Only Some Eat Cake

After reading Jennifer Kelsey’s letter (Oct. 2) regarding the Steely Dan concert at Irvine Meadows, I felt that I had to get my 2 cents in.

On Sept. 19, my boyfriend and I attended a Moody Blues concert at Irvine Meadows. As Jennifer correctly stated, no outside food, beverages or containers were allowed past the turnstiles. In fact, women were asked to open their purses so the attendants could look at the contents. I felt this was going a bit far, but thought perhaps it was a safety and/or environmental precaution.

That evening was no problem. However, less than one week later, on Sept. 25, we attended another concert at Irvine Meadows. This one being the Pacific Symphony playing Tchaikovsky. As we drove through the parking lot we wondered why people were not eating at their cars as they had been the week before. However, it didn’t take us long to figure out why.

Inside the turnstiles, all the grassy areas leading up to the amphitheater were filled with people and every kind of food, beverage and container imaginable, including glass and aluminum. We were flabbergasted to say the least. People were carrying baskets, large coolers, wine glasses, candles, etc.

Once we reached the food concession area, I noticed that one of the stands was not open, but I was hardly surprised. Obviously nine-tenths of the people brought their meals with them. I thought this was extremely unfair. The crowd at the previous concert was definitely not rowdy and should have been able to bring food in if these people were allowed.

All through the concert people around us were drinking the alcohol they had brought with them.

To make matters worse, a couple sat down next to us with a huge cooler that blocked the aisle. In fact we had to step over it to leave when the concert was over. Through the entire show we had to listen to them pop champagne corks, open cans of pate, tear open packages of cheese, open dips, and best of all, play around with boxes of crackers!

Irvine Meadows should definitely change its policy. Either we all bring in our food or we all do not--period!

RHONDA ABEL

IRVINE