Culture: Page 252

Rock Medicine

White Bird’s medical expertise makes the Fair safe

Culture

Even in Utopia, shit happens. Take, for instance, the Oregon Country Fair, that vaunted Northwest gathering of boho spirits and fandango oglers, where the freak flag is flown as a testament to some netherworld normalcy. Even here, at peace-loving OCF, where the ’60s spirit of freedom, expression and communal OK-ness reigns in benevolent wooded anarchy, it might happen that you step on a bumblebee, sprain an ankle or suffer some kind of respiratory distress. It’s all fun and games until you forget your insulin. Continue reading →

What’s Yummy

Mapping the Fair by food booth

Culture

Whether you treat snack time as a treasure hunt or plan out your prospective meals months in advance, the Oregon Country Fair offers something for every taste, with a cross section of world cuisine from Afghan fare to Peruvian cuisine, Greek standbys and everything in between. With 66 food booths plus a handful of strolling vendors, OCF boasts myriad options for fairgoers who work up an appetite strolling the grounds or dancing to the beat at one of the many sound stages.  Continue reading →

A Tradition of Giving

From basic needs to camps for teens, the Fair is all about philanthropy

Culture

When you give to the Fair, the Fair gives back. For starters: The first Oregon Country Fair in 1969 was a fundraiser for the Eugene Alternative School. From its very beginning, the Fair has reached out to the Fern Ridge and Veneta areas, as well as the larger community of Lane County. And with its programs devoted to philanthropy, donating a combined total of about $50,000 every year, OCF and its impact extend beyond the famed three days of summer celebration. Continue reading →

In Good Spirits

Adair Village’s 4 Spirits Distillery makes great liquor while honoring fallen heroes

Drink

Dawson Officer stood at the eighth hole of the Shadow Hills Country Club golf course, watching as golfers and prospective taste testers piled out of their cart and onto the green. “Do you want to try some whiskey?” Officer asked from behind his table, where bottles of vodka and bourbon whiskey were displayed.  “You want to golf for me? I’ll just stay here with the liquor,” a golfer joked, moseying up to the table for a shot.  Continue reading →

Brews News

Lane County’s beer scene spilleth over

Drink

Our fair county is savoring a yeasty beer boom. Aficionados have celebrated a new Whiteaker tasting room for Oakshire, Ninkasi’s plans for an expansion, Plank Town’s installation in downtown Springfield and Friday afternoon growler fills at Claim 52. The rest of the year looks like it won’t have any trouble keeping pace; on tap is a neat little package of delights for your (responsible) boozing pleasure. Continue reading →

Busing the Boozy

A party bus leaves a trail of glitter

Drink

The Facebook invite headline read “Party Bus!” It was a celebration for two friends, one moving away and the other turning 30. The theme was “Glitter.” Having never been on a party bus before, I was intrigued. And yes, there was a glitter theme, even though the party was scheduled for a sunny, Sunday afternoon. We were to be squired around to three wineries by My Party Bus. Continue reading →

A Taste of Italy

Eugene’s Elixir Inc.

Drink

In 2009, Andrea Loreto was trying to market his time-consuming creation, a liqueur called Calisaya, but working with a third-party distributor didn’t go smoothly. In spite of what he terms a distribution “disaster,” he had enough positive feedback from consumers to confidently open his own distillery. That’s how Eugene’s Elixir Inc. was born, and how Eugene got its only member of the Oregon Distillery Guild, a nonprofit that happens to be the nation’s first distillery guild. Continue reading →

Azul Enters Postseason

Sports

After a disappointing tie against the Westside Timbers on Saturday, July 6, EMFC Azul’s head coach Jürgen Ruckaberle looked for a more passionate effort against 6-1 THUSC Diamonds. And he had reason to be impressed, though the next day’s scoreboard showed a loss. Azul fell 4-1 facing a superior team, but Ruckaberle took a lot of good away from the match as the women’s team prepares for next weekend’s playoffs.  Continue reading →

This One’s for the Girls

Circus director adds a punch of girl power to the Fair

Culture

Darcy DuRuz created Girl Circus in 2001, an all-age, almost all-female circus that performs every year at the Oregon Country Fair. Featuring performers in a variety of abilities from ballet to aerial silk, Girl Circus offers  high-quality family entertainment. “I really wanted a show that features more girls and women,” DuRuz says. “There’s a lot of underused female talent.”  Continue reading →