By Rory Carroll and Joe Walsh
Oregon Daily Emerald
If there is one thing four years of college teaches you, it’s probably not how to find the equilibrium point on a supply and demand curve or how to write an argumentative essay. No, instead, you end up with a pretty solid education of the bar scene.
And between exams, lousy weather and the Blazers’ turbulent championship try, reasons to retreat to the sanctuary of the bar abound. But where? After a week of assiduous, intoxicating research, we arrived at a few conclusions. Cheers.
 

Close to campus
New Max’s Tavern (550 East 13th Ave.)
Max’s has a coffee-shop-meets-old-west-saloon feel that fits in perfectly here in Eugene. The beer-only bar means that rarely does anyone get too wasted (which is good, not bad). Max’s might also be the smartest bar in Eugene, freely providing extra-salty popcorn and peanuts most nights, resulting in a heightened patron-thirst quotient.
 
Taylor’s Bar & Grille (894 E. 13th Ave.)
Long considered just a sports bar that underage students tried with all their might to infiltrate, Taylor’s came under new ownership last year and has since boasted outstanding live music, including Norma Frasier and the Tony Furtado Band as well as some great drink deals. Wednesday is $1 microbrews from 9-10:30 p.m. and $2 well drinks after 10:30 p.m. Monday night is $1.75 well drinks all night.
 
Rennie’s Landing (1214 Kincaid St.)
Sing to the “Cheers” tune: “Sometimes you want to go where everybody looks the same/ and where they always watch the game.”
Since Taylor’s cleared out their football helmet collection in favor of a more Saturday Market feel, Rennie’s has enjoyed a surge in popularity among the University’s die-hard sports fans. Two floors, two bars and a killer outdoor patio make Rennie’s a perfect campus escape.
 
Doc’s Pad (165 W. 11th Ave.)
Kind of like Jogger’s in the dark with a smoke machine, Doc’s Pad is best known for its $2 microbrews and $1 well drinks on Wednesday nights. That deal might not be worth the almost-certain catcalls that come with stepping foot inside the “Cocktail Research Team’s” walls. But Doc’s isn’t all about skin and sin. It also provides a nice atmosphere to take in a ball game or shoot a round of pool.
 

Not so close to campus
Jogger’s Bar & Grill (710 Willamette St.)
Once you get past the acrid scent of cheap perfume and cigarette smoke, you can actually find an excellent selection of beers on tap, including Bond Street Ale and Wild Salmon Pale Ale. Also, some of the finest pool players in town run the tables and can make for a good challenge. The best night to go is Tuesdays for the $2 drink night with a $2 cover. Wait, is that Seal on stage? Not unless he’s changed his look to resemble a 250-pound white guy. Although the karaoke is like sandpaper on the eardrums, Joggers would never survive without their crazy Tuesday night special.
 
Sixth Street Grill (55 W. 6th Ave.)
With all the drinking, it’s easy to forget about food. Do yourself a favor and drop in on Sixth Street Grill’s fabulous Tuesday night Burger and Brew. $5 will get you a burger, fries and a pint of any beer you want. It’s likely to be the only night that you’ll see students at this restaurant, which is ordinarily out of range of a student budget.
 

Get away from Eugene

without actually leaving
Cafe Soríah (384 W. 13th)
Between the cabernet-colored walls and the freshly squeezed juice drinks, Soríah stands alone as the bap-chicka-bow-wow romance hubbub of Eugene. It’s a classy joint, and dinner is likely to run you directly into credit card debt. But if you sip slowly, you can enjoy a couple delicious cocktails or the finest margarita in town.
 
Lava Lounge (1099 Chambers St.)
Who would have thought you could find a piece of the Pacific Islands here in Eugene? The Lava Lounge sports some of the tastiest (albeit most expensive) drinks in Eugene. The Thai Me Up and the fruit-saturated Kamakaze are so good, you almost don’t notice the $6.00 you just parted with. Almost.