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Were it not for the rainbow flag on the exterior, there would be no way of knowing the awesome that lurks inside Local Lounge. Hell, there's little to distinguish it from the liquor store and the Subway with which it shares a building directly across from Purringtons Cat Lounge. But inside, well, there's no mistaking that you're in a bar that veers less toward "gay friendly" and more toward "straight-friendly gay bar," with themes ranging from Friday night karaoke to goth dance nights on Mondays to third-Saturday Bear Paw Bust meetings of the Oregon Bears and first Sunday Tea Dances, just your average afternoon dance party where you can get down on a Manhattan named for Rachel Maddow ($8) and a surprisingly refreshing Neil Patrick Harris (a steal at $6) with cucumber vodka, lime, soda, and Chambord. But on less raucous days, Local Lounge lives up to its name. It's a surprisingly unassuming hang, a wood-laden den that could easily double as a suburban coffee shop or wine bar. It's a North Carolinian legislator's nightmare…a place that's so friendly and laid back that even the nongender-assigned bathrooms are inviting.
HAPPY HOUR: 4-7:30 pm daily. $3.50 micros and well drinks.
ENTERTAINMENT: Dance parties, karaoke, pool, video poker, TV.
3536 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 503-281-1833, locallounge.wordpress.com. 3:30 pm-midnight Monday-Thursday, 3:30 pm-2:30 am Friday, 11 am-2:30 am Saturday-Sunday.
Willamette Week