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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 25, 2015)
Asian Food Market MAYOR PIERCY SIGNS FOSSIL FUEL PETITION Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy signed on to a West Coast-wide petition Nov. 21 that calls for politicians to halt all new adoption of fossil fuel infrastructure. Using the po- litical momentum behind the Portland City Council’s landmark Nov. 12 vote to ban any new fossil fuel infrastructure in that city, the Sustainable Energy and Economy Network (SEEN) is hitting up mayors in Seattle, San Francisco, Vancouver B.C. and other cities from California to Canada sign the petition. “I find this petition is very much in line with the position our City Council has taken on climate change and transporting fossil fuels, and I have signed on,” Piercy writes in an email to EW. “Eugene has been very engaged in reducing the impacts of climate change, having passed perhaps the most aggressive climate ordinance in the nation.” In July 2014, the city of Eugene passed an ordinance declaring its plans to be carbon neutral by 2020. Portland Mayor Charlie Hales came close to signing on to a $500 million deal with the Pembina Pipeline Corporation out of Canada in 2014, but instead rejected that deci- sion under heavy advocacy from Portland’s environmental activist community. Portland’s decision means the city opposes all projects that would increase the trans- portation or storage of all fossil fuels in the city’s limits or in its waterway. The SEEN petition lists dying rivers, burning forests and freak storms as the many new fruits of carbon emissions. It specifically targets city mayors and council members to put into law new measures against fossil fuel consumption. The petition’s goal is to leave at least “80 percent of proven fossil fuel reserves in the ground” and invest in a “just transition” to a clean economy, meaning a steady transition to family-supported jobs and support for people and communities bearing the brunt of climate change impacts. Read the petition at nonewffi.org/sign. Climate change and homelessness are among the topics that will be discussed by West Coast mayors in mid-December when they convene in Portland to talk about common challenges and regional solutions. The mayors include Hales, Piercy, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee. Portland City Club will present their discussion noon Dec. 11, and it will be aired on OPB’s Think Out Loud. The fossil fuel petition is also supported by 350 Eugene and 350 PDX. — Jeslyn Lemke Largest Selection of Asian Groceries The Pub at Laurelwood Good Drinks, Great Food, and An Amazing View ThePubatLaurelwood.com 2700 Columbia St., Eugene 541-636-4818 Seaweed, rice, noodles, frozen products, deli, snacks, drinks, sauces, spices, produce, housewares, and more. We carry groceries from Holland, India, Pakistan and Polynesia Sushi & Asian deli take-out THANKSGIVING SPECIAL CLOSED THANKSGIVING DAY 10% OFF EVERYTHING IN THE STORE! * Excluding rice, case prices and phone cards. Offer expires 11/30/15 www.sunriseasianfood.com M-Th 9am-7pm•F 9am-8pm•Sa 9am-7pm•Su 10am-6pm 70 W. 29th Ave. Eugene • 541-343-3295 The Shedd Institute www.theshedd.org - 541.434.7000 Shedd Theatricals 2015 BELLY RESTAURANT SEES CHANGES, FORMER OWNER EYES NEW OPTIONS Chef Brendan Mahaney sold his popular Eugene restaurant, Belly, to new owners in September, but he already has plans to open another place. “I’m dreaming of a casual, New Orleans-style restaurant,” he says. Contrary to rumors, Mahaney says his choice to sell Belly was “bittersweet,” but not made for any dramatic reason. “Basically, another five-year lease was looming, and I loved what we were doing, but I also knew what another five years would entail,” he says, adding that the strain of running both Belly and his other restaurant, Belly Taqueria, was a factor in the decision. “What I really wanted was to give my wife and I more time to see the world from the perspective of having a Friday and Saturday night off,” he explains. Mahaney says he decided to put Belly on the market in late summer, and only a few months later, Diana and Steve Lee came forward to buy it. The Lees own Sushi Seoul off Coburg Road, and they used to operate Tokyo Tonkatsu in downtown Eugene. The Lees brought on a new chef, Adam Bretz, who worked at Café Soriah before moving to Belly. Bretz says that while he has his own unique inspirations and culinary background, he plans to continue in the traditional vein of Belly, creating “simple dishes with quality, local and delicious ingredients.” Manager Bruce Jensen, who has worked at Belly for a year and a half, says the own- ers intend to “keep it as Belly — French provincial and local cuisine.” Jensen says the restaurant may expand its hours, with eventual plans to open for lunch. As for Mahaney, he and Ann Marie Mahaney, his wife, are recently back from a month-long trip, and he says he’s focusing his efforts on Belly Taqueria. He’s enjoying the ability to invest time in the restaurant, a chance he didn’t always have while also running Belly. But Mahaney isn’t one to take a breather for long — he’s envisioning a new restaurant with offerings of gumbo and red beans and rice. He says he likes the flexibility that New Orleans cuisine offers, and he plans to create a menu with “a healthy, local kick,” throw- ing out the idea of Vegetable Appreciation Wednesdays. “Kind of a modern, healthy twist on good old Creole food,” he explains. Mahaney says he hopes to see the Louisiana-inspired restaurant come to fruition in 2016. — Amy Schneider Cole Porter’s 1934 musical comedy classic Anything Goes Dec 6-20 541.434.7000 theshedd.org Christmas at The Shedd 2015 Swinging On A Star December 10 & 13 eugeneweekly.com • November 25, 2015 9
