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!