LOCATION PROFILE

Tube

(503) 241-8823

18 NW 3rd Ave.

www.myspace.com/tubeevents

Neighborhood: Old Town/Chinatown

Old Town-Chinatown achieves a balance rare in Portland neighborhoods, retaining elements from bygone Portland but mixing in stylish, modern amenities. (read more) Some of the city’s best walking blocks are here. An afternoon stroll is always an excuse for the dumplings and delicacies of dim sum at Fong Chong (301 NW 4th Ave., 228-6868). Later, stop in for retro video games at Ground Kontrol (511 NW Couch St., 796-9364, groundkontrol.com), which recently hosted a pinball tournament attended by former NBA center Todd MacCulloch. At the ’hood’s eastern edge, near the waterfront, the Oregon Maritime Museum (115 SW Ash St., 224-7724, oregonmaritimemuseum.org)—so legit it’s actually inside a steam-powered sternwheeler—offers local shipyard history and the chance for kids to (almost) discover what it’s like to be out at sea. The White Stag building (70 NW Couch St.), built in 1907 and former home to Norcrest China Co. and the White Stag sportswear line, has been gutted and taken over by the University of Oregon. One of the few sites in the country that is both LEED certified and on the National Register of Historic Places, it now hosts journalism and architecture classes. If all the walking tires you out, hop on one of the PDX Pedicab tours that start in Old Town ($15, 733-4222, pdxpedicab.com). —Michael Mannheimer

Also in Old Town/Chinatown neighborhood:

Embers Stage
Wilf's Restaurant and Bar Stage
Goldsmith Performance Lab Stage
Brody Theater Stage
Oregon Casket Building Stage
Valentine's Live Music
Amazon Cafe CLOSED Live Music
Backspace Live Music
Barracuda Live Music
Berbati's Pan Live Music
Darcelle XV Live Music
CLOSED Dirty Duck Tavern Live Music
CLOSED Food Hole Live Music
Ground Kontrol Live Music
Tube Live Music

Featured in Drink 2008

Formerly a high-concept design bar, Tube has been taken over in recent years by young skaters, artists and fashion daredevils who flock to this downtowniest of Old Town bars. Great music and agreeable scenery are guaranteed. Drinks and snacks like vegan hot dogs are priced for the part-time barista set. Down and dirty dance parties on Tuesday nights have become infamous, but it’s also a mellow spot to grab a drink after work, and the happy hour can’t be beat.
Perfect Patron: A 21-year-old vegan graffiti artist in overly tight pants who rides over on her fixed-gear after a shift at American Apparel. (SC)
HAPPY HOUR 5-10 PM NIGHTLY: $2 WELL DRINKS.
MOVIES, DJ, LIVE MUSIC.

Shoshanna Cohen