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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 18, 2001)
40 may 18.2001 "This creativity factory delivers the most fantastic nightlife in the city" www.inotherwords.ori» -Time Out New York S H O P 24 H O U RS A D A Y PAPER Magazine and Thomas M. Lauderdale present \ From New York City Two Nights of IN OTH ER W O R D WOMENS DOOKS AND P.ESOUP.ŒS S J a m b JUNE 4 & 5 DANTE’S brow se fo r b o o k s a n y tim e CQ U 3RD & WEST BURNSIDE • 21 & OVER NIGHT 1 @ 10PM THE JACKIE RODEO: MY PRETTY PONY a real stereo store for real music lovers NIGHT 2 @ 10PM PERFORMING BOTH NIGHTS @ 8:30PM JOEY ARIAS ... b e c a u se m u sic m a tte rs. STRANGE FRUIT Separate admission $10 advance Joey Arias/$ 10 advance Jackie 60 or $15 for both Available at Fastixx Outlets or The Jelly Bean Charge by Phone at 503.224 TIXX Subject to service charge 2627 N.E. Broadw ay/Portland/ 280-0910 www.stereotypesaudio.com www mothernyc.com "A TRIUM PH!" - M in n ix p o iis S tar TRiRust ELTON JOHN & TIM RICE'S A I D A A NEW M U S IC A L LO V E S T O R Y MAY 30-JUNE 3 KELLER A U D I T O R I U M • S W Jrd & CLAY (503) 241 -1802 or (503) 790-ARTS Tit kets a v a il a b l e at all * » c f c g r * t w » f w <tl|||( .|s a n ( | P o r t la n d O p e r a C ro u p s o f 20 or m o re SAVF! (5 0 3 ) 2 4 1 -1 4 0 7 vs s\ ss .p o r tl a n d o p e r a .o r ^ • vs vs ss.hroadvsavserics.t om vs vs vs.disnevonbrnadvsav.c om Fred Meyer Broadway ^ D e lta S Ü S S S Women in the Woods S o a k in g u p so m e f u n w it h t h e d y k e s by N a t a l ie S h a p ir o E “We have people send back pages on what very August, 120 lesbians descend on a they can and can’t eat,” Jordan laughs. “One remote hot springs in western Oregon. woman seemed to be only able to eat lettuce This phenomenon is the annual Women and plain rice.” in the Woods gathering at Breitenbush The solution is self-service food bars with Hot Springs near Detroit. potatoes, burritos and salads. Jordan’s girlfriend, W1W was started in 1984 by a Portland Keri Salim, owner of the North Portland woman inspired by the annual Radical Faeries restaurant Chez What, plans the vegetarian gatherings. Except for a five-year hiatus menu. “Every year we fine-tune it some more,” because of monetary problems, the camping Jordan promises. event has occurred yearly with enthusiastic So far the only complaints about sleeping attendance. accommodations concern snoring. Several The mission of WIW is to provide les camping options are available: spaces for bian-focused events for women-bom women. women’s own tents, pre-pitched tents and Its goals are to provide a safe, nurturing 1930s-era cabins and rooms in the lodge that environment for supporting lesbian culture and to bring together women of diverse are wheelchair-accessible. On that note, Jor races, ages, cultures and economic and edu dan explained a downside of the event: None of the hot tubs are wheelchair-accessible. cational backgrounds. Breitenbush is the ideal location to The demographics of WIW participants achieve these goals, Jesse Jor dan explains. She is a member of the WIW organizing team, whose official name is Sensual Women Attaining Teamwork, or SWAT “Breitenbush is a magical place,” Jordan says. “It’s a beautiful old-growth forest with hiking trails, and the whole place is at a hot springs.” The healing hot springs themselves are a reason to visit Breitenbush. “After a couple days, you are cleaned up of any toxins,” Jordan attests. Women also experience a community that is completely self-reliant. “They generate their own power from the river, have an organic garden and produce geothermal heat,” Jordan says of the 40 people who operate Breitenbush. Besides soaking in hot The SWAT team at play springs and hiking, what is there to do during the four-day gathering? have changed though the years. Past gatherings Expect an unstructured experience, the SWAT saw a higher number of older women, but that team says. This is a welcome relief from the has reversed. average woman’s hectic, structured life. Sometimes the age gap is evident. “We had a Events unfold with varying degrees of game show where the older ones wrote the ques spontaneity. “We don’t plan the workshops— tions,” Jordan says. “The younger ones didn’t they just happen,” Jordan says. know the answers. So this year the younger ones One year, a woman wanted to talk about will help write the questions.” sex. “80 women showed up!” Jordan says. WIW also is evolving beyond the annual Workshops and discussion groups are cre event. At last year’s gathering, a participant ated by the participants. For example, if noticed many “gray-haired beauties.” She someone wants to talk about relationships, organized a workshop called “Age vs. Sage” for she simply writes down a time and place on a women older than 50, and younger women also schedule in the lodge, and most likely women were interested in attending to see what was will show up. ahead for them. This group has continued to The key to WIW is to relax and be spon meet throughout the fall and winter. taneous. “You can do anything! You can be Another new idea is slated for next year. alone, socialize, do workshops, art,” Jordan “This will be a bridge between the Radical says. “Last year was so funny— we had a Tal- Faeries and the WIW events and will attempt to ent/No Talent Night.” And they even played create a space for everyone,” Jordan says. JP1 Who Wants to Be a Lesbian Millionaire. With all the fun, WIW still has its prob This summ er’s WOMEN IN THE W OODS takes place lems. The biggest is food. Several campers Aug. 23 to 26. Registration is $ 2 5 0 for four days complained last year when bell peppers inad and three nights or $185 for three days and two vertently ended up in the food. (Sounds nights. Special accommodations can be arranged if harmless!) planned early. For more information and to obtain a Getting 120 dykes to agree on the menu is registration form , call 503-284-0722 or e-mail next to impossible. Participants send in womenmthewoods@hotmail. com . details on any special dietary needs along with their registration form. NATALIE S hapiro is a Portland free-lance writer. PHOTO BY LINDA KLIEWER LUMBERJACKIE CHANNELING BILLY HOLIDAY IN ............ V ............
