Comcast Offering Free Basic Cable and Installation in Eugene!

Today I was presently surprised. Surprised by the fact that because I already had high speed internet with Comcast, we were able to get free basic cable and without having to pay for any instillation. It’s wonderful when life surprises you! So for all those folks who might have Comcast internet, but not cable and don’t want to have go buy a digital converter…now’s your chance!

Contact Pat McBride was the Comcast rep that did the install and he can be contacted at 541-501-1086 m-Sat 10am-6pm He also does free transfers if you move!

Cafe Soriah Voted Eugene’s Best Overall Restaurant

Every year, Cafe Soriah has racked up accolades here in Eugene. Voted Eugene’s People’s Choice Best Restaurant, Best Chef, Best Service, Best Romantic Dinner…well you get the idea. We think Soriah is easily one of our favorite restaurants in Eugene and we’re obviously not alone. What makes Soriah great is that it’s a blend of intimate yet casual, elegant but in a cozy way. In the warmer seasons, it also boasts some of the best outdoor dining in town.

The eclectic menu is made up around a Mediterranean core with some French dishes, but with a Northwest flair. Add a great wine list and their up and coming soup menu and you can’t go wrong.

You’ll find Chef/Owner, Ib Haimde there 5 night’s a week entertaining and educating his guests as he makes his rounds.

Agate Alley Bistro’s Taco Tuesdays! $6 for 2 Tacos & a Beer!

Agate Alley Bistro seems to be committed to helping the people of Eugene in this period of economic downturn. Every second day of the week is TACO TUESDAY, where one can order 2 tacos(chicken or beef) and a Pacifico beer for only $6!!! Yep, only 6 bucks and let’s say, these delicious tacos are in no way small.

The Bistro also has drink specials on Thursdays via the old Drink Wheel! Starting at 9pm in half-hour increments, the friendly bartenders spin the wheel to see what everyone is drinking for the next 30 minutes. It could be jello shots or maybe the Flaming Dr. Pepper…Irish Car Bombs anyone? At $2.50 a drink, you can’t go wrong!

The Agate Alley Bistro is located at 1461 E 19th Ave

www.agatealley.com

U of O: The Heart and Soul of Eugene

About the U of O

The University of Oregon is a world-class teaching and research university located in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon. The UO offers a broad spectrum of opportunities for learning in the liberal arts and professional programs in architecture, arts, business, education, journalism, law, and music and dance. In the classrooms and laboratories, students are inspired by a faculty of prominent scholars and work side by side with eminent researchers involved in breakthrough discoveries. At the UO, both students and faculty members reach out to make connections that serve communities from small local groups to large international organizations. Explore the University of Oregon. You will like what you find.

Location and Size

• Located in Eugene, Oregon, two hours from Portland and one hour each from the Pacific Coast and the Cascade Mountains.
• Sixty major buildings on 295 acres.

Academic Offerings The University of Oregon is a public research university and a member of the Association of American Universities, one of only two such universities in the greater Northwest.

Referenced from  http://www.uoregon.edu/about/

Spring Weather Means Hiking the Ridgeline Trail

Ridgeline Trail In and Around Eugene

The14-mile trail meanders through over 1000 acres of diverse natural habitats straddling the southern edge of Eugene, Oregon.
Designated as a National Recreation Trail in 2006

This 14-mile urban trail/bikeway provides an extensive opportunity for recreation and nature appreciation just a few miles from downtown Eugene and features Spencer Butte, the highest and most prominent landmark at the southern end of the Willamette Valley. Access to the trail is easily found in many of the surrounding residential neighborhoods of south Eugene.

	The view from the trail over the Willamette Valley

The trail provides an extensive opportunity for recreation and nature appreciation just a few miles from downtown and within walking distance of thousands of residents.

The Ridgeline Trail, especially the challenging spur which climbs to the top of Spencer Butte, is one of the most popular trails in the metropolitan area. Spencer Butte, elevation 2054 feet, is the highest and most prominent landmark at the southern end of the Willamette Valley.

The trail and surrounding park have had broad public support ever since their origin in a 1939 grass-roots campaign which collected contributions no larger than $5 in order to let everyone “buy a piece” of the butte.

The Ridgeline Trail near Eugene, Oregon

Since 1939, the City has continued to actively purchase adjacent lands and extend the trail, towards completing a vision of a twenty mile long wildlife, scenic, and recreational corridor connecting Fern Ridge Reservoir in the east to the Willamette River, and Mt. Pisgah in the west.

The City has partnered with a wide variety of organizations and agencies to help build and maintain the trail, manage the habitats, and acquire additional adjacent lands, including, Federal, State, and Local governments, conservation organizations, citizen groups, and educational institutions.

Hikers along the trail pass through a great diversity of habitats including: Old growth Douglas fir forest,globally imperiled upland prairie and Oregon white oak savanna, California black oak, ponderosa alpine woodlands, iIncense cedar, grand fir, bigleaf maple, black cottonwood, Oregon Ash, and abundant native shrubs, wildflowers, and grasses.

	Youth crews provide help with trail maintenance

The top of Spencer Butte is a regionally unique rocky bald with rare lichen and bryophyte populations and affords outstanding views to the surrounding city, countryside, and distant mountain ranges. The trail includes several boardwalks and bridges and is a wonderful resource for bird and wildlife watchers. Portions of the trail are open to mountain bikers.

For more information:

City of Eugene, Parks and Open Space
1820 Roosevelt Blvd.
Eugene, OR 97401
541-682-4800
http://www.eugene-or.gov

Quoted from National Recreational Trails

http://www.americantrails.org/nationalrecreationtrails/trailNRT/Ridgeline-OR.html

Click Map to enlarge

The Top 7 Reasons to Get Pre-Approved For a Home Loan

There are many steps that are required when purchasing a new home. The most important step is to be pre-approved for a home loan prior to looking for a house.

Now, keep in mind that a pre-approval is very different than a pre-qualification. A pre-qualification is given when the lender talks with you (usually over the telephone) and takes the information that you tell them and qualifies you off of your word without collecting any documentation from you.

The pre-approval process is a little more complete. In this process, the lender will ask you to complete a loan application and return it to them with all the documentation needed to submit to the lender for an approval. These items would include tax returns or W-2′s, paystubs, bank statements, etc. Once the lender received this information, they would run a credit report and submit the loan for approval. When the lender receives the approval, they will write you a pre-approval letter stating the purchase price and interest rate that you qualify for on a new home loan. This letter is then given to the seller at the time an offer is presented to show them that you have your financing in place.

Here are the top 7 reasons why you should get pre-approved for a home loan:

1. A pre-approval will tell you how much you qualify for on a new home loan. This helps you and your realtor to look for a property that is not above the amount that you can afford.

2. A pre-approval gives you the chance to go over the different loan programs available to you with your lender. You will also be able to see what the monthly payment will be on each program.

3. In today’s market it takes time to get a loan approved. Getting a pre-approval puts you ahead of the game by sending all of your paperwork in before you get into escrow. By having a pre-approval, you may be able to shorten the escrow period needed to close a loan. This can make a big difference to a seller that is looking to close as soon as possible.

4. Some real estate agents will not start the process of searching for homes until you have a pre-approval.

5. If by chance you do not qualify for a home loan at the time of the pre-approval, your lender can guide you in the right direction to prepare you to purchase in the near future. Sometimes there are items on the credit report that can be paid off or disputed to help you to qualify. Without sitting down with a lender, you would not have known about these issues until you are in escrow, which would either delay the close of escrow or cause the property to fall out of escrow.

6. You will learn about the lenders guidelines on locking in an interest rate. When can you lock your loan and for how long.

7. You will be able to relax and know that you have your financing in place when you find the right home for you.

The pre-approval process may sound like you are putting the cart before the horse, but in reality it is ensuring that you are buying within your means and gives you the opportunity to understand the different loan options available to you.

Quoting Patricia Barmatz from

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Top-7-Reasons-to-Get-Pre-Approved-For-a-Home-Loan&id=1980688

5 Reasons Why You Should Buy Your First Home in 2009

Quoting Kurt Novak

“Off the Waffle” is Awfully Good!!

Nestled in the unlikleiest of places(between a Shell station and busy 7th street) is one of Eugene’s true diamonds in the rough.  Off the Waffle makes delicious “Liege” waffles, a type of Belgian waffles that we folks here in the states are not usually familiar with. The result is a waffle with a suprising amount of texture and sweetness that puts most “Belgian” waffles to shame. You won’t need syrup for these babies and at only $3 a pop, they are a gourmet deal!

Run by two brothers with their trademark large red afros, Off the Waffle also barters as shown on their “Barter Wall”. Bartered items have been anything from home made granola to yoga lessons (only in Eugene!) Add their DJango Reinhardt mood music and a built in on-site book exchange program and you have an in-town staple that we hope lasts a long, long time.

Hours are Mon-Sun 8am-12am(yep, as in midnight!)

Save the Pets Does Well in Eugene

ABOUT SAVE THE PETS

Save the Pets is a non-profit 501(c) (3). Their goal is to help eliminate the pet overpopulation problem by increasing adoption rates in our community and educating people on the importance of spaying and neutering their pets. They help local shelters and rescue groups by creating a venue to showcase their animals that are available for adoption.  They have proven that off-site adoption events are successful which inspires them to move forward with their goal of opening an animal adoption center. Save the Pets is run solely by volunteers who advocate for the rights of animals to be treated with the respect and kindness they deserve.  To date Save the Pets has helped to place over 300 animals into loving home since thier conception in April 2007.

FUTURE PLANS

Eventually Save the Pets plans on launching a capital campaign to open a conveniently located animal adoption center for animals to be viewed 7 days a week by potential adopters.

Save the Pets believes that a center would improve adoption rates because of the convenience and friendly environment they envision.  It would also serve as a rehabilitation center for animals who have never been inside a home or for some that are terrified from past experiences or their time confined in a cage.

Save the Pets feels that creating a safe environment for the animals would allow them to thrive and, in some cases, regain their loss of trust. The center would constitute a home-like atmosphere where cats are free to roam, perch or enjoy sunning themselves in a cozy bed, and where dogs can lounge on a comfy couch, take a walk around the community or go home in the evening with a volunteer or staff member for a “doggy sleepover”.

There are thousands of homeless animals in Lane County alone and many end up in shelters or have a worse fate on the streets fending for themselves.  Some are euthanized simply due to lack of space.  This is no fault of the shelters or rescue groups who dedicate their lives to saving animals.  Save the Pets wants to alleviate some of the burden placed on these groups and unite for the greater good of the animals.

Referenced from Save the Pets

To learn more, click here: http://www.savethepets.net

Autzen Stadium History: Home of the Ducks

History

Prior to 1967, the Ducks played on Hayward Field. Recognizing that the football team had outgrown that facility, Oregon athletic director Leo Harriss led a campaign to build a new stadium on 90 acres (360,000 m²) that he had acquired for the purpose in the 1950s.

The stadium, designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill was built within an artificial crater to eliminate the need for multilevel ramps. As a result, construction took just nine months and cost approximately $2.5 million. $250,000 was contributed by the Autzen Foundation, headed by Portland lumberman Thomas Autzen, for whom the stadium was named. Thomas J. Autzen is actually an alumnus of Oregon State University. His donation to the University of Oregon is linked to his son’s attendance at the school during the late 1930s and early 1940s.

The first game played at Autzen Stadium was on September 23, 1967 in which Colorado defeated Oregon, 17–13. Oregon’s first win in the stadium occurred on October 21, when Idaho was defeated 31–6. That was the only victory for Oregon at Autzen Stadium that year.

The stadium alternates with Reser Stadium atOregon State University in hosting the Civil War Game between Oregon and Oregon State.

Renovations

The old press box on the northern side of Autzen Stadium was converted to luxury suites as part of a 1988 renovation

In 1988, a $2.3 million renovation built a new press box on the south side of the stadium and converted the original north side press box to luxury suites. The renovation was designed by architecture firm Ellber Becket.

In 1995, the field was named Rich Brooks Field. Brooks, currently the head coach at Kentucky, coached the Ducks from 1977-94, and led the Ducks to their first outright Pac-10 title in school history in 1994.

In 2002, a $90 million facelift and expansion added seating and luxury boxes to the south sideline, bringing capacity up to its current size.

In 2007, the large yellow “O” was added onto the South end of the stadium exterior when ESPN’s College Gameday was on location. That season, The Gameday crew held 2 Saturday shows from Eugene, the first time the show has ever broadcast from the same school twice in one season.

In 2008, a new, 33-by-85-foot high-definition LED scoreboard and replay screen — known as DuckVision– was installed; it replaced the original video screen installed prior to the 1998-1999 football season. It is the largest video screen in the Pac-10.

Reference from wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autzen_Stadium

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