Evolution

333 SW Park Ave [Formerly Portland Underground]

in the Modish Building

Years:  January 1997 –1999 ?

  • Cited in a student paper written by Kelsie Collins UNST 421, Professor Mussey “The City Nightclub: Portland, Oregon” “Despite The City’s forced dissolution, Swerdlow did not give up. He opened Evolution just nine days after The City closed.”

  • Per Lanny on 10/23/2021, “The space was called Evolution for a short period of time. It wasn’t catching on, so changed it to The Rage.”

  •  Per Oregonian article DANNY SWERDLOW'S EVOLUTION REVOLUTION June 13, 1997 | Oregonian, The (Portland, OR) Author/Byline: ROBIN ROTH - for The Oregonian JOHN FOYSTON - of The Oregonian staff TIM APPELO - of The Oregonian staff | Page: 43 | Section: ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT | Column: Music PDX Pulse

    Summary: The controversial club owner continues working to give gay teens a place to have fun

    Lanny Swerdlow's Evolution revolution comes in the wake of a war. After 15 years providing Portland's gay and lesbian youths with ``an alternative to the streets'' at The City Nightclub, Swerdlow was surrounded by controversy when he was forced to close the club last January.

    Deemed an undaunted trooper by legions of supporters, Swerdlow opened Evolution just nine days later.

    With a new name, location, and adjoining cafe, Evolution demonstrates the changes within Portland's gay community while continuing the legacy of The City Nightclub in providing a forum for expression and fun for people of all ages and persuasions.

    Regular events and shows, such as the local cable access program Night Scene, '80s night and DJ Twin's top 30 countdown continue to make Evolution a top draw, along with mirrors, an oak parquet dance floor, and -- we kid you not -- a pair of Keanu Reeves' underwear (Swerdlow's most-prized possession, donated from the set of ``Even Cowgirls Get the Blues'' by director Gus Van Sant).

    ``There's no other place that offers the full food, folks and fun,'' says Bob Schoenthal, 18, who says he was afraid to come out before he moved from Bend to Portland and first experienced Evolution.

    That, Swerdlow says, is exactly the point.

    ``I promised my customers they would have a club no matter what,'' Swerdlow says. ``Though people just want to concentrate on the negative, I really feel the club is worthy of some positive attention and the important role it performs.''

    Here's Swerdlow's take on Evolution and Portland's club scene:

    In promoting underage gay youth, yours is a controversial position. You've gone against huge interests in what is an amazing survival story.

    It's been a battle. But then again, the rewards are tremendous. I am the only person in the city who works down in the trenches, dealing with youth on their turf. That really scares people.

    Consequently, you were forced out of The City Nightclub.

    I had two lawsuits against me. One was from the city of Portland and the second was from my landlords, Harold and Arlene Schnitzer. So I was trying to fight the city and the richest people in Portland, and I don't have that kind of money. So I moved.

    The consensus seems to be that City Nightclub's downfall was determined by drugs -- and even seedier stories.

    I am not saying there wasn't some activity that shouldn't be going on. The police bureau's own reports show that. But what was going on in the club was no worse that what's going on in the city or in Portland public schools in general.

    Your supporters admire your tenacity and the way you stand up for the kids. But your critics call it exploitation.

    If they mean exploiting by having a cover charge, I have no choice. The landlord doesn't give me the place for free. If I wanted to make lots of money I would turn this club straight.

    Why do you think Evolution's integral to young gay and lesbian adults?

    For one, we don't want them back on the streets. A lot of gays feel very threatened outside of here, so it's important for their own well-being to feel safe and not be harassed and to socialize. This is where they want to come when they want to party and dance. I provide an atmosphere that's safe -- where you can have a good time and at the same time learn what it means to be gay. . . . When you're gay and a teen-ager, you feel all alone, but when you walk in here and there are several hundred people just like you, you feel OK. You can see it on their faces. They just light up.

    Evolution is at 333 S.W. Park Ave., 242-2899; Hours are 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Thursday, 10 p.m.-4 a.m. Friday-Saturday. -- Robin Roth 

  • Following are flyers and ads from Lanny Swerdlows archives.

citations & references:

•  First listed in Damron Address Book, 1998 with connotation (*MW, D, E, 18+, YC)  10 pm – 4 am no alcohol.

•  Not listed in Damron Address Book, 1999 – see Misfits