MAY 20, 2011
eveninglife
WWW.JUSTOUT.COM
All Fired Up
Pauline Miriam’s growing empire
proves it’s no (Hot) Flash in the pan
BY KIRA LESLEY
Hello Portland,
We are opening
a new store on
in Raleigh Hills
on April 3rd.
dafe
8338 N . LorrtBaRÒ
50 3 . 247.1066
TRADITIONAL
O R IG IN A L
Pauline Miriam recalls that when she first needs o f women— so women don’t go.”
started going to lesbian bars in the 1970s, the
She chose the number 36 because, she ex
scene was very different than it is today. Pa- plains, “In Judaism, 36 is a hallowed number
trons would traverse alleys and climb stairs, and I wanted to give [the dance] all the good
looking for unmarked doors. You never en- luck I could give it.” However, Hot Flash has
tered through the front door.
no minimum age and plenty of younger
Today, Miriam’s Hot Flash women’s dance women attend. Miriam says she welcomes this
is a loud and proud celebration. It is the big- age inclusiveness.
gest women’s dance party in Portland, Miriam
“Finally, after seven years, we have women
says, and her H ot Flash/
in their twenties who are
Inferno dances (hotflash-
coming and women in their
dances.com) have spread
sixties who are coming and
to seven other cities na
they all seem to be happy. I
tionwide. “We don’t de
don’t know how I pulled
serve back alley bars
that off but it’s a major
anymore,” she says. “We
coup,” she observes. Still,
deserve beautiful venues.
women ages 33-48 form
We deserve to respect “We have women in their
“the core group who come
ourselves and be in places
and keep us going.”
twenties
who
are
coming
where
we
will
be
W hile there are no age
respected.”
restrictions for those of le
and women in their sixties
Once a month, 250-300
gal drinking age, there are
who
are
coming
and
they
all
women pack the lower
restrictions based on gen
level of popular downtown seem to be happy. I don’t
der. According to Miriam,
club Barracuda. DJs move
she has faced questions and
know
how
I
pulled
that
off
through the decades spin
challenges from those who
ning songs from the 1970s but it’s a major coup.”
disagree with the idea of, or
to todays radio hits. Ear
need for, a women-only
-PAULINE MIRIAM
lier music starts earlier in
dance. “I have had to de-
the night and the dance itself starts and ends fend that point over and over and over again,”
earlier than most nightclub parties (
p.m.). she says. Hot Flash attendees include straight,
That way, Miriam says, patrons can head over to hi, trans, queer and lesbian women. “W hat
CC Slaughters, Blow Pony or their beds.
you’re not gonna find is bio men,” she says.
Originally, Miriam, now 60, created the
Describing herself as an “old-time lesbian
event with women ages 36 and older in mind, separatist feminist from the early‘70s,"Miriam
Whereas ladies in their twenties may meet says she currently sees a strong need for wom-
and socialize at bars, at a certain age the bar en to reinforce their worth. She fears that sex-
scene doesn’t fit, she says: “W hen you get past role stereotyping may be experiencing a resur-
around 33, the clubs are not geared to suit the gence. O f the women-only nature of Hot
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