Portland Strip Clubs: Portland grows up, keeps its cool
by exoticinportlandSome of my most vivid neighborhood memories are of the embryonic years of Key West, Fla., Oakland, Calif., and even Wicker Park in Chicago. During the mid-1980s I lived in a graffiti-tagged, former heroin shooting gallery across the park from the Busy Bee, a superb Polish diner. I do not recognize Wicker Park anymore. It could be anywhere.
The City of Portland, Ore., also is regentrified but has been able to retain its funky spirit.
The tourism bureau tells writers (at least like me) about historic strip clubs such as Mary’s, “Portland’s First Topless,” which dates back to 1954. “Portlandia” is the most popular show on the Independent Film Channel (IFC) because stars Fred Armisen — a former Wicker Park resident, and Carrie Brownstein — a Portland resident — poke fun at the city’s urban pretense with TLC.