A Topic I Have Deliberately Avoided: Amy's
I have, by design, not jumped into the Amy's Baking Company fiasco. I am sure that other websites closely following the sordid story of Amy's Baking Company in Scottsdale are making more money on it than I am. I do want to say, however, that the entire situation leaves me ... disappointed.
If you haven't heard about Amy's Baking Company, I will not rehash the controversy here. You can find those details on about a thousand websites. Although I don't find much about the situation to be funny, you can get a good overview, by reading the About.com Guide to Humor's synopsis of the Amy's Baking Company debacle.
So, why am I disappointed?
- I am disappointed that people believe the context of everything they see on reality television. Kitchen Nightmares, by its very title, is enticing a particular audience that wants to see negative people in bad situations. Naturally, there was no logical reason for Amy to believe that they were coming to her restaurant to vindicate her. She is nothing if not naive.
- I am disappointed at people who post online reviews with the only intent being to harm a business. It isn't news that self-proclaimed food critics have been reported to threaten restaurants with poor online reviews if they are't given free food. That is unconscionable. Unfortunately, online reviewers are able to write damaging, unvetted comments under the veil of anonymity. A real restaurant reviewer does not have to be vicious or profane.
- It is a sad testament to the current online culture how people, who have never been to this restaurant, seem to find pleasure in trashing it, often in vulgar and disgusting ways. I have been to plenty of restaurants where I didn't care for the food, where the service was poor, where the manager didn't care. If the issue is bad food, I just don't go back. If I am there to write a review (I have written hundreds on this site) I address the issues, and find no need to sensationalize. If the staff or management is surly or rude, I will contact the establishment's owner to discuss what I experienced. If the place is dirty or I became sick, I file a complaint with the health department. I don't use any of those tactics for vengeance. Yes, I am Internet savvy -- I work online all day, every day. Still, I have never posted an online review for the purpose of trashing a restaurant or an individual.
- I am disappointed that the management of Amy's Baking Company got into this mess because they felt the need to engage people who critiqued them. They are not business geniuses. Believe it or not, I, too, receive complaints from time to time. I acknowledge them if they are civil, and, if they are correct I do something to correct the problem. I cover some of this in the FAQ on my website. Otherwise, any smart business owner knows that there is no upside to arguing with an unhappy customer. In general, an angry person will not change his or her mind, and attacking them only fuels the flames. Doing so publicly is just foolish. That's how Amy's mess began, years ago.
- I don't care if Amy's Baking Company pays their staff a wage or allows them to get tips. As long as they comply with labor laws and no one is indentured to work there, they can pay them based on whatever scale they decide. They must, however, not mislead customers and should advise them if tips are not going to the staff. In general, if a business is not honest with me, I am disappointed, sometimes angry, depending on the degree of misrepresentation. I can't tell you if Amy makes her own pasta every day, or bakes her own cakes every day, or if she does any other thing or doesn't do any other thing stated on the menu or represented by staff or management. The other day I was in a restaurant and ordered the "jumbo wings" which were probably the tiniest wings I have ever had. I will not go on an Internet rampage about them. I just won't go back. I also won't return to any business that deliberately deceives me with fake come-ons, fine print intended to mislead, inferior substitutions or any other related bad business practice. If Amy's Baking Company did any of those things, then hopefully they will learn that lesson now.
You might wonder if I have ever been to Amy's Baking Company or met their owners. The answer is no, I have not. I was aware of the initial controversy that occurred between Amy and some Yelp reviewers years ago, and I chose not to become involved. I have no interest in whether the restaurant stays or goes. There are so many fine restaurants in town that I felt no need to go there, and I still feel that way today.
Many business owners make mistakes; if this restaurant survives, I hope they can put this behind them and learn from the experience. Some people should not be in a business that deals directly with the public. If that's the case for Amy's, I hope they make those adjustments. Most of all, I hope that the nation-wide interest in seeing this business fail is not a harbinger of an escalating blackness in our hearts that free, anonymous access to the Internet seems to have cultivated.
Do you agree or disagree? You are invited to comment below, as long as the comments are civil and on topic.
Memorial Day Weekend in Phoenix
As the weather warms up for this holiday weekend, many people will head to various recreational activities after they honor our fallen military heroes for Memorial Day.
© Judy Hedding
Memorial Day Weekend signals the start of summer in the Valley. The lakes will be packed, the river tubers will be out in full force, there will be long lines at the water parks. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, there have been ten or fewer boating fatalities in Arizona during each year since 2008. That's good, but there have been many more non-fatal accidents than that. Be careful out there!
Arizona Game & Fish Department offers these tips before going to the lake or river:
- Make sure enough life jackets are on board the boat for everyone, and make sure they're all the right size, U.S. Coast Guard-approved, and in good working order, free from holes.
- Know the "rules of the road." The correct direction of travel on Arizona lakes is counterclockwise (shoreline off your right shoulder).
- Check that your boat's motor and propulsion system are working right.
- Keep in mind that alcohol limits for boat operators are identical to those for motor vehicle drivers and you could be arrested for operating under the influence of alcohol if you exceed those limits.
- Don't crowd other boaters, and remember to maintain a safe distance when passing others.
- Know the passenger and weight limits for your boat, so you can avoid overloading it.
- Make sure your fire extinguishers work.
- Put drain plugs back in your boat after winter storage.
Are you going out of town for the holiday weekend? If your plans are taking you to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, make sure you are familiar with the new PHX Sky Train. Check these travel tips, including information about a coupon you can use to get 40% off if you are parking at the airport.
Upcoming Activities, Fundraisers and Entertainment (Issue #82)
In this issue: see a movie, go to the ballet, run in the mud, show off your shoes, attend a baby shower, and let your kids play golf.
This column includes announcements of seminars, workshops, community events, fundraisers and other programs for which there is an admission charge, a donation expected or you are otherwise expected to spend money, such as shopping events. Advance registration is required at some these events, so you might see them listed here weeks before they are scheduled to occur.
If you are looking for programs or activities where there is no charge for admission, you can check my weekly "Free Things To Do" column (it comes out every Monday), or check the monthly calendar of recurring annual events.
Events are presented here in date order.
5 Free Things To Do In and Around Phoenix - May / June 2013
This week you can get crafty, see Ariel, heat up the yoga, find a fish, and learn to save a child.
This column includes activities and programs in the Greater Phoenix area that have free admission. If you are looking for fundraisers, seminars, workshops, and other community programs that have an admission charge, or where donations are expected, I have a separate column for those. You can find those listings in my blog. They tend to cover a wider range of dates than a week, because advance registration is often required. For the long list of activities and festivals that are annual events in Greater Phoenix check the calendar.
Sneak Into a Museum
Judy Isn't a Popular Baby Name
 I want a cool name like Judy. Photo: Getty Images |
Here are the latest and greatest baby names for children born in Arizona last year. No matter what their names, they sure are cute.
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Upcoming Activities, Entertainment, and Fun in the Dark (Issue #81)
In this issue: swim in the dark, FlowRider competition, scotch tasting, Prokofiev, bunco, and night golf.
This column includes announcements of seminars, workshops, community events, fundraisers and other programs for which there is an admission charge, a donation expected or you are otherwise expected to spend money, such as shopping events. Advance registration is required at some these events, so you might see them listed here weeks before they are scheduled to occur.
If you are looking for programs or activities where there is no charge for admission, you can check my weekly "Free Things To Do" column (it comes out every Monday), or check the monthly calendar of recurring annual events.
Events are presented here in date order.
15 Free Things To Do In and Around Phoenix - May 2013
This week you can check out the cars, fly with Peter, watch artists, plan for the future, get crafty, buy a dog, see stars, check in the hotel, be a super hero, watch skaters, go to the fire department, do yoga, hear marches, see a performance and go to the prom.
This column includes activities and programs in the Greater Phoenix area that have free admission. If you are looking for fundraisers, seminars, workshops, and other community programs that have an admission charge, or where donations are expected, I have a separate column for those. You can find those listings in my blog. They tend to cover a wider range of dates than a week, because advance registration is often required. For the long list of activities and festivals that are annual events in Greater Phoenix check the calendar.
Jodi Arias: Guilty of First Degree Murder
The jury has spoken. The next phase of the process will determine whether or not Jodi Arias will be given the death penalty relative to the murder of Travis Alexander in June 2008.
The trial has been televised for months, and news agencies from all over the nation were at the Courthouse in Downtown Phoenix today to hear the jury's decision. You can get all the analysis you need at hundreds of sites, and I have listed a few below.
There is much discussion now about the 'penalty' phase of the trial, which is sure to be nothing less than gruesome as the prosecution tries to convince the jury that not only did Jodi Arias kill Travis Alexander, but she did so in an extremely tortuous manner. Since Arizona has long been considered one of the more conservative states, I thought I'd provide some background about the current state of the death penalty here.
Source: Arizona Department of CorrectionsCurrent Death Row Inmates: 122 men, 3 women
Percentage of Death Row Inmates that are Caucasion: 62.4%
Number of Inmates Executed since 1992: 34, all men
Average Amount of Time From Sentencing to Execution: 12 years
Most Recent Execution in Arizona: Richard D. Stokely, Dec. 2012
Currently Scheduled Executions: None
Execution by Lethal Injection Approved in Arizona: 1992
Year when Juries, Not Judges, Were Charged with Responsibility of Deciding on Aggravating Factors to Impose a Death Penalty: 2002
Would you recommend the death penalty for Jodi Arias? Why or why not? Add your comments below, but please keep it clean and civil.
More About Jodi Arias and the Trial
Upcoming Music, Activities, Plays for Kids (Issue #80)
In this issue: discover tortoises, a fairy tale, a great trumpet, the beat of Brazil, lots of hot dogs, nature walk, open kitchen, two days of bands, and a play about a butterfly.
This column includes announcements of seminars, workshops, community events, fundraisers and other programs for which there is an admission charge, a donation expected or you are otherwise expected to spend money, such as shopping events. Advance registration is required at some these events, so you might see them listed here weeks before they are scheduled to occur.
If you are looking for programs or activities where there is no charge for admission, you can check my weekly "Free Things To Do" column (it comes out every Monday), or check the monthly calendar of recurring annual events.
Events are presented here in date order.