They were booking national and international acts, and people were coming from all over to see artists like Oscar Peterson. The first floor of the building housed Slaughters pool hall, where many people got their first taste of jazz. Plastered with hundreds of band stickers, that would take someone days to take in. Portlander's went to the disco, and adult bookstores and strip clubs sprouted up across the city, prompting the Oregonian to call Portland 'The pornography capital of the West Coast.' The 1970's were also a time of physical change, as Portland began to turn into the city we know today. The old brick building was home to one of the city's best after-work bars, and the kitchen in recent years produced impressive American fare, like giant prawns with bacon and avocado, a remarkable veggie burger, and chocolate souffl. Subscribe to our newsletter for inspiring travel guides and articles from around the world! In this photo, bartender bartender Leo LeBoeuf, wearing a black string tie and checkered vest, works a 1920s cash register. Upon closing in 1984, owner Larry Hilaire recalled notable events that had happened here, including how a woman had given birth under a stairway. Address: 208 NW 3rd Ave, Portland, OR 97209, USA, Opening hours: Fri - Sat: 6pm - 2am; Tue: 6pm - 6:30pm; Wed - Thu: 6pm - 11pm (closed on Sun & Mon), Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. The town is complete in all areas; theres something for everybody here. With an exclusive male strippers show at midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, you would be glad you visited this showplace. Frosty glasses, stiff drinks: 28 long-gone Portland bars we wish were still here. The jury is still out for most of them on whether they'll accept the new positions. In 1958, the luxurious lounge opened at the Mayfair House restaurant, which was located at Southeast 80th Avenue and Division Street. This North Killingsworth Bar was known for an ever-changing sign that would say things like Caution drunks crossing and Our juke box can kick your juke boxs ass and dirt-cheap prices on beer. Situated in the historic Mississippi District, Prost! [7], Satyricon was founded by George Touhouliotis, a former taxi driver who acquired Marlena's Tavern in 1983. Part 3: The Mid 80s. This 1940 photo shows the interior of Marko's Moonlight Inn, a tavern and card room on West Burnside Street and Northwest Fifth Avenue. Portland offers a wide range of arcades, from family-friendly game rooms to dive bars and adults-only bar arcades. In the 1960s, The Broadway Inn added topless dancers to the mix to compete with Marys Club on the other end of Broadway. Just because you're older than 21, doesn't mean you have to act like it. Address: 1001 SE Morrison St, Portland, OR 97214, USA, Opening hours: Fri - Sat: 9pm - 2am; Sun: 8:30am - 11:30pm; Wed - Thu: 8:30am - 11:30pm (closed on Mon & Tue). In 2005, the restaurant moved out to Southeast 82nd Avenue, where it ran for a decade before closing in 2015. Read on for some highlights. Nightlife in Portland doesnt mean just hitting the club. And if you want to have a full experience of the fantastic nightlife of the city, visit any one of the above-listed nightclubs in Portland, Oregon and have the time of your life. The Portland Oregon we know today is much changed from Portland of the 1970s. This Southwest Broadway restaurant and bar was the sister establishment to Hilaires, which was just around the corner. Construction of the lounge cost a then-staggering $20,000, and was done with a mix of Colonial and mid-century modern styles. It featured a newsstand and a licensed card room one of the few places where gambling was allowed. Nestled right in the center of Portlands Old Town Entertainment District, The Barrel Room is the only and longest running dueling piano show bar in the city. You can get an in-depth look at what happened during the Portland protest here, including details on how several protesters at the Portland protest were injured, or a take a brief look at the incident in the short video below. The music lasted until 1991 when the business faced foreclosure. But in the 1960s, became known for connections to Portlands gambling underworld. But Nirvana was obviously playing. This exciting nightclub boasts of several electrifying features that will keep you bouncing to the music all night long. Follow the journey of our beautiful city through the 1970s in these classic photos from around town and see if you remember any of these sights. This was a mini-chain of Irish restaurants and pubs that had five locations in the Portland area during the 1980s. When itcomes to professional music, Portland has all sorts of options. [21] The club is also notable for being the place where Love first crossed paths with her future husband, Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. Same bar stools, same black paint. He has visited many of the waterfalls and museums in Nigeria and (Do a quick search on the following sites). First opened in 1928, it served chop suey, chow mein and lo mein when they were considered exotic. On the 37th floor of the US Bank tower, this elegant night night spot featured spectacular views, and featured a trio led by Leroy Vinegar and Mel Brown, Darroch says. The Satyricon, located at 125 N.W. A venue for music, arts, and even hosting, this club comes alive at night with all manner of parties and club night activities happening every night. In this 1985 photo, Carcy Flatch, a waitress at the Beaverton location, sported a special T-shirt to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in 1985. aims to create healing spaces for Black and Brown Portlanders through music, dance and collaborative experiences. The Vat resurfaced a block away in 2003, but closed when Rose-Marie, a French-Canadian, was forced to return to Canada in 2005 following an immigration dispute about the length of her marriage to Quinn, who died in 1991. Textile Trends: Find the Perfect Blanket Type for Your Space, A Buyers Guide: Cozy and Luxurious Bedroom Sets, Decorating with Houseplants: 10 Tips You Need-to-Know, Dorm Room Decorating: How to Bring Your Personal Style to College, 7 New Kitchen Color Schemes That Complement Dark Cabinets, How to Decorate Your Space Sustainably with Artisan Pieces. On the menu were tropical cocktails, which weren't common at the time. Whether you're looking for a cocktail bar, a brewpub or a dive, enjoy your favorite summer beverage at one of Portland's rooftop bars or outdoor patios. Portland has changed considerably in the last 40 years with growing infrastructure, a changing skyline, and suburban sprawl. Celebrate all things Irish, including beer, food and live music, at these beloved Portland pubs on St. Patrick's Day, or any time of year. Heres a long-running watering hole with an unlikely origin story. Two significant events in Portland history took place in 1970. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. [20] It reopened as an all-ages club in August 2006 under the management of the owners of the Loveland, an all-ages venue in Portland. [2] The location of the original building is now home to the nonprofit Maybelle Center for Community and Macdonald West affordable apartments. Travel Industry Professionals This year will be celebrating the traditional BOI BUMB, a celebration from the heart of north and northeast Brazil Presenting:, The Portland Lindy Exchange (PDXLX) is Portlands annual dance exchange celebrating the vintage swing music and dances of the 20s 50s, including Charleston, Lindy Hop, Balboa, and Collegiate Shag. In the 2000s, the bar became the Thursday night home to Karaoke From Hell, where you could sing with a live band, not pre-recorded music. On New Years Eve 2005, the bar closed when Benjamin retired. Open to all adults (18+), this night club is a proud supporter and welcomes the LGBTQ community to its nightlife haven. Biddy McGraw's, a Northeast Irish pub that's now home to The O'Neill Public House. A jazz club that presented the most popular jazz-influenced styles of its day, Rays Helm is most notable for hosting the Jeff Lorber trioa funk-jazz band that featured for a time a young Kenny G, Darroch says. 12 Ray's Helm (late-60s to late-70s) NE Broadway and 7th or 9th. In 1964 a replica of the Liberty Bell was installed in the City Halls rotunda and rung for the first time. Tight jeans, strong drinks and disco queens: A visual history of Portland nightclubs. Opening every day when the clock strikes 3 in the afternoon, this club is a sanctuary for fun seekers, party lovers, and people just looking to drink and dance. The wheel is a last vestige of one of Portland's first gay bars. The club moved to its NW Broadway location in 1979. Owner Dennis King, tending bar in this 1975 photo, was there for the restaurant's entire run, and watched the city change. 15 LV's Uptown (Early 2000s . You had to use a little bit of intuition to find Tiger Bar. Included in photo: John Brkich (third from left), Oscar Olson (sixth from left), Marko Susnjara (far right). Located underground, party and have fun in a spacious dance floor with music playing from every angle. Cover Band & 80s Band from Poulsbo, WA (154 miles from Portland, OR) Soul Siren is the Northwest's Premier Party Band. "[6] Prior to its establishment as a bar and restaurant, the building had served as a horse stable in the early 20th century before being converted into a tavern. But it wasnt known for its food The Oregonian described the Italian menu as having an identity crisis in a scathing 1986 review. Satyricon was a nightclub in the Old Town neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, United States that operated from 1984 to 2010.It was the longest-running punk venue in the western United States, and has been referred to by some journalists and historians as the "CBGB of the West Coast." It is also the place where musicians Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love are said to have first met. The US Bancorp Building went up in 1983 and the skyline of the city was changed forever. Slide into a booth at Slow Bar for arguably the best burger in the city and enjoy $1 off beer, wine, and cocktails, and $2.50-$5 off assorted menu items from 3-6 p.m. every day. Many have forgotten, but for a few decades after World War II, Portland was a well-known hub for black music on the West Coast. Enjoy thrilling nights drinking and partying at this top night club in the city. They were a sacred space for him then: You walk in and theres a couple hundred people just like you, he said. It closed in 2008, later becoming the Pope House Bourbon Lounge. "[12] This largely had to do with the club's layout, which maintained little division between the bandstand and the bar. In the late 80s, patrons of Embers salvaged two of the Gargoyle faces from the rubble of Portland's Orpheum Theater demolition to display in Ember's show bar. Touch Restaurant & Bar has been in the space since 1995, but closed last year. This design, modeled after the Port Mann Bridge in Vancouver BC ended up costing almost six times more than the Marquam Bridge. Open 24/7, this iconic Portland destinations second outpost sells wild doughnuts topped with ingredients like bubblegum and bacon (and has shorter lines than the original spot in downtown Portland). Sunset doesnt end the fun in this quaint town. Other readers lamented the loss of live music venues, most-notably Old Town's Satyricon. Located in a basement space, it offered a menu of sandwiches by day, and live music at night. The Go Go Cages were a super fun addition to Ember's dance floor. Its location gives the club a historical feel coupled with the eclectic mix of the very best modern equipment and gear. For decades, this Chinatown restaurant on the corner of Northwest Couch Street and Third Avenue was known for strong drinks and traditional Chinese fare. The club endured an era of no live music and then re-emerged in the 90s, when groups led by legendary bassist Leroy Vinegar and drummer Alan Jones filled the booths with young listeners.. Sanctuary Club hosts a wide variety of several sex-themed parties with even private rooms provided. A former firehouse, it changed hands and was known as Remos, and then, in the early 2000s, resurfaced as a jazz club called Touch.. No other city had such an odd and interesting place. But the iconic sign -- tourists stop to giggle and take pictures of it still hangs over the original building. It opened in 1975, and was located across Southwest Alder Street from the old Meier & Frank downtown loading dock. Dixie Tavern is a massive two-floor club with three different bars in it. We wrote about many of these spots last year when we looked at the visual history of Portland nightclubs and live music venues. But come the weekend, Dixie transforms to a place bubbling place with a wild and frenzied atmosphere. They offer a large vegan menu, plus wine, craft beer and unique craft cocktails that focus on products from local and regional distilleries. Address: 2845 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97214, USA, A post shared by Holocene (@holoceneportland). Try their chicken and dumplings, pulled pork nachos or Frito pie (that can be made vegan!). . "In Wake of Jimmy Mak's Closure, New Jazz Club Will Open in Basement of Rialto. [4] At the time, the surrounding Old Town Chinatown neighborhood had a seedy and dangerous reputation. With a large patio, it was a busy spot for outdoor drinks in pleasant weather. Every night of the week not just on weekdays happy hour generally gets the party started. Portland, Oregon's award-winning weekly street newspaper. Located in a building that had served as a horse stable in the early 1900s, the club's owner, George Touhouliotis, founded Satyricon after acquiring a tavern that had operated in the building. Owner Jack York was blind, but in a 1951 Oregonian feature said he remembered regular customers by the sound of their voices. Film flashback: 31 movie theaters from Portland's golden age. Decadent '80s | Portland OR This bar in the Uptown Shopping Center in Northwest Portland was a hot-spot for live blues and folk music in the 1980s and early '90s. Still, the world-famous female impersonators take their art very seriously, as their Las Vegas-style cabaret has been entertaining Portland for over 40 years. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. During his time working at Embers, James Hemphill wore many hats - he was a cocktailer, a DJ, a lead cook, security, and his personal favorite - an entertainer - performing as drag queen Terrika St. James. The tavern closed in 1996 after a 19-year run. Portland is a beautiful place to visit. So if you are a night owl visiting the town, here is a list of the best nightclubs in Portland, Oregon for you to check out. In the late 80s, patrons of Embers salvaged two of the Gargoyle faces from the rubble of Portlands Orpheum Theater demolition to display in Embers show bar. Friday offers New Noise, which is an Indie and Electro Theme. Collage by Grant Butler, The Oregonian/OregonLive, By Grant Butler, The Oregonian/OregonLive. But the unique thing about 45 East is in the position of its dance floor. The show also features all request programs like stand-up comedy, music, band set performances, and a few naughty bits here and there. The bar, which was located at 18th and Alberta, was the last of the African American clubs and taverns along the street. CC Slaughters CC Slaughters in Old Town has been a gay-bar standby since the early '80s, drawing in people from the entire Pacific Northwest region with its LGBTQ events. In each newsletter we'll share upcoming events, new things to do, hot dining spots and great travel ideas. A Analog Caf and Theater B Backspace (Portland, Oregon) Berbati's Pan Blue Monk (Portland, Oregon) Brasserie Montmartre C Candlelight Cafe & Bar D The Dude Ranch J Jimmy Mak's L La Luna (Portland, Oregon) The Liquor Store N No Vacancy Lounge P Paris Theatre (Portland, Oregon) S Satyricon (nightclub) T The Know (Portland, Oregon) Tonic Lounge X Shards of the bell went flying, and the blast damaged City Halls East portico columns and shattered windows. Among the local musicians with regular gigs at the Candlelight was drummer Carlton Jackson (pictured), and Norman Sylvester, aka "The Boogie Cat.". With the PDX Jazz Festival starting this month, we have declared February Portland Jazz Month. In mid-'80s, it was the launchpad for groups like Nu Shooz, Quarterflash, and artists like Kenny G and Robert Cray, who would go on to fame and big record deals. Detox Nightclub gives you a safe and inviting environment to party hard and enjoy all the thrills of a great night out. More tasty memories: 84 closed Portland restaurants we wish were still around. From outstanding local DJ performances to its stimulating lighting and unusual sounds, this club comes fully fitted with a full mocktail bar, exquisite VIP areas, and 21+ bars. Situated in Washington Park, now the home of the Portland Children's Museum, was the place to go to explore science and technology. [2] Commenting on the club's closure, owner Touhouliotis said: "I had gotten tired. 13 cool features of old Portland restaurants you won't find anymore. If you grew up in the 80s, you certainly don't remember the Oregon Convention Center being there. In 1978, Mike and Rose-Marie Barbeau-Quinn opened this quirky downtown restaurant and wine bar, which became a hit with the symphony crowd, drawn by the blaring opera on the sound system and the dependable roasted game hen and the smoked pork chop. The club hosts some of the citys most talented artists weekly with an occasional visit from an international jazz act. Touhouliotis reshaped the tavern into a nightclub, and named it after the 1969 Federico Fellini film of the same name. Because it was located across East Burnside from Doug Fir Lounge, it became a popular spot with musicians, who came here after gigs to unwind over strong drinks and inexpensive bites. Movie stars, white and black, came there to shop for records. Get a taste of Prohibition-era cocktails (legally, of course) at speakeasy-style bars in Portland. Oregon Cafe' Expresso ~ Portland Cascade Club - Springfield Oregon (need info/photos) The Chase ~ Portland/Milwaukie, OR (need photos/info) In 1993, a second location opened in Southwest Portland, and the chef was Ross Pullen, formerly of Belinda's. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The public was dissatisfied with the way the Marquam Bridge looked, so the Portland Art Commission helped design the new Fremont Bridge. The building was torn down in 2011 as Lower Burnside became more gentrified, and was replaced by the larger Trio Club, where karaoke continues, but without the cool, gritty vibe. This place was a return of the jazz club in the 60s, sort of the last echoing of the big jazz era in Portland, Dietsche says. King Kong Visits The Portland Building World of Clutter / Bing [26], Commenting on the various stories and lore surrounding the club, journalist Zach Dundas wrote: "The written record of the club's existencewhich can amount to no more than 1 percent of the Whole Truthis a florid tale of excess, controversy, creative chaos. The second Vat became a Pastini Pastaria. 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