Crystal Ballroom

Naughty

Mostly all ages

danceonair.com

Located in the heart of Portland, McMenamins’ Crystal Ballroom is one of Portland’s best all ages venues, and often hosts more popular groups such as Quasi or Sleater-Kinney. Rock and pop are the usual fare here, with pretty much just about every other genre passing through every once in a while. With a large capacity main room (replete with ‘floating’ dance floor) and several other 21+ areas, the Crystal is a true staple for the Portland concertgoer. It’s nice to be able to go to a show and not have to worry about whether or not there will be room for you on the damn floor, and the Crystal is one of the only places around with enough space for mostly everyone (unless, of course, you’re going to see Sleater-Kinney … ).

With the club openings and closings that have been widespread in Portland lately, it’s not surprising that a rumor has been circulating that the venerable Crystal is soon to leave us. “I haven’t heard the rumor,” says booker Jimi Biron, who has been with the Crystal since McMenamins began its operation there in 1997. What lies in the future for the only place in town where you can dance on air? “[We] would like to maintain a high level of quality programming,” Byron states. Well, that’s definitely reassuring. So if you’ve got the craving for that old time rock and roll, or any other kind of music, head over to the Crystal. Just don’t try and sneak any recording equipment in. They don’t like it. Trust me.