36 JUStpUt
MARCH 17.2QQ6
Men Are from Mars
Party planners blast off for "Red Planet"
CROSS-TRAIN!
f you’ve been to the Red Dress Party before,
then your calendar must already be marked for
April 1.
This column is for the unconverted need
ing a nudge to take the plunge. In a nutshell:
It’s a bargain ($35 for all you can drink), it supports
worthy causes, and it’s the best rime of year to push
the envelope.
What is this year’s theme?
After successfully re-creating Amsterdam
(“Red Light”) and Moscow (“Red Square”), the
hard-working party planners settled on their most
ambitious setting yet: the “Red Planet” of Mars.
“We’re well on our way to creating a Martian
space station,” says architect Dave Heater, who
MONDAY, MARCH 20TH, 2006
interesting to see how masculine guys pull off a
dress, especially when they combine it with really
industrial look, whether that’s chains
or leather or something like that.”
Heater reminds boys to show
some skin, too.
“Some of the initial years we had
God knows how many people dressed
like Barbara Bush. That’s not the
idea, people!” he laughs. “The sexier
the better. You can never go too far at
this party.”
In case you’re hesitant about
donning drag in the middle of the
mall, check out the gay-friendly
boutique Ella’s, 2529 N.E. Alberta St.,
which is offering a 10 percent discount
on everything red this month.
Who are the beneficiaries?
Last year’s party raised $20,000
for Our House of Portland,
a residential care facility for people
Getting ready for last year's Red Dress Party with my friend
with AIDS, and the Sexual Minority
Kelly Moe.
Youth Resource Center, a drop-in
leads the design and construction subcommittee.
facility for queer kids. This year’s charities are Our
“The arrival is gonna he marked by a 12Toor rocket;
House; Camp Starlight, an annual adventure for
hopefully that will be illuminated. Then you’ll be
kids whose lives have been affected by H1V/AIDS;
coming in on a red carpet in basically a hangar bay
and Q Center, Portland’s fledgling queer
community
center. ©
where...you’ll see remnants of a Mars rover.”
What if I’m a diva?
Pay $40 extra and get the VIP treatment with
these exclusive perks: a pre-party aerial acrobatic
show and fashion show of dresses designed by
students at The Art Institute of Portland; gourmet
food; a drink created by Mint owner Lucy
Brennan; and a special bar for express service. And
if you’d rather not worry about how you’re getting
home, the Jupiter Hotel is offering a package rate
for VIPs just four blocks away, within stumbling
distance.
Boxxes throws a
R ed D ress P arty F und -R aiser
cosponsored by Salon Qfrom 10p.m. to 2 a.m.
March 25 at 1035 S.W. Stark St. $3 cover,
$2 Jell-O shots.
Crush presents the RED DRESS EXCHANGE, one of
your last chances to find a hot number before the big
bash, from 6 to 9 p.m. March 26 at 1400 S.E.
Morrison St. This is the way dress shopping should
always be done: with a cocktail in hand! $5.
T-minus 48 hours! Come to Mint and 820 for happy
hour, dinner or late-night drinks as the final
R ed
D ress C ountdown begins 4 p.m. March 30 at
Do I have to wear a red dress?
What part of “Red Dress Party” don’t you
understand? The only requirement is that
everyone wears a red dress. You don’t have to wear
makeup. You don’t have to wear heels. You just
have to wear a red dress. No exceptions.
“It’s funny—every year I’m always shocked by
how many gay men you can come across who just
will have nothing to do with putting on a dress,”
Heater says. “I think a lot of gay men are just worried
about it being perceived as an effeminate thing.”
But once you go to the party, Heater adds, you
realize that “it’s kind of far from that. It’s really
816 and 820 N. Russell St.
The sixth annual R ed D ress P arty starts 9 p.m.
April 1 at its new digs: the site of last summer’s Pride
Warehouse Block Party at Northeast Ninth Avenue
TO BENEFIT THE ROSE CITY SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION
and Flanders Street. Admission includes hosted bar,
food and intergalactic entertainment from DJs Mr.
Mumu, Barrett Paul, Scotty D, Saltfeend and
Harmonix. $35 from Balloons on Broadway or
www.reddresspdx.com. To volunteer e-mail
reid@reddresspdx. com.
Arts and Culture Editor J im RADOSTA needs your
feedback. Write to jim@justout.com.
7PM TO 9PM ADMISSION $5.00
FOR INFO: WWW.ROSECITYSOFTBALL.ORG