The article on Doug Fir ["Doug Fir Frenzy," WW, March 30, 2005] was excellent. Quite honestly, this club was needed. I was an avid clubgoer in my 20s and 30s and didn't mind (too much) the pools of bodily fluids and intense cigarette smoke I encountered. My memories of attending shows at Satyricon, The Last Hurrah, Eli's, Pine Street/La Luna, Starry Night/Roseland, Melody Ballroom, The Long Goodbye, Berbati's Pan, and dancing at Boxxes/The Brig, The Embers, The City-I wouldn't trade them for the world.

But by my mid-30s I grew tired of the club scene. The ambiguous start times of shows, the aforementioned bodily fluids and smelling like an ashtray, plus the unwelcoming attitude that because I wasn't tattooed, pierced or in my 20s was dismaying.

I quit active clubgoing in 1997. Attending shows was something I dearly missed.

Now, thanks to Doug Fir, I have a place to go and enjoy myself! This 42-year-old still loves to rock. And now that the other clubs have taken notice and remade themselves in the DF model (THANK YOU for the no smoking!) I'll be able to get out more often.

Candace Mattila
Northeast 39th Avenue

Email of a Mad Black Woman

It is so interesting when Caucasian people critique things they do not understand.

How can u honestly critique a movie [Diary of a Mad Black Woman] about a culture u have no knowledge of? Just like Hip Hop concerts, it is as if "u people" come to these functions not to enjoy the presentation but to again observe and analyze the crowd as u said in your column. Black culture is not a spectator sport-we live it daily.

I personally was offended by the thought of any grandmother or aunt of mine being portrayed as a man, but have been told by many "blacks" that the movie was well put together.

As u state in your column, black women especially seem to have a fondness for the movie. Aren't they the target audience? But like life in general for us, if it's something we like, then u all must of course find some way to "hate." U did not like the movie because it was not made for u. The characters are not likeable to u, again, because u cannot relate.

I personally usually don't like ANY of these lily-white tales that are being shown on the big screen today. I CANNOT relate to them, but as a well-rounded black person submerged and surrounded by ytness, I can usually come up with a decent objective understanding of the intent.

Alena Vance-Boyd
Northeast 26th Avenue

David Walker responds: A few points. One: I was born black. Two: After 36 years on this planet, I am still black. Three: I didn't like the movie because it sucked.

Free to Be You & Me

To the Rogue Desk: I can't believe you had the gall to put QFC and Fred Meyer on the Rogue list for merely putting a book on display [WW, March 30, 2005]. After all, we've fought hard in this country for the freedom to do what we want, including displaying what books we want. Of course, that also means you have the freedom to write about who you want in your column, and I have the freedom to write a letter to the editor complaining about who you write about. So there!

I hope you learned your lesson. Make sure it doesn't happen again.

Craig Chatterton
Scappoose