LGBTQ Bar Back 2 Earth Opens in Portland’s King Neighborhood | Eater Portland

"Conceived by Dan Henderson after he couldn’t save Local Lounge, I describe Back 2 Earth as a cosmic, casual queer bar that opened on June 30, 2021, offering karaoke, game nights, and DJs. Henderson kept Local Lounge’s original Portland Airport carpet entryway but otherwise redesigned the space with an eclectic mix of naturalism and sci‑fi opulence: backlit cubed wood shelves holding liquor, mixology books, and queer tchotchkes like a cherry-shaped disco ball; LED planetary globes and a projector playing Oregon landscapes, cephalopods, and the cosmos; two antique lamps donated by Thomas Lauderdale that Henderson rewired, painted, and gilded; a hanging wall garden with custom lighting, irrigation, and drainage that houses nearly 200 plants; an authentic Earring Magic Ken doll at the register; the former pool table replaced by a video game arcade machine; and a couch-and-table quiet nook. The drink menu incorporates produce and herbs — a house watermelon mojito muddled with fresh mint, a habanero-infused margarita with fresh-cut jalapeño slices that strike a slow burn, Space Trip (a cosmic take on the Paper Plane), and the Meteorite espresso martini spiking cold brew with Absolut vanilla vodka and simple syrup. The food menu sticks to pub standbys: a house cheeseburger with garlic aioli; sandwiches stuffed with spicy chicken, pulled pork, or portobello; hand-breaded, battered chicken strips; one- and two-pound plates of tater tots with ranch; and a house za'atar ricotta and feta dip served with buttery, honey-drizzled ciabatta, with only the sukiyaki steak plate nearing $20. Entertainment is weekly and rotating — drag artists, karaoke with KJ Atlas Marshall, open mics, game nights with projected video games — supported by an extensive library of board games and tabletop RPGs (including a corner table linked to a video world), and plans for queer artist meetups and contests pairing video artists with local DJs. The bar was sanctified on June 28 by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence’s Portland house, the Order of Benevolent Bliss, and Henderson emphasizes caring for details and creating a space that brings queer people together around science, music, art, and culture." - Andrew Jankowski