Al's Den- Portland, OR

Head down the stairs

Located in the basement of the Crystal Hotel, this little enclave of relaxation and chill music is called Al's Den. The venue is part of the McMenamins chain of pubs, hostels, and venues. The chain has various locations which are historic buildings that they have restored and converted to fit their needs, be it for a brewery or a hotel. According to the McMenamins' website, the hotel building was constructed in 1911 and at first had an auto p

arts shop on the ground floor and residential housing above. In 1946 it was taken over by a new family and renamed The Majestic, with the top floors remaining as a hotel and the bottom floor transforming into a crazy night club. The club operated for 25 years under the names Club Mecca and the Desert Room and was a place for dancing, gambling, drinking, and all other fun activities. In recognition of this history, Al's Den is named for the gambling overlord Al Winter.

Music
Both individuals and bands play in Al's Den, although it is most common to see an individual musician you may bring up some friends and guests to play during the set. The schedule is set so that a band/musician will play Al's Den for a full week, from Sunday through Saturday, from 7p.m. to 10p.m. each night. It is always free.

The Venue

Keeping the lights dim

Head down the stairs in the dim light of Ringler's Anex bar and before going anywhere else, it wouldn't hurt to stop at the bar. Look over the McMenamin's beers, wines, and spirits and probably grab a glass before moving on. To get to the music you'll follow the hall back further into the building, pass by a random sink (my theory is the area used to be a bathroom) and through a mosaic covered entrance way you'll be at the back of Al's Den. Seats and small tables cover the floor with a small stage in the front; certainly the standard definition of an "intimate" setting. There are polls throughout, so it is possible you may grab a seat and not be able to see the musician(s), but don't worry, its more about the atmosphere anyway. Another fun feature you may want to take in are the various different lights hanging from the ceiling; nice compliments to the place.

Details
Location- 303 S.W. 12th Ave, Portland, OR 97205
Phone- (503) 972-2670
Website- www.mcmenamins.com/1641-al-s-den-at-crystal-hotel-home