percent heterosexual, and I do not see signs of people’s body parts in windows anywhere.
So ask yourself, Mr. Jannush: Is the city really that conservative or do you not have the class that most store owners have to try to sell merchandise, not the act of sex?
Tristan Andrews, 29, Wrigleyville
For the kids
The only problem I see with the picture from Borderline Music is that they have the Nettelhorst School less than a block away. Of course, you are going to have children walking by that storefront all day, which is why it is understandable that the woman had reason to complain.
Teresa Garcia, 31, Lakeview
