Duck Living | Spring 2023

On the Beaten Path

April 2023

Letter from the Editor

If I could summarize this green and gloomy town in one word, it would be eclectic. Between the one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants, and the cosmopolitan of unique people throughout the campus and town, there’s always something new to explore in Eugene. As we begin our spring term and the weather is slowly improving, I was inspired to highlight some of the most beautiful and popular hikes to go on. Whether you’re making a day out of it and traveling to the Blue Pool or Silver Falls, or going for a quick hike to Spencer’s, the trails in Oregon are truly a sight to behold. If you’re looking for a fun night out we’ve got you covered. Grab a bite out at El Trenecito for some delicious food and outdoor seating before heading over to BlairAlly for pinball, dancing, and drinks! Take a peek into the future and check out our interview with a psychic, or step up your sneaker game and stop by Nozu to freshen up your wardrobe. Last but not least, it’s never to late to clean up with some spring cleaning tips and tricks. The stories in this publication are an eclectic mix that truly represent this college town we love dearly.

Lauren Leone

Special Sections Editor

Meet The Team

Special Sections Editor

Lauren Leone

Cover Photo

Henry Cohen

Special Sections Writers

Isabella Albin

Sydney Johnson

Lizzy Lee

Elijah Newman

Beck Parsons

Georgia Tucker

Special Sections Photographers

Sydney Chen

Henry Cohen

Sophia Craft

Gustavo Del Real Figueroa

Business

Publisher & President

Bill Kunerth

bkunerth@dailyemerald.com

Lead Designer

Kaity VanHoose

Student Designers

Dani DeGraw

Julia Faria

Palmer Krais

Student Sales Manager

Amy Menendez

Account Managers

Josh Delapena

Maxwell Goldenberg

Keaton Roberts

Riley Valle

VP Operations Kathy Carbone

kcarbone@dailyemerald.com

Director of Sales

Shelly Rondestvedt

srondestvedt@dailyemerald

Emerald Media Group 1395 University St., #302 Eugene, OR, 97403 541.346.5511 dailyemerald.com

Duck Living is published by Emerald Media Group, Inc., the independent nonprofit media company at the University of Oregon. Formerly the Oregon Daily Emerald; the news organization was founded in 1900.

Creative & Technical Director

Anna CK Smith

creative@dailyemerald.com

Written by Isabella Albin, Photographs by Gustavo Del Real Figueroa

Tacos, Tortas, and Tamales: Taqueria El Trenecito

Like any reasonable person with type A leaning hobbies, I absolutely love to consult Yelp and Google reviews before going out to eat. Following reviewing “local guides” and “foodies”, I pursue the menu wherever I’m going and most of the time I know what I’m ordering before I even get to the restaurant.

Most of the time is certainly not all the time. There are always a few outliers. Taqueria El Trenecito is one of those outliers. One review after another raved about this taqueria, so I knew that I simply had to go.

Without my typical game plan, I looked over the menu and immediately knew I was in the right place. El Trenecito offers tacos, burritos, tortas, quesadillas, and quesatacos. All options that make for an absolutely delicious meal. Nine different types of meat are available, including adobo, asada, birria, cabesa, carnitas, chorizo, lengua, pollo, and tripa. Some of these may sound familiar, while others may sound slightly intimidating. Putting it simply, just try it – don’t be scared because you’ve never had it before.

If you are lucky enough to visit El Trenecito on the right day, you might be able to get tamales. These soft fluffy tamales are perfectly filling. Their lightness makes you think you could easily eat a few orders. The spice in the shredded chicken was just enough to cut through the mildness of the tamale dough. You also can’t forget the rice and beans that warm you up.

If you want a good taco for a good price, Taqueria El Trenecito’s tacos do not miss. The lengua tacos were served with pico de gallo, lime, salsa verde, and a spicy salsa roja. Lengua is a great cut of meat, it becomes tender and packed with flavor. Small white corn tortillas soak up everything, leaving you coming back for more.

Unlike your traditional pico de gallo, El Trenecito mixes both fresh and pickled jalapenos in the classic tomatoes, onions, and cilantro. This small decision makes for the best pico de gallo. If you ever find yourself craving a little more spice and salt this is the perfect solution.

Each aspect of any meal from El Trenecito is made with intentionality and care. This is the type of food that keeps you coming back. Eating through this menu could easily take a week to do. With great food, reasonable prices, and friendly staff, El Trenecito is a gem.

Our Mission

A Great Hike Makes All the Difference

Written by Georgia Tucker, Photographs by Henry Cohen

There’s nothing I’d rather do than spend my days in the great outdoors. Feeling the sun against my back while a light breeze hits me directly in the face. Since I was a little kid, my parents ensured I spent most of my time outside. Every family vacation or day off from school, we spent our time hiking and exploring the woods. I’ve seen gorgeous waterfalls and breathtaking views. I’ve traveled all the way to Canada just to get a taste of the great outdoors. But nothing compares to the hikes that are nestled around the peaks of Oregon. Eugene is home to some great hiking trails for those that love the journey and others that love the view. The hikes that we are going to be shining spotlights on today are; Spencer’s Butte, Blue Pool, and Silver Falls. Each of these hikes has different unique qualities that make them stand out.

The first hiking spot is Spencer’s Butte! This hike is very close to our beloved campus, only about a 15-minute drive. Once you reach this destination, you will be able to park in a lot that is directly in front of the trailhead. From there you can begin your hike to the top. Spencer’s Butte is known to be the highest point along the Ridgeline Park system in Eugene. Its summit is about 2,058 feet. Tall Douglasfir trees and a variety of beautiful native plants line the dirt path. In some areas, the trail may get a little rocky. This appears towards the end of your journey when you have almost reached the top. A few sets of man-made stairs lead you to a breathtaking view of Eugene. The view overlooks the city, the suburbs, and our prized stadium. You are also able to see the Coast Range, the Willamette Valley, and the Cascade Mountains. But this isn’t the only trail that leads to the top. If you are interested in a more strenuous hike, the west trail is an alternative route that is less traveled. This trail involves more climbing on exposed bedrock. Throughout the trail you will notice that some of the trees have directional tags on them, making sure you stay on the path and protect the wildlife around the trail. Spenser’s Butte is a great place to spend time with your friends or family. A few of my favorite things to do there other than hiking are; having a picnic, reading a good book, or watching the sunset. When you reach the top of the hike, there are many great spots to sit and enjoy the view.

The second hiking spot is Tamolitch Falls, also known as Blue Pool. This hiking spot is a little bit of a drive outside of Eugene. It takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes to get to the destination. If you are looking for a chance to take a mini road trip, this is the perfect hike for you. When you arrive, be aware that parking is very limited so you may have to park close to the road. Blue Pool hike is relatively short although the path is very rocky. The elevation levels begin at 2,200 feet and end around 2,450 feet. The trail is also fit for those who love mountain biking. When you are hiking, keep in mind that there will be bikers on the trail. Once you have reached the end of the hike you will see a small waterfall that feeds into a beautiful blue-green pool. The water shows reflections of the trees and plants around its edge. There are even spots where you can go down to the water’s edge. Swimming in the beautiful water hole is allowed, but keep in mind that the water is around 40° and 30 feet deep. The photos on the internet don’t do this spot justice! I highly recommend checking it out yourself.

The last hiking spot is silver falls! This hike is also a bit of a drive outside of Eugene. It takes approximately 1 hour and 24 minutes to reach this destination. Silver Falls is known as a State Park but some people even refer to it as the “crown jewel.” This destination is perfect for those that love to camp, mountain bike, horseback ride, or hike. If you are interested in taking a camping trip for the weekend, this is a great spot to check out. There are over 35 miles of backwood trail, but the main loop is only about 7.2 miles. This is by far the longest hike out of the three. The trail includes ten different waterfalls, with one that you are able to walk behind. The 177-foot rushing falls becomes a window of glass as you peer through it from the opposite side. It’s a view that takes your breath away! Beautiful tall trees and a variety of lush green plants line the path up to the falls. The only disclaimer for this beautiful park is that there are no dogs allowed on the trail. If you still want to take your furry friend along for the journey, there are designated areas where dogs may go to the bathroom and roam off-leash. As it gets warmer, take time to enjoy the outdoors.

Spring Cleaning with Marie Kondo

Written by Lizzy Lee, Illustrations by Palmer Krias

After a long winter, spring has finally arrived, and with that change of weather, it’s time for an annual spring clean. I’m sure many of you have heard of Marie Kondo and the KonMari method by now. Kondo is a Japanese organizing consultant and this method is her minimalistic approach to decluttering your home. It is not a method for an annual deep clean, but rather a way to stay organized and tidy. Here are the six basic rules of the method.

Commit yourself to decluttering

Kondo emphasizes the importance of intentions. To successfully tidy up, you need to put in the time and effort. This method encourages you to declutter in one go, but you need to constantly keep this mindset so you don’t revert back to a cluttered lifestyle.

Imagine your ideal lifestyle

I know I’m guilty of mainly cleaning in random bursts of energy or when I’m about to have guests over. This method is more about maintaining an environment that sparks joy in your life. Going back to intentions, you have to think about what type of home you want to live in and how you want to live in that space. This step can be completed by journaling, drawing, or even making a collage. Think of this as dream boarding or setting up your manifestations.

Finish discarding first

Start by getting rid of the clutter in your life that doesn’t spark joy. You must think deeply about the belongings in your home and whether they have a purpose or not. This might take a couple of rounds of decluttering to get rid of all unimportant things in your house.

Work through categories, not location

Many of us learned to clean room by room. Kondo suggests a different approach by going through categories. The reason behind this is to avoid repeating the same steps in multiple locations. You will also not be able to see the amount of each type of item you own. The categories go down the list of clothes, books, papers, miscellaneous items, and then sentimental items.

Follow the right order

Order matters when you are tidying up. As listed above in the previous section, this order is the most effective and efficient according to Kondo. It starts with big items that are relatively easy to let go of and moves to more challenging items. This system helps you to sharpen your decision skills and understand the type of items you want to keep in your life. Only seeing the items that bring you joy also motivates you to keep going with the KonMari method.

Ask yourself if it sparks joy

This is part of Marie Kondo’s method that most people are familiar with. It is the step that separates this method from all other decluttering techniques. This method values your feelings. When deciding what items to keep, you have to ask yourself, “Does it spark joy?” By following your feelings of joy, it allows you to feel content with what is kept and understand the items that you love.

In the end, it boils down to deciding what to keep and get rid of and deciding where to put the items you keep. If you found these basic rules intriguing or helpful, you can look more into the KonMari method in Kondo’s book, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” or through KonMari.com. You can also check out her Netflix show, “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.”

Interview with a Psychic

Written by Sydney Johnson, Photographs by Sophia Craft, Illustrations by Dani DeGraw

Each term is a new beginning, and that’s especially true for the spring term as we watch the campus come back to life. Beginnings are great, but they can leave us full of questions. If you need a little guidance, a fun and memorable way to get some clarity is to visit a local psychic.

I visited Michele Niver, the founder of her own psychic consultation service, Heavenly Vibrations, at her office in West Eugene. Here, she leads group sessions as well as hosts workshops that can teach you how to tap into your own psychic energy.

When did you realize you had psychic abilities?

It’s kind of all over the place now that I think back on it. I had tried all the different areas of nursing and decided to go to massage school. Through the many dark, quiet hours of working on people’s bodies, I realized I was communicating with spirits. I would tell them what I was picking up on and they’d be so excited. And how could I have known those details? I didn’t believe it was true at first. Eventually, I couldn’t deny it.

How easy is it to read someone?

Sometimes it’s really difficult. Most of the time it’s easy, sometimes I don’t even try. I pick up on them before they even get here or before I even get on the phone with them. But some people have a wall up, they’re nervous about what I’m gonna find. And if I’m out in public, I don’t wanna be picking up on everybody’s energy so I put a screen up.

Can the psychic sensitivity be overwhelming?

Before I figured out what it was, it was overwhelming. I was having panic attacks and was anxious all the time. One day I decided to watch the Long Island Medium, and she said that she had been going to a healer for panic attacks and they said, “You’re not having anxiety because there’s something wrong with you, you’re having it because you’re feeling the spirits around you.” And now, I realize that I don’t really have that anxiety anymore.

How do you deal with negative energy from your clients?

When someone gets really angry, it changes the vibration of the sessions and the spirits just disappear. Some people don’t like the information that I’m giving them. It’s funny how sometimes the things that we need to hear the most are the things that we want to hear the least.

Why would someone choose psychic therapy over traditional therapy?

People do this to have healing and realizations about where to go in life to be more successful, whether it’s financially or emotionally or in a relationship. When the spirit can come through and I can give somebody information about something I couldn’t have known beforehand, they know it’s coming from beyond. It tends to make more of an impact because it came from a higher power, a place of higher perspective and objectivity.

What is a typical reading like from your perspective?

Before the reading starts, I get quiet and meditate and I invite their guides to come in. I get a paper and I write down whatever comes through ahead of time. Then, I use oracle cards or divination cards. I shuffle them, and inevitably some stick out funny or they fall out. Most people wanna see what I have to say before they let me know much at all, then I go to the list that I’ve written down and I see if any of it makes sense to them. What really astounded me when I started doing readings was the list always made sense. Even when it made absolutely no sense to me, it would make sense to the people for different reasons.

What’s the hardest part of being a psychic?

The hardest part is giving people bad news, telling people stuff that I know will be really difficult in the beginning. I used to censor it because I was too scared to tell them. Then it would happen to them, and I felt bad for not telling them. I found a way to push through the discomfort of telling them there’s no magic answer — you just have to work through this.

Do you have a favorite part?

The favorite part is that lightbulb moment when they realize something that’s gonna be life-changing for them. The more you work on other people the more healing you’re going to have in your own body. The more I do readings, the better I feel, and the more my chronic pain is gone. Connecting with the vibration of the spirit world is healing to our bodies, and I love that.

For the last part of the interview, I asked Michelle to pull cards for a tarot spread to share what the spirits can tell us about spring term at UO.

Card 1 / Current situation: Queen of Earth — Taking the sensible approach to challenges.

Card 2 / Challenges: Star — Making optimistic long term plans

Card 3 / Destiny: Eight of Earth — Skills being rewarded

Card 4 / The Past: Page of Fire — Exciting new endeavors

Card 5 / Goals: Queen of Water — Nurturing and trusting emotions

Card 6 / The Future: Sun — Confidence that new ideas will be successful

Card 7 / The Questioner: Experience — Powerful revelations that lead to change

CARD 5

Card 8 / Environment: King of Earth — Accepting new opportunities will lead to success

Card 9 / Hopes and Fears: Ace of Earth — Inflow of abundance

Card 10 / Outcome 1: Ego — Caution to avoid fear based thoughts

Card 11 / Outcomes 2: Queen of Fire — Asserting your independence in creativity

Card 12 / Outcome 3: Nine of Fire — Be resilient, protect your creations

Card 13 / Outcome 4: Four of Water — Openness to new possibilities

CARD 10

CARD 9

CARD 13

CARD 4

CARD 1

CARD 2

CARD 6

CARD 8

CARD 12

CARD 3

CARD 7

CARD 11

The Celtic Cross spread gives an overview of your situation, goals, and incoming influences and outcomes. The messages of each tarot card are then related to their position in the formation.

YOUR “GO-TO” FOR CAMPUS HOUSING

YOUR “GO-TO” FOR CAMPUS HOUSING

Nozu: New Shoes on the Block

Written by Beck Parsons, Illustrations by Julia Faria

Ever since the 1980s, Eugene has always had a place in shoe culture. Thanks to the success of the Nike brand, our city has since been flooded with legendary shoes and vintage clothing, creating a community that’s passionate about what we wear and where we get it. Eugene has recently welcomed a new member to the sneaker and vintage community: Nozu.

The Nozu store was started this year by Chris Kiyota, a University of Oregon student that started reselling sneakers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chris created @whasiankicks on Instagram, a page that now boasts more than 20,000 followers. Seeing rapid success online inspired Chris to keep going, and he opened the Nozu store in January 2023. Located across the street from Market of Choice at 2001 Franklin Blvd #1, Nozu’s primary attraction is the impressive array of shoes lining the right wall. Among Nozu’s collection are Jordans, Dunks, Off-White, Travis Scotts, New Balances, and more. Taking up the rest of the store are racks of vintage clothing, including Essentials, Balenciaga, A Bathing Ape, Nike, and Guess. There’s also a large section dedicated to vintage Oregon gear. While there are plenty of designer brands, there are also plenty of reasonably priced items that won’t break the bank. A TV with an accompanying Xbox and an arcade basketball machine round out the attractions.

Nozu’s success has attracted big names from around Eugene. Football legends like Bo Nix and LaMichael James have stepped in to show some love and have since become friends of Chris and the store. Olympian sprinter and Oregon track star Micah Pittman is even partnering with Nozu to launch his own clothing line, MJAYDUB apparel. The connection Nozu has fostered with local athletes has even allowed Chris to start his own NIL deals, allowing Chris to give thanks in return for the support he’s been given. “I’m helping out the athletes because they’ve always been treating me right since freshman year,” he told me.

Despite all the athletic attention, Chris stresses that he doesn’t separate athletic clients from regular people, and doesn’t want to get caught up in clout or hype at the expense of customer relationships. He’s always willing to buy shoes or vintage clothing and tells me that having a positive attitude toward customers has earned him brand loyalty from resellers around Eugene. Chris describes his store as hardworking and always willing to communicate with buyers and sellers. He tells me that it’s not about the transactions; he’s in it for the experience and to get to know his customers. He’s also looking towards the future. “We’re gonna throw a lot of street fair events starting next year, and we just added all these clothing racks and mounts for all the new shoes. I think the next steps are repainting, obviously, because the red is not our thing, and just making it look nicer, because we have this for another year or two, so making sure it looks like we’re 100 percent committed to this,” said Chris.

Ultimately, Nozu is a great place to visit if you’re looking to freshen up your wardrobe. No other place encapsulates the Eugene fashion sense at belowaverage prices. Whether it’s new Jordans, an unworn Nike crewneck for half of the retail price, or a vintage Essentials hoodie, Nozu is full of ways to improve your style. Simply check @nozueugene on Instagram for hours, then head to 2001 Franklin Blvd #1 to reinvigorate your closet.

A Toast to Nostalgia

Written by Elijah Newman,

Photographs by Sydney Chen

Feast your eyes on BlairAlly: the one and only bar featuring vintage arcade games, pinball machines, and a pub grub to quench your night out with friends. Located at 245 Blair Blvd in the Whitaker District of Eugene, nestled in a semi-industrial alleyway with other restaurants nearby, it’s the go-to spot for nostalgic fun. Open from 4 pm-2 am Monday-Thursday/Sunday, and 2 pm-2 am on Fridays and Saturdays, with outdoor seating and free wi-fi available, it’s hard to find an excuse not to check out what makes this bar one of the more unique drinking hubs in Eugene.

Surrounding the bar and lining the walls are vintage arcade games and over 30 pinball machines. You won’t find a place that holds as many antique, old-fashioned games and paraphernalia as BlairAlly. If you’re an arcade and/or pinball head, then you’ll be in absolute heaven; and even if you’re not, it’s the perfect time to have a drink and engage in a fun activity that maybe you haven’t played since childhood or simply never tried before. Most of the games cost money (as BlairAlly has a change machine) but a few are actually free to play. So even if you don’t want to spend a bit of change on a beautifully illuminated vintage game, there’s still something left for you to play.

BlairAlly also has a big television above the bar where sporting events are consistently televised. There aren’t many places that allow you to tune into your favorite team and during the commercial breaks play some vintage pinball. Once you work up an appetite from either your favorite team beating your rival or you scoring big in pinball, BlairAlly offers food to your liking. Pizza, sandwiches, mac-n-cheese, and tater tots are just some of the snacks you can eat to fulfill that competitive edge.

A fun tidbit about BlairAlly that encapsulates the bar and atmosphere of the place, in general, is their bathrooms. I know we’ve all wanted to write something philosophical and everlasting on the wall whenever we go to a public restroom, and lo and behold, BlairAlly is the very place to do so! Chalk is provided in their restrooms for people to doodle and write whatever their heart desires. This is all part of the BlairAlly scene: fun, wacky, unique, and memorable.

The price range is also on the lower side which adheres to college students and people who don’t want to break their bank account on a night out. And with that are also thankfully low covers when BlairAlly hosts special events.

For people who want to take a break from the arcade games and get a little jiggy, the bar holds a dancing floor with fun, luminescent lights. There’s also an area for DJs and artists to post up as BlairAlly hosts music nights and other special events where various artists will come and play for the crowd. DJ Warlock, SPUN-J, and many others have performed, and more will continue to do so. Be sure to keep a lookout for upcoming BlairAlly-hosted events, future dance parties, music events, trivia, and more!