Culture: Page 271

Turn That Gown Upside Down

Upcycling bridesmaids dresses

Culture

A good friend calls late at night, breathless with exciting news: “He proposed!” she exclaims. And whether you whoop with joy or nervously gulp chardonnay like Kristen Wiig’s character in the wildly funny movie Bridesmaids, one thing’s for certain: You’ll soon be making room in the closet for a dress you most likely have no control over picking out. In addition to letting it gather dust or letting it gather dust at Goodwill, there’s another option: the upcycle. Continue reading →

Ornamental Natives

Some of the best native plants for our climate

Gardening

Studies show that native plants attract a wider variety of pollinating insects than standard garden ornamentals do, and pollinators need all the help they can get these days. That’s just one more reason to include native plants in your landscape. This top 10 list of showy, well-behaved native shrubs reaches a bit beyond the boundaries of the Willamette Valley, but all will tolerate conventional garden conditions, including summer irrigation. Vine maple (Acer circinatum) Continue reading →

Emerald City Roller Girls Season 6 Begins

Sports

For those unfamiliar with Roller Derby, it’s time you knew: This is one of the most exciting, brutal and enjoyable-to-watch sports ever created. And the best part? It’s for ladies only. The Emerald City Roller Girls hit the rink this week to begin their sixth season of what some have called “rugby on skates.” It’s more like speed-skating meets wrestling. Ferocity is encouraged. Fear is not an option. Fun is a given. So, if you’re intrigued (which you should be), roll on down to Lane Events Center this weekend and see what all the fuss is about. Continue reading →

What to Do With a Dead Duck

Culture

You’re not a true Duck fan until you stick one in the oven. Belly’s owner and chef, Brendan Mahaney, a prestigious James Beard Awards semi-finalist, says that getting your hands on duck can be a bit difficult, but in Eugene he’d head straight for Long’s Meat Market. “They’ll carry it — usually frozen, sometimes fresh — and they can order more for you if you need it,” Mahaney says.  Continue reading →

Give Guide

Gift Guide

“Resist impulse decisions to donate.” That’s one of the pithy bits of advice on charitable giving that the Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ) sends out along with a list of the worst charities in order to keep the generously inclined from getting scammed. EW begs to differ: Impulse donations are awesome. Then again we are the kind of folks who pull over at a green light to give dollars to the people holding signs that say “made some bad decisions” or who have cute dogs with them. But it’s all in whom you give to. Continue reading →

Oregon Victory

Five good reasons why the Ducks will beat the Wildcats

Sports

1.  The forward pass. Oregon’s Marcus Mariota throws the ball pretty well and Kansas State does not do a good job defending against the pass. The Wildcats rank 90th in the nation in defending the pass and got scorched for more than 300 yards more than once. Watch for Josh Huff to make some big catches. If Marcus can find tight end Colt Lyerla early and often, the Ducks will roll.  Continue reading →

Up in Smoke?

Winning the legal pot loss

Cannabis

Some might say that you’d have to be pretty stoned to consider a loss a win. Colorado’s and Washington’s creation of alcohol-like statutes for marijuana made Oregon a bronze-at-best state for pot legalization, but marijuana policy reform advocates are riding high. And not (necessarily) from Cheech-and-Chong-like hijinks.  Continue reading →