Johanna Fateman (left) and JD Samson (center) of Le Tigre spin
music during Gaycation's Pride party June 15 at Holocene.
Discuss feminist worldviews and the feminist lens during the Portland
Feminist Meeting every first Sunday at In Other Words. (6:30-8 pm. 8 NE
Killingsworth St. RSVP at www.meetup.com.)
MON • JUNE 4
Win special prizes during Q Center Bingo with Poison Waters! (7-9 pm. 69 SE
Taylor St. $5 includes bingo card.)
The Bisexual Community Forum hosts a casual discussion group every first
Monday at 3 Friends Coffeehouse. (7:30 pm. 201 SE 12th Ave. 503-285-4848.)
TUE •JUNE 5
Mark Woolley Gallery unveils Brian Mock's sculptures made from reclaimed materials June 7
Salem's Marionberry Salon book group meets for a potluck discus-
njni sion of Air, or Have Not Have by Geoff Ryman. Newcomers welcome!
(6:30 pm. Cary 503-363-6036. marionberrysalon@comcast.net.)
Q Center presents Family Playdate every first Sunday. (Noon-2 pm. 69 SE
Taylor St.)
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Towne Lounge presents suave disco-dancers Sexy Pants, electro-based
muzak from Cemetery Love Club, Masters of the Tuniverse and DJ
Tigerstripes. Proceeds benefit the Independent Publishing Resource Center.
(9 pm. 714 SW 20th Place. $7-$10 sliding scale.)
Urban cowboys and girls are in abundance during DJ Crystal's country
western dance at the Portland Metro Club (PPAA). (9 pm-1 am. 618 SE
Alder St. $5.)
SUN • JUNE 3
The Adventure Group joins the Salem Gay Social Network for an easy hike
on the historic, scenic South Breitenbush Gorge Trail. Meet in Starbucks at
Hollywood Fred Meyer. (7:45 am. 3030 NE Weidler St. Steven 503-362-9596.)
Aurora Chorus, Portland's premier 100-plus-voice women's commu-
nity chorus, presents Standing on the Side of Love, singing of friend
ship, support and the desire for harmony in our troubled world, at
Newmark Theatre. Guest artists include Michigan singer/songwriter Claudia
Schmidt, Portland folk duo Kate Power and Steve Einhorn and Bay Area singer
Steven Walters. (3 and 7 pm. 1111 SW Broadway. $15425 from box office or
Ticketmaster.)
Get lucky during the Fox Er Hounds' Monthly Charity Bingo. (3:30 pm. 217 SW
Second Ave.)
Not your typical drag show: Bent Bar showcases camp, comedy, showtunes
and drag classics every Sunday with Miss Gay Oregon XXXV Terrika St. James,
Miss Honey Bea Hart, Bolivia Carmichaels and special guest performers. (4 and
6 pm. 633 SE Powell Blvd.)
Aurora Chorus Celebrates the Many Faces of Love
As far as Joan Szymko is concerned, all kinds of love deserve to be I President Bush had just rallied behind a constitutional ban on same-
recognized. “Love is love is love," says the lesbian choral composer.
sex marriage, and a reporter was calling to ask about the church’s
Not only is it her personal philosophy, it is also the theme for stance. One of the replies given by the Boston Universalist was “We
Standing on the Side of Love, the upcoming concert by Aurora Chorus,
stand on the side of love.”
a Portland women’s chorus of 100-plus voices that Szytriko directs.
“It just struck me,” Shelton told UU World magazine. “As he
During two performances, Aurora Chorus will sing about the myriad
talked, 1 started writing down words. I literally heard the song in my
forms of the emotion, from the passion one feels for a lover to the
head.”
mystical love experienced during spiritual moments.
In addition to “Standing on the Side of Love,” Aurora Chorus will
The title song was inspired by same-sex love. Composer Jason
perform songs from a wide array of choral styles, all exploring the
Shelton wrote “Standing on the Side of Love” during the furor sur different aspects of love. It is a unique potpourri of music from artists
rounding Massachusetts’ legalization of same-sex marriage.
including Holly Near, John Lennon and Ysaye Barnwell as well as
Shelton, who is a reverend and director of music at First Unitarian
Szymko’s own compositions.
Universalist Church in Nashville, Tenn., happened to be at the
The presence of no less than four guest artists should further
Unitarian Universalist Association’s Boston headquarters when a high-
enliven the mix.
ranking church representative took a phone call from the press
Local folk duo Kate Power and Steve Einhorn, former owners of
Artichoke Music, will act as masters of ceremonies during the second
half of the performance.
Michigan singer/songwriter Claudia Schmidt, who is one of
Szymko’s “absolute favorite performers,” will sing a 30-minute set.
Guitarist and vocalist Steven Walters is traveling from the Bay*
Area to perform with Aurora Chorus. In addition, the group will sing
one of his songs, “Listen Closely.”
Signe Lusk will accompany the chorus.
Szymko promises that the program is “uplifting and nourishing."
She encourages audience members to come not only in support of the
women singing on stage but also to “feed your own soul.”
Aurora Chorus presents Standing on the Side of Love 3 and 7 p.m.
June 3 at Newmark Theatre, 1111 S.W. Broadway. Tickets are $15-
$25 from 503-287-6721 or www.aurorachorus.org.
Lesbian composer Joan Szymko (inset) directs Aurora Chorus.
—Rebecca Ragain
Elder Resource Alliance encourages artists to freely express themselves using
any materials they choose during an open studio session at Friendly House.
Facilitated by Nancy Fascinani, a graduate of the Otis-Parsons School of Design.
(2-4 pm. 1737 NW 26th Ave.)
Nicole Sangsuree performs at Mississippi Pizza Pub. (6 pm. 3552 N
Mississippi Ave.)
Radical Women presents a study group discussing the book Undivided Rights:
Women of Color Organize for Reproductive Justice every Tuesday through
July at the Bread and Roses Center. (7 pm. 819 N Killingsworth St.)
Queer writer-in-residence Ariel Gore reads at St. Johns Booksellers along with
Mark Pomeroy, Mary Rechner and Roosevelt High School students who partic
ipated in Literary Arts' Writers in the Schools program. (7 pm. 8622 N
Lombard St.)
Mary Lou Sanelli reads from Falling Awake: An American Gets a Grip on the
Whole Changing World One Essay at a Time at In Other Words. (7:30 pm. 8 NE
Killingsworth St.)
Otep opens for Static X at Roseland Theater. (7:30 pm. 8 NW Sixth Ave. $20
from Tickets We st.)
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Show Me the Pink performs with Matt and Kim and Here Comes a Big Black
Cloud at Satyricon. (7:30 pm. 125 NW Sixth Ave.)
WED • JUNE 6
The Adventure Group climbs Mount Hood with a professional guide through
June 7. The trip includes one night in Timberline Lodge. (Tom 503-327-4674.)
Rochell D. "Ro Deezy" Hart reads from What Else Did You Think I Would
Say: Poems About Politics, Passion, Resistance and Love at In Other Words.
(6:30 pm. 8 NE Killingsworth St.)
Queer writer-in-residence Sarah Dougher reads at the Press Club along with
Raphael Oagold, Ams Mojgani and Franklin High School students who participat
ed in Literary Arts' Writers in the Schools program. (7pm. 2621 SE Clinton St.)
Boxxes presents Surrender, a new queer dance party every first
Wednesday with DJs BJ, III Camino, Synthetic and others! (9 pm.
1035 SW Stark St.)
Go on a free Gaycation at Holocene with resident DJs Mr Charming, Snowtiger
and Automaton. (9 pm. 1001 SE Morrison St.)
THU • JUNE 7
The Adventure Group takes an easy walk among the lilypad ponds, cedar
groves and marsh birds at the new 222-acre Tualatin Hills Nature Park. Meet at
the north entrance near MAX Merlo Road. (6:15 pm. Sarah 503-341-6226.)
In Other Words presents a queer polyamory discussion group (6:30-8:30 pm.
8 NE Killingsworth St.)
Tony Starlight’s Lounge salutes Dean Martin! (8pm. 3728 NE Sandy Blvd $5.)
FRI • JUNE 8
In Other Words presents Dirty Queer, an X-rated open mike to celebrate sexu
ality and strut your creative stuff! Hosted by renegade writer and poet Sossity
Chiricuzio, it promises to be an evening full of laughter and full-body shivers.
(6:30-8:30 pm. 8 NE Killingsworth St. wwwdirtyqueer.com.)