I just heard this at the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce meeting, and it’s been reported in the PI and the Slog: on Tuesday, eleven Seattle gay bars received letters in which the writer threatened to indiscriminately poison a number of their patrons with ricin.

Needless to say, watch your drinks. However, I will also quote The Stranger’s quote of Keith Christensen, manager of the Eagle:

“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.”

Be careful, be watchful, but don’t let the terrorist win – support your local gay bar in the face of tough economic times and creepy death threats.