Best Bartender

1. Andrew Lathrop Sam Bond’s Garage (temporarily closed), 407 Blair Blvd. 541-431-6603. SamBonds.com.

2. Chad Kushuba Viking Braggot, 2490 Willamette, Ste. 6, 515-6314; 520 Commercial St. Unit F, 541-653-8371. DrinkViking.com.

3. Cameron Turpin Cornucopia, 295 W. 17th Ave. 541-485-2300, 207 E. 5th Ave. Ste. 109, 541-485-2676, 521 Main St., Springfield, 541-485-2879. CornucopiaEugene.com.

Oskaloosa, Iowa native, Sam Bond’s Garage bar manager and Black Wolf Supper Club bartender Andrew Lanthrop is this year’s best bartender. Because of COVID-19 Sam Bond’s hasn’t reopened after the original shutdown, but they say they are doing much needed renovations for when they reopen. In the meantime, Lanthrop is keeping himself as busy as he can, while missing his patrons and friends dearly. Black Wolf Supper Club is doing to-go only.

“It’s been up and down for me since COVID-19. I am a new homeowner so it’s given me time to work on some home projects,” Lanthrop says. “I’ve always wanted to do woodworking so it’s been nice to dabble a little. I still sit at my home bar and drink. But I’m a social person so I get bored. I’ve been doing a lot more stuff out in nature. I’ve done more hiking, biking, camping and swimming than I’ve done in years. But, he says, he misses the bar. He adds, “I’m also concerned about the financial fallout once this is all done, if it ever ends. I wish OLCC would have allowed for cocktails to-go, I think that could have been a big boost for bars.”

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!