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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (June 7, 2007)
BY ADRIENNE VAN DER VALK Cut, Color and Cosmo, Please! New salon focuses on all things fabulous Exquisite Foods Phenomenal Presentation Superior Service I Serving Northwest-French Contemporary Cuisine had no problem identifying Kristy Andreason at our designated meeting spot. Bleached blonde, ruby-sandaled and decked out in glittering sunglasses, the creative force behind the soon-to-be-open Moxie Lounge was a stylish bright spot on the deck of the Beanery. The Moxie, slated for a July opening in the former Savouré tea house on Broadway and Charnelton, will be the latest addition to Eugene’s selection of downtown salons … and bars … and restau- rants. Andreason’s vision combines a few of her favorite things under the roof of one busi- ness: chic hair, high quality drinks and fine food. “It’ll have a classy, jazzy, cocktail lounge feel,” she explains. “And a high-end, nice salon. We won’t have beer on tap, no pool ta- bles.” D INNER • W EEKEND B RUNCH Local and French Wines • 4 Ever Changing Beers on Tap Seasonal Cocktails • Catering Available Intimate Monthly Wine Dinners three square southtowne shoppes - 2835 oak street, 284.2825 chic hair, high quality drinks and fine food Andreason visited a similar establishment while traveling with her husband in San Francisco. She was struck with how much more fun clients had when getting their hair and nails done was a social affair instead of an errand. While the restaurant and bar will operate separately from the salon (different staff, different parts of the building), The Moxie Lounge will offer salon patrons the option of sipping martinis while sitting under the dryer. “A bartender or a cocktail waitress will come over and offer a menu and provide extra pampering for the clients. It will be a place you can meet up with your girlfriends after work for a pedi,” Andreason says. Those not in immediate need of beautification can also visit the lounge and enjoy a swanky place to kick-start a night on the town. “The goal isn’t to be the ‘close down’ location, but more of the ‘pre-funk’ place. People in this town wait too long to go out. You need that 6 to 11 place.” Opening a hair salon as well as a restau- rant with a liquor license and a full lunch and dinner menu is no small task, but the ambi- tious Andreason knew the road to Moxie would not be without bureaucratic bumps. “I’ve worked in restaurants and salons be- fore. Knowing what kind of restrictions there were and that it was going to be hard actually made it easier. Getting three different depart- ments of the government that never talk to each other to talk to each other is kind of hard.” She notes that there is a barbershop in Portland based on the same concept, a prece- dent that made her process slightly smoother. “We have all the permits. Now we are just prepping the building, fine tuning, no major stuff. Making it look pretty.” Andreason herself is relatively new to professional styling, although she notes she’s been teasing and tinting her own and friends’ hair for years. She worked for Rapunzel for a year after getting her license and is ahead of her goal of owning her own salon within two years of graduation. The Moxie Lounge’s four chairs are already rented by independent contractors and she hopes to add manicures and pedicures to the menu of services soon (although “no smelly stuff!” she says, point- ing out the need to avoid acrylics in order to maintain an atmosphere conducive to din- ing). When asked about The Moxie Lounge’s style specialties, Andreason laughs. “I’m very good at bleaching,” she says, gesturing toward her own mane of platinum locks. “I’ve been doing my own hair for 10 years. I have one stylist who is the most awe- some stylist in town for men’s haircuts and 75 percent of her client base is men. I’m basing my salon more toward women, but men can come in and have a good time.” Good times are the goal for Andreason, whose quest to unite personal style with nightlife chic will be decorated with a 1920s speakeasy-inspired, art deco theme. Look for The Moxie Lounge to open its doors in July, with salon hours from 9 am to 9 pm Tuesday through Saturday and bar hours from 11 am to midnight Tuesday through Thursday, serv- ing until 2:30 am Saturday and Sunday. ew 5BEST THAI RESTAURANT 2005-2006 5BEST NEW RESTAURANT 2003-2004 5BEST SOUTHEAST ASIAN 2004-2005 5BEST TAKE OUT 2004-2005 2 6 L u n c h S p e c i a l s • Lunch & Dinner, Dine In or Take Out H u g e V e g e t a r i a n S e l e c t i o n s • Family Owned & Operated. 580 Adams St., Eugene (across from Red Apple) • 344-1706 MON-FRI Lunch: 11am-3pm, Dinner: 4:30-9pm • SAT 12-9pm • SUN 4-9pm For Delivery Call Pony Express 485-2090 38 JUNE 7, 2007