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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 2009)
JS»128 AUGUST 7 2009 WU/W JU S TO U T COM PERSO N ALITIES Voted Willamette WeeKs TOP 100 Breakfast & Lunch H a p p y H o u r D a ily (and all day at the bar top) Dig It at the Left Coast Eisteddfod with Welsh Super Celeb Chris Needs Sunday Brunch Kids Menu Free Ice Cream Socials (Saturdays in August, 2 4pm) www.bellyrestaurant.com 503.249.9764 NE Fremont 8c 5 3 7 SE Ash Street - Porticine ( 503 ) 230-0463 MLK I PDX 503-620-5262 Life's A Friendly Garden.. www.broadwayrose.com DtB FtNNtu A uditorium * 9 0 0 0 SW D urham R d • T igard the British Empire personally from Queen Elizabeth o f England for charity work, in cluding his organization, the Chris Needs Hospital Appeal, which raises money for diabetes research. You might ask, and rightly so: Who is this man? And what is this allure he speaks of? “I ask myself that question every single By RYAN J. PR A D O day,” says Needs. “When I started the pro “They call me the Welsh Elton John,” ex gram, I didn’t know what to do, because plains Chris Needs, speaking via cell phone there were so many late shows, so many in his native Wales just an hour before his radio stations. It was by pure accident that world-renowned BBC Radio Wales pro I thought I’d try and create a commu gram, The Friendly Garden , is to air. “But I’ve nity. I called it— and don’t ask me why— the Friendly Garden.” got more hair.” It’s true that while Needs remains in Portland has its chance to bask in the almost total anonymity within the pop-cul buzz o f Needs at the Left Coast Eisteddfod, a Welsh-American performing ture sphere o f most Ameri cans, he has certainly assumed arts festival, running August the spirit o f a rocket man, 21-22 at the Crystal Ballroom. especially if you place a finger This will be Needs’ first visit to outside the pulse o f the States. Portland, and he has taken the Needs was unapologetically time to study up on our fair described to me within the city. last few weeks as “the gay icon “I’m really upset I’m going o f the U.K.” and “immensely to miss the Miss White Trash famous.” Clearly I was miss Pageant,” admits Needs. “I ing out on something. wanted to see that more than Th e W elsh Elton John, In Wales— and in most anything. I’ve read all about Chris Needs other countries— Needs is your mayor and everything.” one o f the most famous celebrities on BBC Needs even went on fellow BB C Radio Radio. His nightly program reaches about 8 Wales presenter Roy Noble’s show on July million listeners worldwide. His community 30, expressing his desire to invite and meet club, “The Chris Needs Friendly Garden with Mayor Sam Adams. Association,” boasts a global membership o f But none o f this explains why Needs is over 50,000, making it one of the largest fan such an icon, such an immensely famous clubs in the world. character. Welsh society is a very liberal populace with regard to the gay, lesbian, As if those lofty numbers weren’t cause enough to raise an eyebrow, Needs is also an bisexual and trans community. The fact that accomplished actor, stand-up comic, musi Needs’ show airs 10 p.m .-l a.m. Wales’ time cian (he played keyboard for Bonnie Tyler (eight hours ahead o f Pacific Standard Time) and has recorded several albums), writer (his has made his program operate on both ends autobiography Like It Is was the number o f the entertainment spectrum. Callers are one bestseller in Wales for seven months in encouraged to phone in to discuss problems, 2007), and philanthropist. H e’s even been seek advice, gripe, etc., while Needs plays awarded a Membership o f the Order of an eclectic array o f local and not-so-local 10 Y e a r A n n i v e r s a r y B a s h S a tu r d a y A u g u st 15 t h 6 p m — 9 PM IO liears, IO Wines, 10% ojf all wine purchases. $ IO adm ission includes wine tasting, liv e m usic by Carlyle, tasty appetizers and cupcakes by Cupcake Jo n e s. P ortland tastin g ro o m h o u rs: H am — 6 p m ; N ew bcrg tastin g ro o m h ou s: 12 (n o o n ) — 7 pm . ..................................... LOCATED AT 4510 SE 23” A V L PORTLAND, OR 97202 5 0 3 - 2 3 4 - 3 7 9 0 | www.Mpchlcksdowlne.com J - ■ A lto
