Crystal Ballroom
Crystal Ballroom
McMenamins Crystal Ballroom
1332 W Burnside St.
Portland, OR 97209
https://www.crystalballroompdx.com/
(503) 225-0047
Capacity: 1500
PDXMM Shows
There’s a lot of history within the walls of McMenamins Crystal Ballroom, and they’re only getting filled with more. The Crystal, as it’s more colloquially known, has lived many lives since it first opened in 1914. What started as an advantageous project by a dance instructor eventually transformed into a multifaceted space. A diverse caliber of acts have stood on its stage, looking out onto a floor with a startling amount of pep in its step, due to the “floating” spring floor technology. It was once the Montrose Ringler-run Cotillion Hall, where basketball first began its love affair with the city. The venue then began its forays into jazz, polka and square-dancing, from there becoming a place offering a little something for everyone.
It was once graced with the presence of Black legends like Marvin Gaye, Etta James and Tina Turner, to jam wizards the Grateful Dead, the down-the-rabbit-hole-inducing Jefferson Airplane and Portland punk royalty Fred and Toody Cole. And, after McMenamins took over its once shuttered doors due to a fire, it transitioned into its next phase of genre-spanning performances including Sleater Kinney, who both announced their mid-2000’s breakup and then came back together there or 2019 shows. One that was home to the Sabertooth metal and microbrew fest and saw the late Charles Bradley expressing such affection to fans. It’s also one where Slowdive and Ride brought mellow energy, X brought raucous punkness, and Snoop and NoName championed their favorite green plant. It’s been 107 years… here’s to 107 more.
