the ultimate strip club list

a guy's guide to strip clubs

July 9, 2008  •  Vol. 15, Issue 190

This is a neighborhood eyesore of a bar that just so happens to have a raised platform with a pole next to the door. I've been in here a few times and haven't ever seen anyone getting naked that I'd look at twice on the street, and their isn't enough alcohol in the entire bar that would make make me think otherwise.

Do yourself a favor if you want a decent brew, and go down a couple blocks to the Lucky Lab instead. At least they have decent food as well.

This is the quintessential Portland neighborhood strip club - the kind of place that's a great dive bar in it's own right, and just happens to have naked ladies as an added bonus. The crowd ranges from working class to hipster/punk/alternative kids, and the girls vary from mediocre to really cute alterna-chicks (Chartreuse is my personal favorite). What really sets this place apart is the attitude - Lisa, the proprietor, wanted a place where a girl's friendliness and personality matter more than her looks, and it shows here. The lack of drink/dance buying hustle makes you feel a genuine friendship with the girls you talk to here - none of them are getting rich, but they seem to generally enjoy working here, because it's fun to hang out, listen to good music, talk to interesting people, drink, and dance around naked some of the time. For those uninitiated in the Portland-style strip-club, it's hard to describe (although I'd venture to say it's the kind of place that almost makes you feel warm and fuzzy rather than creepy and sleazy), and for those already familiar, this place has the best aspects of Portland's many, many strip clubs.

As with all Oregon clubs, there's a strict no-contact policy, so don't expect any milage. The upside is the drinks are ridiculously cheap (especially Sunday when all drafts are $1 off, making a pint of PBR a measly $1.25) and there's no cover. So check it out, and you might soon find yourself a regular here (as was my experience).