Lavender Mirror
Thursday
Lovers benefit show – I love the combination of live music and DJs to begin with but when it’s also a benefit for a community member without healthcare its a triple win. Not to mention the lineup is incredible. Lovers are probably the best Portland queer band at the moment, (their last album was our number 1 of 2010), and Anaturale is some damn good hip hop I haven’t seen around these parts in years. Brittle Bones the q folks behind the decks are also stellar. With such a diverse group how can you not check it out?
Friday
Peep Show hosted by Fannie Mae Darling – The outlandish drag persona of Fannie Mae manages to bridge that drag divide of monstrous and beautiful quite magically. So while it may be sad to lose Peep Show’s usual hosts Darling is the perfect PS insert. Apparently the theme this month is sex, but isn’t always with Fannie? (And with Peep Show for that matter?)
Saturday
Lez Stand Up 2012 edition: Galactic Alignment – Who says women can’t be funny? Stand up is often about self-deprecation and lesbians have plenty of woo to make fun of, which I assume this title references. A packed lineup includes host Kirsten Kuppenbender, one of the most hilarious dykes I’ve ever heard plus Jody Bleyle, of Team Dresch fame. She was always a talker at her shows, even behind a drum kit so I’m guessing this is a dream finally realized and I’m pretty excited to see it come to life.
Booty Call w/ Ecstasy Inferno – That big bold DQ is back with another gloriously debaucherous night at Red Cap. She promises to turn Red Cap into a Velvet Boom Boom Room…so be careful (at least it’ll be soft and smooth). Pole dancers and more. Yeah it’s gonna be real dirty.
Bearracuda in Portland May 2011. Photo by Wayne Bund / Just Out.
Bearracuda Portland – Get your growl on once again when the cubbies come to town to spread their furry love all across the globe. These guys haven’t been in town since September so they miss you and all your pot-bellied glory. Basically it’s one of the best parties for men as the seat of gay male culture, SF, has voted it “Best club for queer men” in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 (in the San Francisco Bay Guardian).
Gaycation! – One of Portland’s longest running funnest parties. They won’t even care that funnest isn’t a real word because you’ll be too busy having fun and sweating it out on the dance floor. Speaking of, have you seen Holocene’s new open floor plan that allows for the perfect perch to crowd watch?
Sunday
2012 Charity Winter Games – Softball in the winter?! It’s for a good cause as all proceeds benefit Outside In and Esther’s Pantry so it’s worth a little mud and even slush as you round the bases. Plus its a special season where men and women get to mix and mingle. And isn’t this the great gay American past time?
Afternoon Bridge Club – Sunday is that less exalted weekend day when you desperately try to cling to what’s left of your freedom. You don’t want to overdo it at night but you do want to take full advantage of your afternoon. That’s why I fully expect Bridge Club’s first social to be a big success. It’s that 20s style salon that you’ve always wanted with a laid back vibe and DJs, art installations and a heated patio so you can enjoy a hand-rolled fag. Plus fabulous host and hag extraordinaire Allison May.
Monday
Lavender Mirror, La Pump, Secret Century – Once again your weekend continues into Monday with a show featuring members of the Lovers (a double dose of love this week!) and Fleshtone. LavenderMirror bills itself as healing club music and with Lovers’ Kerby and Emily from Sword + Fern as members I have no doubt it will live up to this hype and be the perfect mythical disco. I already know that LaPump is. New enough to be exciting with some elements you know will comfort your Monday frayed nerves.
