Well, it rained a little on the first official day of summer... but that was liquid sunshine beating down on us, right? Those of you who turned out for Portland’s Pride Parade (I know who you are... I saw you all) know that a few squalls didn’t dampen our spirits, although they did make riding in convertibles a most interesting experience. Thanks to everyone who asked for copies of the magazine and waved from the sidelines. Thanks also to those of you who came to Miss Mona’s Ladies of Leisure and watched my heart-shaped bottom get a bit of playful discipline. All the ladies were, as usual, exquisite. And a final thank you to the wonderful lawyer-to-be who gave the winning "Night on the Town with Darklady" bid at Fetish Night. Now you just have to pass that bar exam or I’ll be the one dishing out the discipline.

July is a month for celebrating (oh, hell... they’re all fine for celebrating) and what’s more all-American than a BBQ? The Kasbah has got into the spirit by hosting one dollar BBQ Sundays and, for the truly insatiable, a club dinner first: from 11am - 3pm you can enjoy a 24 ounce T-bone steak and $1.50 beverage special.

Since we’re on the topic of food, I want to let you know that the northwest’s only all-ages gay dance club, Evolution, has... well, evolved. Nambo’s is gone and it’s the Evolution Cafe now, with excellent American favorites, ice cream for those summer days, and longer hours! Anytime from 11am until 8pm (Monday through Friday) you can take your place at the top of the food chain at the cafe and you can start shaking your groove thing (cooled by their freshly updated ventilation system) after 10pm Thursday through Saturday. One other change: Thursday nights now feature ’80s retro hits. Feel free to call the info line at (503) 242-2899 to learn about the many special events and shows held every Friday and Saturday night. (Oh, and Lanny... thanks for the jump after the Pride Parade.)

Eating isn’t the only reason we go to the clubs, though, is it? Nah. It’s to cool down. Yeah, that’s it. Just a reminder, Union Jacks may generate a lot of heat on stage, but the air conditioning will help you maintain your composure. Plus, there are table dance specials every night to make you appreciate that a/c even more.

But not everyone wants to spend those hot summer nights indoors. Roosters offers its dancers (and customers) an opportunity to work on their tan and be part of some of the best nude entertainment in the area with a rooftop beer garden! Don’t forget that the Riverside Corral’s got a beer garden, too... plus Shower Power, a new attraction in the garden... must be what helps all that beer grow, eh?

There’s new experiences on the horizon for two local clubs: the Dancin’ Bare will be on the internet soon, and Exotica, the space-age bar of the future will soon be the space age bar of the present. I’ve heard some wild rumors about this place and can’t wait for it to open.

Salem has a new club. Scores is now open and celebrating its arrival in the capital with a 12 week Exotic Dancer of the Year Semi-Finals contest held each Wednesday. Winners will participate in the Finals in October and compete for a grand prize of $1,000 and a trip to Cabo San Lucas. In the meantime, Penthouse Pet and Miss Nude World, Alex Taylor will be featuring from July 21st through the 26th. You can call Scores for exact times for Ms. Taylor’s four daily shows at (503) 363-6818.

Also in Salem, the Main Event will present the lovely Lorissa McComas on Tuesday the 8th and Wednesday the 9th. You’ve probably seem Ms. McComas on any number of men’s magazine covers and centerfolds... now’s your chance to see her in the flesh. She’ll be appearing at Eugene’s Silver Dollar Club for four daily shows the 10th through the12th, too, so you’ve got plenty of chances to view her beauty in person... without finding a staple in her navel.

Those of you fond of purring felines will have a chance to get up-close-and-personal with Penthouse Pet (and Pet of the Year runner-up) Natalie Smith this month, too. She’ll be taking the spot light at the Silver Dollar Club for four shows daily Tuesday, July 22th through Thursday the 24th before moving on to the Main Event for performances on the 25th and 26th. Meow!

Stars has something to share with the world; it’s their first anniversary and the month of July is going to be one big party. You can see 12 of the northwest’s very best performers from Thursday the 10th through Saturday the 12th as Stars hosts the Spice Contest Encore performance.

You’ll have a few days to catch your breath before Penthouse Pet and men’s magazine model Bobbi Brown comes back to town to generate a few holiday sparks of her own from Wednesday the 16th until the 19th. But don’t think that you can stay out of the club after that... if you want to see adult film star, Penthouse and Hustler centerfold beauty Chasey Lain strut her stuff, you’re going to find it in your heart (or some body part that pumps blood) to dive back in for her performances, running from Tuesday the 23rd until Saturday the 26th.

Don’t miss her in-store appearance at DK Wilds on the 22nd, from 7pm until 10pm. And while you’re there, congratulate DK for his good work at the VSDA (Video Software Dealers Association) convention, where he’ll be the only representative from a retail store to speak. He’ll be part of a marketing seminar and joined by AVN Publisher Paul Fishbein, Vivid Video’s Howard Levin, Wicked Video’s Joy King, General Video’s Russ Katz, and In-X-Cess’ Alex Katz. You go, DK!

For those of you who thought the time would never come... July 29th is the day when that gorgeous 1996 Harley Davidson will finally be awarded to some lucky guy (or gal). So get in there and get your ticket to ride!

One other westside update: Mama Mia’s is remodeling and is now offering high quality nude entertainment to adults 18 and above! Recent high school grads have something to thank the OLCC for! We’ve heard that after the 18-and-over juice bar format was introduced, the Beaverton City Council started freaking out even more than normal. Duh. They were told two years ago that this would happen. Oh, and George wants to let everyone know that business is great, the dancers are making lots o’ money and the pizza is still the best in town, (but that “DJ Luey” guy is still a loose cannon).

I’m pretty darn happy to welcome the Egyptian Club to the pages of Exotic. I may not have won their wet t-shirt contest a few months ago (what were they thinking?) but I’m not one to hold a grudge. This woman’s club offers some of the best salsa in town, delicious meals, and a full bar. Tuesday nights offer gloriously nude women in The Tomb, dancing for women and Thursday is a no cover night with dancing and 2-for-1 well drinks and domestic beers. Ladies can dance cheek-to-cheek on Fridays and Saturdays ($3 cover charge) and then come back on Sunday morning for brunch (9am - 2pm) so they’ll be nourished enough for the free bar drinks from 8:30pm until 9pm, or midnight until 12:30am. All that and no cover charge! I’m there!

My other favorite place to hang out these days is Fetische’ (located on W. Burnside next to Fantasy Video). Finally, a store run by kinky folk, for kinky folk! You can shop for the best quality leather, latex, PVC, and bondage gear around from Wednesday to Sunday, noon to 10pm. If you’ve been looking for the ultimate in cats, Fetische’ still has a limited number of handmade Heartwoods left. RCDC and NLA members bring your cards and get 10% off your purchases.

Video lovers can really stretch their dollars this month at Taboo Video. Just bring in your membership card from any other adult video store and get four free rentals or a free Taboo Video membership.

In other video shop news, Hard Times is newly remodeled, open 24 hours and getting ready to introduce you to adult video stars Dyanna Lauren and Troy Halston in early August, so get ready.

Scarlett Ribbons is under new management and has added some new surprises for you. Their "Whisper Dungeon" comes complete with a cage, and you bachelor party types will be happy to know that all you need to do is bring your naughty selves... Scarlett Ribbons now has a 30’ x 30’ room with an 8’ x 16’ dance stage, seating... and private dancers!

Salem’s got yet another thing to be happy about. X-otic Tan will be opening at 112 Lancaster Drive, NE soon. Call (503) 362-4092 for the exact date and grand opening information.

Something that ought to be of interest to all ladies in "the ’biz" is Dancernet, a new service that allows fans to know where and when their favorite dancer is working without compromising the dancer’s privacy. It’s a 24-hour local phone number with pre-recorded information on it and it costs about as much per month as a lap dance. This could be a good investment for some of you elusive dance vixens. You can get more information about the service by calling (503) 973-2543.

If seeing more feature dancers than you can shake your stick at is your bag, you should know that the 5th Annual Gentlemen’s Club Owners Expo will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada from September 2nd through the 4th. This is the largest gathering in the world of adult nightclub owners, operators, exotic dancers, and companies servicing the industry. There will be three days of panels, dancer showcases, special parties, a trade show and more. If you decide Vegas is worth another two days, stay for the 1st Annual Exotic Dancer Fan Fair. You’ll have the chance to see more than 75 feature dancers, including Sunset Thomas, Midori, Mimi Miyagi, Laura Palmer, Anna Malle, April Hunter, Houston, and (as they say) many, many more. You’ve got the publishers of Exotic Dancer Magazine to thank for all this. For more information, call (813) 726-3592. Representatives from Exotic Magazine will, of course, be in attendance.

We’d also like to welcome all the Adult Video Only and All Adult Video stores into the ranks of exclusive distributors of Exotic Magazine. This includes Cindy’s Bookstore downtown, AVO in Gresham and Vancouver and the AAV stores downtown, McLoughlin Blvd. and Division Street. The list grows longer every month...

And, to wind things up, I’ll be in attendance (so you’d better be, too) at the July Fetish Night. This month’s dance and play party will be held at Berbati’s Pan. Look for me. I’ll be looking for you.

Well, enough out of me until August... the month of Darklady’s birth. Oooo. Ahhhh.