PORTLAND, Ore - The Secret Society Ballroom and
Recording Studio, housed in a newly renovated historic building in NE Portland’s Eliot neighborhood,
will host an open house from 7 pm – 12 am on May 11, at 116 NE Russell
Street. Co-tenant Toro Bravo, the highly anticipated new Spanish-inspired
tapas restaurant, created by popular Portland chef John Gorham, will
host a simultaneous open house. Gorham founded Simpatica Catering and Dining
Hall and was a partner in Viande Meats and Sausage.
The Secret Society open house will feature music, appetizers and a
cash bar, as well as tours of the recording studio. Complimentary appetizers
will be served by Simpatica Catering and Culinary Artistry, the preferred
caterers of the Secret Society Ballroom. The ballroom will also feature
live music by Lael Alderman, an acoustic set by members of Derby, and
Jackstraw. Toro Bravo's open house will feature sangria and tapas in
their beautifully renovated storefront restaurant.
Secret Society owner Matt Johnson will also celebrate the completed renovation
of the 1907 historic building he purchased in late 2004. Over the past 100
years, the building has been home to two fraternal lodges, a theater, and
various underground arts groups.
From the beginning, Johnson’s intention was to preserve the
facility as an artistic space. A graphic designer and musician by
trade, Johnson is a first-time commercial property owner who has
long envisioned opening a multi-use creative space. Combining the
elements of The Secret Society Ballroom and Recording Studio, along
with the culinary inventiveness of his tenant Toro Bravo, Johnson's
dream has been set into motion.
"I have dreamed about having a sort of creative compound for years," said
Johnson, "Having the ability to combine a ballroom with a recording
studio was what really drew me to this particular building. The addition
of John Gorham doing Toro Bravo here really puts it over the top. Under
one roof we'll have audio, visual and culinary pursuits happening on a daily
basis. It's going to be tough to keep the roof on this building with
all of the ideas flying around."
The Secret Society Ballroom is a 125-person capacity,
1,800-square-foot historic ballroom that is richly adorned with velvet
curtains and a new hardwood floor. The facility is already booked for rental
events, such as weddings and parties, as well as programmed events, including
music and art shows. Rental of the ballroom includes access to the adjacent
commercial kitchen and classic “ladies’ lounge,” where
bridal parties can touch up hair and makeup. In addition, audio cables
were routed from the ballroom to the recording studio to enable live recording
from the ballroom.
"The ballroom really is a secret gem, having been a members-only
establishment from 1907 until the mid-1990s," Johnson said. "With
a little work, we were able to preserve its period details, but it
doesn't feel stodgy in the least. It has the look of a 1920s supper
club and has a casual, yet elegant, atmosphere."
The full-service Secret Society Recording Studio
is below the ballroom and is suitable for all levels of musicians looking
to record. Johnson teamed up with house producer and engineer Jordan Leff
to design a studio where musicians could record as “live” as
possible, helping minimize overdubs and hold down the cost of recording.
With a large live room, control room, lounge, two isolation rooms, and
access to the historic ballroom, the recording studio was designed to handle
a wide variety of projects.
“What really sets our recording studio apart are the physical characteristics
of the space,” said Johnson. “We’re in a historical setting
that is very warm and lush, and the size of the rooms makes us flexible in
a way that most studios aren’t.”
Johnson said his goal was to create a space that feels more comfortable
than a traditional studio and is conducive to being creative. Access
to the ballroom and proximity to the restaurant make The Secret Society
a one-of-a-kind studio experience.
“The sound in the ballroom is great,” said Johnson. “It
has 14-foot ceilings and a big, warm sound that is great for everything
from solo instruments to a 16-piece band.”
The Victorian-era hall has a rich history. Constructed in 1907, the
structure originally served as the meeting hall for Woodmen of the
World, a fraternal organization for woodworkers. From the 1940s through
the mid-1990s, the building was home to the Prince Hall Masons and
was an important fixture in NE Portland's African American community.
More recently, the building maintained a strong presence in the city’s
creative community, evolving from the Russell Street Theater to Disjecta
to Millions (a short-lived, though vital, music venue).
When Johnson bought the 7,800-square-foot, two-story structure in
November 2004, it was not up to code, had difficult zoning issues,
and was at risk of being either demolished or converted into a high-density,
residential property. Renovations to the structure included all-new
electric, plumbing, heating and cooling systems, a new roof, new
windows, seismic upgrades, and construction of a storefront. Many
of the building’s historic characteristics had rotted or disappeared,
and great care was taken to restore and sometimes recreate historically
accurate details. After more than two years of planning and construction,
the building is poised to open in its latest incarnation.
“I saw this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said
Johnson. “My mission with renovating the building was to bring
it up to modern standards while simultaneously preserving the 1907
character. The end result is that the building has all the appointments
you would expect from a modern structure, but it still feels like you’re
walking into a historical building. I feel honored to have had the
opportunity to restore this building and give it back the dignity it
deserves, especially in time for its 100th birthday.”
Toro Bravo will officially open on May 15th. Inspired by Spanish tapas bars,
the restaurant will have a full liquor license and will feature dishes prepared
with seasonal, farm-fresh ingredients, fresh seafood, house-made salamis
and hams, and pickled vegetables.
The Secret Society Ballroom and Recording Studio are open by appointment
on a per event basis.
