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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 19, 2007)
22 , JUStOUt JANUARY 19. 2QQ7 Continued from Page 21 “Parking is horrible, and the clash of the gay clientele* with the straight clientele might not he the best thing when you get alcohol involved.” Gay clientele are still in the majority between Stark and Burnside streets, thanks in large part to rhe windowless, white building known as Club Portland. Located at 303 S.W. 12th Ave. between Bumside and Stark, the Continental building, which is home to Club Portland and Silverado, is somewhat of an anchor for the triangle’s queer identity. With four floors including a steam room, pom stage and basement military play area, the club claims to be the “oldest^largest and best” bathhouse in Portland. Silverado, which celebrated its 25th birthday last year, draws in a regular crowd with features such as male dancers and karaoke. Rumor has it that Kith Silverado and Club Portland might soon be a part of Portland’s past. Club Portland owner and partial build ing owner Dick Lawson firmly insists the Continental building has not been sold, but an anonymous source close to the Continental ownership group says it’s only a matter of paperwork. “This is not a done deal. It hasn’t closed yet. It will likely close by the end of January. This is as real as it gets,” said the source, who went on to divulge that rhe new owners are not considering renew ing leases for Club Portland and Silverado. Lawson, who did not confirm the alleged sale or closure, declined to disclose any plans for relocation. Clearly, there is some moving and shaking going on in the triangle. Some businesses are moving out of the area, but of course that means there’s-new hkxxl coming in. The hip, modem and gay-owned Ace Brand is giving the former Clyde Hotel a major makeover. Riding the success of the 28-nxim Ace Hotel in Seattle, which opened six years ago, the Ace Group is planning to start booking reservations for the 79 rooms in its Portland location at $85 to $250 a pop this winter, beginning in January. “All of our businesses are very much a part of the gay communi ty," said Alex Calderwood, 36, one of Ace’s three openly gay founders. “If there was anyone to come in as a hotel in that building, THE SCREEN CLUB 1 think we are the best people to do it and maintain the integrity and the gay vibe of that area.” Ace’s brochure promises the design of Portland’s Ace Hotel, on Southwest 10th Avenue and Stark Street, will reflect a sense of “modern Kihemia,” appealing to romantic notions of urban culture. The first floor of the building will also be home to a deli that has yet to be named and a restaurant and bar that will be called Clyde Common, which Calderwixxl says is an homage to the former tenant. A new Stumptown Coffee location will be conveniently connected to the Ace Hotel lobby. The space formerly occupied by a dry cleaning business on the south-facing comer has been gutted to make room for a multipurpose event space. Living Room Theaters is also bringing new life to Stark Street, occupying the space where the Panorama club used to sit, across Burnside Street from Powell’s City of Books. This upscale venue, which opened just last month, boasts a full bar and restaurant serving three meals a day in addition to its six intimate theaters with digital projection and large, comfy seats. It’s definitely a nice place to see an independent film—if you’ve got $13 to drop on a ticket, that is. (Matinees are $9.) Like the Ace Hotel, Living Room Theaters is striving to reinvent an existing model as the first all-digital cinema in the country. Its Web site boldly states its aim to “reinvent the way films are viewed and distributed.” The venue’s owners are firmly committed to show ing only independent films and have shown a vested interest in the kx:al film scene. “The idea is to open a window of opportunity to people who have no other way to show their movies, and I think the gay and lesbian community falls into that for sure,” said Felix Martin, 56 and straight, one of Living Rixim’s three owners and a former filmmaker himself. “We would like to collaKirate with the {Portland] Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.” Martin, who originally hails from Mexico City, has lived in Portland for the past 22 years. He has seen a lot of changes in the city in that time and says he’s excited aKiut the new location. “1 think the potential for this area is tremendous,” he gushed. “The whole down town area is changing its makeup. That’s what we’re K'tting on.” And that’s what Glen Dugger, Lyle Constantin and David Fones are betting on also. Together the three own Scandals, the oldest gay bar in town. The 27-year-old establishment got a serious overhaul when it moved last February from the Clyde Hotel building to its new location at 1125 S.W. Stark St., where Three Sisters (aka “Six Tits”) used to he. “With the Pearl and everything, things are changing pretty quick,” said Constantin, 49. “It’s improved. It’s gotten street kids off the streets, and there’s not as many pan handlers and stuff. We’ve still got a lot of gay-owned and gay-friendly businesses.” Added Fones, Constantin’s partner in Kith life and work: “The lease was up, and it was a gocxJ time for everyone to change directions a little bit. It was very amicable.” Dugger, Scandals’ primary owner, was not available for an interview, but Fones indicated that staying on Stark Street was important to Dugger when it came time to make enterÑwti 0 bMwFilmCenterN ( fFilmCenterNwFi 'NwFilmCenterN ...is a gift that plays all year round. A Silver Screen Club subscription entitles reduced or free admission for the Portland International Film Festival & more! www.nwfilm.org 503-221-1156 The 30th Portland International KARAOKE? DARTS? LATINO NITE? DRAG SHOWS? DANCING? NON-SMOKING BARS? ***** WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR WHEN YOU PLAN A NIGHT OUT? **********4 Check out the Feb 2nd issue of JUStOUt for our NEW GUIDE to NITESPOTS!
