Letter | Bikini Dust Up

By on August 18, 2010 in Archived, Headlines, Opinion

Dear Editor:

For the last month anyone who will listen – from the police to city council members – have been listening to the bleatings of a person who was appalled that a bikini shop would hire bikini models.

The Sunday of The Annual Car Show, Bikini Beach, a twenty five year old company, hired 8 delightful women and put them in modest, fashionable bikinis to promote his business. Photos were taken with admirers, coupons for swimsuit discounts were handed out and smiles were abundant.

Then 1980′s feminism raised it’s sour puss.

A woman was aghast, AGHAST I TELL YOU, that girls would wear bikinis a block from the beach and in the middle of a classic car show. First she called to police to make a complaint, then she berated the girls, then she berated the shop owner. Getting no traction, she called the city, the car show organizers, city councilmembers and finally she organized a protest (See http://www.kirklandviews.com/archives/19649).

The aggrieved party was shocked that her 8 year-old son and husband were forced to endure the sight of these women. While I am certain it was a nightmare for these two males, I somehow think they’ll live through their anguish.

As anyone can see from the photo above, the models were the very picture of girl-next-door beauty (marred only by the nasty old troll in the middle).

Thanks for reading,

John Gilday

P.S.: If you were at The Car Show and missed Bikini Beach’s display, this Kirkland business was completely shrouded from view by tents sold by a Seattle promoter as part of Kirkland Uncorked. Even with the thousands of visitors to downtown Kirkland that weekend, the view-blocking tents caused this one merchant to LOSE 50% of a normal summer weekend’s sales. The ‘Artist’s Tents’ on Kirkland Avenue sold artwork like subscriptions, windows, gutter covers, chiropractic, grab bags and trinkets. There was no jury to determine who was appropriate for The Promenade. As long as they paid $300 to Kirkland Uncorked they were in and Kirkland merchants be damned!

About John Michael Gilday

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  • Bonnie Fletcher

    It would be interesting to hear Mr. Jennifer Todd’s reaction to these cute young girls in bikinis. I wonder if he was as appalled at the sight as his wife. But, never mind, you can see the same thing at the parks along Lake Washington Boulevard any hot, summer day. Does she shield her eight year old’s eyes when they drive along there or does she not go near the beaches?

  • http://twitter.com/poselander Per-Ola Selander

    While I many times do not agree with John Gilday, I think he’s almost on the money here. What’s the big deal having some delightful women in modest, fashionable bikinis around downtown, promoting a local business? I can only say; more of this please!

    As for the loss of revenue, I do not know the background dealings of Kirkland Uncorked, or who has the “right” to the street/sidewalk for special events. But if a merchant fear that his business will be affected, why not participate and rent a tent (in front) of same business to even better promote it? I know it might hurt since a merchant already pays rent, but for us residents of Kirkland, these local events do put a great summer flavor on our town and I guess many of us just wants to see more of them. They are such a great contrast to the (sometimes) empty streets during a dreary November day.

  • Pkirk98033

    I am not sure which is worse…….The raunchy, tawdry, classless, exploitative and salacious tactics employed by the poor downtrodden Bikini peddler or the disturbing photo of what appears to be a lecherous old man of near 60-years of age posing with what appear to be bikini clad “young girls”. (Women John, really??) In any case, clearly the scene depicted in John’s photo was self-indulgent, inappropriate and not becoming of a gentleman of such age. By the way, where are his hands in this photo? Seeing these young bikini clad “girls” at the beach or pool is no problem. But, having them trolling the streets of downtown amidst the large crowds of a car show and a festival like UnCorked was plain and simply done in poor taste. John, YOU need to give it a rest rather than Mrs. Todd and while you are at it, please give us a break as well.

  • Dan

    Are you kidding me? What was seen in downtown Kirkland that you don’t see at Juanita Beach, Waverly Beach, Brink Park, Marsh Park or, the biggest “Family Park” of all, Houghton Beach Park? Come on people, GET A LIFE! Jennifer Todd needs to move to Pennsylvania with the Amish or bury her head in the sand even deeper so none of us can see or hear her!

    Dan Nix

  • Terri Fletcher

    I received a phone call from Jennifer Todd, 4days after the Kirkland Classic car Show. After almost 30 minutes with her on the phone, I came to realize her viewpoint was unreasonable. I reminded her that on a sunny day in Kirkland you will see girls walking all over Kirkland in bikini’s. This was the 8th Annual Kirkland Classic car show, we draw 15 to 18,000 people to the downtown core. As far as I know she was the only complaint about the bikini’s. I am not very good at math but, that would definitely put Jennifer in the minority. This is a family event, and was originally started to bring business to the downtown Core. Jon Hesse who owns Bikini Beach has been in business 25 years in Kirkland, and is part of the downtown core. I am sorry that Jennifer does not approve, however, these actions were not illegal in light of our present day laws.
    NOTE: Jennifer I am not the Chair of Legends Car Club, I am the Chair of the Kirkland Classic Car Show, and Jon Hesse spells his name HESSE not Helle.
    Terri Fletcher
    Chair / Kirkland Classic Car Show

  • Mavio

    I have a crew working on a construction project in downtown Kirkland, Lake St. S. During the nice days several times a day young scantily clad women walk right down the sidewalk in front of the project and it is just soooo disgusting how everyone on the project stops work to look at them. Go get them, Jennifer. Let’s make those nasty construction workers stay on task. You have my support as long as you don’t interfer with the ladies stroll while I am on site.

  • JohnGilday

    OK, lets take this point by point…

    You called me

    – raunchy
    – tawdry
    – classless
    – exploitative
    – salacious
    – lecherous
    – 60-years of age
    – self-indulgent
    – inappropriate
    – not becoming of a gentleman

    Allow me to respond…
    – I’m nowhere near 60.

    Thank you,

    John

    PS: my hands were trying to hold my gut in
    PPS: Of all people to repond, you were the only one to hide behind an alias

  • Pam

    Well, first of all my husband, myself and my 19 year-old were there becasue we we showing a car. I’m suprised the disgusted person does not box her family in and/or apply blinders when they go to the mall, a ball field, a beach or out to eat. Take a look around woman… Now, my 19 year-old daughter didn’t have as much of a problem with the suits as she did the poorly done spray-on tans! :)
    In the woman’s defense – the girls were NOT just under a tent – they were walking around as well – I know… they passed by our car. But seriously, can’t we all just focus on the fact that it was a lovely day, and a good time was had by all? Or at least most of us…

  • Michelle Sailor

    I have personally worked with John Hesse when I coordinated the volunteers for the Decorate Downtown Kirkland for the holiday season. Not only did he participate but he was quite helpful with helping us figure out how to get power to the strands of light wrapped around the garland. I do not understand the angst of seeing bikini clad women in a lakefront community. John sells bikinis and he had bikini clad models present to market his store – seems appropriate (and obviously legal) to me. Lastly, the bikinis look modest compared to what I customarily see when I run the sidewalk along Lake Washington.

  • Susan

    solution: Keep the bikinis.
    Lose the ‘hooker’ shoes.
    case closed!