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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 2003)
novembfif 21.2QÛ3 * J u s t o u t 51 CULTURE ▼ It's good to be queen I L Holocene is emerging as the jewel in the crown of queer nights by J odi D arby If Holocene would stick to one price you could depend on (say, around $6), it might improve the numbers of sweat-soaked dance patrons. I esbo scenes have always been a little hard to pin down and always seemed to halkanize groups. There are the traditional lesbian bars with Sarah McLachlan on heavy rotation, the sports bars where you’ll get your teeth knocked into your Q xirs Light if you’re caught ogling somebtxly’s date and the punk-dyke parties like the erstwhile Skervy for our fellow pirates, freaks and outlaws. The possibility for cross-pollination between camps of women has been slim. Tart is a refreshing departure. The brainchild of Portland couple Shoshanah Oppenheim and Katharine Sprecher, Tart will mn from 4 to 9 p.m. the second Sunday of every month (next is Dec. 14). At the dehut, Holocene was packed as early its 6 p.m. with a diverse smattering of women: bespectacled social workers, pink-haired genderfucks, the young and the old—all buoyant and dressed to the teeth. And, even though the rcx>m was filled with some of the foxiest folk in the Rose City, it lacked that Friday night meat market vibe that usually accompanies such ventures. Unlike Fairchild, Tart’s DJ-driven dance fltxir is in the front rcxmi— spacious hut still smack dab in the middle of the action. The The Portland Spirit presents STORM LARGE & THE BALLS Portland’s favorite "Toungecore” act CALL ( 8 0 0 ) 224- 39OI OR (5O3) 224-39OO Visit www.portlandspirit.com elevated seats near the floor are perfect for peo ple watching, and the low, candle-lit tables around the periphery are nice if you’re afraid of getting your drink knix:ked over by a passing hump train. What stands out the most at Tart is the friendly and completely adorable Holcx:ene staff. The love ly Miss Bridget serves up killer adult beverages and obviously enjoys doing it. Proof that boundary crossing is possible: Queer women enjoy Holocene’s stunning cock- music, drinks and each other during the Nov. 9 premiere of Tart tail dominatrix, Rachael, Perhaps more original, less mainstream tunes has caused such a stir among Portland nightlife might help to further heat up the place in the movers and shakers that the kx;al Craigslist is coming winter months. abuzz with “Who’s that girl.’” messages. A hmsh Regardless, Hokxrene has staying power, with either of these ladies, and the $5 cover has and here’s hoping its queer ventures do, tix>. paid for itself. Being gay has never been so much fun. | H Somewhat out of step with the rest of the atmosphere was the music during the latter part of H c x o c e n e , 1001 S.E . Morrison St., presents opening night. DJ Anjali’s mid-evening hhangra Fairchild every Friday night and Tart from 4 to enticed, hut later, with a change in DJ, it sounded 9 p.m. every second Sunday. more like lutt year’s Top 10 on 95.5 Jammin FM. But folks still got their grooves on, and it JODI D arby is a Portland uriter, graphic designer, was fun to watch girls getting freaked on the radio Irroducer aiul date ogier. dance floor while lip-syncing to “Magic Stick.” PHOTO BY n the great comings and goings that are Portland queer nights, Holocene, one of the best all-around venues tor hip-hop, house and world dance music, serves up one that’s crying tor your touch and one that seduced us at first sight. Tart, a once-monthly queer women’s soiree, proved itself at its dehut party Nov. 9, and Fairchild, Holocene’s Friday night queer dance party, is the place to he in Gaysville and a wel come change of pace from downtown’s Vase line Alley— if only the boys would find it. Queer nights, in general, have taken their knocks in our fair city— first gaining momen tum, then going down like a shot of Drano. From the ashes of great queer nights at La Luna and Blackbird, Fairchild just might he that spe cial someone you’ve been hoping for. Dance music fans, he advised: Fairchild is one of the best venues to hear DJs spin the lat est house. And if you don’t like it, that’s OK because they’ll he in the hack dance room while you chat up some cutie in the main lounge area, where you will also find a DJ spinning an eclec tic array of world, house and pop (and where the volume won’t make your brain bleed). Holocene creates a great environment for a party: a stark warehouse in Southeast Portland that is elegant hut edgy. You will find no plastic cups of Bud here, nor will you mn the risk of getting pegged with a dart or pixil cue. It you’re a nonsmoker, you won’t he annoyed that your T-shirt reeks because the putters are happily enjoying their own special room. The bar itself is gorgeous, well-stocked and well-staffed. Fairchild is a hit sparse these days, probably owing to not being around very long and the sometimes rather-steep-for-Portland cover charge ($8-$9) because of higger-name, out-of-town DJs.
