| Sissy Bar | |
|---|---|
 The bar's exterior, 2022 | |
 | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | June 2022 |
| Owner(s) |
|
| Food type | Colombian |
| Street address | 1416 Southeast Morrison Street |
| City | Portland |
| County | Multnomah |
| State | Oregon |
| Postal/ZIP Code | 97214 |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 45°31′02″N 122°39′04″W / 45.5171°N 122.6511°W |
| Website | sissybarportland |
Sissy Bar is a gay bar in Portland, Oregon. Truman Cox and Derek Palmer opened the video lounge in southeast Portland's Buckman neighborhood in 2022, near another LGBT establishment Crush Bar. Sissy Bar hosts drag shows, dance parties, and other themed events, and plays video montages from films and music videos by popular recording artists. The bar serves Colombian cuisine such as ajiaco, arepas, and empanadas.
Description
Sissy Bar is a gay bar on Morrison Street in southeast Portland's Buckman neighborhood, near the LGBT establishment Crush Bar. Sissy Bar hosts themed events,[1] drag shows, and dance parties.[2] According to Brooke Jackson-Glidden of Eater Portland, the interior pays homage to Barracuda Lounge, which she described as "a classic New York drag bar with low lounge lighting and a lengthy bar". Sissy Bar has a similar backbar and long banquette,[1] as well as illuminated cubes described by Andrew Jankowski of Willamette Week as "the color of panels on the electronic memory game Simon."[3] Walls display photographs of "gay divas" such as Paris Hilton, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, and Dolly Parton.[3][4] Televisions play video montages from films[1] and music videos by artists such as Azealia Banks, City Girls, Grimes, and Megan Thee Stallion. According to Jankowski, "The volume of the music videos is loud enough so that you can enjoy the songs, but not so noisy that conversations need to be yelled."[3]
In addition to cocktails, the bar serves Colombian cuisine such as ajiaco,[3] arepas, croquetas de pescado (Colombian fish croquettes), empanadas, frijoles antioqueños,[2] and sudado de pollo (a spiced chicken stew). Sissy Bar uses recipes from the Colombian family of the husband to one of the bar's owners.[1] Among the "fruit-forward, pop culture-packed" cocktails are the Baby Got Back, the In the Heat of the Night,[2] the She's All That (tequila, elderflower, and berry syrup),[4] the Sissy Galore (grapefruit and lemon juice with orange bitters and Aviation American Gin), the Sissy Mule, the Sissy MANhattan, and the Will Smith Punch.[3]
History
In December 2021, Jackson-Glidden described plans for Truman Cox and Derek Palmer to open Sissy Bar in February 2022.[1] The bar opened in June, shortly after Portland's annual pride parade and festival.[3] Among specific events the bar has hosted are Ingenue, a lesbian dance party by DJ Lavender Menace's, and Shape of Drag, described as a "high concept" show by Silhouette.[2]
Reception
Andrew Jankowski of Willamette Week compared the bar to nearby establishment Crush Bar, writing: "Although run by different teams, Sissy Bar and Crush seem like sister bars, serving comparable menus and clients. Both dish out Instagrammable entrees and fruity cocktails, and play queer-friendly music from across the ages, but Sissy Bar's crowd seems to trend younger than Crush's."[3] Jankowski said Sissy Bar's drinks "pair well with picturesque, savory Colombian dishes", which he said "are comfortably filling, but would benefit from a dash of additional seasoning".[3] Separately, the newspaper has recommended the Will Smith Punch.[5]
References
- ^ a b c d e Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (2021-12-14). "A New LGBTQ Bar Is Coming to Southeast Portland". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
- ^ a b c d "A Comprehensive Guide to Portland's Best LGBTQ+ Nightlife". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2022-06-05. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Video Lounge Sissy Bar and Crush Bar's Rebranded Coffee Shop, Opal's, Round Out a New Trinity of Southeast Morrison Queer Bars". Willamette Week. 2022-11-09. Archived from the original on 2023-09-30. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
- ^ a b Reed, Conner (2017-04-21). "Portland's Most Fabulous LGBTQ Bars That Are Ready for Pride". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
- ^ "Where to Drink in Portland This Week". Willamette Week. 2022-11-16. Archived from the original on 2023-01-21. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
