In defence of afterhours

Thanks for a hopeful story on our city's troubled nightclub scene, and thanks especially to Yannic Viau for taking the sword against the Ville-Marie borough's backwards laws on afterhours clubbing ["Power to the Party People," April 24].

Montreal is internationally renowned as a party city. A couple of years ago I saw posters advertising Black and Blue in Berlin. And it's not just the gay circuit-goers who are drawn here - people come from all over the U.S. and Europe to party in our clubs. Tighten the laws and all will change. This means less tourism, less income for downtown and less of the good vibe that comes with the spirit of celebration and gives Montreal so much of its character. It also means, as was pointed out in the article, that what remains of the scene would move underground and become more dangerous, and no less a burden for cranky neighbours.

Viau is right when he says, "The law is draconian, abusive and disproportionate to the problem." When people choose to live in the downtown core of a city they have to accept the noise and general activity that comes along with it. If that's not your thing then move to Outremont or the suburbs. You'll help ease the housing crisis and give us all the more reason to celebrate.

» Andrea Durst

The Business on Crisco

Kudos to Peter Lightburn for succinctly capturing the essence of the Crisco era ["The first and last days of Crisco," April 24]. While he did a great job of describing all of the elements, most people I know would say two other factors stood out in that club.

Firstly, the ceilings would drop buckets of sweat from the combined moisture in the room. But because everyone was flying on ecstasy, no one cared.

Also, besides the songs that Provonost mentioned, Crisco disciples made their own tune to "A Deeper Love" singing, "Crisco club, Crisco Club." (You had to be there.)

While I will say that Crisco was a symbolic and unique experience, I still see Business as the granddaddy of them all when it comes to Montreal clubland folklore. From Wesley's sobering presence at the door, to the ever-changing décor. I defy anyone to tell me that they didn't get butterflies in their stomach each time, once their coat was checked and "the door" finally opened to the club floor. The music was truly classic. I recall watching Chris Farley in eager anticipation as he would mix NWA's "Straight Outta Compton" into "Salsa House" or Public Enemy's "Rebel Without a Pause" into Mr. Lee's "I Can't Forget."

So yeah, while I appreciate the article on behalf of all old-schoolers, I would say that Crisco was the uglier third cousin to Business's fabulous flawlessness.

» Renee Gold

Word to the birds

I found your article on birds at Dorval airport most interesting and informative ["Bird Traffic Control," April 24]. How fitting that nature should provide the most effective remedy against its own interference in the astonishing feat that is mankind in flight. What a marvel it is to envision the majestic falcon as it swoops down upon lowly runway birds. I will certainly feel safer next time I set foot in a plane on the Dorval tarmac. And I am ever grateful that flying beasts of God and man are working together in harmony.

» Robert D. Coulas

Seal of disapproval

Re: "Blood of the lamb," by Scott Saxon [Damn Right, April 3]. On justifiable homicide in the name of God. Today we begin the same thing with the seals. Years ago I wrote our then minister of fisheries Romeo Leblanc - later to become Governor General - when he said he would like to do the same to the protesters of this action. I replied that many of us would like to do the same to him. In jest of course. For this I received a call at my place of residence from the RCMP. After verifying the fact that I was not dangerous, they left. They travel in pairs.

Slaughtering of the seals on our East Coast is justified by the same process as the slaughtering of the Iraqis. The seals are eating "our cod." The Iraqis have "our oil." We are saving the cod. We are liberating the Iraqi people. And we do this as Christians in the name of our Christian god.

My days are numbered on planet Earth, which is being destroyed day by day by greed in the name of a higher power. A thought process that says for Bush to continue to do "what is right, regardless of the critics." This year our present Minister of Fisheries plans to slaughter more seals than ever before. And so it goes. I get frustrated knowing I can do little to change the present situation. I would like to think that some day we will come to realize that we are the problem in this world and thus, for the world to change for the better, we must do the changing.

» John C. Underwood

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