Scene from "Interior. Leather Bar," by Travis Matthews and James Franco

QDoc for You and Me and We: Featuring Divine documentary, James Franco co-directed project and porn star Buck Angel. May 16-19.

Portland has many film festivals, each vying for a niche loyal audience that will return annually to gather and gander at the silver screen. QDoc: Portland’s Queer Documentary Film Festival might seem like one of them. It is after all the only film festival in the country dedicated to screening queer documentaries exclusively. But, in fact, it’s probably the most inclusive event in the city.  Straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual, transgender, questioning and queer alike are all featured behind and in front of the camera, as are jazz musicians, artists, filmmakers, porn stars and environmental activists. Where to start? How about at the beginning.

This year’s festival opens May 16 at McMenamins Bagdad Theater May 16 with the larger than life portrait of drag superstar Divine in I AM DIVINE presented with director Jeffrey Schwarz (VITO) and actress Mink Stole in attendance. Following Opening Night, the festival continues through May 19 at McMenamins Kennedy School with ten documentaries, among them, the eco-documentary GOODBYE GAULEY MOUNTAIN, the documentary INTERIOR. LEATHER BAR made by Travis Matthews and actor James Franco, a profile of the transgender advocate Buck Angel in MR. ANGEL and closing the Festival on Sunday evening is VALENTINE ROAD, a new HBO documentary. Many filmmakers are in attendance.

QDoc has a seat open for all of us. For a complete listing of films and to purchase tickets, visit: http://queerdocfest.org/.

DJ Nina Flowers, Cher lookalike, Juan Martinez, Brian Wilson, Hot guy from Seattle, Hot guy from Tri-Met, Ross Milan (the new "face" of Scruff), mime-ish drag star, superhot bartender staff, Courtenay Hameister adjusting some guys boobs, one of the Shanky Twins, Kavita Jhaveri and some hot dude, Margarine Powers-Houston, more hot men (and gal) in red dresses and Bruce Vilanch

RED ALERT: There wasn't anything unlucky about the "Thirteenth annual Red Dress Party." In fact, I would say that the powers-that-be that put on this annual bacchanalia are some of the luckiest bastards in the world.

Why? One word: "weather." It was smoking hot on Saturday night, somewhere in the mid-80's. Perfect weather for a party. At the beginning of May. In Portland. I know, right? How lucky were we that, during a traditionally cool weather month, it was hotter than hellfire.

And, you know what happens when  it gets hot don't you? Clothes come off, including red dresses. And this year's party, held in and outside of AudioCinema, under the SE section of the Hawthorne Bridge was no exception.

Helping to heat up the night was headlining DJ (and former RuPaul Drag Race contestant) Nina Flowers. Other DJs burning the night oil included J Jakob Jay, DJ Taco Tuesday and DJ Bruce LaBruiser. VIP entertainment was provided by the likes of Love Bomb Go-Go Marching Band, Burlesquire, Blake Hicks, Blazer, Nonsense Dance Company, Jon Dutch, Bomb Ass Pussy, and the sizzling fire performances throughout the evening were provided by Peach.

One of the big surprises of the night was seeing comedy writer/gay icon Bruce Vilanch sitting on the couch on the VIP platform. Bruce was in town to promote his new film "Oy Vey, My Son is Gay," and popped by the party for a few minutes..or hours...I can't quite recall. He was also wearing jeans—which is a big no-no—but he did have a nice red shirt on (and, no I didn't see Guy Fieri but I guess he was in town too).

The theme for this year's party was "red-handed" and it seemed appropriate, especially toward the end of the night where the party tends to get really "hands-on" if you know what I mean.

All net proceeds from the event were donated to Quest Center for Integrative Health and Morrison Child & Family Services.

As someone said on Facebook prior to the party..."this is the one night a year guys get to dress up in really short red dresses and act slutty and no one can say anything about it...." and damn..if that ain't the truth. See ya'll next year (I promise my dress will be a wee bit shorter).

Noah Wyle with Dean Devlin, Lew Fredricks and others in Salem, Gov. Kitzhaber looking more Eastwood-ish every day, Wyle with Reps Jennifer Wiliamson and Elizabeth Steiner-Hayward (photos by Trace Downen, Prospect Political)

STAR POWER: "Growing jobs" was the theme for Media Production Industry Day on Thursday at Oregon's State Capitol in Salem.

According to the Oregon Governor's Office of Film and Television, "Governor Kitzhaber has recommended to the Oregon legislature to expand the OPIF (Oregon Production Investment Fund) so that they can recruit twice as much business into our state as we did in this last record-breaking year. That means turning over $100 million worth of recruited production business into over $200 million in production business."

As Martha Stewart might say, "it's a good thing."

Adding a little star power to the whole day was director Dean Devlin and actor Noah Wyle, best known for his work on "E.R." and "Falling Skies." God, I love this state. Even the legislature understands the power of "stardar."

Hot Rugby guys, Chef Sarah Schafer, Aaron Ross and Carrie Henderson at SCRUMptious

SCRUM CRUMBS: On Thursday night a few of Portland’s favorite chefs joined forces with Widmer Brewing for SCRUMptious: a Chef Competition at Castaways in Industrial NW Portland benefiting Portland Rugby Club and the Boys & Girls Club of Portland.

Attendees had a chance to taste delicious bites paired with high-end Widmer brews, enjoy cocktails from House Spirits Distilling and vote for their favorite SCRUMptious Chef. The chefs included Irving St. Kitchen's Sarah Schafer, St. Jack's Aaron Barnett, Kitchen Cru's Jeff McCarthy, Saucebox's Alex Diestra, and NW Elixir's Andrew Garrett.

The big winner was Chef Schafer's suckling pig Cubano paired with Pitch Black IPA.

Plenty of other hors d'oeuvres kept the guests well-fed as they spent the evening supporting their favorite local charities and restaurants alike. Silent auction items range from long weekend stays in Sunriver to Mountain getaways at Government Camp.

The only thing was missing was hot rugby players in short shorts. This is rugby after all...and it is called SCRUMpitious.

RiverPlace Mgr. Ryan Kunzer gets comfortable in his new digs at Pioneer Courthouse Square

ROOM WITH A VIEW: If you don't count Santa Claus—who has a "home" here each December—it has been a long time since anyone has actually stayed overnight at Pioneer Courthhouse Square.

In fact, it's been fifty years since any stayed here when it once was the glorious eight-story Portland Hotel. Completed on the site in 1890 it was torn down in 1951 to make way for a two-story parking lot that was eventually demolished to make way for our "living room" Pioneer Courthouse Square.

That was no one stayed overnight, until last night.

And, like 50 some odd years ago. It was a "hotel" guest.

To show off The RiverPlace Hotel and its newly renovated guestrooms the very cool waterfront hotel decided to recreating one in the middle of Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Yes, in the Square.

And to demonstrate the comfort of these new rooms, the adorably handsome General Manager Ryan Kunzer decided he would live there, right on site, for three days.

The guest "room"—a copy of of one RiverPlace's cool new suites— is  housed in a transparent 24-foot dome where spectators can witness all the complimentary Kimpton amenities the RiverPlace offers, firsthand.

Wednesday afternoon, I was there to greet Ryan when he walked through the door to his new "room." Of course, others were there too,including one woman who offered to keep the RiverPlace Manager "warm at night." Yes, that all happened about two minutes after he entered the "chamber." Ryan politely declined the offer as he has plenty of company to entertain him (the whole city of Portland seems to be walking in front of the streaming camera) as well as his faithful and equally adorable pooch, Holly.

Before I asked him to pose on the bed Burt Reynolds-style, I asked Ryan if he was scared, or freaked out, or if he wanted to back out before it was too late. And this fair-skinned Ginger-man who is sure to burn during this hot spit of weather said: "No, not really. I am just excited that we get to show RiverPlace's new guest rooms to the city of Portland." Way to stay on message, Mr. Kunzer.

Ryan will be there all day and night until Friday (he "checks out" at 6 pm), so if you've ever wondered what it would be like to a "Bubble Boy" and live in a Bucky Fuller-type bubble (made from a company right here in Oregon) now is your chance.

And...oh, yeah..they have yoga classes for him each morning at the break of dawn, 6 a.m.

Really, you have to check this guy out.

And, if you are brave, you might even want to flash him—a smile.