Best Local comedian

1. Hazel Jae, Instagram @hazeldaez.

2. Seth Milstein, Facebook.com/sethmilstein and Instagram @sethmils.

3. Jen Jay, Facebook.com/JentotheJay and Instagram @jen_to_the_jay.

Raunchy and ready to rumble, Hazel Jae calls herself an “observational, queer and sex positive comedian” — sex positive, or as she puts it in one of her colorful bits, that’s just what you’d call being a slut on a job application. Impressing audiences in Eugene for about three years now, she says she draws from personal experience to “explore themes like sexuality, mental illness, family dynamics and societal norms.”

Beyond Eugene, she’s performed as far away as the Savage Henry Comedy Festival in Eureka, California. She says the best way to stay up to date on her shows, follow her or Eugene-based production company Hysterical Light Entertainment is on social media. Or instead, catch her twice-monthly show, Slay Hazel, at Starlight Lounge downtown on the second and third Thursday of each month. On winning Best Comedian, she says, “I’m overwhelmed at the sense of community I’ve had the honor to experience in my hometown of Eugene.” Coming in first place in the Best of Eugene contest, she says, “has proved to me, as if there ever was a doubt, that this community has an astounding appreciation for performers that are ‘too much.’”

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!