Entertainment in Portland
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Egyptian Room
Portland's main lesbian hangout, where guys are (barely) tolerated and girls are (mostly) butch. It's heavy on the hip hop and full of chain-smokers, with karaoke and pool tables to distract.
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Kennedy School
McMenamins' premiere Portland venue. Watch movies in the old school gym. Check www.mcmenamins.com for current showings.
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BridgePort Brewpub
Almost too-fancy brewery with bakery, espresso bar, atrium and rooftop bar. Also at 3632 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
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LaurelThirst Pub
Great acoustic bands spill the crowds onto the sidewalk at this dark, funky neighborhood joint. The music – which plays nearly every night – is free until the evening, when you'll likely cough up just a $5 cover. Good beer and wine selection (but no liquor), along with fine breakfasts.
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Crush
Slip into this sexy lounge with all the pretty people, order one of the exotic cocktails and speak up – it gets loud, what with all the dancing and shows. The menu's vegetarian (try the brunch) and it's popular with both straight and lesbian women – which makes for a great girls' night out.
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Brazen Bean
Located in a antique Victorian house, this very popular bar is known for its martinis - more than 25 different kinds. During happy hour (5pm to 8pm weekdays) the prize drinks are $4 and service slows to molasses.
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Living Room Theater
Almost too good to be true! These six movie theaters with cutting-edge digital technology screen art-house, foreign and retro films while the staff bring you drinks and tapas to enjoy in front of the big screen. There's an adjacent bar with wine, wi-fi, coffee and comfy sofas.
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Imago Theater
This theatre company is well-regarded for its innovative puppet theatre, including the long-running 'Frogz, Lizards, Orbs and Slinkys.' It's worth checking out for an art fix that's distinctly different.
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Portland Center Stage
The city's main theater company now performs in the Portland Armory – a newly renovated Pearl District landmark with state-of-the-art features.
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Saucebox
Metro-sleek restaurant with pretty bar staff serving upscale Asian-fusion cuisine, but also very popular for its wide selection of drinks – including creative cocktails (try the chocolate-coffee Foxy Brown). DJs fire up at 10pm, with snappy tunes and dancing potential.
reviewed
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Horse Brass Pub
Portland's most authentic English pub, cherished for its dark-wood atmosphere, excellent fish 'n chips (or try the artery-clogging scotch egg) and 50 beers on tap (that's right). Play some darts, watch soccer on TV or just take it all in.
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Amnesia Brewing
At the ReBuilding Center, this is hip Mississippi St's brewery, with a casual feel and picnic tables out front. For excellent (and despite the name, memorable) beer, try the Desolation IPA. Other good drops are Amnesia Brown or Wonka Porter. An outdoor grill offers burgers and sausages, and there's live music on weekends.
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Dante's
This steamy red bar books vaudeville shows along with national acts like the Dandy Warhols and Concrete Blonde. The stage is intimate and the lighting low – everybody looks good. Drop in on Monday night at 10pm for the ever-popular Karaoke from Hell.
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Widmer Gasthaus
In a trendy industrial area in the north, this yuppified brewery-restaurant offers very tasty beers – some available only here. Their Hefeweizen (unfiltered wheat beer) is a good choice, and goes well with the schnitzel. Widmer Gasthaus has weekend tours, and sports on TV, and it's close to live music at the White Eagle.
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Hopworks Urban Brewery
All organic beers served in an eco-styled building with bicycle frames above the bar.
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Albina Press
Pure nirvana for its delicious cups of coffee, artistically constructed by award-winning baristas.
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Holocene
Best for lesbians on 'Tart Night, ' which takes place every second Sunday of the month. Otherwise it's your typical hipster crowd dance scene in a modern industrial space.
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Berbati's Pan
Popular and buzzing, this established music venue plus restaurant nabs some of the more interesting acts in town. Expect big band, swing, acid rock and R&B music, along with a crowd of all ages. Outdoor seating and pool tables are a plus.
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New Old Lompoc
Eclectic pub offering more than a dozen taps with treats such as Condor Pale Ale, Sockeye Cream Stout and Bald Guy Brown. The leafy back patio is a must on warm days.
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Hawthorne Theatre
All-ages music venue in the heart of hip Hawthorne Blvd, good for live rock, reggae, punk, pop, metal and country music. Intimate stage, high balcony and 21-and-over section for the legal boozehounds.
reviewed
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World Cup
Not a soccer tournament but a world-class coffee bar with its own on-site roasting room. It also rejuvenates the marathon book-browsers in Powell's bookstore.
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Barista
Pearl DistrictAlberta Pro baristas serve made-to-perfection coffee with charm at these two newish locations that showcase different roasts every week and get their fresh pastries from a nearby Pearl district bakery.
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Hobo's
Past the old historic storefront here is a classy restaurant–piano jazz bar popular with older gay men. It's a quiet, relaxed place and good for a romantic dinner or drink; for some activity, head to the pool tables in back. Live music starts at 8pm from Wednesday to Sunday.
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Embers
Regulars come to meet up for the music (from '80s tunes to techno to pop), amateur drag shows, fun dance floor and friendly camaraderie. There are different themes on different nights (Wednesday is Goth) and everyone is welcome, whether they be gay, lesbian, straight or undecided.
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Doug Fir Lounge
Since the closing of the legendary Satyricon nightclub in the late 2000s, Portland's musical baton has been passed onto the Doug Fir, a bar-lounge with a personality that's more middle-aged rock star than angry young punk. But, true to form, the Fir still delivers where it matters, luring edgy, hard-to-get talent into a venue that pits tattooed youths against suburban yuppies. Its ascent has enlivened the new trendy neighborhood of South Burnside, recently christened with the acronym SoBu.
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