Happytown

Well, it’s because Chapin, a noted firecracker in that Southern Lady tradition, was pissed. In her hand she clutched a printout of a Happytown™ item straight out of our Dec. 30 issue, and in her eyes she held the power to reduce us to dust. Seems Chapin, who sits on the board of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, took none too kindly to our assessment of the recent financial struggles of the arts center, and she wanted an audience to hear her dismay. First and foremost, we are “mean,” she said in reference to our characterization of DPAC head Kathy Ramsberger as “a bottle-blonde party princess” with a “pulled face.” We immediately noted that we, too, are fond of both bottles implied in the first instance, and didn’t necessarily mean that Ramsberger had her face surgically pulled. Still, it was mean. But Chapin wasn’t through.

“At least get the facts straight. Why don’t you come down and spend a couple of hours with us?” she said.

“We have. Several times,” we shuffled our feet and stared at the floor.

“What do you expect us to do? Just drop the project altogether?” she fumed. To her credit, Chapin retained a smile on her face the whole time, and no, we didn’t answer that 
last question.

Ostensibly, Chapin had just exited the Jan. 4 Orange County government inauguration ceremony at the county convention center’s Linda W. Chapin Theater – where DPAC reps sported orange buttons to promote their project and win county financial support – to come and give us some Linda W. Chapin theater . Which is awesome. But on the other hand, we totally see most of her point. So, we’re sorry Linda (and Kathy). Also, we’re glad you aren’t Rick Scott.

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