Local Lounge
Address | 3536 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Portland, Oregon United States |
---|---|
Coordinates | 45°32′56″N 122°39′41″W / 45.5488°N 122.6613°W |
Type | Gay bar |
Opened | 2010 |
Closed | 2021 |
Website | |
localloungeofficial |
Local Lounge was a gay bar in Portland, Oregon, operating from 2010 to 2021.
Description
Local Lounge was a bar on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in northeast Portland's King neighborhood.[1] The Portland Mercury described the space as a "neighborhood bar with a calendar full of drag revues, variety shows, karaoke nights, and dance parties" and an "unpretentious atmosphere". The venue showcased LGBT artwork and hosted brunch, as well as pop-up restaurants.[2]
In 2016,
Local Lounge had pool, televisions, and video poker. Some drinks on the menu were named after celebrities; the Neil Patrick Harris had cucumber vodka, lime, soda, and Chambord, and the Manhattan was named after Rachel Maddow.[3] Food options included chicken flautas and mozzarella sticks as appetizers, as well as macaroni and cheese. 'The LGBT' is a BLT with guacamole.[4]
History
Randy Faber owned the bar,[5] which was established in 2010.[6]
Local Lounge hosted dance parties and karaoke regularly. Weekly events included karaoke on Fridays and "goth dance nights" on Mondays, as of 2016.
The bar closed in November 2021.[12][13] Brooke Jackson-Glidden of Eater Portland wrote, "It appears that the COVID-19 pandemic and mounting conflicts between the owner of the bar and its staff are the impetus for the bar's shuttering."[14] The gay bar Back 2 Earth opened in the space in 2023.[15]
Reception
Willamette Week's 2019 list of the "Top Five Places to Drink in Portland During Pride Week" said, "Local Lounge might be Portland's most unassuming gay bar, with only a rainbow flag to distinguish it from the liquor store and Jamaican restaurant with which it shares a building, but it's also home to some of the more unique LGBTQ entertainment in town."[7] In their overview of the city's "wildest gay bars and hangouts", Beck and Reed described the macaroni and cheese as "to die for".[4]
See also
References
- ^ Reed, Conner (February 25, 2020). "Living as a Young Queer in Post-Vaseline Alley Portland". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
- ^ Andrew Jankowski, Portland Mercury:
- "The Best in LGBTQ+ Nightlife, Bars, Parties, Comedy, and More". May 21, 2019. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
- "An Overview of Portland's LGBTQ+ Nightlife for the Newcomer". June 6, 2019. Archived from the original on June 9, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Kryza, AP (May 9, 2016). "Local Lounge". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ a b c Beck, Byron; Reed, Conner (June 14, 2019). "Portland's Wildest Gay Bars and Hangouts". Eater Portland. Vox Media. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
- ^ Zielinski, Alex (March 22, 2012). "Gender Bender". Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
- ^ SILKMAN, BONNIE (October 26, 2017). "Gypsy Jokers Motorcycle Club clubhouse now for sale". KPTV. Archived from the original on February 6, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
- ^ a b "The Top Five Places to Drink in Portland During Pride Week". Willamette Week. June 12, 2019. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
- ^ Jankowski, Andrew (July 9, 2019). "Stupid Bitch Club Is Like a TEDTalk Mixed With an Outrageous Drag Show". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
- ^ Rushall, Jack (June 12, 2018). "A Pride Events Calendar That Ranges From "Mild" To "Super Hot"". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
- ^ Zielinski, Alex (November 5, 2018). "Where to Watch the Election Results Roll In". Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
- ^ Amberson, Joshua James (March 14, 2019). "Portland's AWP Conference On the Cheap: A Guide to AWP Offsite Events". Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
- ^ "Queer Old Town Cafe and Bar P¡nq Has Been Evicted From Ankeny Alley". Willamette Week. 15 December 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
- ^ @localloungepdxx (November 30, 2021). "Local Lounge is officially closed. Thank you to our patrons and staff. Thank you to our community for the years of support" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (2021-01-20). "A Running List of Portland's Restaurant, Bar, and Food Cart Closures". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2021-01-21. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
- ^ Pape, Sam. "Just in Time for Pride, Popular Portland Gay Bar Local Lounge Is Reborn as Back 2 Earth". Portland Mercury. Retrieved 2023-07-12.