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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 20, 2006)
34 JUStjOUt JANUARY 20, 2006 going for that classic winter combo? Beyond the Comfort Zone Adventures of the formerly unadventurous ow that I’m 47, I don't want to fall into a rut. Instead, I want to be like Disco Sally, the elderly grandmother who danced the night away at Studio 54- Every weekend, in sneakers and dark sunglasses, she would get down with the cutest, sexiest gay men in New York. Because New Year’s Day is a time of resolutions, my promise to myself this year is to he adventur ous. 1 want to meet new people, go new places and Want to make it safer to play? Test for STDs every 3 months. have new experiences, which is kind of hard when Out Going 503.988.3700 Portland • 360.397.8089 Vancouver • All confidential, all the time you’re naturally a homebody. Lucky for me, this BY FLOYD SKLAVER column forces me to be Out Going. So, I’ve thrown myself into the night (and day) f V life of Portland, determined to travel far and wide whose glorious garden inspired one of PM’s most for new adventures. For my first, I traveled all the seductive songs. way to Northeast Alberta Street for the Hip Then, fired up by Pink Martini’s infectious Holiday Soiree—billed as “the lesbian event of the rhythms and ready to dance, Marc and 1 boogied up season”—at Zaytoon. to Studio 69 for rhe third annual New Year’s Eve Luscious ladies dressed to the nines with sequins party thrown by prolific writer Dark lady (Theresa flashing and chiffon flowing. To the strains of the Reed). Her first feature for Hustler appears in the Pussycat Dolls singing, “Don’t cha wish your girl- March issue. The spread includes three pictures of MARIA SWEARINGEN friend was hot like me,” Lebanese lesbian (say that three times fast) Janan Bejaige staffed rhe bar, mixing L-tinis, a potent tequila-based potable created especially for the evening. Meredith Cole was present looking festive justoutpersonals.com and gay inside the kissing booth festively dressed as a gaily wrapped present. This was my first women-only event, and surprisingly, I didn’t feel out of place at all. In fact, I was the hottest guy there. Barb Beck organized with Girls on Gay party Meredith Cole kisses her girlfriend, Mindy Nicholson, during the Hip Holiday Soiree. Hooper. The tasty trio hopes the Hip MARIA SWEARINGEN Arthouse ★ Foreign ★ Cult Classics it Gay & Lesbian Documentaries it Asian Cult it The Latest Chart Busters planners Rochelle Sprunk and Karen Holiday Soiree becomes the female equiva lent of the swanky Salon Q and a regular fix ture on the Sapphic social scene. Next, 1 traveled to Wonder Ballroom, where, straight from Elton John’s wedding, adventurous performance artists Kiki & Herb (Justin Bond and Kenny Mellman) under took their unique union of cabaret and standup comedy. Bond and Mellman (the latter appeared during September’s Time- Based Art Festival) mix fantasy and reality into a hysterical evening that Poison Waters Floyd Sklaver joins, from left, Karen Hooper, Rochelle Sprunk, Barb Beck and Zaytoon owner Aysha Ghazoul for "the lesbian event of the season." (Kevin Cook) described to me as “like Steve and Eydie on crack.” Laughing along to Kiki’s alcoholic rants and Upon arriving, a harness-clad host placed a times than most people have had,” the diva black lei around my neck, signifying that I had a declared) were former ballet dancer Abel Carrejo recent birthday and inviting others to ask about my and his humpy boyfriend, Will Becker. (The cou birthday fantasy. My fantasy wasn’t fulfilled (too ple moved to Portland from San Diego in July.) many straight people), but my voyeuristic tenden Balloons on Broadway owner Ron Pitt was there cies certainly were, especially in the “Rubitorium,” with former Triangle Productions director Don complete with massage table, mattresses and mir Horn, as was filmmaker David Weissman (The rors, where the most adventurous ventured. Martini concert on New Year’s Eve. 2310 N Lombard 11136 NW Lovejoy I 1990 SE Ladd 503-289-8408 I 503-796-2825 I 503-231-1181 I 7522 N Lombard 2640 NE Alberta I 503-247-3433 I 503-288-4067 tors call “a firebrand from Portland.” maudlin reminiscences (“I’ve forgotten more good Cockettes), whom 1 also noticed at the Pink ALL RENTALS-5 DAYS the voluptuous brunette, whom the magazine’s edi My last adventure was, appropriately, with the Adventure Group. Damon Micheau brought 15 Speaking of which, while watching my favorite outdoorsmen to Portland Art Museum, where, as a band’s early show wasn’t exactly adventurous (in docent, I led them through the treasures of Hesse: fact, the audience looked like there had been an A Princely German Collection. I highly recommend emergency evacuation of the West Hills), hearing this once-in-a-lifetime treat, especially the tiara Pink Martini backed by a nine-piece string orches with a thousand diamonds that’s made for a princess tra was a new (and thrilling) experience. Thanks but fit for a queen. The exhibit continues through March 19, so catch it before it’s Out Going. © to press agent extraordinaire Aaron Scott (who also writes for Just Out), we had great seats in the front of the balcony, where I peered down and saw FLOYD S klaver wants to know about your event. dynamic doctors Jim Sampson and Geoff Beasley, E-mail him at floydsklaver@comcast.net.
