This neighborhood pub is more than just a place to grab a quick drink and shoot a round of pool—the LaurelThirst doubles as one of the best places to see live folk and roots music in the city. Boasting a calendar that might just be the busiest in town, the Laurelthirst typically hosts two shows an evening, and the early “happy hour” shows usually don’t even have a cover. This has been a mainstay on the Portland live scene for nearly three decades, so if folk, country, old-time music, or just plain good old-fashioned rock ’n’ roll are your thing, pop by for a free live show before dinner, or make it your destination for the night, as the place hosts regular gigs by Portland talent like Lewi Longmire, the Freak Mountain Ramblers, and Portland Country Underground. NED LANNAMANN