My friend and colleague, D.K. Holm, has been diagnosed with esophageal cancer. It's treatable, but he has a long road ahead of him. Doug's been a fixture of local arts criticism for years, writing for Willamette Week and Our Town, among other outlets. He currently writes for the Vancouver Voice and has a regular column at Kevin Smith's QuickStopEntertainment.com. I'm honored to work with him on "Movie Talk" on KBOO FM.

Being a freelance writer, Doug has no health insurance, and his treatment over the course of the next year will be costly. A fundraiser is being planned for April 27 at Cinema 21, with readings of Doug's more vitriolic reviews and hate mail by "an impressive list of Portland luminaries" (of which, oddly, I am one**), an auction of various restaurant and theater packages, plus entertainment by Thomas Lauderdale (Pink Martini), Steve Cheseborough, Dover Weinberg ("and friends"), and a new film by local filmmaker Patti Lewis.

Please come, if you can! If only to see me read someone else's hate mail!

Benefit for D.K. Holm

Sunday, April 27 at 7 p.m.

Cinema 21616 NW 21^st Ave.(503) 223-4515

The suggested donation at the door is $10. Advance tickets may be purchased on the Cinema 21 website.

** Making this the second time in a week I've been referred to as a luminary!