Gorge Local – In Business: Gorge Speakeasy returns to the Ruins for the season

Each month a different nonprofit is given space to display their mission and goals with guests and storytellers. Last year, Marie recalled working with 13 local nonprofits and making more than $6,000 in donations. Some organizations that have paired with Gorge Speakeasy include Fish Food Bank, Hood River Adopt-A-Dog, Friends of the White Samon River, and CultureSeed.

Marie said she’s always been a multi-passionate person, using the Speakeasy as a platform to tie together her love for writing, speaking, nonprofit work and community events. Originally from Boston, Mass., Marie lived in the desert in Utah and worked as a raft guide for disabled and underserved communities. She moved to the Gorge around 2017, when she began working as the outdoor programs and events coordinator for the Girl Scouts.

“I moved here from the East Coast and I found a great sense of community. I wondered how I can make this my community,” she said. “The melting pot of the Gorge is full of different lives and perspectives. [The Gorge Speakeasy] is a place everyone is welcome to mesh together their microcommunities and relate to their neighbors better.”

When the pandemic isolation period occurred, Marie and her friends started “Patio Fridays” to get to know each other better when social batteries were struggling. They would spread out around the patio, eat local takeout, and swap stories to get through the lockdown. “It was a form of connection when connection was so hard to find. We built a really close friendship and it made us understand each other on a very deep level,” she said.

Those Patio Fridays were the inspiration for a storyteller night, and the friend group began to brainstorm how to make it a reality. They connected with The Ruins and held the first event in November 2021; there was a great turn out and the event has only grown from there. “Bringing this event to life is so rewarding and I meet such amazing people,” Marie said.

Each month’s storytelling space is led by a theme, with September’s being “Tradeoffs.”

“The Tradeoffs theme was chosen in anticipation of a podcast that myself and Speakeasy volunteer Jeni Stembridge are releasing next month called ‘For The Love Of,’ featuring guests from the Gorge who’ve made tradeoffs in life in order to pursue their passions,” she said.

The themes help guide peoples’ stories and connect experiences that otherwise might seem very different. Some past themes have been adventure, taboo, beginnings, travel, and many more — and you still never know what kind of stories you’re going to get. At first, storytellers were incentivized by Marie, but now there is almost always a waitlist.

Story spots last 8-10 minutes and guests can sign up in advance or try to catch a walk-in spot the night of the event. Some speakers talk comedically, others read something heavy or share a regret, but no matter the story, all are welcome to participate. They also read “scoops” in between speakers, which are mini stories usually with a lesson or joke submitted anonymously by audience members. The host will often read two or three scoops between longer stories, offering the audience another way to get involved.

Through sharing stories and listening to others’ experiences, Marie believes people can develop deeper empathy, find their voice, and make new friendships. She also addressed common misconceptions about attending the Gorge Speakeasy. “I think most people assume you have to have some sort of talent to attend or present at the event but that is so far from true. I encourage anyone to try it out, it’s low pressure and we are appreciative of all levels,” she said.

To find upcoming themes, sign up for storytelling, or learn about nonprofit or volunteer opportunities, check out the Gorge Speakeasy website, itsangiemarie.com/gorgespeakeasy, or Instagram @gorgespeakeasy. You can also sign up for a monthly email from the organization containing information about themes, prompts, storytelling tips and more.