OREGON S LGBTQ NEWSMAGAZINE
cuss internal affairs such as contract renewals
with the media.
Rumors o f Joyce’s layoff having been the
Crystal Hotel Opens with
Nods to Its History as Gay
Landmark
result o f his being gay are essentially unfound
The three-day grand opening venture for
ed. Joyce himself admits that there wasn’t any
the latest McMenamins establishment, the
glaring evidence that would point to that rea
Crystal Hotel (303 SW 12th Ave.), began
son, though he did contact Lambda Legal to
Tuesday, May 3 with free live entertainment at
discuss his rights just in case.
the new Al’s Den and at the adjoining Ringlers
“I think when there are no answers, you look
Rub. Through Thursday, May 5, the celebration
at all the options,” explains Joyce. “I think as
continued down the street to the Crystal Ball
gay men and women, sometimes no matter
room for three sold-out shows with hometown
what the situation, we always ask in the back
folk crooner M. Ward headlining.
COURTESY
director, told Ju st Out it was policy not to dis
I _ J Ä
Of VCMEMAMI
MAY 6. 2011
o f our head,‘Did I not get that promotion be
After the newness wears off a little, however,
cause o f ... Did I not get that raise because
the opportunity stands to revisit the past o f
o f... ’ There’s always that lingering question o f
this legendary building at 12th and Stark—
doubt in the back o f your head. But there’s
once part o f Portland’s infamous Pink Triangle
In the basement rests Al’s Den— named for
photos o f the various characters and businesses
nothing I can see that would say that one is
during the 1970s. The interior o f the Crystal
1940s underworld character and gambling
that have made the building a truly unique
related to the other.”
Hotel pays homage in many stunningly artistic
overlord A1 W inter, who conducted much o f
Portland entity. Flossie’s owner Stephen Boden
For the foreseeable future, Joyce plans on
ways to
his business in the room. The building was
is featured prominently, as are photos o f drag-
maintaining his position on the board o f di
location.
most recently occupied by the notorious Club
clad performers and patrons.
the various incarnations
o f the
rectors for Growing Gardens— a community
O n the first floor sits the cleverly named
Portland, a longtime bathhouse. The building’s
In the spirit o f recognizing the historical
organization that helps build urban-raised
Zeus Café, after Nate and Tillie Zusman,
gay history encompasses a period beginning
significance o f the building— namely its nearly
garden beds and teaches people how to grow a
whose infamous Desert Room once drew the
around 1968 when the Pied Piper emerged,
unrivaled place in Portland’s LGBTQ_aware
portion o f their own food. His future in broad
ire o f churches, city councilmen and even the
alternating its stage shows between male strip
ness movement— portions o f the proceeds
casting, though, appears scrambled.
scrutiny o f the 1957 U.S. Senate hearings on
pers and females over its three- to four-year
from the three-night grand opening festivities
“I t ’s a sinking industry,” says Joyce o f televi
vice and improper labor practices. The next
existence. In 1978, the club was reinvented as
went to the Gay and Lesbian Archives o f the
sion news and journalism. “There are lots o f
two floors feature 51 rooms total— 9 king
Kuchina, catering to gay clientele almost ex
Pacific Northwest.
different skill sets I have. I really enjoy people.
suites, 42 European-style queen rooms— at a
clusively. Later came the opening o f ground-
For more information on the new Crystal H o
I could do marketing; I could do politics,
price range o f $ 85-5165. Booking a room also
floor gay clubs like Flossie’s and Silverado,
tel, visit mcmenamins.com. You can also visit
broadcasting. Maybe I can try to scrounge up
ensures the opportunity to purchase tickets to
with the bathhouse located upstairs.
justout.com f o r a sneak-peek preview o f the hotel
enough money to try to write the great Ameri
the Crystal Ballroom event that night, plus
can novel.”
early admission to the show.
In the halls snaking around A l’s Den and
the heated saltwater soaking pool hang framed
Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc.
presents the
opening, as w ell as a comprehensive story on the
buildings history.
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