Although it looks like any other unassuming neighborhood dive bar,
the Ladd’s Inn is a storied Portland destination. It’s been a hippie
folk music venue, a controversial hiphop club, and in more recent
history, it has become a destination for under-the-radar chaos, with
nightly happenings from karaoke to poker to stand-up comedy. This
Saturday, October 13 marks the debut of the latest addition to the
Ladd’s calendar: An ’80s dance party hosted by DJ Kutthroat and
presided over by the supremely competent Cora Conzoner. And, in the
coming weeks trivia night is making its return, Sunday nights at 8 pm.
Working quintuple duty tending bar, busing, manning the fryer,
bouncing, and event coordinating, Cora has earned her stripes and more
than deserves those tips, so keep ’em coming.
People do some pretty wild partying up in here. What are the
telltale signs that someone needs to be cut off?
Well, there was the night when I walked into the bathroom and found
a girl puking in the sink. It was just me working so I had to put on
rubber gloves myself and fish out the chunks. Sometimes I’ll see people
put out their cigarette in their beer and then forget and go to drink
it. When we have the camera on outside I can see them coming—the
people who have a really hard time finding the door to come in. Then I
have to help them find the door again to get right back out.
You have a pretty loyal crowd of regulars, any favorites?
My favorite customers are the other bartenders who come in, although
the people who are here four or five times a week keeping this place
open I consider my friends. Otherwise there’re people like Donna, the
drunk old lady—everybody knows her.
And you have a ghost, right?
Yes! There was a cook who worked here back when this was a blues and
jazz club in the ’70s and ’80s, and he dropped dead of a heart attack
right in front of the bar. He plays tricks on us. One night I was here
alone after we’d closed and he grabbed my ass—a full-on ass grab
when I was leaning over. And he kicked my coworker in the ankle just
the other day. He must not like her very much.
What’s the most dangerous drink you serve?
Flaming Dr. Pepper. It’s amaretto and 151 lit on fire and dropped
into a pilsner. I’ve given those to people who’ve dropped them and lit
the bar and the floor on fire.