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Performance
A Call to Arts:
Now more than ever, the show must go on.
Morsels
Humble Times:
Mini-reviews of fav dining spots.
Outdoors
Flowing Wild and Free:
Fall's the time to explore Lane County's only wilderness river.
Gardening
Where Less is More:
Memorable gardens can be found in tight spaces.
PLUS: Booknotes
A Call to Arts
Now more than ever,
the show must go on.
By Aria
Seligmann
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Mrs. Anderson
(Rose Anderson) discusses the ecstasy of nothingness while George (Michael P. Watkins)
and Doris (Debi Farr) listen.
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Ticket sales were already lagging and emergency meetings held among
some local arts organizations about what to do about it -- even before Sept. 11.
Recession, war, insecurity -- all those nasty things can add up to conservatism in
spending on everything, including entertainment. During stressful times, art can
suffer.
Yet, counselor after counselor I spoke with this week (see story,
page 14) stressed the importance of engaging in recreational and social activities
to stay mentally healthy during times of worry. They say sitting at home, living
in fear is not the answer: going out and being with your community is.
It would be a shame to see any of our performing arts companies
falter now, when we need them the most. So go out and immerse yourself in theater,
music and dance. Art elevates the spirit. You'll not only be helping yourself, but
showing up for the many performers who've been rehearsing week after week because
they know art matters.
One show to check out if you're looking to walk out of your life
and waltz into another era is Actors Cabaret's The Foursome. The world premiere
musical is by Eugenean Charles Nathan, who wrote the book, music, lyrics and arrangements.
Dave Heisler contributed additional lyrics and Joe Zingo directs.
The Foursome is set in the style of the golden age of musical
comedy, 1940s-ish, and offers an old-fashioned but charming plot, whereby two women
have been dating two men for years and years, and the women are fed up they're not
married yet. The women devise a scheme, a la Lucy and Ethel, to make the men so jealous
they'll realize they love the ladies enough to propose.
What sells this show, and believe me, the audience buys it hook,
line and sinker, is the quality of the music -- Jim Greenwood's at the helm, here
-- as well as the stage direction and the performance. Big crowd-pleasers are "South
of the Blues" sung by Michael P. Watkins and "I'll Be the Guy that Every
Woman Hates," sung by Watkins and Gerald Walters. Strong performances are turned
in by Watkins, Walters and Elizabeth Davis; followed by Debi Farr, John Elliott and
Rose Anderson.
Playwright Charles Nathan (ASCAP), has had hit songs sung by Perry
Como and Anita Bryant. He's a former big band jazz trumpet player and arranger, who
earned a 1953 Citation of Achievement from Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI).
There is nothing controversial about this show; the whole family
should see it. It continues through Oct. 20.
-- Good news on the theater front: Willamette Rep has announced
it will have a season, albeit an abbreviated one. In December, the company
will present A.R. Gurney's Love Letters, followed by A Midsummer Night's
Dream in March in collaboration with the Eugene Symphony, and Steel Magnolias
later in the spring. Definitely audience-building, risk-free fare, but it will
hopefully line the Rep's coffers for future, edgier endeavors.
-- Bad news on the theater front: Eugene's losing another great
performer and another dear friend bites the dust as actor David Beck says sayonara
to scrounging for pay and heads to Seattle for greater employment opportunities.
Beck has performed with Lord Leebrick, Actors Cabaret, Eugene Chamber Theatre and
LCC.
Recently, he wrote theater reviews for EW and hung in there
with us all summer as assistant editor of the Annual Manual (which comes out
in just two weeks). We'll miss you, David.
Back to Top
Humble Times
Mini-reviews of fav
dining spots.
$=under $7; $$=$7
to under $12; $$$=more than $17
Humble Cafe
2435 Hilyard St., 484-4497
Lunches 11 am-3 pm; dinners
Wed.-Sat. from 5:30 - 9 pm. $$
Humble (Bagel) Cafe is a boggling bargain for fine dining. Jill and Gary Katz remodeled
space next to the bakery into a cozy eatery -- soothing colors of pale salmon, celadon
green; tables, booths, cute Art Deco bar -- with a broad menu of special salads (Greek,
Israeli Avocado, Warm Chevre), seasonal soups (chilled crab/celery), pizzas, blue
cheese burger, pastas. Not to be missed: homemade chicken pot pie ($7), roasted salmon
($13). Half-dozen brews on tap, fine little wine list, exceptional prices. GREAT
cheesecake.
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Keystone Cafe
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Keystone Cafe
395 W. 5th Ave., 342-2075
7 am-3 pm daily, breakfast all day, lunch M-F, no cards. $
Schedule a late morning and some time to relax and feel the hippie seep back into
your tired bones. Squeeze through the Keystone's cavelike entrance and the room opens
up to the sky blue heavens on your left and a diner-style bar on your right. Perfect
for the morning after.
Put your name on the list, usually not too long a wait, have some
self-serve coffee. Kick back and identify the constellations painted on the ceiling.
Choose something alluring off the vegetarian/vegan/omnivore menu.
Try a wheat-free pancake, tofu Greek scramble, divine home-fries and soups. Sprouts
and whole grains dominate the selections.
North Bank McMenamins
22 Country Club Rd., 343-5622
11-1 am M-Sa, noon-midnight Su,
take-out. $$-$
Picture it. Friday happy hour, tipsy suddenly set-free people and quick,
slick, chatty waitrons. North Bank is an institution for the after-work crowd. Expect
a 45-minute wait for the lovely river view outside, but inside is fine too. Dark
wood, Indian murals, it has a "gentleman returns from travels abroad" look.
Or maybe it's a Pottery Barn rummage sale thing.
We all know we're mostly here for the mighty fine drinks, so let's
just briefly mention Turkey Jack, generous in portion and flavorful; Eggplant Sandwich,
messy and slightly bitter; Crayfish and Sausage Gumbo -- it's basic carnivore tasty
bar-fare -- window dressing for the great brews: Ruby like a drinkable rose, lovely
Edgefield wines and mixed drinks. Go for those, and the lovely view.
Jalisco Mexican Restaurant
3095 W. 11th Ave., 485-8636
11 am-10 pm daily, full bar, take-out. $$
Way out West 11th, strip mall next to Dollar World; we're talking paperback, not
leather-bound poetry. They'll forgive flip-flops and lack of lipstick, and seat you
well even when you bring all the kids.
Walls are all murals and kitsch, tables inlaid with Mexican tiles;
time, love and a great deal of color have gone into the décor. Food is consistently
good, large quantities, economical. Cheese enchilada and a bean tostada runs $7.25
including beans and rice. That'll fill even a nursing mom. Chicken, beef or pork
fajitas -- smokin' hot in cast iron, fresh tortillas and plenty of fixings. Dinner
comes with free chips, salsa, complementary horribly sweet sopapillas with whipped
cream and strawberry sauce, and Paco playing love songs Friday nights.
Drift Inn
124 Hwy 101 N., Yachats
11 am--11 pm, Sun.-Th.,
11 am--Midnight, Fri.-Sat. $$
Big buzz on the beach: yummy eats in Yachats. Little joint, unpretentious storefront,
the Drift Inn: looks/feels like a tidy little tavern. It is -- clean, modernized,
blond wood, a few booths, dozen tables, small bar with stools, one pool table. But
there's love in the kitchen, yielding an eclectic menu, from savory soups and tasty
salads to basic burgers and exceptional seafood prepared with flair, at very reasonable
prices. Try crab-stuffed salmon cake, with soup or salad, $11.95, oh my. Micros on
tap, good wines by the bottle or glass. Live music weekends.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Morsels is a new feature that tries to capture
the atmosphere as well as the cuisine at our favorite places to eat in and around
Eugene, all in 100 or so words. Suggestions? Call Ben or Marina at 484-0519.
Back to Top
Flowing Wild &
Free
Fall's the time to explore
Lane County's only wilderness river.
By James
Johnston
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The North Fork
of the Middle Fork flows through the Waldo Wilderness. (Click here for enlarged photo.)
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There are two congressionally designated Wild and Scenic Rivers in
Lane County. The upper McKenzie enjoys more use and name recognition, but the lesser-known
North Fork of the Middle Fork Willamette River is just as scenic and quite a bit
wilder. Unlike the McKenzie, the North Fork is free flowing for its entire 42-mile
length. Thirty miles upstream of Westfir the North Fork takes an abrupt turn to the
south where it carves its way through the middle of the 30,000-acre Waldo Wilderness
on the way to its source at Waldo Lake. There are more than 160 miles of trails in
the North Fork basin, the best of which are located in the wilderness reaches of
the river.
Directions: Take I-5 south from Eugene/ Springfield for
approximately 3 miles. Take the Oakridge/Klamath Falls exit (Exit 188A). Stay to
the left onto Hwy. 58. Take 58 for approximately 31 miles. Just before the Middle
Fork Ranger Station, take the sweeping left at a sign for Westfir (you can stop at
the Ranger Station for maps on weekdays). After less than half a mile, cross a bridge
over the Middle Fork and take a left at the T-intersection. After 1.75 miles you
come to a four-way intersection in the village of Westfir, with a covered bridge
on your left. Continue straight on the Aufderheide Drive (FS Route 19). Stay on the
Aufderheide for 29.8 miles. Just before Milepost 30, take a right at a brown hiker
sign and park in a small lot surrounded by trees.
Getting to the trailhead is half the fun of this trip. The last
30 miles of your drive takes in some of the most scenic sections of the 145-mile
Aufderheide, a loop that links Highways 58 and 126. The road follows the crystal
clear waters of the North Fork and features tons of fly-fishing, kayaking, swimming
and picnicking opportunities. The best times to make the drive are early September
through early November when the roadside is choked with fall colors.
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The North Fork
of the Middle Fork flows through the Waldo Wilderness. (Click here for enlarged photo.)
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From your parking spot you have two options. The first is a short
day hike downstream along the river and the second takes you deep into the wilderness.
For the second option, take the unmarked trail that's straight
ahead when you're looking towards the river with your back to the road. The first
part of the trail is flat and takes you through a younger forest, with the North
Fork on your right. After about 2 miles you'll cross Skookum Creek and the trail
gets interesting. You'll encounter a number of seeps and springs before the trail
intersects the North Fork itself, 3 miles from the trailhead. There are logs across
the river upstream, or you can brave the ice-cold waters with bare feet.
The next mile of trail follows the north bank of the North Fork
through stands of enormous Douglas fir and Western red cedar. Then the trail turns
north and gains more than 1,500 feet in a mile of punishing switchbacks. Day hikers
will turn back before the climb, although hard-core backpackers can stay right at
all the intersections for the next 4 miles to Moolack Lake. Moolack's a great base
camp from which to mount loop trips across Moolack Mountain or down Fisher Creek.
There are trails to upper and lower Quinn and Eddeeleo Lakes, and to Waldo Lake and
the outlet of the North Fork located another 6 miles to the south.
For the first hiking option from your car, take the unmarked trail
to your right (downstream). This is an easy mile and a half stroll along the river
through a fabulous old-growth forest of Douglas fir, Western red cedar, Pacific yew
and Western hemlock (and a small camping spot). The trail splits once after about
a mile. The path to the left gets pretty overgrown, and takes you down to the river
before it disappears in a swamp. The right hand turn leads to the road and the trailhead
for Box Canyon.
Both trails have lots of vine maple, big leaf maple and alder.
In the next month, these trees, particularly the vine maple along the riverbank,
will turn a fiery red and lemon yellow. Crisp mountain air, a gorgeous river and
autumn colors make the North Fork the place to be this fall.
Back to Top
Where Less is More
Memorable gardens can
be found in tight spaces.
By Rachel
Foster
Garden tours have become a popular, low-cost way for non-profit
groups to raise money. Many gardeners are proud and happy to share their gardens,
and other people love to look at them. It's a wonderful way to get ideas for your
own garden. That said, I must own up to being a lousy garden tourist myself. I just
don't have the stamina to visit half a dozen or more gardens in one day. When I find
one I like I tend to stay there for a while, digest it and go home.
All the same, there is one tour I have really come to look forward
to. It is three years old, and I have gone every year and visited every single garden.
It's the Cracked Pots garden tour in Portland, and I go on a bus, with other members
of the Eugene-based Willamette Valley Hardy Plant Group. Going with a group imposes
the discipline I don't have, of course, but this is one tour I might finish anyway.
Cracked Pots is a non-profit group dedicated to making and using
garden art from recycled materials. Needless to say, the tour provides ample opportunity
along the way to buy some of these moderately priced creations, which vary from OK
to terrific. The quality of the art did not seem quite as good this time as in previous
years (is it possible the supply of great recycle-able objects is running low?) but
there was nothing wrong with the quality of the gardens. Every year I am delighted
by their charm and originality.
Many belong to artists, designers and their friends, so it is no
surprise that they contain a lot of original art. There is also an abundance of re-used
materials and inexpensive, owner-made features that range from sophisticated summer
studios to funky chicken houses. It doesn't hurt that Portland is blessed with diverse
neighborhoods, an abundance of older houses, and an urban yet mellow ambiance.
Of the houses on past tours that stand out in my memory, one was
a fine 1915 frame house, lovingly restored by the architect owner, on an orderly,
well-maintained street. Another was a tiny, recently rehabilitated crack house which
the new owner had adorned with Tibetan prayer bells and multicolored paint-work to
improve its karma.
Like many places on Cracked Pots tours, these gardens have an urban
feel and they are small. I'm sure it is no coincidence that my favorite Eugene tour
was KLCC's of 1999, when all the gardens were in Eugene's Westside neighborhood,
which is about as close as you can get to Portland without leaving town. That tour
also featured some memorable gardens in tight spaces. There is something about small
gardens that I particularly like. They are more intimate, they relate more closely
to the house, and every individual feature has more impact. One thing I've learned
from garden tours is that no yard is too small for an outdoor sitting place, and
more often than not it becomes the heart of the garden.
One of this year's best offerings was surrounded by commercial
and industrial property, views of which were effectively screened out by plants and
a series of (recycled) structures that didn't look at all like a fence. Within the
boundary, planting was severely limited by outdoor living (a studio, hot tub room
and shower) and the lack of sunlight, but every conceivable planting spot was used
imaginatively. Other gardeners, with other priorities, manage to pack extraordinary
plant collections into tiny city lots: porches, driveways and even walls become container
gardens. Vines, and vertical structures to support them, are extremely popular!
Looking at little gardens in all their variety makes you appreciate
that a tight space may be as much a gift as a limitation. Small gardens are easier
to maintain in finicky detail without resorting to pesticides or peace-destroying
power tools. There is less opportunity to be overwhelmed by situations that can make
gardening feel like a chore; you spend less time weeding and more time being creative.
Small gardens involve less material, less water, fewer plants. They are less about
wealth and effort, and more about thoughtfulness and careful choices. That's what
makes them so engaging.
Back to Top
Book Notes:
Lauren Zimmerman reads from Called at 7 pm Sept. 21, Barnes & Noble.
...Celebrated novelist and essayist Joan Didion reads essays from Political
Fictions at 7:30 Sept. 24, Portland's First Congregation Church. Tickets $10.
Literary Arts (503/227-2583. ...Noted environmentalist David James Duncan
reads from his new book, My Story As Told By Water (Sierra Club Books, 2001),
at 7:30 pm Sept. 26 in 175 Knight Law Center. Free. ...Erich Witchey signs
Writers of the Future, an anthology that includes his short story, "Dreams
and Bones," at 1 pm Sept. 29, Tsunami Books. ...Springfield playwright Dorothy
Velasco (Plunging Into Writing) speaks at 7 pm Oct. 4, Amazon Community
Center. $5 donation non-members. ...Award-winning science writer Stephen Jay Gould
speaks at 7:30 pm Oct. 4, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland. Info at Literary
Arts (503/227-2583). ... Poets Kim Addonizio and Joe Millar read at
7:30 pm Oct. 9, Tsunami Books. ...Local editor Colleen Sell and writer Stephanie
Barrow discuss A Cup Of Comfort at 3 pm Oct. 14, Barnes & Noble. ...Coming
in early Oct., Tsunami hosts readings by Oregon Book Awards winners and finalists,
TBA.
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