American Apparel leggings, chicken burritos at Qdoba and cheeseburgers and gyros at Caspian — sound familiar? For many students, campus neighborhood businesses have long been preferred for their cheap, familiar offerings and effortlessly close vicinities. Transportation into the city may pose a hassle for some, and with friends, filling meals and staple clothing shopping in such close quarters, why bother to go elsewhere anyway?
Compulsive campus dwellers keep reading — there may be some extracurricular opportunities that you’re missing out on. To name just a few: beautiful spring walks through downtown’s charming and newly bustling streets, the incomparable cuisine and likewise hippie vibrancy that thrives in the signature Whiteaker neighborhood and the freshest lung-fulls of air accompanying green mountainous views and numerous outdoor offerings in South Eugene.
Campus life doesn’t define Eugene — it is but one of many subcultures that truly characterize the beautifully unique Northwest city. Ever feel like you’re stuck in a too-tiny, boring college town? In reality, you’re living in one of the West Coast’s most nature-rich and culture-encompassing regions. Explore theses areas for yourself and you’ll see.
The 2014 Off-Campus Neighborhood Guide
Downtown
Quaint and community-centered, downtown Eugene offers its visitors a wide array of unique cafes, dinner date selections, small, local businesses and shops and an energetic nightlife.
Eat: There is something for every individual appetite, price range and time of day. The business spaces are competitive, and only truly good restaurants and cafes thrive here. Grab a slice with friends at Sizzle Pie (910 Willamette St.), an open-late Portland favorite (You can grab a slice until 4 a.m. on weekend evenings); Cozmic Pizza (199 W 8th Ave.) , where live music accompanies the fresh, organic pies or Mezza Luna (933 Pearl St.) for authentic New York-style thin crust. Kamitori (1044 Willamette St.) and Sushi Pure (296 E 5th Ave.) are two sushi spots largely regarded as having the freshest fish selections in town, and the hype behind fine dining date hotspots Belly (30 E Broadway) and Marché (296 E 5th Ave. #226) never disappoint. Treat yourself at Red Wagon Creamery (55 W Broadway), where in less than a year, the downtown business has built a solid reputation as having the some of the best ice cream around.
Alongside his wife Emily, Red Wagon Creamery owner Stuart Phillips has a love for the downtown area. “We’ve been overwhelmed by the kindness of the residents and fellow business owners here. It’s so community oriented, and that’s something that has helped our business tremendously,” he said.
Shop: Fifth Street Public Market (296 E 5th Ave. # 300) offers a wide selection of fine clothing boutiques, as well as the huge Hartwick’s Kitchen Superstore and Elephant’s Toy Trunk Company, which are perfect for gifts. On Broadway, Lazar’s Bazar (57 W Broadway), two stories high, is jammed full of collectibles, vintage clothing items and smoke shop staples. Thrifter? Check out Buffalo Exchange (131 E 5th Ave.) and the two St. Vincent de Paul locations (555 High St, 1880 W 11th Ave).
Play: Cowfish (62 W Broadway) and Jackalope Lounge (453 Willamette St.) are two of the numerous downtown bars and clubs but are favored for their hip, upbeat atmospheres.
“The name is weird, but completely fits the joint. There’s a reason everyone likes (Cowfish). The energy is incredible … fun to say the least,” UO junior Mark Holenstein said.
Check out the Bijou Metro (43 W Broadway) for indie flicks and classic film revivals on the big screen and Shoryuken League (881 Willamette St) for classic late night arcade games.
The Whiteaker
You haven’t truly experienced Eugene hippie culture until you’ve stumbled into the Whit.
Eat: The Whiteaker is praised for having some of the best restaurant offerings in all of Eugene. You’ve likely heard of Papa’s Soul Food Kitchen (400 Blair Blvd.), which if you haven’t visited yet is a must. You may not have heard of the Izakaya Meiji Company (345 Van Buren St.), a Japanese-Old Western fusion small plates lounge, highly esteemed in the Eugene food scene alongside neighboring restaurants Grit (1080 W 3rd Ave.), a new farm-fresh emphasized slow food establishment, and Mame (541 Blair Blvd.), also serving up innovative Japanese dishes. Enjoy vegan and non-vegan sweet offerings alike at bakeries like New Day (449 Blair Blvd) and Sweet Life Patisserie (755 Monroe St.) and housemade gourmet frozen yogurt at Vanilla Jill’s (298 Blair Blvd).
“The Whiteaker neighborhood is home to a community of people, many who’ve called it home for 30 years, who are particularly loving and warm,” owner Megan Stevens said. “They practice what they preach and love supporting small local companies like ours.”
Shop: You can find an REI in any major city, but nowhere does one feel quite as properly placed as at Eugene’s Whiteaker location. The two-story location (306 Lawrence St.) is an outdoorsman’s dream outlet. For clothing articles as unique as its residents, check out Redoux Parlor (780 Blair Blvd.), a resale and clothing redesign shop located off Blair Boulevard.
“The Whiteaker is by far my favorite neighborhood,” Redoux Parlour’s Laura Lee Laroux (voted best clothing designer in Eugene Weekly’s Best of Eugene) said. “We cater to a funky, artistic-type client base which we’ve found more of here than anywhere else.”
Play: The Whiteaker is a beer haven. Ninkasi (272 Van Buren St.) and Hop Valley (980 Kruse Way) both have their primary brewing companies located right off of Blair, and Oakshire (207 Madison St.) and Falling Sky (1334 Oak Alley) both contribute Public Houses. Check out Sam Bond’s Garage (407 Blair Blvd.) for live music and a rowdy good time and Blairally Vintage Arcade (245 Blair Blvd.) for an ’80s-themed vintage arcade gaming experience.
South Eugene
Some of the most beautiful views in Eugene with a hip, outdoorsy feel are in South Eugene.
Eat: Although more dispersed than in other areas of the city, South Eugene’s restaurant offerings are some of the region’s best. Chef Bruno’s Kitchen (3443 Hilyard St.) is a small, one-man-ran hidden gem offering exquisite Western European dishes, and Agate Alley Laboratory (2645 Willamette St.) features new, experimental dishes as the bistro’s open-to-the-public test kitchen. Off The Waffle (2540 Willamette St.) has its roots in the humble area, and Hideaway Bakery (3377 E Amazon Dr.), small and low-key, wows with phenomenal pizzas and pastries.
Shop: Sundance Natural Foods (748 E 24th Ave.) offers a large, student-friendly natural and organic bulk section and Sunrise Asian Market (70 W 29th Ave.) offers a great selection of international foods and grocery staples. Tsunami Books (2585 Willamette St.), off Willamette Street, is a favorite to many due to its unique literary collections and eccentric gifts.
Play: “Absolutely the epitome of Eugene,” according to sophomore Maggie DeWitt, Spencer’s Butte (85401 South Willamette St.) attracts a number of hikers, experienced and beginners alike, for its breathtaking summit view of the Willamette Valley. Also in the area is the Cascades Raptor Center (32275 Fox Hollow Rd.), which houses a number of rare regional birds for viewing including eagles, falcons and owls.