RHOADES LESS TRAVELED:

It’s official: The tidy, kinder version of the Daily Pilot newsroom is a hit.

At least that’s my impression after 100-plus members of the community showed up to our open house on Wednesday night.

But let me digress for a moment. Tidy is a relative term. Walk with me if you will the 10 steps it takes to get from my office to City Editor Paul Anderson’s desk. Granted, it’s tidier than it was on Wednesday morning. Nevertheless, there are mounds of paperwork. Sift through them and you’ll discover an unwashed coffee cup, a drawing — Anderson’s a talented artist — of a fictional character named Ozymanburris, a book titled “Fading America: A Chapbook of Despair,” some spare change and Lord knows what else.

But give Anderson credit: He did organize a good several pounds of paperwork into stacks.

Now, about the event.

On display were a slide show of pictures manned by one of our photographers, a poster board showing our new website featuring local sports (gameonoc.com), and a quick peek into the redesigned Daily Pilot, which will launch in May.

On hand to converse and answer questions was a nearly full staff of reporters, photographers, editors, sales executives and senior managers. Also, and not to be discounted: We served chicken and sausage from Newport Rib Company, along with sodas, beer and wine.

Since I wasn’t driving, I got to enjoy a couple of beers while chatting with dozens of community members.

Among the words of praise I heard about our print and online products:

 “I read the Daily Pilot first thing every morning.”

 “I’ve been reading the Pilot since 1952 and it looks better than ever.”

 “If I want to know what’s happening in Newport Beach, I read your paper.”

 “If I want to know what’s going on in Costa Mesa, I pick up your paper.”

 “I love your blogs.”

Among the criticisms and suggestions I heard:

 “Why don’t you cover more youth sports?”

 “Why are your columnists so monochromatic?”

 “I’d like the Happenings cover to go beyond Newport Beach and Costa Mesa.”

 “When it comes to City Council meetings, it seems like you cover one issue and that’s it.”

Well, we appreciate the praise, and the criticisms are so noted.

For more than 100 years, this paper — in various incarnations — has been serving this community.

And like many of you, I can’t wait for the next edition.

Editor BRADY RHOADES may be reached at (714) 966-4607 or at [email protected].