The Bee Cave Bee

I hope that our locally elected officials do not bend to the wishes of the religious radical right when making these decisions. The problems in our country are great - and one of those problems is a very large divide between political thinking. And this is now being played out in Bee Cave Texas.

Should Bee Cave allow an individual to sell items within a store that he owns? Items that every other city has allowed? Items that some might find offensive but others not? I am reminded of the movie Larry Flint vs. The People. Hustler magazine was challenged in court about some cartoons and articles about a religious man that many found offensive. Larry Flint and Hustler won. Please note and contemplate the words from the Supreme Court as it relates to freedom of speech and expression;

At the heart of the First Amendment is the recognition of the fundamental importance of the free flow of ideas and opinions on matters of public interest and concern. Freedom to speak one's mind is not only an aspect of individual liberty - and thus a good unto itself - but also is essential to the common quest for truth and the vitality of society as a whole. We have therefore been particularly vigilant to ensure that individual expressions of ideas remain free from governmentally imposed sanctions. 'as Justice Holmes wrote, "when men have realized that time has upset many fighting faiths, they may come to believe even more than they believe the very foundations of their own conduct that the ultimate good desired is better reached by free trade in ideas - that the best test of truth is the power of the thought to get itself accepted in the competition of the market...'"

To the elected officials of Bee Cave, please ponder these words and be "wise men" - not tainted by the emotions and religiosity of some as you decide the future. But remember this Country was founded on the basis of freedom - the Freedom to Choose for ones self. This Freedom is something all Americans, right, left and middle should all hold dear.

You don't have to shop there if you don't like it. Also where else can you go buy cigars after 10pm if you don't want to drive down to 6th street?

I am for the Planet K!!!

nice try, the speech was great and all,but there always need to be a line, am I right? Yes I'm right.

I don't believe we have too many religious radical rights here in Bee Cave. So you are off the target and you obviously don't live here, We all get our own bat guano from different sources. We also get our own pharmaceuticals from our more discreet sources. We are all for getting a little high dude, just not so out in the public, you know what I mean man.

Some day our kids will be like this too, who knows, maybe your kids and mine will be smoking some doobs together. If only Larry Flynt were there to see it. oh to dream.

Sorry Charlie, but do you really think you're being discreet? In a small town, there's no such thing. And there's a reason you have to be over 21. My son finished Navy bootcamp in Dec. of 2001 - remember that time period? He was 18 and defending our country but still couldn't buy alcohol in this silly place we so loving (and wrongly) call "The land of the free".

PK caters to adults. Bee Cave sounds like a town in an old country song I've always loved by Jeannie C. Riley called "Harper Valley PTA"....check it out & see what YOU think.

And Charlie or Danny or whoever - it doesn't have to stay that way...if you're smoking doobs in secret, don't. I have Multiple Sclerosis and I don't give a rat's behind who knows I smoke because my doctors know, my adult children know, and PK also offers up petitions for people like myself to advocate for important issues like medical marijuana.

Look: some people come home after a long hard day's work and have a cocktail. some have a few beers - others a glass of wine. I smoke a bowl. Really? Am I a scary person to you? I'm honest, a mother & grandmother, happy person, friend and neighbor. I keep a vry clean house, love to cook and bake and keep my grandchild every day after school. I am many things, but
the things I am not, is a threat to anyone, indecent, immoral, or out driving drunk on the roads. I smoke a bowl...and stay home. Big deal. And the secrecy issue? Please stop perpetuating that. It will only make it worse as time goes by.
I grew up in South Dakota. Marijuana grew wild. I grew up understanding that it is an herb, used for centuries by the plains people as both a medicine for different illnesses, as well as a way to get closer to our maker - on a deeper level. It's completely misunderstood in the Bible Belt, unfortunately, and also by our government - but only because they cannot control the revenue - if they could, maybe I could get mine at PK someday. Sorry Charlie, but I'm just getting so sad seeing "Much Ado About Nothing".

First, let me tell you who I am: I am a 51 year old mother, grandmother and voter in Bexar County. I regularly shop, as does my son, who is 24, at Planet K for a wide variety of items...I have beautiful batik hangings, hilarious cards that I send to my friends and family (that I just can't find anywhere else) - not because they're considered "obscene" but because the humor is a bit darker than the cards you might find at WalMart.

I find the most incredible selection of hand-carved items, candles and incense that is not found in any of the regular boutiques and shops I also frequent.

And yes, they do have a wide assortment of accoutrement in the smoking arena, but then, many of us do smoke. I've been a long-time smoker, and enjoy having Planet K nearby to afford me such a large and tasteful selection and they are the most kind hosts. The staff at any given PK I have shopped in (and I've shopped most all of them) have been most courteous and also very knowledgeable about any and every item I have been interested in.

They are non-judgemental, friendly and helpful, respectful, courteous and well informed.

I can't say that about WalMart employees, or for that matter, any of the other places I've been to recently, either...

"Methinks thou doth protest too much"....Wm. Shakespeare. I just don't quite understand what the big issue is here. Does the Bee Cave City Council think PK will infiltrate the morality of their fair burgh? Really???? Or just that one of their own cars may be seen parked outside of a business that sells a few - a VERY FEW, mind you, items that could be considered pornographic - I've seen worse in Spencer's Gifts - that are in every mall in the continental U.S.!

I don't know, but to me it sounds like Bee Cave must be pretty uninteresting if THIS is an issue they chose to get into it over...

And folks, I know most of the majority of you born & raised, true blue Texans would like nothing better than to secede from the nation & have everyone who resides here vote extreme right wing or get the hell outta Dodge....but it hasn't happened yet, folks...and so, I think you understand that the constitution still stands.

I appreciate your stores Mr. Kleinman. I love your employees and the items you make available to the "rest" of us here in Texas. New Mexico (where I recently moved here from) NEEDS YOU!!! And they wouldn't put up such a stink...it's a bit more progressive than here....if you need a great PR gal, give me a call!

Oh Bee Cave, it's not at all what you're thinking. Have you thought about the revenue for your little town due to shoppers coming from other little nearby towns that don't have a shop like PK.? People like myself: grandmothers, moms, dads, and people with eclectic tastes. Maybe even people like myself who've never been to Bee Cave, but might like to - if they had shops like PK listed on their town roster... I subscribe to the PK newsletter and when I go to other places like Austin or wherever - I make it a POINT to stop at a PK and shop...and do you know that every single one is the same: friendly, welcoming, non-threatening, non-judgemental and carries exactly what I'm looking for: a wide variety of items for the eclectic.

Just had to put my two cents in...because I have the freedom - according to the first amendment - to speak freely.

So rock on, Mr. Kleinman. I'm glad you have shops here in San Antonio... now let's talk about southern New Mexico... : )

I don't care one way or the other,just understand if Bee Cave does not want the store, then they don't need to have the store. It's their right as much as it is your right to tell us how dumb we are for not having a place to buy bat guano in our own backyards. Bee cave is what it is for a reason, quit trying to bend it to your norms.

It's so wonderful that people who don't live in Bee Cave believe they need to tell us how to think and behave. At least Deborah was polite and didn't feel the need to use name calling as a way to persuade us to come round to her way of thinking. As to the others, you don't win us over by using disrespectful terms.
By the way Deborah -come visit our CITY. You might be surprised to find MANY of your favorite stores and restaurants here.

Thank you Bee Cavers!! I would love to visit your city! I am only a 5-year Texan and I love this place! I wasn't even aware of your city until I got this notice from PK. Tell me how to get there & i'll come & check it out.

I wasn't telling you how to think or behave in your own hometown, I just wanted to let your citizens know of my positive experiences in all of the PK stores I've visited, that's all.

I'm looking forward to checking it out soon and I do apologize for the snide remark I made about Bee Cave probably being uninteresting because you're right: I have never been there. But I really would like to go.

Why would anyone would want to ban a mural with longhorns and bluebonnets...in TEXAS?

I was serious when I said I'd like to visit your city. What fun things are there to do there? I'm 51, but 18 at heart...what is there I may be interested in seeing or doing while I visit, and where might I stay? And, of course....... being a PK supporter (really, it's not a "Hangout for Heathens" like some may think. I wouldn't say what I said if it weren't true)...what kind of shops do you have with similar items? (Candles, tapestries, incense, smokes, cards, etc...)? I love to go to those little places, because I've always enjoyed the people who work there.
So. What's to do there? It must be a cool place if PK wants to open there...they really are a sweet bunch...believe me. I know it's not for everyone, but then neither is church on Sunday morning for others, right?

The beauty of this country is that we all do have a say in what we want. It's not my place to tell anyone what they should or shouldn't do, but I read the article & while I understand the concern, it's just not warranted...in my most humble opinion.

So what do you all do for excitement there, anyway? And what is "bat guano" ? I mean, I know what it IS...just not what you're using it as.....pot? They don't SELL it at PK, so I didn't understand the comment about "We get our bat guano from...."

Truthfully, that comment reminded me of a line from
The Three Amigos": "Badges??? We don't need no stinking BADGES!" (just substitue "Bat Guano".

That was just a joke, ok? Please don't get angry, I joke all the time...and you all sound like some folks I'd like to meet & share some of my 'Hatch Green Chile" with....if you catch my drift...(I'm from Las Cruces, NM)...we have gooooood "green chile". : ) not too sure about that "guano", however......sounds a bit "eeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwww" to me. but hey...don't knock it till you've tried it, right?

Hang in there, Bee Cavers!

Welcome Planet K - and I live here!
If you don't like the store, don't patronize it.
This is supposed to be a free country. They are not breaking any laws.

I'm not originally from Austin, so as a Planet K customer I happened to come across this article. I wanted to just say one thing, because I have worked in Bee Cave, and some of you are even my friends. I understand hesitation when it comes to allowing a business such as this to open in your community. I understand that many of you have concerns, and there is nothing wrong with that. Growing up in Abilene in West Texas, I had two shops similar to Planet K in my town. Abilene has more churches per square foot then any other city in the United States, so many of us, like the people of Bee Cave, all shared the same or similar Christian and/or ethical beliefs, and because of that there was not a rise in crime, nor a lost in trust, or anything you might consider happening because of these stores being open in this town. Bee Cave is a very wonderful and plentiful community. If you believe and act a certain way, then the opening of a store will not effect that. Was there a dispute when alcohol companies set up shop? And Planet K Gifts does not even sell anything that can "mess" you up. Just be more reasonable Bee Cave. Be the businessmen and women you are and move on past this.