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Miss Thing Grand Prize winner Sally Ingus Wilder

Host Heklina presents the cash prize to winner Sally Ingus Wilder. Photo by Marty Davis

This Friday saw bunches of queers lined up in front of the Fez Ballroom to see the final drag smackdown at Miss Thing wondering if it was already sold out. Actually it wasn’t, and the hype and attitude was a little intense for an event that ended up having plenty of elbow room. But then again, it was called Miss Thing so I guess I can’t be too surprised.

I also wasn’t surprised by the level of weirdness and amazingness that all the Misses brought to the show. Although the 1st place winner was newbie Sally Ingus Wilder I wasn’t disappointed by any of the competing acts. Second and third places belonged to ChiChi and Chonga and Kaj-Anne Pepper respectively, but I’ve heard more than one grumble that either of these two fierce competitors should have taken the title. Personally, I think Bulimianne Rhapsody had one of the most original pieces.

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A weekend of Andrea Gibson, fat fashion, ‘Primal Cuts’ of meat, ‘Gaylarious’ comedy and the get down

Andrea Gibson performs Saturday at the Q Center (my bad)

Thursday

The good news is that you haven’t missed her, but hopefully no one trudged over to the Q Center last night to see Andrea Gibson on my bad advice. She performs Saturday the 20th. Description below.

Primal Cuts a raucous book release – PDX gays might be known for veganism but I’ve also met a damn lot of folks who have been lured away by the smell of bacon (or, like me, were too hedonistic to ever give up meat in the first place). But just because one is a foodie doesn’t mean one is heartless, so there has also been an upsurge in the discussion of where our animal products come from and how they get to our plates.

This party is in celebration of Marissa Guggiana’s Primal Cuts but I suspect the bigger draw will be the 16 whole animals coming from 3 different farms (all heritage meats), hors d’oeuvres from Salt, Fire & Time and The Ethical Butcher and a Hario Pour-Over Station from Intelligentsia Coffee. Plus all your favorite photobooths and DJs who will then move to the afterparty down the street at Homo-Deluxe.

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Final Miss Thing Pageant will determine ultimate winner

Chi Chi and Chonga at September's Disco Miss Thing. Photos courtesy Just Out

Emerging from an occasionally painful adolescence Portland is finally enjoying the freedom of young adulthood (and college parties, whew!) and there’s no better example of this than our catty but loving drag scene. This year saw one the introduction of a truly well crafted drag competition called Miss Thing and this Friday brings its outrageous finale.

“I think drag has gotten somewhat of a bad name in Portland because there is so much sameness and traditional drag going on,” Co-creator Heklina Heklina has said. “Audiences and performers want to be challenged by ideas—another great thing about Miss Thing. There are no rules—no rules as to gender, what you need to look like or how you dress. All that matters is what you do onstage.”

Not that we’ve ever cared about a bad reputation, but we’re happy that now it’s a thematic, originally bad rep. And it’s all coming to a climax when the year’s best of the best take the stage to win 500 dollars and a trip to San Fran to perform with Trannyshack. And competition is fierce.

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Trans Empowerment Week and the Transgender Day of Remembrance

Queer acrobatics from the Collective-of-Geniuses

Events, gatherings and celebrations are already underway for Trans Empowerment Week leading up to this Saturday’s Trangender Day of Remembrance. Today at 6pm on KBOO’s Outloud (90.7FM) Tobi Hill-Meyer and Smitty Buckler will be talking with Sasha about TDR, a day dedicated to day primarily memorializes those lost to hate crimes, it also serves as a forum for transgender communities and allies to raise awareness around the threat of violence faced by gender variant people and the persistence of prejudice felt by the transgender community, trans justice and intersecting oppressions and the connections between violence and the mainstream adult film industry.

Though the TDR may have somber overtones, there are also plenty fun and affirming activities and performances.

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Wear your ‘Sunday Best’ and get ‘Bent’ this weekend

Bulimianne Rhapsody and Melody Awesomeazing host Mrs. this Saturday

If you’re not too busy fighting the crowds at the newly opened international budget fashion boutique H&M there’s still plenty of good nightlife to catch out this wintery weekend.

Friday

BentNopo favorite Bent is back for to squeeze your ass into that tiny dancefloor and do it queer underground style. With guest DJ Il Camino, Jodi Bon Jodi and Roy-G-Biv on the decks turning the Foggy Notion (3416 N Lombard) into the Faggy Nation I swear it will only hurt a little bit. Besides what else will you talk about of Craigslist the nest morning?

Babe Cave For those more inclined to stay in the southeast DJs Lifepartner and Chelsea Starr are bringing the hotties to Holocene (1001 SE Morrison) and when Ms. Star says “crawl back into my cave” you don’t say no. For a hint of the music you can expect check out LP’s mix below.

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‘Homomentum’ is back so grab your ‘Cub’ and get ready to ‘Do the Dark’

Riley and Flo sport matching denim onsies at Dirtbag

Thursday

Weekly or monthly, neighborhood or downtown Thursday is a night for favorites Dirtbag! and Drop Shop. I’ll be swillin’ at the perfect little party that could in one of my favorite just big enough locations on Alberta St. Of course, don’t forget the first night of artsy schmoozing at the exciting and all ages Siren Nation festival, which continues all weekend.

Friday

Homomentum: Rebels & OutlawsThe monthly variety show of thematic queer fabulousness is back from summer break with more mayhem and a new location. Downtown’s Fez Ballroom (SW 13th and Stark) should be a much better venue with more room for watching than last year’s now defunct E Room. I have been especially devoid of Catitude in my life lately and I can’t wait to see what they do with such a rebellious theme. Little Tommy Bang Bang & Slim Pickins, Swagger and the long missed All of the Above, should also have some hilarity mixed with hotness that I just can’t wait for.

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Photos from the Haunted opening at Hamburger Marys and the Zombie Formal at Junktion

The Tampon Troupe with Hamburger Mary

Halloween weekend is already off to a ghoulish and garish start. Last night qPDX stopped by Hamburger Mary’s Haunted Opening before heading over to the Local Lounge for Junktion’s Zombie Formal and got photos from both.

Marys hosts ChiChi and Chonga riled the packed crowd with their musical drag prowess but the Tampon Troupe truly stole the show.

The Zombie Formal […]


Kaj-Anne Pepper presents :Shorn – Cuts, Guts and Glamour

Kaj-Anne Pepper is ':Shorn'

Local avant-garde dragster Kaj-Anne Pepper has been all over town this year winning top-homo at Homo’s Got Talent, the Gagadonna edition of Miss Thing, and generally being an all-around drag superstar. In reflection Kaj-Anne has thought of himself as taking over Portland until ChiChi and Chonga burst onto the scene, but I think he can still claim some monarchy over our alterna-drag loving community.

Is is this balance of confidence and humbleness that compliment his amazing works of art. His upcoming installation and performance art work :Shorn – Cuts, Guts and Glamour at Half/Dozen Gallery (625 NE Everett #111) should be quite a feat of hair and amazement. With collaboration from Eric Sellers, Dallas Oliver and Nandi LaSophia this staged ritual will be nothing short of queer art religion.

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Weekend picks, Halloween edition

Fannie Mae Darling in 'Trannysnatchers'

This is the weekend that all the gay ghouls come out of the woodwork for All Hallow’s Eve mayhem. So whether your pleasure is tricks or treats there’s bound to be a party, or 2, for you.

Thursday

Cafeteria, HomoDeluxe and Drop ShopThursday isn’t particularly spooky, although I have no doubts there will be some excellent costumes at “lunch trays and ghoulish gays” themed Cafeteria. Dead lunch ladies? Zombie assistant principals? Vampire cheerleaders?

Friday

Crave‘s Halloween Bash – Sexy undead go go dancers and the chance to show your own go go off with costume prizes in several categories like originality, scariest, sexiest, nerdiest and cutest couple. The featured drink of the night is ‘Monster Punch,’ sweet/sour and strong, and it’s only 2 bucks before 10. Plus VIP passes and incentives for friends makes this the it party for girls.

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Hamburger Mary’s Haunted opening

Many a youthful afternoon was spent smoking cigarettes (yes kiddies you could even smoke in restaurants in those prehistoric days) and eating french fries at the quintessentially queer restaurant Hamburger Mary’s. It was gone for many years but now the gay eating institution is back. And to celebrate it’s grand opening the ladies are hosting a haunted opening. That’s right, this Friday at the new Hamburger Mary’s (19 NW 5th Ave), dress up or else.

But the best part is this video commercial advertising the opening featuring new queens on the scene ChiChi and Chonga.

They have been embroiled in a drag video battle with local drag phenomenon and Mary’s co-star Fannie Mae Darling which is also quite entertaining. It looks like this is becoming an impromptu TV show that’s worth turning in to.

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