Quick summary: The bartender was cute...

Quick summary: The bartender was cute and friendly and the rest of the staff didn't act like jerks. The contractors were short on bad attitudes, bad ink, and bad metal, as well as surprisingly long on looks and a willingness to entertain. Although the sound system, decor, and cleanliness has improved significantly since my last visit, it's still a cramped dive. That said, I wouldn't expect anything else- it's The Boom Boom Room, not The Lavender Tea Room.

Upon arrival, two of the contractors and a bouncer were sitting out on the back steps smoking and chatting. The latter waived me in without the the customary pat-down and I walked into an empty bar. Well, empty except the bored bartender and a couple of off-duty contractors blowing their tips at the video poker machines. It didn't look promising, but I decided to wait and see if things picked up.

After a half hour of chatting with the bartender (we're acquainted from other places she's worked, like the Dolphin II, Club Rouge, and a couple of defunct clubs downtown) and watching a slight of hand magician set up for his shift, a few other customers entered and the stage shows resumed. Despite the thin crowd, the contractors were friendly and actually seemed to get that their performances were tied to how much money they made. I wound up chatting with a couple of them after they left the stage and bought a few dances in the tented off area in the rear corner. The dances were nothing out of the ordinary for Portland since the start of the depression, but they were worthwhile nevertheless.