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This weekend will have you Singin’ in the Rain

The weekend is dominated by dance parties, Homomentum’s Singin’ in the Rain, new glasses at Sword and Fern, a comedy benefit and the laid back vibe of Sunday’s Bridge Club. […]


This weekend Drag Race returns, Homomentum gets Love Knots, and it all ends Easy

Dan Ostergren's portraiture exhibit, 'Queers, Queens and Everything In-Between' opns Thursday at the East End

Thursday

Portland Drag Race – Our local version of the popular drag star competition returns to Red Cap for its 4th 12 week run. The format will be a bit different. Each week a cash prize to the winner instead of one big prize at the end. So be prepared for some great new talent that was much to busy to commit to the long haul in past seasons.

Queers, Queens and Everything In Between art opening – Gender blending art photographer Dan Ostergren has taken some of the most loved queer portraits in town and this is the night to show them off. To help him celebrate the drag stars, local celesbians and other PDX characters he’s shot is a great 3 set show my up and comers directly below.

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2011’s new nuggets of nightlife

Portland of already so choc full of great queer nightlife that there wasn’t room for the same level of new club nights as 2010, but there a few new highlights worth mentioning. […]


This weekend welcomes back Homomentum, celebrates 4 years of Fat Fancy and gets some Easy Moustache Madness

Gillicorn Blessing is going to make you believe in myths and legends. Photo by Erika Stanley.

Thursday

Start your weekend right with 2 great neighborhood favs Dirtbag and Sweet Tea. Just a heads up for the newbies cuz the rest of you all should know this.

Friday

Homomentum presents Myths & Legends – That gayest of vaudeville drag revivals (I think that was redundant but, really, it’s that gay) returns fora 3rd year running to give you some of the weirdest, wildest, and hottest dance and performance art in queer Portland (yeah, pretty gay). Opening month will feature epic tales and fantastic journeys re-imagined through drag and debacuherous storytelling. And who better to tell this story than one of the featured performers, Gillicorn Blessing (did you know that a group of unicorns is called a blessing?), who I hear will also be debuting a new member.

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A weekend of art and music with lesbian softball stories, Fruitillion, the Bathers, Tender Forever, Mattachine and more

Wayne Bund's photo series 'The Bathers' opens Saturday at East End

Check back for our preview of Siren Nation festival, which will encompass the entirety of the weekend. As if you didn’t have enough to work with below.

Thursday

Thursday may not see a whole bunch of new nights but there’s always the stellar, incredibly danceable and Smiths-loving Dirtbag! at the Know (with special guest DJ Ill Camino) and the mellower Bobby Jo Valentine just down Alberta street making his Portland debut and the popular St Johns Thursday night gay hangout Sweet Tea where you can drink in southern style for only 4 bucks.

Friday

Deep Cuts – Only in its second iteration, DP has already become a music conisseurs good time. Good music without pretentiousness this party is hip and fun without being the kind of hip and fun that makes you uncomfortable, nervous and…no fun. I think that’s proved well enough by this week’s DJ of the Week, which profiles Cuts’ special guest DJ L-Train.

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DJ of the Week – L Train

L Train concentrating hard in the DJ booth
L Train concentrating hard in the DJ booth

L Train concentrating hard in the DJ booth

Every week we introduce you to a local LGBTQ party DJ and ask them about their experiences in the scene and feature an audio mix they’ve made. If you’re interested in being featured contact alley@qpdx.com.

DJ L Train has an irreverent outlook to getting behind the decks, as you can tell from both her name and her pictures. This laid back and fun attitude serves her well as regular nights at the gayish venues of the P Club and Aalto Lounge. But the Train likes to make some scheduled stops at other party stations such as this Friday’s Deep Cuts, which stars two former DJs of the Week, Bruce LaBruiser and Kasio Smashio.

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The weekend cuts deep with execution parties, feminist birthday parties, and playing like a girl with Fanny

June and Jean Milligton, from the iconic girl band Fanny, play Saturday as part of their "Play Like a Girl" tour

Don’t forget that it’s the last days of the Portland Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, and previews should all be out. You can check that plus any reviews thus far in our complete 15th Annual PLGFF coverage.

Thursday

In Other Words 18th birthday party – One of the last remaining feminist bookstores in the country is still going. I hesitate to say strong, although metaphorically they’re as strong as ever, because in this economy they are in constant need of our love and help. So don’t let the $12 price tag deter you because IOW is not a whole community center and the party’s bound to be hoppin’ with a lineup of performers and DJs. There will also be a raffle, food, beer and wine. The raffle prizes will feature fabulous items from local businesses, restaurants, the Portland Timbers, food carts, bicycle shops, Bitch Media and more

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DJ of the Week — Amy Kasio

Every week we introduce you to a local LGBTQ party DJ and ask them about their experiences in the scene and feature an audio mix they’ve made. If you’re interested in being featured contact alley@qpdx.com.

This week sees newish DJ Kasio Smashio on the eve of her brand spankin’ new night called Deep Cuts which will premiere this Friday the 7th at Rotture. This ally friendly party is co-helmed by earlier DJ of the Week Bruce LaBruiser and features Freddie Fagula as a guest at the opener. It is for those who want to focus on the music and move beyond top 40. Can I say PDX music snob in the nicest way possible? That’s what I’m envisioning.

When and how did you get started DJing?

I’ve had a passion for finding new music and sharing it with others my whole life. I come from the generation of kids who made mixtapes like their lives depended on it. I would put everything I had into making the perfect mixtape based on what situation it was for. Was it for a crush? A friend? A party? A roadtrip? What kind of roadtrip? I even went so far as to make mixes for my favorite bands that passed through town so they would have something different to listen to on the road.

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DJ of the Week — Bruce laBruiser

Jenny Bruso, DJ Bruce laBruiser

qPDX is starting a new feature! Every week we will introduce you to a local LGBTQ party DJ and ask them about their experiences in the scene and feature an audio mix they’ve made. If you’re interested in being featured contact alley@qpdx.com.

This week features DJ Bruce laBruiser, formerly known as Gutter Glamour, Jenny Bruso. You can catch her party Dirtbag! this Thursday (tomorrow) September 1st and again at Saturday September 10th at a great outdoor end of summer party called Some are Sparkles with Beyondadoubt and Chelsea Starr.

When and how did you get started DJing?

It’s kinda funny because I never actually planned on djing. It came to me. My partner and a good friend of our’s wanted to throw a benefit and for some reason they had this idea that I should dj it. Without even thinking about it I told them, “no.” I hate a lot of attention and being on the spot, but over the following next few days I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I found myself thinking about what kind of dj I would want to be and I was hearing all of my music in this new way. Suddenly, I was dying to do it! And after that first time, I was hooked, though I shudder to think about those early days. Eek. It’s actually the perfect gig for me, because I get to be this big part of the party, but i’m tucked away from the crowd and it’s totally weird, but I often find that folks really aren’t even paying that much attention to the dj. Depends on the party.

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