When I was a wee gay in the 90s I assumed every sizeable city had an all ages queer nightclub. Alas, as shady at the City Nightclub may have been I should have been more appreciative of its dark hallways and raucous drag shows.
Indeed an incarnation of this club still exists today. It has moved to a much cheerier and open (with windows!) location on SW Park Avenue and changed its name (after a series of missteps) to The Escape.
Though I have been an proper adult for quite a few years now and would likely be frustrated by a lack of alcohol The Escape’s fun, inclusive space has successfully kept the party going until the early morning hours.
Now it looks as if they might have some competition for the underage set. The troubled Casey’s/Eagle Underground bar, only a hop, skip and a jump away at the corner of NW 6th and Couch, plans to reemerge as an under 25 club called Imagine.
Imagine Nightclub is soon to be the premiere nightclub for ages 25 and under in downtown Portland.
Imagine is a club for EVERYONE! Gay or straight, male or female, black or white; everyone is welcome.
We will have a grand opening celebration at the end of August and the beginning of September. We hope to see you all there!
Given all the locations past dramas, along with a door price that has been lowered to $10, I’m skptical about Imagine’s success. I love the idea of more options for queer youth, I just hope this it can compliment, rather than usurp, some of the projects we have presently.
