TOO BAD FOR MANRAY

DEAR STRANGER: I read with disgust Phil Campbell’s article “Bring the Noise” [Oct 7], which attempted to portray the owners of Pine Street’s newest club, Manray, as victims of the unreasonable Noise Ordinance and a cranky, homophobic neighbor. I happen to live in the building located between the back of Manray and the building Carolann Driver manages, so I can vouch for the legitimacy of her complaints.

While I believe everyone has a right to go out and have a good time without being harassed by the cops, I also believe paying rent entitles everyone to a degree of peace and quiet. Until the weather turned cold, I could never get to sleep before 2 a.m. on any night of the week because of the noise coming from Manray’s patio. But what are my rights to a good night’s sleep compared to the rights of others to get drunk and make lots of noise?

I wonder how “bizarre” Campbell would find the notion of calling the police if I were to stand 20 feet from his bedroom window each night, yelling and screaming until 2 a.m., and then polishing off that performance with a 15-minute avalanche of bottles tumbling into a metal dumpster? And how preposterous would it sound for me to contend that he’s only calling the police because he hates me for being left-handed?

Which brings us to the charges of homophobia against Carolann Driver: I’ve never met Driver, and I ought to admit up front that I do hate some gay people. Not because they’re gay, but because they’re people. People like “club owners Patrick Winslade and Mark Spalding,” who “spent $500,000 redesigning the place.” Well, tough shit. They should have considered the possibility of not being a welcome addition to this neighborhood before they [started] spending their money, especially since the Noise Ordinance was going before the Seattle City Council so soon after the club opened. Couldn’t [Winslade and Spalding] be bothered to take a peek over [Manray’s] fence and see that there are several residences easily within earshot? In what sense are these people victims of anything more than their own greed, arrogance, and stupidity?

Pete Sheehy, Capitol Hill

MANRAY DISREGARDS NEIGHBORS

DEAR STRANGER EDITORS: As a musician, making noise in this city is my sustenance. But I also live between Manray and the apartment building Carolann Driver manages. While I am not fond of Ms. Driver or the new Noise Ordinance, I will jump to her defense in saying that the owners and workers at the new Manray bar have shown blatant disregard for their neighbors since day one. For months we listened to jackhammers accompanied by extremely loud country music from 8 a.m. — sometimes earlier — till late evening, seven days a week.

Since the bar opened, the outdoor din of bar patrons and electronic music (much louder than the occasional live rock band at nearby Kincora’s) is at best tolerable. I have heard every word of obnoxious late-night conversations between employees on break about who’s working harder, who’s getting better tips, and who’s screwing who. Each night climaxes in a 30-minute cascade of bottles crashing into a metal dumpster at 2 a.m. Contrary to the article’s insinuations, this is a new bar bumping up against old apartment buildings in a residential neighborhood.

Jesse Stern, Capitol Hill

JISM IS A WORD FOUND IN THE STRANGER

DEAR EDITOR: There is nothing I enjoy better than hyperbole in a film review. And I must say that Jamie Hook did an exceptional job in his review of Catherine Breillat’s film Romance [Sept 30] by writing, “penises, pussy juice, and jism cavort about aimlessly in this film, smeared across the screen with all the panache of a misguided teenager showing his privates to the house pet.” In reality, “pussy juice” and “jism” (“JISM”?? Isn’t that a word found only in letters to Penthouse?) were on the screen [during the movie] so briefly that if you blinked, you’d miss them.

In addition, I’d also like to express my appreciation to The Seattle Times and P-I for refusing to run ads for Romance — which show people fucking — while running ads for countless [other] films which show people beating, stabbing, shooting, and butchering each other. Next to hyperbole, there is nothing I enjoy better than hypocrisy.

Jim Dahlen, via e-mail

SATAN, AT YOUR SERVICE

VOICEMAIL: “Yeah, I just read the article about Seattle’s next ‘gay ghetto’ [“Seattle’s Next Gay Ghetto,” Dan Savage, Mary Martone, Adrian Ryan, Oct 7], and I’m thoroughly upset that you would even propose ‘potential public sex environments’…. You know, not all gay people go to the park and have sex…. Through the years, you went from being a cute little paper to something very destructive. I wouldn’t care if your whole building burned down; you’re like the Satan of the gay world. You’re destroying what the gay community has been trying to accomplish for equal rights. You guys are… gross. I’ll never read your paper again.”

Anonymous

IRONY IS A WORD FOUND IN THE DICTIONARY

EDITORS: “Young, straight singles have moved in”? Could the authors of [“Seattle’s Next Gay Ghetto”] please explain how this statement is relevant or accurate? Those damn single straight people sure have a lot more money than those damn single gay people. I suppose, once again, the straight people are ruining it for us. I hope everyone feels sorry for us gay people, now that the young straight singles are co-opting what are rightfully ours: gay ghettos.

Jesus, give us a break from this smarmy, holier-than-thou bullshit. The Stranger is a great paper, but it really seems that some elements within your “organization” may have gotten a little too smug in how they see The Stranger — maybe as a personal platform. This is an example of not only poor and irresponsible journalism (if it can even be called that), but really shitty editing as well. How many editors would run an article that jokingly espoused the notion of creating new all-white enclaves, since the old ones are now being overrun by African Americans or Latinos?

“Tom,” via e-mail

GET OFF THE HILL

EDITOR: Where have you all been? It’s been known for years that West Seattle has been home to many gays and lesbians. No news there. As for Ballard and Columbia City, well, time will tell. You guys didn’t even mention Phinney Ridge, where there’s a multitude of lesbians calling it home. I swear, the last time I was in the 74th St. Ale House, there were more lovin’ lesbian couples than breeder couples. And what about Greenlake? [Where’s] a better place to see sweaty, hard bodies?! At least it oughta get “honorary” status. Sheesh, you guys need to get off the Hill more!

Tim Baker, via e-mail

HEY, GAYS: INVADE WEST SEATTLE!

EDITORS: Bring them on! Has anyone ever been to Provincetown, Massachusetts? It’s absolutely adorable! It is so clean, all the shops and houses have new, bright paint, and there are flowers everywhere! I’m a straight female, and I live in Alki — in fact, I’ve lived in West Seattle all my life, and I have dreamed of Alki looking like Provincetown, with all the pretty colors and tight cut-offs. It’s true, there are buttloads of old people who live here, and lots of tight-assed upright Christian/Lutheran/Catholic types who may put up a fight, but they’ll die off or move to Magnolia if there’s too much gay activity. I have noticed quite a few open lesbian couples, but not a lot of gay men. So I say INVADE. Build a disco. Make everything look cute. Thank you.

Anonymous, West Seattle

HEY, GAYS: WHAT ABOUT GEORGETOWN?

EDITORS: What about Georgetown? That place is great, with cheap rent and property. It’s out of the way, yet near downtown, with historical significance, secluded places for outdoor sex, lots of vacant (cool) business spaces waiting to be renovated… did I mention cheap rent and property? Why deal with overpriced houses/rent and those damn old people in Ballard? Why not create a caring community [in Georgetown] that has the potential to stay around longer than a fart in the breeze? With a little help and encouragement, who knows?

Anonymous, via e-mail

HEY, GAYS: CONSIDER WHITE CENTER!

EDITORS: May I nominate my neighborhood [for the next gay ghetto], White Center? We have affordable housing, huge lots for gardening, ethnic diversity, and good bus service. But we are sorely lacking any good cocktail lounges, coffee houses, restaurants, or other entertainment opportunities (something an influx of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters would certainly create). My house is located halfway between the two BIG attractions: Roxbury Bowling Alley and the Skate King. We’re dying out here.

Karen Therese, White Center

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WE’VE GOT MAIL!