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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 21, 2009)
.r e : b AUGUST 21. 2009 WWWJUSTOUT.COM NORTHWEST NEWS Gay Bor Passages: Dirt/ Duck Ducks Out, the Eagle and Casey's "Imagine" Something New M id-August has proven a tough time for gay bars in Portland, especially if they’ve served the leather, bears, fetish or less main stream parts of the community. After a steady decline, the Eagle Underground shuttered on Sunday, August 14, and in a shock to many, the Dirty Duck Tavern, which had experienced a recent upswing in business and clientele, announced it would be closing as of Sunday, August 23. Those active in the leather and bear com munities were not surprised with the news from the Eagle Underground; even prior to the closure of the original Eagle PDX space on 13th and West Burnside in early 2008, business had been steadily waning. On websites and in private conversations, many community leaders and former customers blamed Eagle owner Karl W ilgus, and what they viewed as his negative attitude as cause for cancelling events there and migrating to other establishments. In an August 5 email sent to patrons on his mailing list, Karl Wilgus wrote, “times change and it is now time to face reality and admit that The Eagle’s time has passed, for whatever reason, there is not support and we have decided to close the bar and sell off its assets.” According to his website, whose ac count has now been suspended, Wilgus will not donate any items to local historical orga nizations, but plans to sell them on eBay; as o f press time, none of the seven eBay items for sale by seller “karlwilgus”had bids. Online blogs and an official website confirm that the Eagle and upstairs bar Casey’s will reopen later this month as “Imagine,” a nightclub for queer folk 25 and under. In stark contrast, the Dirty Duck Tav ern—which celebrated its 25th anniversary in mid-M arch, making it the oldest single location gay bar in Portland— had been win ning community support in recent months, as more groups and organizations booked events there. The schedule ranged from leather and bear events to regular live music and Broad- way-themed nights, with lesbian group Bad Girls, men’s wellness group Manifest, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and others benefiting from the bar’s open-door policy. The Portland Development Commission, which owns the land on which the Duck is located, informed owner Gail Kennedy of its plans to force the bar to close earlier this month, but she attempted negotiation. Instead the PD C exercised its option to end the lease, and will be exchanging the space with Blanchet House (according to Blanchet’s website) for an Dirty Duck owner Gail Kennedy is seen with husband Don during the bar's 25th anniversary celebration in March The Portland Development Commission, which owns the land on which the Duck is located, informed Kennedy of its plans to force the bar to close earlier this month expansion project; Blanchet will eventually redevelop the east side o f the block into a new homeless facility. The Portland Historic Land marks Commission was scheduled to review the plans and advise on Monday, August 24. Gail Kennedy, a third-generation gay bar owner whose grandmother and mother both owned gay bars in town from the 1950s for ward, says, “It breaks my heart to close the Duck but I have no choice. I t’s been 26 years since my mother found it and wanted me to buy it. She wanted a little place on a corner for her boys. All these years later her spirit lives on at the Duck and it has always been what makes the D uck special. The hardest part will be keeping track of all my friends without our meeting place. I hope to find us a new home soon, I am looking.” Those wishing to have one last round at the Dirty Duck have an opportunity the weekend o f August 21. Friday evening features a “Bik ers Sc Boots Party.” Saturday night sees the final charity fundraiser at the bar, “Jockstrap Twister”— a game night of flesh and fantasy. And Sunday, August 23, the bar will sell off some o f its items, while reserving other his toric memorabilia for the Oregon Leather History Project. Live music begins around 6 p.m., including the Green Machine Jazz E n semble and Sneakin’Out. 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