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When dating apps feel like the trenches and third spaces have gone extinct, along comes a grown and sexy new space filled with classic R&B.
Late on a Saturday night earlier this month, the line for an Usher Raymond–themed party at Slow Jam, which took over the former Warsugai restaurant space earlier this summer, wrapped around the corner of the building on Southeast Washington Street. Inside, the crowd was singing along, boys in Rick Owens sneakers and daddy snapbacks and girls in bandage-fitted mini dresses and kitten heels. Outside, the orangey red glow of lounge mood lighting beckoned all who strolled by.
Throwback music videos were projected on the walls and a disco ball descended above the dance floor, an intimate circular dimension of about 500 feet surrounded by VIP sections. A halo of vinyl records hovered above the bar, showcasing albums like Usher Raymond’s debut and Mariah Carey’s 1997 single “Honey.”
On the counter, a drink menu listed house cocktails named for R&B tunes. The “One in a Million,” after the Aaliyah song, is a dressed-up strawberry hibiscus margarita with a float of Grand Marnier and a hibiscus and rose-salt rim. A Destiny’s Child–themed lemon drop, “Cater 2 U,” is accented with lavender and blackberry. Usher’s first No. 1 hit, “Nice & Slow,” shows up as a Moscow mule riff with marionberry and lychee.
After hosting Slow Jam Sundays as a pop-up at various downtown bars, the owners, a duo of auto dealers, decided to give this city a real-deal R&B lounge every weekend, landing in a brick-and-mortar space this May. They’ve promoted the new space—rightfully, from what I’ve seen—as “Portland’s True R&B Lounge.”
Brendan Ralston, aka DJ Shoulda Booked (@shoulda_booked_b), has been the house DJ since the pop-up days. For those who missed the call of Slow Jam’s moody glow, Ralston shared his Usher party playlist:
“Shake it Off” by Mariah Carey
“Lovers and Friends (feat. Ludacris & Usher)” by Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz
“Superhuman (feat. Keri Hilson)” by Chris Brown
“Confessions Part II” by Usher
“Real Love” by Mary J. Blige
“Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It” by Dem Franchize Boyz feat. Peanut & Charlay
“Be With You” by Beyoncé
“Lotus Flower Bomb (feat. Miguel)” by Wale
“Lay It Down” by Lloyd
“Let Me Hold You (feat. Omarion)” by Bow Wow
“Diva” by Beyoncé
“Trading Places” by Usher
“Touch My Body” by Mariah Carey
“There Goes My Baby” by Usher
“Like You (feat. Ciara)” by Bow Wow
“I Can Tell” by 504 Boyz
“Heat (feat. Gunna)” by Chris Brown
“You Make Me Wanna…” by Usher
“Slow Motion (feat. Soulja Slim)” by Juvenile
“Aston Martin Music (feat. Drake & Chrisette Michele)” by Rick Ross
“Mrs. Officer (feat. Bobby V & Kidd Kidd)” by Lil Wayne
“I Need a Girl, Pt. 1 (feat. USHER & Loon)” by P. Diddy
“How We Do (feat. 50 Cent)” by The Game
“Jumpin’, Jumpin’” by Destiny’s Child
“MUTT (CB REMIX)” by Leon Thomas & Chris Brown
“Bad Girl” by Usher
“I Luv Your Girl” by The-Dream
“No One” by Alicia Keys
“Rock the Boat” by Aaliyah
“On the Hotline” by Pretty Ricky
“Spend Dat” by Yung Miami
“Bartender (feat. Akon)” by T-Pain
“I’m Sprung” by T-Pain
“U Don’t Have to Call” by Usher
“I Wanna Fuck You (feat. Akon)” by Snoop Dogg
“Peaches & Cream” by 112
“Neighbors Know My Name” by Trey Songz
“Burn” by USHER
“Body Party” by Ciara
“Grind With Me” by Pretty Ricky
“Rich Baby Daddy (feat. Sexyy Red & SZA)” by Drake
“Slow Jamz (feat. Kanye West & Jamie Foxx)” by Twista
“She Will (feat. Drake)” by Lil Wayne
“Girlfriend” by heavyweight
“Peaches (feat. Daniel Caesar & GIVĒON)” by Justin Bieber
“Janice STFU” by Drake
“U Remind Me” by Usher
GO: Slow Jam, 727 SE Washington St., instagram.com/slowjampdx. 5 pm–1 am Thursday and Sunday, 5 pm–2 am Friday and Saturday.
