East County Music Festival

A lot of local bars lost their dive status once Portland’s smoking ban cleared the clouds. But Red Room, the gritty Northeast 82ndAvenue funhouse, has more to boast than stale air. How about trivia and cheap punk, rock, metal and even blues jams six nights a week and slurring regulars who call you Jerry when you are clearly not their friend (or even a man)? Red Room’s got ’em all, as well as a recent facelift that brightened up the low-slung space’s paint job (red, of course) and added a few comfy booths and flat-screen TVs. Luckily, it did not remove the bartender’s saucy attitude.
What to drink: Mystery shot ($1 each) followed by, sweet Jesus, anything else.
Happy hour: $1 PBRs, $3 well drinks 4-8 pm Monday-Friday and “randomly.”
Entertainment: TV, live music, jukebox, sports games, pool, pinball.

KELLY CLARKE. Willamette Week