Culture: Page 248

Duck, Duck, Dinner

ChowNews
Tiffany Norton

Duck confit, duck charcuterie, duck-fat ice cream … sometimes you have to break a few duck eggs and eat a few fowl in order to protect ducks and their habitat. On Dec. 11, local restaurant Party Downtown is teaming up with conservation group McKenzie River Trust (MRT) for an evening of duck feasting and river saving, along with celebrity hunter, gardener and cook Hank Shaw. Shaw is on tour promoting his new book, Duck, Duck, Goose: The Ultimate Guide to Cooking Waterfowl, Both Farmed and Wild. Continue reading →

It’s About Time – December 2013

About Time

Darkness comes early in December, now that midwinter is upon us. Remembering that Solstice isn’t until four days before Christmas, long nights are going to be around for a couple of months. We treasure clear, chilly nights when the stars put on a show from early in the evening. I mark the yearly cycle with only one constellation: Orion of Winter. It is the easiest to recognize, after the Big Dipper and Cassiopeia. Orion has three bright stars decorating his belt; his sword marked by four close, smaller stars angling off below. Continue reading →

Giftmas Giving 2013

Drink

I‘ve written so many of these columns (nearly 200 — zot!) that I can properly claim some traditions. This being December, annually I offer suggestions for seasonal winestuff for Giftmas. I’ve borrowed that term from a prodigy, Taryn Bazurto; it captures the vital thrust of this season without undue damage — I hope — to various religious inclinations among some readers.  Continue reading →

Ark Of Taste Celebrates Squash

ChowNews

Turkey may be November’s big flavor, but the slow food movement hopes Eugeneans find another flavor to relish: the Lower Salmon River squash. On Terra Madre Day Dec. 10, Slow Food Eugene and Open Oak Farm will celebrate the Northwest cultivar and learn about the Ark of Taste, a global project dedicated to saving some of the thousands of heritage foods that globalization and monoculture crops are endangering. The 6:30 pm potluck will be held at the Eugene Garden Club, 1645 High St. Continue reading →

Pressed Into Beautiful Service

Twin Ravens Press preserves an ancient art

Gift Guide
See more at twinravenspress.com

Anybody with a Pinterest account can attest that the holidays are no longer about giving the perfect gift — they’re about the gift-wrap, tag and greeting cards that go along with it. If the mundane store-bought cards won’t quite make the cut this year, you’re in luck. The beautiful letterpress holiday greeting cards from Eugene’s own Twin Ravens Press, available at Out On A Limb Gallery, are sure to satisfy the inner Martha Stewart in anyone. Continue reading →

Locals Only

Unique Eugene shops are more than just a motto

Gift Guide
Goldworks owner Erin Murphy and Sarah Ball. Kim Still (right).

You’ve probably noticed the logo, displayed proudly across the advertisements and storefronts of 22 local retailers. Maybe it looked like an affirmation of the area we live in, a sort of twist on “Keep Eugene Weird.” But “Unique Eugene” is more than just a motto. It’s a network and a movement with the intention of sharing their “collective goodwill in the community,” as their member application puts it.  Continue reading →

Pottery Abounds at Holiday Market

Give something festive, useful and beautiful

Gift Guide
Ceramics by Denise Davis

Saturday Market’s annual Holiday Market has long been the place for arts and crafts aficionados, and among the eclectic mixture of creative gift ideas is an array of potters with their own spin on ceramics. David Parry, Denise Davis and Ziggy Blum all have a singular journey into the world of clay in addition to unique styles, adding to the zest of the festive, welcoming atmosphere.  Continue reading →