Blue River
Blue River, OR · Local Life
eugeneweekly.com
A Sea of Stars and Strings
On Feb. 24, at Aasen-Hull Hall on the University of Oregon campus, experience fiddle music like you’ve never heard before as Zoë Aqua’s Transylvanian String Band embarks on their first-ever US tour, Crossing a Sea of Stars — named for their 2024 live album A Sea of Stars, which was recorded in a variety of Transylvanian synagogues. Coming from a devout Jewish upbringing in Colorado, Aqua is a violinist and lifelong student of klezmer, the traditional folk music of the Ashkenazi Jewish people of Central and Eastern Europe. While studying music in Brooklyn, New York, she was introduced to the deep rhythmic grooves of Transylvanian folk. The experience motivated her to earn a Fulbright scholarship to move to Transylvania, Romania and study the region’s folk music from 2021 to 2023. What resulted is Zoë Aqua’s Transylvanian String Band, which member Gergely Réman describes as “klezmer melodies with Transylvania sound.” This combination comes easily for the four-piece ensemble (where Aqua is the only American and the other three are local to Transylvania), because despite their different styles, “both of these musics are mainly dance music, so it has a real function, not just listening music,” upright bass player Károly Dénes says. Aqua says that she’s most looking forward to introducing Americans to instruments that they’ve likely never seen before, such as the cimbalom (essentially a very large and very old dulcimer) and the brácsa (a three-string viola with a flat bridge). The performance will be accompanied by an educational presentation on these instruments and how the group blends the two genres. Aqua says that if “people like fiddle music in general, then I think they’re probably going to like this.”
philomathnews.com
Marys River Grange serves up inaugural ‘Soup Off’ this Sunday
The Marys River Grange is ladling up what it hopes will become a new community tradition this weekend with the inaugural Soup Off, a fundraiser aimed at helping the local organization remodel its kitchen. Scheduled for Sunday, the event will open to the public for tasting from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m....
eugeneweekly.com
Zen and the Art of Pizza Dough
To learn how to make a Chicago- or New York-style pizza, Anne’s Pizza co-owner Lew Blond did what any pizza lover would do: study the art of those regional pizzas while in Thailand. Named after Thai chef Anne Changwong, Anne’s Pizza opened in Eugene’s University District in October 2025....
familydestinationsguide.com
This Old-School Seafood Shack In Oregon Has Mouth-Watering Clam Chowder Known Around The World
Some places whisper their excellence, while others paint it across a bright blue building with a giant fish mural and dare you not to stop. Luna Sea Fish House in Yachats is firmly in the latter category, and thank goodness for that. You know that feeling when you’re driving along...
kezi.com
Eugene's Hult Center hosts drive to boost local music education
EUGENE, Ore. - The Hult Center for the Performing Arts is teaming up with the Music Education & Performing Artists Association (MEPAA) to host a community instrument drive called Instruments for All, running through March 14. According to the Hult Center, the drive encourages community members to donate gently used...
oregoncoasttoday.com
Book your spot at Newport’s paper fest
Don’t miss your chance to book a spot when registration for the Newport Paper and Book Arts Festival opens at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Presented by the Oregon Coast Council for the Arts, this year’s festival runs from April 23 through 25. Now in its 29th year,...
myfamilytravels.com
This Tiny Oregon Restaurant Is a Hole-in-the-Wall With Massive Flavor
Authentic Mexican cooking rarely needs neon signs or trendy interiors to get your attention. Most of the time, the real deal is tucked behind a simple storefront, letting the food do all the talking. That’s exactly the case at 764 Blair Blvd in Eugene, Oregon, where Mama Mayra’s Kitchen has...
klcc.org
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s the Comics College lecture series at the Eugene Public Library
Those looking for a unique way to think about history and culture might want to check out a lecture series coming soon to the Eugene Public Library. Comics College will be presented by local scholar Dr. Andréa Gilroy. Gilroy owns Books With Pictures Eugene and is excited to present...
The Register-Guard
Willamette St. adds coffee shop, veg food truck; Blu Mist is back
Willamette Street is seeing some exciting developments in the food scene, with a new coffee shop and a new food truck settling into the swing of business just about two blocks from each other. Kingdom Koffee opened recently, serving up specialty drinks and snack bites to customers. The Spark, a mobile food truck that opened in July, is serving hearty vegetarian fare and delightful vegan options to all who come to their window. Also, an old Thai food favorite has come back to town, and local foodies are glad to see it. Blu Mist reopened and is serving all of the dishes that you've been craving in a brand new location. The Spark settles into business on Willamette Julee Reinhart and Michael Sorensen truly embody the energy of Eugene. Sorensen manages the deli at Capella Market , and Reinhart crafts coffee drinks at Vero Espresso . Together, the couple opened The Spark: a wholesome, earthy, vegetarian food truck that sources local produce and bread for its dishes. The Spark opened in July, but the pair's idea for a food truck was in the works for years. Reinhart knew she wanted to start her own business once she turned 40 and
oregoncoasttoday.com
Still top of the glass
For nearly half a century, the final full weekend of February in Newport has been defined by the scent of salt air, the steam of fresh chowder and the clinking of wine glasses. What began as a modest community gathering has grown into the Newport Seafood & Wine Festival, the Pacific Northwest’s premier coastal celebration. The festival will return for its 49th year this Thursday through Sunday, Feb. 19 through 22, on the Yaquina Bay near the former Rogue Ales Brewery.
orangemedianetwork.com
Local Artist of all Levels on Display in Corvallis
Dozens of artworks fill the gallery walls floor to ceiling at The Art Center in a salon-style arrangement, placing submissions from first-time participants alongside longtime participants in the annual Howland Community Open. On Tuesday, Jan. 27, the Howland Community Open gallery opened to the public. The gallery will run until...
Oregon Ducks On SI
Best Places to Eat in Eugene for Fans Visiting Autzen Stadium for the First Time
Two years in the Big Ten Conference brought a lot of fresh faces to Eugene, Oregon for the Oregon Ducks. With so many new fanbases checking out the Emerald Valley for the first time, here's a list of some best bites after a game.
The Register-Guard
SugarWitch cupcakes sees a sweet opening this February in Eugene
A new cupcake shop recently opened in Eugene, serving 49 fun flavor options. But, you won't see it when you're driving around. Ashley Barnes, owner of SugarWitch Cupcakes, opened her storefront entirely online. The idea came about because Barnes's family kept telling her she needs to sell her cupcakes. "I said I would think about it," she said. "And then I catered three dozen cupcakes for my brother's wedding, and I was like, 'OK, I could do this." Barnes has always loved to bake. She and her mom ran a cupcake business together called Dainty Dollop, but Barnes confided the cupcakes had gotten a little too popular. Her mom, who was just doing cupcakes as a hobby, got burnt out on the business. Barnes thought maybe she could pick up the torch – if she was doing it full-time. After getting her mom's recipes and making a few tweaks, she was ready to go. She knew she wanted a new name for the cupcakes she would be selling in Eugene. So SugarWitch Cupcakes was born. "I'm really into the witchy vibe, and that is what I came up with," Barnes said. "Each cupcake is infused with intention." Barnes has 49
The Register-Guard
Vote for your favorite pizza in Lane County, round two!
myfamilytravels.com
You’ll Be Stuffed in Minutes at This Legendary Oregon Buffet
Hungry diners looking for a fast, filling meal have been showing up at this Eugene pizza spot since the 1960s, and the momentum hasn’t slowed down. Families roll in after games, students crowd the tables with friends, and longtime locals know exactly what they’re ordering before they even reach the counter.
That Oregon Life
USA Today Ranked This 12 Mile Oregon Bike Trail Among the Top 10 in America
There are places that feel like destinations. And then there are places that feel like they belong to you. The Ruth Bascom Riverbank Path System is not flashy, but it's also one of the first of its kind in the country. It is not remote. It does not require a tank of gas or a […]