Gay bar bend oregon

Queer life has long been linked with big, coastal cities like Portland. But entrepreneurs and organizers own worked to carve out LGBTQ+ spaces in smaller cities and towns across the state.

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Xanadu is one of Oregon’s newest LGBTQ+ bars. It also might be haunted.

Per an Instagram publish shared last fall, Astoria legend holds that Xanadu stands at the former location of an ice cream shop and, more recently, the Voodoo Room. Former employees of the latter say they’ve seen a male figure dressed like the ice cream shop’s owner.

Now it’s a popular haunt for residents and visitors to the bustling coastal town, who enjoy cocktails named after queer historical figures fancy Harvey Milk and Rock Hudson, as well as LeRoy Adolphson, a longtime resident who served as the grand marshal of the second Astoria Celebration festival. Xanadu opened on March 9 next to the Columbian Theater on Marine Drive and takes its name from the cult-favorite 1980 roller-disco fantasy film starring Olivia Newton-John.

Pop culture and queer historical references are important to owner Scott Justus, who serves on the board of the Lower Columbia Q Center and as membership dire

This weekend, venues around Primary Oregon are hosting parties to celebrate Pride. Celebrations in honor of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community include a Friday night "Cliché Queer" dance party at Volcanic Theatre Pub on the west side and the Saturday night "Big. Gay. Party." at Open Territory on the east side. Right in the middle of all that operation, a new, queer-owned coffee shop will be marking its first days in operation; Turtle Island Coffee Shop, located on Oregon Avenue next door to both The Capitol and Wild Rose, opened this week, just in moment for Pride.

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Nicole Vulcan

From left, Teh Sanchez and Beth Brady at the coffee counter at Turtle Island Coffee Shop.

Co-owners Teh Sanchez and Beth Brady took over the space, once occupied by Bend Mountain Coffee, naming the fresh shop "Turtle Island" in honor of the indigenous creation story that imagines the human universe created on the back of a turtle.

"In naming this, it's paying respect to all of the nations of this continent," Sanchez told the Source Weekly. The room serves up

Cocktails, Beer & Bites
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Downtown Bend, OR

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Come for a hand-crafted cocktail, made with fresh ingredients, before your show at Tower Theater, or an after-dinner nighttime cap. We also present a broad variety of beer, from refreshing clear tall boys and seltzers, to limited-release craft IPAs from our favorite local breweries. Velvet is unseal late, with intimate seating indoors, and cozy, sidewalk fire pits to retain warm into the night.

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Each month, Velvet hosts a different artist, opening with a First Friday Art Walk celebration. Every month is different, with designer appearances, live music and drink specials.

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You don’t have to hang around for Pride Month in June or even for Central Oregon Winter PrideFest to celebrate the Queer community in Bend.

Embrace year-round pride by supporting queer-owned businesses and gay-friendly events in Bend.

Get ready for Winter PrideFest

Since 2018, OUT Central Oregon (our incredible local advocacy group) has hosted Winter PrideFest to celebrate inclusivity and distributed fondness for the outdoors. The event draws nearly 1,500 participants from all over the region for a weekend of joy winter activities and inspiring events.

The 2025 PrideFest takes place March 6-9 and boasts a huge array of happenings. There’s a welcoming “Snocial” at Volcanic Theatre Pub, a gay comedy night, tons of group ski rides at Mt. Bachelor, a PrideFest dance party, a nighttime snowshoe event with Wanderlust Tours, and a family-friendly ice skating party where participants skate wearing wigs (fun!) And don’t fail Drag Bingo, plus tons of other cool activities throughout the fun-packed drawn-out weekend.

Many events sell out, so make sure to snag tickets in advance. Bend hotels can also book up quickly, so start with Waypoint Hotel and Campfire Hotel (official event sponsors) for