A Different Kind of Civil War

As a recent Oregon State University transplant, I see everything through orange-and-black colored glasses. After spending three years in Corvallis, I can’t help but compare my time in Eugene to my experiences at OSU. Although I’m not going to the extremes of keeping a pro and con list, I have to admit that I weigh one town against the other, finding differences and evaluating how I feel about them.

One thing about the University of Oregon that I like better than OSU is the Duck Store. It’s located in a convenient place on campus, its outward appearance is eye-catching and its contents are both diverse and useful. I always felt that OSU’s bookstore left something to be desired with its middle-of-campus location and its drab setup.

While Eugene wins the campus bookstore contest, Corvallis definitely wins for best downtown. It offers a gorgeous riverside park with a spacious bike path, an ample variety of restaurants, from bars to burger places to elite seafood palaces, and a comfortable atmosphere with plenty of families and college students alike.

Eugene’s downtown seems inaccessible and unappealing by comparison. For one thing, it’s much larger and sprawled out than Corvallis’ downtown, which occupies about five streets. There seems to be no focus, no highlighted streets with popular attractions. As a newcomer, I find it difficult to tell which parts of downtown are meant to be appealing and which are purely business.

The entire place struck me as highly urban with lots of concrete and metal. Corvallis streets explode with colorful blooms from spring to fall, but on my walk through Eugene’s downtown, none of the flowers popped out at me. It seemed to be far removed from nature, a theme that is unusual in a city like Eugene.

Since we visited downtown in the morning, my impression was perhaps skewed, but there seemed to be a significant lack of people present. Besides the abundance of homeless people, I didn’t see many people shopping or eating in restaurants, something that tends to give an area a comfortable feeling. Admittedly, it was earlier in the morning, but I would still expect more people to be out for breakfast or shopping on a Friday.

Basically, Eugene’s downtown makes a bad first impression. I didn’t see any shops or restaurants that made me want to remember them for later.

But maybe it’s unfair to judge downtown Eugene on a few, brief visits. My perception of downtown Corvallis comes from years of checking out restaurants, exploring parks and visiting intriguing little shops that can't be found anywhere else. I can see the potential in downtown Eugene, with its edgy art, multitude of sculptures and hodge-podge restaurants. After all, Saturday Market already holds a great deal of fame and appeal, and it’s located in downtown Eugene.

Ultimately, while I am willing to give Eugene’s downtown a second chance, I didn’t click with its atmosphere and I still remain loyal to my first love of Corvallis, home of Science Pub, Block 15 and Peak Sports. Although the Ducks may reign supreme when it comes to football, perhaps Eugene has a thing or two to learn from Corvallis, after all.

Downtown Eugene is located off of Exit 194B on Interstate-5. For more information, visit downtown Eugene's website. 

A Visit to Ice Cream Heaven

The sudden, bright taste of mint melted on my tongue, unexpectedly refreshing. I didn’t quite know what to think of the flavor, but I immediately recognized one thing – I loved it.

“People say that our mint chocolate chip ice cream is unique, not like other mint ice creams you might have had,” said Sarah Wicks, sister of Emily Phillips, who owns the Red Wagon Creamery food cart with her husband Stuart.

Unique is an appropriate word to describe their handmade mint chocolate chip ice cream. The flavor brought to mind a crisp mint julep or the lively taste of iced tea garnished with fresh mint sprigs.

The smooth, white color appealed to me more than the stereotypically pale green color of your average, everyday mint ice cream. Dark chunks of chocolate peppered the creamy landscape, creating a pleasant visual sensation. Clearly, these ice cream makers know what they’re doing.

Emily and Stuart Phillips opened their ice cream cart last year. Phillips, who has worked as a chef in New Zealand, was looking for something new and ice cream seemed the logical conclusion.

“I just really like ice cream,” Phillips said, peering out from her cart on a sunny Tuesday afternoon. I found this statement to be wholeheartedly relatable.

Nestled in the corner of a parking lot containing Healthy Pet and PartyCart, Red Wagon Creamery gives off a neighborhood lemonade stand vibe. A shaded collection of tables and chairs complements the booth, extending an offering to sit down and stay a while.

The cart itself stands out with a cheery, bright red sign. During my visit to the cart, a pair of college-aged girls ordered ice cream cones, followed by a grandfather and granddaughter duo.

Phillips said that Red Wagon Creamery splits its time between its primary location and the Lane County Farmer’s Market, where the handmade ice cream fits perfectly with the organic produce and local atmosphere.

This, along with the deliciousness of the ice cream, ultimately drew me in to Red Wagon Creamery. I prefer local, homemade flavors because they tend to be much more memorable and genuine in taste and feel. As a college student, I usually can’t afford to practice all-local shopping, but the prices at Red Wagon Creamery are reasonable - $2.75 for a generous single scoop. Plus, the vibrant taste of the ice cream makes it worth the occasional indulgence.

Seven flavors are currently offered, but the flavors are interchanged seasonally. With clever names like “Li’l Almond Annie” and “Not-So-Plain-Jane-Vanilla,” the flavors easily charm and I found myself tempted to try them all.

I would love to go back to this food cart, but the obscure location may deter me from visiting any time soon. It ventures far from campus and downtown, making it less accessible for students. Additionally, I found Phillips to be somewhat aloof and unfriendly, although this may simply be the result of a long day in the hot sun.

Regardless, I won’t forget that lingering taste of mint anytime soon and the memory of the flavor will probably draw me back on the next hot summer day we encounter.

Red Wagon Creamery can be found at the intersection of 28^th St. and Friendly St. in Eugene, Ore. They are open Monday from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lane County Farmer’s Market and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the primary location, Wednesday and Thursday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Springfield Farmer’s Market, and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lane County Farmer’s Market. More information can be found at their website, Red Wagon Creamery.