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JANUARY 5, ¿007
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That Small Town Feeling
Portland's most famous drag queen shows civic pride
ver hear something you wish you’d said?
That’s how 1 felt when Walter “Darcelle”
Cole described Portland as “the most
cosmopolitan small town in America.” Our
most famous drag queen made this observa
tion at a preview of Queens of Heart, the documen
tary by Jan Haaken and Wendy Kohn about the
eponymous Darcelle XV, now the oldest drag club
in the United States. Thomas Lauderdale and
Philip losca assembled a laundry list of luminaries
for the host committee, including Sam Adarrts,
Howie Baggadonutz, Paul King, Walter Jaffe and
BY FLOYD SKLAVER
Kathleen Saadat, which resulted in a crowd that
nearly filled Cinema 21.
Afterward, at Bruce Carey’s Bluehour, Kevin
him an excuse to satisfy his “footwear fetish”
“Poison Waters” Cook professed his love for
(although he’s quick to insist that he doesn’t mean
Oregon Ballet Theatre’s Christopher Stowell. But
foot fetish). He loves his product so much, his closet
the director dined instead with dancers Roman
holds 84 pairs (and that’s after the dozens brought to
Rykine and Yuri Possokhov, who were both vis G<xxJwill). The monthly meet gathered for the first
iting from out of town. When Yuri accidentally
time (but hopefully not the last) at downtown’s
referred to Kevin as Poison Oak, the quick wit bit
Bettie Ford Lounge. There, I chatted with photo
back, “You can scratch it anytime or smear lotion
grapher Antimo Cimino, who is helping Troy Lakey
on it.”
with his new gay-themed theater company, Key
Also taking shots at Poison is Joni Kabana, but
Productions. Troy directs Key’s inaugural produc
hers are of the photographic kind. Joni’s photos
tion, Can't Say 1 Do, a musical satire about gay
appear on Poison’s Web site as well as in the
marriage, which premieres Jan. 5 at World Trade
corporate offices of Blue Cross/Blue Shield. She
Center Theater.
attended the party with makeup artist Kristin
Trung Tu was there after recent Lasik eye
Arnett. High school thespian Grant Miller
surgery, which meant he could see all the hot men,
charmed his way into every conversation and
including Dwayne Moore, who just moved here
bubbled with excitement
after meeting Gus Van
Sant. Aaron Scott filled me
in on his plans to take a
bite out of the Big Apple,
where he hopes to study
journalism at either NYU
or Columbia.
Matt Jaffe was there
after spending the weekend
as a ski instructor at Mount
Hood Meadows, where he
says “cute boys get to the
front of the lift line.” But
who needs Mount Hood
when there were plenty of
cute boys at Bluehour,
including Randy Rapaport,
Chris Beanes and Jeremy
Floyd, Darcelle and Thomas Lauderdale celebrate the documentary
Neldon. Chris and Jeremy
Queens of Heart.
moved to Portland last sum
mer, getting married in Canada on their way from
from Baltimore, and recently single Garret Saiki.
Juneau, Alaska. They met nine years ago in—of all
David Barashi, looking relaxed and rested after two
places—the bathroom at Silverado.
weeks vacationing in Israel, and Scott Osburne
Speaking of boyfriends, Will Simonds and
happily told me about his trip to Buenos Aires,
Robert North threw open their West Hills home
Argentina, “where the men were hot and cheap—
for their annual holiday party, where I discovered
just like me.” I also chatted with Zurain Imam, a
that the couple have been fabricating fine glass
Pakistani fashion journalist visiting family in
designs in their basement, a hobby Will says start
Beaverton through March. True fashion maven
ed because they “wanted to work with something
that he is (Zurain was called “One of the 50 Most
warm and colorful during the winter.” Also warm
Important People in Entertainment" by a Karachi
and colorful were the guests, including Joey Lee,
magazine), his MySpace site includes Madonna,
who was there with a new beau, Corey Otterson,
Paris Hilton, Anna Wintour, Brad Pitt and Isaac
and Grant Hamilton, who’s been with his beau,
Mizrahi among his “friends."
Jacob Muñoz, for “12 years, one month and three
So, Darcelle is right. Portland is indeed the
days." Also together for 12 years were Randy
most cosmopolitan small town in America.
Especially if you’re Out Going. •
Bossert and Roger Rand, who, Randy proudly
announced, wears size 15 shoes.
Speaking of shoes, at IVcemher’s Salon Q, I met
FLOYD S klaver wants to know about your event.
shoe salesman Chris Richards, who says his job gives
E-mail him at fLrydsklaver@comcast.net.
E
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