2 . 2003
hy so many queer nights
all of a sudden?
Sure, the alternative
crowd wants an alternative
to gay bars, hut lay some
blame on the economy, too, because slower
business is what’s really behind the straight-
shooters’ rash of queer nights.
“A lor of the straight bars are really hurting
in this economy, and they are looking for new
ideas,” says Chad, head bartender at Silverado.
“They can go where they w ant.. .hut we’re
queer seven days a week.”
OK ...queer? Yes. Cutting edge? Well, here
are a few of the new wave-riders that might
get you a little wet.
Blackbird, 37 2 8 N.E. Sandy Blvd.,
9 :3 0 p.m. to 2 a.m. second and fourth Tuesdays.
Blackbird is the odd angular building on the
comer of Sandy and Halsey. It’s a gritty, hipster
live-music lounge and dance floor, and both are
crowded. Drinks are pretty cheap, with a decent
selection of microbrews for three bucks. The
atmosphere is friendly and relaxed, and queer
night is a fun mix— mostly young lesbians with a
lot of cute boi dykes and trannies. There’s a good
amount of gay guys there, too, who are also pret
ty young, along with alternative types you don’t
normally see on Stark Street. DJs spin a variety
of music including ’80s and some hip-hop.
East, 3 2 2 N.W. Everett St., 6 p.m. to
2 a.m. Sundays.
East has been doing queer night for three of
the nine months it’s been open. This simple,
small place has no dance floor, just a bar and
lounge. Sleek contours, mirrored walls and mod
furniture contribute to an atmosphere that’s chic
It’s queer,
it’s here,
go to it
Queer nights bring
homo happenings to
hetero hot spots
b y M ic h a e l B u r d ic k
but comfortable. The night slows down a bit in
here; it isn’t too crowded, and you don’t have to
yell to be heard. The crowd is a mixed bag, pos
sibly slightly older than other queer nights in
town, with a few Stark Street regulars. Asian
food is available all night if you’re hungry. Fun
fact: East is co-owned by Mike Quinn, who used
to co-own La Luna, which played host to Port
land’s first queer nights in the early ’90s.
Level, 13 N.W. Sixth Ave., 8 p.m. Sundays.
Housed in the old Star Theater, Level
offers plenty of room to party, and they defi
nitely know how. It’s like going to Neighbors
in Seattle or some other big-city club. The
Dexter whoops it up for a night at Skervy— Queer to the Bone!
dazzling light show never really gets old.
Go-go dancers contribute to the high-energy,
festive atmosphere. A floor show, with fire
eaters and other curiosities, ensures you won’t
get bored. Level’s relatively new “Not A noth
er Queer Night” has gotten off to an impres
sive start. The crowd is a good mix, but mostly
young and mostly male with many of the same
faces you see on Stark Street. DJs play house
and trance. Drinks are pricey.
ing with high ceilings and stained-glass win
dows. Many of the same people who go to
Blackbird’s queer night also go to Skervy—
young, mostly lesbians with a few fags. The
atmosphere is low-key and not too crowded. A
lot of people are dressed with unusual creativi
ty— lace, sequins and other frills are well repre
sented. There are always a few people dancing,
but most just hang out with friends or play
pool. Drinks are moderately priced. JTH
Skervy— Queer to the Bone! at the
Cobalt Lounge, 3 2 N.W. Third Ave., 9 p.m.
to 2 a.m. Thursdays.
The Cobalt Lounge is in a neat, old build
M ichael B urdick fell m love with the sound o f
his ow n voice at an early age, beginning a
passionate affair that has so fa r withstood the test o f
time. H e is a free-lan ce writer living in Portland.
B A C K Y A R D S P A S • THE P L E A S U R E IS ALL Y O U R S
Portland Public Schools need a positive
c h a n g e in l e a d e r s h i p a n d d i r e c t i o n .
T h e r e is an o p p o r t u n i t y to make this
change happen with the May 20th election
of four new School Board members.
OREGON
HOTSPRING SPAS
SAVE ENERGY
& MONEY.
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SALEM
(503)363-4000
CLACKAMAS
(503)650-8242
BEND
(541)388-0905
BEAVERTON
(503)643-5002
VANCOUVER
(360)892-5905
Oregon
HotSpring Spas
W W W .O R H O T S P R IN G S P A S .C O M
The members of Portland Association of
T e a c h e r s s t r o n g l y r e c o m m e n d the
following candidates:
John Ball
Richard Garrett
Fanion Molloy
David Wynde
503 - 232-3600
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