PANIC ROOM Tonight I will be reading some of my own stuff with a bunch of other cool people at The Maiden for the 1,000 words series curated by the ever creative Mel Favara. You should join us. Here are the press release dets:

Please join the 1,000 Words Reading Series to witness four great writers—Leading queer light Byron Beck, sci-fi charlatan Joe Pitkin, impresario, writer, teacher, and all around literary go-to girl Geneva Chao, and stellar Vancouver nonfiction writer Daniel Borgen will each read four tiny, 250-word pieces written for the occasion over the past month, based on the theme PANIC and a set of prompts and arbitrary rules provided weekly by series curator Mel Favara. It will be fast and fancy if not furious. Vancouver emo-punk trio We Play Quiet will also play songs based on the writers’ prompts, which is a phenomenon not to be missed, unless you don’t mind missing things that are singularly fantastic.

7PM sharp, MONDAY, MAY 4
AT THE MAIDEN, 639 SE MORRISON STREET (503-232-5553)
FREE
ALL-AGES VENUE UNTIL 10; THE READING WILL BE OVER BY 9
PETE KREBS TO FOLLOW

MAMA DRAMA Alexsandra's Vintage Emporium (6726 N Interstate Ave. 735-4420) found a fabulous frock for me to wear at the Red Dress Party on Saturday night (see Leah Nash's photo above). Marc Acito said it was equal parts see-through sexy and old-lady dowdy. Whatever. I just thought it was fun. In honor of Alexsandra's fun and funky fashions I would be remiss if I didn't tell you about a wonderful event she is having tomorrow night at Tony Starlight's. A "Mother and Daughter Vintage Fashion Show and Sale" it's the perfect place to pick up a little something for that very important lady in your life (who just so happens to like looking like an old school glamour queen...these clothes are fierce).
(The show starts at 8 pm and a five-dollar cover will be added to your bill, Tony Starlight's, 3728 NE Sandy Blvd., 517-8584)

A heart-pounding "bumpy ride" had a slightly different (and perhaps a bit more thrilling) meaning Saturday night at The 9th Annual Red Dress Party, entitled "RED EYE."

The "bumps" in question came courtesy, more often than not, about 2,000 red-dressed clad male (and plenty of female) crotches that were grinding their "rides" up against each other on the dance floor (as well as in a few well-positioned dark corners) in the jam-packed new BodyVox Building located deep in the bowels of semi-industrial Northwest Portland.

Last year's RDP was more of a political meet and greet (perhaps that had to do with the fact Chelsea Clinton crashed the soiree), but this year's party seemed to go back to its roots as a literally balls-to-the-wall blow-out of drunken debauchery (thank god). Split into two levels, the upstairs "first class" section was for VIP's and included an amazing set by Tahoe Jackson, an appearance by Martha Davis of The Motels (the rock mama was sporting a killer stewardess hat with a glowing jet) as well as the "girls" who are rocking it each week at RuPaul's Drag Race: Portland Edition. RDP Hostess Poison Waters joined the "girls" on the mainstage/main dance floor for a quickie fashion show that included a presentation of the RDP board. Later that evening, Storm Large, sprinted over to the venue from her sold out show at Portland Center Stage, "Crazy Enough." It was probably crazy for Storm to perform on the same weekend she was doing four shows, but damn that girl is trooper and she killed the crowd with an amazing set. And I won't even begin to tell you what shenanigans went on near the baggage carousel/seating areas and giant luggage-shaped beds.
Okay, enough talking. I know you are here to see the photos. I took so many I had to break them into two sets. Enjoy. It was definitely an enjoyable flight for these folks.

THAT'S THE SPIRIT...UM...WINE: I was so happy to be invited to the May Day Producer's Dinner for the 5th Annual Indie Wine Festival. Not only was the site for the event, Ten 01, packed with really cool people, my partner and I had a chance to dine at Ten 01's really cool round table, the one located in the corner on the mezzanine— possibly one of the best views and tables of any restaurant in Portland. For the night Ten 01 Chef Benjamin Parks dazzled us with an assortment of absolutely amazing dishes including a salad of poached quail eggs (which is freaky because actress Katie O'Grady told me a few days ago about her dream that involved an eggy salad and...oh..my...god..there it was), pork meatball soup (okay, that wasn't it's name, but that's how I remember it), duck breast, New York steak and buttermilk panna cotta. And the wine?
Oh my goodness, the tables were literally flowing with some of the best I've ever tasted—or ever will taste. Supporting craft winemaking in Oregon and featuring the state’s top 40 artisanal wineries to find out more about this wonderful weekend that is happening right now check out IndieWineFestival.com. A big toast to the fests co-Producer's Lisa Donoughe and Catherine Healy for making this all happen. Now let's drink!

RED ROOM: Lap 4 of the RuPaul Drag Race: Portland Edition, held every Thursday night at RedCap was a tribute to tonight's Red Dress Party. And boy did these "girls" paint the town red. All in all I am simply amazed how each week the contestants continue to kick their balls out the park each week. I am only a judge, and I am wiped out by the end of each night's contest. I can't imagine how friggin' hard this is for them. Speaking of Red Dresses I need to go shave some stuff off my body so I can fit into my party clothes (pssst..last minute fellas...I found an incredible ensemble at AlexSandra's Vintage Emporium on North Interstate Avenue just yesterday). See you at the party!

SPACED OUT: Hey gang, looks Iike I got this one wrong.

Just got off the phone with Portland Monthly's new EIC, Randy Gragg, who informed me that Spaces is not going to cease publication but, in fact, will be published quarterly. Gragg told me he was currently put the finishing touches on the next issue.

I personally apologize to Randy for not checking this out with him. I have known him for a long time, and should've realized he would have taken my call. In the future Randy assured me I could speak to him directly if I had questions about the magazine. And that is my plan. Again, my apologies.

I have it on good authority that Portland Monthly's stellar Spaces Magazine is no longer. This follows Monday's ouster of Paige Williams as editor-in-chief of PoMo and the ever-so-quick promotion of Spaces editor-in-chief Randy Gragg (that's the back of his head pictured above) to PoMo's top editorial spot. I've also heard that there are more lay-offs in PoMo's near future, but I was not able to confirm that.

NO-TELL MOTEL: Did you know that true blue rock and roll legends are living here in the Rose City? Like Martha Davis of The Motels? Yeah, I didn't know that either. For many of us who lived through the early 1980's The Motel's "Only The Lonely" was an anthem for "lost boys and girls" (aka queers). And guess Miss Martha has been living quietly here for a few years. But word is that the "rock star" is ready to come out of hiding. And she's picked a good party to do it at. Martha Davis will be one of the party-goers at this weekend's Red Dress Party. Cool.

The Children's Museum is quickly becoming one of the best places in PDX to spot Hollywood celebs with their kids in tow. Awhile back it was Jack Johnson. Last week? Keri Russell. Today? Brendan Fraser. Word from star struck mommy friends of mine is that Brendan spent most of his time today in the "Bob The Builder" section of the museum as well as the "Baby's Garden." I need to get a kid asap.