Campus THEN and NOW Series - Part 4: 13th Avenue

Caitlin H.

October 11, 2009 - 12:48 PM

For those of you who haven't visited the U of O campus before, or perhaps it has been awhile, East 13th Avenue is the main street that runs through the heart of our campus. The stretch of 13th between University and Kincaid (roughly the stretch from the student union to the bookstore) used to be open to through traffic. I was told that in 1972 students conducted a sit-in to block traffic until the City of Eugene agreed to sell that stretch of the street. It was sold to the University for the grand sum of $1.

For me, the benefits of having a campus virtually inaccessible to passing traffic have been wonderful. This particular stretch of street is also home to one of my favorite events in the fall, which is the street faire. Year after year the smells of street fair are heavenly. I suppose smell might be a strange thing to dream about when recalling an event but let's be real - I go for the food. I am an eater. When the aroma of street faire wafts under my nose I am a very happy kid.

The street faire is a kind of market along 13th Avenue for three days, typically once during fall term and once again in the spring. The vendors are a collection of local companies in the business of everything from food to entertainment to furniture. The event is hosted by the ASUO, and they actually have a commitment to diversifying the types of vendors that are at the event every year. Usually the street faire turns into the most congested pedestrian street traffic I have ever experienced, all clamoring to get to class, or shop in the tents. It can be overwhelming, but it is also exciting to have an event on campus that is so popular and brings the campus community together. Regardless, I'm always very grateful the event only lasts three days. I'm kind of partial to the ‘small town feel' on campus. I've been known to purchase a pair of sunglasses or a water bottle in the past, but mostly I go to the street faire to enjoy the divine tastes I never seem to be able to pack in my sack lunch on a daily basis.

For three years I have had my eye on a caramel covered apple with M'n'Ms, and I have yet to purchase one. Usually I have good intentions of getting back for a dessert, and every instance the same thing happens - I eat lunch first and am full before my plate clears. There have been times whilst consuming street faire food I have wondered if chicken teriyaki on rice has ever been made better. I also enjoy the opportunity to learn more of ‘what's out there' in Eugene to explore when wanting to buy local. If you're interested to read more about the wonders of shopping local in Eugene I'd encourage you to check out Korrin's blog. She has spoken to shopping local before in the past.

Despite the heavy foot traffic and the air of craziness that comes with the street faire, it sent me into the weekend in high spirits. I still need to one day invest in and enjoy a caramel and M'n'M covered apple, but that might be a fantastic ‘cooking' project to pursue on my own. Or, I can always wait until spring term when the street fair will be back once again!

Coming next: Columbia Hall