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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 5, 2004)
march 5. 2004 • Ju st out 41 DIVERSIONS premiere of a little Canadian “ I like to do things big,” says Bridon. “I gem, The Drawer Boy, star i wanted to see if the street would go for ring Hurt, ART artistic direc it...com e together and participate with each tor Allen Nause and Patrick other. And they did.” Wohlmut. To enter, send a photo and 100 words or Turns out Nause knows Hurt less on why you deserve to be Spanked to from the Oregon Shakespeare Mitch at 1433 N.E. Alberta St., Portland, Festival, where the two acted in O R 97211. You may enter on another’s the 1970s. “Through a serendipi- behalf, and you don’t have to be a straight texjs encounter at ART a couple guy or anything. Spanking Portland is open of years ago, we discovered that to men and women, queer and not. we would like to share that “We don’t want to leave anybixly out,” experience together again,” says explains Bridon, who says they’ll he looking Nause. “I lcx>ked for just the for people who have compelling reasons for right kind of project: a small cast needing a day of pampering and perking up. play with a compelling human “Spanking can feel good, too, you know.” hen I arrived wirh my partner at the story and in-depth roles.” Enjoy the ambiance that is Rory Stitt on March 5 at Nocturnal Multnomah Building on Southeast The three-person “sleeper” Hawthorne Boulevard at 8:30 a.m. play by Michael Healy casts March 3,1 immediately ran into Just Hurt and Nause as fellow World War II veter ortland Center Stage has canceled G ay Out columnist Marc Acito. “Where have you ory Stitt has a pretty loyal following. ans and farmers who share a mysterious secret and Lesbian Audience N ight beginning been?!” he screeched. Which isn’t to say you’ll have trouble get that threatens to explixle when a young actor next season. T he event, normally the Because 8:30 was late for queer activists, ting tickets to his March 5 show at Noc (Wohlmut) arrives on the farm. second Tuesday o f a production’s run, will writers and just plain folks in love that day. turnal. You won’t have any trouble— go ahead, The Drawer Boy runs March 14 to April 25 continue for the last two plays of this year. Els and 1 didn’t plan to get married on buy tickets at the dcxir, no worries. at 1516 S.W. Alder St. Tickets are $20-$40 G A LA goers may have noticed a bit o f a March 3; we just wanted the license. We’ll get from 503-241-1278. But be prepared to be surrounded by the Port miffed Poison W aters, the event’s hostess, it, he a part of history and see how we feel in a land gay singer’s friends— all of them. At a recent couple of weeks, we said. Very levelheaded are show, there were a ton, all smiley and supportive me and Els. and getting the inside jokes between themselves Besides, Els is from Belgium, and we plan and the slight young man on stage. At a Rory to move there eventually and get married in Stitt show there’s a lot of love in the rextm. one of the two countries where all marriages There’s also a lot of talent. Stitt’s hazy, crazy are created equal. We wanted to get legally rock ’n’ roll piano groove is mellow but with married for the first and only time in front of just enough edge to keep your hearing aid on some members of her family, have a recep high. What was that lyric? What did his ex- tion, etc. boyfriend say to him in London? I missed it! Plus, if Belgium recognizes this marriage, When Stitt talks from the stage it's not to they might not grant us a Belgian marriage spout bullshit. It’s to use his quiet voice to say license. Then there would be no legal ceremo stuff like “What time is it?” and “I’m going now ny there. That was not what we wanted. on what I like to call a smoke break.” Stitt is And the nonprofit Immigration Equality just cool, which is why his music keeps his peo advised binational queer couples not to get ple coming hack for more. The room might not be full, but that’s not their fault. They know married. It won’t help you get a green card, because it’s not federally recognized and it what they’re doing. could hinder you leaving and re-entering the country. Play it safe, they said. Then we saw the first people to walk around the ever-lengthening line waving their et thee to Tahla! And partake of the new marriage license. Soon after that, there vino! All during March, the Northeast was another dashing male couple doing the Portland wine bar and eatery will donate same. “Thar was the N o Fish! G o Fish! guys,” $3 of every glass of lesbian-owned Hip Chicks Els said, referring to the owners of the charm Do Wine to O ur House of Portland, which ing Hawthorne eatery. “It was?” I said. We provides housing and health services to people brooded. living in advanced stages of AIDS. To spend time with (from left) Ali Wykhuis and Angie Coffin of Frock and Mitch Bridon of A hunch of officiates cruising the line gave This good-for-business, good-for-the- Spank! one must only ask for a makeover us their cards. One we particularly liked (sort community collaboration came about because, of because she had no card). She just “took the well, the owners just like each other. Tabla is day off” from Universal Life Church, she said, during February’s 36 Views run. Because o f a the first restaurant to serve wine by the glass to come perform marriages outside the build from the Portland winery. confused transition, G A L A had been ing. No fee. We brooded. moved from the Portland Center for the “I love Tahla’s whole atmosphere," says Hip ay-owned hair salon Spank! has already Performing Arts rotunda to the Newinark When we finally got our license three Chick’s Laurie Lewis. “The whole small plate idea provocatively announced its birth on Theatre lobby, where nary a treat nor drink hours later, we both burst into tears. How helps people get into an adventurous mcxle about Alberta Street with an image in its sec could he found. the ftxxl they’re eating.” She notes they hope to sappy, we said, I hope no one we know is ond story o f a hand about to watching. go through a case of wine a week. “W hat makes this any different from any lay into a naked ass. other night?” she queried in the fast-empty But then when we found our officiate and Supposedly there are several Now owner Mitch Bridon ing space. Two days later she resigned as two friends outside to act as witnesses, we Tabla/Hip Chick events in the off hostess. wants to get the whole city didn’t care who was watching— not about the ing. Check future issues for details. involved in his playtime. strangers still in line, not about the hate- “W e’ve really had to kxik at all our pro Hence, Spanking Portland, grams this year and say, ‘What do we think mongers in the street, not about the others a makeover contest, in waiting for the officiate to hurry up please and is the most effective’ and ‘W ho’s coming?’ ” which three winners will he explains K athy Budas, P C S director of mar get to them, not about the news camera in our hen was the last time a chosen from entries due to keting. G A L A , she says, “wasn’t really megastar appeared along faces. In fact, we relished them. the salon by March 31. attracting new people.” Rather, “they were side Portlanders in a kx:al Queer performance artist Tim Miller, who Bridon has half the street getting smaller.” theater prexiuction? Well, hold was in town last month wirh his latest one- involved in his project. She attributes this in part to the compa onto your hats because William man show about the lack of essential rights While Spank! does up your ny’s new preview performance night, Fade to Hurt, star of Body Heat, The Big for gay couples, recently said to me, “ I think ’do, Frock will outfit you, Black. T his first-Tuesday preview includes Chill, Children of a Ixsser God, Kiss gay people are so still afraid to actually take Picasso Beads will jewel you, the play and an after-party with fcxxJ, drinks of the Spider Woman (in which he any power and see the systems of hom o Venus Envy Day Spa will and a DJ or live music, all for $20. Budas played a big queen and won an phobia in our country...our cultural power is relax you and Tin Shed will notes that many patrons “moved over from Oscar) and other major films, as so much greater than our political power at feed you. Other retailers and the G A L A night to the Fade to Black well as more than 70 plays, is on this point.” restaurants are jumping night. his way to our fine town. On March 3, 422 couples made one hell of aboard wirh services and gift On March 14, Artists Reperto a political statement at 500 S.E. Hawthorne certificates for winners. ry Theatre launches the Northwest Compiled by L isa B radshaw and M eg D aly Blvd. Maybe we’re catching up. J D We’re so married W No more GALA No bullstitt P R W ’Cause everyone deserves a spanking G So good it Hurts W ”jn PHOTO BY MARTY DAVIS Hip Chicks Do Tabla
