|
Best
of Eugene
Baby,
you're the best!
Compiled
by Eugene Weekly staff
Photos
by James Bateman
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| best
landscaper: dandylion |
For the seventh year in a row we've tallied up all
your votes and sifted through hundreds of ballots, counting down to
the final hours to break as many ties as possible, all to unearth
who would emerge as the ultimate fine winner in a plethora of categories.
Sometimes no clear winner emerged, so we tossed the category. Sometimes
a winner was way TOO clear and we did as promised — we tossed
all stuffed ballots. What emerged was a group of honest winners, hard-working
people and businesses or some places nature has graced with more beauty
than usual.
Thanks to all who voted!
best
tress dresser
Michele
Sharpy, The Hiding Place
Michele Sharpy offers more than great haircuts, shimmering
highlights and chemical-free shampoo to her clients. Red wine and
chocolate are also part of the service.
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| best
tress dresser: michele sharpy |
Decadence aside, her clients
love Michele for bringing Locks of Love to Eugene. The Florida-based
organization makes wigs out of human hair for children suffering from
cancer. Michele cuts off ponytails, sends them south, and restyles
what's left for free. Anyone wanting to pay for the service makes
a donation to Locks of Love, instead.
Michele opened The Hiding Place four years ago. She's
the owner, receptionist, shampoo-girl and stylist. The busy pace does
not allow her to accept walk-ins, so don't drop by expecting a quick
lunch-time fix. Do expect a cut and color to match your face shape,
lifestyle and hair type. "I've never had anybody burst into tears
in my chair," she says. "My clients love me."
Address: 337 East 11th Alley, Eugene ph. 686-1998.
best
computer geek
Tim
Overstreet
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| best
computer geek: tim overstreet |
Ask Tim Overstreet whether he's more of a computer
geek or a computer nerd, and the single (he really wants you to know
that) father of two says, "Well, I've got five PCs at home for three
people. There's one in every room; even the kitchen. I guess that
makes me a geek."
Two-year network admin. for Eugene-based VersaLogic,
a "manufacturer of embedded OEM computer products for industrial use,"
such as hospitals and farms, and recent contractor for Northwest Youth
Corps, Overstreet says he's the kinda guy people call to ask what's
new and end up saying, "Oh, by the way, I've got this computer problem…"
But the former Air Force electronics expert and UO marketing student
takes it in stride. "I worked in an advertising agency for six months
but realized I wanted to do something technical," he says. His first
computer was a Commodore 64 whose whereabouts are now unknown, and
as for his next step up, a Gateway 386, well, he still has the case.
best
street personality
Frog
"Say, excuse me, but have you read the world's funniest
joke book ever?" Who among us isn't familiar with that croaky singsong
of Frog-on-the-street, peddling his wares along 13th near campus or
downtown at Saturday Market? Like tie-dyed socks and garlic-heavy
hummus, there's really no better way to describe Frog and his joke
books than "…so Eugene." (And judging from the second
place winner in this category, looks like there are those of you so
over the whole Eugene thing!)
best
landscaper
Dandilyon
Begun in 1991 by Todd Davis and handed over to current
owner Barb Barnard and VP Jill Catino about five years ago, Dandylion's
business has been beautifying Eugene. The specialty is perennials,
and Barnard says it's a community effort — she employs lots
of musicians ("though they don't like to get up early") and English
majors. She also credits great customers and designers who participate
in conceiving the living creations. Barnard's own backyard attests
to her skill: Beds overflow with an abundance of tomatoes and peppers
while the perimeter is alive with trees, shrubs, flowers and meandering
footpaths.
Barnard says the landscapers and designers treat each
yard differently, choosing particular plants that fit in each space.
"For fall, a nice touch is designing with bulbs, to look forward to
a spring spectacular," she says.
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| best
dreads: allison cassin |
best
dreadlocks
Allison
Cassin
Allison Cassin's knee-length coif reigns supreme in
this category. The 30- year-old New York transplant is no dready-come-lately;
she's been sporting clumps since 1993.
"I didn't really decide to have them," she says. "I
was traveling and they just happened."
Extra points, then, for developing a hairstyle in
the consummate Eugene fashion: the path of least resistance. Take
a good look, kids — if you're willing and able to shrug your
shoulders long enough, someday you too can bask in the accolades of
a discerning public!
But not this year. No, 2002 belongs to Allison Cassin's
hair (and the person underneath). She doesn't plan on keeping the
dreads forever, so we salute them now, while we can.
best
powermonger/reactionary
Jim
Torrey
Mayor Jim Torrey was voted both the power mongering-est
and most reactionary by EW readers. Makes some sense that if
you're working to monger the power, you might be a little reactionary
to anything questioning your process. Torrey has proved himself pro-sprawl
and pro-big business, while also revealing his impatience with the
needy of Eugene ("Mean Eugene" EW, 9/26).
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| best
cartoonist: jan eliot |
best
local cartoonist
Jan
Eliot
Jan Eliot has been cracking us up for years with her
cartoon series Stone Soup. The 'toon revolves around the lives
of sisters Val and Joan, their children, their mother, Joan's new
husband Wally, his nephew, Andy and the family dog, Biscuit. Through
this cast of characters, Eliot reveals the inner chaos and hilarity
of family and extended-family life.
Eliot has been cartooning since 1979 as a form of
expression, self-defense and self-sufficiency. She had successes early
on and close to home with two other comic strips — Patience
and Sarah and Sister City. In 1995, Eliot landed a syndication
deal with Universal Press Syndicate for Stone Soup, and ever
since, she's been sending her strips out into the world from right
here in little ol' Eugene. And she shares the wealth by periodically
donating original drawings and the opportunity to have your name in
the Stone Soup series to a number of local charity fundraising
auctions.
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| best
revolutionary: john zerzan |
best
revolutionary
John
Zerzan
John Zerzan refers to the garden in front of his house
— wild, weedy and flourishing — as "… the Anarchist
Garden — it thrives on neglect…" Zerzan has proved to
be an active and vocal member of those who question authority. Last
spring, he published a book titled (appropriately for a revolutionary)
Running on Emptiness: The Pathology of Civilization. He also
hosts a radio show Sunday nights at 11 pm on KWVA. Zerzan says the
anarchist community is alive and well here in Eugene, but politely
declines to discuss any projects he's working on right now.
best
kayaking
McKenzie
River
Just 45 minutes from Eugene, the McKenzie River attracts
both novice and expert paddlers. Beginners can push off from Finn
Rock for an easy float down flat water. If confidence holds out at
the end of the run, they have the option of tackling Marten's rapids.
Serious kayakers can start upstream at Ollalie for class IV action
and ice cream headaches at Brown's and Reelsides rapids.
The McKenzie's proximity to Eugene allows summer paddlers
to put in an eight-hour day, slip in a few hours on the river and
get home just after dark. The river also welcomes winter warriors.
And crowds never seem to be a problem in any season, discounting local
mergansers, oozles and ospreys.
best
neighborhood walk
University
Area
Because the typical Eugene neighborhood walk is conducted
in the rain, a tree-lined stroll through the U-District will keep
you drier than most routes. But, unlike most prudent decisions, no
sacrifice is involved — walkers get plenty of foliage overhead
and an array of sights to take in.
Plus ice cream, if they head in the right direction.
During this time of year, the west side of the hill
topped by University St., just south of campus, is a must-walk. Head
down 19th Ave. until you get sick of the traffic, turn left and then
hike back up 20th, remembering to inhale through your nose.
Crossing University St., on the other side of the
hill, even the most preoccupied pedestrian will find a couple of fresh-fallen
leaves worth saving. Agate St. is where you turn left, back toward
the traffic. It'll take you through campus, if you can get past the
ice cream shop.
best
place to people watch
Saturday
Market
You want to see a bloke with his nipples pierced?
Maybe you're into women with cropped, purple hair and tattoos? Whatever
turns you on or freaks you out, you'll find someone to stare at or
fall in love with at the Saturday Market.
Where else can you find out if last year's bowling
shoes are still in vogue and watch the lost art of hackey-sack? You
can ponder the personality of the man buying both organic massage
oil and naturally scented candles. Follow him to the next booth —
perhaps it will be a tarot reader!
Beautiful women bare their midriffs and swish their
hips to the beat of a group of drummers. Butts circling slowly and
arms stretched high — there's nothing like people watching at
the Saturday Market.
best
place to buy plants
Farmers'
Market
Whether you are looking for the instant gratification
of annuals, a lifelong commitment to perennials or Pacific Northwest
natives, check out the Farmer's Market. There is no better way to
buy your plants than from the folks who started them from seed. They
know all the tricks to keep your plants healthy and blooming all season.
A brisk autumn morning is the perfect time to grab
a hot coffee, wander through the vendor's booths and plan next year's
garden. Boxes upon boxes of bulbs will turn your thoughts to spring
bouquets while nearby organic veggie sellers will inspire you to plant
and harvest your own greens.
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| best
live music venue: wow hall |
best
live music venue
WOW
Hall
Affectionately known to all as the WOW Hall, The Woodsmen
of the World Hall is a historic building in the heart of downtown.
Drive by any night of the week and chances are you'll see a bustling
corner with music fans hanging out under the spreading canopy of trees
overhead, catching a smoke, checking out their favorite band. The
WOW plays host to a wide variety of music, and is open to all ages,
from that breastfeeding baby with taped-in ear plugs to your 97-year-old
grandmother. (There's a smoke-free beer garden downstairs if she gets
thirsty.) The club continues to nurture a creative music scene here
in Eugene, hosting lots of local bands of all types from punk to folk,
along with big-name touring acts from hip-hop to power pop. Community-supported
and staffed primarily with volunteers, the WOW is a place for everyone
who loves music.
best
dance 'til you drop club
Diablo's
When Eugene wants to get down to some dirty dancin',
there's no better place to go than Diablo's. Deep in the pit of the
Downtown Lounge basement, long late nights are filled with Diablo's
primal beats and sweaty bodies that move to the groove 'til the last
record winds down to a sleepy scratchy sound and a big, hearty yawn
that greets the dawn.
best
hardware store
Jerry's
We know someone who forewent the usual luxury clothing
item she gives herself every birthday and this year bought a cordless
drill instead. Her screws have never been so tight. And her shelving's
grown by leaps and bounds. She swears by Jerry's, of course, where
Eugenean's flock by the hundreds when it's time to clean out that
job jar. Of course, True Value is dear to our hearts, as well, coming
in a neat and tidy second place.
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| best
organic farm: sweet leaf |
best
organic farm
Sweet
Leaf
David Sullivan started Sweet Leaf farms four years
ago, after being inspired by UO's Urban Garden course and working
on many other local farms. You may know the booth at the Farmers'
Market, and you've probably tasted their veggies and greens at Marché
and other restaurants.
best
place for your dog to meet its mate
Amazon
Dog Park
Labradors looking for love should look no farther
than the Amazon Dog Park. At 6 pm, the place is a canine meat market.
Short dogs, sleek dogs, purebreds and genetic wonders from Greenhill
cruise the scene with tails held high and noses held low.
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| best
place for your dog to meet its mate: amazon dog park |
Pooches can swoon over gangly puppies tripping over
their hind legs. For the athletically inclined pup, there's champion
Frisbee-catchers showing off for the crowd. Fashion hounds will find
the perfect mate sporting a spiky collar, a colorful harness or a
stars and stripes bandana. In the glow of the evening sun, with Spencer
Butte providing a romantic backdrop, the four-legged frenzy of Amazon
Dog Park is the place to pee.
best
bottled water
Earth
2 O
Those who carefully follow the bottled water campaigns
contend that Eugene's electorate didn't endorse the winner so much
as vote against the losers. Earth 2 O's mandate, observers say, remains
hazy at best.
Dasani, of course, never had a chance, due to its
business ties with Coca-Cola. (And what was that bluish-tinted bottle
trying to cover up, anyway?) Slick corporate backing can work against
you in this town, and Dasani was no exception.
Aquafina's refusal to take a stance on controversial
issues such as school vouchers doomed the campaign in the long run.
"We ended up being perceived as wishy-washy, with no substance, and
it hurt our numbers," said one Aquafina insider. "I mean, hell, we
don't have any substance. We're 100% pure water. Apparently
that wasn't enough."
No, voters ultimately opted for that skinny, clear
bottle with the pop-valve top — further proof that Eugene has
an opinion on everything.
best
free activity
Biking
Whether on your bike with toes clipped in and helmet
strapped on or just checking out the Spandex pedaling past, cycling
offers free fun for all. Riders can hop in the saddle and head for
the flats of the Willamette River or head up into the south hills
via Lorane Hwy. Everyone can appreciate the fruits of cyclists' efforts:
firm bums and tight thighs.
For riders, free activities aren't necessarily free
of costs. Eugene seems to have an endless supply of stupid drivers
who cut in front of cyclists or turn into their paths. Some intentionally
drive within inches of a rider's life. For a city with extensive bike
paths and quiet, residential streets, mangled wheels and bent frames
are all too common. Maybe that's why cycling in Eugene is free?
best
local boondoggle
West
Eugene Parkway
Maybe we should have called it "Worst Local Boondoggle."
The (dis)honor goes to the West Eugene Parkway (WEP), the highway
project threatening not only the delicate wetland ecosystems in west
Eugene, but also the budget for other road and transportation projects.
Officially estimated at a cost of $88 million, recent reports show
that WEP could cost a whopping $150 million when all is said and done.
There's no guarantee that WEP will improve traffic conditions along
West 11th and out to Veneta. But if the grumbling now is any indication,
the push to fully approve the project will be a hard-fought one.
best
local cause
Fighting
the West Eugene Parkway
On the flip side, EW readers also voted WEP
"Best Local Cause." Citizens for Public Accountability (CPA) has been
persistent in its formal opposition to WEP, going so far as to request
a plan designed by Crandall Arambula (EW, 9/19) that is a more
"…wetland and transit friendly alternative to the West Eugene
Parkway." But we've also heard regularly in our Letters to the Editor
from those of you taking a personal, if not formal, stand against
WEP. It's pretty clear that the time, money and ecological fallout
of this behemoth will hurt the many and benefit only the few here
in Eugene.
best
reason to move to eugene/best reason to leave eugene
Have a seat. Relax, sit back, have some
tea, grab a tissue, let's process this, Eugene. So you moved here
because you loved 1) the people; 2) the quality of life and 3) the
weather. That's so nice.
Why must you be so Piscean in your ambivalence?
Because then you quickly changed your mind and wanted
to move away because 1) the job market sucks (so much for quality
of life) 2) the weather sucks and 3) the people suck.
Guess you just got to know everyone a little better,
eh?
| Click for Best Restaurants
of Eugene |
|
ew
readers' poll
best of
eugene
WHO
best
tress dresser
1.
Michele Sharpy / The Hiding Place
2. David Wilson / Imagine
3. John Cook / Classic Touch
best
computer geek
1.
Tim Overstreet
2. Steve Crane
3. David Roth
best
street personality
1.
Frog
2. Anyone but Frog
3. Eagle Park Slim
best
landscaper
1.
Dandilyon
2. Mother Nature
3. Dennis Lueck
best
preacher
1.
None!
2. Dan Bryant
3. Rabbi Yitzhak Husbands-Hankin
best
dreadlocks
1.
Allison Cassin
2. Sadie Rose
best
powermonger
1.
Jim Torrey
2. John Musumeci
3. PeaceHealth
best
local cartoonist
1.
Jan Eliot
2. Jesse Springer
3. Scott Wooley
best
revolutionary
1.
John Zerzan
2. Peter DeFazio
3. Jeffrey Luers
best
reactionary
1.
Jim Torrey
2. Tony Baker
3. Eugene Police Department
where
best
location for a new traffic light
1.
Costco
2. 25th and Willamette
3. 28th and Jefferson
best
place to pop the question
1.
Top of Spencer Butte
2. Top of Mt. Pisgah
3. Owen Rose Garden
best
place for your dog to meet its mate
1.
Amazon Dog Park
2. Alton Baker Dog Park
3. Morse Ranch Dog Park
best
wildflower viewing
1.
Mt. Pisgah
2. Hendricks Park
3. Spencer Butte
best
organic farm
1.
Sweet Leaf
2. Horton Rd. Organics
3. Sweetwaters
best
kayaking
1.
McKenzie River
2. North and Middle Fork of Willamette
3. Probably on a river
best
neighborhood walk
1.
University Area
2. Hendricks Park
3. Whiteaker
best
place to people watch
1.
Saturday Market
2. Country Fair
3. Downtown Mall
best
place to buy plants
1.
Farmers' Market
2. Indoor Garden
3. Gray's
best
live music venue
1.
WOW Hall
2. Sam Bond's
3. McDonald Theatre
best
dance 'til you drop club
1.
Diablo's
2. WOW Hall
3. Neighbors/Tsunami (tie)
best
hardware store
1.
Jerry's
2. True Value
3. Home Depot
WHAT
best
bottled water
1.
Earth 2 O
2. McKenzie Mist
3. Tap water
best
free activity
1.
Biking
2. Hiking
3. Saturday Market
best
climbing tree
1.
The UO Redwood
2. Love Tree at Pisgah
3. Wherever they are Logging
best
local boondoggle
1.
West Eugene Parkway
2. PeaceHealth Relocation
3. Re-opening Broadway
best
local cause
1.
Fighting the West Eugene Parkway
2. Schools
3. Saving Trees
best
reason to move to eugene
1.
The People
2. The Quality of Life
3. The Weather
best
reason to leave eugene
1.
Job Market Sucks
2. The Weather
3. The People
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