Biz Beat 5-30-2013

LaVelle Vineyards is relocating its Eugene tasting room after 14 years at the Fifth Street Public Market, according to founder Doug LaVelle and winemaker Matthew LaVelle. The new location as of July 1 will be at the International Marketplace at 400 International Way, just off I-5 and Beltline in Springfield. The winery and vineyard are in Elmira, along with a tasting room featuring Friday night events. The LaVelles write on the winery’s blog that “We have never benefited much from the general foot traffic at the Market” and they were hoping for a boost from the new boutique hotel, but “neither the Inn nor its guests have become a significant part of our sales.” He also says the rent was going up in July and “the Market imposed constraints on how we conducted business at that location. We have no real kitchen facility and the Market preferred that we not build one out.” The new space is twice the size and adjacent to Willie’s Lebanese and Northwest Cuisine, “one of the finest dining spots in the Eugene-Springfield area.” See lavellevineyards.com or call 953-9406.

The SmartUps Pub Talk this month will be at 5 pm Thursday, May 30, at the Oregon Electric Station, 27 E. 5th Ave., featuring an entrepreneurial spotlight on Eimar Boesjes of Moonshadow Mobile and Charles Williams, assistant VP for innovation at UO talking about the Regional Accelerator Innovation Network. See SmartUps on Facebook.

The Healthy Living Expo, a gathering of health professionals and vendors, will be from 11:30 am to 6 pm Sunday, June 2, at Eugene Yoga, 3575 Donald St. The event is free but donations go to support Living Beyond Breast Cancer, a nonprofit that provides education and support for women diagnosed with breast cancer. Yoga, meditation and other classes will be offered by Kimby Maxson, Donna O’Neil, Diane Butera, Robin Rice, Ariell Bertolone, Melinda Settles, Jean Nelson and Danielle Butera. Call 520-8771 or visit eugeneyoga.us.

A fundraiser and dance party for school children in Guatemala is being planned for 5 pm Sunday, June 2, at Belly Restaurant, 30 E. Broadway Trevor Emmett and Tiffany Freamon of Eugene volunteered at a little school called La Esperanza in Guatemala and are now raising money to support the school. They have raised $4,000 so far and are hoping to raise $6,000. Email tiffanyfreamon@aol.com for more information or see the fundraising site at wkly.ws/1hh.