Across the Williamette River from downtown you'll find several
neighborhoods acclaimed for their artsy feel, popularity with gays and
lesbians, and wealth of great shopping and dining options. The Hawthorne
District might just be Portland's most lesbian-popular neighborhood, and
it also has scads of pleasing retail and dining options, including the
superb Castagna Restaurant, known for its creative regional Northwestern
cuisine. Bread and Ink Cafe is another Hawthorne favorite, captivating
regulars with its Mediterranean, Mexican, and Yiddish fare (how's that
for an unlikely trinity?). The cheeseburgers garner raves all around, as
do the chicken enchiladas.
Nearby Southeast Stark and Southeast Belmont streets also hold a share
of the area's coffeehouses, boutiques, and music clubs. Other East Side
neighborhoods of note include Alberta, Division/Clinton, and East
Burnside. And the once derelict industrial area on the northeastern
shores of the Willamette, the Lloyd District, now contains a convention
center, sports stadiums, and the impressive 200-store Lloyd Center mall.
The variety of excellent, gay-friendly restaurants on the East Side is
staggering, but standouts include Mint/820, a contemporary bistro and
cocktail bar owned by openly gay and nationally renowned drink
mixologist Lucy Brennan; and Rocket, a see-and-be-seen space known for
such simple but mouthwatering fare as braised beef rib with red wine jus
and black cod with a radish salad. Also consider sassy Roux for
imaginatively rendered New Orleans-style cuisine; Helser's on Alberta
for amazingly delicious breakfast and lunch fare; and Vindalho for
modern Indian food.
There are countless opportunities for getting out and enjoying the
countryside within a short drive of Portland. Rooster Rock (aka Cock
Rock) State Park lies 20 miles east of the city in the scenic Columbia
Gorge and is a favorite place for gay sunbathers. Sauvies Island, about
8 miles northwest of Portland, has another scenic and scene-y
clothing-optional beach with a decidedly gay following. This area is
also popular for kayaking and boating - you can rent kayaks or take
tours from Scappoose Bay Kayaking, and Portland's own Out Kayaking is a
GLBT social group dedicated to this very activity - it welcomes visitors
on its frequent weekend excursions. In the other direction, magnificent
Mt. Hood (elevation 11,300 feet) offers year-round skiing, great hiking,
challenging rock-climbing, and plenty more to get the blood flowing. In
the same area, you can take a hair-raising whitewater rafting trip on
the roiling Clackamas River - a highly reliable outfitter for this
activity is Destination Wilderness. And south of Portland, you'll find
the fantastic Willamette Valley wine country, which has become
internationally renowned for its pinot noir and pinot gris. Numerous
wineries in the valley are open for tastings.
With one of the more pronounced and vibrant women's scenes on the West
Coast, Portland has not only a couple of popular lesbian bars but also
many spots where both women and men congregate. Near Hawthorne, the
Egyptian Club is the most popular such venue, with strippers some nights
and always a big crowd for dancing. Also on the east side of town, Crush
is a swish and sophisticated cocktail lounge drawing a mix of women and
men. The kitchen here turns out excellent bistro fare, and there's a
popular brunch on weekends. Continue to page
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The Hunk
