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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 6, 2003)
* tuna 6. 2003 • Ja a t M t|p ig ortland Pride 2003 features more than 150 booths with just about everything from food to clothing to do-gooders. With such an abundance of rainbow riches, a dis criminating visitor will have no trouble finding by F loyd S klaver points of interest, hut Just Out noticed a few we want to he certain you find. First on the list is Gladiator Pedestal Joust Interactive Male will ing, sponsored by gay telephone provide live models dating service Interactive Male. This inflatable to test your gladiator version of the famed American Gladiators joust skills at Portland ing platforms looks like loads of good time. Pride 2003 Two participants (gladiators!) climb on top of the pedestals wearing protective headgear. They then swing at each either with oversized, foam-filled jousting poles; the victor is the first one to knock the opponent down onto a huge air-inflated mat. As Interactive Male area marketing manag er Neil Janssen says, “Its a great way to take out your aggressions on each other— in a play ful way." (’Course, we already have other ways of doing that, hut whatever.) Each match is a whomping three minutes of fun and costs just $2 a person. Although Inter active Male is primarily geared toward men, anyone 14 and older is welcome to play. While you may challenge your friends, Interactive Male will have professional models on hand to fight gladiators who arrive foe-less. The company will also he taking souvenir instant photographs of each match. (Perhaps we can get these professional nude models to fight in their work clothes.) Be sure to check out the rest of Interactive In 1996, Mike joined his life (and business), buttons,” he happily boasts. “ I have one two- Male’s hexith as well. Portland drag favorite and they now make the trip together. mom family that I take pictures of every year. Celeste Towers will once again he greeting visi The pair sell an assortment of novelty items I put them on a banner in front of my booth, tors, and everyone who stops by will get free time including buttons, photo mugs, T-shirts, posters, |andl all my regulars...check to see how the on Interactive Male as well as a chance to win cards and key chains. The buttons come in two two boys have grown and how the two moms one of many prizes (possibly IM’s very popular varieties: 3 1/2-inch color photo buttons that, are doing.” Cum towels). In addition, when they aren’t joust- at $5 each, are their most popular iteirt, and ^ Kitterman is certain that future years will * ih^ thys^beautiful models will he applying free 1 1/4-inch buttons with political sloga^s^nd" see him and Mike , *.rciipprirary tattoos to any part of your KxJy. funny phrases for just about any q u e e r . - y y.. continuing to \ interactive Male is the largest gay-owned They try to introduce fresh maxims frfch # attend Port . interactive telephone dating service in the year as v^ell bring an ample supply*o( the qjdt land Pride. y , country and says it is the only one that gives standards. My personal favorites: “Let go fjf my “It’s won f»ack to the community. All pro ears, I know what I’m derful ceeds from the jousting will go fun,” par doing,” “Nice pants, they’d "It's a great way to Pride Northwest, and any lcx)k good on my bedroom ticularly fi;om the booth will he donated floor,” “That’s Ms. Dyke to being able to take out to Peacock in the Park. Janssen to see returning cus you,” “ Boys will do boys,” your aggressions says he hopes to raise more than “Bi bi love,” “Women don’t tomers, he enthuses. $2,000 for the groups. have hot flashes, they have “Every year about halfway on each other— in a power surges” and “Sit on a through...I start realizing how much I love etuming for its 16th Port playful way." happy face.” A t just $1 them and start tearing up to the point I can land Pride is Richard &. each, this is the perfect hardly breathe.” Let’s keep them coming back — Neil Janssen opportunity to stock up for Button Company. for another 16 years. Richard is 67-year-old Richard every occasion. Kitterman, who lives in Noti (about 20 miles Kitterman says lesbians are his most loyal ast but certainly not least, canine- west of Eugene) with his 28-year-old partner, customers. “ I have gay families who have all loving community members will want to Mike. He has been selling at Pride since 1988 16 years of their family growing up on my i shop at Nedra Made It!, staffed by queer- Likes to watch out for Suggestions for Pride vendor shopping this year • » • *■ - • » > < * - ' Vocation friendly Nedra Howsden and her boyfriend, Rick. Last year they adopted Augie (“a really cute, smart mutt” ) and then discovered it was difficult carrying everything they needed at the park. “I love taking him for walks,” Howsden explains, “but I hate carrying around his poop, leash and everything else.” Rick suggested she design a bag that was “hip yet durable," and Howsden, a consummate seamstress, seized the challenge. Augie Bags are now at many area stores, including Healthy Pets Northwest, Club K-9, Furever Pets and N oah’s Arf. The product solves the problem of what to do with all that dog stuff. While fashionable on the outside, what makes the bags special is inside, where each one has a small pocket under the flap to hold your filled poop bag, a mesh pocket for keys and baggies, an inside treat pocket and a general pocket for water bottles, toys, balls, leashes, Frisbees, etc. There’s even a side pocket for your cell phone or flashlight. You can take the Augie Bag to the park, to the beach or even to Pride because it comes in a variety of stylish colors including Poodle Pink, Beagle Blue and Chow Chow Orange. Machine washable, it is available in three sizes (kinda like dogs). This is the first year at the festival for Howsden; one of the stores that carry her bags alerted her to the potential market. “I’ve heard it’s a lot of fun and a great place for folks to bring their dogs,” she says. Will Augie make an appearance at Pride? “Definitely,” Howsden declares. He’s “a friendly dog, so he would love it if you came by and gave him some love.” J H FLOYD S klaver is a Portland free-lance umter with a Pekingese rumfcd.Sherman. ... _ tw . Happy Pride! Come celebrate with us. 10% off PRIDE everything* WEEKEND June 1 3th — 1 6th ‘ w h en m entioning this ad Take pride in your life... books • movies • dvds • gifts explore your dream job while on vacation! v o c a t i o n v a c a t i o n s . c o m 8 6 6 . 888.6329 (Jai-(Pied 2544 NE B r o a d w a y St. Phone 503.331.1125 • gaipiediapttbi.com
