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About What's happening. (Eugene, OR) 1982-1993 | View Entire Issue (July 21, 1983)
Eugene Downtown With its next issue. August 4th, What's Happening will dedicate a Downtown Page (or section, assuming it catches on). Since we began publication last September, people shopping, living and working Downtown have comprised a very large segment of our readership. Now we’d like to enlarge upon this relationship by encouraging busi nesses, organizations and people with a Downtown connection to sub mit "news,” fiction, community and business related information, photos, poetry, etc. After talking with Chuck Hale of Scott’s Restaurants, Ray McIver of the Downtown Association, George Brown of the Kiva, and others, What’s Happening recognized that it could be of service by providing people Downtown a special place to read and write about themselves. Share your opinions, your art and your personal interests with thousands of readers on the Downtown Page. Send your submissions to: Downtown Page, What’s Happening, P.O. Box 259, Eugene, OR 97440, or call our Downtown Editor at 484-0519. —Bill Snyder ’ Downtown August 5 & 6 Annual Bedrace & Sidewalk Sale Eugene Downtown and area groups and businesses are active ly planning (and “training”) for the Sixth Annual Eugene Down town Bedrace and the traditional Sidewalk Sale. Talking with Connie Bloom and Ray Me liver of the Downtown Association, I learned much about this 2-day event. Beginning Friday, August 5th, Downtown merchants will offer many bargains displayed outside their stores, including back-to-school specials. Many Downtown workers are costum ed for the event which continues Saturday, Aug 6, date of the An nual Eugene Downtown Bedrace. This unusual athletic event in volves many organizations and businesses, and benfits the Muscular Distrophy Associa tion. Bed race day is always ex citing—featuring entertainment (Mainstage minstrels, music, magic), public judging for Best Dressed Bed and Team, awards, a Parade to Post and the race up 10th St. Pledges (for MDA) are made, and the contestants race 2 beds at a time. The winning Bed/Team is awarded a rotating trophy and a berth in the District Race at Autzen Stadium, Sept 3. Last year’s winners, deFrisco’s, won the District and competed at the Regionals in Seattle! Many organizations and busi nesses make these events possi ble. Among many other contri butions, the Eugene Downtown Association pays for 10 cent bus rides district wide. Eugene Parks and Rec helps provide the enter tainment. And of course the Eu gene Muscular Dystrophy As soc. and the many participants in the Bed Race and the Side walk Sale. If you’d like to be involved— loaner beds are available—con tact Pam Wilson of the Mus cular Dystrophy Assoc., 686-2753. Look for details in the August 4th edition of What's Happening. —Bill Snyder WHAT IS ARICA? Arica is a not-for-profit educational organization—a school— which has been offering courses and self-study materials since 1971. Arica provides a practical method for achieving greater self-understanding, reducing stress, and developing greater resources of strength to deal with the complexities of modern life. Sam Keen has called Arica "the. university of higher con sciousness." An introductory, experiential workshop will be offered Saturday, August 6, from 1-4 pm. Included in the program will be: • Psychocalisthenics, an introduction to a complete exercise routine for the body and psyche. • Stress Reducation & Vitality Generation Exercises • Videotape of Oscar Ichazo, founder/designer of Arica SATURDAY, AUGUST 6 • 1-4 PM • $9 Preregistration Necessary — Space Limited — Call 484-4243 PSYCHOCALISTHENICS A LONG NAME FOR SOME SHORT EXERCISES TO REDUCE STRESS A beginning class in Psychocal is now form ing. More than just exer cise, the 26 movements are designed for total mind/body fitness and stress reduction. Classes will be held twice week ly, Tues & Thurs, 5:15 6:15 pm. 6 sessions/$25. Call for information and preregistration. I KATH WORKS, P.O. Box 3162, Eugene 97403 • 4844243 | Mainstage Theatre Company’s production of WORKING, the musical based on Studs Terkel's bestselling book, has i three more performances on the Eugene Downtown Mall: July 23, 28, and 29. Musical on the Mall In Review: WORKING I by David Sherman I went to Working with the wrong expectations. I assumed I would see an episodic, revue for mat musical in which the Ameri can work ethic and the virtues of work and working would be sub tly preached at me. The token overture was a playing of the “Look for the Union Label” song. Ah ha, I thought. Not on ly work ethic, but the union work ethic. Not so. The musical, produc ed by Mainstage Theatre, is bas ed on Studs Terkel’s book Working. The musical extracts some two dozen of the inter views and presents them as mono logues, scenes or songs. The total effect is not “hooray for work”—but 24 cheers for the human spirit, which can survive, with humor, care and concern for others while doing necessary work. The production, under the di rection of Joe Zingo, moves quickly through these vignettes. Many are humorous, many are moving. It is hard to single indi viduals out, but I was moved by Denny Guehler as a fireman who once was a policeman. He changed jobs because he didn’t like what was happening to his own attitude towards people. Peg Major’s “Just a House wife” number told of a woman who, in spite of the popular press and what she’s been hear likes being someone’s ing. mother—necessary. Steve Ja quith reminisces about growing up as a migrant worker as he passes out leaflets at a super market—urging shoppers to boycott grapes. LeeAnne Ro bertson opens the second act as a waitress who entertains—or con fuses—her customers with her fantasies. Ken Major is a gas meter reader who relieves bore dom by kicking dogs or sur prising a sun-bathing housewife. You see, if her halter top is un tied and falls, you gain points. It relieves the boredom. This boredom is a theme that runs through the show. Work is boring. But the people keep at it —working. The music and lyrics are by a half-dozen composers. Lydia Lord leads a small, on stage combo that provides effec tive accompaniment. Although boredom is a con stant undertone from these workers, the production is cer tainly anything but boring. The stories reach and affect the au dience. People have wonderfully unique ways of dealing with boredom. And why? Why bo ther with work at all? Denny Guehler, as Mike, a steelworker, says it clearly when he talks about his children and the hopes that are passed on to children by parents. Kevin Boling and Neal Nelson, as a father and son, ex plain poetically the emotional relationships between genera tions. Another reason for working is the ability to point to something and say, "Look. I did that; I made a difference. That brick house, that building, that steel would not be here without me. The world is different because I have been here.” Working will be presented again on July 23, 28, and 29 on the Central Plaza of the Eugene Downtown Mall. Tickets, at $3 in advance and $4 at the gate, are available at several down town outlets or by calling Mainstage Theatre at 683-7207. (Reviewer David Sherman is an LCC professor and member of the Oregon Arts Commission.) 10%oFF AMY REGULARLY PRICED MERCHANDISE with this coupon. Coupon expires 8/3/83 Limit one coupon per purchase. ALBUMS, CASSETTES, SINGLES _ BUTTONS, T-SHIRTS --to mtloe CARDS, PHOTOS POSTERS & MORE thee nc0 T-on0 RE Across the street 9 from the U of O Bookstore 886 E. 13th • 345-1010 | GYKO% (ye ros) And Other Greek Delights 7Te (RksLt LX AH At the 5 th SI. Public Market
