1. Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art 1430 Johnson Ln. 541-346-3027. JSMA.UOregon.edu.
2. New Zone Gallery 110 E. 11th Ave. 541-683-0759. NewZoneGallery.org.
3. White Lotus Gallery 767 Willamette. 541-345-3276. WLotus.com.
You are the best
From the east to the west!
readers of Lane County who decide who are the peak picks of Eugene, year Some of us peaked in high school, some of us are still peaking, but it’s the after year. Read along with the Weekly as we induce some high school flash-backs in our yearbook-themed Best of issue. Congrats to the winners — and the voters, who had their voices heard (yes, that is veiled political commentary in an otherwise non-political poll).
-
Best Photographer
1. Athena Delene Delene and Co.541-515-9442.Delene.co.
2. Faliesha Dawn Photography FalieshaDawne.com.
3. Destiny Brock Brock Photography. BrockDestiny1.wixsite.com/dbrockphotography.
-
Best Drag Queen
1. Karress Ann Slaughter, Cornel Hardiman Facebook.com/GlamazonsEugene.
2. Lyta Blunt, Deziree Brock Facebook.com/Lytablunt.
3. Slutashia, Sam Thrower Facebook.com/Slutashia.
Karress Ann Slaughter, aka Cornel Hardiman, is a Eugene drag veteran. Hardiman has been in the Eugene drag scene for nearly 30 years and has no signs of slowing down. “It’s nice to know that my hard work still shows for itself and it feels like I am still always evolving,” Hardiman says. “Even my makeup routine has changed just in the last three months.”
Hardiman has been on the map since he won a title his first year doing drag. One of the best things about drag for Hardiman is that it has allowed him to tap into a part of himself he never knew existed. “It’s cool because I can literally be anyone I want to be.”
Since Hardiman started doing drag a lot has changed, but one change he is most excited about is seeing how much of a variety of drag there is. Hardiman says he loves seeing the rise in drag kings, singing queens and every other drag niche.
The most rewarding part about drag for Hardiman, though, is being able to make people smile. “My favorite thing to see, especially at Pride, is when little kids look up at you and they are just enamored by you, and come up to you and want to talk to you,” Hardiman says. “Especially as a parent, if I can make a child happy, that just makes my life.”
-
Best Drag King
1. Heavy Cream, Melanie Funke Instagram.com/heavy_creammm.
2. Smash The King Instagram.com/smash_the.king.
3. Edd Zackly, Abigail Instagram.com/eddzackly.
For Heavy Cream, aka Melanie Funke, drag was a world they were enamored by but unsure where they could fit it. “I started seeing a local drag king, Jackley. He was one of the main kings on the scene and just seeing him not only be an amazing performer but also be so funny and goofy, I was like, ‘Yes that’s what I want to do.’”
After that Funke decided to attend drag queen Lyta Blunt’s drag workshop, where Funke could hone in on performance technique and perform a song at the end of the workshop. “After I performed everyone was coming up to me and asking me if I had ever done that before, and I was like no… and they were like, you need to do drag,” Funke says. “To have such a positive response was so important and impactful to come into my light.”
Funke is now a regular performer at Spectrum and an avid member of the drag community. “As of right now, the sky’s the limit for me,” Funke says. “I want to continue growing on this path. I want to travel and do drag across the states.”
-
Best Burger Joint
1. Cornucopia 295 W. 17th Ave. 541-485-2300; 207 E. 5th Ave. ste. 109, 541-485-2676; 521 Main St. Spfd, 541-485-2879. CornucopiaEugene.com.
2. Gotcha Burger 1702 W. 7th Ave. 541-221-2839.
3. Toxic Burger 943 River Rd, 541-689-9464; 2766 W. 11th Ave. 541-255-4345; 2866 Willamette, 541-930-3355; 285 E. Oregon Ave, Creswell. 541-658-5251. Toxicburger.com.
-
Best Chicken Joint
1. Hot Mama’s Wings 420 W. 13th Ave. 541-653-9999. HotMamasWings.com.
2. Yardy Eugene 263 Mill St. YardyEugene.com.
3. Chicken Bonz 1815 Pioneer Pkwy E. Spfd. 541-726-0111. ChickenBonz.com.
-
Best Comfort Food
1. Brail’s 1689 Willamette. 541-343-1542; 395 W. 5th Ave. #2506, 541-342-2075. BrailsRestaurant.co.
2. Black Wolf Supper Club 454 Willamette. 541-687-8226. BlackWolfSupperClub.com.
3. Mandy’s Family Restaurant 1491 Willamette. 541-654-0382. MandysFamilyRestaurant.com.
-
Best Latin American Food
1. Nelson’s in the Whit 400 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com; Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
2. Tacovore 530 Blair Blvd. 541-735-3518. TacovorePNW.com.
3. El Buen Sabor 650 Blair Blvd. 541-653-2517. ElBuenSabor.us.
-
Best Italian Food
1. Beppe & Gianni’s Trattoria 1646 E. 19th Ave. 541-683-6661. BeppeAndGiannis.net.
2. Mazzi’s Italian Restaurant 3377 E. Amazon Dr. 541-687-2252. Mazzis.com.
3. Placido’s Pasta Shop 120 Shelton McMurphey Blvd. #110, 458-205-8092. Placidos.com.
-
Best Thai Food
1. Ta Ra Rin Thai Cuisine 1200 Oak St. 541-343-1230; 1410 Mohawk Blvd. Spfd. 541- 505-8987; 1520 Coburg Rd. 541-844-1032. TaRaRinThai.com.
2. Sabai 27 Oakway Ctr. 541-654-5424. SabaiCafe.com.
3. Krob Krua 1313 Pearl St. 541-636-6267. KrobKrua.com.
-
Best International Cuisine That Didn’t Fit in One of the Other Categories
1. Cafe Soriah 384 W. 13th Ave. 541-342-4410. Soriah.com.
2. Poppi’s Anatolia 992 Willamette. 541-343-9661. PoppisAnatolia.com.
3. Evergreen Indian 906 W. 7th Ave. 541-343-7944.
-
Best Barbecue
1. Bill & Tim’s Barbecue & Tap House 201 E. 13th Ave. 541-654-0578. Billandtims.com.
2. Hole in the Wall 3200 W. 11th Ave. 541-683-7378; 1807 Olympic St. Spfd. 541-726-1200. Holeinthewallbbq.com.
3. Paper Plate BBQ 263 Mill St. 541-606-2130. Paperplatebbq.com.
-
Best Vegetarian/Vegan Food
1. Morning Glory Café 450 Willamette. 541-687-0709. MorningGloryEugene.com.
2. Laughing Planet 760 Blair Blvd. 541-868-0668; 2864 Willamette, 541-505-5399. LaughingPlanet.com.
3. Cafe Yumm! 860 E. 13th Ave. 541-349-9866; 1801 Willamette. 541-686-9866; 130 Oakway Ctr. 541-465-9866. 550 Pearl St. ste. 130. 541-344-9866. CafeYumm.com.
-
Best Pizza
1. Hey Neighbor! Pizza House 1621 E. 19th Ave. 605 W. 19th Ave. 541-505-9302. H-n-p-h.com.
2. Mezza Luna Pizzeria 933 Pearl St. 541-684-8900. MezzaLunaPizzeriaEugene.com.
3. Slice Pizzeria and Bar 325 Blair Blvd. 541-653-9937. Slicepizzeriaandbar.com.
A corgi mascot at Hey, Neighbor! makes sense. The herding dogs sport a loud bark. And since opening Hey, Neighbor, the restaurant’s logo — a barking corgi — has corralled customers in. Well, maybe it’s also the pizza, which is why EW readers voted it as Best Pizza.
Back when owner Calen Willis opened Hey, Neighbor, he says he wanted to have a place where he could know his customers. His customer base kept growing through word of mouth, and now Hey, Neighbor has become an institution of 19th and Agate alongside Prince Pücklers and Beppe and Gianni’s.
Rather than pile on toppings on a pizza, Willis says the restaurant focuses on one ingredient that can be a star. For early autumn, that’s an opportunity to showcase broccolini from ME and Moore Farm. “We’re trying to source the best ingredients,” Willis says. “That shows through.”
But being EW’s Best Pizza isn’t just about fresh ingredients. It’s all about the basics and how sauce — and what makes it up, including basil, sea salt, tomatoes and olive oil — is the foundation to a great pizza. “We try not to get in the way of the original ingredient,” he says.
-
Best Bagel Place
1. Lox, Stocks and Bagels 368 E. 40th Ave. 541-692-2435. Facebook.com/loxstocksandbagels.
2. Bagel Sphere 810 Willamette. 541-344-1335; 4089 W. 11th Ave. 541-868-1072. BagelSphere.com.
3. Hideaway Bakery 3377 E. Amazon Dr. 541-868-1982. HideawayBakery.com.
When Lox, Stocks and Bagels owner Maxwell Davis thinks of a bagel, he pictures freshly baked and boiled New York-style bagels with an assortment of cream cheeses of your choice. Davis believes in waking up at three every morning to achieve that freshly boiled bagel because “that’s what the community counts on.”
After working as a general manager for several years, Davis took on owning Lox, Stocks and Bagels two years ago and hasn’t looked back since. “I had the training it took and it just felt like this place was so important to our community, and I was willing to dedicate that time,” Davis says.
Davis now spends an average of 50 hours a week making sure Eugene is getting the freshly boiled bagels it deserves. “We’re just excited to be honored like this,” Davis says. “And we know our customers are, too.”
-
Best Coffee Shop
1. Wandering Goat Coffee Co. 268 Madison St. 541-344-5161. WanderingGoat.com.
2. Farmers Union Coffee Roasters 152 W. 5th Ave. FarmersUnionCoffee.com.
3. Vero Espresso House 205 E. 14th Ave. 541-654-0504. VeroEspressoHouse.com.
-
Best Barista
1. Aaron (Sully) Sullivan Wandering Goat Coffee Co. 268 Madison St. 541-344-5161. WanderingGoat.com.
2. Okon Udosenata Equiano 300 Blair Blvd. 541-953-2879. EquianoCoffee.com.
3. Katie Stowe Stay Woke,1380 W. 7th Ave. 541-600-0585. StayWokepnw.com.
Aaron (Sully) Sullivan’s first reaction to hearing he was a finalist for Eugene Weekly’s Best Baristawas “What? Who did this? Why would they do this to me?” followed by “OK, this feels good to be recognized.” Sullivan has been a barista for most of his life, starting in drive-thrus and working his way through bakeries and coffee shops in town; most notably Sweet Life Patisserie and now Wandering Goat.
“It feels like a Eugene bingo card that’s been crossed off since I’ve lived here my whole life,” Sullivan says.
Sullivan realized he could make being a barista a career after he started working at Sweet Life and realized he could make just as much money making coffee as he could doing anything he went to college for. “I was in college right around the time of the recession,” he says. “There weren’t a lot of job opportunities and I thought, ‘Well I can keep doing this.’”
Sullivan says his favorite part about being a barista at Wandering Goat is that he can really be himself. “I think customers really like that I don’t do the whole ‘canned customer service’ thing,” Sullivan says. “I am just kind of myself, which I guess is a little gregarious.”
When Sullivan isn’t making a latte or cappuccino at Wandering Goat you can find him making art or using his very own aeropress to make his own fresh brewed coffee because he’s become “a real coffee snob” over the years working as a barista.
-
Best Breakfast
1. Morning Glory Café 450 Willamette. 541-687-0709. MorningGloryEugene.com.
2. Brail’s 1689 Willamette. 541-343-1542; 395 W. 5th Ave. #2506, 541-342-2075. BrailsRestaurant.co.
3. Lion and Owl 60 E. 11th Ave. 541-606-0626 LionandOwl.com
-
Best Ice Cream or Desserts
1. Sweet Life Patisserie 755 Monroe St. 1609 E. 19th Ave. 541-683-5676. SweetLifeDesserts.com.
2. Prince Pückler’s Ice Cream 1605 E. 19th Ave. 541-344-4418. Princepucklers.com.
3. Noisette Pastry Kitchen 200 W. Broadway, 541-654-5257. NoisettePK.com.
-
Best Bakery
1. Sweet Life Patisserie 755 Monroe St. 1609 E. 19th Ave. 541-683-5676. SweetLifeDesserts.com.
2. Creswell Bakery 182 S. 2nd St. Creswell. 541-895-5885. CreswellBakery.com.
3. Noisette Pastry Kitchen 200 W. Broadway, 541-654-5257. NoisettePK.com.
-
Best Bar
1. Sam Bond’s Garage 407 Blair Blvd. 541-431-6603. SamBonds.com.
2. Jackalope Lounge 453 Willamette St. 541-485-1519. JackalopeLounge.com.
3. Blairally 245 Blair Blvd. 541-683-1721. Blairally.com.
-
Best Bartender
1. Molly Powell Sam Bond’s Garage407 Blair Blvd. 541-431-6603. SamBonds.com.
2. Thor Slaughter Akira Omakase 359 Mill St. 458-205-8288. AkiraEugene.com.
3. Ryan Prescher Izakaya Meiji Company 345 Van Buren St. 541-505-8804. IzakayaMeiji.com
Sam Bond’s Garage and Molly Powell cleaned house in “Best of Eugene” this year. Best Bar winner Sam Bond’s Garage is very much the Whiteaker’s neighborhood bar hosting bingo nights, live music, burlesque, comedy, drag shows and it also has outdoor seating.
Having been a bartender for Sam Bond’s for 11 years, Best Bartender Molly Powell says what’s more important than making a mean drink is “creating a safe space where everyone can be together and have a good time.”
One unique and adorable feature of Sam Bond’s Garage would be Buddy the bar cat, a 13-year-old orange cat who roams around the bar. “If you like live entertainment, look us up and see if there are any shows, it’s a blast,” Powell says.
-
Best East Asian Food(Japanese, Korean and Chinese)
1. Izakaya Meiji Company 345 Van Buren St. 541-505-8804. IzakayaMeiji.com.
2. Bao Bao House 868 West Park St. 541-799-1088; 3342 Gateway, Spfd. 541-600-8868. BaobaoHouseor.com,
3. Akira Omakase 359 Mill St. 458-205-8288. AkiraEugene.com.
-
Best Cocktails
1. Izakaya Meiji Company 345 Van Buren St. 541-505-8804. IzakayaMeiji.com.
2. Thinking Tree Spirits 88 Jackson St. 541-515-6993. ThinkingTreeSpirits.com.
3. Nelson’s in the Whit 400 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404. NelsonsInTheWhit.com.
Trying to get a table for two at Izakaya Meiji on a Friday night is not for the faint of heart, as you will most likely be battling it out for a table among the other hungry Japanese small plate fans. The izakaya, with a whiskey bar flair, has been a Eugene staple since Quinn Brown and his wife Ayumi Kamata opened the restaurant in 2010.
With a menu that incorporates Japanese small plate favorites such as onigiri and wakame salad, but with a Southern twist, it’s not uncommon to find Japanese potato salad made with Kewpie mayo and collard greens with pickled togarashi. With equally inventive cocktails like mugwort bitters with Sazerac rye and scotch in their Smoke Dreams, Izakaya Meiji has mastered the art of a creative beverage — as a result, Meiji won Best Cocktails and Best East Asian Food and took third in Best Bartender.
On Oct. 4 the restaurant announced it was closing its doors at the end of the month, leaving the Eugene food community dismayed and wondering how they could close such an iconic establishment. A few days later, Izakaya Meiji went back on social media to announce that the closure is more or less a rebrand of the restaurant in its same location.
Meiji posted, “Wow what an outpouring of support from the community, our hearts are warmed by y’all’s response. We didn’t mean to leave you in the lurch but while Meiji is closing we are planning on opening a new spot in its location — and some favorite items will carry over.”
-
Best Local Beer
1. ColdFire Brewing 263 Mill St. 541-636-3889. ColdFireBrewing.com.
2. Oakshire Brewing 207 Madison St. 541-654-5520. OakBrew.com.
3. Ninkasi Brewing 272 Van Buren St. 541-344-2739. NinkasiBrewing.com.
ColdFire Brewing has offered small-batch, Western European-inspired beer to the Eugene community since it opened its doors in 2015. Now, the brewery distributes its products across the state of Oregon and in Vancouver, Washington.
Its public house is home to a rotating handful of ColdFire original brews on tap and in cans. Those swinging by the taproom can also pick up pizza, BBQ, stretched noodles and West Indian-inspired food from the four food carts set up in the back of the property.
When I swung by, I tried three of ColdFire’s tap beers: the Cumulus Tropicalus IPA, the Thursday Friday IPA and a sip of my partner’s Live Sour. I especially liked the Cumulus, a lighter, citrusy, not-that-hoppy IPA — and a “favorite of our ColdFire fans,” per the company’s website.
ColdFire’s public house was also named “best place to embark on the adventure to get dinner and beers with toddlers who are no longer cute to anyone else” in Eugene Weekly’s 2022 Staff Picks.
-
Best Local Wine
1. Sweet Cheeks Winery 27007 Briggs Hill Rd. 541-349-9463. SweetCheeksWinery.com.
2. King Estate Winery 80854 Territorial Hwy. 541-685-5189. KingEstate.com.
3. Sarver Winery 25600 Mayola Ln. 541-935-2979. SarverWinery.com.
-
Best Distillery
1. Thinking Tree Spirits 88 Jackson St. 541-515-6993. ThinkingTreeSpirits.com.
2. Heritage Distilling Company 110 Madison St. 541-357-4431. HeritageDistilling.com.
3. Swallowtail Spirits 111 Main St. Spfd. 541-357-5951. SwallowTailSpirits.com.
-
Best Takeout
1. Cafe Yumm! 860 E. 13th Ave. 541-349-9866; 1801 Willamette. 541-686-9866; 130 Oakway Ctr. 541-465-9866. 550 Pearl St. ste. 130. 541-344-9866. CafeYumm.com.
2. Nelson’s in the Whit/Nelson’s Taqueria 400 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com; Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
3. Da Nang Vietnamese Eatery 88 Jackson St. 541-915-0144. Facebook.com/danangeatery.
-
Best Meal Under $12
1. Cafe Yumm! 860 E. 13th Ave. 541-349-9866; 1801 Willamette. 541-686-9866; 130 Oakway Ctr. 541-465-9866. 550 Pearl St. ste. 130. 541-344-9866. CafeYumm.com.
2. Burrito Boy 510 E. Broadway. 541-344-8070; 1889 Olympic St. Spfd. 541-747-7775; 1840 Chambers St. 541-246-8775; 2511 W. 11th. 541-338-4219; 1060 River Rd. 541-689-7970; 1071 Valley River Dr. 541- 343-8089. BurritoBoy.com.
3. Nelson’s Taqueria 400 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
-
Best Meal Over $25
1. Cafe Soriah 384 W. 13th Ave. 541-342-4410. Soriah.com.
2. Marché 5th Street Public Market, 296 E. 5th Ave. 541-342-3612. MarcheRestaurant.com.
3. Lion and Owl 60 E. 11th Ave. 541-606-0626. LionandOwl.com.
-
Best Chef
1. Crystal Platt Lion & Owl 60 E. 11th Ave. 541-606-0626 LionandOwl.com.
2. Taro Kobayashi Akira Omakase 359 Mill St. 458-205-8288. AkiraEugene.com.
3. Billy Reid Dueling Spoons 39074 Jasper Lowell Rd. 541-398-8929. DuelingSpoons.net.
It’s been quite a year for Crystal Platt, chef and owner of Lion and Owl. Her 2023 kicked off with news that she was a Best Chef semi-finalist for the prestigious James Beard Awards. Months later, her alma mater, Lane Community College, awarded her with its Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award. And now EW readers have voted that Platt is the area’s Best Chef.
But to be the best, Platt says she had to study with the best. Shortly after graduating from LCC with her associate’s degree, she worked at Marché, which she says was after the restaurant had won its James Beard Award.
Platt and her restaurant have a seasonal menu, but her ingenuity may shine brightest with turning an ordinary potato into something magical. One recipe she’s proud of is the potato in the style of ham hock, a days-long process. It starts with the potato being steamed, peeled and brined for 24 hours. Then it’s dried and smoked. And when it’s ordered, the kitchen deep fries it.
“The potato was the first dish that I felt like was mine,” she says.
Lion and Owl continues that legacy of excellence, not just providing high quality food, but also offering something different for its customers.
“Both my wife and I work hard to create a special place,” Platt says. “You can be in Eugene but feel like you’re escaping.
-
Best Server
1. Abbie Taylor Mandy’s Family Restaurant 1491 Willamette. 541-654-0382. MandysFamilyRestaurant.com.
2. Heather Ensign Brail’s on 5th 395 W. 5th Ave. #2506, 541-342-2075. BrailsRestaurant.co.
3. Chrissy Norris Nelson’s in The Whit 400 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com; Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
Abbie Taylor is a self-described “restaurant kid.” Taylor grew up watching her mom, Mandy Taylor, wait tables at pubs and restaurants across Eugene. When Mandy Taylor finally decided to open her own restaurant in 2019, it only made sense that Abbie Taylor would start serving classic diner food herself.
Abbie Taylor says, “I watched my mom go from a hustlin’ waitress to a successful business owner, so that is definitely inspiring to me.”
At Mandy’s you get the full family-owned diner experience. Taylor says a lot of the customers she serves at Mandy’s have been following her mom around restaurant to restaurant for years and now enjoy getting to know her daughter. While she refills their coffee, regulars of Mandy’s often ask Taylor how her family’s doing. “They want to come in, eat their breakfast and ask me how I’m doing,” Taylor says. “It’s really nice.”
As Taylor grows into the server she idolized as a kid, she says a new generation of “restaurant kids” has taken over the place. “Now it’s my nephew running all over the place screaming,” she says. Taylor hopes that someday she, too, can open her own diner and have restaurant kids of her own running around.
“I just think it’s awesome that people want to support our family,” Taylor says. “And hopefully, someday, I can have my own restaurant kids run around my Mandy’s.”
-
Best Food Cart
1. Nelson’s Taqueria 400 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com; Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
2. Da Nang Vietnamese Eatery 88 Jackson St. 541-915-0144. Facebook.com/danangeatery.
3. Yardy Eugene 263 Mill St. YardyEugene.com.
The best food carts in Eugene this year are globetrotters. Yardy’s Afro-Caribbean influenced fried chicken, Da Nang Vietnamese Eatery’s famous banh mi, and Nelson’s Taqueria’s authentic Mexican cuisine have shown us that Eugene’s food scene is more diverse than ever.
Yardy’s owner Isaiah Martinez says he owes all of his success to his team. “I’m like the coach pouring water on my team at the end of the game — I owe it all to them.” Martinez says he is so thankful that the community has supported him and his endeavors to bring the flavors he grew up tasting at home to Eugene.
Da Nang has been a food cart staple in Eugene for the past 10 years. General manager Andrew Sexton has been with Da Nang since its inception. He says Da Nang’s success can be traced back to its freshness. Sexton says. “Most food trucks have a reputation for being greasy but we always have the freshest ingredients.”
And winner Nelson’s Taqueria, with its food from tortas to tacos, has been a Eugene favorite and a headline maker in Eugene Weekly since its opening as a food cart and later the addition of its brick and mortar building. Owner Nelson Lopez says, “We are committed to our community because they are committed to us.” EW voters made that clear!
-
Best Catering
1. Mucho Gusto 67 Oakway Center. 541-343-148; 205 E. 18th Ave. 541-650-6985. MuchoGusto.info.
2. Marigold Cooking Collective MarigoldCookingCollective.com.
3. Viking Brewing Company Southtowne Pub, 2490 Willamette. 541-515-6314; 520 Commercial St. unit F. 541-653-8371. DrinkViking.com.
-
Best New Restaurant
1. Dueling Spoons 39074 Jasper Lowell Road. Fall Creek. 541-398-8929. DuelingSpoons.net.
2. Jade Dumpling and Noodle House 2560 Willamette. 541-968-9258. Instagram.com/jade_dumpling_eugene.
3. Osteria DOP 1122 Oak St. 541- 913-6460. PizzeriaDop.com.
Whenever you step inside Dueling Spoons, right away you become a part of the family. But that’s not what converts one to become a Dueling Spoons fanatic. It’s all about the food, whether you’re ringing the bell to announce to the rest of the restaurant that you’re about to chow down on a tomahawk steak or eating a sandwich on bread that’s been shipped in from Philadelphia.
Dueling Spoons, though known for its dinner service, has recently opened its doors for lunch, offering Irish fare such as bangers and mash and shepherd’s pies. But what’s worth the drive out to Fall Creek are the sandwiches, an artform of layering by chef and owner Billy Reid — who voters also voted into the top three in Best Chef in a highly competitive category.
Reid is the first to acknowledge that if you’re in a hurry to eat dinner, maybe Dueling Spoons isn’t the right dinner spot. Rather than have a model of getting customers in and out, he says he’d rather have them enjoy their time at the restaurant.
Readers have chosen Dueling Spoons as the Best New Restaurant, as well as second place for Best Out-of-Town Restaurant, but the Fall Creek-based restaurant seems like it’s become an overnight culinary institution. And that’s because Reid, his wife Kathleen Reid and everyone else at the restaurant are dedicated to making sure that every customer experience is memorable.
“We’ll go to the lengths to make people happy,” Reid says. “I have a reputation we’ll go to lengths that are necessary to make people happy.”
-
Best Out-of-Town Restaurant(not in Eugene-Springfield)
1. Creswell Bakery 182 S. 2nd St., Creswell. 541-895-5885. CreswellBakery.com.
2. Dueling Spoons 39074 Jasper Lowell Road. Fall Creek. 541-398-8929. Duelingspoons.net.
3. Waterfront Depot 1252 Bay St. Florence. 541-902-9100. TheWaterfrontDepot.com.
-
Best Restaurant
1. Cafe Soriah 384 W. 13th Ave. 541-342-4410. Soriah.com.
2. Nelson’s in the Whit 400 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com; Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
3. Lion and Owl 60 E. 11th Ave. 541- 606-0626 LionandOwl.com
-
Best Indie Bookstore
1. Tsunami Books 2585 Willamette. 541-345-8986. TsunamiBooks.org.
2. Smith Family Bookstore 525 Willamette. 541-343-4717. SmithFamilyBookstore.com.
3. Books with Pictures 99 W. Broadway, C. 541-485-1048. BooksWithPicturesEug.com.
-
Best Tattoo Artist
1. Kassandra Lampwick Wild Rose Tattoo 2849 Oak St. WildRoseTattoo.com/kassandra-lampwick.
2. Katana DeVille Sad Devils Club Tattoo 76 W. Broadway. 541-357-4484. SadDevilsClubTattoo.com.
3. Suzen Tattoozen Whiteaker Tattoo Collective 304 River Rd. 541-255-2734. WhiteakerTattoo.com.
Kassandra Lampwick says she has always considered herself an artist, but by the time she got her third tattoo she knew that tattooing was going to be her “lifelong mistress.” She says, “It made me feel as different on the inside as it did on the outside — and I really loved that.”
Lampwick is now the co-owner, with Sarah Knapp, of Wild Rose, an all-women artists tattoo parlor, where Lampwick brings her colorful realism style to the Eugene’s tattoo scene. When Lampwick and Knapp started Wild Rose in 2021 they set out to create a women-owned tattoo studio that provided a space for clients to feel safe and comfortable. In addition to owning a tattoo parlor, Lampwick also runs a nonprofit called Eugene Bleeds that focuses on ending period poverty in the local community.
She owes her success to “working really hard at making deep connections with people in the community.” Lampwick says she believes that tattooing someone is a truly sacred ritual. “Many people cry on my table; we have laughter; people are spilling blood on my table and are permanently altering their bodies forever. I help connect people back to their bodies through change and hardship. They get to carry that art with them forever,” she says.
-
Best Piercer
1. Bunny Knox High Priestess 525 E. 13th Ave. 541-343-3311. BestStudioEver.com/high-priestess
2. Jared Hill Area 51 505 Willamette, ste. 100. 541-393-6572. Area51piercing.com.
3. Kenny Plimpton High Priestess 210 W. 6th Ave. 541-342-6585. BestStudioEver.com/high-priestess.
-
Best Hair Stylist
1. Dot Anomaly Hair Collective 837 Monroe St. Anomalyhaircollective.com.
2. Desiree Diamond American Traditional Barbershop 390 W. 12th Ave. 541-915-9613. Facebook.com/AmericanTraditionalBarbershop.
3. Amanda Nicole 4247 Loft 390 Lincoln St., #220. 541-515-6477. 4247Loft.com.
Looking to spice up your hairstyle? Well you’re in luck. Dot, voted first place by readers, specializes in natural texture, razor cuts, gender-affirming cuts and alternative hairstyles. Anything and everything out of the ordinary they are able to do so with the natural texture of the hair. Dot also works with different colors and vivids for all of your creative ideas. “I’m always stoked when people bring inspiration from characters like in TV and movies or based on a theme,” Dot says. “My favorite one was doing hair based on Tank Girl,” the 1995 science fiction and action film. Dot became a hairstylist in 2019 and started their career at Anomaly Hair Collective, a trans and queer owned hair studio.
“I just fuckin’ love hair!! And I want people to love their hair, too,” Dot says.
-
Best Barbershop
1. Tim’s Trims Barbershop 301 W. 5th Ave. 541-515-6936. TimsTrimsBarbershop.com.
2. Analog Barbershop 860 Olive St. 541-510-5668. AnalogBarbershop.com.
3. American Traditional Barbershop 390 W. 12th Ave. 541-915-9613. Facebook.com/AmericanTraditionalBarbershop.
With rave reviews, Tim’s Trims Barbershop was voted first place by EW readers. In 2017, Tim Grimes opened the shop and left a legacy of connection, kindness and art. Around six years ago, Austin Hayden joined the well-rounded, community-based barbershop after being a barber for a decade and became the owner in 2021 after Grimes died. Grimes’ mother came to Hayden and asked if he would take the shop over. “I agreed and said, ‘I would love to keep it going and keep his name alive,’” Hayden says. He saw people working in this field when he grew up, and that inspired him to follow in their footsteps, he says. His favorite part of the job is “the relationships with other barbers and clients. And just getting to see all the different walks of life and all different types of people.” — Brianna Murschel
-
Best Secondhand Shop
1. St. Vincent de Paul Find addresses for 13 Oregon locations at SVdP.us.
2. SARA’s Treasures (Shelter Animal Resource Alliance) 871 River Rd. 541-607-8892. SarasTreasures.org.
3. Buffalo Exchange 131 E. 5th Ave. 541-687-2805. BuffaloExchange.com.
-
Best Place to Get Fit
1. Outdoors
2. Eugene Family YMCA 2055 Patterson St. 541-686-9622. EugeneYMCA.org.
3. Elevation Bouldering Gym 348 Lincoln St. 541-972-3595. ElevationGym.com.
-
Best Yoga
1. Eugene Yoga 199 E. 5th St. Suite 33 and 3575 Donald St. Suite 180. 541-520-8771.EugeneYoga.us
2. Everyday People Yoga 352 W. 12th Ave. 541-513-0180. Epyogaeugene.com.
3. Glow Yoga 110 Oakway Ctr. 541-729-5031. YogaEugene.com.
-
Best Martial Arts
1. Art of War 164 W. Broadway. 541-870-6954. ArtofWar-mma.com.
2. Northwest Martial Arts Academy 755 Charnelton. 541-912-9099. NwmaAcademy.com.
3. McKenzie Martial Arts 125 Silver Ln. 541-729-2455. MckenzieMartialArts.com.
It’s the cross section of students that’s most striking at Art of War MMA, voted by EW readers as the Best Martial Arts center.
There are University of Oregon students, doctors, lawyers and professors — men and women, beginners and advanced students — who are sweating through workouts and learning the fine art of jiu jitsu, muay Thai and mixed martial arts under the guidance of Art of War founder and head coach Jason Georgianna as well as one-on-one demonstrations by his staff.
Classes are held throughout the year, and Georgianna estimates that 150 to 200 take classes at Art of War, depending on the season.
Advanced students often hit the road for competitions, and in September, even Georgianna got into the MMA cage for the first time in more than a decade for a competitive match. He lost that match, but he vows to return to competition again.
-
Best Local Food Market
1. Lane County Farmers Market Farmers Market Pavilion, 8th and Oak. LaneCountyFarmersMarket.org.
2. Kiva Grocery Store 125 W. 11th Ave. 541-342-8666. KivaGrocery.com.
3. Market of Choice MarketofChoice.com.
-
Best Veterinarian
1. Jodi Wiktorowski Eugene Animal Hospital. 1432 Orchard St. 541-342-1178. EugeneAnimalHospital.net.
2. Cameron Jones Amazon Park Animal Clinic, 725 E. 25th. 541-485-0161. AmazonParkVet.com.
3. Ashley “Niki” Fadden Animal Health Associates, 2835 Willamette. 541-345-1544. Aha.vet
After she graduated from veterinary school at Washington State University, Jodi Wiktorowski — raised in Buffalo, New York — did what many transplant Eugeneans have done. “I just opened a map and stopped here,” she says. “It feels like home.”
That was in 2003, and since then Wiktorowski (“Dr. Jodi,” as she is known) has made a name for herself at Eugene Animal Hospital treating the four-legged members of families (and even small birds), and Eugene Weekly readers have noticed, voting her Best Veterinarian.
Animals have always been Wiktorowski’s passion. As a kid, she tended to injured birds, some of them brought to her by people in the neighborhood. She also did volunteer work at clinics in high school, and she enjoyed the “homey” feel of those clinics. That homey feel was part of the allure of joining the staff at Eugene Animal Hospital, she says.
“You don’t get that everywhere,” she notes. “It’s like family. I want it to be part of the family.”
Wiktorowski became the sole owner of EAH on April 1, 2015, and has steered the hospital through pandemic difficulties, which included losing two full-time associates. EAH now has one full-time veterinary associate (Jeremy Polk) and two part-time associates.
“It didn’t affect us as much as we thought it would,” Wiktorowski says of the pandemic. “We got busier because everyone got puppies.”
And almost 20 years after opening that map and discovering Lane County, Wiktorowski, who has a farm with donkeys, emus and border collies near Creswell, has no regrets about coming to Eugene.
“This is what I’ve always done,” she says. “We have rough days, but I love coming to work. We all have lots of love for the animals.”
-
Best Garden Gear Shop
1. Down to Earth 532 Olive Street 541-342-6820. DownToEarthEugene.com.
2. Jerry’s Home Improvement Center 2600 Hwy. 99 N, 541-689-1911; 2525 Olympic St. Spfd 541-736-7000. BetterHeadForJerrys.com.
3. Gray’s Garden Center 737 W. 6th Ave. 541-345-1569; 4489 Main St. Spfd. 541- 357-5431. GraysGardens.com.
-
Best Local Outdoor Recreation Store
1. Play It Again Sports 2598 Willamette. 541-342-4041. PlayItAgainSports.com.
2. Eugene Gear Traders 505 Willamette, ste. 110. 541-515-6764. EugeneGearTraders.com.
3. Backcountry Gear 1855 W. 2nd Ave. 541-485-5418. BackCountryGear.com.
-
Best Bicycle Store
1. Bicycle Way of Life 556 Charnelton St. 541-344-4105. 2480 Alder St. 541-342-6155. Bicycleway.com.
2. Hutch’s Bicycle 960 Charnelton St. 541-345-7521. HutchsBicycles.com.
3. Arriving By Bike 2705 Willamette. 541-484-5410 ArrivingbyBike.com.
-
Best Cannabis Dispensary
1. Moss Crossing 2751 Friendly St. 541-636-3724. MossCrossing.com.
2. Space Buds 741 Lincoln St. 541-505-9834. SpaceBudstheDispensary.com.
3. TJ’s Provisions 1910 Empire Park Dr. 541-654-0595. VisitTJs.com.
-
Best Budtender
1. Devonte Perry Moss Crossing 2751 Friendly St. 541-636-3724. MossCrossing.com.
2. Harmony Turner Sweet Tree Farms 4097 W. 11th Ave. 541-246-8075. STFEugene.com.
3. Michael Harris TJ’s on Willamette 1027 Willamette. 541-505-7961. VisitTJs.com.
Devonte Perry is “living the dream.” Originally from the South, budtending in Oregon was something he had wanted to do for at least 10 to 15 years before making the move to Eugene.
“Honestly, this has been my dream for so long, to be able to come out here and make that dream a reality has just been amazing,” Perry says.
Perry is a budtender at Moss Crossing, where he has been aiding customers in finding the right strain for them over the past two years. “I love the opportunity to make someone’s day,” he says. “And also just seeing all different types of people and cultures walk through the door.”
Call it Southern charm, but Perry says he believes it’s truly his good customer service and “just giving people a smile” that made him crowned Best Budtender in Eugene.
Perry is hopeful that someday he can start growing bud of his own and perhaps open a dispensary. “In the meantime, though, I am just so happy where I am,” he says. “I really feel like I am living my best life.”
-
Raindrops on Roses – Best of Eugene staff picks are a few of Eugene Weekly’s own favorite things
Now that we’ve got Sound of Music’s “My Favorite Things” stuck in your head, let’s talk about Eugene Weekly’s favorite things — our staff picks to pair with our annual reader’s choice Best Of contest.
In our Best Of Eugene issue, all the winners are voted on, and so chosen by you — the readers. But the staff picks issue is where EW comes up with some of our favorite things that made Lane County a fun place to live this year. — Henry Houston
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-punk-rock-drag-band/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-food-cart-pod-community/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-eugene-diner-people-forget-is-actually-a-diner/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-former-funeral-parlor-and-questionably-haunted-coffee-shop/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-eugene-based-pro-wrestling-brothers/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-place-to-get-dog-food-and-enjoy-a-rural-vibe/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-new-downtown-beer-bar-and-bottle-shop/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-german-food-on-the-coast-never-mind-the-former-politics/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-salad-greens/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-place-to-embark-on-the-adventure-to-get-dinner-and-beers-with-toddlers-who-are-no-longer-cute-to-anyone-else/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-bowling-alley-for-upscale-food/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-vinyl-pop-up/
-
Best Salad greens
Horton Road Organics hortonorganics.com.
You can catch me walking around Farmers Market eating Horton Road Organics’ “Original Salad Mix” like a bag of Kettle chips. No dressing. No nothing. I can’t put my finger on the perfection they’ve crafted so I had to reach out and ask. What makes this mix magic?
Debra Seido Martin, farmer and co-owner at Horton, explains, “While I’d like to think our loving care and eye for the beauty and attention to each individual green matters, it is really the Coast Range mountain ecology that deserves the credit. The fine tilth of the soil, fresh air — when not smoky — and clean mountain irrigation water from the creek are all contained within the leaves we eat. In the Coast Range, we have an advantage over the valley with a slightly cooler climate that most greens desire.”
That being said, there is a serious amount of human attention and devotion that goes into crafting their salad mix. Every four days, rain or shine, each of the eight ingredients in the salad mixes gets sown separately by hand. And each variety of leaf gets a dedicated crew member that only works with that green all summer. This approach allows for that person to really get to know the crop. its flavor and how it should be integrated in the salad mix. And finally, Martin checks all greens that leave the farm.
“Though you need a fine palate to notice, the greens are never the same twice,” she explains. “We work with what is given. Such a delight. Devotion or obsession? Yes.”
-
Best Eugene diner people forget is actually a diner
Brails 1689 Willamette. 541-343-1542; 395 W. 5th Avenue, #2506, 541-342-2075. BrailsRestaurant.co.
I’ve lived in Eugene for a little over a year, and I’d never heard of Brails before. Crazy, right? My editor mentioned that it’s a perennial winner in Eugene Weekly’s Best Of competition, so I decided I had to go and see what it was like.
When I got there, I was instantly impressed by the friendliness of the servers. Soon after sitting down, I got one of my favorite drinks: a strawberry lemonade. As I waited for my food, I took a look around at the rest of the diners. I noticed that Brails is different from other restaurants I’ve been to around here. It has a strong feeling of an old-school diner, from its small size to folks reading a newspaper as they wait for their food.
Finally, the food came. I kept my order classic: cheeseburger and fries. It did not disappoint. The burger’s cheesy goodness made for an all-around great lunch.
It is worth noting, though, that a Brails experience isn’t just about the food, servers and restaurant decorations. It’s also about the people who eat here, the folks who add to the restaurant’s atmosphere. While having my burger, I struck up a conversation with a fellow customer about the Portland Trail Blazers and their upcoming season and why he’s a Beavers fan even though he lives in Eugene. I don’t often have a conversation with a stranger at a restaurant, and it made my experience all the more worth it.
EW readers say Brail’s is a great spot for hangover food. I certainly did not have a hangover when I went there to have lunch. Regardless, it is a great diner, not only for its food, but also its atmosphere.
-
Best Eugene-based pro wrestling brothers
The Blanchard Brothers POWProWrestling.com.
When the Blanchard Brothers strut their way to the Eugene-based POW! Pro Wrestling ring, you know you’re in for a treat. Jeremy and Bubba Blanchard look and act the way I imagine pro wrestlers in the “territory” days were like, a time before WWE (then-World Wrestling Federation) took over the wrestling industry in the mid-’80s and injected pop culture into it. Those days were a time when big, burly wrestlers ran the ring, and they didn’t take any guff from the crowd. And the Blanchard brothers fit this bill.
OK, so technically Bubba and Jeremy aren’t brothers. Jeremy says he was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and before he could walk, he was attending live pro wrestling shows, soaking in legends like Jerry “The King” Lawler (famous in the mainstream for the feud he had with comedian Andy Kaufman). Jeremy met Bubba in middle school and they have been together ever since. They’ve wrestled without each other, but Jeremy says the two have the most fun working as a tag team. “It seems like together we’re lightning in a bottle,” he says.
The Blanchard Brothers wrestle as the bad guys, aka “heels.” They’re loud, crass and in-your-face — and that’s what gets the crowd booing. Lately, Jeremy says he just lets Bubba harass the crowd. “It’s a blast to watch Bubba go — it’s magic,” he adds.
Getting the crowd worked up isn’t the only thing the Blanchard brothers do so well. They cruise to the ring wearing bedazzled robes to the theme song of “O Fortuna” from the Carmina Burana cantata, and when they’re beating up the good guys, they howl in joy.
There’s no brother pro wrestling duo like the Blanchards in town. They’ll yell at you and mock you, and you’ll boo them when they somehow eek out a win. That’s what makes them so great. And that’s why I can’t stop loving to hate these guys.
-
Best place to get dog food and enjoy a rural vibe
Pleasant Hill Feed and Farm Supply 84841 Edenvale Road, Pleasant Hill. Facebook.com/pleasanthillfeedandfarm.
I am going to be honest, I don’t just get dog food at Pleasant Hill Feed. I also get my horse’s feed there. But I figure the average Eugene Weekly reader is more likely looking to buy dog or cat food than they are searching out a good price on a bag of grain for a horse.
On that note, last time I walked into the family-owned and run feedstore, head honcho Travis Parr greeted me with, “You out of that expensive horse feed you get?”
Yes, my horse does have spendy tastes in feed. Parr has tried to steer me to a cheaper local product, but is resigned to ordering me what my horse’s expensive little heart desires.
Parr, easily recognized by a red beard that would be the envy of any troll in Lord of the Rings, also stocks everything from warm rubber boots to small gifts, CBD for humans and animals, and some snacks and candy. I’ve whiled away many minutes chatting in the feedstore about hay prices, pet turtles and, yes, even that politically touchy topic of COVID.
You also may encounter his daughter, Jolene Parr, at work behind the counter. She’s patiently gone over ingredient lists with me on endless bags of dog food, aiding me in my search for chicken-free grub for my pitbull, Biggie, and is usually prepared with a treat. If she doesn’t have one, then the guys who load the feed into my car usually do.
-
Best Vinyl pop-up
TOP SCORE Record Show Facebook.com/TopScoreRecordShow.
Since 2015, TOP SCORE Record Show has been providing a record show environment that was geared more to being fun, family-friendly and less competitive. The event quickly became bi-annual with a homebase at Level-Up Arcade. Co-Founders KI Design and André Sirois (aka DJ food stamp) explained that their “goal was to make a show not only for the community but created by the community, including local sellers, local DJs, and the generous sponsorship by local businesses.” TOP SCORE keeps the tabling cost for vendors low and free to attend. Sirois also shares “we love seeing kids and families sharing a love of digging. Just ask any record collector and they will tell you this is the most fun record show you will find and we take pride in that.” Throughout the years, they’ve also raised funds for local nonprofits like Maude Kerns Art Center and Northwest Dog Project.
Catch the next TOP SCORE Record Show at Level Up Arcade noon to 5 pm Nov. 13. All ages. Free.
-
Best Food cart pod community
The Friendly Garden 2758 Friendly Street. TheGardenonFriendly.com.
Nestled in one of Eugene’s best neighborhoods, commonly known as the Friendly Area, The Friendly Garden is our 2022 Best of Eugene staff pick for Best Food Cart Pod. Located right on Friendly Street, directly across from the Friendly Market — in this part of town, friendliness can clearly be counted on — there are five food carts, including Fruit and Vine Beverage Cart serving beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages; Masa’s Yatai Japanese Restaurant; Silva’s Taqueria, serving authentic cuisine of Oaxaca; a Eugene staple, Bartolli’s Pizza; and Uumami Mediterranean.
There’s covered and sidewalk seating at The Friendly Garden with heaters in the winter, making it a great place to go for al fresco dining in the fall and winter, with special events like music and trivia. Owned in a partnership that’s also behind nearby housing developments, Mel Bankoff says mixed-use is always what the partners had in mind for the property, and that community support has been strong since The Friendly Garden opened two years ago. Bankoff and his partners all live in the neighborhood, so it’s a personal relationship, Bankoff says. “We try to keep a track on the pulse and the feel and beautify it with plants, trees and vegetation for good ambiance,” Bankoff says.
-
Best Bowling alley for upscale food
Lane 25 1166 State Hwy 99 N. 541-688-9904. EntertainmentEugene.com.
If bowling brings to mind cheap hot dogs and watery beer, leave those notions behind at Lane 25, my staff pick for the best place for grownups to go bowling. Located in the Gilbert Center on Highway 99 in the same shopping complex as Strike City Lanes, Lane 25 is Eugene’s only 21-and-over bowling alley. It’s a place for mid-size private business parties, special events and gatherings, date nights, adult birthday parties or just a night out, according to Eric Gilbert, whose family owns the business.
The big draw at Lane 25, though, is the menu. Forget stale nachos and try artisan pizza or a grass-fed burger, among other options, with 36 rotating taps of beer, wine and cider. According to Gilbert, the Lane 25 formula is what many bowling alleys are doing across the country. “We always have a bunch of beer on tap. We always try to have really good food, and the space is cool inside,” Gilbert says. As well as bowling, there’s a shuffleboard table with pinball and a fireplace. Best of all, Gilbert adds, there’s no obnoxious music or little kids bowling next to you.
-
Best Former funeral parlor and questionably haunted coffee shop
Art House 492 E. 13th Avenue, 541-686-3229. EugeneArtHouse.com.
Art House is an iconic institution promoting independent cinema, art and expansive representation. My love for the Art House location began when it was Bijou Art Cinemas showing quirky film festivals, contemporary indie movies and cult classics. If you’ve been here long enough, you might remember Boo, the large gray cat who strolled the lobby like a god.
The building has had a fascinating past, originally built in 1925 as the First Congressional Church until it became McGaffey and Andreason Mortuary in 1956, and then the Bijou Art Cinemas in 1980, and now the Art House. As part of its revival, Art House offers espresso and coffee from 8 am to 2 pm daily. Located conveniently close to the University of Oregon campus, this is the only place where you can grab a cappuccino, watch a David Lynch film and question your sense of reality as you walk to the bathroom.
-
Best New downtown beer bar and bottle shop
A Beer Club 472 W. 7th Avenue. Ste 5. 541-636-3094. ABeerClub.com.
Walking into A Beer Club, located at Washington and 7th, the first thing you’ll probably notice is the massive amount of empty beer cans and bottles decorating the walls. It’s a collection that owner George Keim is proud of. He’s drunk every single one, so when he says he’s a beer nerd, I don’t doubt it.
Keim opened the bar and bottle shop in June and prides himself in the variety of beers he has on tap and in refrigerators. Before opening A Beer Club, Keim worked as an auto mechanic for 12 years but decided to give up the wrench for the bottle opener. And there’s a sense that his bar reflects his auto industry background. The bar is a pristine stainless steel counter with a light in the middle, which he says is a nod to the barroom scene in The Shining.
The spot is meant to be an intimate place for beer lovers to gather and talk about the craft, Keim says. But don’t let the name fool you — no membership is required to drink at A Beer Club. Sure, he says that people can join its membership program, which offers customers cool perks like clothing and rare drinks, but it’s open for anyone, whether they like IPAs, lagers or root beer.
Keim’s love for beer means that he’ll only stock drinks that he likes. With 26 drinks on tap and multiple refrigerators filled with alcoholic and nonalcoholic beer, cider and more, you’re bound to find something that you’ve been hunting for. Of course, I speak from recent experience. For years I’ve been looking for a beer from Segundo’s Broken Skull line, on which the Southern California brewery collaborated with WWE pro wrestler “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. Having Stone Cold’s beer is all the proof that you need that A Beer Club is the real thing, and — to quote one of Stone Cold’s famous lines that dominated pop culture in the ’90s and ’00s — “that’s the bottom line.”
-
Best Punk rock drag band
DR/UNK Instagram.com/dr_unkhc.
Local band DR/UNK — whose name combines “drag” and “punk” — does exactly what their name describes. Granted, their music has leaned more into heavier genres over time, but the concept is still the same.
Going to a DR/UNK concert is like going to a loud, energetic and heavy grindcore concert with the band dressed in drag. Grindcore is a genre that combines heavy metal and hardcore punk.
Drummer and vocalist Patricia Violence says this is the exact contrast the band likes.
“We really like the juxtaposition of dressing up like pretty girls and then playing super violent, crazy music,” Violence says. They say this aspect is a big part of what makes them unique.
The band is also unique for the way the band’s sound combines genres, Violence says.
Originally, DR/UNK formed with the idea of having a more Dead Kennedys sound, emulating 1980s hardcore punk, guitarist and vocalist Daisy Chained says. Violence, bassist Miss Treats, and Chained have been playing music together since high school jazz choir, and around three months after DR/UNK was started guitarist and vocalist Suzie Slaughter came on.
The group quickly became inspired by “heavier and heavier stuff,” Violence says, coming to a point where the band wasn’t writing the kind of music they used to. They say recently the band’s sound has been leaning toward grindcore and power violence, with a dash of metal. But that doesn’t mean that punk has left their repertoire — it still has an influence on their music.
“I feel like those subgenres in particular did stem more from punk than they did metal, even though they’re super heavy,” Chained says. “the lineage and the natural progression of how all those styled developed definitely came more from hardcore punk.”
With their heavy punk sound and their wigs, DR/UNK puts on a memorable show wherever they go.
“I think we’ve gotten to a point where it’s a pretty distinct sound,” Chained says. “Whatever we do, it sounds like us.”
-
Best German food on the coast (never mind the former politics)
The Blue Heron Bistro 100 Commercial Avenue, Coos Bay. BlueHeronBistro.com.
Yes, it’s not exactly in Eugene or Springfield. But Coos Bay’s excellent Blue Heron Bistro can satisfy that sudden overpowering desire for wiener schnitzel, sauerbraten or even Hungarian goulash that always seems to come over me when I visit the coast on a blustery day. Founded in 1976 and run for four decades by Wim de Vriend, a conservative Dutchman, the restaurant lost a lot of local business after he turned a garden hose on feminists picketing outside in 1993. Into the breach stepped Adam Palmer, the Bistro’s longtime chef, who bought the business in 2015 and now runs it with basically the same menu — with the addition of Nashville barbecue — and with much better service, which tended to be on the slow side. Prices are moderate to high for the southern coast, with entrees running $25 to $35, and that’s before you add in a great selection of German beers and ales.
-
Best Place to embark on the adventure to get dinner and beers with toddlers who are no longer cute to anyone else
ColdFire Brewing Company 263 Mill St. 541-636-3889. ColdFireBrewing.com.
A few weeks ago, while attempting to grab a few things from the farmers’ market, I realized that my toddlers have phased out of age where they attract the generous eye and smiles of strangers.
These days I am accustomed to the silent but loud looks from onlookers. And I don’t blame them. Our culture has very few public spaces that embrace kids and all that comes with them.
Most of the places I currently frequent are ranked by their kid-friendliness, accessibility, cleanliness of the bathrooms and lack of judgment for toddler behavior. With this unremarkable but essential list, ColdFire is one of the most family-friendly locations to get dinner and a drink with the whole fam. The impressive assortment of games and toys for kids of all ages, an abundance of high chairs, and emergency diapers in the bathrooms all signal hospitality and care for families. And I have to mention the exquisite rotating beers and food options.
-
Best of Eugene 2022-2023
Death, taxes and Eugene Weekly’s Best Of. Those are three things you can’t avoid in life, no matter how hard you try. And it’s not a Best Of contest unless EW puts itself in the game.
We always ask for your feedback, and while sometimes we regret that, some of the best things in life are free, and readers say that’s what they like about us. Not only are we free, but we’re local. That means you can get on the phone and speak with someone in the office, whether it’s to buy a classified ad or to pitch a story about America’s new favorite pastime — pickleball.
And readers love our calendar listings, where you can find a variety of Lane County events, including live music, support groups and drag queen shows. Let’s not forget that EW’s past life was as a calendar called What’s Happening, and we’re still honoring our print ancestry every week.
Then there’s the worst things about EW. We have the usual criticism that we have a liberal bias (sorry, but we caught the illness called liberalism years ago and can’t shake it off). There are quite a few readers who are concerned about our page count. Yes, we’re too thin, and we need more pages. If we had more space, we’d have room to publish more investigative stories and articles about the area’s flourishing arts scene while showing our liberal bias. But that’s one thing we can easily fix if you give us some money (no really — contribute, donate, subscribe at Support.EugeneWeekly.com).
In the meantime, keep visiting us at EugeneWeekly.com and in those red boxes all over town. Or if you want us in your email mailbox, sign up for our newsletter at EugeneWeekly.com/Newsletter.
Remember, our Best Of is a readers’ poll, and to the victors of democracy go the spoils. So don’t blame us — we’re just the messengers.
-
Best Professor
1. Ben Saunders University of Oregon.
2. André Sirois University of Oregon.
3. Camilla Mortensen University of Oregon and Lane Community College.
-
Best Program for the homeless
1. White Bird/CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out on the Streets) 341 E. 12th Ave. 541-342-8255. WhiteBirdClinic.org.
2. St. Vincent de Paul 2890 Chad Dr. 541-687-5820. SVdP.us.
3. Eugene Mission 1542 W. 1st Ave. 541-344-3251. EugeneMission.org.
-
Best Local Politician
1. Peter DeFazio Representative, U.S. Congress.
2. Lucy Vinis Eugene Mayor.
3. Claire Syrett former Eugene City Councilor.
-
Best Local visionary
1. Frog Find on Facebook.
2. Mark Frohnmayer, Arcimoto, STAR Voting Arcimoto.com, StarVoting.org.
3. Terry McDonald, St. Vincent de Paul executive director SvDP.us.
For the best visionary in Eugene, life is full of jokes.
David Henry Miller, better known as Frog, has been selling his joke books on the street here since 1986. He is a fixture near the University of Oregon and the Eugene Saturday Market.
“Why are fruit natural musicians?” Frog asks in his recent children’s book, Frog Meets the Power Puff Girls. “Because they love to jam!”
He’s been known as Frog since he was young. “It was a nickname I picked up in high school. Somebody thought I sounded like one, and it stuck,” he says.
Frog uses different humor in his 64 adult books and 40 children’s books, with more explicit humor in his adult books.
Before writing joke books, he worked at various jobs, ranging from a flower shop to selling herbal flea collars. However, he soon realized his talent for jokes. His influences include Lenny Bruce, Robin Williams and George Carlin.
“People kept telling me I know so many jokes, I should write books,” Frog says. “I wrote Volume 1 and kept going from there.”
For Frog, it’s all about bringing joy to people. “It makes them happy,” he says, “and that’s pretty valuable.”
-
Best Teacher
1. Leah Ann Dunbar Lane Education Service District.
2. Clair Wiles North Eugene High School.
3. Nicole Butler-Hooton Irving Elementary.
-
Best Nonprofit
1. White Bird/CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out on the Streets) 341 E. 12th Ave. 541-342-8255. WhiteBirdClinic.org.
2. St. Vincent de Paul 2890 Chad Dr. 541-687-5820. SVdP.us.
3. FOOD For Lane County 770 Bailey Hill Rd. 541-343-2822. FoodForLaneCounty.org.
-
-
Best Advocates for the animals
1. Greenhill Humane Society 88530 Green Hill Rd. 541-689-1503. Green-hill.org.
2. Cascades Raptor Center 32275 Fox Hollow Rd. 541-485-1320. CascadesRaptorCenter.org.
3. Northwest Dog Project NorthWestDogProject.org.
-
Best Local theater company
1. Very Little Theater 2350 Hilyard St. 541-344-7751. TheVLT.com.
2. Oregon Contemporary Theatre 194 W. Broadway. 541-465-1506. OCTheatre.org.
3. Actors Cabaret of Eugene 996 Willamette. 541-683-4368. ActorsCabaret.org
-
Best Drag queen
1. Slutashia (Sam Thrower) Facebook.com/Slutashia
2. Karress Ann Slaughter (Cornel Hardiman) Facebook.com/GlamazonsEugene
3. Lyta Blunt (Deziree Brock) Facebook.com/Lytablunt/
In a post-pandemic lockdown Eugene drag scene where new performers are popping up left and right, Slutashia has maintained her status as one of the town’s most popular queens. This year’s Best of Eugene award marks Slutashia’s third — after she snagged the title in 2018 and 2020.
Beyond the extravagant looks and makeup that are typical to drag, Slutashia — who goes by Sam Thrower out of drag — is known for her songwriting and live rap numbers. Her persona is strongly influenced by Black artists like Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj and Rihanna, she says.
Slutashia began her career in October 2015, when she dressed up to have fun and “feel [her] sexy fantasy” at a Halloween party. The next year, she did it again. And then she decided to give drag a real shot.
Although she started off with lip sync performances, Slutashia says she was inspired by drag artists like Adore Delano and Alaska Thunderfuck 5000 to incorporate her own music into her drag. She’s been writing music since middle school. “I wouldn’t say my music was as fierce before,” she says. “Slutashia has brought my music to another lane, another level and given me that confidence to go out and perform like I didn’t before.”
Slutashia has taken that confidence all in stride. She wants to continue to work with new performers, to learn from them and to give them the opportunity “to go on stage and feel that fantasy” and grow their own drag.
And her title as this year’s Best Drag Queen doesn’t hurt, either. “I just want to represent for queer people of color as much as I can,” she says, “because there’s not a ton of us in Oregon. It’s always an honor to represent Black queer artists.”
Readers can catch the next iteration of Slutashia’s show, Slutty Queens, at Cowfish Dance Club on Nov. 18.
-
Best Fiction writer
1. Chadhurst Sharpe ChadhurstJainlettSharpe.com.
2. Cai Emmons CaiEmmonsAuthor.com.
3. Jeff Geiger JCGeiger.com.
Chadhurst Jainlett Sharpe has long held a passion for the written word. He vividly remembers walking into Barnes and Noble when he was 20, and discovering a treasure in the works of Neil Gaiman. “I was there for the whole rest of the day,” he says, reading every Gaiman novel he could get his hands on. “I love that he’s able to take these intangible things and put them into print.”
When Sharpe began writing his own fiction, he found himself constantly drawn to the gothic horror genre. But that’s changing. “The last few years,” he says, “it has changed to surrealism or even magical realism — there’s even a few fiction pieces that are set in the real world as well.”
Sharpe’s latest novella, The Wives of Isabella Danger (2020), is a departure from the voice he typically writes in. “The main character is a Hispanic woman who is slowly realizing she might be gay,” he says. “She’s a writer and gets this assignment to interview this ex-celebrity she’s always been a fan of.” The novella centers on a conversation between Isabella Danger and the main character, and it takes place during an afternoon. Sharpe aims to push himself out of his comfort zone artistically. “I’ve never written anything like it, and I really like how it came out,” he says.
Though the genre may change, the themes Sharpe is naturally drawn to have remained consistent. “I find myself drawn to diction, [to] self discovery a lot, ” he says, “and the kind of dual idea as to whether things actually change or stay the same.”
Currently, Sharpe is at work rewriting his first novel, which he published in 2016. “I’ve grown since then,” Sharpe says of Alton Heights. “I feel very good about it, and I’m excited to get this story back out there.”
Sharpe’s work is available on his website, ChadhurstJainlettSharpe.com, and The Wives of Isabella Danger is available for purchase on Amazon.
-
Best Local band
1. High Step Society HighStepSociety.com.
2. The Sugar Beets Facebook.com/TheSugarBeets.
3. Fortune’s Folly FortunesFollyBand.com.
-
Best Art gallery
1. New Zone Gallery 110 E. 11th Ave. 541-683-0759. NewZoneGallery.org.
2. Karin Clarke Gallery 760 Willamette. 541-6847-7963. KarinClarkeGallery.com.
3. Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art 1430 Johnson Ln. 541-346-3027. JSMA.UOregon.edu.
As it approaches middle age — it was founded in 1983, meaning it’s about to turn 40 — Eugene’s feisty New Zone Gallery is getting not just getting older, it’s getting better. Long the institutional equivalent of your eccentric couch-surfing cousin, moving from one largely donated month-to-month downtown space to the next, the non-profit community gallery finally managed to sign an actual lease on its current quarters in the old St. Vincent de Paul retail store at 11th and Oak downtown. There, with greater stability, it’s continuing its all-comers exhibits — the New Zone runs on the principle that art shouldn’t be judged or juried, especially by commercial standards — while hosting activities from community figure-drawing classes to a music fest produced by the Eugene Difficult Music Ensemble. Back in the day, it was the New Zone that showed in its Salon des Refusés, with a thumb to the eye of the local art establishment, work rejected by the city’s official Mayor’s Art Show. More recently it took on a certain giant commercial track meet in Eugene with its sardonic Panem et Circenses (Bread Not Circuses) exhibit. New Zone may be heading for middle age, but it’s not yet seeking the middle of the road.
-
Best Radio DJ or podcast host
1. Downtown Deb KLCC Dead Air 89.7 FM.
2. Rev. Marc Time The Sunday Morning Hangover KWVA 88.1 FM.
3. Mike Meyer KEPW Island Earth Radio 97.3 FM.
-
Best Club DJ
1. Spoc-3P0 (Shawn DiFiore) Cowfish Dance Club. Find on Facebook.
2. DJ Supa J (Jon Smith) Find on Facebook.
3. DJ Smuve (Bobby Green Jr) Find on Facebook and Instagram.
Entering Cowfish Dance Club in downtown Eugene is like entering a colorful club from the 1970s. A wavy wall of glittery tile shines down on you as you dance the night away on the pale blue floor, and you can even sit at the bar and observe the fish in the large tank on the wall.
If you come on a Friday night, DJ Spoc-3PO, aka Shawn DiFiore who owns Cowfish Dance Club and Cafe, will provide your soundtrack for the evening. And, yes, he will take your song requests.
“It’s not about me anymore,” DiFiore says about choosing music for his set, noting that some DJs criticize him for taking song requests. “It’s a club. It’s about the whole room.”
DiFiore says the critics argue that accepting song requests takes away from the artistry of being a DJ, but to him, the music is for the people dancing in the club. He says 80 percent of DJing is selecting the best songs for their set, and the other 20 percent is technique — or blending songs together.
For DiFiore, the technique is where artistry comes in. And he says he never pre-records his sets to play — he mixes songs together at the show, never replaying the exact same set.
“I always play on the fly,” he says. “I have taught myself how to mix almost anything together within some proximity of BPMs.” In music, BPM refers to beats per minute, or how fast the song is played.
DiFiore has been DJing in Eugene since 2004, and he says he is grateful to all the people who he works with, including Cowfish staff as well as those who come out to dance. He is especially grateful for the people who come out to dance that respect the space and other people.
“It makes it a community,” DiFiore says about people being respectful at the club. “It makes it a different type of space than a lot of group spaces that are allowed to happen in our society.”
-
Best Classical music group
1. Eugene Symphony 115 W. 8th Ave., ste.115. 541-687-9487. EugeneSymphony.org.
2. Chamber Music Amici 174 E. 16th Ave., ste. 122. 541-953-9204. ChamberMusicAmici.org.
3. Delgani String Quartet 541-650-5040. Delgani.org.
-
Best Actor/Actress
Inga Wilson OCTheatre.org/staff.
Russel Dyball Find on Twitter.
Storm Kennedy StormKennedy.com.
Inga Wilson, our readers’ choice this year for Best Actor/Actress in town, got her start on stage because she was born a redhead. “I did a whole lot of Annie stuff,” she says, starting as a kid growing up in Minnesota. “At my school, in every talent show, I would sing ‘The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow.’”
She kept performing through middle school and high school, and soon was studying theater — with a minor in journalism — at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
After college, life took her to a series of big cities — Detroit, Chicago and Los Angeles among them. And theater led to a number of movie roles. Perhaps her favorite was in A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas, where she worked alongside Kal Penn — who would go on to play a doctor in the TV series House and a real-life role in the Barack Obama White House. “Kal Penn is just an incredible human being,” she says.
Wilson, now 46, moved to Eugene six years ago and has appeared in or directed half a dozen shows at Oregon Contemporary Theatre — the only union house in town where she can appear, as a member of both Actors Equity and the Screen Actors Guild. In 2016, an EW reviewer noted her “Katharine Hepburn chemistry” in an onstage romance in OCT’s Silent Sky. She directed Tiny Beautiful Things last year at OCT when the theater returned to live performance after a pandemic hiatus.
While teaching classes at OCT, Wilson expects to direct a show — yet to be announced — in the coming OCT season.
-
Best Mural or graffiti artist
1. Suspish Facebook.com/SuspishBiz and Suspish Fish on Facebook.\
2. Bayne Gardner BayneGardner.com.
3. Ila Rose IlaRoseArt.com.
In a city filled with amazing murals and street art, Suspish’s work still manages to stand out. There’s something about those blue-ish fish that delights folks of all ages. Ever since Suspish painted one one of their signature graffiti fish on Eugene Weekly’s building, we have watched delightedly as person after person has stopped by to take a selfie with the art. We’re pretty sure we even watched some senior photos take place.
One of the comments that folks make again and again is how spotting a Suspish fish or other Suspish art around the city makes their day. And Suspish tells us that the lifting of spirits is mutual. “I love art,” Suspish says. “I love how Eugene is full of artists, and I never thought I’d be getting recognized for my art the way I am today.”
Eugene is indeed full of talented artists — in fact, third place winner Ila Rose won first for Best Artist, a category where Suspish took second, and second place winner in the mural and graffiti category, well-known muralist Bayne Gardner, has shared walls with Suspish’s art.
Getting the recognition for their art “has been so great for my mental health,” Suspish continues, “because usually I work a lot of hours at emotionally taxing jobs and now things are way different. Thank you for the overwhelming support.”
-
Best Photographer
1. Athena Delene (Delene and Co.) 541-515-9442. Delene.co.
2. Michael Sherman (Spring Fed Media) SpringFedMedia.net.
3. Sarah Northrop (@sartakespics) SarTakesPics.com.
-
Best Local singer/songwriter
1. Halie Loren HalieLoren.com.
2. Bettreena Jaeger BaroqueBetty.com.
3. Cameron Daye Find on Facebook.
-
Best Comedian
1. Jen Jay Find on Facebook.
2. Seth Milstein Find on Facebook and Twitter.
3. Mike McGowan Find on Facebook and Twitter.
After a few false starts in comedy in her teens and 20s, Jen Jay signed up for her first comedy open mic at Luckey’s in downtown Eugene. (That mic still happens each Tuesday). With comedy club-owning relatives, she always wanted to try stand-up for herself. Since that first experience at Luckey’s, which she describes as “not awful,” Jay has gone on to perform several nights a week at open mics, to host her own open mic “Jokin’ Off with Jen Jay” at The Drake Bar in Eugene every second and fourth Wednesday each month, and to appear in a variety of comedy showcases in Eugene and elsewhere.
The Eugene Weekly Best of Eugene 2022 Best Stand-up Comedian winner moved to Eugene in 2004 from Long Beach, California. As Jay puts it, she was raised by a “wild mom,” and she uses that as a jumping-off point for her material. “We moved around a lot as a kid. My mom wasn’t in the military or anything, she just wrote a lot of hot checks,” is a classic Jay-ism. “It’s totally true,” Jays tells EW over the phone. “I had a wild upbringing around wild people,” she says. “I use that as a jumping-off point to deal with the trauma,” but also as a jumping-off point to find things hilarious now, she says. If you’re interested in trying stand-up for yourself, Jay says to just go for it. “If you’re scared, come to my mic,” she continues. “I’ll hold your hand. I’ll also stay six feet away if you need that. It’s been my experience that the Eugene comedy scene is friendly and open. There’s room for everyone’s voice.”
-
Best Journalist
1. Henry Houston Eugene Weekly.
2. Camilla Mortensen Eugene Weekly.
3. William Kennedy Eugene Weekly.
-
Best Event venue
1. Cuthbert Amphitheater 2300 Leo Harris Pkwy. 541-762-8099. TheCuthbert.com.
2. WOW Hall 291 W. 8th Ave. 541-687-2746. WowHall.org.
3. Hult Center for the Performing Arts 1 Eugene Ctr. 541-682-5000. HultCenter.org.
-
Best Pizza
1. Coburg Pizza Company 90999 S. Willamette, Coburg, 541-484-6600; 1710 Centennial Blvd., Springfield. 541-484-6600. CoburgPizza.com.
2. Slice 325 Blair Blvd. 541-653-9937. SliceLife.com.
3. The Wheel Apizza Pub 390 Lincoln St., #101. 541-735-3860. TheWheelAPizzaPub.com.
-
Best Meal under $12
1. Cafe Yumm! 860 E. 13th Ave. 541-349-9866; 1801 Willamette. 541-686-9866; 130 Oakway Ctr. 541-465-9866. 550 Pearl St., ste. 130. 541-344-9866. CafeYumm.com.
2. Nelson’s in the Whit and Nelson’s Taqueria 394 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com; Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
3. El Super Burrito 2566 Willamette. 541-485-0619. Find on Facebook.
-
Best Latin American food
1. Nelson’s in the Whit and Nelson’s Taqueria 394 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com; Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
2. Tacovore 530 Blair Blvd. 541-735-3518. TacovorePNW.com.
3. El Buen Sabor 650 Blair Blvd. 541-653-2517. ElBuenSabor.us.
Nelson Lopez’s two restaurants wear many Best Of crowns this year: Best Latin American Food, Best Takeout, Best Server, Best Food Cart, Best New Restaurant. And can you blame readers? Whether you visit Nelson’s in the Whit (located in the historic Tiny Tavern building) or Nelson’s Taqueria (in the parking lot of Tiny Tavern), you’re not only eating affordable yet amazing food but Lopez treats every customer as if they’re the most important person in the world. And he says he’s happy that customers love him back.
Food prices, like everything else, are rising over time, but Lopez says he works hard to keep his prices affordable at Nelson’s Taqueria. All of the cart’s menu is under $15, whether you’re ordering multiple tacos or a huge burrito. Lopez says he watches his food supplier prices carefully so customers don’t have to see menu prices keep increasing.
The most popular item at Nelson’s Taqueria and Nelson’s in the Whit, Lopez says, is the birria, which he marinates overnight with a blend of 16 spices. Birria, beef brisket in the U.S., is having its moment in Eugene, where food carts and Mexican restaurants offer some sort of it. More commonly served around town as quesabirria, where birria fills a cheesy tortilla, Nelson’s quesabirria tacos are filled with tender meat and is so good it’s worth marking your calendars for Tuesdays and Fridays, the only days when he serves it. He limits its availability, he says, because it takes so long to cook and he doesn’t want to serve customers old birria. “It’s better to sell it fresh,” he adds.
Lopez opened Nelson’s in the Whit in November 2021, moving into the Tiny Tavern, a building in the Whiteaker neighborhood recognized in the U.S. National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places. Lopez isn’t just celebrating the one-year anniversary of Nelson’s in the Whit, but also having Abby Young at the restaurant, who’s this year’s Best Server. And he agrees with readers because she treats customers like he does. “You have to give the heart, the smile to your customer,” Lopez says. “You have to give the flavor to your drinks. She’s in charge of making the gourmet margaritas, and people are loving it.”
-
Best Bakery
1. Sweet Life 755 Monroe St., 1609 E. 19th Ave. 541-683-5676. SweetLifeDesserts.com.
2. Hideaway Bakery 3377 E. Amazon Dr. 541-868-1982. HideawayBakery.com.
3. Noisette Pastry Kitchen 200 W. Broadway, 541-654-5257. NoisettePK.com.
-
Best Comfort food
1. Cornbread Café 1290 W. 7th Ave. 541-505-9175. CornbreadCafe.com.
2. Black Wolf Supper Club 454 Willamette. 541-687-8226. BlackWolfSupperClub.com.
3. Cornucopia 295 W. 17th Ave., 541-485-2300; 207 E. 5th Ave. ste. 109, 541-485-2676; 521 Main St., Springfield, 541-485-2879. CornucopiaEugene.com.
-
Best Chicken joint
1. Yardy Eugene 263 Mill St., YardyEugene.com.
2. Hot Mama’s 420 W. 13th Ave. 541-653-9999. HotMamasWings.com.
3. Chicken Bonz 1815 Pioneer Pkwy E., Springfield. 541-726-0111. ChickenBonz.com.
-
Best Hangover food
1. Brails Restaurant 1689 Willamette. 541-343-1542; 395 W. 5th Ave., #2506, 541-342-2075. BrailsRestaurant.co.
2. Morning Glory Cafe 450 Willamette. 541-687-0709. MorningGloryEugene.com.
3. Mandy’s Family Restaurant 1491 Willamette. 541-654-0382. MandysFamilyRestaurant.com.
-
Best Burger
1. Cornucopia 295 W. 17th Ave., 541-485-2300; 207 E. 5th Ave., Ste. 109, 541-485-2676; 521 Main St., Springfield, 541-485-2879. CornucopiaEugene.com.
2. Killer Burger 50 W. Broadway, 541-636-4731. KillerBurger.com
3. NW Burger 5th Street Market 296 E. 5th Ave., #220; Public House 418 A St #4606, Springfield. 541-485-9176. NwBurgers.com.
-
Best Ice cream
1. Prince Pückler’s 1605 E. 19th Ave. 541-344-4418. Princepucklers.com.
2. Salt & Straw 139 Oakway Rd. B. 541-521-7708. SaltandStraw.com.
3. Handel’s Ice Cream 550 Pearl St. unit 110. 541-735-3150. HandelsIceCream.com.
-
Best Thai food
1. Ta Ra Rin Thai Cuisine 1200 Oak St. 541-343-1230; 1410 Mohawk Blvd. Springfield. 541- 505-8987; 1520 Coburg Rd. 541-844-1032. TaRaRinThai.com.
2. Sabai 27 Oakway Ctr. 541-654-5424. SabaiCafe.com.
3. Krab Krua 254 Lincoln St. 541-636-6267. KrobKrua.com.
-
Best Cocktails
1. Izakaya Meiji 345 Van Buren St. 541-505-8804. IzakayaMeiji.com.
2. barTini bistro 1203 Willamette, ste 130. 541-359-1235. Facebook.com/bartinibistro/
3. Thinking Tree Spirits 88 Jackson St. 541-515-6993. ThinkingTreeSpirits.com.
-
Best East Asian food (Japanese, Korean and Chinese)
1. Kung Fu Bistro 2560 Willamette. 541-968-9258. Facebook.com/KungFuBistroEugene.
2. Izakaya Meiji Co. 345 Van Buren St. 541-505-8804. IzakayaMeiji.com.
3. Akira 359 Mill St. 458-205-8288. AkiraEugene.com.
-
Best Barbecue
1. Rackhouse BBQ 207 Madison St. 541-285-0518. TheRackHouseBBQ.com.
2. Paper Plate BBQ 263 Mill St. 541-606-2130. PaperPlateBBQ.com.
3. Hole in the Wall 3200 W. 11th Ave. 541-683-7378; 1807 Olympic St., Springfield. 541-726-1200. HoleintheWallBBQ.com.
The Pacific Northwest isn’t the best place to barbecue year-round. I mean, who wants to hang around a grill drinking PBR when it’s pouring outside? Well, this climate hasn’t stopped these great Eugene-Springfield barbecue joints — Hole in the Wall, Paper Plate BBQ and Rackhouse BBQ — from being popular with our readers who leave grilling for the pros.
Rackhouse, voted first place, is at Oakshire’s poppin’ food cart pod, one of the best in Lane County. Connor Balfrey, owner, says that he opened the cart with his friend Chris Barry a few years ago. The two researched barbecue in various U.S. regions and perfected the styles they liked best. What makes Rackhouse special, Balfrey says, is the 17-spice rub that it uses in every menu item. “It’s a flavor profile that you can associate with us,” he says, from ribs to tri-tip. But the food cart isn’t only focused on meat. Balfrey says the menu includes pulled pork, but instead of meat it substitutes jackfruit — a fruit that has recently become a vegan staple in restaurants and kitchens. Jackfruit is tough to pull off, but Balfrey says Rackhouse marinates it for hours, which packs in a ton of flavor. And the restaurant is eager to take on special items, such as a Chicago beef sandwich, which Balfrey says Rackroom offered before Hulu’s The Bear popularized the greasy staple. “We made it with tri-tip that we cooked down so it was shreddable,” he says.
-
Best New restaurant
Nelson’s in the Whit 394 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404. NelsonsInTheWhit.com.
Carlita’s Rooftop 550 Oak St. 541-632-6867. CarlitasTTW.com
Tavern on Main 338 Main St., Springfield. 458-201-7936. TavernOnMainSpfd.com.
-
Best Barista
1. Sharie Anderson (Palace Coffee) 842 Pearl St. 541-344-0475. PalaceCoffeeBakery.com.
2. Charlie Huster (Washburne Cafe) 326 Main St., Springfield. 541-746-7999. WashburneCafe.com.
3. Jessica Lu (Southpine Bakery) 2866 Crescent Ave., ste. 101. 541-799-4595.
-
Best Coffee
1. Equiano Coffee 300 Blair Blvd. 541-953-2879. EquianoCoffee.com.
2. Farmers Union Coffee Roasters 152 W. 5th Ave.; 2757 Friendly St., FarmersUnionCoffee.com.
3. Wandering Goat 268 Madison St. 541-344-5161. WanderingGoat.com.
-
Best Distillery
Thinking Tree Spirits 88 Jackson St. 541-515-6993. ThinkingTreeSpirits.com.
Heritage Distilling Company 110 Madison St. 541-357-4431. HeritageDistilling.com.
Swallowtail Spirits 111 Main St., Springfield. 541-357-5951. SwallowTailSpirits.com.
-
Best Coffee shop
1. Farmers Union Coffee Roasters 152 W. 5th Ave. 2757 Friendly St., FarmersUnionCoffee.com.
2. Vero 205 E. 14th Ave. 541-654-0504. VeroEspressoHouse.com.
3. Meraki 1203 Willamette, stes. 110 & 120. 541-844-0254. DrinkMeraki.com.
-
Best Wine
1. Sweet Cheeks 27007 Briggs Hill Rd. 541-349-9463. SweetCheeksWinery.com.
2. King Estate 80854 Territorial Hwy. 541-685-5189. KingEstate.com.
3. Oregon Wine LAB 488 Lincoln St. 458-201-7413. OregonWineLab.com.
-
Best Bar
1. Spectrum Queer Bar 150 W. Broadway. 541-225-4896. SpectrumEugene.com.
2. Monkey’s Paw Tiki Bar 420 Main St., Springfield. 541-505-7975. Find on Facebook and Instagram.
3. Cowfish Dance Club and Café 62 W. Broadway. 541-683-6319. Find on Facebook and Instagram.
Spectrum Queer Bar is more than a bar. It’s a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community according to its manager, Kiki Boniki. With everything from weekly drag performances and craft night to clothing exchanges and community meet ups Spectrum is not limited by the traditional definition of bar.
Arriving at Spectrum, you’re greeted by the bright colors of the wacky and zany characters painted on the front windows. Many represent signature Spectrum drinks, which are equally as colorful and have playful names that make you wonder about the stories behind them.
As you enter the back room you realize the color has escaped the walls and now covers the people as lights flood the stage to showcase lip sync performances and drag queens. You can feel the energy at your seat, just feet from the small stage.
When your Friday night is finally coming to a close there is no need to be sad. You don’t have to leave for long. Show up the next day for crafts, a social mixer or a drag race watch party. On Sundays, you can nurse your hangover right back at Spectrum while enjoying drag brunch. Prefer to play your Nintendo Switch to partying? Show up to the Spectrum Gaymer night and prove which Mario Kart character is best.
“Spectrum is a safe space for everyone. No matter where you fall on the spectrum of gender or sexuality, anyone that is in the LGBTQIA+ family, this is your space to be yourself and to not have to worry about what people from society think about you,” Boniki says. — Jacob Moore
-
Best Place for takeout
1. Nelson’s in the Whit and Nelson’s Taqueria 394 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com; Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
2. Krob Krua 254 Lincoln St. 541-636-6267. KrobKrua.com.
3. Ta Ra Rin Thai Cuisine 1200 Oak St. 541-343-1230; 1410 Mohawk Blvd., Springfield. 541- 505-8987; 1520 Coburg Rd. 541-844-1032 TaRaRinThai.com.
-
Best Bagel sandwich
1. Bagel Sphere 810 Willamette. 541-344-1335; 4089 W. 11th Ave. 541-868-1072. BagelSphere.com.
2. Lox, Stock and Bagels 368 E. 40th Ave. 541-692-2435. Facebook.com/loxstocksandbagels.
3. Daily Bagel 4770 Village Plaza Lp. 541-431-5700. Daily-Bagel.com.
-
Best Bartender
1. Thor Slaughter (Akira) 359 Mill St. 458-205-8288. AkiraEugene.com.
2. Steve Salazar (barTini bistro) 1203 Willamette, ste. 130. 541-359-1235. Facebook.com/bartinibistro/.
3. Abby Young (Nelson’s in the Whit) 394 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com.
It’s a packed night at Akira, one of Eugene’s hottest restaurants and cocktail lounges. Finding a tiny nook in the upstairs lounge, my wife and I look over the cocktail menu, most of which has clever pop culture references from KHANNNNNNNNN!!!!, a reference to Capt. James Kirk’s exasperated exclamation in Star Trek: Wrath of Khan, to The Golden Martini, a callback to James Bond. And the man behind these drinks is the ever-popular Thor Slaughter, a bartender who attracts attention from his bar patrons for his personality — but most importantly for the amazing drinks he concocts.
What’s impressive about Slaughter’s drinks is his simplicity and minimalism. The KHANNNNNNNNN!!!! is Japanese whisky, prickly pear syrup, lemon and soda. It’s a combination that doesn’t drown the whisky, but doesn’t have the spirit jump out too strongly, and the drink is so easy to drink that you have to have the willpower of a saint to not keep ordering it. Slaughter says he learned the key to a good drink — simplicity and minimalism — while visiting Japan years ago. In our mass information age, where our minds are overwhelmed by social media and smartphones, it’s nice to sip a well crafted simple drink, and EW readers agree.
-
Best Local beer
1. Oakshire 207 Madison St. 541-654-5520. OakBrew.com.
2. Ninkasi 272 Van Buren St. 541-344-2739. NinkasiBrewing.com.
3. ColdFire Brewing 263 Mill St. 541-636-3889. ColdFireBrewing.com.
-
Best Server
1. Abby Young (Nelson’s in the Whit) 394 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com.
2. Dove Greenwood (Cheese Bliss) 110 Madison St. 541-246-5220. YourCheeseBliss.com.
3. Heather Ensign (Ninkasi Better Living Room) 155 Blair Blvd. 541-735-9500.
-
Best Restaurant
1. Izakaya Meiji 345 Van Buren St. 541-505-8804. IzakayaMeiji.com.
2. Akira Eugene 359 Mill St. 458-205-8288. AkiraEugene.com.
3. Cafe Soriah 384 W. 13th Ave. 541-342-4410. Soriah.com.
-
Best Desserts
1. Sweet Life 755 Monroe St,. 1609 E. 19th Ave. 541-683-5676. SweetLifeDesserts.com.
2. Noisette Pastry Kitchen 200 W. Broadway, 541-654-5257. NoisettePK.com.
3. Metropol Bakery 2538 Willamette. 541-465-4730. MetropolBakery.com
-
Best Italian food
1. Beppe and Gianni’s 1646 E. 19th Ave. 541-683-6661. BeppeAndGiannis.net.
2. Placido’s Pasta Shop 120 Shelton McMurphey Blvd., #110, 458-205-8092. Placidos.com.
3. Mazzi’s Italian Restaurant 3377 E. Amazon Dr. 541-687-2252. Mazzis.com.
-
Best French fries
Cornucopia 295 W. 17th Ave., 541-485-2300; 207 E. 5th Ave., Ste. 109, 541-485-2676; 521 Main St., Springfield, 541-485-2879. CornucopiaEugene.com.
Little Big Burger 1404 Orchard St. 541-357-4771. LittleBigBurger.com.
Killer Burger 50 W. Broadway, 541-636-4731. KillerBurger.com.
-
Best Food cart
1. Nelson’s Taqueria 394 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404. Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
2. Da Nang Vietnamese Eatery 488 Lincoln St. 541-915-0144. Facebook.com/danangeatery.
3. Yardy Eugene 263 Mill St. YardyEugene.com.
-
Best Out-of-town restaurant (not in Eugene-Springfield)
1. Waterfront Depot (Florence) 1252 Bay St., Florence. 541-902-9100. TheWaterfrontDepot.com.
2. Creswell Bakery (Creswell) 182 S. 2nd St., Creswell. 541-895-5885. CreswellBakery.com.
3. Local Ocean Seafoods (Newport) 213 SE Bay Blvd., Newport. 541-574-7959.
-
Best Doughnut
Voodoo Doughnut 20 E. Broadway. 541-868-8666. VoodooDoughnut.com.
Dizzy Dean’s Donuts 2380 W. 11th Ave. 541-683-3505. OrderDizzyDeansDonuts.com.
Master Donut 1159 Mohawk Blvd, Springfield. 541-741-8033. Master-Donut.Edan.io.
-
Best Sushi
1. Sushi Pure 259 E. 5th Ave. 541-654-0608. SushiPureEugene.com.
2. Akira 359 Mill St. 458-205-8288. AkiraEugene.com.
3. Izumi Sushi 2773 Shadow View Dr. 541-683-1201. IzumiSushiEugene.com.
-
Best Vegetarian/vegan
1. Cornbread Café 1290 W. 7th Ave., 541-505-9175. CornbreadCafe.com.
2. Morning Glory 450 Willamette. 541-687-0709. MorningGloryEugene.com.
3. Laughing Planet 760 Blair Blvd., 541-868-0668; 2864 Willamette, 541-505-5399. LaughingPlanet.com.
-
Best Art Gallery
1. Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art 1430 Johnson Ln. 541-346-3027. JSMA.UOregon.edu.
2. New Zone Gallery 110 E. 11th Ave. 541-683-0759. NewZoneGallery.org.
3. White Lotus Gallery 767 Willamette. 541-345-3276. WLotus.com.
-
Best Photographer
1. Athena Delene Delene and Co.541-515-9442.Delene.co.
2. Faliesha Dawn Photography FalieshaDawne.com.
3. Destiny Brock Brock Photography. BrockDestiny1.wixsite.com/dbrockphotography.
-
Best Drag Queen
1. Karress Ann Slaughter, Cornel Hardiman Facebook.com/GlamazonsEugene.
2. Lyta Blunt, Deziree Brock Facebook.com/Lytablunt.
3. Slutashia, Sam Thrower Facebook.com/Slutashia.
Karress Ann Slaughter, aka Cornel Hardiman, is a Eugene drag veteran. Hardiman has been in the Eugene drag scene for nearly 30 years and has no signs of slowing down. “It’s nice to know that my hard work still shows for itself and it feels like I am still always evolving,” Hardiman says. “Even my makeup routine has changed just in the last three months.”
Hardiman has been on the map since he won a title his first year doing drag. One of the best things about drag for Hardiman is that it has allowed him to tap into a part of himself he never knew existed. “It’s cool because I can literally be anyone I want to be.”
Since Hardiman started doing drag a lot has changed, but one change he is most excited about is seeing how much of a variety of drag there is. Hardiman says he loves seeing the rise in drag kings, singing queens and every other drag niche.
The most rewarding part about drag for Hardiman, though, is being able to make people smile. “My favorite thing to see, especially at Pride, is when little kids look up at you and they are just enamored by you, and come up to you and want to talk to you,” Hardiman says. “Especially as a parent, if I can make a child happy, that just makes my life.”
-
Best Drag King
1. Heavy Cream, Melanie Funke Instagram.com/heavy_creammm.
2. Smash The King Instagram.com/smash_the.king.
3. Edd Zackly, Abigail Instagram.com/eddzackly.
For Heavy Cream, aka Melanie Funke, drag was a world they were enamored by but unsure where they could fit it. “I started seeing a local drag king, Jackley. He was one of the main kings on the scene and just seeing him not only be an amazing performer but also be so funny and goofy, I was like, ‘Yes that’s what I want to do.’”
After that Funke decided to attend drag queen Lyta Blunt’s drag workshop, where Funke could hone in on performance technique and perform a song at the end of the workshop. “After I performed everyone was coming up to me and asking me if I had ever done that before, and I was like no… and they were like, you need to do drag,” Funke says. “To have such a positive response was so important and impactful to come into my light.”
Funke is now a regular performer at Spectrum and an avid member of the drag community. “As of right now, the sky’s the limit for me,” Funke says. “I want to continue growing on this path. I want to travel and do drag across the states.”
-
Best Burger Joint
1. Cornucopia 295 W. 17th Ave. 541-485-2300; 207 E. 5th Ave. ste. 109, 541-485-2676; 521 Main St. Spfd, 541-485-2879. CornucopiaEugene.com.
2. Gotcha Burger 1702 W. 7th Ave. 541-221-2839.
3. Toxic Burger 943 River Rd, 541-689-9464; 2766 W. 11th Ave. 541-255-4345; 2866 Willamette, 541-930-3355; 285 E. Oregon Ave, Creswell. 541-658-5251. Toxicburger.com.
-
Best Chicken Joint
1. Hot Mama’s Wings 420 W. 13th Ave. 541-653-9999. HotMamasWings.com.
2. Yardy Eugene 263 Mill St. YardyEugene.com.
3. Chicken Bonz 1815 Pioneer Pkwy E. Spfd. 541-726-0111. ChickenBonz.com.
-
Best Comfort Food
1. Brail’s 1689 Willamette. 541-343-1542; 395 W. 5th Ave. #2506, 541-342-2075. BrailsRestaurant.co.
2. Black Wolf Supper Club 454 Willamette. 541-687-8226. BlackWolfSupperClub.com.
3. Mandy’s Family Restaurant 1491 Willamette. 541-654-0382. MandysFamilyRestaurant.com.
-
Best Latin American Food
1. Nelson’s in the Whit 400 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com; Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
2. Tacovore 530 Blair Blvd. 541-735-3518. TacovorePNW.com.
3. El Buen Sabor 650 Blair Blvd. 541-653-2517. ElBuenSabor.us.
-
Best Italian Food
1. Beppe & Gianni’s Trattoria 1646 E. 19th Ave. 541-683-6661. BeppeAndGiannis.net.
2. Mazzi’s Italian Restaurant 3377 E. Amazon Dr. 541-687-2252. Mazzis.com.
3. Placido’s Pasta Shop 120 Shelton McMurphey Blvd. #110, 458-205-8092. Placidos.com.
-
Best Thai Food
1. Ta Ra Rin Thai Cuisine 1200 Oak St. 541-343-1230; 1410 Mohawk Blvd. Spfd. 541- 505-8987; 1520 Coburg Rd. 541-844-1032. TaRaRinThai.com.
2. Sabai 27 Oakway Ctr. 541-654-5424. SabaiCafe.com.
3. Krob Krua 1313 Pearl St. 541-636-6267. KrobKrua.com.
-
Best International Cuisine That Didn’t Fit in One of the Other Categories
1. Cafe Soriah 384 W. 13th Ave. 541-342-4410. Soriah.com.
2. Poppi’s Anatolia 992 Willamette. 541-343-9661. PoppisAnatolia.com.
3. Evergreen Indian 906 W. 7th Ave. 541-343-7944.
-
Best Barbecue
1. Bill & Tim’s Barbecue & Tap House 201 E. 13th Ave. 541-654-0578. Billandtims.com.
2. Hole in the Wall 3200 W. 11th Ave. 541-683-7378; 1807 Olympic St. Spfd. 541-726-1200. Holeinthewallbbq.com.
3. Paper Plate BBQ 263 Mill St. 541-606-2130. Paperplatebbq.com.
-
Best Vegetarian/Vegan Food
1. Morning Glory Café 450 Willamette. 541-687-0709. MorningGloryEugene.com.
2. Laughing Planet 760 Blair Blvd. 541-868-0668; 2864 Willamette, 541-505-5399. LaughingPlanet.com.
3. Cafe Yumm! 860 E. 13th Ave. 541-349-9866; 1801 Willamette. 541-686-9866; 130 Oakway Ctr. 541-465-9866. 550 Pearl St. ste. 130. 541-344-9866. CafeYumm.com.
-
Best Pizza
1. Hey Neighbor! Pizza House 1621 E. 19th Ave. 605 W. 19th Ave. 541-505-9302. H-n-p-h.com.
2. Mezza Luna Pizzeria 933 Pearl St. 541-684-8900. MezzaLunaPizzeriaEugene.com.
3. Slice Pizzeria and Bar 325 Blair Blvd. 541-653-9937. Slicepizzeriaandbar.com.
A corgi mascot at Hey, Neighbor! makes sense. The herding dogs sport a loud bark. And since opening Hey, Neighbor, the restaurant’s logo — a barking corgi — has corralled customers in. Well, maybe it’s also the pizza, which is why EW readers voted it as Best Pizza.
Back when owner Calen Willis opened Hey, Neighbor, he says he wanted to have a place where he could know his customers. His customer base kept growing through word of mouth, and now Hey, Neighbor has become an institution of 19th and Agate alongside Prince Pücklers and Beppe and Gianni’s.
Rather than pile on toppings on a pizza, Willis says the restaurant focuses on one ingredient that can be a star. For early autumn, that’s an opportunity to showcase broccolini from ME and Moore Farm. “We’re trying to source the best ingredients,” Willis says. “That shows through.”
But being EW’s Best Pizza isn’t just about fresh ingredients. It’s all about the basics and how sauce — and what makes it up, including basil, sea salt, tomatoes and olive oil — is the foundation to a great pizza. “We try not to get in the way of the original ingredient,” he says.
-
Best Bagel Place
1. Lox, Stocks and Bagels 368 E. 40th Ave. 541-692-2435. Facebook.com/loxstocksandbagels.
2. Bagel Sphere 810 Willamette. 541-344-1335; 4089 W. 11th Ave. 541-868-1072. BagelSphere.com.
3. Hideaway Bakery 3377 E. Amazon Dr. 541-868-1982. HideawayBakery.com.
When Lox, Stocks and Bagels owner Maxwell Davis thinks of a bagel, he pictures freshly baked and boiled New York-style bagels with an assortment of cream cheeses of your choice. Davis believes in waking up at three every morning to achieve that freshly boiled bagel because “that’s what the community counts on.”
After working as a general manager for several years, Davis took on owning Lox, Stocks and Bagels two years ago and hasn’t looked back since. “I had the training it took and it just felt like this place was so important to our community, and I was willing to dedicate that time,” Davis says.
Davis now spends an average of 50 hours a week making sure Eugene is getting the freshly boiled bagels it deserves. “We’re just excited to be honored like this,” Davis says. “And we know our customers are, too.”
-
Best Coffee Shop
1. Wandering Goat Coffee Co. 268 Madison St. 541-344-5161. WanderingGoat.com.
2. Farmers Union Coffee Roasters 152 W. 5th Ave. FarmersUnionCoffee.com.
3. Vero Espresso House 205 E. 14th Ave. 541-654-0504. VeroEspressoHouse.com.
-
Best Barista
1. Aaron (Sully) Sullivan Wandering Goat Coffee Co. 268 Madison St. 541-344-5161. WanderingGoat.com.
2. Okon Udosenata Equiano 300 Blair Blvd. 541-953-2879. EquianoCoffee.com.
3. Katie Stowe Stay Woke,1380 W. 7th Ave. 541-600-0585. StayWokepnw.com.
Aaron (Sully) Sullivan’s first reaction to hearing he was a finalist for Eugene Weekly’s Best Baristawas “What? Who did this? Why would they do this to me?” followed by “OK, this feels good to be recognized.” Sullivan has been a barista for most of his life, starting in drive-thrus and working his way through bakeries and coffee shops in town; most notably Sweet Life Patisserie and now Wandering Goat.
“It feels like a Eugene bingo card that’s been crossed off since I’ve lived here my whole life,” Sullivan says.
Sullivan realized he could make being a barista a career after he started working at Sweet Life and realized he could make just as much money making coffee as he could doing anything he went to college for. “I was in college right around the time of the recession,” he says. “There weren’t a lot of job opportunities and I thought, ‘Well I can keep doing this.’”
Sullivan says his favorite part about being a barista at Wandering Goat is that he can really be himself. “I think customers really like that I don’t do the whole ‘canned customer service’ thing,” Sullivan says. “I am just kind of myself, which I guess is a little gregarious.”
When Sullivan isn’t making a latte or cappuccino at Wandering Goat you can find him making art or using his very own aeropress to make his own fresh brewed coffee because he’s become “a real coffee snob” over the years working as a barista.
-
Best Breakfast
1. Morning Glory Café 450 Willamette. 541-687-0709. MorningGloryEugene.com.
2. Brail’s 1689 Willamette. 541-343-1542; 395 W. 5th Ave. #2506, 541-342-2075. BrailsRestaurant.co.
3. Lion and Owl 60 E. 11th Ave. 541-606-0626 LionandOwl.com
-
Best Ice Cream or Desserts
1. Sweet Life Patisserie 755 Monroe St. 1609 E. 19th Ave. 541-683-5676. SweetLifeDesserts.com.
2. Prince Pückler’s Ice Cream 1605 E. 19th Ave. 541-344-4418. Princepucklers.com.
3. Noisette Pastry Kitchen 200 W. Broadway, 541-654-5257. NoisettePK.com.
-
Best Bakery
1. Sweet Life Patisserie 755 Monroe St. 1609 E. 19th Ave. 541-683-5676. SweetLifeDesserts.com.
2. Creswell Bakery 182 S. 2nd St. Creswell. 541-895-5885. CreswellBakery.com.
3. Noisette Pastry Kitchen 200 W. Broadway, 541-654-5257. NoisettePK.com.
-
Best Bar
1. Sam Bond’s Garage 407 Blair Blvd. 541-431-6603. SamBonds.com.
2. Jackalope Lounge 453 Willamette St. 541-485-1519. JackalopeLounge.com.
3. Blairally 245 Blair Blvd. 541-683-1721. Blairally.com.
-
Best Bartender
1. Molly Powell Sam Bond’s Garage407 Blair Blvd. 541-431-6603. SamBonds.com.
2. Thor Slaughter Akira Omakase 359 Mill St. 458-205-8288. AkiraEugene.com.
3. Ryan Prescher Izakaya Meiji Company 345 Van Buren St. 541-505-8804. IzakayaMeiji.com
Sam Bond’s Garage and Molly Powell cleaned house in “Best of Eugene” this year. Best Bar winner Sam Bond’s Garage is very much the Whiteaker’s neighborhood bar hosting bingo nights, live music, burlesque, comedy, drag shows and it also has outdoor seating.
Having been a bartender for Sam Bond’s for 11 years, Best Bartender Molly Powell says what’s more important than making a mean drink is “creating a safe space where everyone can be together and have a good time.”
One unique and adorable feature of Sam Bond’s Garage would be Buddy the bar cat, a 13-year-old orange cat who roams around the bar. “If you like live entertainment, look us up and see if there are any shows, it’s a blast,” Powell says.
-
Best East Asian Food(Japanese, Korean and Chinese)
1. Izakaya Meiji Company 345 Van Buren St. 541-505-8804. IzakayaMeiji.com.
2. Bao Bao House 868 West Park St. 541-799-1088; 3342 Gateway, Spfd. 541-600-8868. BaobaoHouseor.com,
3. Akira Omakase 359 Mill St. 458-205-8288. AkiraEugene.com.
-
Best Cocktails
1. Izakaya Meiji Company 345 Van Buren St. 541-505-8804. IzakayaMeiji.com.
2. Thinking Tree Spirits 88 Jackson St. 541-515-6993. ThinkingTreeSpirits.com.
3. Nelson’s in the Whit 400 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404. NelsonsInTheWhit.com.
Trying to get a table for two at Izakaya Meiji on a Friday night is not for the faint of heart, as you will most likely be battling it out for a table among the other hungry Japanese small plate fans. The izakaya, with a whiskey bar flair, has been a Eugene staple since Quinn Brown and his wife Ayumi Kamata opened the restaurant in 2010.
With a menu that incorporates Japanese small plate favorites such as onigiri and wakame salad, but with a Southern twist, it’s not uncommon to find Japanese potato salad made with Kewpie mayo and collard greens with pickled togarashi. With equally inventive cocktails like mugwort bitters with Sazerac rye and scotch in their Smoke Dreams, Izakaya Meiji has mastered the art of a creative beverage — as a result, Meiji won Best Cocktails and Best East Asian Food and took third in Best Bartender.
On Oct. 4 the restaurant announced it was closing its doors at the end of the month, leaving the Eugene food community dismayed and wondering how they could close such an iconic establishment. A few days later, Izakaya Meiji went back on social media to announce that the closure is more or less a rebrand of the restaurant in its same location.
Meiji posted, “Wow what an outpouring of support from the community, our hearts are warmed by y’all’s response. We didn’t mean to leave you in the lurch but while Meiji is closing we are planning on opening a new spot in its location — and some favorite items will carry over.”
-
Best Local Beer
1. ColdFire Brewing 263 Mill St. 541-636-3889. ColdFireBrewing.com.
2. Oakshire Brewing 207 Madison St. 541-654-5520. OakBrew.com.
3. Ninkasi Brewing 272 Van Buren St. 541-344-2739. NinkasiBrewing.com.
ColdFire Brewing has offered small-batch, Western European-inspired beer to the Eugene community since it opened its doors in 2015. Now, the brewery distributes its products across the state of Oregon and in Vancouver, Washington.
Its public house is home to a rotating handful of ColdFire original brews on tap and in cans. Those swinging by the taproom can also pick up pizza, BBQ, stretched noodles and West Indian-inspired food from the four food carts set up in the back of the property.
When I swung by, I tried three of ColdFire’s tap beers: the Cumulus Tropicalus IPA, the Thursday Friday IPA and a sip of my partner’s Live Sour. I especially liked the Cumulus, a lighter, citrusy, not-that-hoppy IPA — and a “favorite of our ColdFire fans,” per the company’s website.
ColdFire’s public house was also named “best place to embark on the adventure to get dinner and beers with toddlers who are no longer cute to anyone else” in Eugene Weekly’s 2022 Staff Picks.
-
Best Local Wine
1. Sweet Cheeks Winery 27007 Briggs Hill Rd. 541-349-9463. SweetCheeksWinery.com.
2. King Estate Winery 80854 Territorial Hwy. 541-685-5189. KingEstate.com.
3. Sarver Winery 25600 Mayola Ln. 541-935-2979. SarverWinery.com.
-
Best Distillery
1. Thinking Tree Spirits 88 Jackson St. 541-515-6993. ThinkingTreeSpirits.com.
2. Heritage Distilling Company 110 Madison St. 541-357-4431. HeritageDistilling.com.
3. Swallowtail Spirits 111 Main St. Spfd. 541-357-5951. SwallowTailSpirits.com.
-
Best Takeout
1. Cafe Yumm! 860 E. 13th Ave. 541-349-9866; 1801 Willamette. 541-686-9866; 130 Oakway Ctr. 541-465-9866. 550 Pearl St. ste. 130. 541-344-9866. CafeYumm.com.
2. Nelson’s in the Whit/Nelson’s Taqueria 400 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com; Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
3. Da Nang Vietnamese Eatery 88 Jackson St. 541-915-0144. Facebook.com/danangeatery.
-
Best Meal Under $12
1. Cafe Yumm! 860 E. 13th Ave. 541-349-9866; 1801 Willamette. 541-686-9866; 130 Oakway Ctr. 541-465-9866. 550 Pearl St. ste. 130. 541-344-9866. CafeYumm.com.
2. Burrito Boy 510 E. Broadway. 541-344-8070; 1889 Olympic St. Spfd. 541-747-7775; 1840 Chambers St. 541-246-8775; 2511 W. 11th. 541-338-4219; 1060 River Rd. 541-689-7970; 1071 Valley River Dr. 541- 343-8089. BurritoBoy.com.
3. Nelson’s Taqueria 400 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
-
Best Meal Over $25
1. Cafe Soriah 384 W. 13th Ave. 541-342-4410. Soriah.com.
2. Marché 5th Street Public Market, 296 E. 5th Ave. 541-342-3612. MarcheRestaurant.com.
3. Lion and Owl 60 E. 11th Ave. 541-606-0626. LionandOwl.com.
-
Best Chef
1. Crystal Platt Lion & Owl 60 E. 11th Ave. 541-606-0626 LionandOwl.com.
2. Taro Kobayashi Akira Omakase 359 Mill St. 458-205-8288. AkiraEugene.com.
3. Billy Reid Dueling Spoons 39074 Jasper Lowell Rd. 541-398-8929. DuelingSpoons.net.
It’s been quite a year for Crystal Platt, chef and owner of Lion and Owl. Her 2023 kicked off with news that she was a Best Chef semi-finalist for the prestigious James Beard Awards. Months later, her alma mater, Lane Community College, awarded her with its Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award. And now EW readers have voted that Platt is the area’s Best Chef.
But to be the best, Platt says she had to study with the best. Shortly after graduating from LCC with her associate’s degree, she worked at Marché, which she says was after the restaurant had won its James Beard Award.
Platt and her restaurant have a seasonal menu, but her ingenuity may shine brightest with turning an ordinary potato into something magical. One recipe she’s proud of is the potato in the style of ham hock, a days-long process. It starts with the potato being steamed, peeled and brined for 24 hours. Then it’s dried and smoked. And when it’s ordered, the kitchen deep fries it.
“The potato was the first dish that I felt like was mine,” she says.
Lion and Owl continues that legacy of excellence, not just providing high quality food, but also offering something different for its customers.
“Both my wife and I work hard to create a special place,” Platt says. “You can be in Eugene but feel like you’re escaping.
-
Best Server
1. Abbie Taylor Mandy’s Family Restaurant 1491 Willamette. 541-654-0382. MandysFamilyRestaurant.com.
2. Heather Ensign Brail’s on 5th 395 W. 5th Ave. #2506, 541-342-2075. BrailsRestaurant.co.
3. Chrissy Norris Nelson’s in The Whit 400 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com; Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
Abbie Taylor is a self-described “restaurant kid.” Taylor grew up watching her mom, Mandy Taylor, wait tables at pubs and restaurants across Eugene. When Mandy Taylor finally decided to open her own restaurant in 2019, it only made sense that Abbie Taylor would start serving classic diner food herself.
Abbie Taylor says, “I watched my mom go from a hustlin’ waitress to a successful business owner, so that is definitely inspiring to me.”
At Mandy’s you get the full family-owned diner experience. Taylor says a lot of the customers she serves at Mandy’s have been following her mom around restaurant to restaurant for years and now enjoy getting to know her daughter. While she refills their coffee, regulars of Mandy’s often ask Taylor how her family’s doing. “They want to come in, eat their breakfast and ask me how I’m doing,” Taylor says. “It’s really nice.”
As Taylor grows into the server she idolized as a kid, she says a new generation of “restaurant kids” has taken over the place. “Now it’s my nephew running all over the place screaming,” she says. Taylor hopes that someday she, too, can open her own diner and have restaurant kids of her own running around.
“I just think it’s awesome that people want to support our family,” Taylor says. “And hopefully, someday, I can have my own restaurant kids run around my Mandy’s.”
-
Best Food Cart
1. Nelson’s Taqueria 400 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com; Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
2. Da Nang Vietnamese Eatery 88 Jackson St. 541-915-0144. Facebook.com/danangeatery.
3. Yardy Eugene 263 Mill St. YardyEugene.com.
The best food carts in Eugene this year are globetrotters. Yardy’s Afro-Caribbean influenced fried chicken, Da Nang Vietnamese Eatery’s famous banh mi, and Nelson’s Taqueria’s authentic Mexican cuisine have shown us that Eugene’s food scene is more diverse than ever.
Yardy’s owner Isaiah Martinez says he owes all of his success to his team. “I’m like the coach pouring water on my team at the end of the game — I owe it all to them.” Martinez says he is so thankful that the community has supported him and his endeavors to bring the flavors he grew up tasting at home to Eugene.
Da Nang has been a food cart staple in Eugene for the past 10 years. General manager Andrew Sexton has been with Da Nang since its inception. He says Da Nang’s success can be traced back to its freshness. Sexton says. “Most food trucks have a reputation for being greasy but we always have the freshest ingredients.”
And winner Nelson’s Taqueria, with its food from tortas to tacos, has been a Eugene favorite and a headline maker in Eugene Weekly since its opening as a food cart and later the addition of its brick and mortar building. Owner Nelson Lopez says, “We are committed to our community because they are committed to us.” EW voters made that clear!
-
Best Catering
1. Mucho Gusto 67 Oakway Center. 541-343-148; 205 E. 18th Ave. 541-650-6985. MuchoGusto.info.
2. Marigold Cooking Collective MarigoldCookingCollective.com.
3. Viking Brewing Company Southtowne Pub, 2490 Willamette. 541-515-6314; 520 Commercial St. unit F. 541-653-8371. DrinkViking.com.
-
Best New Restaurant
1. Dueling Spoons 39074 Jasper Lowell Road. Fall Creek. 541-398-8929. DuelingSpoons.net.
2. Jade Dumpling and Noodle House 2560 Willamette. 541-968-9258. Instagram.com/jade_dumpling_eugene.
3. Osteria DOP 1122 Oak St. 541- 913-6460. PizzeriaDop.com.
Whenever you step inside Dueling Spoons, right away you become a part of the family. But that’s not what converts one to become a Dueling Spoons fanatic. It’s all about the food, whether you’re ringing the bell to announce to the rest of the restaurant that you’re about to chow down on a tomahawk steak or eating a sandwich on bread that’s been shipped in from Philadelphia.
Dueling Spoons, though known for its dinner service, has recently opened its doors for lunch, offering Irish fare such as bangers and mash and shepherd’s pies. But what’s worth the drive out to Fall Creek are the sandwiches, an artform of layering by chef and owner Billy Reid — who voters also voted into the top three in Best Chef in a highly competitive category.
Reid is the first to acknowledge that if you’re in a hurry to eat dinner, maybe Dueling Spoons isn’t the right dinner spot. Rather than have a model of getting customers in and out, he says he’d rather have them enjoy their time at the restaurant.
Readers have chosen Dueling Spoons as the Best New Restaurant, as well as second place for Best Out-of-Town Restaurant, but the Fall Creek-based restaurant seems like it’s become an overnight culinary institution. And that’s because Reid, his wife Kathleen Reid and everyone else at the restaurant are dedicated to making sure that every customer experience is memorable.
“We’ll go to the lengths to make people happy,” Reid says. “I have a reputation we’ll go to lengths that are necessary to make people happy.”
-
Best Out-of-Town Restaurant(not in Eugene-Springfield)
1. Creswell Bakery 182 S. 2nd St., Creswell. 541-895-5885. CreswellBakery.com.
2. Dueling Spoons 39074 Jasper Lowell Road. Fall Creek. 541-398-8929. Duelingspoons.net.
3. Waterfront Depot 1252 Bay St. Florence. 541-902-9100. TheWaterfrontDepot.com.
-
Best Restaurant
1. Cafe Soriah 384 W. 13th Ave. 541-342-4410. Soriah.com.
2. Nelson’s in the Whit 400 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com; Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
3. Lion and Owl 60 E. 11th Ave. 541- 606-0626 LionandOwl.com
-
Best Indie Bookstore
1. Tsunami Books 2585 Willamette. 541-345-8986. TsunamiBooks.org.
2. Smith Family Bookstore 525 Willamette. 541-343-4717. SmithFamilyBookstore.com.
3. Books with Pictures 99 W. Broadway, C. 541-485-1048. BooksWithPicturesEug.com.
-
Best Tattoo Artist
1. Kassandra Lampwick Wild Rose Tattoo 2849 Oak St. WildRoseTattoo.com/kassandra-lampwick.
2. Katana DeVille Sad Devils Club Tattoo 76 W. Broadway. 541-357-4484. SadDevilsClubTattoo.com.
3. Suzen Tattoozen Whiteaker Tattoo Collective 304 River Rd. 541-255-2734. WhiteakerTattoo.com.
Kassandra Lampwick says she has always considered herself an artist, but by the time she got her third tattoo she knew that tattooing was going to be her “lifelong mistress.” She says, “It made me feel as different on the inside as it did on the outside — and I really loved that.”
Lampwick is now the co-owner, with Sarah Knapp, of Wild Rose, an all-women artists tattoo parlor, where Lampwick brings her colorful realism style to the Eugene’s tattoo scene. When Lampwick and Knapp started Wild Rose in 2021 they set out to create a women-owned tattoo studio that provided a space for clients to feel safe and comfortable. In addition to owning a tattoo parlor, Lampwick also runs a nonprofit called Eugene Bleeds that focuses on ending period poverty in the local community.
She owes her success to “working really hard at making deep connections with people in the community.” Lampwick says she believes that tattooing someone is a truly sacred ritual. “Many people cry on my table; we have laughter; people are spilling blood on my table and are permanently altering their bodies forever. I help connect people back to their bodies through change and hardship. They get to carry that art with them forever,” she says.
-
Best Piercer
1. Bunny Knox High Priestess 525 E. 13th Ave. 541-343-3311. BestStudioEver.com/high-priestess
2. Jared Hill Area 51 505 Willamette, ste. 100. 541-393-6572. Area51piercing.com.
3. Kenny Plimpton High Priestess 210 W. 6th Ave. 541-342-6585. BestStudioEver.com/high-priestess.
-
Best Hair Stylist
1. Dot Anomaly Hair Collective 837 Monroe St. Anomalyhaircollective.com.
2. Desiree Diamond American Traditional Barbershop 390 W. 12th Ave. 541-915-9613. Facebook.com/AmericanTraditionalBarbershop.
3. Amanda Nicole 4247 Loft 390 Lincoln St., #220. 541-515-6477. 4247Loft.com.
Looking to spice up your hairstyle? Well you’re in luck. Dot, voted first place by readers, specializes in natural texture, razor cuts, gender-affirming cuts and alternative hairstyles. Anything and everything out of the ordinary they are able to do so with the natural texture of the hair. Dot also works with different colors and vivids for all of your creative ideas. “I’m always stoked when people bring inspiration from characters like in TV and movies or based on a theme,” Dot says. “My favorite one was doing hair based on Tank Girl,” the 1995 science fiction and action film. Dot became a hairstylist in 2019 and started their career at Anomaly Hair Collective, a trans and queer owned hair studio.
“I just fuckin’ love hair!! And I want people to love their hair, too,” Dot says.
-
Best Barbershop
1. Tim’s Trims Barbershop 301 W. 5th Ave. 541-515-6936. TimsTrimsBarbershop.com.
2. Analog Barbershop 860 Olive St. 541-510-5668. AnalogBarbershop.com.
3. American Traditional Barbershop 390 W. 12th Ave. 541-915-9613. Facebook.com/AmericanTraditionalBarbershop.
With rave reviews, Tim’s Trims Barbershop was voted first place by EW readers. In 2017, Tim Grimes opened the shop and left a legacy of connection, kindness and art. Around six years ago, Austin Hayden joined the well-rounded, community-based barbershop after being a barber for a decade and became the owner in 2021 after Grimes died. Grimes’ mother came to Hayden and asked if he would take the shop over. “I agreed and said, ‘I would love to keep it going and keep his name alive,’” Hayden says. He saw people working in this field when he grew up, and that inspired him to follow in their footsteps, he says. His favorite part of the job is “the relationships with other barbers and clients. And just getting to see all the different walks of life and all different types of people.” — Brianna Murschel
-
Best Secondhand Shop
1. St. Vincent de Paul Find addresses for 13 Oregon locations at SVdP.us.
2. SARA’s Treasures (Shelter Animal Resource Alliance) 871 River Rd. 541-607-8892. SarasTreasures.org.
3. Buffalo Exchange 131 E. 5th Ave. 541-687-2805. BuffaloExchange.com.
-
Best Place to Get Fit
1. Outdoors
2. Eugene Family YMCA 2055 Patterson St. 541-686-9622. EugeneYMCA.org.
3. Elevation Bouldering Gym 348 Lincoln St. 541-972-3595. ElevationGym.com.
-
Best Yoga
1. Eugene Yoga 199 E. 5th St. Suite 33 and 3575 Donald St. Suite 180. 541-520-8771.EugeneYoga.us
2. Everyday People Yoga 352 W. 12th Ave. 541-513-0180. Epyogaeugene.com.
3. Glow Yoga 110 Oakway Ctr. 541-729-5031. YogaEugene.com.
-
Best Martial Arts
1. Art of War 164 W. Broadway. 541-870-6954. ArtofWar-mma.com.
2. Northwest Martial Arts Academy 755 Charnelton. 541-912-9099. NwmaAcademy.com.
3. McKenzie Martial Arts 125 Silver Ln. 541-729-2455. MckenzieMartialArts.com.
It’s the cross section of students that’s most striking at Art of War MMA, voted by EW readers as the Best Martial Arts center.
There are University of Oregon students, doctors, lawyers and professors — men and women, beginners and advanced students — who are sweating through workouts and learning the fine art of jiu jitsu, muay Thai and mixed martial arts under the guidance of Art of War founder and head coach Jason Georgianna as well as one-on-one demonstrations by his staff.
Classes are held throughout the year, and Georgianna estimates that 150 to 200 take classes at Art of War, depending on the season.
Advanced students often hit the road for competitions, and in September, even Georgianna got into the MMA cage for the first time in more than a decade for a competitive match. He lost that match, but he vows to return to competition again.
-
Best Local Food Market
1. Lane County Farmers Market Farmers Market Pavilion, 8th and Oak. LaneCountyFarmersMarket.org.
2. Kiva Grocery Store 125 W. 11th Ave. 541-342-8666. KivaGrocery.com.
3. Market of Choice MarketofChoice.com.
-
Best Veterinarian
1. Jodi Wiktorowski Eugene Animal Hospital. 1432 Orchard St. 541-342-1178. EugeneAnimalHospital.net.
2. Cameron Jones Amazon Park Animal Clinic, 725 E. 25th. 541-485-0161. AmazonParkVet.com.
3. Ashley “Niki” Fadden Animal Health Associates, 2835 Willamette. 541-345-1544. Aha.vet
After she graduated from veterinary school at Washington State University, Jodi Wiktorowski — raised in Buffalo, New York — did what many transplant Eugeneans have done. “I just opened a map and stopped here,” she says. “It feels like home.”
That was in 2003, and since then Wiktorowski (“Dr. Jodi,” as she is known) has made a name for herself at Eugene Animal Hospital treating the four-legged members of families (and even small birds), and Eugene Weekly readers have noticed, voting her Best Veterinarian.
Animals have always been Wiktorowski’s passion. As a kid, she tended to injured birds, some of them brought to her by people in the neighborhood. She also did volunteer work at clinics in high school, and she enjoyed the “homey” feel of those clinics. That homey feel was part of the allure of joining the staff at Eugene Animal Hospital, she says.
“You don’t get that everywhere,” she notes. “It’s like family. I want it to be part of the family.”
Wiktorowski became the sole owner of EAH on April 1, 2015, and has steered the hospital through pandemic difficulties, which included losing two full-time associates. EAH now has one full-time veterinary associate (Jeremy Polk) and two part-time associates.
“It didn’t affect us as much as we thought it would,” Wiktorowski says of the pandemic. “We got busier because everyone got puppies.”
And almost 20 years after opening that map and discovering Lane County, Wiktorowski, who has a farm with donkeys, emus and border collies near Creswell, has no regrets about coming to Eugene.
“This is what I’ve always done,” she says. “We have rough days, but I love coming to work. We all have lots of love for the animals.”
-
Best Garden Gear Shop
1. Down to Earth 532 Olive Street 541-342-6820. DownToEarthEugene.com.
2. Jerry’s Home Improvement Center 2600 Hwy. 99 N, 541-689-1911; 2525 Olympic St. Spfd 541-736-7000. BetterHeadForJerrys.com.
3. Gray’s Garden Center 737 W. 6th Ave. 541-345-1569; 4489 Main St. Spfd. 541- 357-5431. GraysGardens.com.
-
Best Local Outdoor Recreation Store
1. Play It Again Sports 2598 Willamette. 541-342-4041. PlayItAgainSports.com.
2. Eugene Gear Traders 505 Willamette, ste. 110. 541-515-6764. EugeneGearTraders.com.
3. Backcountry Gear 1855 W. 2nd Ave. 541-485-5418. BackCountryGear.com.
-
Best Bicycle Store
1. Bicycle Way of Life 556 Charnelton St. 541-344-4105. 2480 Alder St. 541-342-6155. Bicycleway.com.
2. Hutch’s Bicycle 960 Charnelton St. 541-345-7521. HutchsBicycles.com.
3. Arriving By Bike 2705 Willamette. 541-484-5410 ArrivingbyBike.com.
-
Best Cannabis Dispensary
1. Moss Crossing 2751 Friendly St. 541-636-3724. MossCrossing.com.
2. Space Buds 741 Lincoln St. 541-505-9834. SpaceBudstheDispensary.com.
3. TJ’s Provisions 1910 Empire Park Dr. 541-654-0595. VisitTJs.com.
-
Best Budtender
1. Devonte Perry Moss Crossing 2751 Friendly St. 541-636-3724. MossCrossing.com.
2. Harmony Turner Sweet Tree Farms 4097 W. 11th Ave. 541-246-8075. STFEugene.com.
3. Michael Harris TJ’s on Willamette 1027 Willamette. 541-505-7961. VisitTJs.com.
Devonte Perry is “living the dream.” Originally from the South, budtending in Oregon was something he had wanted to do for at least 10 to 15 years before making the move to Eugene.
“Honestly, this has been my dream for so long, to be able to come out here and make that dream a reality has just been amazing,” Perry says.
Perry is a budtender at Moss Crossing, where he has been aiding customers in finding the right strain for them over the past two years. “I love the opportunity to make someone’s day,” he says. “And also just seeing all different types of people and cultures walk through the door.”
Call it Southern charm, but Perry says he believes it’s truly his good customer service and “just giving people a smile” that made him crowned Best Budtender in Eugene.
Perry is hopeful that someday he can start growing bud of his own and perhaps open a dispensary. “In the meantime, though, I am just so happy where I am,” he says. “I really feel like I am living my best life.”
-
Raindrops on Roses – Best of Eugene staff picks are a few of Eugene Weekly’s own favorite things
Now that we’ve got Sound of Music’s “My Favorite Things” stuck in your head, let’s talk about Eugene Weekly’s favorite things — our staff picks to pair with our annual reader’s choice Best Of contest.
In our Best Of Eugene issue, all the winners are voted on, and so chosen by you — the readers. But the staff picks issue is where EW comes up with some of our favorite things that made Lane County a fun place to live this year. — Henry Houston
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-punk-rock-drag-band/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-food-cart-pod-community/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-eugene-diner-people-forget-is-actually-a-diner/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-former-funeral-parlor-and-questionably-haunted-coffee-shop/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-eugene-based-pro-wrestling-brothers/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-place-to-get-dog-food-and-enjoy-a-rural-vibe/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-new-downtown-beer-bar-and-bottle-shop/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-german-food-on-the-coast-never-mind-the-former-politics/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-salad-greens/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-place-to-embark-on-the-adventure-to-get-dinner-and-beers-with-toddlers-who-are-no-longer-cute-to-anyone-else/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-bowling-alley-for-upscale-food/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-vinyl-pop-up/
-
Best Salad greens
Horton Road Organics hortonorganics.com.
You can catch me walking around Farmers Market eating Horton Road Organics’ “Original Salad Mix” like a bag of Kettle chips. No dressing. No nothing. I can’t put my finger on the perfection they’ve crafted so I had to reach out and ask. What makes this mix magic?
Debra Seido Martin, farmer and co-owner at Horton, explains, “While I’d like to think our loving care and eye for the beauty and attention to each individual green matters, it is really the Coast Range mountain ecology that deserves the credit. The fine tilth of the soil, fresh air — when not smoky — and clean mountain irrigation water from the creek are all contained within the leaves we eat. In the Coast Range, we have an advantage over the valley with a slightly cooler climate that most greens desire.”
That being said, there is a serious amount of human attention and devotion that goes into crafting their salad mix. Every four days, rain or shine, each of the eight ingredients in the salad mixes gets sown separately by hand. And each variety of leaf gets a dedicated crew member that only works with that green all summer. This approach allows for that person to really get to know the crop. its flavor and how it should be integrated in the salad mix. And finally, Martin checks all greens that leave the farm.
“Though you need a fine palate to notice, the greens are never the same twice,” she explains. “We work with what is given. Such a delight. Devotion or obsession? Yes.”
-
Best Eugene diner people forget is actually a diner
Brails 1689 Willamette. 541-343-1542; 395 W. 5th Avenue, #2506, 541-342-2075. BrailsRestaurant.co.
I’ve lived in Eugene for a little over a year, and I’d never heard of Brails before. Crazy, right? My editor mentioned that it’s a perennial winner in Eugene Weekly’s Best Of competition, so I decided I had to go and see what it was like.
When I got there, I was instantly impressed by the friendliness of the servers. Soon after sitting down, I got one of my favorite drinks: a strawberry lemonade. As I waited for my food, I took a look around at the rest of the diners. I noticed that Brails is different from other restaurants I’ve been to around here. It has a strong feeling of an old-school diner, from its small size to folks reading a newspaper as they wait for their food.
Finally, the food came. I kept my order classic: cheeseburger and fries. It did not disappoint. The burger’s cheesy goodness made for an all-around great lunch.
It is worth noting, though, that a Brails experience isn’t just about the food, servers and restaurant decorations. It’s also about the people who eat here, the folks who add to the restaurant’s atmosphere. While having my burger, I struck up a conversation with a fellow customer about the Portland Trail Blazers and their upcoming season and why he’s a Beavers fan even though he lives in Eugene. I don’t often have a conversation with a stranger at a restaurant, and it made my experience all the more worth it.
EW readers say Brail’s is a great spot for hangover food. I certainly did not have a hangover when I went there to have lunch. Regardless, it is a great diner, not only for its food, but also its atmosphere.
-
Best Eugene-based pro wrestling brothers
The Blanchard Brothers POWProWrestling.com.
When the Blanchard Brothers strut their way to the Eugene-based POW! Pro Wrestling ring, you know you’re in for a treat. Jeremy and Bubba Blanchard look and act the way I imagine pro wrestlers in the “territory” days were like, a time before WWE (then-World Wrestling Federation) took over the wrestling industry in the mid-’80s and injected pop culture into it. Those days were a time when big, burly wrestlers ran the ring, and they didn’t take any guff from the crowd. And the Blanchard brothers fit this bill.
OK, so technically Bubba and Jeremy aren’t brothers. Jeremy says he was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and before he could walk, he was attending live pro wrestling shows, soaking in legends like Jerry “The King” Lawler (famous in the mainstream for the feud he had with comedian Andy Kaufman). Jeremy met Bubba in middle school and they have been together ever since. They’ve wrestled without each other, but Jeremy says the two have the most fun working as a tag team. “It seems like together we’re lightning in a bottle,” he says.
The Blanchard Brothers wrestle as the bad guys, aka “heels.” They’re loud, crass and in-your-face — and that’s what gets the crowd booing. Lately, Jeremy says he just lets Bubba harass the crowd. “It’s a blast to watch Bubba go — it’s magic,” he adds.
Getting the crowd worked up isn’t the only thing the Blanchard brothers do so well. They cruise to the ring wearing bedazzled robes to the theme song of “O Fortuna” from the Carmina Burana cantata, and when they’re beating up the good guys, they howl in joy.
There’s no brother pro wrestling duo like the Blanchards in town. They’ll yell at you and mock you, and you’ll boo them when they somehow eek out a win. That’s what makes them so great. And that’s why I can’t stop loving to hate these guys.
-
Best place to get dog food and enjoy a rural vibe
Pleasant Hill Feed and Farm Supply 84841 Edenvale Road, Pleasant Hill. Facebook.com/pleasanthillfeedandfarm.
I am going to be honest, I don’t just get dog food at Pleasant Hill Feed. I also get my horse’s feed there. But I figure the average Eugene Weekly reader is more likely looking to buy dog or cat food than they are searching out a good price on a bag of grain for a horse.
On that note, last time I walked into the family-owned and run feedstore, head honcho Travis Parr greeted me with, “You out of that expensive horse feed you get?”
Yes, my horse does have spendy tastes in feed. Parr has tried to steer me to a cheaper local product, but is resigned to ordering me what my horse’s expensive little heart desires.
Parr, easily recognized by a red beard that would be the envy of any troll in Lord of the Rings, also stocks everything from warm rubber boots to small gifts, CBD for humans and animals, and some snacks and candy. I’ve whiled away many minutes chatting in the feedstore about hay prices, pet turtles and, yes, even that politically touchy topic of COVID.
You also may encounter his daughter, Jolene Parr, at work behind the counter. She’s patiently gone over ingredient lists with me on endless bags of dog food, aiding me in my search for chicken-free grub for my pitbull, Biggie, and is usually prepared with a treat. If she doesn’t have one, then the guys who load the feed into my car usually do.
-
Best Vinyl pop-up
TOP SCORE Record Show Facebook.com/TopScoreRecordShow.
Since 2015, TOP SCORE Record Show has been providing a record show environment that was geared more to being fun, family-friendly and less competitive. The event quickly became bi-annual with a homebase at Level-Up Arcade. Co-Founders KI Design and André Sirois (aka DJ food stamp) explained that their “goal was to make a show not only for the community but created by the community, including local sellers, local DJs, and the generous sponsorship by local businesses.” TOP SCORE keeps the tabling cost for vendors low and free to attend. Sirois also shares “we love seeing kids and families sharing a love of digging. Just ask any record collector and they will tell you this is the most fun record show you will find and we take pride in that.” Throughout the years, they’ve also raised funds for local nonprofits like Maude Kerns Art Center and Northwest Dog Project.
Catch the next TOP SCORE Record Show at Level Up Arcade noon to 5 pm Nov. 13. All ages. Free.
-
Best Food cart pod community
The Friendly Garden 2758 Friendly Street. TheGardenonFriendly.com.
Nestled in one of Eugene’s best neighborhoods, commonly known as the Friendly Area, The Friendly Garden is our 2022 Best of Eugene staff pick for Best Food Cart Pod. Located right on Friendly Street, directly across from the Friendly Market — in this part of town, friendliness can clearly be counted on — there are five food carts, including Fruit and Vine Beverage Cart serving beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages; Masa’s Yatai Japanese Restaurant; Silva’s Taqueria, serving authentic cuisine of Oaxaca; a Eugene staple, Bartolli’s Pizza; and Uumami Mediterranean.
There’s covered and sidewalk seating at The Friendly Garden with heaters in the winter, making it a great place to go for al fresco dining in the fall and winter, with special events like music and trivia. Owned in a partnership that’s also behind nearby housing developments, Mel Bankoff says mixed-use is always what the partners had in mind for the property, and that community support has been strong since The Friendly Garden opened two years ago. Bankoff and his partners all live in the neighborhood, so it’s a personal relationship, Bankoff says. “We try to keep a track on the pulse and the feel and beautify it with plants, trees and vegetation for good ambiance,” Bankoff says.
-
Best Bowling alley for upscale food
Lane 25 1166 State Hwy 99 N. 541-688-9904. EntertainmentEugene.com.
If bowling brings to mind cheap hot dogs and watery beer, leave those notions behind at Lane 25, my staff pick for the best place for grownups to go bowling. Located in the Gilbert Center on Highway 99 in the same shopping complex as Strike City Lanes, Lane 25 is Eugene’s only 21-and-over bowling alley. It’s a place for mid-size private business parties, special events and gatherings, date nights, adult birthday parties or just a night out, according to Eric Gilbert, whose family owns the business.
The big draw at Lane 25, though, is the menu. Forget stale nachos and try artisan pizza or a grass-fed burger, among other options, with 36 rotating taps of beer, wine and cider. According to Gilbert, the Lane 25 formula is what many bowling alleys are doing across the country. “We always have a bunch of beer on tap. We always try to have really good food, and the space is cool inside,” Gilbert says. As well as bowling, there’s a shuffleboard table with pinball and a fireplace. Best of all, Gilbert adds, there’s no obnoxious music or little kids bowling next to you.
-
Best Former funeral parlor and questionably haunted coffee shop
Art House 492 E. 13th Avenue, 541-686-3229. EugeneArtHouse.com.
Art House is an iconic institution promoting independent cinema, art and expansive representation. My love for the Art House location began when it was Bijou Art Cinemas showing quirky film festivals, contemporary indie movies and cult classics. If you’ve been here long enough, you might remember Boo, the large gray cat who strolled the lobby like a god.
The building has had a fascinating past, originally built in 1925 as the First Congressional Church until it became McGaffey and Andreason Mortuary in 1956, and then the Bijou Art Cinemas in 1980, and now the Art House. As part of its revival, Art House offers espresso and coffee from 8 am to 2 pm daily. Located conveniently close to the University of Oregon campus, this is the only place where you can grab a cappuccino, watch a David Lynch film and question your sense of reality as you walk to the bathroom.
-
Best New downtown beer bar and bottle shop
A Beer Club 472 W. 7th Avenue. Ste 5. 541-636-3094. ABeerClub.com.
Walking into A Beer Club, located at Washington and 7th, the first thing you’ll probably notice is the massive amount of empty beer cans and bottles decorating the walls. It’s a collection that owner George Keim is proud of. He’s drunk every single one, so when he says he’s a beer nerd, I don’t doubt it.
Keim opened the bar and bottle shop in June and prides himself in the variety of beers he has on tap and in refrigerators. Before opening A Beer Club, Keim worked as an auto mechanic for 12 years but decided to give up the wrench for the bottle opener. And there’s a sense that his bar reflects his auto industry background. The bar is a pristine stainless steel counter with a light in the middle, which he says is a nod to the barroom scene in The Shining.
The spot is meant to be an intimate place for beer lovers to gather and talk about the craft, Keim says. But don’t let the name fool you — no membership is required to drink at A Beer Club. Sure, he says that people can join its membership program, which offers customers cool perks like clothing and rare drinks, but it’s open for anyone, whether they like IPAs, lagers or root beer.
Keim’s love for beer means that he’ll only stock drinks that he likes. With 26 drinks on tap and multiple refrigerators filled with alcoholic and nonalcoholic beer, cider and more, you’re bound to find something that you’ve been hunting for. Of course, I speak from recent experience. For years I’ve been looking for a beer from Segundo’s Broken Skull line, on which the Southern California brewery collaborated with WWE pro wrestler “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. Having Stone Cold’s beer is all the proof that you need that A Beer Club is the real thing, and — to quote one of Stone Cold’s famous lines that dominated pop culture in the ’90s and ’00s — “that’s the bottom line.”
-
Best Punk rock drag band
DR/UNK Instagram.com/dr_unkhc.
Local band DR/UNK — whose name combines “drag” and “punk” — does exactly what their name describes. Granted, their music has leaned more into heavier genres over time, but the concept is still the same.
Going to a DR/UNK concert is like going to a loud, energetic and heavy grindcore concert with the band dressed in drag. Grindcore is a genre that combines heavy metal and hardcore punk.
Drummer and vocalist Patricia Violence says this is the exact contrast the band likes.
“We really like the juxtaposition of dressing up like pretty girls and then playing super violent, crazy music,” Violence says. They say this aspect is a big part of what makes them unique.
The band is also unique for the way the band’s sound combines genres, Violence says.
Originally, DR/UNK formed with the idea of having a more Dead Kennedys sound, emulating 1980s hardcore punk, guitarist and vocalist Daisy Chained says. Violence, bassist Miss Treats, and Chained have been playing music together since high school jazz choir, and around three months after DR/UNK was started guitarist and vocalist Suzie Slaughter came on.
The group quickly became inspired by “heavier and heavier stuff,” Violence says, coming to a point where the band wasn’t writing the kind of music they used to. They say recently the band’s sound has been leaning toward grindcore and power violence, with a dash of metal. But that doesn’t mean that punk has left their repertoire — it still has an influence on their music.
“I feel like those subgenres in particular did stem more from punk than they did metal, even though they’re super heavy,” Chained says. “the lineage and the natural progression of how all those styled developed definitely came more from hardcore punk.”
With their heavy punk sound and their wigs, DR/UNK puts on a memorable show wherever they go.
“I think we’ve gotten to a point where it’s a pretty distinct sound,” Chained says. “Whatever we do, it sounds like us.”
-
Best German food on the coast (never mind the former politics)
The Blue Heron Bistro 100 Commercial Avenue, Coos Bay. BlueHeronBistro.com.
Yes, it’s not exactly in Eugene or Springfield. But Coos Bay’s excellent Blue Heron Bistro can satisfy that sudden overpowering desire for wiener schnitzel, sauerbraten or even Hungarian goulash that always seems to come over me when I visit the coast on a blustery day. Founded in 1976 and run for four decades by Wim de Vriend, a conservative Dutchman, the restaurant lost a lot of local business after he turned a garden hose on feminists picketing outside in 1993. Into the breach stepped Adam Palmer, the Bistro’s longtime chef, who bought the business in 2015 and now runs it with basically the same menu — with the addition of Nashville barbecue — and with much better service, which tended to be on the slow side. Prices are moderate to high for the southern coast, with entrees running $25 to $35, and that’s before you add in a great selection of German beers and ales.
-
Best Place to embark on the adventure to get dinner and beers with toddlers who are no longer cute to anyone else
ColdFire Brewing Company 263 Mill St. 541-636-3889. ColdFireBrewing.com.
A few weeks ago, while attempting to grab a few things from the farmers’ market, I realized that my toddlers have phased out of age where they attract the generous eye and smiles of strangers.
These days I am accustomed to the silent but loud looks from onlookers. And I don’t blame them. Our culture has very few public spaces that embrace kids and all that comes with them.
Most of the places I currently frequent are ranked by their kid-friendliness, accessibility, cleanliness of the bathrooms and lack of judgment for toddler behavior. With this unremarkable but essential list, ColdFire is one of the most family-friendly locations to get dinner and a drink with the whole fam. The impressive assortment of games and toys for kids of all ages, an abundance of high chairs, and emergency diapers in the bathrooms all signal hospitality and care for families. And I have to mention the exquisite rotating beers and food options.
-
Best of Eugene 2022-2023
Death, taxes and Eugene Weekly’s Best Of. Those are three things you can’t avoid in life, no matter how hard you try. And it’s not a Best Of contest unless EW puts itself in the game.
We always ask for your feedback, and while sometimes we regret that, some of the best things in life are free, and readers say that’s what they like about us. Not only are we free, but we’re local. That means you can get on the phone and speak with someone in the office, whether it’s to buy a classified ad or to pitch a story about America’s new favorite pastime — pickleball.
And readers love our calendar listings, where you can find a variety of Lane County events, including live music, support groups and drag queen shows. Let’s not forget that EW’s past life was as a calendar called What’s Happening, and we’re still honoring our print ancestry every week.
Then there’s the worst things about EW. We have the usual criticism that we have a liberal bias (sorry, but we caught the illness called liberalism years ago and can’t shake it off). There are quite a few readers who are concerned about our page count. Yes, we’re too thin, and we need more pages. If we had more space, we’d have room to publish more investigative stories and articles about the area’s flourishing arts scene while showing our liberal bias. But that’s one thing we can easily fix if you give us some money (no really — contribute, donate, subscribe at Support.EugeneWeekly.com).
In the meantime, keep visiting us at EugeneWeekly.com and in those red boxes all over town. Or if you want us in your email mailbox, sign up for our newsletter at EugeneWeekly.com/Newsletter.
Remember, our Best Of is a readers’ poll, and to the victors of democracy go the spoils. So don’t blame us — we’re just the messengers.
-
Best Professor
1. Ben Saunders University of Oregon.
2. André Sirois University of Oregon.
3. Camilla Mortensen University of Oregon and Lane Community College.
-
Best Program for the homeless
1. White Bird/CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out on the Streets) 341 E. 12th Ave. 541-342-8255. WhiteBirdClinic.org.
2. St. Vincent de Paul 2890 Chad Dr. 541-687-5820. SVdP.us.
3. Eugene Mission 1542 W. 1st Ave. 541-344-3251. EugeneMission.org.
-
Best Local Politician
1. Peter DeFazio Representative, U.S. Congress.
2. Lucy Vinis Eugene Mayor.
3. Claire Syrett former Eugene City Councilor.
-
Best Local visionary
1. Frog Find on Facebook.
2. Mark Frohnmayer, Arcimoto, STAR Voting Arcimoto.com, StarVoting.org.
3. Terry McDonald, St. Vincent de Paul executive director SvDP.us.
For the best visionary in Eugene, life is full of jokes.
David Henry Miller, better known as Frog, has been selling his joke books on the street here since 1986. He is a fixture near the University of Oregon and the Eugene Saturday Market.
“Why are fruit natural musicians?” Frog asks in his recent children’s book, Frog Meets the Power Puff Girls. “Because they love to jam!”
He’s been known as Frog since he was young. “It was a nickname I picked up in high school. Somebody thought I sounded like one, and it stuck,” he says.
Frog uses different humor in his 64 adult books and 40 children’s books, with more explicit humor in his adult books.
Before writing joke books, he worked at various jobs, ranging from a flower shop to selling herbal flea collars. However, he soon realized his talent for jokes. His influences include Lenny Bruce, Robin Williams and George Carlin.
“People kept telling me I know so many jokes, I should write books,” Frog says. “I wrote Volume 1 and kept going from there.”
For Frog, it’s all about bringing joy to people. “It makes them happy,” he says, “and that’s pretty valuable.”
-
Best Teacher
1. Leah Ann Dunbar Lane Education Service District.
2. Clair Wiles North Eugene High School.
3. Nicole Butler-Hooton Irving Elementary.
-
Best Nonprofit
1. White Bird/CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out on the Streets) 341 E. 12th Ave. 541-342-8255. WhiteBirdClinic.org.
2. St. Vincent de Paul 2890 Chad Dr. 541-687-5820. SVdP.us.
3. FOOD For Lane County 770 Bailey Hill Rd. 541-343-2822. FoodForLaneCounty.org.
-
-
Best Advocates for the animals
1. Greenhill Humane Society 88530 Green Hill Rd. 541-689-1503. Green-hill.org.
2. Cascades Raptor Center 32275 Fox Hollow Rd. 541-485-1320. CascadesRaptorCenter.org.
3. Northwest Dog Project NorthWestDogProject.org.
-
Best Local theater company
1. Very Little Theater 2350 Hilyard St. 541-344-7751. TheVLT.com.
2. Oregon Contemporary Theatre 194 W. Broadway. 541-465-1506. OCTheatre.org.
3. Actors Cabaret of Eugene 996 Willamette. 541-683-4368. ActorsCabaret.org
-
Best Drag queen
1. Slutashia (Sam Thrower) Facebook.com/Slutashia
2. Karress Ann Slaughter (Cornel Hardiman) Facebook.com/GlamazonsEugene
3. Lyta Blunt (Deziree Brock) Facebook.com/Lytablunt/
In a post-pandemic lockdown Eugene drag scene where new performers are popping up left and right, Slutashia has maintained her status as one of the town’s most popular queens. This year’s Best of Eugene award marks Slutashia’s third — after she snagged the title in 2018 and 2020.
Beyond the extravagant looks and makeup that are typical to drag, Slutashia — who goes by Sam Thrower out of drag — is known for her songwriting and live rap numbers. Her persona is strongly influenced by Black artists like Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj and Rihanna, she says.
Slutashia began her career in October 2015, when she dressed up to have fun and “feel [her] sexy fantasy” at a Halloween party. The next year, she did it again. And then she decided to give drag a real shot.
Although she started off with lip sync performances, Slutashia says she was inspired by drag artists like Adore Delano and Alaska Thunderfuck 5000 to incorporate her own music into her drag. She’s been writing music since middle school. “I wouldn’t say my music was as fierce before,” she says. “Slutashia has brought my music to another lane, another level and given me that confidence to go out and perform like I didn’t before.”
Slutashia has taken that confidence all in stride. She wants to continue to work with new performers, to learn from them and to give them the opportunity “to go on stage and feel that fantasy” and grow their own drag.
And her title as this year’s Best Drag Queen doesn’t hurt, either. “I just want to represent for queer people of color as much as I can,” she says, “because there’s not a ton of us in Oregon. It’s always an honor to represent Black queer artists.”
Readers can catch the next iteration of Slutashia’s show, Slutty Queens, at Cowfish Dance Club on Nov. 18.
-
Best Fiction writer
1. Chadhurst Sharpe ChadhurstJainlettSharpe.com.
2. Cai Emmons CaiEmmonsAuthor.com.
3. Jeff Geiger JCGeiger.com.
Chadhurst Jainlett Sharpe has long held a passion for the written word. He vividly remembers walking into Barnes and Noble when he was 20, and discovering a treasure in the works of Neil Gaiman. “I was there for the whole rest of the day,” he says, reading every Gaiman novel he could get his hands on. “I love that he’s able to take these intangible things and put them into print.”
When Sharpe began writing his own fiction, he found himself constantly drawn to the gothic horror genre. But that’s changing. “The last few years,” he says, “it has changed to surrealism or even magical realism — there’s even a few fiction pieces that are set in the real world as well.”
Sharpe’s latest novella, The Wives of Isabella Danger (2020), is a departure from the voice he typically writes in. “The main character is a Hispanic woman who is slowly realizing she might be gay,” he says. “She’s a writer and gets this assignment to interview this ex-celebrity she’s always been a fan of.” The novella centers on a conversation between Isabella Danger and the main character, and it takes place during an afternoon. Sharpe aims to push himself out of his comfort zone artistically. “I’ve never written anything like it, and I really like how it came out,” he says.
Though the genre may change, the themes Sharpe is naturally drawn to have remained consistent. “I find myself drawn to diction, [to] self discovery a lot, ” he says, “and the kind of dual idea as to whether things actually change or stay the same.”
Currently, Sharpe is at work rewriting his first novel, which he published in 2016. “I’ve grown since then,” Sharpe says of Alton Heights. “I feel very good about it, and I’m excited to get this story back out there.”
Sharpe’s work is available on his website, ChadhurstJainlettSharpe.com, and The Wives of Isabella Danger is available for purchase on Amazon.
-
Best Local band
1. High Step Society HighStepSociety.com.
2. The Sugar Beets Facebook.com/TheSugarBeets.
3. Fortune’s Folly FortunesFollyBand.com.
-
Best Art gallery
1. New Zone Gallery 110 E. 11th Ave. 541-683-0759. NewZoneGallery.org.
2. Karin Clarke Gallery 760 Willamette. 541-6847-7963. KarinClarkeGallery.com.
3. Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art 1430 Johnson Ln. 541-346-3027. JSMA.UOregon.edu.
As it approaches middle age — it was founded in 1983, meaning it’s about to turn 40 — Eugene’s feisty New Zone Gallery is getting not just getting older, it’s getting better. Long the institutional equivalent of your eccentric couch-surfing cousin, moving from one largely donated month-to-month downtown space to the next, the non-profit community gallery finally managed to sign an actual lease on its current quarters in the old St. Vincent de Paul retail store at 11th and Oak downtown. There, with greater stability, it’s continuing its all-comers exhibits — the New Zone runs on the principle that art shouldn’t be judged or juried, especially by commercial standards — while hosting activities from community figure-drawing classes to a music fest produced by the Eugene Difficult Music Ensemble. Back in the day, it was the New Zone that showed in its Salon des Refusés, with a thumb to the eye of the local art establishment, work rejected by the city’s official Mayor’s Art Show. More recently it took on a certain giant commercial track meet in Eugene with its sardonic Panem et Circenses (Bread Not Circuses) exhibit. New Zone may be heading for middle age, but it’s not yet seeking the middle of the road.
-
Best Radio DJ or podcast host
1. Downtown Deb KLCC Dead Air 89.7 FM.
2. Rev. Marc Time The Sunday Morning Hangover KWVA 88.1 FM.
3. Mike Meyer KEPW Island Earth Radio 97.3 FM.
-
Best Club DJ
1. Spoc-3P0 (Shawn DiFiore) Cowfish Dance Club. Find on Facebook.
2. DJ Supa J (Jon Smith) Find on Facebook.
3. DJ Smuve (Bobby Green Jr) Find on Facebook and Instagram.
Entering Cowfish Dance Club in downtown Eugene is like entering a colorful club from the 1970s. A wavy wall of glittery tile shines down on you as you dance the night away on the pale blue floor, and you can even sit at the bar and observe the fish in the large tank on the wall.
If you come on a Friday night, DJ Spoc-3PO, aka Shawn DiFiore who owns Cowfish Dance Club and Cafe, will provide your soundtrack for the evening. And, yes, he will take your song requests.
“It’s not about me anymore,” DiFiore says about choosing music for his set, noting that some DJs criticize him for taking song requests. “It’s a club. It’s about the whole room.”
DiFiore says the critics argue that accepting song requests takes away from the artistry of being a DJ, but to him, the music is for the people dancing in the club. He says 80 percent of DJing is selecting the best songs for their set, and the other 20 percent is technique — or blending songs together.
For DiFiore, the technique is where artistry comes in. And he says he never pre-records his sets to play — he mixes songs together at the show, never replaying the exact same set.
“I always play on the fly,” he says. “I have taught myself how to mix almost anything together within some proximity of BPMs.” In music, BPM refers to beats per minute, or how fast the song is played.
DiFiore has been DJing in Eugene since 2004, and he says he is grateful to all the people who he works with, including Cowfish staff as well as those who come out to dance. He is especially grateful for the people who come out to dance that respect the space and other people.
“It makes it a community,” DiFiore says about people being respectful at the club. “It makes it a different type of space than a lot of group spaces that are allowed to happen in our society.”
-
Best Classical music group
1. Eugene Symphony 115 W. 8th Ave., ste.115. 541-687-9487. EugeneSymphony.org.
2. Chamber Music Amici 174 E. 16th Ave., ste. 122. 541-953-9204. ChamberMusicAmici.org.
3. Delgani String Quartet 541-650-5040. Delgani.org.
-
Best Actor/Actress
Inga Wilson OCTheatre.org/staff.
Russel Dyball Find on Twitter.
Storm Kennedy StormKennedy.com.
Inga Wilson, our readers’ choice this year for Best Actor/Actress in town, got her start on stage because she was born a redhead. “I did a whole lot of Annie stuff,” she says, starting as a kid growing up in Minnesota. “At my school, in every talent show, I would sing ‘The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow.’”
She kept performing through middle school and high school, and soon was studying theater — with a minor in journalism — at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
After college, life took her to a series of big cities — Detroit, Chicago and Los Angeles among them. And theater led to a number of movie roles. Perhaps her favorite was in A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas, where she worked alongside Kal Penn — who would go on to play a doctor in the TV series House and a real-life role in the Barack Obama White House. “Kal Penn is just an incredible human being,” she says.
Wilson, now 46, moved to Eugene six years ago and has appeared in or directed half a dozen shows at Oregon Contemporary Theatre — the only union house in town where she can appear, as a member of both Actors Equity and the Screen Actors Guild. In 2016, an EW reviewer noted her “Katharine Hepburn chemistry” in an onstage romance in OCT’s Silent Sky. She directed Tiny Beautiful Things last year at OCT when the theater returned to live performance after a pandemic hiatus.
While teaching classes at OCT, Wilson expects to direct a show — yet to be announced — in the coming OCT season.
-
Best Mural or graffiti artist
1. Suspish Facebook.com/SuspishBiz and Suspish Fish on Facebook.\
2. Bayne Gardner BayneGardner.com.
3. Ila Rose IlaRoseArt.com.
In a city filled with amazing murals and street art, Suspish’s work still manages to stand out. There’s something about those blue-ish fish that delights folks of all ages. Ever since Suspish painted one one of their signature graffiti fish on Eugene Weekly’s building, we have watched delightedly as person after person has stopped by to take a selfie with the art. We’re pretty sure we even watched some senior photos take place.
One of the comments that folks make again and again is how spotting a Suspish fish or other Suspish art around the city makes their day. And Suspish tells us that the lifting of spirits is mutual. “I love art,” Suspish says. “I love how Eugene is full of artists, and I never thought I’d be getting recognized for my art the way I am today.”
Eugene is indeed full of talented artists — in fact, third place winner Ila Rose won first for Best Artist, a category where Suspish took second, and second place winner in the mural and graffiti category, well-known muralist Bayne Gardner, has shared walls with Suspish’s art.
Getting the recognition for their art “has been so great for my mental health,” Suspish continues, “because usually I work a lot of hours at emotionally taxing jobs and now things are way different. Thank you for the overwhelming support.”
-
Best Photographer
1. Athena Delene (Delene and Co.) 541-515-9442. Delene.co.
2. Michael Sherman (Spring Fed Media) SpringFedMedia.net.
3. Sarah Northrop (@sartakespics) SarTakesPics.com.
-
Best Local singer/songwriter
1. Halie Loren HalieLoren.com.
2. Bettreena Jaeger BaroqueBetty.com.
3. Cameron Daye Find on Facebook.
-
Best Comedian
1. Jen Jay Find on Facebook.
2. Seth Milstein Find on Facebook and Twitter.
3. Mike McGowan Find on Facebook and Twitter.
After a few false starts in comedy in her teens and 20s, Jen Jay signed up for her first comedy open mic at Luckey’s in downtown Eugene. (That mic still happens each Tuesday). With comedy club-owning relatives, she always wanted to try stand-up for herself. Since that first experience at Luckey’s, which she describes as “not awful,” Jay has gone on to perform several nights a week at open mics, to host her own open mic “Jokin’ Off with Jen Jay” at The Drake Bar in Eugene every second and fourth Wednesday each month, and to appear in a variety of comedy showcases in Eugene and elsewhere.
The Eugene Weekly Best of Eugene 2022 Best Stand-up Comedian winner moved to Eugene in 2004 from Long Beach, California. As Jay puts it, she was raised by a “wild mom,” and she uses that as a jumping-off point for her material. “We moved around a lot as a kid. My mom wasn’t in the military or anything, she just wrote a lot of hot checks,” is a classic Jay-ism. “It’s totally true,” Jays tells EW over the phone. “I had a wild upbringing around wild people,” she says. “I use that as a jumping-off point to deal with the trauma,” but also as a jumping-off point to find things hilarious now, she says. If you’re interested in trying stand-up for yourself, Jay says to just go for it. “If you’re scared, come to my mic,” she continues. “I’ll hold your hand. I’ll also stay six feet away if you need that. It’s been my experience that the Eugene comedy scene is friendly and open. There’s room for everyone’s voice.”
-
Best Journalist
1. Henry Houston Eugene Weekly.
2. Camilla Mortensen Eugene Weekly.
3. William Kennedy Eugene Weekly.
-
Best Event venue
1. Cuthbert Amphitheater 2300 Leo Harris Pkwy. 541-762-8099. TheCuthbert.com.
2. WOW Hall 291 W. 8th Ave. 541-687-2746. WowHall.org.
3. Hult Center for the Performing Arts 1 Eugene Ctr. 541-682-5000. HultCenter.org.
-
Best Pizza
1. Coburg Pizza Company 90999 S. Willamette, Coburg, 541-484-6600; 1710 Centennial Blvd., Springfield. 541-484-6600. CoburgPizza.com.
2. Slice 325 Blair Blvd. 541-653-9937. SliceLife.com.
3. The Wheel Apizza Pub 390 Lincoln St., #101. 541-735-3860. TheWheelAPizzaPub.com.
-
Best Meal under $12
1. Cafe Yumm! 860 E. 13th Ave. 541-349-9866; 1801 Willamette. 541-686-9866; 130 Oakway Ctr. 541-465-9866. 550 Pearl St., ste. 130. 541-344-9866. CafeYumm.com.
2. Nelson’s in the Whit and Nelson’s Taqueria 394 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com; Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
3. El Super Burrito 2566 Willamette. 541-485-0619. Find on Facebook.
-
Best Latin American food
1. Nelson’s in the Whit and Nelson’s Taqueria 394 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com; Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
2. Tacovore 530 Blair Blvd. 541-735-3518. TacovorePNW.com.
3. El Buen Sabor 650 Blair Blvd. 541-653-2517. ElBuenSabor.us.
Nelson Lopez’s two restaurants wear many Best Of crowns this year: Best Latin American Food, Best Takeout, Best Server, Best Food Cart, Best New Restaurant. And can you blame readers? Whether you visit Nelson’s in the Whit (located in the historic Tiny Tavern building) or Nelson’s Taqueria (in the parking lot of Tiny Tavern), you’re not only eating affordable yet amazing food but Lopez treats every customer as if they’re the most important person in the world. And he says he’s happy that customers love him back.
Food prices, like everything else, are rising over time, but Lopez says he works hard to keep his prices affordable at Nelson’s Taqueria. All of the cart’s menu is under $15, whether you’re ordering multiple tacos or a huge burrito. Lopez says he watches his food supplier prices carefully so customers don’t have to see menu prices keep increasing.
The most popular item at Nelson’s Taqueria and Nelson’s in the Whit, Lopez says, is the birria, which he marinates overnight with a blend of 16 spices. Birria, beef brisket in the U.S., is having its moment in Eugene, where food carts and Mexican restaurants offer some sort of it. More commonly served around town as quesabirria, where birria fills a cheesy tortilla, Nelson’s quesabirria tacos are filled with tender meat and is so good it’s worth marking your calendars for Tuesdays and Fridays, the only days when he serves it. He limits its availability, he says, because it takes so long to cook and he doesn’t want to serve customers old birria. “It’s better to sell it fresh,” he adds.
Lopez opened Nelson’s in the Whit in November 2021, moving into the Tiny Tavern, a building in the Whiteaker neighborhood recognized in the U.S. National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places. Lopez isn’t just celebrating the one-year anniversary of Nelson’s in the Whit, but also having Abby Young at the restaurant, who’s this year’s Best Server. And he agrees with readers because she treats customers like he does. “You have to give the heart, the smile to your customer,” Lopez says. “You have to give the flavor to your drinks. She’s in charge of making the gourmet margaritas, and people are loving it.”
-
Best Bakery
1. Sweet Life 755 Monroe St., 1609 E. 19th Ave. 541-683-5676. SweetLifeDesserts.com.
2. Hideaway Bakery 3377 E. Amazon Dr. 541-868-1982. HideawayBakery.com.
3. Noisette Pastry Kitchen 200 W. Broadway, 541-654-5257. NoisettePK.com.
-
Best Comfort food
1. Cornbread Café 1290 W. 7th Ave. 541-505-9175. CornbreadCafe.com.
2. Black Wolf Supper Club 454 Willamette. 541-687-8226. BlackWolfSupperClub.com.
3. Cornucopia 295 W. 17th Ave., 541-485-2300; 207 E. 5th Ave. ste. 109, 541-485-2676; 521 Main St., Springfield, 541-485-2879. CornucopiaEugene.com.
-
Best Chicken joint
1. Yardy Eugene 263 Mill St., YardyEugene.com.
2. Hot Mama’s 420 W. 13th Ave. 541-653-9999. HotMamasWings.com.
3. Chicken Bonz 1815 Pioneer Pkwy E., Springfield. 541-726-0111. ChickenBonz.com.
-
Best Hangover food
1. Brails Restaurant 1689 Willamette. 541-343-1542; 395 W. 5th Ave., #2506, 541-342-2075. BrailsRestaurant.co.
2. Morning Glory Cafe 450 Willamette. 541-687-0709. MorningGloryEugene.com.
3. Mandy’s Family Restaurant 1491 Willamette. 541-654-0382. MandysFamilyRestaurant.com.
-
Best Burger
1. Cornucopia 295 W. 17th Ave., 541-485-2300; 207 E. 5th Ave., Ste. 109, 541-485-2676; 521 Main St., Springfield, 541-485-2879. CornucopiaEugene.com.
2. Killer Burger 50 W. Broadway, 541-636-4731. KillerBurger.com
3. NW Burger 5th Street Market 296 E. 5th Ave., #220; Public House 418 A St #4606, Springfield. 541-485-9176. NwBurgers.com.
-
Best Ice cream
1. Prince Pückler’s 1605 E. 19th Ave. 541-344-4418. Princepucklers.com.
2. Salt & Straw 139 Oakway Rd. B. 541-521-7708. SaltandStraw.com.
3. Handel’s Ice Cream 550 Pearl St. unit 110. 541-735-3150. HandelsIceCream.com.
-
Best Thai food
1. Ta Ra Rin Thai Cuisine 1200 Oak St. 541-343-1230; 1410 Mohawk Blvd. Springfield. 541- 505-8987; 1520 Coburg Rd. 541-844-1032. TaRaRinThai.com.
2. Sabai 27 Oakway Ctr. 541-654-5424. SabaiCafe.com.
3. Krab Krua 254 Lincoln St. 541-636-6267. KrobKrua.com.
-
Best Cocktails
1. Izakaya Meiji 345 Van Buren St. 541-505-8804. IzakayaMeiji.com.
2. barTini bistro 1203 Willamette, ste 130. 541-359-1235. Facebook.com/bartinibistro/
3. Thinking Tree Spirits 88 Jackson St. 541-515-6993. ThinkingTreeSpirits.com.
-
Best East Asian food (Japanese, Korean and Chinese)
1. Kung Fu Bistro 2560 Willamette. 541-968-9258. Facebook.com/KungFuBistroEugene.
2. Izakaya Meiji Co. 345 Van Buren St. 541-505-8804. IzakayaMeiji.com.
3. Akira 359 Mill St. 458-205-8288. AkiraEugene.com.
-
Best Barbecue
1. Rackhouse BBQ 207 Madison St. 541-285-0518. TheRackHouseBBQ.com.
2. Paper Plate BBQ 263 Mill St. 541-606-2130. PaperPlateBBQ.com.
3. Hole in the Wall 3200 W. 11th Ave. 541-683-7378; 1807 Olympic St., Springfield. 541-726-1200. HoleintheWallBBQ.com.
The Pacific Northwest isn’t the best place to barbecue year-round. I mean, who wants to hang around a grill drinking PBR when it’s pouring outside? Well, this climate hasn’t stopped these great Eugene-Springfield barbecue joints — Hole in the Wall, Paper Plate BBQ and Rackhouse BBQ — from being popular with our readers who leave grilling for the pros.
Rackhouse, voted first place, is at Oakshire’s poppin’ food cart pod, one of the best in Lane County. Connor Balfrey, owner, says that he opened the cart with his friend Chris Barry a few years ago. The two researched barbecue in various U.S. regions and perfected the styles they liked best. What makes Rackhouse special, Balfrey says, is the 17-spice rub that it uses in every menu item. “It’s a flavor profile that you can associate with us,” he says, from ribs to tri-tip. But the food cart isn’t only focused on meat. Balfrey says the menu includes pulled pork, but instead of meat it substitutes jackfruit — a fruit that has recently become a vegan staple in restaurants and kitchens. Jackfruit is tough to pull off, but Balfrey says Rackhouse marinates it for hours, which packs in a ton of flavor. And the restaurant is eager to take on special items, such as a Chicago beef sandwich, which Balfrey says Rackroom offered before Hulu’s The Bear popularized the greasy staple. “We made it with tri-tip that we cooked down so it was shreddable,” he says.
-
Best New restaurant
Nelson’s in the Whit 394 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404. NelsonsInTheWhit.com.
Carlita’s Rooftop 550 Oak St. 541-632-6867. CarlitasTTW.com
Tavern on Main 338 Main St., Springfield. 458-201-7936. TavernOnMainSpfd.com.
-
Best Barista
1. Sharie Anderson (Palace Coffee) 842 Pearl St. 541-344-0475. PalaceCoffeeBakery.com.
2. Charlie Huster (Washburne Cafe) 326 Main St., Springfield. 541-746-7999. WashburneCafe.com.
3. Jessica Lu (Southpine Bakery) 2866 Crescent Ave., ste. 101. 541-799-4595.
-
Best Coffee
1. Equiano Coffee 300 Blair Blvd. 541-953-2879. EquianoCoffee.com.
2. Farmers Union Coffee Roasters 152 W. 5th Ave.; 2757 Friendly St., FarmersUnionCoffee.com.
3. Wandering Goat 268 Madison St. 541-344-5161. WanderingGoat.com.
-
Best Distillery
Thinking Tree Spirits 88 Jackson St. 541-515-6993. ThinkingTreeSpirits.com.
Heritage Distilling Company 110 Madison St. 541-357-4431. HeritageDistilling.com.
Swallowtail Spirits 111 Main St., Springfield. 541-357-5951. SwallowTailSpirits.com.
-
Best Coffee shop
1. Farmers Union Coffee Roasters 152 W. 5th Ave. 2757 Friendly St., FarmersUnionCoffee.com.
2. Vero 205 E. 14th Ave. 541-654-0504. VeroEspressoHouse.com.
3. Meraki 1203 Willamette, stes. 110 & 120. 541-844-0254. DrinkMeraki.com.
-
Best Wine
1. Sweet Cheeks 27007 Briggs Hill Rd. 541-349-9463. SweetCheeksWinery.com.
2. King Estate 80854 Territorial Hwy. 541-685-5189. KingEstate.com.
3. Oregon Wine LAB 488 Lincoln St. 458-201-7413. OregonWineLab.com.
-
Best Bar
1. Spectrum Queer Bar 150 W. Broadway. 541-225-4896. SpectrumEugene.com.
2. Monkey’s Paw Tiki Bar 420 Main St., Springfield. 541-505-7975. Find on Facebook and Instagram.
3. Cowfish Dance Club and Café 62 W. Broadway. 541-683-6319. Find on Facebook and Instagram.
Spectrum Queer Bar is more than a bar. It’s a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community according to its manager, Kiki Boniki. With everything from weekly drag performances and craft night to clothing exchanges and community meet ups Spectrum is not limited by the traditional definition of bar.
Arriving at Spectrum, you’re greeted by the bright colors of the wacky and zany characters painted on the front windows. Many represent signature Spectrum drinks, which are equally as colorful and have playful names that make you wonder about the stories behind them.
As you enter the back room you realize the color has escaped the walls and now covers the people as lights flood the stage to showcase lip sync performances and drag queens. You can feel the energy at your seat, just feet from the small stage.
When your Friday night is finally coming to a close there is no need to be sad. You don’t have to leave for long. Show up the next day for crafts, a social mixer or a drag race watch party. On Sundays, you can nurse your hangover right back at Spectrum while enjoying drag brunch. Prefer to play your Nintendo Switch to partying? Show up to the Spectrum Gaymer night and prove which Mario Kart character is best.
“Spectrum is a safe space for everyone. No matter where you fall on the spectrum of gender or sexuality, anyone that is in the LGBTQIA+ family, this is your space to be yourself and to not have to worry about what people from society think about you,” Boniki says. — Jacob Moore
-
Best Place for takeout
1. Nelson’s in the Whit and Nelson’s Taqueria 394 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com; Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
2. Krob Krua 254 Lincoln St. 541-636-6267. KrobKrua.com.
3. Ta Ra Rin Thai Cuisine 1200 Oak St. 541-343-1230; 1410 Mohawk Blvd., Springfield. 541- 505-8987; 1520 Coburg Rd. 541-844-1032 TaRaRinThai.com.
-
Best Bagel sandwich
1. Bagel Sphere 810 Willamette. 541-344-1335; 4089 W. 11th Ave. 541-868-1072. BagelSphere.com.
2. Lox, Stock and Bagels 368 E. 40th Ave. 541-692-2435. Facebook.com/loxstocksandbagels.
3. Daily Bagel 4770 Village Plaza Lp. 541-431-5700. Daily-Bagel.com.
-
Best Bartender
1. Thor Slaughter (Akira) 359 Mill St. 458-205-8288. AkiraEugene.com.
2. Steve Salazar (barTini bistro) 1203 Willamette, ste. 130. 541-359-1235. Facebook.com/bartinibistro/.
3. Abby Young (Nelson’s in the Whit) 394 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com.
It’s a packed night at Akira, one of Eugene’s hottest restaurants and cocktail lounges. Finding a tiny nook in the upstairs lounge, my wife and I look over the cocktail menu, most of which has clever pop culture references from KHANNNNNNNNN!!!!, a reference to Capt. James Kirk’s exasperated exclamation in Star Trek: Wrath of Khan, to The Golden Martini, a callback to James Bond. And the man behind these drinks is the ever-popular Thor Slaughter, a bartender who attracts attention from his bar patrons for his personality — but most importantly for the amazing drinks he concocts.
What’s impressive about Slaughter’s drinks is his simplicity and minimalism. The KHANNNNNNNNN!!!! is Japanese whisky, prickly pear syrup, lemon and soda. It’s a combination that doesn’t drown the whisky, but doesn’t have the spirit jump out too strongly, and the drink is so easy to drink that you have to have the willpower of a saint to not keep ordering it. Slaughter says he learned the key to a good drink — simplicity and minimalism — while visiting Japan years ago. In our mass information age, where our minds are overwhelmed by social media and smartphones, it’s nice to sip a well crafted simple drink, and EW readers agree.
-
Best Local beer
1. Oakshire 207 Madison St. 541-654-5520. OakBrew.com.
2. Ninkasi 272 Van Buren St. 541-344-2739. NinkasiBrewing.com.
3. ColdFire Brewing 263 Mill St. 541-636-3889. ColdFireBrewing.com.
-
Best Server
1. Abby Young (Nelson’s in the Whit) 394 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com.
2. Dove Greenwood (Cheese Bliss) 110 Madison St. 541-246-5220. YourCheeseBliss.com.
3. Heather Ensign (Ninkasi Better Living Room) 155 Blair Blvd. 541-735-9500.
-
Best Restaurant
1. Izakaya Meiji 345 Van Buren St. 541-505-8804. IzakayaMeiji.com.
2. Akira Eugene 359 Mill St. 458-205-8288. AkiraEugene.com.
3. Cafe Soriah 384 W. 13th Ave. 541-342-4410. Soriah.com.
-
Best Desserts
1. Sweet Life 755 Monroe St,. 1609 E. 19th Ave. 541-683-5676. SweetLifeDesserts.com.
2. Noisette Pastry Kitchen 200 W. Broadway, 541-654-5257. NoisettePK.com.
3. Metropol Bakery 2538 Willamette. 541-465-4730. MetropolBakery.com
-
Best Italian food
1. Beppe and Gianni’s 1646 E. 19th Ave. 541-683-6661. BeppeAndGiannis.net.
2. Placido’s Pasta Shop 120 Shelton McMurphey Blvd., #110, 458-205-8092. Placidos.com.
3. Mazzi’s Italian Restaurant 3377 E. Amazon Dr. 541-687-2252. Mazzis.com.
-
Best French fries
Cornucopia 295 W. 17th Ave., 541-485-2300; 207 E. 5th Ave., Ste. 109, 541-485-2676; 521 Main St., Springfield, 541-485-2879. CornucopiaEugene.com.
Little Big Burger 1404 Orchard St. 541-357-4771. LittleBigBurger.com.
Killer Burger 50 W. Broadway, 541-636-4731. KillerBurger.com.
-
Best Food cart
1. Nelson’s Taqueria 394 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404. Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
2. Da Nang Vietnamese Eatery 488 Lincoln St. 541-915-0144. Facebook.com/danangeatery.
3. Yardy Eugene 263 Mill St. YardyEugene.com.
-
Best Out-of-town restaurant (not in Eugene-Springfield)
1. Waterfront Depot (Florence) 1252 Bay St., Florence. 541-902-9100. TheWaterfrontDepot.com.
2. Creswell Bakery (Creswell) 182 S. 2nd St., Creswell. 541-895-5885. CreswellBakery.com.
3. Local Ocean Seafoods (Newport) 213 SE Bay Blvd., Newport. 541-574-7959.
-
Best Doughnut
Voodoo Doughnut 20 E. Broadway. 541-868-8666. VoodooDoughnut.com.
Dizzy Dean’s Donuts 2380 W. 11th Ave. 541-683-3505. OrderDizzyDeansDonuts.com.
Master Donut 1159 Mohawk Blvd, Springfield. 541-741-8033. Master-Donut.Edan.io.
-
Best Sushi
1. Sushi Pure 259 E. 5th Ave. 541-654-0608. SushiPureEugene.com.
2. Akira 359 Mill St. 458-205-8288. AkiraEugene.com.
3. Izumi Sushi 2773 Shadow View Dr. 541-683-1201. IzumiSushiEugene.com.
-
Best Vegetarian/vegan
1. Cornbread Café 1290 W. 7th Ave., 541-505-9175. CornbreadCafe.com.
2. Morning Glory 450 Willamette. 541-687-0709. MorningGloryEugene.com.
3. Laughing Planet 760 Blair Blvd., 541-868-0668; 2864 Willamette, 541-505-5399. LaughingPlanet.com.
-
Best Art Gallery
1. Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art 1430 Johnson Ln. 541-346-3027. JSMA.UOregon.edu.
2. New Zone Gallery 110 E. 11th Ave. 541-683-0759. NewZoneGallery.org.
3. White Lotus Gallery 767 Willamette. 541-345-3276. WLotus.com.
-
Best Photographer
1. Athena Delene Delene and Co.541-515-9442.Delene.co.
2. Faliesha Dawn Photography FalieshaDawne.com.
3. Destiny Brock Brock Photography. BrockDestiny1.wixsite.com/dbrockphotography.
-
Best Drag Queen
1. Karress Ann Slaughter, Cornel Hardiman Facebook.com/GlamazonsEugene.
2. Lyta Blunt, Deziree Brock Facebook.com/Lytablunt.
3. Slutashia, Sam Thrower Facebook.com/Slutashia.
Karress Ann Slaughter, aka Cornel Hardiman, is a Eugene drag veteran. Hardiman has been in the Eugene drag scene for nearly 30 years and has no signs of slowing down. “It’s nice to know that my hard work still shows for itself and it feels like I am still always evolving,” Hardiman says. “Even my makeup routine has changed just in the last three months.”
Hardiman has been on the map since he won a title his first year doing drag. One of the best things about drag for Hardiman is that it has allowed him to tap into a part of himself he never knew existed. “It’s cool because I can literally be anyone I want to be.”
Since Hardiman started doing drag a lot has changed, but one change he is most excited about is seeing how much of a variety of drag there is. Hardiman says he loves seeing the rise in drag kings, singing queens and every other drag niche.
The most rewarding part about drag for Hardiman, though, is being able to make people smile. “My favorite thing to see, especially at Pride, is when little kids look up at you and they are just enamored by you, and come up to you and want to talk to you,” Hardiman says. “Especially as a parent, if I can make a child happy, that just makes my life.”
-
Best Drag King
1. Heavy Cream, Melanie Funke Instagram.com/heavy_creammm.
2. Smash The King Instagram.com/smash_the.king.
3. Edd Zackly, Abigail Instagram.com/eddzackly.
For Heavy Cream, aka Melanie Funke, drag was a world they were enamored by but unsure where they could fit it. “I started seeing a local drag king, Jackley. He was one of the main kings on the scene and just seeing him not only be an amazing performer but also be so funny and goofy, I was like, ‘Yes that’s what I want to do.’”
After that Funke decided to attend drag queen Lyta Blunt’s drag workshop, where Funke could hone in on performance technique and perform a song at the end of the workshop. “After I performed everyone was coming up to me and asking me if I had ever done that before, and I was like no… and they were like, you need to do drag,” Funke says. “To have such a positive response was so important and impactful to come into my light.”
Funke is now a regular performer at Spectrum and an avid member of the drag community. “As of right now, the sky’s the limit for me,” Funke says. “I want to continue growing on this path. I want to travel and do drag across the states.”
-
Best Burger Joint
1. Cornucopia 295 W. 17th Ave. 541-485-2300; 207 E. 5th Ave. ste. 109, 541-485-2676; 521 Main St. Spfd, 541-485-2879. CornucopiaEugene.com.
2. Gotcha Burger 1702 W. 7th Ave. 541-221-2839.
3. Toxic Burger 943 River Rd, 541-689-9464; 2766 W. 11th Ave. 541-255-4345; 2866 Willamette, 541-930-3355; 285 E. Oregon Ave, Creswell. 541-658-5251. Toxicburger.com.
-
Best Chicken Joint
1. Hot Mama’s Wings 420 W. 13th Ave. 541-653-9999. HotMamasWings.com.
2. Yardy Eugene 263 Mill St. YardyEugene.com.
3. Chicken Bonz 1815 Pioneer Pkwy E. Spfd. 541-726-0111. ChickenBonz.com.
-
Best Comfort Food
1. Brail’s 1689 Willamette. 541-343-1542; 395 W. 5th Ave. #2506, 541-342-2075. BrailsRestaurant.co.
2. Black Wolf Supper Club 454 Willamette. 541-687-8226. BlackWolfSupperClub.com.
3. Mandy’s Family Restaurant 1491 Willamette. 541-654-0382. MandysFamilyRestaurant.com.
-
Best Latin American Food
1. Nelson’s in the Whit 400 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com; Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
2. Tacovore 530 Blair Blvd. 541-735-3518. TacovorePNW.com.
3. El Buen Sabor 650 Blair Blvd. 541-653-2517. ElBuenSabor.us.
-
Best Italian Food
1. Beppe & Gianni’s Trattoria 1646 E. 19th Ave. 541-683-6661. BeppeAndGiannis.net.
2. Mazzi’s Italian Restaurant 3377 E. Amazon Dr. 541-687-2252. Mazzis.com.
3. Placido’s Pasta Shop 120 Shelton McMurphey Blvd. #110, 458-205-8092. Placidos.com.
-
Best Thai Food
1. Ta Ra Rin Thai Cuisine 1200 Oak St. 541-343-1230; 1410 Mohawk Blvd. Spfd. 541- 505-8987; 1520 Coburg Rd. 541-844-1032. TaRaRinThai.com.
2. Sabai 27 Oakway Ctr. 541-654-5424. SabaiCafe.com.
3. Krob Krua 1313 Pearl St. 541-636-6267. KrobKrua.com.
-
Best International Cuisine That Didn’t Fit in One of the Other Categories
1. Cafe Soriah 384 W. 13th Ave. 541-342-4410. Soriah.com.
2. Poppi’s Anatolia 992 Willamette. 541-343-9661. PoppisAnatolia.com.
3. Evergreen Indian 906 W. 7th Ave. 541-343-7944.
-
Best Barbecue
1. Bill & Tim’s Barbecue & Tap House 201 E. 13th Ave. 541-654-0578. Billandtims.com.
2. Hole in the Wall 3200 W. 11th Ave. 541-683-7378; 1807 Olympic St. Spfd. 541-726-1200. Holeinthewallbbq.com.
3. Paper Plate BBQ 263 Mill St. 541-606-2130. Paperplatebbq.com.
-
Best Vegetarian/Vegan Food
1. Morning Glory Café 450 Willamette. 541-687-0709. MorningGloryEugene.com.
2. Laughing Planet 760 Blair Blvd. 541-868-0668; 2864 Willamette, 541-505-5399. LaughingPlanet.com.
3. Cafe Yumm! 860 E. 13th Ave. 541-349-9866; 1801 Willamette. 541-686-9866; 130 Oakway Ctr. 541-465-9866. 550 Pearl St. ste. 130. 541-344-9866. CafeYumm.com.
-
Best Pizza
1. Hey Neighbor! Pizza House 1621 E. 19th Ave. 605 W. 19th Ave. 541-505-9302. H-n-p-h.com.
2. Mezza Luna Pizzeria 933 Pearl St. 541-684-8900. MezzaLunaPizzeriaEugene.com.
3. Slice Pizzeria and Bar 325 Blair Blvd. 541-653-9937. Slicepizzeriaandbar.com.
A corgi mascot at Hey, Neighbor! makes sense. The herding dogs sport a loud bark. And since opening Hey, Neighbor, the restaurant’s logo — a barking corgi — has corralled customers in. Well, maybe it’s also the pizza, which is why EW readers voted it as Best Pizza.
Back when owner Calen Willis opened Hey, Neighbor, he says he wanted to have a place where he could know his customers. His customer base kept growing through word of mouth, and now Hey, Neighbor has become an institution of 19th and Agate alongside Prince Pücklers and Beppe and Gianni’s.
Rather than pile on toppings on a pizza, Willis says the restaurant focuses on one ingredient that can be a star. For early autumn, that’s an opportunity to showcase broccolini from ME and Moore Farm. “We’re trying to source the best ingredients,” Willis says. “That shows through.”
But being EW’s Best Pizza isn’t just about fresh ingredients. It’s all about the basics and how sauce — and what makes it up, including basil, sea salt, tomatoes and olive oil — is the foundation to a great pizza. “We try not to get in the way of the original ingredient,” he says.
-
Best Bagel Place
1. Lox, Stocks and Bagels 368 E. 40th Ave. 541-692-2435. Facebook.com/loxstocksandbagels.
2. Bagel Sphere 810 Willamette. 541-344-1335; 4089 W. 11th Ave. 541-868-1072. BagelSphere.com.
3. Hideaway Bakery 3377 E. Amazon Dr. 541-868-1982. HideawayBakery.com.
When Lox, Stocks and Bagels owner Maxwell Davis thinks of a bagel, he pictures freshly baked and boiled New York-style bagels with an assortment of cream cheeses of your choice. Davis believes in waking up at three every morning to achieve that freshly boiled bagel because “that’s what the community counts on.”
After working as a general manager for several years, Davis took on owning Lox, Stocks and Bagels two years ago and hasn’t looked back since. “I had the training it took and it just felt like this place was so important to our community, and I was willing to dedicate that time,” Davis says.
Davis now spends an average of 50 hours a week making sure Eugene is getting the freshly boiled bagels it deserves. “We’re just excited to be honored like this,” Davis says. “And we know our customers are, too.”
-
Best Coffee Shop
1. Wandering Goat Coffee Co. 268 Madison St. 541-344-5161. WanderingGoat.com.
2. Farmers Union Coffee Roasters 152 W. 5th Ave. FarmersUnionCoffee.com.
3. Vero Espresso House 205 E. 14th Ave. 541-654-0504. VeroEspressoHouse.com.
-
Best Barista
1. Aaron (Sully) Sullivan Wandering Goat Coffee Co. 268 Madison St. 541-344-5161. WanderingGoat.com.
2. Okon Udosenata Equiano 300 Blair Blvd. 541-953-2879. EquianoCoffee.com.
3. Katie Stowe Stay Woke,1380 W. 7th Ave. 541-600-0585. StayWokepnw.com.
Aaron (Sully) Sullivan’s first reaction to hearing he was a finalist for Eugene Weekly’s Best Baristawas “What? Who did this? Why would they do this to me?” followed by “OK, this feels good to be recognized.” Sullivan has been a barista for most of his life, starting in drive-thrus and working his way through bakeries and coffee shops in town; most notably Sweet Life Patisserie and now Wandering Goat.
“It feels like a Eugene bingo card that’s been crossed off since I’ve lived here my whole life,” Sullivan says.
Sullivan realized he could make being a barista a career after he started working at Sweet Life and realized he could make just as much money making coffee as he could doing anything he went to college for. “I was in college right around the time of the recession,” he says. “There weren’t a lot of job opportunities and I thought, ‘Well I can keep doing this.’”
Sullivan says his favorite part about being a barista at Wandering Goat is that he can really be himself. “I think customers really like that I don’t do the whole ‘canned customer service’ thing,” Sullivan says. “I am just kind of myself, which I guess is a little gregarious.”
When Sullivan isn’t making a latte or cappuccino at Wandering Goat you can find him making art or using his very own aeropress to make his own fresh brewed coffee because he’s become “a real coffee snob” over the years working as a barista.
-
Best Breakfast
1. Morning Glory Café 450 Willamette. 541-687-0709. MorningGloryEugene.com.
2. Brail’s 1689 Willamette. 541-343-1542; 395 W. 5th Ave. #2506, 541-342-2075. BrailsRestaurant.co.
3. Lion and Owl 60 E. 11th Ave. 541-606-0626 LionandOwl.com
-
Best Ice Cream or Desserts
1. Sweet Life Patisserie 755 Monroe St. 1609 E. 19th Ave. 541-683-5676. SweetLifeDesserts.com.
2. Prince Pückler’s Ice Cream 1605 E. 19th Ave. 541-344-4418. Princepucklers.com.
3. Noisette Pastry Kitchen 200 W. Broadway, 541-654-5257. NoisettePK.com.
-
Best Bakery
1. Sweet Life Patisserie 755 Monroe St. 1609 E. 19th Ave. 541-683-5676. SweetLifeDesserts.com.
2. Creswell Bakery 182 S. 2nd St. Creswell. 541-895-5885. CreswellBakery.com.
3. Noisette Pastry Kitchen 200 W. Broadway, 541-654-5257. NoisettePK.com.
-
Best Bar
1. Sam Bond’s Garage 407 Blair Blvd. 541-431-6603. SamBonds.com.
2. Jackalope Lounge 453 Willamette St. 541-485-1519. JackalopeLounge.com.
3. Blairally 245 Blair Blvd. 541-683-1721. Blairally.com.
-
Best Bartender
1. Molly Powell Sam Bond’s Garage407 Blair Blvd. 541-431-6603. SamBonds.com.
2. Thor Slaughter Akira Omakase 359 Mill St. 458-205-8288. AkiraEugene.com.
3. Ryan Prescher Izakaya Meiji Company 345 Van Buren St. 541-505-8804. IzakayaMeiji.com
Sam Bond’s Garage and Molly Powell cleaned house in “Best of Eugene” this year. Best Bar winner Sam Bond’s Garage is very much the Whiteaker’s neighborhood bar hosting bingo nights, live music, burlesque, comedy, drag shows and it also has outdoor seating.
Having been a bartender for Sam Bond’s for 11 years, Best Bartender Molly Powell says what’s more important than making a mean drink is “creating a safe space where everyone can be together and have a good time.”
One unique and adorable feature of Sam Bond’s Garage would be Buddy the bar cat, a 13-year-old orange cat who roams around the bar. “If you like live entertainment, look us up and see if there are any shows, it’s a blast,” Powell says.
-
Best East Asian Food(Japanese, Korean and Chinese)
1. Izakaya Meiji Company 345 Van Buren St. 541-505-8804. IzakayaMeiji.com.
2. Bao Bao House 868 West Park St. 541-799-1088; 3342 Gateway, Spfd. 541-600-8868. BaobaoHouseor.com,
3. Akira Omakase 359 Mill St. 458-205-8288. AkiraEugene.com.
-
Best Cocktails
1. Izakaya Meiji Company 345 Van Buren St. 541-505-8804. IzakayaMeiji.com.
2. Thinking Tree Spirits 88 Jackson St. 541-515-6993. ThinkingTreeSpirits.com.
3. Nelson’s in the Whit 400 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404. NelsonsInTheWhit.com.
Trying to get a table for two at Izakaya Meiji on a Friday night is not for the faint of heart, as you will most likely be battling it out for a table among the other hungry Japanese small plate fans. The izakaya, with a whiskey bar flair, has been a Eugene staple since Quinn Brown and his wife Ayumi Kamata opened the restaurant in 2010.
With a menu that incorporates Japanese small plate favorites such as onigiri and wakame salad, but with a Southern twist, it’s not uncommon to find Japanese potato salad made with Kewpie mayo and collard greens with pickled togarashi. With equally inventive cocktails like mugwort bitters with Sazerac rye and scotch in their Smoke Dreams, Izakaya Meiji has mastered the art of a creative beverage — as a result, Meiji won Best Cocktails and Best East Asian Food and took third in Best Bartender.
On Oct. 4 the restaurant announced it was closing its doors at the end of the month, leaving the Eugene food community dismayed and wondering how they could close such an iconic establishment. A few days later, Izakaya Meiji went back on social media to announce that the closure is more or less a rebrand of the restaurant in its same location.
Meiji posted, “Wow what an outpouring of support from the community, our hearts are warmed by y’all’s response. We didn’t mean to leave you in the lurch but while Meiji is closing we are planning on opening a new spot in its location — and some favorite items will carry over.”
-
Best Local Beer
1. ColdFire Brewing 263 Mill St. 541-636-3889. ColdFireBrewing.com.
2. Oakshire Brewing 207 Madison St. 541-654-5520. OakBrew.com.
3. Ninkasi Brewing 272 Van Buren St. 541-344-2739. NinkasiBrewing.com.
ColdFire Brewing has offered small-batch, Western European-inspired beer to the Eugene community since it opened its doors in 2015. Now, the brewery distributes its products across the state of Oregon and in Vancouver, Washington.
Its public house is home to a rotating handful of ColdFire original brews on tap and in cans. Those swinging by the taproom can also pick up pizza, BBQ, stretched noodles and West Indian-inspired food from the four food carts set up in the back of the property.
When I swung by, I tried three of ColdFire’s tap beers: the Cumulus Tropicalus IPA, the Thursday Friday IPA and a sip of my partner’s Live Sour. I especially liked the Cumulus, a lighter, citrusy, not-that-hoppy IPA — and a “favorite of our ColdFire fans,” per the company’s website.
ColdFire’s public house was also named “best place to embark on the adventure to get dinner and beers with toddlers who are no longer cute to anyone else” in Eugene Weekly’s 2022 Staff Picks.
-
Best Local Wine
1. Sweet Cheeks Winery 27007 Briggs Hill Rd. 541-349-9463. SweetCheeksWinery.com.
2. King Estate Winery 80854 Territorial Hwy. 541-685-5189. KingEstate.com.
3. Sarver Winery 25600 Mayola Ln. 541-935-2979. SarverWinery.com.
-
Best Distillery
1. Thinking Tree Spirits 88 Jackson St. 541-515-6993. ThinkingTreeSpirits.com.
2. Heritage Distilling Company 110 Madison St. 541-357-4431. HeritageDistilling.com.
3. Swallowtail Spirits 111 Main St. Spfd. 541-357-5951. SwallowTailSpirits.com.
-
Best Takeout
1. Cafe Yumm! 860 E. 13th Ave. 541-349-9866; 1801 Willamette. 541-686-9866; 130 Oakway Ctr. 541-465-9866. 550 Pearl St. ste. 130. 541-344-9866. CafeYumm.com.
2. Nelson’s in the Whit/Nelson’s Taqueria 400 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com; Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
3. Da Nang Vietnamese Eatery 88 Jackson St. 541-915-0144. Facebook.com/danangeatery.
-
Best Meal Under $12
1. Cafe Yumm! 860 E. 13th Ave. 541-349-9866; 1801 Willamette. 541-686-9866; 130 Oakway Ctr. 541-465-9866. 550 Pearl St. ste. 130. 541-344-9866. CafeYumm.com.
2. Burrito Boy 510 E. Broadway. 541-344-8070; 1889 Olympic St. Spfd. 541-747-7775; 1840 Chambers St. 541-246-8775; 2511 W. 11th. 541-338-4219; 1060 River Rd. 541-689-7970; 1071 Valley River Dr. 541- 343-8089. BurritoBoy.com.
3. Nelson’s Taqueria 400 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
-
Best Meal Over $25
1. Cafe Soriah 384 W. 13th Ave. 541-342-4410. Soriah.com.
2. Marché 5th Street Public Market, 296 E. 5th Ave. 541-342-3612. MarcheRestaurant.com.
3. Lion and Owl 60 E. 11th Ave. 541-606-0626. LionandOwl.com.
-
Best Chef
1. Crystal Platt Lion & Owl 60 E. 11th Ave. 541-606-0626 LionandOwl.com.
2. Taro Kobayashi Akira Omakase 359 Mill St. 458-205-8288. AkiraEugene.com.
3. Billy Reid Dueling Spoons 39074 Jasper Lowell Rd. 541-398-8929. DuelingSpoons.net.
It’s been quite a year for Crystal Platt, chef and owner of Lion and Owl. Her 2023 kicked off with news that she was a Best Chef semi-finalist for the prestigious James Beard Awards. Months later, her alma mater, Lane Community College, awarded her with its Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award. And now EW readers have voted that Platt is the area’s Best Chef.
But to be the best, Platt says she had to study with the best. Shortly after graduating from LCC with her associate’s degree, she worked at Marché, which she says was after the restaurant had won its James Beard Award.
Platt and her restaurant have a seasonal menu, but her ingenuity may shine brightest with turning an ordinary potato into something magical. One recipe she’s proud of is the potato in the style of ham hock, a days-long process. It starts with the potato being steamed, peeled and brined for 24 hours. Then it’s dried and smoked. And when it’s ordered, the kitchen deep fries it.
“The potato was the first dish that I felt like was mine,” she says.
Lion and Owl continues that legacy of excellence, not just providing high quality food, but also offering something different for its customers.
“Both my wife and I work hard to create a special place,” Platt says. “You can be in Eugene but feel like you’re escaping.
-
Best Server
1. Abbie Taylor Mandy’s Family Restaurant 1491 Willamette. 541-654-0382. MandysFamilyRestaurant.com.
2. Heather Ensign Brail’s on 5th 395 W. 5th Ave. #2506, 541-342-2075. BrailsRestaurant.co.
3. Chrissy Norris Nelson’s in The Whit 400 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com; Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
Abbie Taylor is a self-described “restaurant kid.” Taylor grew up watching her mom, Mandy Taylor, wait tables at pubs and restaurants across Eugene. When Mandy Taylor finally decided to open her own restaurant in 2019, it only made sense that Abbie Taylor would start serving classic diner food herself.
Abbie Taylor says, “I watched my mom go from a hustlin’ waitress to a successful business owner, so that is definitely inspiring to me.”
At Mandy’s you get the full family-owned diner experience. Taylor says a lot of the customers she serves at Mandy’s have been following her mom around restaurant to restaurant for years and now enjoy getting to know her daughter. While she refills their coffee, regulars of Mandy’s often ask Taylor how her family’s doing. “They want to come in, eat their breakfast and ask me how I’m doing,” Taylor says. “It’s really nice.”
As Taylor grows into the server she idolized as a kid, she says a new generation of “restaurant kids” has taken over the place. “Now it’s my nephew running all over the place screaming,” she says. Taylor hopes that someday she, too, can open her own diner and have restaurant kids of her own running around.
“I just think it’s awesome that people want to support our family,” Taylor says. “And hopefully, someday, I can have my own restaurant kids run around my Mandy’s.”
-
Best Food Cart
1. Nelson’s Taqueria 400 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com; Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
2. Da Nang Vietnamese Eatery 88 Jackson St. 541-915-0144. Facebook.com/danangeatery.
3. Yardy Eugene 263 Mill St. YardyEugene.com.
The best food carts in Eugene this year are globetrotters. Yardy’s Afro-Caribbean influenced fried chicken, Da Nang Vietnamese Eatery’s famous banh mi, and Nelson’s Taqueria’s authentic Mexican cuisine have shown us that Eugene’s food scene is more diverse than ever.
Yardy’s owner Isaiah Martinez says he owes all of his success to his team. “I’m like the coach pouring water on my team at the end of the game — I owe it all to them.” Martinez says he is so thankful that the community has supported him and his endeavors to bring the flavors he grew up tasting at home to Eugene.
Da Nang has been a food cart staple in Eugene for the past 10 years. General manager Andrew Sexton has been with Da Nang since its inception. He says Da Nang’s success can be traced back to its freshness. Sexton says. “Most food trucks have a reputation for being greasy but we always have the freshest ingredients.”
And winner Nelson’s Taqueria, with its food from tortas to tacos, has been a Eugene favorite and a headline maker in Eugene Weekly since its opening as a food cart and later the addition of its brick and mortar building. Owner Nelson Lopez says, “We are committed to our community because they are committed to us.” EW voters made that clear!
-
Best Catering
1. Mucho Gusto 67 Oakway Center. 541-343-148; 205 E. 18th Ave. 541-650-6985. MuchoGusto.info.
2. Marigold Cooking Collective MarigoldCookingCollective.com.
3. Viking Brewing Company Southtowne Pub, 2490 Willamette. 541-515-6314; 520 Commercial St. unit F. 541-653-8371. DrinkViking.com.
-
Best New Restaurant
1. Dueling Spoons 39074 Jasper Lowell Road. Fall Creek. 541-398-8929. DuelingSpoons.net.
2. Jade Dumpling and Noodle House 2560 Willamette. 541-968-9258. Instagram.com/jade_dumpling_eugene.
3. Osteria DOP 1122 Oak St. 541- 913-6460. PizzeriaDop.com.
Whenever you step inside Dueling Spoons, right away you become a part of the family. But that’s not what converts one to become a Dueling Spoons fanatic. It’s all about the food, whether you’re ringing the bell to announce to the rest of the restaurant that you’re about to chow down on a tomahawk steak or eating a sandwich on bread that’s been shipped in from Philadelphia.
Dueling Spoons, though known for its dinner service, has recently opened its doors for lunch, offering Irish fare such as bangers and mash and shepherd’s pies. But what’s worth the drive out to Fall Creek are the sandwiches, an artform of layering by chef and owner Billy Reid — who voters also voted into the top three in Best Chef in a highly competitive category.
Reid is the first to acknowledge that if you’re in a hurry to eat dinner, maybe Dueling Spoons isn’t the right dinner spot. Rather than have a model of getting customers in and out, he says he’d rather have them enjoy their time at the restaurant.
Readers have chosen Dueling Spoons as the Best New Restaurant, as well as second place for Best Out-of-Town Restaurant, but the Fall Creek-based restaurant seems like it’s become an overnight culinary institution. And that’s because Reid, his wife Kathleen Reid and everyone else at the restaurant are dedicated to making sure that every customer experience is memorable.
“We’ll go to the lengths to make people happy,” Reid says. “I have a reputation we’ll go to lengths that are necessary to make people happy.”
-
Best Out-of-Town Restaurant(not in Eugene-Springfield)
1. Creswell Bakery 182 S. 2nd St., Creswell. 541-895-5885. CreswellBakery.com.
2. Dueling Spoons 39074 Jasper Lowell Road. Fall Creek. 541-398-8929. Duelingspoons.net.
3. Waterfront Depot 1252 Bay St. Florence. 541-902-9100. TheWaterfrontDepot.com.
-
Best Restaurant
1. Cafe Soriah 384 W. 13th Ave. 541-342-4410. Soriah.com.
2. Nelson’s in the Whit 400 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com; Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
3. Lion and Owl 60 E. 11th Ave. 541- 606-0626 LionandOwl.com
-
Best Indie Bookstore
1. Tsunami Books 2585 Willamette. 541-345-8986. TsunamiBooks.org.
2. Smith Family Bookstore 525 Willamette. 541-343-4717. SmithFamilyBookstore.com.
3. Books with Pictures 99 W. Broadway, C. 541-485-1048. BooksWithPicturesEug.com.
-
Best Tattoo Artist
1. Kassandra Lampwick Wild Rose Tattoo 2849 Oak St. WildRoseTattoo.com/kassandra-lampwick.
2. Katana DeVille Sad Devils Club Tattoo 76 W. Broadway. 541-357-4484. SadDevilsClubTattoo.com.
3. Suzen Tattoozen Whiteaker Tattoo Collective 304 River Rd. 541-255-2734. WhiteakerTattoo.com.
Kassandra Lampwick says she has always considered herself an artist, but by the time she got her third tattoo she knew that tattooing was going to be her “lifelong mistress.” She says, “It made me feel as different on the inside as it did on the outside — and I really loved that.”
Lampwick is now the co-owner, with Sarah Knapp, of Wild Rose, an all-women artists tattoo parlor, where Lampwick brings her colorful realism style to the Eugene’s tattoo scene. When Lampwick and Knapp started Wild Rose in 2021 they set out to create a women-owned tattoo studio that provided a space for clients to feel safe and comfortable. In addition to owning a tattoo parlor, Lampwick also runs a nonprofit called Eugene Bleeds that focuses on ending period poverty in the local community.
She owes her success to “working really hard at making deep connections with people in the community.” Lampwick says she believes that tattooing someone is a truly sacred ritual. “Many people cry on my table; we have laughter; people are spilling blood on my table and are permanently altering their bodies forever. I help connect people back to their bodies through change and hardship. They get to carry that art with them forever,” she says.
-
Best Piercer
1. Bunny Knox High Priestess 525 E. 13th Ave. 541-343-3311. BestStudioEver.com/high-priestess
2. Jared Hill Area 51 505 Willamette, ste. 100. 541-393-6572. Area51piercing.com.
3. Kenny Plimpton High Priestess 210 W. 6th Ave. 541-342-6585. BestStudioEver.com/high-priestess.
-
Best Hair Stylist
1. Dot Anomaly Hair Collective 837 Monroe St. Anomalyhaircollective.com.
2. Desiree Diamond American Traditional Barbershop 390 W. 12th Ave. 541-915-9613. Facebook.com/AmericanTraditionalBarbershop.
3. Amanda Nicole 4247 Loft 390 Lincoln St., #220. 541-515-6477. 4247Loft.com.
Looking to spice up your hairstyle? Well you’re in luck. Dot, voted first place by readers, specializes in natural texture, razor cuts, gender-affirming cuts and alternative hairstyles. Anything and everything out of the ordinary they are able to do so with the natural texture of the hair. Dot also works with different colors and vivids for all of your creative ideas. “I’m always stoked when people bring inspiration from characters like in TV and movies or based on a theme,” Dot says. “My favorite one was doing hair based on Tank Girl,” the 1995 science fiction and action film. Dot became a hairstylist in 2019 and started their career at Anomaly Hair Collective, a trans and queer owned hair studio.
“I just fuckin’ love hair!! And I want people to love their hair, too,” Dot says.
-
Best Barbershop
1. Tim’s Trims Barbershop 301 W. 5th Ave. 541-515-6936. TimsTrimsBarbershop.com.
2. Analog Barbershop 860 Olive St. 541-510-5668. AnalogBarbershop.com.
3. American Traditional Barbershop 390 W. 12th Ave. 541-915-9613. Facebook.com/AmericanTraditionalBarbershop.
With rave reviews, Tim’s Trims Barbershop was voted first place by EW readers. In 2017, Tim Grimes opened the shop and left a legacy of connection, kindness and art. Around six years ago, Austin Hayden joined the well-rounded, community-based barbershop after being a barber for a decade and became the owner in 2021 after Grimes died. Grimes’ mother came to Hayden and asked if he would take the shop over. “I agreed and said, ‘I would love to keep it going and keep his name alive,’” Hayden says. He saw people working in this field when he grew up, and that inspired him to follow in their footsteps, he says. His favorite part of the job is “the relationships with other barbers and clients. And just getting to see all the different walks of life and all different types of people.” — Brianna Murschel
-
Best Secondhand Shop
1. St. Vincent de Paul Find addresses for 13 Oregon locations at SVdP.us.
2. SARA’s Treasures (Shelter Animal Resource Alliance) 871 River Rd. 541-607-8892. SarasTreasures.org.
3. Buffalo Exchange 131 E. 5th Ave. 541-687-2805. BuffaloExchange.com.
-
Best Place to Get Fit
1. Outdoors
2. Eugene Family YMCA 2055 Patterson St. 541-686-9622. EugeneYMCA.org.
3. Elevation Bouldering Gym 348 Lincoln St. 541-972-3595. ElevationGym.com.
-
Best Yoga
1. Eugene Yoga 199 E. 5th St. Suite 33 and 3575 Donald St. Suite 180. 541-520-8771.EugeneYoga.us
2. Everyday People Yoga 352 W. 12th Ave. 541-513-0180. Epyogaeugene.com.
3. Glow Yoga 110 Oakway Ctr. 541-729-5031. YogaEugene.com.
-
Best Martial Arts
1. Art of War 164 W. Broadway. 541-870-6954. ArtofWar-mma.com.
2. Northwest Martial Arts Academy 755 Charnelton. 541-912-9099. NwmaAcademy.com.
3. McKenzie Martial Arts 125 Silver Ln. 541-729-2455. MckenzieMartialArts.com.
It’s the cross section of students that’s most striking at Art of War MMA, voted by EW readers as the Best Martial Arts center.
There are University of Oregon students, doctors, lawyers and professors — men and women, beginners and advanced students — who are sweating through workouts and learning the fine art of jiu jitsu, muay Thai and mixed martial arts under the guidance of Art of War founder and head coach Jason Georgianna as well as one-on-one demonstrations by his staff.
Classes are held throughout the year, and Georgianna estimates that 150 to 200 take classes at Art of War, depending on the season.
Advanced students often hit the road for competitions, and in September, even Georgianna got into the MMA cage for the first time in more than a decade for a competitive match. He lost that match, but he vows to return to competition again.
-
Best Local Food Market
1. Lane County Farmers Market Farmers Market Pavilion, 8th and Oak. LaneCountyFarmersMarket.org.
2. Kiva Grocery Store 125 W. 11th Ave. 541-342-8666. KivaGrocery.com.
3. Market of Choice MarketofChoice.com.
-
Best Veterinarian
1. Jodi Wiktorowski Eugene Animal Hospital. 1432 Orchard St. 541-342-1178. EugeneAnimalHospital.net.
2. Cameron Jones Amazon Park Animal Clinic, 725 E. 25th. 541-485-0161. AmazonParkVet.com.
3. Ashley “Niki” Fadden Animal Health Associates, 2835 Willamette. 541-345-1544. Aha.vet
After she graduated from veterinary school at Washington State University, Jodi Wiktorowski — raised in Buffalo, New York — did what many transplant Eugeneans have done. “I just opened a map and stopped here,” she says. “It feels like home.”
That was in 2003, and since then Wiktorowski (“Dr. Jodi,” as she is known) has made a name for herself at Eugene Animal Hospital treating the four-legged members of families (and even small birds), and Eugene Weekly readers have noticed, voting her Best Veterinarian.
Animals have always been Wiktorowski’s passion. As a kid, she tended to injured birds, some of them brought to her by people in the neighborhood. She also did volunteer work at clinics in high school, and she enjoyed the “homey” feel of those clinics. That homey feel was part of the allure of joining the staff at Eugene Animal Hospital, she says.
“You don’t get that everywhere,” she notes. “It’s like family. I want it to be part of the family.”
Wiktorowski became the sole owner of EAH on April 1, 2015, and has steered the hospital through pandemic difficulties, which included losing two full-time associates. EAH now has one full-time veterinary associate (Jeremy Polk) and two part-time associates.
“It didn’t affect us as much as we thought it would,” Wiktorowski says of the pandemic. “We got busier because everyone got puppies.”
And almost 20 years after opening that map and discovering Lane County, Wiktorowski, who has a farm with donkeys, emus and border collies near Creswell, has no regrets about coming to Eugene.
“This is what I’ve always done,” she says. “We have rough days, but I love coming to work. We all have lots of love for the animals.”
-
Best Garden Gear Shop
1. Down to Earth 532 Olive Street 541-342-6820. DownToEarthEugene.com.
2. Jerry’s Home Improvement Center 2600 Hwy. 99 N, 541-689-1911; 2525 Olympic St. Spfd 541-736-7000. BetterHeadForJerrys.com.
3. Gray’s Garden Center 737 W. 6th Ave. 541-345-1569; 4489 Main St. Spfd. 541- 357-5431. GraysGardens.com.
-
Best Local Outdoor Recreation Store
1. Play It Again Sports 2598 Willamette. 541-342-4041. PlayItAgainSports.com.
2. Eugene Gear Traders 505 Willamette, ste. 110. 541-515-6764. EugeneGearTraders.com.
3. Backcountry Gear 1855 W. 2nd Ave. 541-485-5418. BackCountryGear.com.
-
Best Bicycle Store
1. Bicycle Way of Life 556 Charnelton St. 541-344-4105. 2480 Alder St. 541-342-6155. Bicycleway.com.
2. Hutch’s Bicycle 960 Charnelton St. 541-345-7521. HutchsBicycles.com.
3. Arriving By Bike 2705 Willamette. 541-484-5410 ArrivingbyBike.com.
-
Best Cannabis Dispensary
1. Moss Crossing 2751 Friendly St. 541-636-3724. MossCrossing.com.
2. Space Buds 741 Lincoln St. 541-505-9834. SpaceBudstheDispensary.com.
3. TJ’s Provisions 1910 Empire Park Dr. 541-654-0595. VisitTJs.com.
-
Best Budtender
1. Devonte Perry Moss Crossing 2751 Friendly St. 541-636-3724. MossCrossing.com.
2. Harmony Turner Sweet Tree Farms 4097 W. 11th Ave. 541-246-8075. STFEugene.com.
3. Michael Harris TJ’s on Willamette 1027 Willamette. 541-505-7961. VisitTJs.com.
Devonte Perry is “living the dream.” Originally from the South, budtending in Oregon was something he had wanted to do for at least 10 to 15 years before making the move to Eugene.
“Honestly, this has been my dream for so long, to be able to come out here and make that dream a reality has just been amazing,” Perry says.
Perry is a budtender at Moss Crossing, where he has been aiding customers in finding the right strain for them over the past two years. “I love the opportunity to make someone’s day,” he says. “And also just seeing all different types of people and cultures walk through the door.”
Call it Southern charm, but Perry says he believes it’s truly his good customer service and “just giving people a smile” that made him crowned Best Budtender in Eugene.
Perry is hopeful that someday he can start growing bud of his own and perhaps open a dispensary. “In the meantime, though, I am just so happy where I am,” he says. “I really feel like I am living my best life.”
-
Raindrops on Roses – Best of Eugene staff picks are a few of Eugene Weekly’s own favorite things
Now that we’ve got Sound of Music’s “My Favorite Things” stuck in your head, let’s talk about Eugene Weekly’s favorite things — our staff picks to pair with our annual reader’s choice Best Of contest.
In our Best Of Eugene issue, all the winners are voted on, and so chosen by you — the readers. But the staff picks issue is where EW comes up with some of our favorite things that made Lane County a fun place to live this year. — Henry Houston
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-punk-rock-drag-band/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-food-cart-pod-community/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-eugene-diner-people-forget-is-actually-a-diner/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-former-funeral-parlor-and-questionably-haunted-coffee-shop/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-eugene-based-pro-wrestling-brothers/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-place-to-get-dog-food-and-enjoy-a-rural-vibe/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-new-downtown-beer-bar-and-bottle-shop/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-german-food-on-the-coast-never-mind-the-former-politics/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-salad-greens/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-place-to-embark-on-the-adventure-to-get-dinner-and-beers-with-toddlers-who-are-no-longer-cute-to-anyone-else/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-bowling-alley-for-upscale-food/
https://bestofeugene.wpengine.com/2022/10/best-vinyl-pop-up/
-
Best Salad greens
Horton Road Organics hortonorganics.com.
You can catch me walking around Farmers Market eating Horton Road Organics’ “Original Salad Mix” like a bag of Kettle chips. No dressing. No nothing. I can’t put my finger on the perfection they’ve crafted so I had to reach out and ask. What makes this mix magic?
Debra Seido Martin, farmer and co-owner at Horton, explains, “While I’d like to think our loving care and eye for the beauty and attention to each individual green matters, it is really the Coast Range mountain ecology that deserves the credit. The fine tilth of the soil, fresh air — when not smoky — and clean mountain irrigation water from the creek are all contained within the leaves we eat. In the Coast Range, we have an advantage over the valley with a slightly cooler climate that most greens desire.”
That being said, there is a serious amount of human attention and devotion that goes into crafting their salad mix. Every four days, rain or shine, each of the eight ingredients in the salad mixes gets sown separately by hand. And each variety of leaf gets a dedicated crew member that only works with that green all summer. This approach allows for that person to really get to know the crop. its flavor and how it should be integrated in the salad mix. And finally, Martin checks all greens that leave the farm.
“Though you need a fine palate to notice, the greens are never the same twice,” she explains. “We work with what is given. Such a delight. Devotion or obsession? Yes.”
-
Best Eugene diner people forget is actually a diner
Brails 1689 Willamette. 541-343-1542; 395 W. 5th Avenue, #2506, 541-342-2075. BrailsRestaurant.co.
I’ve lived in Eugene for a little over a year, and I’d never heard of Brails before. Crazy, right? My editor mentioned that it’s a perennial winner in Eugene Weekly’s Best Of competition, so I decided I had to go and see what it was like.
When I got there, I was instantly impressed by the friendliness of the servers. Soon after sitting down, I got one of my favorite drinks: a strawberry lemonade. As I waited for my food, I took a look around at the rest of the diners. I noticed that Brails is different from other restaurants I’ve been to around here. It has a strong feeling of an old-school diner, from its small size to folks reading a newspaper as they wait for their food.
Finally, the food came. I kept my order classic: cheeseburger and fries. It did not disappoint. The burger’s cheesy goodness made for an all-around great lunch.
It is worth noting, though, that a Brails experience isn’t just about the food, servers and restaurant decorations. It’s also about the people who eat here, the folks who add to the restaurant’s atmosphere. While having my burger, I struck up a conversation with a fellow customer about the Portland Trail Blazers and their upcoming season and why he’s a Beavers fan even though he lives in Eugene. I don’t often have a conversation with a stranger at a restaurant, and it made my experience all the more worth it.
EW readers say Brail’s is a great spot for hangover food. I certainly did not have a hangover when I went there to have lunch. Regardless, it is a great diner, not only for its food, but also its atmosphere.
-
Best Eugene-based pro wrestling brothers
The Blanchard Brothers POWProWrestling.com.
When the Blanchard Brothers strut their way to the Eugene-based POW! Pro Wrestling ring, you know you’re in for a treat. Jeremy and Bubba Blanchard look and act the way I imagine pro wrestlers in the “territory” days were like, a time before WWE (then-World Wrestling Federation) took over the wrestling industry in the mid-’80s and injected pop culture into it. Those days were a time when big, burly wrestlers ran the ring, and they didn’t take any guff from the crowd. And the Blanchard brothers fit this bill.
OK, so technically Bubba and Jeremy aren’t brothers. Jeremy says he was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and before he could walk, he was attending live pro wrestling shows, soaking in legends like Jerry “The King” Lawler (famous in the mainstream for the feud he had with comedian Andy Kaufman). Jeremy met Bubba in middle school and they have been together ever since. They’ve wrestled without each other, but Jeremy says the two have the most fun working as a tag team. “It seems like together we’re lightning in a bottle,” he says.
The Blanchard Brothers wrestle as the bad guys, aka “heels.” They’re loud, crass and in-your-face — and that’s what gets the crowd booing. Lately, Jeremy says he just lets Bubba harass the crowd. “It’s a blast to watch Bubba go — it’s magic,” he adds.
Getting the crowd worked up isn’t the only thing the Blanchard brothers do so well. They cruise to the ring wearing bedazzled robes to the theme song of “O Fortuna” from the Carmina Burana cantata, and when they’re beating up the good guys, they howl in joy.
There’s no brother pro wrestling duo like the Blanchards in town. They’ll yell at you and mock you, and you’ll boo them when they somehow eek out a win. That’s what makes them so great. And that’s why I can’t stop loving to hate these guys.
-
Best place to get dog food and enjoy a rural vibe
Pleasant Hill Feed and Farm Supply 84841 Edenvale Road, Pleasant Hill. Facebook.com/pleasanthillfeedandfarm.
I am going to be honest, I don’t just get dog food at Pleasant Hill Feed. I also get my horse’s feed there. But I figure the average Eugene Weekly reader is more likely looking to buy dog or cat food than they are searching out a good price on a bag of grain for a horse.
On that note, last time I walked into the family-owned and run feedstore, head honcho Travis Parr greeted me with, “You out of that expensive horse feed you get?”
Yes, my horse does have spendy tastes in feed. Parr has tried to steer me to a cheaper local product, but is resigned to ordering me what my horse’s expensive little heart desires.
Parr, easily recognized by a red beard that would be the envy of any troll in Lord of the Rings, also stocks everything from warm rubber boots to small gifts, CBD for humans and animals, and some snacks and candy. I’ve whiled away many minutes chatting in the feedstore about hay prices, pet turtles and, yes, even that politically touchy topic of COVID.
You also may encounter his daughter, Jolene Parr, at work behind the counter. She’s patiently gone over ingredient lists with me on endless bags of dog food, aiding me in my search for chicken-free grub for my pitbull, Biggie, and is usually prepared with a treat. If she doesn’t have one, then the guys who load the feed into my car usually do.
-
Best Vinyl pop-up
TOP SCORE Record Show Facebook.com/TopScoreRecordShow.
Since 2015, TOP SCORE Record Show has been providing a record show environment that was geared more to being fun, family-friendly and less competitive. The event quickly became bi-annual with a homebase at Level-Up Arcade. Co-Founders KI Design and André Sirois (aka DJ food stamp) explained that their “goal was to make a show not only for the community but created by the community, including local sellers, local DJs, and the generous sponsorship by local businesses.” TOP SCORE keeps the tabling cost for vendors low and free to attend. Sirois also shares “we love seeing kids and families sharing a love of digging. Just ask any record collector and they will tell you this is the most fun record show you will find and we take pride in that.” Throughout the years, they’ve also raised funds for local nonprofits like Maude Kerns Art Center and Northwest Dog Project.
Catch the next TOP SCORE Record Show at Level Up Arcade noon to 5 pm Nov. 13. All ages. Free.
-
Best Food cart pod community
The Friendly Garden 2758 Friendly Street. TheGardenonFriendly.com.
Nestled in one of Eugene’s best neighborhoods, commonly known as the Friendly Area, The Friendly Garden is our 2022 Best of Eugene staff pick for Best Food Cart Pod. Located right on Friendly Street, directly across from the Friendly Market — in this part of town, friendliness can clearly be counted on — there are five food carts, including Fruit and Vine Beverage Cart serving beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages; Masa’s Yatai Japanese Restaurant; Silva’s Taqueria, serving authentic cuisine of Oaxaca; a Eugene staple, Bartolli’s Pizza; and Uumami Mediterranean.
There’s covered and sidewalk seating at The Friendly Garden with heaters in the winter, making it a great place to go for al fresco dining in the fall and winter, with special events like music and trivia. Owned in a partnership that’s also behind nearby housing developments, Mel Bankoff says mixed-use is always what the partners had in mind for the property, and that community support has been strong since The Friendly Garden opened two years ago. Bankoff and his partners all live in the neighborhood, so it’s a personal relationship, Bankoff says. “We try to keep a track on the pulse and the feel and beautify it with plants, trees and vegetation for good ambiance,” Bankoff says.
-
Best Bowling alley for upscale food
Lane 25 1166 State Hwy 99 N. 541-688-9904. EntertainmentEugene.com.
If bowling brings to mind cheap hot dogs and watery beer, leave those notions behind at Lane 25, my staff pick for the best place for grownups to go bowling. Located in the Gilbert Center on Highway 99 in the same shopping complex as Strike City Lanes, Lane 25 is Eugene’s only 21-and-over bowling alley. It’s a place for mid-size private business parties, special events and gatherings, date nights, adult birthday parties or just a night out, according to Eric Gilbert, whose family owns the business.
The big draw at Lane 25, though, is the menu. Forget stale nachos and try artisan pizza or a grass-fed burger, among other options, with 36 rotating taps of beer, wine and cider. According to Gilbert, the Lane 25 formula is what many bowling alleys are doing across the country. “We always have a bunch of beer on tap. We always try to have really good food, and the space is cool inside,” Gilbert says. As well as bowling, there’s a shuffleboard table with pinball and a fireplace. Best of all, Gilbert adds, there’s no obnoxious music or little kids bowling next to you.
-
Best Former funeral parlor and questionably haunted coffee shop
Art House 492 E. 13th Avenue, 541-686-3229. EugeneArtHouse.com.
Art House is an iconic institution promoting independent cinema, art and expansive representation. My love for the Art House location began when it was Bijou Art Cinemas showing quirky film festivals, contemporary indie movies and cult classics. If you’ve been here long enough, you might remember Boo, the large gray cat who strolled the lobby like a god.
The building has had a fascinating past, originally built in 1925 as the First Congressional Church until it became McGaffey and Andreason Mortuary in 1956, and then the Bijou Art Cinemas in 1980, and now the Art House. As part of its revival, Art House offers espresso and coffee from 8 am to 2 pm daily. Located conveniently close to the University of Oregon campus, this is the only place where you can grab a cappuccino, watch a David Lynch film and question your sense of reality as you walk to the bathroom.
-
Best New downtown beer bar and bottle shop
A Beer Club 472 W. 7th Avenue. Ste 5. 541-636-3094. ABeerClub.com.
Walking into A Beer Club, located at Washington and 7th, the first thing you’ll probably notice is the massive amount of empty beer cans and bottles decorating the walls. It’s a collection that owner George Keim is proud of. He’s drunk every single one, so when he says he’s a beer nerd, I don’t doubt it.
Keim opened the bar and bottle shop in June and prides himself in the variety of beers he has on tap and in refrigerators. Before opening A Beer Club, Keim worked as an auto mechanic for 12 years but decided to give up the wrench for the bottle opener. And there’s a sense that his bar reflects his auto industry background. The bar is a pristine stainless steel counter with a light in the middle, which he says is a nod to the barroom scene in The Shining.
The spot is meant to be an intimate place for beer lovers to gather and talk about the craft, Keim says. But don’t let the name fool you — no membership is required to drink at A Beer Club. Sure, he says that people can join its membership program, which offers customers cool perks like clothing and rare drinks, but it’s open for anyone, whether they like IPAs, lagers or root beer.
Keim’s love for beer means that he’ll only stock drinks that he likes. With 26 drinks on tap and multiple refrigerators filled with alcoholic and nonalcoholic beer, cider and more, you’re bound to find something that you’ve been hunting for. Of course, I speak from recent experience. For years I’ve been looking for a beer from Segundo’s Broken Skull line, on which the Southern California brewery collaborated with WWE pro wrestler “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. Having Stone Cold’s beer is all the proof that you need that A Beer Club is the real thing, and — to quote one of Stone Cold’s famous lines that dominated pop culture in the ’90s and ’00s — “that’s the bottom line.”
-
Best Punk rock drag band
DR/UNK Instagram.com/dr_unkhc.
Local band DR/UNK — whose name combines “drag” and “punk” — does exactly what their name describes. Granted, their music has leaned more into heavier genres over time, but the concept is still the same.
Going to a DR/UNK concert is like going to a loud, energetic and heavy grindcore concert with the band dressed in drag. Grindcore is a genre that combines heavy metal and hardcore punk.
Drummer and vocalist Patricia Violence says this is the exact contrast the band likes.
“We really like the juxtaposition of dressing up like pretty girls and then playing super violent, crazy music,” Violence says. They say this aspect is a big part of what makes them unique.
The band is also unique for the way the band’s sound combines genres, Violence says.
Originally, DR/UNK formed with the idea of having a more Dead Kennedys sound, emulating 1980s hardcore punk, guitarist and vocalist Daisy Chained says. Violence, bassist Miss Treats, and Chained have been playing music together since high school jazz choir, and around three months after DR/UNK was started guitarist and vocalist Suzie Slaughter came on.
The group quickly became inspired by “heavier and heavier stuff,” Violence says, coming to a point where the band wasn’t writing the kind of music they used to. They say recently the band’s sound has been leaning toward grindcore and power violence, with a dash of metal. But that doesn’t mean that punk has left their repertoire — it still has an influence on their music.
“I feel like those subgenres in particular did stem more from punk than they did metal, even though they’re super heavy,” Chained says. “the lineage and the natural progression of how all those styled developed definitely came more from hardcore punk.”
With their heavy punk sound and their wigs, DR/UNK puts on a memorable show wherever they go.
“I think we’ve gotten to a point where it’s a pretty distinct sound,” Chained says. “Whatever we do, it sounds like us.”
-
Best German food on the coast (never mind the former politics)
The Blue Heron Bistro 100 Commercial Avenue, Coos Bay. BlueHeronBistro.com.
Yes, it’s not exactly in Eugene or Springfield. But Coos Bay’s excellent Blue Heron Bistro can satisfy that sudden overpowering desire for wiener schnitzel, sauerbraten or even Hungarian goulash that always seems to come over me when I visit the coast on a blustery day. Founded in 1976 and run for four decades by Wim de Vriend, a conservative Dutchman, the restaurant lost a lot of local business after he turned a garden hose on feminists picketing outside in 1993. Into the breach stepped Adam Palmer, the Bistro’s longtime chef, who bought the business in 2015 and now runs it with basically the same menu — with the addition of Nashville barbecue — and with much better service, which tended to be on the slow side. Prices are moderate to high for the southern coast, with entrees running $25 to $35, and that’s before you add in a great selection of German beers and ales.
-
Best Place to embark on the adventure to get dinner and beers with toddlers who are no longer cute to anyone else
ColdFire Brewing Company 263 Mill St. 541-636-3889. ColdFireBrewing.com.
A few weeks ago, while attempting to grab a few things from the farmers’ market, I realized that my toddlers have phased out of age where they attract the generous eye and smiles of strangers.
These days I am accustomed to the silent but loud looks from onlookers. And I don’t blame them. Our culture has very few public spaces that embrace kids and all that comes with them.
Most of the places I currently frequent are ranked by their kid-friendliness, accessibility, cleanliness of the bathrooms and lack of judgment for toddler behavior. With this unremarkable but essential list, ColdFire is one of the most family-friendly locations to get dinner and a drink with the whole fam. The impressive assortment of games and toys for kids of all ages, an abundance of high chairs, and emergency diapers in the bathrooms all signal hospitality and care for families. And I have to mention the exquisite rotating beers and food options.
-
Best of Eugene 2022-2023
Death, taxes and Eugene Weekly’s Best Of. Those are three things you can’t avoid in life, no matter how hard you try. And it’s not a Best Of contest unless EW puts itself in the game.
We always ask for your feedback, and while sometimes we regret that, some of the best things in life are free, and readers say that’s what they like about us. Not only are we free, but we’re local. That means you can get on the phone and speak with someone in the office, whether it’s to buy a classified ad or to pitch a story about America’s new favorite pastime — pickleball.
And readers love our calendar listings, where you can find a variety of Lane County events, including live music, support groups and drag queen shows. Let’s not forget that EW’s past life was as a calendar called What’s Happening, and we’re still honoring our print ancestry every week.
Then there’s the worst things about EW. We have the usual criticism that we have a liberal bias (sorry, but we caught the illness called liberalism years ago and can’t shake it off). There are quite a few readers who are concerned about our page count. Yes, we’re too thin, and we need more pages. If we had more space, we’d have room to publish more investigative stories and articles about the area’s flourishing arts scene while showing our liberal bias. But that’s one thing we can easily fix if you give us some money (no really — contribute, donate, subscribe at Support.EugeneWeekly.com).
In the meantime, keep visiting us at EugeneWeekly.com and in those red boxes all over town. Or if you want us in your email mailbox, sign up for our newsletter at EugeneWeekly.com/Newsletter.
Remember, our Best Of is a readers’ poll, and to the victors of democracy go the spoils. So don’t blame us — we’re just the messengers.
-
Best Professor
1. Ben Saunders University of Oregon.
2. André Sirois University of Oregon.
3. Camilla Mortensen University of Oregon and Lane Community College.
-
Best Program for the homeless
1. White Bird/CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out on the Streets) 341 E. 12th Ave. 541-342-8255. WhiteBirdClinic.org.
2. St. Vincent de Paul 2890 Chad Dr. 541-687-5820. SVdP.us.
3. Eugene Mission 1542 W. 1st Ave. 541-344-3251. EugeneMission.org.
-
Best Local Politician
1. Peter DeFazio Representative, U.S. Congress.
2. Lucy Vinis Eugene Mayor.
3. Claire Syrett former Eugene City Councilor.
-
Best Local visionary
1. Frog Find on Facebook.
2. Mark Frohnmayer, Arcimoto, STAR Voting Arcimoto.com, StarVoting.org.
3. Terry McDonald, St. Vincent de Paul executive director SvDP.us.
For the best visionary in Eugene, life is full of jokes.
David Henry Miller, better known as Frog, has been selling his joke books on the street here since 1986. He is a fixture near the University of Oregon and the Eugene Saturday Market.
“Why are fruit natural musicians?” Frog asks in his recent children’s book, Frog Meets the Power Puff Girls. “Because they love to jam!”
He’s been known as Frog since he was young. “It was a nickname I picked up in high school. Somebody thought I sounded like one, and it stuck,” he says.
Frog uses different humor in his 64 adult books and 40 children’s books, with more explicit humor in his adult books.
Before writing joke books, he worked at various jobs, ranging from a flower shop to selling herbal flea collars. However, he soon realized his talent for jokes. His influences include Lenny Bruce, Robin Williams and George Carlin.
“People kept telling me I know so many jokes, I should write books,” Frog says. “I wrote Volume 1 and kept going from there.”
For Frog, it’s all about bringing joy to people. “It makes them happy,” he says, “and that’s pretty valuable.”
-
Best Teacher
1. Leah Ann Dunbar Lane Education Service District.
2. Clair Wiles North Eugene High School.
3. Nicole Butler-Hooton Irving Elementary.
-
Best Nonprofit
1. White Bird/CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out on the Streets) 341 E. 12th Ave. 541-342-8255. WhiteBirdClinic.org.
2. St. Vincent de Paul 2890 Chad Dr. 541-687-5820. SVdP.us.
3. FOOD For Lane County 770 Bailey Hill Rd. 541-343-2822. FoodForLaneCounty.org.
-
-
Best Advocates for the animals
1. Greenhill Humane Society 88530 Green Hill Rd. 541-689-1503. Green-hill.org.
2. Cascades Raptor Center 32275 Fox Hollow Rd. 541-485-1320. CascadesRaptorCenter.org.
3. Northwest Dog Project NorthWestDogProject.org.
-
Best Local theater company
1. Very Little Theater 2350 Hilyard St. 541-344-7751. TheVLT.com.
2. Oregon Contemporary Theatre 194 W. Broadway. 541-465-1506. OCTheatre.org.
3. Actors Cabaret of Eugene 996 Willamette. 541-683-4368. ActorsCabaret.org
-
Best Drag queen
1. Slutashia (Sam Thrower) Facebook.com/Slutashia
2. Karress Ann Slaughter (Cornel Hardiman) Facebook.com/GlamazonsEugene
3. Lyta Blunt (Deziree Brock) Facebook.com/Lytablunt/
In a post-pandemic lockdown Eugene drag scene where new performers are popping up left and right, Slutashia has maintained her status as one of the town’s most popular queens. This year’s Best of Eugene award marks Slutashia’s third — after she snagged the title in 2018 and 2020.
Beyond the extravagant looks and makeup that are typical to drag, Slutashia — who goes by Sam Thrower out of drag — is known for her songwriting and live rap numbers. Her persona is strongly influenced by Black artists like Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj and Rihanna, she says.
Slutashia began her career in October 2015, when she dressed up to have fun and “feel [her] sexy fantasy” at a Halloween party. The next year, she did it again. And then she decided to give drag a real shot.
Although she started off with lip sync performances, Slutashia says she was inspired by drag artists like Adore Delano and Alaska Thunderfuck 5000 to incorporate her own music into her drag. She’s been writing music since middle school. “I wouldn’t say my music was as fierce before,” she says. “Slutashia has brought my music to another lane, another level and given me that confidence to go out and perform like I didn’t before.”
Slutashia has taken that confidence all in stride. She wants to continue to work with new performers, to learn from them and to give them the opportunity “to go on stage and feel that fantasy” and grow their own drag.
And her title as this year’s Best Drag Queen doesn’t hurt, either. “I just want to represent for queer people of color as much as I can,” she says, “because there’s not a ton of us in Oregon. It’s always an honor to represent Black queer artists.”
Readers can catch the next iteration of Slutashia’s show, Slutty Queens, at Cowfish Dance Club on Nov. 18.
-
Best Fiction writer
1. Chadhurst Sharpe ChadhurstJainlettSharpe.com.
2. Cai Emmons CaiEmmonsAuthor.com.
3. Jeff Geiger JCGeiger.com.
Chadhurst Jainlett Sharpe has long held a passion for the written word. He vividly remembers walking into Barnes and Noble when he was 20, and discovering a treasure in the works of Neil Gaiman. “I was there for the whole rest of the day,” he says, reading every Gaiman novel he could get his hands on. “I love that he’s able to take these intangible things and put them into print.”
When Sharpe began writing his own fiction, he found himself constantly drawn to the gothic horror genre. But that’s changing. “The last few years,” he says, “it has changed to surrealism or even magical realism — there’s even a few fiction pieces that are set in the real world as well.”
Sharpe’s latest novella, The Wives of Isabella Danger (2020), is a departure from the voice he typically writes in. “The main character is a Hispanic woman who is slowly realizing she might be gay,” he says. “She’s a writer and gets this assignment to interview this ex-celebrity she’s always been a fan of.” The novella centers on a conversation between Isabella Danger and the main character, and it takes place during an afternoon. Sharpe aims to push himself out of his comfort zone artistically. “I’ve never written anything like it, and I really like how it came out,” he says.
Though the genre may change, the themes Sharpe is naturally drawn to have remained consistent. “I find myself drawn to diction, [to] self discovery a lot, ” he says, “and the kind of dual idea as to whether things actually change or stay the same.”
Currently, Sharpe is at work rewriting his first novel, which he published in 2016. “I’ve grown since then,” Sharpe says of Alton Heights. “I feel very good about it, and I’m excited to get this story back out there.”
Sharpe’s work is available on his website, ChadhurstJainlettSharpe.com, and The Wives of Isabella Danger is available for purchase on Amazon.
-
Best Local band
1. High Step Society HighStepSociety.com.
2. The Sugar Beets Facebook.com/TheSugarBeets.
3. Fortune’s Folly FortunesFollyBand.com.
-
Best Art gallery
1. New Zone Gallery 110 E. 11th Ave. 541-683-0759. NewZoneGallery.org.
2. Karin Clarke Gallery 760 Willamette. 541-6847-7963. KarinClarkeGallery.com.
3. Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art 1430 Johnson Ln. 541-346-3027. JSMA.UOregon.edu.
As it approaches middle age — it was founded in 1983, meaning it’s about to turn 40 — Eugene’s feisty New Zone Gallery is getting not just getting older, it’s getting better. Long the institutional equivalent of your eccentric couch-surfing cousin, moving from one largely donated month-to-month downtown space to the next, the non-profit community gallery finally managed to sign an actual lease on its current quarters in the old St. Vincent de Paul retail store at 11th and Oak downtown. There, with greater stability, it’s continuing its all-comers exhibits — the New Zone runs on the principle that art shouldn’t be judged or juried, especially by commercial standards — while hosting activities from community figure-drawing classes to a music fest produced by the Eugene Difficult Music Ensemble. Back in the day, it was the New Zone that showed in its Salon des Refusés, with a thumb to the eye of the local art establishment, work rejected by the city’s official Mayor’s Art Show. More recently it took on a certain giant commercial track meet in Eugene with its sardonic Panem et Circenses (Bread Not Circuses) exhibit. New Zone may be heading for middle age, but it’s not yet seeking the middle of the road.
-
Best Radio DJ or podcast host
1. Downtown Deb KLCC Dead Air 89.7 FM.
2. Rev. Marc Time The Sunday Morning Hangover KWVA 88.1 FM.
3. Mike Meyer KEPW Island Earth Radio 97.3 FM.
-
Best Club DJ
1. Spoc-3P0 (Shawn DiFiore) Cowfish Dance Club. Find on Facebook.
2. DJ Supa J (Jon Smith) Find on Facebook.
3. DJ Smuve (Bobby Green Jr) Find on Facebook and Instagram.
Entering Cowfish Dance Club in downtown Eugene is like entering a colorful club from the 1970s. A wavy wall of glittery tile shines down on you as you dance the night away on the pale blue floor, and you can even sit at the bar and observe the fish in the large tank on the wall.
If you come on a Friday night, DJ Spoc-3PO, aka Shawn DiFiore who owns Cowfish Dance Club and Cafe, will provide your soundtrack for the evening. And, yes, he will take your song requests.
“It’s not about me anymore,” DiFiore says about choosing music for his set, noting that some DJs criticize him for taking song requests. “It’s a club. It’s about the whole room.”
DiFiore says the critics argue that accepting song requests takes away from the artistry of being a DJ, but to him, the music is for the people dancing in the club. He says 80 percent of DJing is selecting the best songs for their set, and the other 20 percent is technique — or blending songs together.
For DiFiore, the technique is where artistry comes in. And he says he never pre-records his sets to play — he mixes songs together at the show, never replaying the exact same set.
“I always play on the fly,” he says. “I have taught myself how to mix almost anything together within some proximity of BPMs.” In music, BPM refers to beats per minute, or how fast the song is played.
DiFiore has been DJing in Eugene since 2004, and he says he is grateful to all the people who he works with, including Cowfish staff as well as those who come out to dance. He is especially grateful for the people who come out to dance that respect the space and other people.
“It makes it a community,” DiFiore says about people being respectful at the club. “It makes it a different type of space than a lot of group spaces that are allowed to happen in our society.”
-
Best Classical music group
1. Eugene Symphony 115 W. 8th Ave., ste.115. 541-687-9487. EugeneSymphony.org.
2. Chamber Music Amici 174 E. 16th Ave., ste. 122. 541-953-9204. ChamberMusicAmici.org.
3. Delgani String Quartet 541-650-5040. Delgani.org.
-
Best Actor/Actress
Inga Wilson OCTheatre.org/staff.
Russel Dyball Find on Twitter.
Storm Kennedy StormKennedy.com.
Inga Wilson, our readers’ choice this year for Best Actor/Actress in town, got her start on stage because she was born a redhead. “I did a whole lot of Annie stuff,” she says, starting as a kid growing up in Minnesota. “At my school, in every talent show, I would sing ‘The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow.’”
She kept performing through middle school and high school, and soon was studying theater — with a minor in journalism — at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
After college, life took her to a series of big cities — Detroit, Chicago and Los Angeles among them. And theater led to a number of movie roles. Perhaps her favorite was in A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas, where she worked alongside Kal Penn — who would go on to play a doctor in the TV series House and a real-life role in the Barack Obama White House. “Kal Penn is just an incredible human being,” she says.
Wilson, now 46, moved to Eugene six years ago and has appeared in or directed half a dozen shows at Oregon Contemporary Theatre — the only union house in town where she can appear, as a member of both Actors Equity and the Screen Actors Guild. In 2016, an EW reviewer noted her “Katharine Hepburn chemistry” in an onstage romance in OCT’s Silent Sky. She directed Tiny Beautiful Things last year at OCT when the theater returned to live performance after a pandemic hiatus.
While teaching classes at OCT, Wilson expects to direct a show — yet to be announced — in the coming OCT season.
-
Best Mural or graffiti artist
1. Suspish Facebook.com/SuspishBiz and Suspish Fish on Facebook.\
2. Bayne Gardner BayneGardner.com.
3. Ila Rose IlaRoseArt.com.
In a city filled with amazing murals and street art, Suspish’s work still manages to stand out. There’s something about those blue-ish fish that delights folks of all ages. Ever since Suspish painted one one of their signature graffiti fish on Eugene Weekly’s building, we have watched delightedly as person after person has stopped by to take a selfie with the art. We’re pretty sure we even watched some senior photos take place.
One of the comments that folks make again and again is how spotting a Suspish fish or other Suspish art around the city makes their day. And Suspish tells us that the lifting of spirits is mutual. “I love art,” Suspish says. “I love how Eugene is full of artists, and I never thought I’d be getting recognized for my art the way I am today.”
Eugene is indeed full of talented artists — in fact, third place winner Ila Rose won first for Best Artist, a category where Suspish took second, and second place winner in the mural and graffiti category, well-known muralist Bayne Gardner, has shared walls with Suspish’s art.
Getting the recognition for their art “has been so great for my mental health,” Suspish continues, “because usually I work a lot of hours at emotionally taxing jobs and now things are way different. Thank you for the overwhelming support.”
-
Best Photographer
1. Athena Delene (Delene and Co.) 541-515-9442. Delene.co.
2. Michael Sherman (Spring Fed Media) SpringFedMedia.net.
3. Sarah Northrop (@sartakespics) SarTakesPics.com.
-
Best Local singer/songwriter
1. Halie Loren HalieLoren.com.
2. Bettreena Jaeger BaroqueBetty.com.
3. Cameron Daye Find on Facebook.
-
Best Comedian
1. Jen Jay Find on Facebook.
2. Seth Milstein Find on Facebook and Twitter.
3. Mike McGowan Find on Facebook and Twitter.
After a few false starts in comedy in her teens and 20s, Jen Jay signed up for her first comedy open mic at Luckey’s in downtown Eugene. (That mic still happens each Tuesday). With comedy club-owning relatives, she always wanted to try stand-up for herself. Since that first experience at Luckey’s, which she describes as “not awful,” Jay has gone on to perform several nights a week at open mics, to host her own open mic “Jokin’ Off with Jen Jay” at The Drake Bar in Eugene every second and fourth Wednesday each month, and to appear in a variety of comedy showcases in Eugene and elsewhere.
The Eugene Weekly Best of Eugene 2022 Best Stand-up Comedian winner moved to Eugene in 2004 from Long Beach, California. As Jay puts it, she was raised by a “wild mom,” and she uses that as a jumping-off point for her material. “We moved around a lot as a kid. My mom wasn’t in the military or anything, she just wrote a lot of hot checks,” is a classic Jay-ism. “It’s totally true,” Jays tells EW over the phone. “I had a wild upbringing around wild people,” she says. “I use that as a jumping-off point to deal with the trauma,” but also as a jumping-off point to find things hilarious now, she says. If you’re interested in trying stand-up for yourself, Jay says to just go for it. “If you’re scared, come to my mic,” she continues. “I’ll hold your hand. I’ll also stay six feet away if you need that. It’s been my experience that the Eugene comedy scene is friendly and open. There’s room for everyone’s voice.”
-
Best Journalist
1. Henry Houston Eugene Weekly.
2. Camilla Mortensen Eugene Weekly.
3. William Kennedy Eugene Weekly.
-
Best Event venue
1. Cuthbert Amphitheater 2300 Leo Harris Pkwy. 541-762-8099. TheCuthbert.com.
2. WOW Hall 291 W. 8th Ave. 541-687-2746. WowHall.org.
3. Hult Center for the Performing Arts 1 Eugene Ctr. 541-682-5000. HultCenter.org.
-
Best Pizza
1. Coburg Pizza Company 90999 S. Willamette, Coburg, 541-484-6600; 1710 Centennial Blvd., Springfield. 541-484-6600. CoburgPizza.com.
2. Slice 325 Blair Blvd. 541-653-9937. SliceLife.com.
3. The Wheel Apizza Pub 390 Lincoln St., #101. 541-735-3860. TheWheelAPizzaPub.com.
-
Best Meal under $12
1. Cafe Yumm! 860 E. 13th Ave. 541-349-9866; 1801 Willamette. 541-686-9866; 130 Oakway Ctr. 541-465-9866. 550 Pearl St., ste. 130. 541-344-9866. CafeYumm.com.
2. Nelson’s in the Whit and Nelson’s Taqueria 394 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com; Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
3. El Super Burrito 2566 Willamette. 541-485-0619. Find on Facebook.
-
Best Latin American food
1. Nelson’s in the Whit and Nelson’s Taqueria 394 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com; Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
2. Tacovore 530 Blair Blvd. 541-735-3518. TacovorePNW.com.
3. El Buen Sabor 650 Blair Blvd. 541-653-2517. ElBuenSabor.us.
Nelson Lopez’s two restaurants wear many Best Of crowns this year: Best Latin American Food, Best Takeout, Best Server, Best Food Cart, Best New Restaurant. And can you blame readers? Whether you visit Nelson’s in the Whit (located in the historic Tiny Tavern building) or Nelson’s Taqueria (in the parking lot of Tiny Tavern), you’re not only eating affordable yet amazing food but Lopez treats every customer as if they’re the most important person in the world. And he says he’s happy that customers love him back.
Food prices, like everything else, are rising over time, but Lopez says he works hard to keep his prices affordable at Nelson’s Taqueria. All of the cart’s menu is under $15, whether you’re ordering multiple tacos or a huge burrito. Lopez says he watches his food supplier prices carefully so customers don’t have to see menu prices keep increasing.
The most popular item at Nelson’s Taqueria and Nelson’s in the Whit, Lopez says, is the birria, which he marinates overnight with a blend of 16 spices. Birria, beef brisket in the U.S., is having its moment in Eugene, where food carts and Mexican restaurants offer some sort of it. More commonly served around town as quesabirria, where birria fills a cheesy tortilla, Nelson’s quesabirria tacos are filled with tender meat and is so good it’s worth marking your calendars for Tuesdays and Fridays, the only days when he serves it. He limits its availability, he says, because it takes so long to cook and he doesn’t want to serve customers old birria. “It’s better to sell it fresh,” he adds.
Lopez opened Nelson’s in the Whit in November 2021, moving into the Tiny Tavern, a building in the Whiteaker neighborhood recognized in the U.S. National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places. Lopez isn’t just celebrating the one-year anniversary of Nelson’s in the Whit, but also having Abby Young at the restaurant, who’s this year’s Best Server. And he agrees with readers because she treats customers like he does. “You have to give the heart, the smile to your customer,” Lopez says. “You have to give the flavor to your drinks. She’s in charge of making the gourmet margaritas, and people are loving it.”
-
Best Bakery
1. Sweet Life 755 Monroe St., 1609 E. 19th Ave. 541-683-5676. SweetLifeDesserts.com.
2. Hideaway Bakery 3377 E. Amazon Dr. 541-868-1982. HideawayBakery.com.
3. Noisette Pastry Kitchen 200 W. Broadway, 541-654-5257. NoisettePK.com.
-
Best Comfort food
1. Cornbread Café 1290 W. 7th Ave. 541-505-9175. CornbreadCafe.com.
2. Black Wolf Supper Club 454 Willamette. 541-687-8226. BlackWolfSupperClub.com.
3. Cornucopia 295 W. 17th Ave., 541-485-2300; 207 E. 5th Ave. ste. 109, 541-485-2676; 521 Main St., Springfield, 541-485-2879. CornucopiaEugene.com.
-
Best Chicken joint
1. Yardy Eugene 263 Mill St., YardyEugene.com.
2. Hot Mama’s 420 W. 13th Ave. 541-653-9999. HotMamasWings.com.
3. Chicken Bonz 1815 Pioneer Pkwy E., Springfield. 541-726-0111. ChickenBonz.com.
-
Best Hangover food
1. Brails Restaurant 1689 Willamette. 541-343-1542; 395 W. 5th Ave., #2506, 541-342-2075. BrailsRestaurant.co.
2. Morning Glory Cafe 450 Willamette. 541-687-0709. MorningGloryEugene.com.
3. Mandy’s Family Restaurant 1491 Willamette. 541-654-0382. MandysFamilyRestaurant.com.
-
Best Burger
1. Cornucopia 295 W. 17th Ave., 541-485-2300; 207 E. 5th Ave., Ste. 109, 541-485-2676; 521 Main St., Springfield, 541-485-2879. CornucopiaEugene.com.
2. Killer Burger 50 W. Broadway, 541-636-4731. KillerBurger.com
3. NW Burger 5th Street Market 296 E. 5th Ave., #220; Public House 418 A St #4606, Springfield. 541-485-9176. NwBurgers.com.
-
Best Ice cream
1. Prince Pückler’s 1605 E. 19th Ave. 541-344-4418. Princepucklers.com.
2. Salt & Straw 139 Oakway Rd. B. 541-521-7708. SaltandStraw.com.
3. Handel’s Ice Cream 550 Pearl St. unit 110. 541-735-3150. HandelsIceCream.com.
-
Best Thai food
1. Ta Ra Rin Thai Cuisine 1200 Oak St. 541-343-1230; 1410 Mohawk Blvd. Springfield. 541- 505-8987; 1520 Coburg Rd. 541-844-1032. TaRaRinThai.com.
2. Sabai 27 Oakway Ctr. 541-654-5424. SabaiCafe.com.
3. Krab Krua 254 Lincoln St. 541-636-6267. KrobKrua.com.
-
Best Cocktails
1. Izakaya Meiji 345 Van Buren St. 541-505-8804. IzakayaMeiji.com.
2. barTini bistro 1203 Willamette, ste 130. 541-359-1235. Facebook.com/bartinibistro/
3. Thinking Tree Spirits 88 Jackson St. 541-515-6993. ThinkingTreeSpirits.com.
-
Best East Asian food (Japanese, Korean and Chinese)
1. Kung Fu Bistro 2560 Willamette. 541-968-9258. Facebook.com/KungFuBistroEugene.
2. Izakaya Meiji Co. 345 Van Buren St. 541-505-8804. IzakayaMeiji.com.
3. Akira 359 Mill St. 458-205-8288. AkiraEugene.com.
-
Best Barbecue
1. Rackhouse BBQ 207 Madison St. 541-285-0518. TheRackHouseBBQ.com.
2. Paper Plate BBQ 263 Mill St. 541-606-2130. PaperPlateBBQ.com.
3. Hole in the Wall 3200 W. 11th Ave. 541-683-7378; 1807 Olympic St., Springfield. 541-726-1200. HoleintheWallBBQ.com.
The Pacific Northwest isn’t the best place to barbecue year-round. I mean, who wants to hang around a grill drinking PBR when it’s pouring outside? Well, this climate hasn’t stopped these great Eugene-Springfield barbecue joints — Hole in the Wall, Paper Plate BBQ and Rackhouse BBQ — from being popular with our readers who leave grilling for the pros.
Rackhouse, voted first place, is at Oakshire’s poppin’ food cart pod, one of the best in Lane County. Connor Balfrey, owner, says that he opened the cart with his friend Chris Barry a few years ago. The two researched barbecue in various U.S. regions and perfected the styles they liked best. What makes Rackhouse special, Balfrey says, is the 17-spice rub that it uses in every menu item. “It’s a flavor profile that you can associate with us,” he says, from ribs to tri-tip. But the food cart isn’t only focused on meat. Balfrey says the menu includes pulled pork, but instead of meat it substitutes jackfruit — a fruit that has recently become a vegan staple in restaurants and kitchens. Jackfruit is tough to pull off, but Balfrey says Rackhouse marinates it for hours, which packs in a ton of flavor. And the restaurant is eager to take on special items, such as a Chicago beef sandwich, which Balfrey says Rackroom offered before Hulu’s The Bear popularized the greasy staple. “We made it with tri-tip that we cooked down so it was shreddable,” he says.
-
Best New restaurant
Nelson’s in the Whit 394 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404. NelsonsInTheWhit.com.
Carlita’s Rooftop 550 Oak St. 541-632-6867. CarlitasTTW.com
Tavern on Main 338 Main St., Springfield. 458-201-7936. TavernOnMainSpfd.com.
-
Best Barista
1. Sharie Anderson (Palace Coffee) 842 Pearl St. 541-344-0475. PalaceCoffeeBakery.com.
2. Charlie Huster (Washburne Cafe) 326 Main St., Springfield. 541-746-7999. WashburneCafe.com.
3. Jessica Lu (Southpine Bakery) 2866 Crescent Ave., ste. 101. 541-799-4595.
-
Best Coffee
1. Equiano Coffee 300 Blair Blvd. 541-953-2879. EquianoCoffee.com.
2. Farmers Union Coffee Roasters 152 W. 5th Ave.; 2757 Friendly St., FarmersUnionCoffee.com.
3. Wandering Goat 268 Madison St. 541-344-5161. WanderingGoat.com.
-
Best Distillery
Thinking Tree Spirits 88 Jackson St. 541-515-6993. ThinkingTreeSpirits.com.
Heritage Distilling Company 110 Madison St. 541-357-4431. HeritageDistilling.com.
Swallowtail Spirits 111 Main St., Springfield. 541-357-5951. SwallowTailSpirits.com.
-
Best Coffee shop
1. Farmers Union Coffee Roasters 152 W. 5th Ave. 2757 Friendly St., FarmersUnionCoffee.com.
2. Vero 205 E. 14th Ave. 541-654-0504. VeroEspressoHouse.com.
3. Meraki 1203 Willamette, stes. 110 & 120. 541-844-0254. DrinkMeraki.com.
-
Best Wine
1. Sweet Cheeks 27007 Briggs Hill Rd. 541-349-9463. SweetCheeksWinery.com.
2. King Estate 80854 Territorial Hwy. 541-685-5189. KingEstate.com.
3. Oregon Wine LAB 488 Lincoln St. 458-201-7413. OregonWineLab.com.
-
Best Bar
1. Spectrum Queer Bar 150 W. Broadway. 541-225-4896. SpectrumEugene.com.
2. Monkey’s Paw Tiki Bar 420 Main St., Springfield. 541-505-7975. Find on Facebook and Instagram.
3. Cowfish Dance Club and Café 62 W. Broadway. 541-683-6319. Find on Facebook and Instagram.
Spectrum Queer Bar is more than a bar. It’s a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community according to its manager, Kiki Boniki. With everything from weekly drag performances and craft night to clothing exchanges and community meet ups Spectrum is not limited by the traditional definition of bar.
Arriving at Spectrum, you’re greeted by the bright colors of the wacky and zany characters painted on the front windows. Many represent signature Spectrum drinks, which are equally as colorful and have playful names that make you wonder about the stories behind them.
As you enter the back room you realize the color has escaped the walls and now covers the people as lights flood the stage to showcase lip sync performances and drag queens. You can feel the energy at your seat, just feet from the small stage.
When your Friday night is finally coming to a close there is no need to be sad. You don’t have to leave for long. Show up the next day for crafts, a social mixer or a drag race watch party. On Sundays, you can nurse your hangover right back at Spectrum while enjoying drag brunch. Prefer to play your Nintendo Switch to partying? Show up to the Spectrum Gaymer night and prove which Mario Kart character is best.
“Spectrum is a safe space for everyone. No matter where you fall on the spectrum of gender or sexuality, anyone that is in the LGBTQIA+ family, this is your space to be yourself and to not have to worry about what people from society think about you,” Boniki says. — Jacob Moore
-
Best Place for takeout
1. Nelson’s in the Whit and Nelson’s Taqueria 394 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com; Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
2. Krob Krua 254 Lincoln St. 541-636-6267. KrobKrua.com.
3. Ta Ra Rin Thai Cuisine 1200 Oak St. 541-343-1230; 1410 Mohawk Blvd., Springfield. 541- 505-8987; 1520 Coburg Rd. 541-844-1032 TaRaRinThai.com.
-
Best Bagel sandwich
1. Bagel Sphere 810 Willamette. 541-344-1335; 4089 W. 11th Ave. 541-868-1072. BagelSphere.com.
2. Lox, Stock and Bagels 368 E. 40th Ave. 541-692-2435. Facebook.com/loxstocksandbagels.
3. Daily Bagel 4770 Village Plaza Lp. 541-431-5700. Daily-Bagel.com.
-
Best Bartender
1. Thor Slaughter (Akira) 359 Mill St. 458-205-8288. AkiraEugene.com.
2. Steve Salazar (barTini bistro) 1203 Willamette, ste. 130. 541-359-1235. Facebook.com/bartinibistro/.
3. Abby Young (Nelson’s in the Whit) 394 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com.
It’s a packed night at Akira, one of Eugene’s hottest restaurants and cocktail lounges. Finding a tiny nook in the upstairs lounge, my wife and I look over the cocktail menu, most of which has clever pop culture references from KHANNNNNNNNN!!!!, a reference to Capt. James Kirk’s exasperated exclamation in Star Trek: Wrath of Khan, to The Golden Martini, a callback to James Bond. And the man behind these drinks is the ever-popular Thor Slaughter, a bartender who attracts attention from his bar patrons for his personality — but most importantly for the amazing drinks he concocts.
What’s impressive about Slaughter’s drinks is his simplicity and minimalism. The KHANNNNNNNNN!!!! is Japanese whisky, prickly pear syrup, lemon and soda. It’s a combination that doesn’t drown the whisky, but doesn’t have the spirit jump out too strongly, and the drink is so easy to drink that you have to have the willpower of a saint to not keep ordering it. Slaughter says he learned the key to a good drink — simplicity and minimalism — while visiting Japan years ago. In our mass information age, where our minds are overwhelmed by social media and smartphones, it’s nice to sip a well crafted simple drink, and EW readers agree.
-
Best Local beer
1. Oakshire 207 Madison St. 541-654-5520. OakBrew.com.
2. Ninkasi 272 Van Buren St. 541-344-2739. NinkasiBrewing.com.
3. ColdFire Brewing 263 Mill St. 541-636-3889. ColdFireBrewing.com.
-
Best Server
1. Abby Young (Nelson’s in the Whit) 394 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404; NelsonsInTheWhit.com.
2. Dove Greenwood (Cheese Bliss) 110 Madison St. 541-246-5220. YourCheeseBliss.com.
3. Heather Ensign (Ninkasi Better Living Room) 155 Blair Blvd. 541-735-9500.
-
Best Restaurant
1. Izakaya Meiji 345 Van Buren St. 541-505-8804. IzakayaMeiji.com.
2. Akira Eugene 359 Mill St. 458-205-8288. AkiraEugene.com.
3. Cafe Soriah 384 W. 13th Ave. 541-342-4410. Soriah.com.
-
Best Desserts
1. Sweet Life 755 Monroe St,. 1609 E. 19th Ave. 541-683-5676. SweetLifeDesserts.com.
2. Noisette Pastry Kitchen 200 W. Broadway, 541-654-5257. NoisettePK.com.
3. Metropol Bakery 2538 Willamette. 541-465-4730. MetropolBakery.com
-
Best Italian food
1. Beppe and Gianni’s 1646 E. 19th Ave. 541-683-6661. BeppeAndGiannis.net.
2. Placido’s Pasta Shop 120 Shelton McMurphey Blvd., #110, 458-205-8092. Placidos.com.
3. Mazzi’s Italian Restaurant 3377 E. Amazon Dr. 541-687-2252. Mazzis.com.
-
Best French fries
Cornucopia 295 W. 17th Ave., 541-485-2300; 207 E. 5th Ave., Ste. 109, 541-485-2676; 521 Main St., Springfield, 541-485-2879. CornucopiaEugene.com.
Little Big Burger 1404 Orchard St. 541-357-4771. LittleBigBurger.com.
Killer Burger 50 W. Broadway, 541-636-4731. KillerBurger.com.
-
Best Food cart
1. Nelson’s Taqueria 394 Blair Blvd. 541-844-8404. Nelsons-Taqueria.Business.Site.
2. Da Nang Vietnamese Eatery 488 Lincoln St. 541-915-0144. Facebook.com/danangeatery.
3. Yardy Eugene 263 Mill St. YardyEugene.com.
-
Best Out-of-town restaurant (not in Eugene-Springfield)
1. Waterfront Depot (Florence) 1252 Bay St., Florence. 541-902-9100. TheWaterfrontDepot.com.
2. Creswell Bakery (Creswell) 182 S. 2nd St., Creswell. 541-895-5885. CreswellBakery.com.
3. Local Ocean Seafoods (Newport) 213 SE Bay Blvd., Newport. 541-574-7959.
-
Best Doughnut
Voodoo Doughnut 20 E. Broadway. 541-868-8666. VoodooDoughnut.com.
Dizzy Dean’s Donuts 2380 W. 11th Ave. 541-683-3505. OrderDizzyDeansDonuts.com.
Master Donut 1159 Mohawk Blvd, Springfield. 541-741-8033. Master-Donut.Edan.io.
-
Best Sushi
1. Sushi Pure 259 E. 5th Ave. 541-654-0608. SushiPureEugene.com.
2. Akira 359 Mill St. 458-205-8288. AkiraEugene.com.
3. Izumi Sushi 2773 Shadow View Dr. 541-683-1201. IzumiSushiEugene.com.
-
Best Vegetarian/vegan
1. Cornbread Café 1290 W. 7th Ave., 541-505-9175. CornbreadCafe.com.
2. Morning Glory 450 Willamette. 541-687-0709. MorningGloryEugene.com.
3. Laughing Planet 760 Blair Blvd., 541-868-0668; 2864 Willamette, 541-505-5399. LaughingPlanet.com.