Opinion: It’s not so small and boring after all
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The first time I visited Eugene with college in mind, “disappointment” didn’t even begin to cover my impression. I walked through campus and the stretch of Franklin between Villard and Hilyard, and somehow concluded that was all there was to the town. Coming from Portland with exciting things to do on every corner, I was sure I would be bored out of my mind if I went to UO.
Further visits before the start of college dispelled this ridiculous notion. I saw a bit more of the city, but I was still sure I wouldn’t love living in Eugene long term. At that point, the only exciting and unique thing I had seen was the Saturday Market. I was impressed, but you can’t sustain your need for fun with only a seasonal, weekly market for four years.
Even during my freshman year, I didn’t do much exploring. After I moved into the dorms and realized this would actually be my home for the next four years, the city magically quadrupled in size in my mind. Even the campus was intimidatingly large as I tried to find my way around. I had friends from Portland who would complain that Eugene was tiny in comparison and had “nothing to do,” but I was too scared to even give it a shot.
Espresso Roma on 13th Ave. was my first venture into the world off campus. Since then, it’s become a mainstay in my study sessions. As I got a bit more familiar with the campus, I became more “brave” with my adventuring. Suddenly, I was regularly walking down 13th to shop for records and see the sights.
Recently, my parents visited me for the weekend. They’ve lived in San Francisco, Chicago and Portland, so I naturally had to pull out all the stops and plan a fun-filled agenda for us. I admit I went a little crazy with it. By the time I was done, I had mapped out 25 local attractions for a 29-hour visit. It’s easy when you get started! We didn’t get to every single one, but we had a great time nonetheless.
As it turns out, there’s plenty to do in Eugene when you keep an eye out. Our local music scene is pretty spectacular, all things considered. The first time I went to a house show with my friends, I felt like I had struck gold. Live music and a good view for under $10? They happen almost every weekend, especially now that the weather’s getting nicer, so ask your coolest friend to take you. If that’s not your thing, check out the amazing hikes nearby or treat yourself to a nice meal and a day of book shopping downtown.
As students, we have a fantastic bus system to get around town for free (and you already know my thoughts about that). Use it! I recommend making an afternoon out of record shopping at Moon Rock with lunch or an early dinner at Albee’s NY Gyros. But seriously, the city is your oyster. Stop complaining and explore! I promise you’ll find something kooky that the big cities don’t have.