Polaris Hall

Really nice small concert hall. Good acoustics. Clean. Limited seating on sides of hall. Bar. Plenty of on street parking for a sold out show.

We saw Steve Gunn at Polaris Hall. Vocals were too low compared to the instrument. We missed the warning that the venue is mostly standing now. We got there early and got tall stool seats. It was hard to see over the standing crowd, and uncomfortable for multiple hours. Snacks and non-alcoholic options were lack luster, so we didn't buy any. Water is free in reusable cups. Staff was friendly. Great old building. Please bring back seats.

We had our wedding at Polaris Hall and we are so glad that we did! The service from everyone throughout the whole evening was excellent, especially Valerie who was so helpful throughout the whole process of booking and planning and rehearsal and on the day. The building is beautiful, it really made for a romantic ceremony and reception exactly as we envisioned. All of our guests were taken care of throughout the event. We also love coming back to Polaris hall for concerts and shows!

I think this is one of the best venues in Portland. The location and building themselves are both awesome, staff is super friendly too. The sound is where it shines. It obviously depends on a bunch of different factors, but more consistently than any other venue, the sound here is great. Clear, well balanced, and not so loud that you feel like you might go deaf. I've seen 1-person singer songwriters and full on bands here, and the whole spectrum has sounded awesome.

Huge shout out to the staff! My husband and I went to 80s night last night and my husband suffered an extreme migraine attack. The staff jumped in and were so helpful, supportive and just plain amazing in helping us get to the car. Many in attendance were also great and concerned. All is good and we had fun prior to the issue. Thank you!

I had my wedding reception at Polaris a few weeks ago, and my husband and I cannot recommend them enough for an event. The event coordinator, Valerie, was amazing to work with. She was so easy to communicate with, kept us up to date, and had multiple on-site meetings with us leading up to the day. Her and her staff absolutely killed it on the day of- weddings are always a little chaotic, but they made it smooth and perfect. We had a band, and the sound was obviously great- it really felt like we were hosting a concert. The Polaris staff was so kind and friendly to our guests (we got multiple comments), and they worked so hard for us. We were trying to do our wedding on a budget, and they worked with us on the bar menu to help us stick to our budget as well. They rock! THANK YOU Polaris!

First concert experience! It's definitely a moment to remember! The hall was perfectly spaced. It never felt crowded or empty. The temperature did seem to rise, but that's to be expected with music as great as INOHA and phoneboy. Would absolutely attend another event at this venue. Keep up the good work!

Beautiful, clean venue with great acoustics, comfortable and clean bathrooms, a cozy outdoor seating area with bonfires, plenty of space, and plenty of parking. One of my favorite Portland venues I've been to yet!

I love small music venues like this that have an open floor so we can get close to the music. Really cool, converted space and friendly staff I'll definitely keep this place on my radar!

Cute little venue..fire pit outside. Ample street parking. Went to w concert and it was like 90 percent standing room but a few tall seat stools to the side with some tall tables. Got really hot in there, but it's to be expected at a concert. Would definitely come again.

Every time we see a show here, staff is welcoming and bathrooms are clean. The acoustics are great. I find it a complete opposite to Mississippi studios (owned by the same people) which has horrible sound, terrible crowds, and you can't see unless you're in the front row. Polaris is actually enjoyable to go to and the crowds aren't typically good. The bar is located in a spot that you don't hear talking throughout the show. Overall I enjoy this place. Bonus that it is located by awesome bars and restaurants that are open late.

In the past week I've gone out to listen to live music at 3 different venues in Portland. Tonight was my first foray to Polaris Hall and will most likely be my last. I will never understand why clubs like this think volume equals quality in their sound system. I have a decibel app on my phone and the dB was 103. Safe decibel (dB) levels for prolonged, repeated exposure are generally considered to be at or below 70 dB, as noise levels at or above 85 dB for extended lengths of time can cause permanent hearing loss. Sounds exceeding 110 dB can cause damage almost immediately, I have custom made sound protection ear pieces or I would have left. It's unfortunate that the Lost Bayou Ramblers didn't monitor the quality of the sound engineer. The vocals were muddy and distorted due to the volume and reverb and feedback were also an issue. I saw shows at HOKU Events on Madison and Jack London this week, at those venues the volume was enough to carry the show, create the energy between the musicians and audience and not cause hearing damage to customers.

This venue is beautiful! I could see a wedding here or a multitude of other events. It is set for those of us who cannot traverse stairs but I have some heads ups. The entrance is on the side with a ramp down and there is an aggressive lip right at the door which makes for a decent stop but could trip up your ADA devise, wheelchair or cause you to trip a bit. The elevator is technically a 'lift' so it is a bit of confusion to 'call' it. There is not a lot of space in it, it is very slow, you must manually control it, the doors on both floors to get in and out are VERY heavy so you will likely need a helper and it is VERY VERY loud. But, it is there and gets you from point A to B which is better than some buildings throughout the city. Most of the venue is pretty ADA friendly though clearly this was a house repurposed so the arrangement feels a touch odd and the restrooms are technically ADA friendly but are small and the doors awkward so if you have mobility issues just be ready for some awkward. My friend was happy with her drink served extra cold and was saying they had options for concessions. They have some neat bar sections tucked on both floors and also a pool table in a bit of a game room. I love that the venue is in its own unique pocket off from a neighborhood so it does not have that over traffic'd feel to it...more intimate and you can park! Walking up to the beautiful fires out front like welcoming torches was quite inviting, really illuminating the beautiful front. They have a whole seating area out there too which felt right though I was happy everyone was inside so I could take advantage of getting pictures without people in them.

First time for a show here. Perfect size to accommodate the bands booked, & sound was great! A few seats/tall tables on the outskirts of the main floor. Pretty neat venue with personality. Bar service was just okay, not really friendly.

I went with a friend to see Michigander, and we had a great experience. I recently had knee surgery so needed to be in a wheelchair. I emailed the venue ahead of time, and they were very accommodating. The venue is a bit tough to navigate with a wheelchair, but staff guided us in and helped make way for us to get in and out of the lift, and they had taped off a section right by the stage to reserve for my wheelchair. I like that they are not a fussy venue and allow water and drinks on the floor. The acoustics weren't the best, but it was a smaller venue, and I liked the intimate vibes.

I've been to a couple of shows at Polaris Hall. It's a great venue -- not too big, not too small. The ceilings are high, the lighting was good, and the acoustics were great. There's a nice little bar near the entrance with good pizza and drinks, and the service was fast and friendly. Overall, a great place to see a show. Parking options seemed a little challenging, but I've always found a spot within a few blocks... but if you're debating driving to the show vs. biking/uber/bus, I might recommend the latter.

Went to a show Saturday. First time visiting this venue. Great spot for a small venue. I would go again if there is a show I want to see.

Such a unique vibe at this venue. We visited to watch a few bands play, and man was it a treat! Cool little bar/drinks area, PLENTY of space to jam out, but seating on the walls is also available. The temperature was set a little lower than I would say would be typical when we first arrived: GENIUS! Once the bands got playing, the lights were blasting, and we were movin' & groovin': we weren't all sweating to death. 10/10: would recommend. Kind of hope I can hit up another show at Polaris Hall. It's a blast!

Five stars for the venue itself. Minus two stars for the customer service. We had tickets to the Dessa concert in January. It was the same night as the snow storm. During the day leading up to the show, I checked the website four times, called three times and sent an Instagram message. A week later there was still no response. It was really unclear whether the show was going to go on or not. I still haven't gotten a response to any of my Instagram messages even after I sent them a follow-up complaining about their customer service. If you are a concert venue and you are putting on a show the same night as a snowstorm that might turn into an ice storm I feel like it's your responsibility to update your website in some way and say yes the show is still going on. Or post something on your Instagram! SOMETHING.

Great concert venue! The sound system is great, the space is clean and well managed, it's the perfect size for smaller concerts.

Our MusicPortland Gear Fest event at Polaris exceed all of our expectations. We could not have had better partners on game day than the Polaris staff. The space is beautiful and the advance team was endlessly creative in fitting different rooms to our non-standard purposes. All of this combined to make our first annual event a roaring success. We cannot recommend Polaris Hall more highly for the space and the organization/staff that support it.

I had my wedding at the Northstar Ballroom in May and we had a fantastic time. The Northstar is basically just a great big room with wood floors and an old-Portland feel. They also have a full bar and a huge downstairs, to accommodate any bar tending/catering that might be needed for your event. Growing up in Portland made this the perfect place to have our ceremony/reception. Jane (the owner) was so gracious and giving. You can tell that she really loves the building and having events there. The place was big enough for just over 100 people and everything went smoothly and everyone had a great time. If you're not trying to impress everybody by being the fanciest gig in town, and prefer old-school charm over overpriced "luxury", then the Northstar is the perfect venue for your next big event.

This was the perfect venue for our wedding! My husband and I had different visions about how our wedding would look and feel. We reviewed many places and kept wanting different things. Polaris Hall was a venue that allowed for our different perspectives. We had 185 people, a live band, and a DJ. It was cozy, laid back, and classy.

This gem of a ballroom is nestled just off of North Killingsworth Avenue a mere block away from Portland Community College's Cascade campus. It features a cozy bar, small prep kitchen, additional seating in a downstairs salon, and another room just off the kitchen that can be used for a buffet or staging for an event. The ballroom is fully handicapped accessible thanks to a lift installed and renovated bathrooms. There's also a small room for a wedding party, or other group, to change in or just have a quiet moment. The interior is filled with warm wood, tasteful furnishings, and the many windows let in great natural light. This beautiful venue is reasonably priced and does not require any prefer catering contracts. You can choose to hold a potluck for no additional fees and can even arrange for your own bartender service to handle serving alcohol. The event manager and staff helpfully set up all tables needed and are on hand to make sure your great event goes off smoothly. They also let you take down art and other decorations in order to bring in special items. We recently held our potluck wedding reception in the North Star and everyone just loved the space. It was easy for people to get around, the set up was easy, and everything looked just beautiful. This is a great venue to rent for events up to 200 people. They even have an agreement with PCC to allow guests to use the adjacent campus parking lot!

We held our wedding reception at the North Star Ballroom, and had a perfect experience. This is a beautiful, vintage venue that is very affordable, clean, and well run. This venue is completely accessible, ramp access with a small elevator so folks who are unable to use stairs can easily get around this beautiful building. In the months leading up to our wedding, the manager of the ballroom (Leslie) was very easy to work with and flexible in setting up times to view the ballroom. She was always on time to meet us there, and on the day of the event they were there on time to let us in to decorate, and later on for the reception itself. I had many questions via e-mail in the months leading up to the wedding, and Leslie patiently answered them for me. They are very flexible with food - you can bring in your own caterer or your own food (which, if you've been looking at other venues, you know that's hard to come by). Parking is on the street, but you can park in the PCC lot next to the ballroom on weekends. The building was very clean when we arrived there, and throughout the event I could easily find the onsite person overseeing our event - he walked around to keep an eye on things, and helped us out with any questions we had, and did the walk through with me at the end of the night. The sound system is great. We hooked up our laptop and played a playlist and it worked very well. (My father is in the sound business, so for the sound system to get his seal of approval means it's an excellent system). This truly was an affordable 5 star venue, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a reception or indoor wedding venue in Portland.

I was really excited to see this place. The pictures online made it look beautiful and I thought it would be perfect for my wedding. I called and set up an appointment and after a week long wait (which seemed like forever!) I got to tour it. It is even more beautiful in person. Awesome space and great rates. Unfortunately, because of the staff I would never consider booking this place. We were walked through the building pretty quickly with barely a moment stopped in each space, she was very short on the line of rude. She then left us to look around which is nice. What really got to me is when I asked if she would be there during out rental time.. her response "Oh, I hope not. I don't know who it would be." I understand that she wouldn't want to work or something like that, but I am excited about my wedding and that kind of response just hit me a little. Every other venue has made us at least feel welcome and like they were interested in our business, not here though. It's such a beautiful venue - I hope others haven't been treated this same way. Not a good way to make potential clients feel. The only reason it gets two stars instead of one is because it's such a beautiful place.

Had the wedding of my dreams here last weekend. The space was beautiful and affordable and it all felt so personal. Leslie was so easy to work with leading up to the big day, even with my tons of questions and checking in :) Would highly recommend this space.

I got married at Polaris Hall and I'm so thrilled that I did. The size, location and atmosphere were perfect. An intimate, historical, North Portland venue was exactly what we were looking for, and we got it! Its vintage interior made our ceremony feel classy and elegant, and the new renovations made it modern and accommodating to our party. We had around 100 guests and it never felt crammed or empty with enough chairs and tables for all (which were set up for us). It came with all the amenities we needed (space, dressing rooms, sound, equipment, projector, ADA accessibility, tables/chairs, caterer!) and Leslie and Lily were lovely to work with. Leslie was accommodating, supportive, and super quick to respond. As for Anchor Lights Events - local, seasonal food that was beyond delicious, and Lily was only too happy to work around our dietary restrictions, limited budget, schedules, and share her input and grant us all the support we needed. She even DJ'd our rehearsal walk-through! On the day of, the catering staff could not have been more awesome. They were all so cool and supportive, and ultimately got us a lot of compliments from our guests for going with such an awesome caterer. If I had to do it again, I would definitely go with Polaris Hall and Anchor Lights!

When looking for a wedding venue in Portland, North Star Ballroom was the first and only venue we ended up looking at. We immediately fell in love with the charm of the ballroom itself as well as the many breakout rooms. What also sold us was the option to use whatever vendors we wanted. Since we wanted to use an array of local business, we took advantage of this and made all of the food, drink, and decor options ourselves. When the day of the wedding came, we were flooded with compliments of how beautiful the venue was and how cool it was that we were able to source everything without restriction. Parking was simple due to the adjacent PCC lot and the event specialist on hand helped with whatever random questions we had. I can't say enough about how wonderful the entire experience was. Everything went perfectly and I would highly recommend looking at North Star Ballroom for events.

A big shout out to Polaris Hall and especially Anchor Light Catering. We had a wedding and reception for 200 people there. We had the ceremony, a band, a DJ. Lily with Anchor Light was warm, personable, and professional. To save cost, we kept the menu really simple but each dish was exquisite. I can't believe how well it flowed given that we were at maximum capacity.

Came here for a concert and was really glad it turned out to be such a nice place. The bathrooms were super clean (big deal to me) and the staff was really friendly. Enjoyed a sold out show and thought the logistics were handled really well!

We just celebrated our daughter's wedding and reception at the North Star Ballroom in north Portland next to the PCC Cascade Campus on Killingsworth. Not only was it an elegant setting, but it is ADA accessible, with a lift available for wheelchairs (no freight) . It has a two sided bar available and a service kitchen in the basement. Table and chair setup/removal was done by them. Our family loved the charm of the space and the antique furnishings and chandeliers. The sound system was great and stage lighting is also available. They were very accomodating for the vendors delivering linens, pipe and drape. There is a staff person on site during the whole event, who was very helpful . There is a negotiated parking arrangement with the PCC campus next door to utilize the parking lot adjacent during specific hours. Family members from out of town also appreciated the easy access to I-5 and hotels in the area. They even utilized the MAX train while they were in town for the weekend. What a great venue! I recommend it highly to anyone looking to host an event for less than 200 people.

We had our wedding ceremony and reception at the North Star Ballroom, and we were so pleased with everything! The venue is gorgeous, we were able to serve my husband's home brew beer, and we were able to hire any vendors we wanted for food and serving. They did not charge us anything extra for corkage fees, sound systems, etc. The venue was one of the most affordable in the city, and it's in our neighborhood, so it worked out beautifully. We had a taco truck out front for guests and an awesome bar set up inside for drinks. Leslie helped to make it all come together seamlessly. I would highly recommend the North Star Ballroom for a wedding or other large event. Everyone had such a blast!

Guys, I was so excited to see this place, just like Erica H. Unlike Erica H, I emailed and heard back fairly quickly from Leslie. I was able to set up an appointment, though I had to take time off from work to make it work. Since it looked like I wouldn't be successful in covering my work shift, I called my mom and my Fiance's mom in as backup viewers. At the last minute, it turned out I was able to attend the viewing, and boy howdy, am I glad I did. Leslie opened the door when we rang the doorbell. She said "So are you here to meet with caterers, or what?" I said "No, I'm here to see Leslie and tour the space." She answered, without emotion "I'm Leslie." No more. No words of welcome. Whatever. I would not be deterred. I was sure I would love this space. The ballroom was fine. The kids room was a bit musty, the bride's room seemed a bit... dated. Not somewhere I want pictures taken. Also, where is my fiance supposed to get ready? Nothing for the groom? Oh, okay. But then, this review isn't just about the space, which is... 4 out of 5. This review is about how I felt while I was there. That was 1 out of 5. After quickly leading us around the space, Leslie sat down on one of the pews and got on her laptop. My fiance's mother, who was late, rang the bell. Leslie went to let her in, and opened the door without a word. My future mother in law said "I'm with [my fiance and me]" Leslie said "Oh" and moved aside. She then went back up the stairs to her laptop. My mother asked Leslie what availability they had for the month we are thinking of getting married. "Look online." Lady, you're in front of a laptop. You're supposed to be selling me on this site so I'll give you a few grand. YOU look it up. Leslie made me feel so unwelcome, that a venue I might have chosen is completely off my list. I checked to see if there's anyone else who does event coordination there. It's just her, and I don't need someone who's sullen and unwilling to even smile or offer a congratulations.

We chose the Nortstar Ballroom for our wedding in September 2011 and it was the perfect choice. We were looking for a laid-back venue where guests could relax and have a good time. We also had a tight budget and the Northstar worked perfectly for allowing us to customize the day with food, beverages, and decorations to suit our taste. The venue itself had old-school charm and beautiful details that were perfect for the feel we wanted for the big day.

I had my wedding reception here & loved everything about it-beautiful space, friendly people, helpful, accomodating, the whole feel of it all was just completely charming. So why 3 stars & not 5? They don't have a dumpster & you have to haul your own garbage out. So if you're trying to be DIY & have friends help you do things, you may find yourself hauling trash bags at midnight in to someone's van-in your wedding dress-and then the next day driving to the dump to get rid of your trash bags. Major bummer. I don't understand how a place this pretty & professional won't attend to this detail & get a dumpster for trash.

I had our ceremony and reception here. I picked this place because it was almost complete without a lot of work and decoration to be added. I also loved the fact that we could bring in all our own vendors. The staff was nice and helpful as well. The only thing that was a little stressful was the fact that they only rent the ballroom for an 8 hour block. We only had two hours to set up and decorate so that caused a little rush and stress the day of. Otherwise, I wouldn't change a thing. This place is truly beautiful!!!

We held our wedding reception at the Northstar Ballroom last summer, and we would definitely recommend them to anyone! Leslie, the manager, was so sweet and helpful and accommodating with everything from catering and setup recommendations to being super flexible with our scheduling for checking out the space, setup and cleanup. It's a charming old-timey venue that hardly needs any decoration. There are all kinds of interesting nooks and crannies that give you creative options for using the space. We had a very tight budget, but we still wanted to throw a great party and it was important to us to find a space where we could bring in our own food and drinks, and be able to stay late and not worry about noise restrictions. The Northstar fulfilled all of that and our guests totally loved it.

The North Star Ballroom is an awesome venue! It is so beautiful, with great style. My husband and I had our wedding there in January of 2012, and all our guests loved it! The coordinator there is extremely helpful, and had so many great pieces of advice to make the big day run smoothly. I highly recommend this venue for your wedding!

The venue was beautiful and had that classic charm to it that we were looking for. My parents and their good friend decorated it and gave it a vintage and rustic look that we were hoping for. Everything turned out perfect. The food was amazing and the music was fun and it was just a beautiful and memorable day spent with our family and friends. The reason we are giving this place 3 stars instead of 5 is because of Leslie. I think she is the manager or coordinator for the venue. She is absolutely apathetic, condescending, negative, unhelpful, unimaginative, and frustrating to work with. In this field, I would think one would be friendly, helpful, and willing to do everything they can to make sure your wedding day is a memorable and pleasurable experience. Dealing with Leslie was the least pleasurable aspect of our wedding. I think that is unfortunate. It really is a beautiful venue and the price is affordable compared to other venues we looked at. Whoever owns this venue should really stop and think about who they have hired as the face of their venue.