Once again, you’ve completed the long pilgrimage to Oregon Hall to pay your tuition bill, and it’s time to reflect on how it sucks to be broke. You’re probably reading this paper because it’s free, and free things are good — with the exception of bug bites and “Married… With Children” reruns.
Despite a lack of money, you can still find an abundance of amusements in Eugene that won’t wipe out your checking account. I’ve put together a list of fun, arts-related activities that cost $5 or less to help you make the most of those dimes and quarters lying between your couch cushions.
If you’re in search of live music, a good bet is to shake off that Saturday morning hangover and wander downtown to the Saturday Market. In addition to food and crafts, the Market Stage showcases different bands each hour. You can always find an eclectic mix of hippies and college students dancing without a care in the world. The featured band this Saturday at noon will be Dromedary, a duo that blends together styles ranging from Celtic to jazz.
Looking for a slightly more formal venue in which to dance? The Rumba Room at 100 E. Broadway offers Latin dancing every Wednesday through Saturday nights. After munching on some of their Mexican food, you can take salsa dance lessons at 7 p.m. Wednesdays for $4.
On Friday nights, Gerlinger Hall offers another venue to bust out those dance moves you’ve been practicing in front of your bedroom mirror. It’s $4 for students, with lessons beginning at 7:30 p.m. and general dancing that goes from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
The band Rasputina will perform at Gerlinger Lounge on Oct. 20. At $7 a ticket for University students, the performance doesn’t quite meet my $5-or-under criteria, but the price is still less than that of a movie ticket. The group likes to call itself a “pseudo-classical, hard-core ‘positive-goth’ cello band,” and comprises three cellists and a drummer. Their style is not for everyone, but it is certainly intriguing and far from ordinary. To get an idea of what the group sounds like before shelling out $7 for a ticket, check out their Web site at www.rasputina.com.
If you’re just looking for something to pass the time between classes, the Laverne Krause Gallery in the School of Architecture and Allied Arts showcases interesting art exhibits. These range from traditional pieces of artwork to more esoteric displays. It’s worth a look, and it’s free. Or, if you’re grabbing a bite to eat in the EMU, take your lunch upstairs to the art gallery located down the hallway from the ballroom.
The EMU Buzz Coffeehouse is another good venue for free, live performances. From 9 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Mondays is Open Poetry Mic, a fast-paced verbal
performance of poetry by students and other members of the community. The performances range in quality from excellent to simply wretched. You’ll usually hear both in any given night. There is an open mic night for musicians from 9 p.m. to midnight Fridays. As with the poetry open mic, there are mediocre performances, but also numerous groups with real talent that know how to work a crowd.
These performances, dances and exhibits ­ to use a really lame metaphor ­ are but the tip of the iceberg in a city that boasts a vibrant arts community. To find other interesting events in Eugene, check out the Emerald’s arts calendar published in today’s issue.