"Best Bar” - PORTLAND PHOENIX "Best New Bar Northeast” - VINE PAIR "Best Cocktail Bar Maine” - DOWNEAST MAGAZINE "This Place is F@&%ing Awesome” - ANONYMOUS GOOGLE REVIEWER 32 p o r t l a n d monthly magazine Portland after dark courtesy photo in love, or struck by a sudden yearning—you’re in the mood for Jazz. Blue Train Reaching Congress Street, you hear smooth notes drift from a tiny club as one patron slips out for a smoke. Following the sounds inside, you find you fit right in. Candlelight plays along the red walls as couples and friends sit with their drinks, plunging into a shared moment—when conversation is no longer a necessity. You take your seat at the bar and order a martini, a bourbon, something with a little more than hops and suds. Welcome to Blue, where the music says it all. While there’s no cover at the door, Blue is a donations-only venue, so make sure you have cash on hand to support the acts. Whether Renée Coolbrith and Janae- Sound are on stage for Ladies in Blue (De- cember 10), The Kelly Laurence Quintet shows up (December 21) playing Cole Por- ter, or the Evan King Group (December 7) hits the spot with soulful classics, there’s something for every kind of night. Cool Yule The Portland Jazz Orchestra keeps our city swaying on November 15 at One Long- fellow Square ($15). Led by Dr. Chris Ober- holtzer (a two-time Portland Monthly al- um!), the 18-piece ensemble plays origi- nals by members and big band classics from Count Basie, Stan Kenton, and Woody Herman. A PJO show is a classic ending to any night on the town, and at Longfellow Square you’re in the heart of it all. If you’re looking to get in the spirit, OLS keeps the season tempo with The Heath- er Pierson Jazz Trio ($25). The neighbor- hood will be hot-stepping with their “Char- lie Brown Christmas” performance on De- cember 9, and the Vince Guaraldi favorites are sure to melt that cold, cold heart. A Lily Pad Away We’ve all been through the mid-week blues,