Eleven gay bars in Seattle received letters today addressed to the "Owner/Manager" from someone claiming to be in the possession of ricin, a deadly poison. "Your establishment has been targeted," the letter begins. "I have in my possession approximately 67 grams of ricin with which I will indiscriminately target at least five of your clients."

"I felt sick when I read it," said Carla, the owner/manager of Re-bar. "It's so vile. It's just hatred. It made me worry for all the other bars, and for my bartenders, and our clientele."

According to the CDC's website, someone who has ingested "a significant amount" will develop vomiting and diarrhea within the first 6-12 hours; other symptoms of ricin poisoning include hallucinations, seizures, and blood in the urine. There is no antidote for ricin but ricin exposure is not invariably fatal.

"I just had the police come pick [the letter] up," said Keith Christensen, the manager of The Eagle, when reached by phone. Christensen had already heard about the letter from other bar owners and managers, and so he didn't open it. "It's probably nothing," Christensen added, "but the economy is really screwing all the bars right now, and the last thing we need is something ramping up the not-go-out mode people seem to be in right now. It's really freaky that someone would do something like this at a time like this."

Christensen says he's posted signs at the Eagle advising patrons not to leave their drinks unattended.

"The police have already come and gone," said Roland, the manager at Madison Pub. "They collected the letter and that's about it. I don't think it's anything to worry about it." Roland admitted to being unnerved by the letter at first.

"But after the initial 'what?', it's like whatever."

A letter also arrived in the Stranger's offices, addressed to the attention of "Obituaries." The letter's author said the paper should "be prepared to announce the deaths of approximately 55 individuals all of whom were patrons of the following establishments on a Saturday in January." The listed bars are: The Elite, Neighbours, Wild Rose, The Cuff, Purr, The Eagle, R Place, Re-bar, CC's, Madison Pub, and the Crescent. "I could take this moment to launch into a diatribe about my indignation towards the gay community," the letter concludes, "however, I think the deaths will speak for themselves."

Alison, Luying, and Tippett, local promoters and DJs who do nights at various bars around town, came up with the idea of organizing a pub crawl for this Friday night to show support for the bars that were threatened.

Carla at Re-bar added that, as distressing as the letter was, she was pleased with the response from the community.

"Everyone is calling each other, everyone's got each other's backs."

Cross-posted from Slog:

Eleven gay bars in Seattle received letters today addressed to the "Owner/Manager" from someone claiming to be in the possession of ricin, a deadly poison. "Your establishment has been targeted," the letter begins. "I have in my possession approximately 67 grams of ricin with which I will indiscriminately target at least five of your clients."

"I felt sick when I read it," said Carla, the owner/manager of Re-bar. "It's so vile. It's just hatred. It made me worry for all the other bars, and for my bartenders, and our clientele."

According to the CDC's website, someone who has ingested "a significant amount" will develop vomiting and diarrhea within the first 6-12 hours; other symptoms of ricin poisoning include hallucinations, seizures, and blood in the urine. There is no antidote for ricin but ricin exposure is not invariably fatal.

"I just had the police come pick [the letter] up," said Keith Christensen, the manager of The Eagle, when reached by phone. Christensen had already heard about the letter from other bar owners and managers, and so he didn't open it. "It's probably nothing," Christensen added, "but the economy is really screwing all the bars right now, and the last thing we need is something ramping up the not-go-out mode people seem to be in right now. It's really freaky that someone would do something like this at a time like this."

Christensen says he's posted signs at the Eagle advising patrons not to leave their drinks unattended.

"The police have already come and gone," said Roland, the manager at Madison Pub. "They collected the letter and that's about it. I don't think it's anything to worry about it." Roland admitted to being unnerved by the letter at first.

"But after the initial 'what?', it's like whatever."

A letter also arrived in the Stranger's offices, addressed to the attention of "Obituaries." The letter's author said the paper should "be prepared to announce the deaths of approximately 55 individuals all of whom were patrons of the following establishments on a Saturday in January." The listed bars are: The Elite, Neighbours, Wild Rose, The Cuff, Purr, The Eagle, R Place, Re-bar, CC's, Madison Pub, and the Crescent. "I could take this moment to launch into a diatribe about my indignation towards the gay community," the letter concludes, "however, I think the deaths will speak for themselves."

Alison, Luying, and Tippett, local promoters and DJs who do nights at various bars around town, came up with the idea of organizing a pub crawl for this Friday night to show support for the bars that were threatened.

Carla at Re-bar added that, as distressing as the letter was, she was pleased with the response from the community.

"Everyone is calling each other, everyone's got each other's backs."

Seattle MC Avery Turner (AKA First Black Prez)—one of the men injured in the Chop Suey shooting—is apparently conscious and talking with friends at Harborview.

Turner was shot in the chest during a hiphop show Sunday morning and was rushed to the hospital with life threatening injuries. Friends say Turner had been on a respirator since Sunday.

Another man, James Jones (known as Trama) was shot in the leg and shoulder. A third victim, Joseph Ryan—who performed under the name 29-E—was killed in the shooting.

A benefit show for the victims of the shooting is tentatively scheduled for next month.

Cross-posted on Slog.

A new night called Nasty’s (’sup with that apostrophe?) debuts at Capitol Hill bar Havana (1010 E Pike St) Jan. 21. Hosted by DJ Sean Cee, B-Boy Free (Circle of Fire), and DJ BlesOne (Massive Monkees, They Live), Nasty’s replaces the disco night Studio, which previously held down Wednesdays.

"I wanted to do a night that was just good hiphop, reggae, funk, soul," Sean Cee says. "I feel like there are so many nights that are mash-up/electro remixes/etc., so i just wanted to do a good ol' hiphop night. There are going to be B-boys and a different guest DJ every week, where the DJ can play whatever he wants."

I think it’s safe to say any venture featuring BlesOne will be worthwhile, based on what I’ve heard of his work solo, accompanying Massive Monkees, and with They Live—plus, the concept is solid.

Good luck, Nasty's.

Bad news to start off the new year: The Stooges’ Ron Asheton found dead

Not dead yet: Grateful Dead reunion announced

Forty years later: Kraftwerk cofounder quits band

I hate the future: More music sold in 2008 than ever before, but fewer albums

Trent Reznor loves the future: NIN make another cryptic announcement

Fuck it, I’m going back to bed: Bob Marley collaborator Vincent Ford dead at 68

The Detroit Free Press is reporting that Ron Asheton, guitarist for the Stooges, was found dead in his home early this morning. The authorities say they do not suspect foul play. Asheton was 60.

Damn. Now I'm really bummed I missed them at Bumbershoot 2005. Phooey.

I was, however, lucky enough to interview Ron circa the release of Todd Haynes' 1998 glam rock valentine Velvet Goldmine, where he was part of the faux-Stooges ensemble Wylde Rattz. The guitarist had this to say about the soundtrack's Iggy stand-in, and one of the biggest Stooges' fans in Seattle (or anywhere else):

"It was especially weird playing with Mark Arm. He does a pretty good Iggy imitation. When he started singing, it was a little creepy. I had to look in the vocal booth to see who was over there."

R.I.P. dude.