VENUES: McDonald Theatre 1010 Willamette St. (541) 345-4442 www.mcdonaldtheatre.com With a stage that has served acts such as Elvis Costello, Floater and Modest Mouse, this historic performance venue is a staple in the Eugene music scene. It was built in 1928 and is operated by the family of Ken Kesey – best known for his novel “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” – who grew up in Springfield. At the McDonald you’ll find concerts of all genres with a wide open dance floor, big stage, balcony seating and a bar for those 21 and older. WOW Hall 291 W. 8th Ave. (541) 687-2746 www.wowhall.org The WOW Hall is an all-ages venue that caps out at about 400 for an open dance floor concert. It isn’t huge, and shows feel intimate here – it can certainly get hot when the place is packed. National tours passing through Eugene usually stop here, but they also put together local and regional shows. WOW Hall is best known for rock and punk shows, but regularly books reggae, hip-hop, blues, folk, comedy and more. Gym Class Heroes, Switchfoot and AFI are among the big names who have graced the stage.
The Cuthbert Amphitheater 601 Day Island Rd. (541) 762-8099 www.thecuthbert.com An outdoor concert venue near Autzen Stadium, the Cuthbert can hold more than 4,000 people and features a beer garden, food booths and great scenery. Seating includes two sections of benches and large grassy areas for blankets or lawn chairs. Tickets can be on the spendy side for some shows, but because of the outdoor setting you can enjoy the music from afar, too.
Cozmic Pizza 199 W. 8th Ave. (541) 338-9333 www.cozmicpizza.com Cozmic Pizza offers fine organic pizza, soup and salads, and is located in the same building as a small used bookstore, coffee shop and Internet cafe. A small stage hosts open mic nights, acoustic performances and other forms of arts and entertainment. Events are all-ages, but wine and beer is served to the 21-and-over crowd. The inviting atmosphere is the perfect place for a private party, and often hosts fundraising events, too.
Late-night food: Dough Co. 1337 Hilyard St. (541) 485-7459 868 West Park St. (541) 302-8212 www.doughco.com Serving 31 unique calzones, Dough Co. delivers until 3 a.m. every night. The lobby is also open until 3 a.m. On the menu you will find fresh-baked cookies, salads and ice cream. If you’re off campus, there is another location open late downtown at 868 West Park St., on the backside of 8th Avenue and Willamette Street.
Burrito Boy 510 E. Broadway (541) 344-8070 www.burritoboy.com Burrito Boy is open 24 hours and located right around the corner from H.P. Barnhart Hall. It can get really packed shortly after last-call at the bars, but the burritos make up for the wait. A perfect stop to end a late night out.
Pita Pit 1087 Willamette St. (541) 485-5595 www.pitapitusa.com Pita Pit serves pita bread sandwiches stuffed with your choice of meats, cheeses, vegetables and sauces. It has vegetarian options such as falafel, hummus and babaganoush, in addition to meat classics like Philly steak and Gyro. Pita Pit is open and delivers until 3 a.m. Monday through Wednesday, until 4 a.m. Thursday through Saturday, and until midnight Sundays. EVENTS: Saturday Market 76 W. Broadway (541) 686-8885 www.eugenesaturdaymarket.org The best place to get a big taste of Eugene culture is the Saturday Market, open rain or shine every Saturday, April through mid-November, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The market features hundreds local arts and crafts, a diverse array of food, live music and a farmers’ market. Free to attend, the market lies right in the heart of downtown, and is the perfect place to find a unique gift for mom or dad. Get your face painted or your tarot read while you’re at it, too.
Oregon Country Fair Veneta, Oregon, about 15 miles west of Eugene www.oregoncountryfair.org This year’s fair is July 10-12, so most of you will miss the chance to go this year, but mark your calendar for next, because the Oregon Country Fair is a must-see attraction in Oregon. OCF is an annual festival lasting three days, filled with more than 700 artisan booths, entertainment at several stages and diverse food options around every corner of the huge landscape. The setting is very woodland and colorful costumes abound in what many call a magical place.
MOVIES: Bijou Art Cinemas 492 E. 13th (541) 686-2458
Cinemark 12 Gateway Mall (541) 741-3438 $1.50 theatre
Cinemark 17 Gateway Mall (541) 746-5531
Regal Valley River Center Stadium 15 Valley River Center (541) 242-0580
THEATRE: Hult Center for the Performing Arts W. 7th Avenue and Willamette Street (541) 682-5746 www.hultcenter.org
Lord Leebrick Theatre 540 Charnelton St. (541) 465-1506 www.lordleebrick.com
ACE: Actors Cabaret of Eugene 996 Willamette St, (541) 683-4368 www.actorscabaret.org
Very Little Theatre Inc. 2350 Hilyard St. (541) 344-7751 www.thevlt.com
UO Theatre 11th Avenue, near Franklin Boulevard merge and Villard Hall Tickets: (541) 346-4363 www.uoregon.edu/~theatre
[email protected]