Austin's worst corner best for BBQ

An indepth Austin Statesman article about street crime focuses on a corner about 8-10 blocks from my house in East Austin ("Austin's worst corner," May 7).

That may well be Austin's worst corner judging only by the long-tolerated open air drug markets, but it's a great place for a carnivore, especially if you're in the mood for some smoked brisket or maybe some yardbird. I've been eating at Sams BBQ, described in the story, for nearly 20 years. It's a family operation run by really good folks - they used to advertise in a student magazine I co-edited back in college.