I wanted to love this so bad, but it just wasn't it. Mind you, this is my first American dance…read moreclass. I just spent a month in Colombia taking 4 hours of bachata a week with a 1:1 teacher for 20$ an hour. I learned so fast because I was learning one to one with a professional competitive dancer. Learning bachata with a strong experienced lead makes a huge difference as being the woman, I'm supposed to follow. If the lead doesn't know what they're doing, as in the classes here, you not only learn a lot slower, but often learn incorrectly. I signed up for a full month of lessons here however, my first class was a turn off. The classes are extremely full. There might be 30 to 50 people in the room. I don't know what I was expecting. Maybe 15 or 20 equal men and women that you would get to know each other over the course of the month. Just something more intimate. I also thought you would also dance with the teacher kind of get the feeling physically of what the correct dance looks like, however, this is not the case, you're just watching. It is also very fast-paced, so if you're neurodivergent or take a little bit to get the hang of things, it's probably not for you. Especially since the class is only an hour you only learn a little bit at a time, once a week in class. There's also really no time for you to like invest in learning a specific step, the 30-50 or whatever people in the room are all on the same clock, and one step is rushed to the next. After my first class I was looking into the cost of individual dance lessons here however they are ridiculously expensive at $100 an hour. I have a decent job, but still cannot afford that. The location is also not that convenient unless you live in the general area and can walk. Parking is really difficult, it's not right off the freeway or anything so if you live in another part of town, give yourself at least an extra 15 minutes to park and walk to the location. I guess I will be back in Latin America soon to learn more one-to-one! Or maybe at a bar in Portland they'll teach us some steps

This place is run by amazing humans and the teachers are great. I really enjoyed their practicas…read moreand other socials. I also love how they put teh class videos online. As a background, I have done 20 years of partner dancing. I am physically fit and able. The classes usually start with a warm up for about 10 minutes. Tl;Dr version: you will not be able to learn salsa here unless you really really stick with it, have some innate ability and previous dance experience, have a good musical ear etc because salsa 1 is too crowded to learn anything and step up to salsa 2 is way way too fast and do not teach much things you can use in social dancing. More info: My issue with VMAC is that their classes are insanely crowded at level 1 (this was salsa). And I mean insanely crowded. Probably because they are also on PCC curriculum so there are lots of PCC people there. The only reason I was able to pick up things was because I knew a bit of salsa and a lot of lead/follow/frame. But I can't see the instructors half of the time (the class had I think 75 or so people!!!!). I went to practicas which means another extra hour which is also why I was able to do ok. But moving to salsa 2 was horrible. It is not because I am not a good dancer. I think I was one of hte better ones in salsa 1. But salsa 2 is 3x the speed and 3x the number of moves. They show 4 "shines" / solo steps but they do not really break it down, they just do it quickly, and then almost within minutes increase the speed again. And since these steps are done in succession throughout the class, if you do not get one, and mind you, you will not esp. moving from salsa 1, you are now trying to find a way to do the ones you can. And salsa 2 can be busy as well, at least the first two weeks of the session so these super fast teaching/immediate application can be frustrating because you might not be able to see it. I am not surprised the later weeks got busier as people dropped out, probably because of this. Then they will teach you a move. Usually it is complicated and involves swapping places with your partner which means you can't see the move very well half of the time. So now you are stuck with frustration of not being able to do the shines they show, and then you can't see half of the steps. Salsa 2 is a HUGE step up, and also is 6 months so now you are in a class with people who have 5 more months of experience (in contrast, salsa 1 is 3 months). And since you do not know many moves, going to a social sucks. My friend is a lead and he had very few things he could do and his follows would get bored. Shines are great if you already have the beats, the fundamentals, but I think the teachers have not been beginners in a long time and do not udnerstand, esp. for leads from what I have seen, that they will not do any of those 4 insanely fast taught shine steps since they do not have much other things to do at a social. Hard to do steps that you can do alone when you are doing a partner dance you are just learning. I do not know where else they teach salsa in Portland, but this is not a good place to take salsa classes IMHO. They are too focused on number of attendees and showing you things that you can't use and not showing enough of things you can. Stepping from salsa 1 to salsa 2 is just a huge step up, and with the way/speed it is taught, you have very little chance of picking up things. Pick a place that teaches in smaller groups. I also took bachata and it was a slightly smaller class and though they do also show things that you have not learned already at the warm up, it is a slower pace and they do go over it in other weeks. Sorry to be a downer, but this was a very frustrating experience and it can be better if they focused on things we can actually use on the dance floor to get more of a feel as relatively new dancers instead of this obsession with teaching us 4 different shines every class in a rapid way that is not being broken down and then we have to put them together, in the same class, at an even faster tempo. Also in practica one of the teachers would just chat with her friend the other ambassador instead of dancing with one of the leads who didn't have a partner and had to wait (I looked) 5 minutes for them to remember to rotate by which time they moved to another thing. John and Sophia are very fun to learn from in practica.

Love the beauty of the concert hall and all the performances, conversations, etc. that it brings…read more It did not feel very accessible for persons with physical disabilities. When I need to use the restroom, I was directed towards lots of stairs. The seats in the concert hall were very low. It felt like I was dropping down into the seats. Loved that they had autographed copies of books available.

Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall is a beautiful, historic venue right in the heart of downtown…read morePortland. The architecture is stunning, the acoustics are excellent, and the overall atmosphere makes any performance feel special. Staff are professional and the experience is well run from start to finish. A true Portland gem and one of the best places in the city to catch live music or performing arts.

Ah yes step aside, velvet rope... we're talking about the illustrious Multnomah Athletic Club where…read moredowntown Portland trades its flannel for fine tailoring and a touch of unapologetic luxury. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to a world where sweat glistens a bit more elegantly. The MAC isn't just a gym it's a sanctuary of stature. You don't simply walk in... oh no, you belong here. Membership isn't a convenience, it's a declaration. Behind those doors lies a realm of polished marble, hushed conversations, and the faint, dignified clink of perfectly chilled water glasses. Inside, it's sleek immaculately so. Machines aligned like soldiers of fortune, locker rooms that whisper spa-day indulgence, and a calm that feels imported from somewhere far more exclusive than downtown Portland. This is where ambition meets tranquility... where CEOs, legacy names, and those in-the-know escape the city's chaos without ever leaving it. And the vibe? Think Nob Hill with a gym membership and a trust fund. There's no chaos, no clanging weights echoing into oblivion just refined motion, deliberate pace, and an understanding that wellness, like wealth, should be curated. So if you find yourself wandering downtown, peering in like Gatsby outside the green light, just know: this isn't merely a place to work out. It's a lifestyle one you don't stumble into... you ascend into. Lifestyles of the fit and the fabulous, darling.

1891 Restaurant…read more It's not open to non-club members, we were guests of our good friends. It far exceeded our expectations, just excellent overall. The a la Grivois cocktail started the experience on a high note: amaro and vermouth together make for a velvety sweetness. The house green soup was a winner, I'm sure the French Onion would be also. We were there for prime rib night and their version rivals that at Clyde's: a hearty cut and full of flavor. At first glance, I was disappointment to see scalloped-type potatoes, but these were the best I've had. The warm bread and salad were above par. Great service by one of the long time waiters.

Such a great, hip neighborhood! Genuinely enjoyed walking around 23rd street with my friend on a…read morebeautiful summer day. Tons of cool shops, restaurants, and cafes. Would definitely return to explore further.

I'm from Southern California, visiting Vancouver but insisting on seeing what's become of Portland…read more I convinced my crew to take me to the Pearl District, remembering how vibrant it used to be, just five years ago. Now, the zombies crouch and the small businesses are gone. We moved on to the Alphabet district and found the charming pubs, restaurants, shops and businesses I had come to see. The best store is Paxton Gate--treasures and oddities. A wonderful restaurant is Fireside. So relieved that there's a sign of life after all the troubles. It's worth defending, Portlandia.

The staff is great. Helpful and well prepared. The venue is clean, comfortable seating. The views…read morefrom the back of the theatre aren't great if you are under 6' tall. The drink prices are a bit steep - $18 for a CAN of cheap wine. The performance tonight was so not worth the ticket price. We are jazz fans and this show was a tribute to Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong. The sax player and pianist were really great... but how do you have a tribute show to Armstrong without a horn?? The two singers, well I'll try to be kind. They just don't get the songs they are singing. Sinatra was a crooner.the gentleman trying to portray his music had no depth, or concept of this style. It was a low tide performance that should have been a hurricane of energy! The lady singing the jazz songs was a tier two performer. Not horrible, but Luke warm. It was a disappointing evening. I was a grateful it was only one hour long.

Since this is a newer venue, they are working it out but I give five stars because they are so kind…read moreand WANT to work it out. Every time I come here is just better and better experiences with diversity at its forefront. A warning to have your patience with ADA because it is there - and they will help you out but patience since the building is not set up for it so they need to bring you up a side entrance for the elevator and it is a journey. There is a restroom on the main floor and a few more upstairs. A lot of buildings in Portland have nothing so I am grateful when the options are there.

I've been to five live music events now at Hoku Events on Madison, most recently on 11/29/25 at a…read moredance hosted by Cascade Zydeco with the band Swamp Thang. This venue has a great dance floor, excellent sound system, affordable cocktails & food, a fun ambiance and friendly staff. It won't stay Portland's best kept secret for live music and dancing for long! Check their website for upcoming shows, they are just getting started with a rotating calendar of events and once you make the effort to stay informed you'll be glad to did. The great Curtis Salgado plays on Nov 13!! I saw him there last month and the place was nearly empty.

Intimate theater space that I didn't even know was here. Have been once now for a special taping…read moreevent. The show I attended was sold out and very funny. Priced right, but not sure if that's the norm. Definitely left me wanting to return! I didn't notice when I first came in that there seemed to be a bar off to the far left as I came in. Someone had asked me if I was in line, so I'm guessing it was open at the start of the show. I'm also aware that this group hosts comedy in the park events in the summer which are free and a really fun community event. Looking forward to more of those this summer plus returning for more live comedy events in the theater.

Went to Comedy in the Park and it was amazing! The lineup is always great, the volunteers are…read morewonderful, and the venue is absolutely gorgeous. If you haven't been, I highly recommend you check it out

I love Shawn Gardner Dancing! They have such a beautiful setup and it's so large! I run a much…read moresmaller venue nearby and love sending people here for bigger events or just for social dancing! I really enjoyed the themed events Ron hosted here too. It was a fancy dress up social.

I went here looking for a close place to go dancing on a Friday night. The venue was really cool…read moreand the people were super nice, very accommodating for beginners and advanced people alike! They played a lot of different music so that people from all dance styles had something for them. I'll definitely go again some time, probably the next time they have live music.