Bar Guide 2014: Slabtown

By Matthew Korfhage

Slabtown

1033 NW 16th Ave., 971-229-1455, slabtownbar.net. Noon-2:30 am daily.

Look, there's Punch Bowl Social's more slick version of a fun center, or there's the improvised, homegrown, cheap-as-hell, slightly rundown and loveable mess that is Slabtown, a venerable old hall of rock 'n' roll named after chunks of old lumber: Skee-Ball, Pop-A-Shot, air hockey, pool, pinball, vegan cheesecake, a bass-and-guitar-string vending machine, cheap beer, good fun. Every Saturday pinball is free and happy hour lasts forever, as we sort of hope Slabtown will too. The stage and big ol' room makes it the go-to for a lot of Portland's themed rock shows, whether a ? and the Mysterians benefit, random queer nights, Sunday poetry slams or just good old fashioned punk rock 'n' roll. MATTHEW KORFHAGE.

Happy hour: Noon-7 pm Monday-Friday. Cheap beer and wells.
Entertainment: Hell yes, there is.
What plays: Old-school Portland rock, psych, garage.

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