OREGON $ GAY/LESBIAN/BI/TRANS NEWSMAGAZINE
AUGUST 7 3009
19 M
HEY. EUGENE!"
BY ERIC D. OLSON
“Why is everyone running?” I asked
myself, rhetorically, when entering the city
limits of Eugene.
As everyone knows, “Track Town, USA”
has a long history of running and the in
famous making of a shoe. Major running
events, like last year’s Olympic trials, are held
here.
Eugene is the perfect weekend getaway
for the queer traveler from Portland. An
easy 90-mile drive south on Interstate 5, the
second largest city (currently) in the state
offers a plethora of activities. Marketed as
an outdoor recreation town influenced by
a countertype mentality, Eugene sits at the
southern end of the Willamette Valley.
The midsize city rests in a perfect loca
tion to take advantage of its nearby wineries,
all-season Cascades, and mid-state coastal
regions. That said, I didn’t even make it out
side the city limits on a recent long weekend
in July.
The town itself is part hippie, part athlete,
part outdoor adventurer, and part cultural
highbrow. Eugene seems to provide greater
selections of food co-ops, arts events and gay,
lesbian, bi and trans resources compared to
any other city its size.
I stayed at the lovely Augusta House, a
bed and breakfast overlooking the city. Part
lesbian-owned, the amenity-studded house
(free use of GPS systems and laptops) evokes
a decorative style of Williams Sonoma
Home. However, I was most intrigued by the
“spiritual menu” that offers books, CDs and
other motivation media.
The most comfortable bed I slept in all
summer was here, and a made-to-order
breakfast was brought in on a cart. My meal
included scrumptious eggs Benedict with a
side of seasonal fruit. Introductory rates be
gin at $119, and most rooms are larger than a
Pearl condo (www.augustahouse.net).
Because splurging at the Augusta House
can constrain one’s wallet, I was cautious
about my spending for the duration of my
visit. The good news is that I succeeded in
my goal, thanks to numerous low-cost, high-
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impact options in Eugene.
I continued my day at lesbian-owned Eu
gene Coffee Company on 18th and Cham
bers (www.eugenecoffeeco.com). The baristas
here are extremely knowledgeable about the
city and helped me plan the remainder of my
weekend.
After charging up on caffeine, I spent
some time at the free Owen Rose Garden.
Boasting over 400 varieties of roses along the
Willamette River, the garden rivals any plot
in Portland (www.eugene-or.gov/portal).
This is an ideal place for an intimate picnic,
or well, a jog. Nearby Skinner Butte Park
provides panoramic views of the city.
Another fantastic and frugal place I visit
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Portland
ed was the University of Oregon. The Jordan
Schnitzer Museum of Art on campus offers
a cool, underappreciated venue to experience
art (www.uoma.uoregon.edu). For only $5,
you’ll find a notable lineup with works from
Korea, China and Japan. For me, it was a
great place to beat the heat.
Eugene is an event town, and summer is
a superb time to participate in some of the
city’s best fests. In mid-July the Oregon Bach
Festival makes a strong impression. Over
50 performances blanket the locale for two
weeks, and tickets start at $15 (www.oregon-
bachfestival.com).
Most of the Oregon Bach Festival perfor
mances are held at the stunning Hult Center
on Seventh Street, and numerous arts orga
nizations call the Hult home.
In contrast, the Oregon County Fair “cre
ates events... that nourish the spirit...and
transform culture in magical, joyous, and
healthy ways.” Every July, the three-day event
features musicians and artisans in a counter
culture village. Tickets start at $18 (www.
oregoncountryfair.org).
If you can’t wait for next year’s summer
festivals, then head down to Eugene this Sat
urday, August 8 to experience the Eugene/
Springfield Pride Festival in Alton Baker
Park (www.eugenepride.org).
I also spent time at the Fifth Street Public
Market, a city block “destination area” of res
taurants, courtyards, coffee shops and various
retail boutiques. I grabbed a Greek salad for
$6 at Café Glendi and headed to one of the
outside sitting areas (www.5stmarket.com).
Fueled by a collegiate crowd, nightlife in
Eugene is ample. I began one of my evenings
at gay-friendly Diablos (959 Pearl Street).
Red-upholstered booths make a welcom
ing place to grab a Ninkasi’s Triceraphops
Double IPA ($3.50).
Without a doubt, the libations from
Ninkasi Brewing are the beer connoisseur’s
choice in Eugene. You can find many of
Ninkasi’s beers on tap along the bars and
cafes at the intersection of Broadway and
Olive Street.
For the non-bar scene, check out Eu
gene’s Q_ Center on 1309 Lincoln Street
(www.queereugene.com). The center hosts a
variety of activities—a recent online calendar
showed movie nights and barbecues happen
ing in July at the active center.
Eugene appears to be a four-season
destination, and I look forward to visiting
the city from different points of view...tall
football games, winter skiing and spring run
ning events. If the summer is any indication
of Eugene’s identity, I will most definitely be
back.
Combined with an affordable culture
menu, progressive attitude and countless
outdoor options, Eugene is a worthwhile
weekend getaway for the gay, lesbian, bi and
trans traveler.
Travel Plans?
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