Feel like taking a dive?
Two bars stress drinks, not decorum
By HARRY ESTEVE
Of Vw Emaratd
Sitting down to a drink in this
city is not as simple as it sounds
Around the campus area, a
beer never seems to stand
alone At the closest tavern, a
loud stereo blasts drinking ac
companiments. oscillating
between the Grateful Dead and
Willie Nelson
Down the block, at perhaps
the most popular drinking
establishment for students, pa
trons are forced to sit through
daily episodes of "General Hos
pital" displayed on a wide
screen television Oddly e
nough, they enjoy it
Another joint offers daily a
"Waikiki” sun deck for tipplers
who are into even tans and
navels
An evening of pub crawling
within the protective radius of
the University area may leave
the crawler with only one
thought: "I need a drink "
What follows is a description
of two bars — one in Eugene,
one in Springfield — that repre
sent a step away (though not
necessarily up) from the normal
college after-class or after-din
ner drinking habitat
The Veterans Club, located in
the Veterans Memorial Building.
1626 Willamette St., has been
serving hard liquor and beer to
World War II vets and others
since 1948 Inside the huge,
colonial building, a glance
Dry Cutting - Try it to see the ADVANTAGES
$8.50
2001 Franklin Blvd. 686-2544
llT
down the bar indicates some of
the original patrons may still be
hanging out
Aside from being perhaps the
most dimly lit cocktail lounge in
Eugene, the Vets Club also
serves far and away the stiftest
drinks It takes some guts to
finish one — but after that it gets
easier and easier
"You order a rum and coke
and It comes back clear," one
slightly amazed patron com
mented
What light there is comes fil
tered through late-1950-style
given to the only other lighting
in the place — a lime-green
"exit’' sign
The attractions of Sonny's
Tavern, located at 5th and Q
streets in Springfield, are its
simple, sane atmosphere and
seven uncrowded pool tables
A healthy-sized pitcher of
Millers costs $2 50 and pool is a
quarter a game
The place is brightly lit, with
low hanging, unadorned lights
hanging above each table The
decor is simple — glass and
brass beer advertisements
Everything in the lounge glows a shadowy
red and the effect is to dampen conversa
tion to low murmurs.
red lampshades hanging from
the tiled ceiling Everything in
the lounge glows a shadowy red
and the effect is to dampen
conversation to low murmurs
The old-timers sit along the
bar on top of red leatherette
stools, dressed in short-sleeved
sport shirts and polyester-blend
slacks The younger crowd
grabs the booths that separate
the lounge from the dance floor
On weekend nights, couples
dance to the “Country
Squires," a four-piece ensem
ble that plays soft musak-like
versions of old Glen Miller
tunes
On other nights of the week a
rarely-used |ukebox glows from
inside an empty fireplace
Attention also should be
along the walls
Besides sandwiches, beer
sausage and potato-chips are
available tor building up a thirst
Also ottered, though rarely
drunk, is a small selection of
wine, with splits — whatever
"splits' are — going tor $2 Le
Domaine champagne is availa
ble as well
Background music is kept to
background levels, and comes
from a jukebox Selections
range from Johnny Paycheck to
Linda Ronstadt
The Vets Club and Sonny's
are only two out of a slew of
local watering holes ranging
from the seedy to the sublime,
reminding students that not all
Eugene taverns are created
equal
-.1
MARIE CALLENDER’S
RESTAURANT - BAKERY - SALOON
Lunch 11-5;
Dinner 5-10 Monday - Sunday; Sunday Brunch 10-1
5-11 Friday & Saturday Happy Hour 4-6 Monday - Friday
1300 Valley River Drive (Next to Valley River Shopping Center) Eugene 484-7113