Exclusive | Women's Travel: U.S. West Part Four

PORTLAND continued...

PLAY/MEET
Caf?s
Haven (3551 SE Division St; 503-236-6890)
Stumptown's best coffee, with a great atmosphere and some ace live music. When there's nobody behind the microphone, attractive staff play alternative and Americana sounds from Lucinda Williams to Gillian Welch. Board games available. Predominantly

Lesbian-frequented. Rimsky-Korsakoffee House (707 S.E. 12th Avenue; 503-232-2640)
An intriguing place for coffee fixes in an old Victorian venue with attitude and delicious desserts.

An irresistible horde of artisan chocolates beckons from gay-owned chocolate boutique Cacao (414 SW 13th Ave.; 503-241-0656).

Bars
820 (820 N. Russell St.; 503-460-0820) Lesbian-owned 820 serves up the city's most delicious liquid concoctions. A hip, laidback crowd savors distinctive cocktails created with avocado, berries, and top shelf liquors. The patio is the perfect place for a margarita on a hot summer day.

Crush (1412 SE Morrison; 503-235-8150; $6-14)
A martini bar, popular with the local lesbian contingent, particularly Fridays for Happy Hour. Tasty vegetarian and vegan foods.

Red Cap Garage (1035 S.W. Stark Street; 503-226-4171)
An attractive mix of men and women take to the dance floor and the pleasant, streetside patio of the Garage.

Clubs
Holocene (1001 SE Morrison; 503-239-7639; $4-10)
Extremely hip club with women-only 'swank soiree' Tart Party, second Sundays of the month from 4 p.m. Cutting edge art and music in industrial surrounds. Fourth Saturdays are 'Double Down,' a mixed queer party. Mixed lesbian/ gay/ straight at other times. Music pinballs from hip hop to indie to dance. A good cocktail list is on offer, including killer mojitos. Food is excellent.

The Egyptian Room (3701 SE Division St; 503-236-8689)
The main old school lesbian club in town attracts a crowd on weekend nights but is deserted mid week.

EXTRA
Sex
It's My Pleasure (3106 NE 64th St; 503-280-8080) A lesbian-owned book and sex toy emporium with video rental available.

Stores
Other Words (8 N.E. Killingsworth St.; 503/232-6003) A non-profit feminist CD and bookstore offering in-store readings, live music, great cruising opportunities, and non-sexist children's books. Founded in 1995.

Powell's (1005 W. Burnside St., 360-695-7212)
The Portland of today is a perfect end of the trail for bibliophiles -- Powells City of Books takes up an entire city block with over 3 million titles.

Whole Foods (1210 NW Couch Street; 503-525-4343) and Hawthorne Safeway (2800 SW Hawthorne Boulevard; 503-232-5539)
Downtown's Whole Foods market is often almost entirely populated by women, cruising with a strategic basket casually slung over one arm filled with organic delicacies. Staff also gives appreciative appraisals to customers. Safeway provides a similar cruising opportunity for those in the south of the city.

RELAX
Check with Out Kayaking when they're next hitting the water and pick up paddles at Scappoose Bay Kayaking (57420 Old Portland Rd., Warren; 503-397-2161). Seventy percent of Out Kayaking's 200+ membership are lesbian.

Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five | Part Six

Related Articles:
Women's Travel: Introduction
Women's Travel: U.S. South
Women's Travel: U.S. East
Women's Travel: Canada/Mexico
Women's Travel: Europe
Women's Travel: Tours & Events
Women's Travel: Travel Safety