After three years of producing burlesque shows in various venues and bar rooms here in Portland Oregon, I still have never seen a cohesive unbiased list of venues that encourage and house burlesque.
Here is to you, the 'burlesque show goer'. Save time and save my handy dandy where to see shows list, and pick which is best based upon your party needs. Bachellorette party, date, birthday party, whatever, here is a list to help you sort out the expanding Portland options for burlesque shows. Photos will be added to this article of each venue later, so check back.I have included venues that have hosted shows over a year, or new clubs that have just opened with burlesque on their menu. I have placed the venues producing the most shows with the largest capacity at the top of the list, and those with the longest history are also up top. Sorry if any pertinent venues were omitted from this list. That's easy to fix just email me a note viahttp://missfrankietease.com anytime.
Frankie's Portland, Oregon Burlesque Venue list
VENUE: Dante's
WEB ADDRESS: http://danteslive.com
STREET ADDRESS: 350 W. Burnside
TYPE OF BURLESQUE SHOWS: Classic, Neo, Professional, Live Rock N' Roll Music, Stripper, Go Go, Fire, Themed, Circus, Freakshow, Sideshow, Aerials
TYPE OF AUDIENCE: All, Swingers, Strippers, Locals, Rock fans, Freaks, Tourists, 21+
NOTES: This venue is modern and has had an 11pm Sunday Burlesque show weekly for ten years, and has a pole.
VENUE: Bossanova Ballroom
WEB ADDRESS: http://bossanovaballroom.com/
STREET ADDRESS: 722 E. Burnside
TYPE OF BURLESQUE SHOWS: Classic, Neo, Live Music/ Orchestra, Recital, Vintage, Theatrical, Fire, Aerials
TYPE OF AUDIENCE: All, Straight, Swingers, Theatrical, Vintage, Modern, Trendy, Local, 21+
NOTES: This venue is a historic ballroom with high ceilings and a theatrical stage.
VENUE: Hawthorne Theater Lounge / Hawthorne Theater
WEB ADDRESS: http://www.hawthornetheater.com
STREET ADDRESS: 3862 SE Hawthorne
TYPE OF BURLESQUE SHOWS: Classic, Neo, Debut/Amateur, Straight, Gay, Hip Hop, Alternative
TYPE OF AUDIENCE: All, Straight, Gay, Swingers, Eccentric, Recital, 18+
NOTES: This venue is famous for having housed Burlesque shows in their heyday circa 1950's. It has a lounge and a theater which hold shows.
VENUE: Someday Lounge
WEB ADDRESS: http://somedaylounge.com
STREET ADDRESS: 125 NW 5th Ave.
TYPE OF SHOWS: Classic, Neo, Professional, Circus, Live Music
TYPE OF AUDIENCE: All, Trendy, Gay, Straight, Tourist. 21+
NOTE: This venue holds approximately 300 people and opened less than ten years ago, has a high ceiling and theatrical stage.
VENUE: Star Theater
WEB ADDRESS: http://www.startheaterportland.com/
STREET ADDRESS: 13 NW Sixth
TYPE OF BURLESQUE SHOWS: unknown
TYPE OF AUDIENCE: unknown, 21+
NOTES: This venue is famous for having housed Burlesque in it's heyday circa 1950's, and is just reopening after being remodeled, and the vintage marquee is being preserved.
VENUE: Barracuda
WEB ADDRESS: http://www.clubbarracuda.com/barracuda
STREET ADDRESS: 9 NW 2nd Ave.
TYPE OF BURLESQUE SHOWS: Lesbian, Queer, Neo, Hip Hop, Corporate
TYPE OF AUDIENCE: Lesbian, Nightclub, Trendy, Modern, 21+
NOTES: This bar is part of 'Concept Entertainment' a local bar conglomerate.
VENUE: Devil's Point
WEB ADDRESS: http://www.devilspointbar.com/
STREET ADDRESS: 5305 SE Foster Rd.
TYPE OF BURLESQUE SHOWS: Rock N' Roll, Stripper, Neo, Alternative
TYPE OF AUDIENCE: rock music fans, strip club guys, bachelor and bachelorette parties, locals, strippers, 21+
NOTES: This venue is primarily a rock n' roll strip club shares the same owners as Dante's and Star Theater, and has a pole.
VENUE: Crush
WEB ADDRESS: http://crushbar.com
STREET ADDRESS: 1400 SE Morrison
TYPE OF BURLESQUE SHOWS: Classic, Neo, Debut/Amateur, Straight, Gay, Hip Hop, Alternative, Recital, Drag
TYPE OF AUDIENCE: parties, gay, straight, theatrical, local, 21+ after 10pm
NOTE: This is a small supper club and primarily gay cocktail bar with a small room and stage.
VENUE: Kelly's Olympian
WEB ADDRESS: http://kellysolympian.com/
STREET ADDRESS: 426 SW Washington
TYPE OF BURLESQUE SHOWS: Classic, Neo, Debut/Amateur, Straight, Gay, Hip Hop, Alternative, Recital, Drag
TYPE OF AUDIENCE: local, gay, straight, tourist, 21+
NOTE: The first history making show was "Big Top Bottoms Up" i'm proud to say I was its producer, December 2008.
VENUE: Ted's
STREET ADDRESS: 231 SW Ankenny
TYPE OF BURLESQUE SHOWS: Unknown
TYPE OF AUDIENCE: Unkown, 21+
NOTE: This venue just reopened under the name Ted's previously Berbati's Pan.
VENUE: Tiger Bar
WEB ADDRESS: http://www.tigerbarpdx.com/
STREET ADDRESS: 317 NW Broadway
TYPE OF BURLESQUE SHOWS: Rock N' Roll, Neo, Amateur/Recital,
TYPE OF AUDIENCE: All, Straight, Trendy, 21+
NOTE: This bar is a long room with a small amount of seating so get a seat early.
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This venue list may be the best way to stay abreast on your Burlesque entertainment choices. Go directly to their website for complete calendar listings and details, and tell a friend about Portland Burlesque shows.
This article was originally published August 11, 2013 on Examiner.com's Portland Burlesque Column, in its entirety.