novembfif 21.2QÛ3 * J u s t o u t 51
CULTURE
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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
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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.