Butch Dyke Strip Night, Karaoke, and Cuban Food: A Winter Weekend in Portland
Took a little weekend trip down to Portland to kick off the New Year. Some good eats, some neighborhood walks, a little partial nudity, nbd. Was having so much fun this weekend, I pretty much forgot to take photos! In any case, if you need a little pointing in the right direction for your next visit to Bridge City, here’s what we got into:
Dinner @ Pambiche *
Had to kick off my visit to Portland with dinner at my favorite Cuban restaurant, Pambiche, in the Kerns neighborhood of Southeast Portland. Cozy space with small tables and colorful decor, well-priced Mojitos, and delicious Ropa Vieja. Also a well-lit dessert fridge that tempts you the entire time with their tres leches and other sweet treats.
Butch/Dyke Strip Night **
The highlight of the weekend was definitely Butch/Dyke Strip Night, a.k.a. BDSN ;) Per a friend’s recommendation, I purchased my tickets a few weeks in advance for this sold out show! It only happens once a quarter (for now). Might have gotten the best seat in the house, right next to the stage/runway. At least a dozen different acts from a confident and sexy bunch of performers.
Some tattooed teases, melanated mavens, non-binary babes, a bit of puppy kink, and an unforgettable performance of a Subway Sandwich being unwrapped. Supported by an enthusiastic audience with plenty of $1 bills to offer. Not bad for a Saturday night in Portland. Stayed out later than expected to root for the Karaoke-ers, and met a few chill locals and transplants.
Escape Bar & Grill **
A visit to Portland isn’t complete without a little Escape. Yes, I’m giving a separate shoutout to the gay bar that hosted Butch Dyke Strip Night — Escape Bar & Grill in the Sumner neighborhood of North Portland. Well-priced drinks, plenty of seats, and what appears to be a very loyal bunch of regulars. Looking forward to checking out some of their future events.
Alberta Arts District
Well, I love a good little wander down Alberta Street. Cute thrift stores, a couple coffee shops, and plenty of yummy options for any meal of the day. Went for brunch at Tin Bird, a queer-owned restaurant with a choose-your-own-mug coffee station, covered/heated outdoor seating, and a dog-friendly menu and patio. The Eggs Benedict was pretty tasty, and we actually stayed warm while eating outdoors! Nice work.
Mississippi Avenue
Took a stroll down Mississippi Avenue and popped into the following local spots:
Mississippi Studios — cool little local music venue with a full bar, nice location
SheBop — woman-owned adult entertainment store with thoughtfully-designed toys and accessories to pleasure all your favorite body parts
Bernstein Bagels — I’m a sucker for a good lox bagel, and just had to snag one before departing Portlandia. This place checked all the boxes. Nice little corner shop, I grabbed mine To Go. No Tipping culture made up for the 40min it took to make my bagel. The bagel honestly really hit the spot, so I’ll be back nonetheless.
Honorable Mentions
Had grand aspirations for an activity-filled weekend, but scaled back a bit in lieu of some much needed R&R. Here’s what I missed out on… but had next on the To Do List:
Portland Saturday Market — the iconic Portland market that I forgot is closed during January and February. But the Waterfront Park Trail is always ripe for a riverside stroll.
“Attitude of Gratitude” Mural — my favorite mural in all of Portland, a mixed media living wall
Film: The Chronology of Water — Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut, surprised this film doesn’t have Seattle showings
Queer Plants Cafe ** — pretty sure it describes itself lol
Fuzzy Pits Tattoo *** — QTBIPOC-owned tattoo parlor that I wanted to check out
Delicious Donut * — A fantastic BIPOC-owned donut shop boasting delicious handmade Filipino-inspired sweet treats, including the famed ube donut. I’ve been before and want to go back!
Until next time, Portland!
XO
