Fifteen Years in, Holocene Still Feels Like the Coolest Place in Portland

In a city that lionizes dive bars, night clubs often feel like an afterthought.

(Thomas Teal)
By Walker MacMurdo

1001 SE Morrison St., 503-239-7639, holocene.org. 8:30 pm-2 am Wednesday-Thursday, 9 pm-2 am Friday-Saturday. Closed Sunday-Tuesday, except for events.

Established: June 2003

In a city that lionizes dive bars, night clubs often feel like an afterthought. On a blustery Friday in January, however, Holocene felt like anything but. Local scenester VNPRT was playing Lil Uzi Vert's infectious "444+222" for a crowd of impossibly hip 20-somethings, small in number but packed tightly on the sunken dance floor of this split-level warehouse conversion. In the space above, which functions as Holocene's primary venue for touring bands, a young couple posed artfully on the empty stage with some found props. At the long bar to its side, partygoers refueled with candy-colored blueberry vodka lemonade slushies ($7) and surprisingly tasty tacos ($3-$3.50; order the citrus carnitas). Fifteen years in, whether Holocene is hosting a dream-pop trio, a live podcast or its birthday party for Drake, it still feels like the coolest place in Portland.

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