UO Street Faire

Korrin B.

May 8, 2010 - 7:45 PM

Part of me wishes that the Street Faire happened all year long at the UO. Another part of me recognizes the fact that if this were the case, my wallet would have a hole in it and my figure several more pounds.

The funny thing about the spring term Street Faire is that it historically happens on a spring week during which the Universe decides that Eugene should have awful overcast and drizzly weather. This year, the Street Faire took place during a few gorgeously sunny days. It acted as such an uplifting and wonderful energy on campus.

I perused up and down East Thirteenth Avenue a few times, admiring all of the fun booths selling everything from jewelry and clothing to posters and soaps. However, I had two main focuses. The first was to find my mother something for Mother's Day and the second (and possibly best focus one could ever have) was to find which delicious food I wanted to feast upon.

I easily found what to get my mother when I stopped at a little booth with my friend. At this booth, a woman had a table set up that was covered in different kinds of soaps. These soaps were all wrapped up in colorful wool. The woman told us about how the wool acts as a natural exfoliator and shrinks in size as the soap gets used up. The bars of soap were all so pretty with their marbled colors and fabulous scents. It was hard to choose which ones to get. At the booth, the woman was also selling broaches, totes, art, and pillows all mostly made from wools and felts. Her stuff was very nice. She left us with a business card. Her name is Kathy Wasil and the name of her business is Hideaway Hills Creations. She said she was based out of Cottage Grove and had a nice little gallery there where she sold her stuff. I am a big proponent of shopping local and so therefore would love to go visit her store and encourage all of my readers to check out her stuff as well!

Once the gift getting was out of the way, I began to pace up and down the food vendors with my friend. The street was lined with Indian, Thai, tamales, cupcakes, barbeque - anything tasty you could ever want to eat. It took much thought and many double takes before I finally decided on a Peruvian empanada de yucca. It was so tasty that I went back the very next day for another one.

Food and gifts aside, I think what I love most about the Street Faire is the sense of community that it brings to the UO campus. I love walking up and down the street and running into other students and faculty that I know. It is nice to be able to have these casual conversations within this environment. The Street Faire also gives a nice representation of the Eugene culture, providing a diverse array of local business owners and characters. It is a welcoming and fun environment and I am glad that it is a part of the UO.