I've always loved Badlands--great vibes, fun video bars, and usually a solid variety of music. The…read more$20 covers on some nights are a bit surprising, but I get it--welcome to today's economy. That said, no amount of cover charge seems to fix a recurring issue at many fun gay bars: the takeover by straight women. Both times I tried to get a drink, groups of women blatantly cut the line. Maybe the first time was an honest oversight--they might not have noticed me in my wheelchair (even though they were short and definitely should have). But twice? That feels like more than an accident. Most folks were awesome, though. Many moved aside or made space once they saw me, and the staff has been nothing but kind and attentive. Unfortunately, a few disrespectful patrons really soured the night--and as a disabled person, it makes me question how often I want to put myself in these spaces that should feel safe but too often don't.

So, while Badlands is listed as an LGTBQ+ bar, the majority of the crowd (at least on weekends) is…read morestraight with bachelorette parties. Yeah. No. And even on those nights that the bar isn't very straight, the G's of the LGBTQ+ aren't in sight. Gay men go elsewhere. DJs are good. Drinks are too expensive. Food is very mid. I was excited when it first opened and it is a cool space. And the dance floor is great. But the crowd just isn't.

The best thing to come from SNL in years is, without a doubt, Stefon, the uber-hip club kid and…read moreCity Correspondent on SNL's Weekend Update. His recommendations for things like "family-friendly holiday activities" or Mother's Day brunch inevitably begin with "NY's hottest club is..." and he then goes on to describe completely absurd parties that sound like "visions a dying gay man would have if he was under too many blankets", including all-night secret raves featuring performance art like "human luggage" (midgets on roller skates you wheel through airports). Compare some Stefon skits with the usual descriptions of Blow Pony, and I'll bet my boa you might not be able to distinguish them. After all, BP's got bears, chubs, hawks, cocks, pigs, trannys, queens, shirt lifters, pillow biters, crap stabbers, furries, femmes, and knob shiners. Stefon would feel right at home, especially if it was Teddy Graham Night (you know... men with short arms and big bellies). Blow Pony, a monthly event, was started in 2007 as a place where "all our brothers and sisters felt welcome and loved." They list their primary concerns and involvement as being in queer rights, trans rights, women's rights, and "a search in the dumpster for more trash." There's a big sign at the entrance making it known that if you are racist, homophobic, sexist, or just generally do not like hard-partyin' weirdos, this is not the party for you. The venue itself (Rotture/Branx) is a filthy, hot, sweaty mess, and it does get packed to the gills. You will meet new friends. You will get drinks spilled on you. You will be dripping sweat from head to toe. You will dance with strangers. You will see people of every imaginable body type wearing anything from... well, nothing, to clown suits, to pony costumes, to dominatrix outfits. You will also see people in jeans and tshirts; it's definitely not about the wacky get-ups but those are a bonus. There are generally 4-5 different DJs for each event, both upstairs (Rotture) and downstairs (Branx), frequently out-of-town guests and some local celebs. There's a no-frills bar on each level, pouring beer and simple mixed drinks in plastic cups. The bathroom lines get insane. Just past the pinball machines on the upper level, there's a rickety old deck that I cannot believe has not been shut down yet. It gets so goddamned hot in the party, everyone pours onto the deck, and you can feel the damn thing swaying, like it's going to give out any second. It overlooks the Tazo tea factory, which gives off a most wonderful aroma, thank God. I've seen some wicked crazy shit at these parties. I don't really have a more eloquent way to put that. Once, a woman on stage in a hot teal corset threw a chain around my neck. I found out later it was a famous singer that I didn't recognize. At the last BP I attended, I got motorboated, on stage, by a woman in red underpants, and danced with a man dressed as a skunk. This was moments before we convinced an especially attractive but normally shy friend of ours to ascend the go-go dancer platform. Clothing was removed, and that's probably as much as I should say. Five stars for the enthusiasm and for Keeping Portland Weird, though I could break that down to less for some of the trickier aspects of these events, like the super-long lines, icky bathrooms and occasionally less-than-stellar DJs. BUT, I still go with a fiver for the general wacky experience. There is a good time to be had here, people. When the DJs are good, they are very good. One of my favorite Stefon bits - "New York's hottest club is Twice... where you will be greeted at the door by a Rabbi that looks like Joaquin Phoenix... and human fire hydrants. You know, it's that thing when high-waisted midgets have, like, the red pants and the big ass." Or, even better - "New York's hottest club is Creep... lights, psychos, furbies, and screaming babies in Mozart wigs." I wouldn't put any of those things past Blow Pony, no sir. If Bill Hader, the gifted actor who plays this Stefon gentleman ever comes to town, I will make it my personal mission to get him to attend, solely for more (and non-fiction!) material for the skit. It's a helluva good time and one of about 178764 reasons I love Portland, where this kind of debaucherous behavior is not only normal, but welcomed and encouraged. We are blessed, dear reader. Blessed by the Pony. Psst: If you haven't seen a Stefon skit, here's an example http://www.mediaite.com/online/bill-haders-stefan-struggles-to-keep-a-straight-face-on-weekend-update/

I love this place. Let me validate, I am straight. this is a great place to go and dance when…read morefeeling asexual. My tip if you are a man get drinks on the bottom floor. Ladies top floor. Stick with that and you get strong pours. Music is a letdown. Wish they went with a rivethead/industrial/punk mix. My friends make fun of over half of the music played.

I was in Portland for a conference and made a point to check out STAG PDX to soak in some local gay…read moreculture. I'm really glad I did. From the moment I walked in, the vibe was welcoming and fun. I was greeted by Alex, a tall, stunning bartender who was in his first week on the job and still learning the ropes. You never would've known it, though. He was charming, warm, and somehow remembered both my name and my drink every time I came back to the bar. That kind of care goes a long way, especially when you're traveling solo. The dancers were honestly impressive . Every performer clearly put thought and intention into their routines. One of the performers, Lynx, really stood out to me. I assumed they were non-binary and Latinx, and later learned their name. Their presence and performance were powerful and memorable. I'm from Chicago and go to my local go-go bar pretty regularly, but I have yet to see the kind of diversity in talent that I experienced at STAG. Bodies, genders, expressions, cultures--it was all there, and it was celebrated. I'm really glad I stopped in. Spaces like this matter. If our community had more places that truly showcased the beauty of our diversity the way STAG does, I genuinely believe it could change the world--at least a little. P.S. Atticus is so friendly and worth getting a lap dance from.

Good atmosphere amazing drinks and dancers laid back cool people b…read more Show me your o faces

I've always had a great time at the Eagle Portland. The staff are friendly, it's in a fun/funky…read morespace, and the make great cocktails for a reasonable price! I can't wait to go back!

Don't attend if you're disabled, diabetic, etc.. I have a lot of stuff I have to carry with me due…read moreto disabilities of mine (diabetes, fibromyalgia, etc..) as well as my mom's belongings after she was admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Got kicked out for it before I could even pay cover charge. Way to welcome a young gay man wanting to relax and meet people. I'm going to pursue remediation cause it's medical discrimination. Would have spent a lot of money so their loss as well. Way to make someone feel that the gay world is as cliquey as it's made out to be. Not a treat for me either guys. Im the one having to deal with my health issues ...not your staff or patrons.

Good drinks like really good! If you know you know…read more CC Slaughters is a longstanding lgbtq+ bar meets lounge nightclub in Old Town Portland. It's definitely a place to enjoy and end up if you enjoy the night seen. I've been lucky enough to visit both the location in Puerto Vallarta and this one circa 2018. We enjoyed the lounge and drinks before making our way from their Rainbow Room way into the NightClub which is a mix of everything. Still the best Lemon Drop I've had to date! It didn't really get busy until late here - like midnight, which is wild for weekend. All the security and staff were personable and they had a cool drag show we caught most of. Some fun themed nights/days, including Piano Karaoke, TRANS-UHH-LICIOUS, Comedy Nights, etc. It does seem like most of their on-goings happen before 10pm, w/ live DJs for the late late crowd. Completely different their cousin location in Mexico. There's a food menu of mostly bar style eats (like taquitos, tenders, jalapeno poppers, corn dogs and my go to Meatless Nuggets w/ tots or fries). Free Wi-Fi, clean restrooms, pool tables and great mood lighting. It's a pretty walkable area overall, but definitely recommend those 24 hr parking garages if driving in or passing through. Rideshare is also fairly easy in the area also. The MAX light rail and local transit service usually end by midnight most days, even on weekends. Cheers to coming back soon #FlashbackFriday

I'm saddened to hear they're closing soon, but I took my first trip here and it was spectacular!…read moreThe whole place is decorated in a set theme (this time it was a black light jungle) and the ambiance is incredible. The bars are well stocked and their drinks were really good, though the line can get a bit long at times. The bartenders and waitstaff were always polite and I never felt rushed or uncomfortable. The show and the visit in general was something I'll never forget. What a truly magical place.

Had our favorite cider (sun of a peach) and was a great atmosphere. Going to add this into our…read moreweekly date night rotation!

From the owner: BDSM Brewing Company makes no nonsense beer. You won't ever find a chicken wing or a donut in our…read morebeer recipe, just good clean ingredients. We love to cater to the LGBTQIA++ Community, ask us about hosting your events here.

If you want an authentic and iconic Portland experience, look no further than Darcelle XV! They are…read morethe oldest drag bar in the country, and they have their craft honed to perfection. The production value alone is enough to write a review about. This is no pop-up drag show in some bar, this is a full-on production with seasoned and dedicated queens. We are talking professional sound, multiple lighting engineers, and a legit stage with all of the theatrical bells and whistles. The walls are covered with portraits of all the queens who have graced the building over the years. It's the type of place where you can just FEEL the history. You can tell it is clearly a very special and well-loved place. Have an occasion coming up? Darcelle's is a fabulous place to celebrate a birthday, wedding, divorce, anything! They have seated drag shows Friday and Saturday nights (followed by the men of Darcelle's strip show!), and a drag brunch show on Sundays (only $32 for breakfast AND a show!). On Tuesday nights they do an open call drag competition and it's only $5 to get in and they have $7 drink and food specials all night. You cannot beat that deal...especially being downtown! As someone who works weekends in the entertainment industry, it is amazing to have something fun and affordable to do on a Tuesday night. Do not miss this experience!

Darcelle's is iconic and such a fun place! I hadn't been to the brunch show before so we had to go…read morefor our monthly girls get together. It was a great show; I loved every performance, service was excellent and the food was good! They serve everyone the same plate & you can get brunch cocktails. Seats are first come, first serve so show up before the doors open.

This place has a unique, quirky vibe that stands out. From the vending machine offering nostalgic…read more90s trinkets to the fun Zoltar machine, there's a lot to explore here. The atmosphere feels casual and fun, with friendly staff adding to the charm. However, my experience wasn't perfect. I didnt get the chance to eat here since there's another spot nearby that caught my attention. Still, the overall vibe and the fun elements made the visit memorable. Definitely a place for those who enjoy a divey offbeat experience, though I wouldnt recommend it for those looking for a quiet night out.

Cool, funky, warm, nostalgic (in a good way), and SKEE-ball!…read moreKeep on being so so wonderful, dear Slammer.. thanks for being here