Face it, Eugene gets old. This time of year, everyone is ready to be done with finals and get out of here. Memorial Day weekend is a great opportunity to take a break from day-to-day life and do something out of the ordinary.
Maybe it’s not the scenery of Eugene that’s getting old, but the people. It’s takes awhile to notice, but soon we begin to notice that for most of the day we only see college-aged boys and girls. Sure, professors and non-traditional students are older, but for the most part, old people, babies and animals are a rare sight. Just going past Chambers Street to the west or Fifth Street to the north reveals a whole new world.
Here are a few places to go where there will definitely be a lot of old people. So many, in fact, that you will be stared at. Old people are great because, like college students, they have a lot of free time and are always on the lookout for cheap deals.
Old people love food. Shari’s Restaurant, Deb’s Family Restaurant and GJ’s are all hot spots for the senior crowd — and they are all cheap. There are two Shari’s in Eugene and two in Springfield, but the closest to the University is on 2950 W 11th Ave. It’s a chain restaurant that serves up tasty potatoes and some fine pie.
There are three Deb’s in Eugene — two Deb’s Family Restaurants and one Deb’s The Original. The Original, at 1290 W Seventh Ave., is top notch. GJ’s is a tacky restaurant with good food that falls into the greasy spoon category. It has a country kitchen decor with fake flowers and ceiling fans. All of the restaurants are well-lit, comfortable and the waiters and waitresses are friendly. The food is easy to masticate and there are discounts for people of a ripe, gray age.
However, nothing can beat the Timber Topper, a ’50s-style buffet with heaps of food and lots of old people. This gem is located in The Big Y, an eclectic little shopping center out on Sixth Avenue, past Garfield Street, a bit before Sixth turns into Highway 99. The Timber Topper isn’t really a breakfast spot, but it opens daily by 11 a.m., which is breakfast time for many college students. Follow the orange light of the flickering florescent “OPEN” sign, walk in the door and head right for the buffet without sitting down.
The buffet is no puny spread; it’s a true offering to the buffet gods. Imagine biscuits and gravy, fried chicken, macaroni salad, fried potatoes, caramel rolls and Jell-O, and the beauty of the Timber Topper will be revealed. In the buffet line, the dishes are supported with mounds of shaved ice and decorative parsley. Lunch goes from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is only $6.50; dinner is $8.50 and runs after lunch until 8 p.m. Coffee is only 75 cents a cup, which includes refills. When the waitresses come around, they put a dollop of cream in your coffee before the warm-up. The place is incredibly homey and comfortable. American flags are all over the place, and you sink right into the brown booths. Muzak chimes from ceiling speakers, playing choice hits like The Police’s “Every breath you take.”
There are a few fun things to do near the Timber Topper, such as have a look at Harbor Freight Tools or go the liquor store, but these are more cowboy spots than senior spots. Coastal Farm and Home Supply, located just down the road, has a fair amount of old people, but one can only look at Carharts and farm tools for so long.
The real place to go to find lively old people having fun is Bingomania. The spot is located at 333 River Ave. and opens at 5 p.m. six nights a week (closed Tuesdays). Games start at 6 p.m., and a night of bingo goes until 10 p.m. On Friday and Saturday nights, bingo is called until 1:15 a.m.
Bingo is a pretty basic game that involves little skill, but Bingomania is nice enough to set aside a New Player Table so that new players can get acquainted with the game. Another plus for first timers is that on Sundays and Thursdays in May, it is only $5 for all you can play.
If bingo makes you hungry, you can go to the snack bar or wait for the dessert cart to make its way to your table. On Friday and Saturday nights, there are full dinners offered. Of course, there are always free coffee refills to keep you charged.
If you must play bingo on Tuesday night, head over to the Eugene Elks Lodge #357 at 2470 W. 11th Ave. Bingo goes from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, and a light dinner menu is available.