Holocene

hip club. i understand portland, so i was in this hip club the other night, dressed right and patiently standing in a long line waiting for a drink. as i was talking to that sweet piece next to me i noticed something that disturbed me greatly... don't get me wrong, the staff were definitely hot and bust it, but there was a clueless rude suburbanite expecting to have his booty kissed just because he was there. not going to happen... also, the crowd was just good looking, not great. luckily i was saved by two things - my favorite bands come here and it has a great scene.  View Less … View More

Great Venue! Service with a Scowl!. Wow, do the people who serve you drinks think they are super cool. I spent a fun night here (fun because of the people I was with) with the bartenders looking down their noses at me and my friends. Nary a smile, a thank you, a kind word. We felt like the uninvited guests. The only cool person was the guy at the door. The rest of them must belong to the super cool secret society. And the drinks they pour are weak and get weaker throughout the night. I did hard time working in a bar, I'm pleasant and I tip very well, (the first tip was $5 for one drink) but attitude like this makes me stop tipping after a while. I wonder if anyone has told them that being cool (actually BEING cool-not just thinking you're it) will get you more and bigger tips.

A note to those bartenders and servers: you're no better than anybody coming into that establishment. Pour my drink (and put some booze in it why don't you), treat me like I'm another human being, and lighten up.  View Less … View More

eclectic, interesting. so, i am rarely the coolest guy in the room and on some nights i feel reminded of this fact more than i'd like, but i like the shows, and the drinks are nice and generously poured. always something different, sometimes its way too crowded, and its hard to get a drink let alone walk around sometimes, but i've seen the most eclectic interesting and weird shows there. nothing like it. i feel like i'm beginning to "get" portland, and don't feel so put off by certain things, but i understand how some of the other reviewers have felt uncomfortable. the blonde bartender is always sweet though, and i recommend going on less busier nights.  View Less … View More

I have given it more than a few chances..... Holocene has so much potential, but it has been a disappointment time after time. I always come with a high energy fun attitude and end up leaving early, angry and upset going back to the bars that have respect for their customers, and quality drinks.

The bartenders are rude, mixing weak drinks with and zero personality. Multiple times I have waited in line for 20+ minutes finding at the end a bartender that barely acknowledges you. We were even kicked out once when I confronted my bartender about being next in line. She told me I will get my drink when she tells me, and proceeded to serve others who were behind me. My girlfriend was very upset and asked her to serve us! The bartender went to her manager and he kicked us out stating that they chose who to serve and who they don?t. That was my second drink of the night and I was very upset that they would dare to treat someone who wants to pay them like that.

The music has never been a huge success, the sound has been a bit off, the times I?ve been there.

The space is open and very cool! However, the smoking room seems to leak smoke out and makes for a nauseous feeling for nonsmokers.

Overall, I guess I don?t fit in. We like quality drinks, good music, and respect? you will find non of this at Holocene.  View Less … View More