Jungle brings big-city club
feel to downtown Eugene
Since its remodel,
The Jungle has spiced
up Eugene's night life
BY NATASHA CHILINGERIAN
SENIOR PULSE REPORTER
From the looks of its graffiti-like,
spray painted sign, The Jungle
seemed a little sketchy from the out
side. But when I stepped in, it was
all business. Amid darkness and
black lighting, security guards
scanned guests one by one with a
metal detecting wand. Where was I,
in the airport?
In the club’s central area, a bar
separated a lounge and dance floor,
complete with dirty-dance-encour
aging poles and cages. Enjoyable
hip-hop sounds filled the room and
the place was definitely jungled out
— adornments included a waterfall,
netting and fake greenery. Up a
flight of hidden stairs was the VIP
lounge: a private, but still loud area
with candlelit tables.
The Jungle, known as The Annex
before it acquired its liquor license
in January, is one of the only spots
in Eugene that resembles a real
nightclub. Owner Doug Renner said
the nightclub feel is exactly what he
was going for during The Jungle’s
re-creation.
“We were trying to create a club
atmosphere,” he said. “Most clubs
in Eugene are like an empty room
with a stereo in it. We wanted a
place that was like something you
would find in a big city. ”
Jungle employee Carlos Acosta
said The Annex died down a few
months before its transformation
into The Jungle, so when they were
allowed to serve alcohol, employees
decided to give the club a total
theme makeover. Ever since, it’s
been filled with partyers, especially
Nicole Barker | Photographer
The Jungle's inside atmosphere imitates Oregon’s naturally lush environment.
on Friday nights.
“We all sat down one day and
someone just said, The Jungle,’ and
we were like, ‘Whatever,’” Acosta
said. “It’s a cool theme because Ore
gon’s really green. For dancing, it’s
really only here and Tsunami’s.”
“We haven’t had any fights
since we’ve had the wands
... People come in and
realize we’re professional. ”
Carlos Acosta | Employee, The Jungle
The Jungle is big on theme
nights and promoters. The club
has hosted beach party nights, paja
ma parties and Bacardi nights. Dur
ing the 2004 Eugene Celebration,
Jungle employees fenced off
the parking lot and set up picnic ta
bles, tents and an outdoor bar. On
Oct. 30 they will host a Halloween
costume party.
“We had a hot body contest in
June, and there was a lot of nudity
from the females,” Jungle employee
Summer Richardson said. “Last
weekend we had a Mardi Gras
night, and the person with the most
beads won a trip to Mardi Gras (in
New Orleans).” -
The Jungle hosts three to four na
tionally touring acts per month; on
Oct. 28 it will host blues group Nor
ton Buffalo. When bands aren’t per
forming, the club still pumps out
good music thanks to its award
winning DJ, DJ George.
Acosta said The Jungle’s in
creased security began about one
month ago to help guests feel safer.
“We haven’t had any fights since
we’ve had the wands,” he said.
“People come in and realize we’re
professional.”
The Jungle achieves its goal of
representing a professional dance
club with big-city feel. Of course,
the clientele won’t transform into
New York sophisticates and you
won’t find any professional dancers
on stage or decked-out bathrooms.
But The Jungle provides hip-shak
ing music, hard-core dancing and,
without leaving town, a nightclub
atmosphere that makes the grade.
natchilingerian@dailyemerald. com
HOW THE JUNGLE BECAME WILD
Until November 2003, The
Jungle was a popular underage
venue known as The Annex. After
the club received a liquor license,
the owners decided to do a com
plete overhaul in order to remake
the club into a primarily 21
and over venue. Changing the
decor and the name, the club was
remade as The Jungle.
Since then the club has hosted
a number of events, including
musical performances from acts
as diverse as Blue Oyster Cult to
Bo Diddley. Upcoming perform
ances include Ministry and
KMFDM. The Jungle is located at
23 W. 6th Ave.
0204961
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