Goodfoot
284 SE Stark
239-9292

I never went to Choices, the queer bar that used to live in the building that now houses the Goodfoot, but I heard it used to be full of rainbows. Painted rainbows--queer pride rainbows. If you hate those ugly-ass rainbows as much as I do, you'll be glad to know that the people at Goodfoot have painted over them in tasteful shades of ochre and taupe.

In its short life (a month or so), the Goodfoot has already become a great hangout--cozy and with personality, but not so much personality that you feel like you're drinking in Los Angeles or something. Because it's new, it's got an already-loyal clientele, but hasn't developed into a scene you can pigeonhole. People who look like they go rock climbing, people who look like they shop at boutiques, people who play in bands--everybody's been there, all at once. And there's something to be said for the uniting power of DJ Aquaman, who's moved his incredible Soul Stew to the club (appropriately, since "good- foot" is a James Brown reference) on certain Friday nights.

There's also something to be said for cheap--and free!--shows, held on their dance floor. Though it's in its baby stages, booker Neona Rice has a vision for the Goodfoot: quality local music. So far, The Places, Holy Sons, Pan Tourismos, Forty-First, Pete Krebs, Billy Kennedy, and Joe Haege have played there for free or no more than $2. Add extra-cute bartenders to the mix (and did I mention Soul Stew?), and Goodfoot has quickly become one of the most laid-back, cool places to hang out.