Top 5 Things I Will Miss the Most

Peter E.

May 9, 2010 - 9:00 PM

After several weeks in the making, it's time to present the "Top 5 Things I Will Miss the Most about Eugene" post. If you refer back to April 17th's post you will see I've already counted down numbers 6-10, so today we will conclude with the top 5. Without further delay, let's jump right in:

5. Eatin' Good in the Neighborhood: No, I'm not referring to Applebee's. I'm referring to the bevy of food options only two blocks from my house. I live just south of campus, and nestled around 19th and Agate are some awesome eats: Agate Alley Bistro, McMenamin's, Studio One Cafe, Beppe and Gianni's, Eugene City Bakery, and Prince Pucklers. What will I miss most? That's like asking a mother to pick her favorite child (unless it's my mother, and then I'm obviously the favorite). I say this in jest, but it's impossible to pick a favorite when your contenders include: $2.95 hot fudge sundaes on Tuesdays from Prince Pucklers, $1 Cajun tots during happy hour from McMenamins, and a to-die-for seafood bisque from Agate Alley. I am spoiled to have such variety and quality within walking distance from my house, and I don't know what I will do without McMenamin's Cajun tots. Probably starve.

4. Saturday Market: Portland readers maybe thinking to themselves: "Puh-lease, Eugene's Saturday market ain't got nuthin' on Portland's." And to this I answer: "to each his own." Eugene's Saturday Market, while smaller, has community charm, history, and phenomenal vendors. Personally, I value Eugene's Saturday Market for the produce (something Portland's doesn't offer), and it is incredible. I suggest going around lunch hour to eat some of the many samples for lunch: goat cheese, veggies, honey, seasoned hazelnuts, and vegan brownies. However, if you want to splurge at the market's food court, I strongly recommend the pad Thai cart (it's hard to miss with the long line, but well worth it).

3. Spring: Spring and I have a love-hate relationship going right now. Eugene's Spring is erratic, to say the least. Take today for instance, it was a partly cloudy morning that gave way to a sunny afternoon around 70-degrees. However, come around 4pm a dark cloud rolled in and burst into a thunderstorm. Nonetheless, spring makes it in at number three on the list. Why? Because my productivity becomes proportionally dependent on the weather. There is no way to foretell a three day stretch of sunshine, but when it comes, my working life suffers. I am drawn to my back deck and barbecue like the squirrels are drawn to my bird feeder-- fiendishly. Spring time reminds Oregonians why we suffer through a six month stretch of rain. The entire city is in bloom with flowers, sundresses, and smiles. Campus lawns turn into thriving social spaces with people tanning, playing frisbee, and studying. The streets become packed with bike riders making their way to and from the river to swim or relax with friends. Prince Pucklers (see above number 5) stuffs in more people than Autzen during the Civil War. It's simply the best time of year.

2. Outdoors Mecca: It's an hour to the coast and just over an hour to snowboarding. Within shorter distances, there's too many hikes, bike trails, simming holes, and camping spots to count. This is one of the top reasons I came to Eugene, and it hasn't disappointed in the slightest.

1. It's home: There's no other way to put it: Eugene has become home over the last three years, and now that I'm really finding roots here and learning to appreciate the city, it's time for me to leave. Living in the South Campus neighborhood for the last year has made me really feel at home. It's a family neighborhood, and it's nice to be able to share everything from baked goods to stories with our neighbors-- something you don't always get living in the college neighborhood. On top of that, I've learned the city: the best eats, places to study, camping spots, technique to float the Willamette, thrift stores, time to plant a garden, and many more nuances of the city. Most importantly though, I've established a pretty wide network of friends. It's difficult graduating a year early because many of my friends will still be in Eugene next year. This town has an incredible quality of life, and I'm glad that I've discovered such a place in my early 20s. I hope to end up living permanently in a town like Eugene (if not Eugene), but I'm not sure where that is yet. I do know one thing, though: the bar's been set very high.