AntSaint

Cafe Maroc Open in Downtown Eugene

A Moroccan/African-themed restaurant in Eugene? Sure, why not. And when it comes from Adam Bernstein of Adam's Place, hey, it's going to be a neat concept. We're looking forward to trying the place out:

Link: Eatery serves taste ofNorth Africa: The Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore..

"Cuisine remains the bottom line for Adam Bernstein, but the Eugene restaurateur wants his latest venture to be known for something more.“It’s more than just dinner; we try to make it as much of an experience as we can,” says Bernstein, who opened Cafe Maroc this month, next-door to his Adam’s Place restaurant at 30 E. Broadway in downtown Eugene"

Think You Understand Lane County?

You might be surprised. R-G colunnist Bob Welch has put together some thought-provoking factoids that give some great perspective on the beauty and quirks of Oregon's Lane County:

Link: Take time to explore Lane County’s beauty, quirkiness: The Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore..

"Some perspective: Lane County is larger than Delaware and Rhode Island combined but only Oregon’s fifth-largest county. And stretches from sea level to ski level."

50s-style Diner DickieJo’s Coming to 13th & Pearl

Seems like every restaureur in the city is going after Eugene's 13th and Pearl area all of a sudden. First La Perla, the near Neapolitan pizzeria from the Beppe & Gianni's whizzes, and now DickieJo's, a new 50s-style diner:

Link: DickieJo’s will have a 1950s flair: The Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore..

"Jim and Phil West of Eugene, whose growing portfolio of restaurants has been based on Mexican themes, are indulging in a half-century time warp for their latest venture. The Wests’ DickieJo’s Burgers — “definitely a ’50s diner type of concept,” Jim West says — is expected to open its initial location late this year in a former Cougill & Hansen real estate office on 13th Avenue near Pearl Street"

flyEUG.com - New Eugene Airport Website

The new flyeug.com site is a welcome improvement for travel planning in and out of Eugene. I've recently used its flight status features to keep track of one of Jodie's flights, for example. The site is fast and easy to use:

Link: New Web site for Eugene Airport caters to customers: The Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore..

Air travelers heading to or from Eugene can search for fares, check the status of flights, and learn about the region at a new Web site, www.flyEUG.com

Oregon Bach Festival Opens to Adoring Portland Crowd

Ah, the Oregon Bach Festival. Some of my fondest Eugene memories go back to this annual event. The OBF kicked off this past weekend, right along with the Olympic Trials. Instead of the usual first night in Eugene, the OBF opened in Portland, but is now going full-steam in Eugene. In fact, I have to book — Jodie and I are meeting up for a picnic dinner, followed by Garrison Keillor's performance tonight. Viva la OBF!

Link: They love Bach back in Portland: The Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore..

"For the first time in nearly three decades, the Oregon Bach Festival played in Portland on Friday — and Portland loved it. In part driven out of town by the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials that also opened Friday in Eugene, the festival, under the new leadership of Executive Director John Evans, was also looking to expand its audience and presence statewide."

La Perla Open?

Word on the street is La Perla, the new pizzeria from the folks who run Beppe & Gianni's, is open for business. Is it true? Have you been? What's it like?

Required reading for visitors to Eugene

Whether you're visiting Eugene for the Olympic Trials, the Oregon Bach Festival or just for the heck of it, you may need a bit of help comprehending Eugene and Oregon and its many-varied folks. Here's a reading list that can help:

Link: Visiting for the Trials? Here’s ‘must’ reading: The Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore..

"You’re an out-of-stater here for the Olympic Trials. And you want to understand Oregon. You’re not a Gray Line tour type. You don’t want to dip your big toe in our state. You’re after total immersion.OK, here are the 10 books you need to read by Trials’ end to understand us from all angles"

New June Menu at Iraila

Fan of Iraila restaurant at 24th and Hilyard? Head over soon for their new summer menu!

"Since there is so much great organic produce out there, we're finally into our new Summer menu! We have retired a few dishes until the fall but come in and try the new Hazelnut-yogurt Beet, carrot and apple salad, our Salad Fattoush, Catalan flatbread, Chicken Piccata and some fun uses for Orzo!"

Not too shabby.

Iraila will also be hosting a family-style dinner on June 28th at 6:30 p.m., featuring Mediterranean Tapas, Mezes, and Antipastis. Check Iraila.com for the menu.

For info and reservations, email to info@iraila.com or call (541) 684-8400.

Happy summer eating!

Riverbank Trail Signs Make It Easy to Find Your Way

As a long-time enjoyer of Eugene's bike paths, I'd taken it for granted that not everyone knows their way around Eugene's path systems. Luckily, the City of Eugene and some community members called Riverloop Connection realized that our beloved Riverbank Path System needed some signs. Now the signs are up, providing directions and distances for locals and tourists:

Link: Riverbank trail navigation: The Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore..

"If you’ve ever wondered where you are and exactly — repeat exactly — how faryou are from one spot to a landmark along the 12-mile loop of paths known as the Ruth Bascom Riverbank Path System, well, your wondering may now cease."

Belgian & English Beer Tasting at Broadway Deli

Belgian beer? English beer? And cheese? Oh yeah. Check it out a free tasting this evening, at the Broadway Deli on Broadway and Charnelton, downtown Eugene:

Link: ENTREE NOTES: The Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore..

"Friday: The Broadway — 200 W. Broadway. 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. “First Friday” beer and wine tasting features Belgian and English microbrewed beers from Artisanal Imports and Italian-style wines from the Apolloni Vineyards in the Willamette Valley, paired with cheeses of the region. Free. 685-0790"