Queens
In Portland we have two kinds of queens: one wears a gown and travels through the streets of Portland on a floral float, and one wears a gown and travels through the streets of Portland in high heels.
Rose Festival queens and drag queens!
A queen in the 1960s |
What's different about the Rose Festival court is that it's not a beauty contest. The judges select the "Queen of Rosaria" mostly based on her achievements. Boys participate in the festival by being selected as drivers for the princesses.
The court in recent years |
Rose Festival Queens Walk in Washington Park |
Darcelle (on right) with friends |
If you're not going to a show at Darcelle, one of the best places to see Portland's drag queens out in the open is at the Portland Pride Parade. Apparently we also have a Thai restaurant (Asian fusion) that has all drag queen waitstaff! We have a lot of queens, but we have a shortage of drag kings...
Portland Pride |
Quimby
Ramona sculture in Grant Park |
Her first book was Henry Huggins, published in 1950, about a boy who lived on Klickitat Street in Portland. Beezus and Ramona came next--the Quimby sisters--published in 1955. Cleary went on to write seven additional Ramona stories, along with many other books.
The author reading Ramona |
Portland has honored Beverly Cleary (who is still alive) by naming a school after her, creating a sculpture garden in Grant Park (near Klickitat Street), naming the Central Library's children's library after her, and celebrating Beverly Cleary Month at the library. You can also take a Beverly Cleary tour.
Love Beverly Cleary! We don't see many drag queens in the middle of Missouri except on Halloween. No offense intended. Just the way it is.
ReplyDeleteHaha--yes, I imagine we have more drag queens here than in Missouri!
DeleteI didn't know that about Ramona or Beverly Cleary. I live in Washington state now, but growing up in Southern California, I assumed Klickitat was a wonderfully fictional name. Now I need to visit that statue.
ReplyDeleteYes--you should! Thanks for stopping by!
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