An amazing place to watch a concert. It's a small venue, so there's a Good view from almost every…read moreseat and the sound is great. I will note that the seats are hard and narrow so it is not the most comfortable place for every type of body. The staff are excellent, bartenders are fast, and there are plenty of bathrooms. Try the margarita on tap - it's delicious! Whoever does the booking chooses great bands. I've seen the Indigo Girls and Team Dresch thus far.

I LOVE THIS PLACE! The vibes, the drinks, the old school feeling, the concerts, the roof!!!!!…read more(extra hard on the roof). Such a perfect place to choose the vibe you want. In the summer the roof is great, in the winter going inside for a show is ideal. The workers are so kind and I can't wait for my next visit.

Great cocktails. The only issue to be concerned with, which is just people, is the smoking outside…read morethe establishment. If they leave the doors close, it's perfect there, but if the doors are open you're smoking too. Decent diversity of and great selection of music with DJ or not.

Very cool little bar. Great location and vibe with good bartenders. Busy but they had a live dj…read morewhen I went. My only issue was the music was so loud I had to yell at my friend to talk. Not a problem but late night it's not a quiet place to chat. There wasn't really any room to dance... very cool decorations and good menu, medium price. Fancy drinks of course were expensive. Bathrooms good, mic crowd. I'd like to go back when it's not late night to see what it's like. Parking on weekends is a circus but it's free.

Terrific place for live music! Emancipator was awesome…read moreThey have an open floor right up to the stage Also have a large lounge room right next to the stage Clean and classy place Lighting was amazing Service was great Will definitely make this one of my regular music spots

Kooky old school dance/rave/DJ place, downstairs (don't fall down). We loved the vibe and the…read moremusic. The dance floor gets crowded, but that's why you're there so have fun! The crowd is mixed young and old, meat-market and just there to dance. We had a good time! And I love the self service water stations - to the right of the bar

A historic theatre in my favorite Portland area. First time ever going and would make a fantastic…read morevenue for anyone just getting into concerts. It's small enough to not be overwhelming. Drinks were tailored for the event, pricey but expected and pizza offered by the slice. Service and staffing existed and moved like a well oil machine. Was allowed to take a peek at the loft area, but it was $20 and hardly seemed like an improvement, especially with how close to stage we managed to get. Ambience wise it felt very rustic, you could feel the floor bend as everyone jumped around, had a smell but I think it was mostly the people and not the building so expect it regardless. Overall great, and this rating will reflect the time of the Schoochie Boochie concert and may change as I attend more events and get an experienced picture.

Went to our kid's School of Rock concert at Hawthorne Theatre and honestly it was one of those…read moreparenting moments you do not forget. Seeing your child walk onto a real stage, under real lights, with a full band and an audience cheering them on hits you right in the heart. This was not just kids playing songs. It was confidence. Growth. Courage. You could see how much work they put in and how supported they felt by their instructors and by each other. Watching them perform, handle the crowd, recover from little mistakes, and finish strong was incredibly moving as a parent. School of Rock is a truly great program. It teaches music, but more than that it teaches teamwork, discipline, and how to show up when it matters. You can tell these kids are learning life skills along with guitar riffs and drum fills. Hawthorne Theatre was the perfect venue for this experience. It feels real and authentic, not polished or sterile. Being close to the stage made everything feel personal and immersive. The sound was solid, the flow of the event was smooth, and the whole space felt welcoming to families while still giving the kids a true concert experience. There is something powerful about watching your child perform in a real venue and realizing how much they have grown. We left feeling proud, emotional, and grateful for programs like this that give kids a place to shine. Highly recommend School of Rock and Hawthorne Theatre. This was more than a concert. It was a memory we will carry for a long time.

Came out for live music that did not disappoint! I really enjoy a good divey aesthetic and…read moreLaurelthirst had plenty of it. The older gentleman at the door was welcoming and kind, and very apologetic that the door fee was cash only (tip - bring cash or you'll have to walk a couple blocks to the plaid pantry for atm access). The food we ordered was good (burgers and fries), the bartender seemed a little annoyed or bothered in general, maybe he was having an off night, so he wasn't the friendliest person but he poured cold beer and put our orders in correctly so there's that. Come for the live music and divey aesthetic, and you'll leave feeling quite satisfied! Oh, and parking was a little meh considering the area.

The venue is a little long and skinny and the seating is not designed for the stage. The vibe is…read morevery casual and 30 something. Very friendly and enthusiastic crowd. GREAT music. Good beer selection. Never been disappointed.

I traveled the world with a bar band, and I have performed in venues, big and small. So when I say…read morethat this is one of my favorite venues of all time, I'm comparing it to a lot of places! The showdown is a beautiful piece of Portland history. What was obviously once a country western venue, has turned eclectic, and Portland quality weird. It's old, it's worn, it's beautiful. The sound is excellent, distinct sounds from each instrument even above 90 dB so super props to the sound guy! I thought the menu was great and an exceptional value for a music venue with salty nibbles, and locally made red hot sausages, Also really delicious. Everybody there was super nice, the bartender was quick, efficient and knowledgeable. The seating is not the most comfortable in the world, but I sat there for four hours and barely moved because it was just that much fun. Can't wait to go back and see the next band I can't stop listening to.

It is important to understand what The Showdown is before you attend. While it is a live music…read morevenue, it is mostly open ballroom, with seating around the periphery. Dancing seems to be the priority here. Some would say that The Showdown is a proper honky tonk, but it seems to be a bit more upscale than that description would imply. On my visit, one of the televisions was showing "Star Trek: The Next Generation", which was a fun surprise. Food is available at very reasonable prices. The menu is very small, and the food is nothing spectacular, but it is better than expected. Despite what Google Maps says, parking around here is TERRIBLE. It is all street parking, and not much in close proximity. Staff is FANTASTIC!!! Very friendly, very helpful, very professional. Service is prompt, and there is a fair number of non-alcoholic options. Tuesday nights feature a drop-in two-step dance class if you're interested. The instructors were top-notch, friendly, and great at what they did. There were probably 20 people in the class when I went, and the periphery seating gave me a great vantage point of the instructors and students (I couldn't wrap my head around it, but all participants seemed to be having a great time). The PA system sounded great, and the volume levels were very appropriate for the size of the room (it is nice not to have been deafened by needlessly loud music). The band was the true highlight of the night. They were awesome.

I don't think they serve any food here, just drinks. The…read moredrinks were good, strong. But the place you order at is weirdly sandwiched between the (raised) seating area and dance floor. When the line gets long it feels like you're blocking the front entrance. We stayed at our table (maybe ten feet from the front counter) and the waitress gave my sister a hard time for grabbing us a round of drinks. Wouldn't sell her three drinks with us right there (mind you we all three went up and showed ID with the first round, and showed ID to get in). I had to come down, and be standing next to her to say, "yes, the second drink is for me." Which was super weird. There is sometimes a cover, no cover when we went this evening which was a fun surprise. It was my first time coming but my sister (in the photo) had been here quite a few times before. The music is great, they mix it up quite a bit, but it never stops. It does get warm in there, and when we first arrived we were assaulted with the smell of body odor... I hate to say it but after a few minutes you stop noticing it. They have a super cool vending machine that has all different types of fun items for purchase. I would definitely come back if I was out in the area!

Made a visit out of recommendation and found myself really excited to visit a Portland goth bar…read more The person who handled the ID check was welcoming and even participated in some playful banter, the good vibes were high. That immediately was swiped when we encountered probably the most sour bartender I've ever encountered. I never got their name but they had blonde burnt to a crisp hay style blonde hair. It was like it was an inconvenience that we ordered a drink and they had to do their job. Left after one drink because they ruined the vibe and destroyed what could have been a solid experience. Huge bummer because it seemed like such a fun place.

This is one of my favorite local venues. First of all they're great at picking the right music. I…read morewill go in never hearing any of the bands and leave following all their stuff. The vibes are great. Very queer-friendly. Food is solid drinks aren't outrageously priced. I just always have a great time here.

I had a great time last night at the show here. Four really great bands played and the crowd was…read moreentertaining as well. The only thing I wild recommend is getting a Coors Light for the bar.

I'm always excited to try a spot out. A friend was in from out of town and set us all up to meet at…read morehappy hour here. I am just grateful they decided that the interior was too loud so they were all outside. To get into the bar and order anything means you have to walk up a very steep staircase. I figured I would just wait to beg someone to order something but no one ever came out. My friend said he felt terrible too since another friend could not come at all since he is in a wheelchair. I get that a lot of these older buildings are not ADA friendly. I just kept thinking the name is sort of ironic.

I came here to see a comedy show on a Monday night in their basement. It is $10 cover cash or…read morevenmo. There is plenty of seating downstairs but you might not be able to see the comedians on stage. Slightly annoying but double. The cocktails were hit or miss. I got a not so spicy paloma and a mule. Next time I want to stop by and check out the upstairs so I can play some pool. Note there is street parking which is nice.

Love a rooftop option in Portland. It was a nice place to watch the sunset with a lot of seating…read moreoptions. Pretty full on a Saturday night, to be expected. Margarita was average.

A vantage point to oversee the PNW and downtown Portland skyline at a refurbished school where they…read morehave a few offices and stores throughout and you can take the elevator to access their rooftop bar. The rooftop deck is where you go for more of a casual hangout to chit chat, catch up, and soak in the views. We found a picnic table that was empty towards the back and allowed ourselves to bask in the views. They had a full bar with beer, wine, draft cocktails, and a full liquor offering. What really stood out to me was the fact they had full ADA access with a direct elevator.