Fall 2023
Fall Calendar pg. 5
Thistledown Farms pg. 8
DIY Costumes pg. 7
A business publication of Emerald Media Group
Immediate Move-in
Available!
Letter from the Editor We are back!
After a restful summer, it’s time for University of Oregon students to get back into the swing of things. Of course, we can’t only focus on school. Having a nice school/ life balance is key to success! I wanted students to be put at ease and reminded that we live in such a fun city. Within this issue of Duck Living, we help to show ways of finding balance through study spots, hearty meal prep, ways to get into the Halloween spirit, and how to make your living space homey. If you’d like to see similar content check out duckhousing.com. As the leaves change their colors, embrace the season and get cozy. Whether you are reading this between classes or in front of a fire, I hope you enjoy and get inspired.
Isabella Albin
Special Sections Editor
Meet the Team
Special Sections Editor
Lead Designer
Managing Editor
Student Designers
Isabella Albin
Lindsay Rogers
John Ofstedal
Liz Blodgett Ryan Ehrhart Griffin Forti Spencer So Max Winer
Cover Photo
Sophia Craft Special Sections Writers
Lizzy Lee Bailey Meyers Abigail Rea Samantha Sobel Georgia Tucker
Emerald Media Group 1395 University St., #302 Eugene, OR, 97403 541.346.5511 dailyemerald.com
Account Managers
Taylor Baumgardner Cori Caplinger Cooper Gast Lola Tagwerker
Special Sections Photographers
Sophia Craft Armando Ramirez
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.
Business Publisher & President
Eric Henry ehenry@dailyemerald.com
VP Operations
Kathy Carbone kcarbone@dailyemerald.com
Director of Sales
Shelly Rondestvedt srondestvedt@dailyemerald.com
Creative & Technical Director Anna CK Smith creative@dailyemerald.com
Yugo Eugene Skybox + Yugo Eugene Courtside
RATES STARTING AT $689 2, 3, + 4 BED HOMES FOR FALL 2022 (541) 735-9012 1425 Villard Street Eugene, OR 97403
START YOUR APPLICATION ONLINE www.liveskybox.com
Fall Calendar Events November
Written by, Georgia Tucker | Designed and Illustrated by, Spencer So
Arts and Culture
Getting back into the swing of things can sometimes be hard. Having a good school-life balance is important, especially as you go through college. Whether you are new to Eugene, or you’ve lived here your whole life, it’s good to immerse yourself into the community. Eugene has a wide variety of places to go and things to do. Ever since I moved here for school, I’ve been trying to find new things to do in my free time. Here is a list of upcoming events that start at the beginning of November. Next time you’re looking for something to do, you should definitely try and check out some of these exciting events.
11.1
Moment to moment, Photos by Grandy Tarbutton at the O’brien photo gallery, starting at 1-4pm.
11.3
Volunteer Gardening at Hendricks Park, 1pm-4pm. Repeats weekly.
11.2 11.7
Eugene Gem Faire at Lane events center, Friday 12-6pm, Saturday 10am-6pm, and Sunday 10am-5pm. There is a $7 entry fee. Karaoke Night, 6pm-10pm at Slice Pizzeria and Bar.
Concerts 11.7
Leonid and Friends: A tribute to Chicogo, 8pm at the Mcdonald Theatre, Tickets starting at $50.
11.7
Portugal. The Man, 9pm at the Mcdonald Theatre, Tickets starting at $70.
11.7
Friendship, 8pm at Wow Hall, Tickets starting at $32.
11.7
Matt Andersen, 8pm at Wow Hall, Tickets starting at $31.
On Campus
Explore Oregon, 10am at the Museum of Natural and Culture History. Free to students.
11.7
The first metal: Arts and Crafts Copper, 11am at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. Free to students.
11.7
Trivia at the EMU, 6:30pm at the EMU.
11.1
SAB’s Ducks After Dark: Barbie, 8pm at the EMU Redwood. Auditorium room 214.
11.7
Freebie Friday: Paracord Bracelets, 12pm at the EMU.
11.7
World Music Series: Jan Michael Looking Wolf and Desert Rose, 7:30pm at the Frohnmayer Music Building room 190.
11.7
PLUMBING PLUMBING HOUSEWARES HOUSEWARES ELECTRICAL ELECTRICAL HARDWARE HARDWARE LAWN & GARDEN LAWN &TOOLS GARDEN TOOLS PAINT PAINT
2825 Willamette • Eugene, Oregon • 541-342-5191 2825 Willamette • Eugene, Oregon • 541-342-5191
THE ULTIMTE DIY HALLOWEEN COSTUME WRITTEN BY, BAILEY MEYERS DESIGNED BY,RYAN EHRHART With Halloween quickly approaching, many find themselves in the annual predicament of what to be for Halloween. Finding a costume that is not basic, but is also not unrecognizable, all within a budget is no easy feat. Here are some tips and tricks to make your Halloween costume unforgettable.
TIP 1: THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX As cliché as it may sound, the worst Halloween scenario is seeing your meticulously crafted costume on someone else. To prevent this and go beyond the basic vampire, consider important icons or symbols in your life. Think about pop culture references that occurred throughout the year. Reference your favorite movies, icons or objects. Some of my favorite unique costumes I have seen include Princess Mia from the “Princess Diaries,” the Aries zodiac symbol and Rhaenyra Targaryen from “House of the Dragon.” If nothing comes to mind, Pinterest is a great resource to draw inspiration from and find niche costume ideas. Each Halloween season, I like to create a Pinterest board with all my potential costume ideas and refer back when needed. I like to include old movie posters, images, film characters and outfits. This is how I curate the perfect unique Halloween costume.
TIP 3: FRIENDS WHO COSTUME TOGETHER,STAY TOGETHER If you have multiple events lined up for Halloween weekend, consider creating more than one costume, and group costumes are always a great option. First, consider how many people will be participating in the group costume. This will give you a better idea of the costumes best suited for your group. Think of favorites your group has in common: favorite movies, TV shows, celebrities, animals, etcetera. TikTok is also a great resource to draw inspiration from for your group costume. This time of year, my “for you page” is bombarded with costume ideas and other festivities.
SCARY CHEAP! BY RYAN EHRHART
TIP 2: RAID YOUR CLOSET After you get an idea of what your costume looks like, consider going through your closet before hitting the stores. A basic black t-shirt or some quirky pants may be exactly what was needed to complete your costume. Even if you don’t have a clear idea of what your costume is, going through your wardrobe can be a source of inspiration. That funky article of clothing that has been collecting dust may be the perfect costume.
TIP 4: SKIP THE SHEIN BROWSING
Although it may be tempting to head to Shein or other cheap apparel stores, consider taking your shopping to one of the local thrift stores here in Eugene. St. Vinnies, Goodwill, and Buffalo Exchange all have great selections paired with great prices. By choosing one of these stores, you are not only saving money and the environment, but you may also find a new source of inspiration for your costume. Browsing the aisles filled with formerly loved garments and you may find the perfect piece to complete your costume that you never knew you needed.
Finding a costume shouldn’t be the scary part of Halloween. If you find yourself lost among a sea of spooky costume ideas this Halloween season, reference these quick tips to ensure costume success for you and your friends.
THE PERFECT FALL AFTERNOON AT
THISTLEDOWN FARMS WRITTEN BY, ABIGAIL REA | PHOTOGRAPHY BY, ARMANDO RAMIREZ | DESIGNED BY, MAX WINER Everybody needs a reason to escape the university bubble once the colder weather rolls around. With classes ramping up and midterms right around the corner, campus and most of Eugene can feel small and suffocating. Getting out of the microcosm that is Eugene can make the stress and claustrophobia immediately melt away. Spend an afternoon picking a perfect pumpkin for carving, grabbing a warm drink, and enjoying all that fall has to offer. It is easier than you think. Thistledown Farms is just a 20-minute drive from campus and will supply you with all the crisp fall air and all colorful, crunchy leaves you could possibly need. Pack a car full of friends, listen to a prime driving playlist, and make the short drive to experience an amazing fall afternoon!
Hours, Address, Pricing:
The farm is located at 91455 River Road in Junction City, right past the Eugene Airport. They are open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., 7 days a week, with weekend afternoons being their busiest time. Entrance and parking are both free and their pumpkins are priced at 0.45 cents per pound. They take card payments, but bring cash for a quick and easy checkout!
Overall experience:
Thistledown Farm has more to offer than just a pumpkin patch. Their farm store has all the seasonal fall produce you could ask for: squashes, corn, pears, and apples. Thistledown has some of the most delicious-looking examples of the autumn harvests. Decorative corn and gourds are sold by the pound and their selection flaunts the most gorgeous reds, oranges, deep purples, and bright yellows. At the back of their farm stand they have a store full of their own premade sauces, pickles, and baked goods. Their selection of barbeque sauce, marinades, and salad dressings spans an entire wall and is only dwarfed by their selection of pickled vegetables. Pickled okra, green beans, and asparagus are just a few highlights of their selection. Their classic pickles are to die for crunchy, slightly spicy, and perfectly sour. The freezers at the back of the store hold some of the best homemade pies that are basically incomparable to any other frozen pie on the market. Any flavor of fruit pie you could think of they most likely have, marionberry, apple, and blueberry, to name a few. Thistledown even sports a small plant nursery and greenhouses full of seasonal flowers and plants. Farm-grown mums, sunflowers, and black-eyed Susans are all for sale and make great autumn decorations. The staff at both the farm store and the pumpkin patch are always friendly and willing to answer any questions you may have. Making the short drive to the Farm should be justified just by making a stop at the store and picking up one of their homemade pies.
Fall Activities:
The attraction that brings the crowds is their pumpkin patch. And this is for good reason, Thistledown sports a massive patch packed to the brim with every shape, size, and color of pumpkin you could think of. Spending upwards of an hour trying to find the perfect pumpkin is not out of the ordinary here and for all the good reasons. Their entire selection boasts some of the most beautiful picture-perfect jack-o-lantern pumpkins as well as super unique shapes and colors. Greens and whites are speckled within the sea of orange, and each pumpkin is different from the next. On the weekends they bring out carts that sell warm apple cider along with hot cinnamon and sugar-coated apple cider donuts. There is not a more perfect combination than a brisk fall day enjoyed along with a hot apple cider. The Farm also offers hayrides to their pumpkin patch. These hayrides are reserved for student groups during the week, but on the weekends there are no reservations needed. There is also no shortage of fun photo opportunities to show off all your amazing fall finds.
It is so easy to spend the first weeks of fall mourning summer but we all need to remember that this time in between summer and winter are some of the most beautiful weeks Eugene has to offer. It is getting colder and rainier, but we only get that midday break in the clouds for a few more weeks. Then we will be stuck in Eugene which is constantly enveloped by a dark and thick cloud-coverage. Enjoying all that fall has to offer is not the most arduous task when spots like Thistledown Farms are just a short drive up the highway. A day of hot apple cider and pumpkin carving is the best way to savor these last days of chilly sunshine. Forget about classes and midterms for an afternoon to pick your perfect frontdoor pumpkin. A sunny weekend afternoon spent at Thistledown Farms is one you will not regret!
Veggie Chili Recipe Written by, Abigail Rea | Designed by, Liz Blodgett
After many years of trial and error, I say with With fall finally creeping up on us, nothing makes that “cold to the bone” feeling melt away quite like a hearty bowl of chili. For those busy weeknights when the last thing you want to do is cook, this entire meal comes together with just a few pantry staples in 30 minutes. This veggie chili is warm, filling, and obviously delicious. It is easy to modify to your own tastes and preferences: adding different seasonings, veggies, or whatever you have in your fridge from last week’s grocery haul. I love using this recipe as meal prep for the week. The flavors only get better as the days go on! It is also a real crowd-pleaser that would be a top hit at any friend or roommate dinner. So turn on a cozy playlist and romanticize the general gloom of fall with this easy, soul-soothing veggie chili.
Price breakdown:
$13, 5-6 servings, ~$2.50 per serving
Ingredients:
2 tablespoon butter 1 small yellow onion diced 3 cloves garlic minced or 1 tablespoon of jarred garlic 1 carrot diced 2 tablespoons tomato paste 1 tablespoon soy sauce Taco seasoning packet 1 teaspoon of cumin 1 teaspoon of dried oregano 1 teaspoon of chili powder 1 jalapeno or serrano diced small, Optional 1 16 oz can of diced tomatoes (garlic or fire-roasted seasoned for extra flavor!) 1 12oz can of diced tomatoes with green chilis 1 16 oz can of chili pinto beans 1 16 oz can of kidney beans 1.5 cups veggie broth or veggie bullion mixed with 1.5 cups water
Instructions
1. In a large pot or Dutch oven melt the butter over medium heat. Once the butter is melted add the diced onion and cook until translucent, around 5 minutes. Add in the diced carrots and garlic and cook until fragrant, around 3 minutes. (add in the chopped pepper now if you want the extra spice!) 2. Once the veggies are soft and fragrant add the tomato paste and cook until deep red and thickened, 2 minutes. Add the soy sauce and stir until combined. Add and stir in all the seasonings to the tomato paste and veggies, cooking for another minute until toasty and aromatic. 3. Dump in all the cans and turn the heat up to medium-high. Add the broth, stir, and cover for 7-10 minutes. The liquid in the pot should be reduced and thickened. 4. Season to taste and serve!
My Perfect Bowl After many years of trial and error, I say with confidence that I have created a method to achieve the perfect bowl of chili every time. The first step, and maybe most important, is to add a layer of crushed lime-flavored tortilla chips to the bottom of the bowl. I add the chili to the chips and top with sour cream, cheddar cheese, and chopped cilantro. The chips get perfectly soft and even make the chili a little bit thicker. The lime flavor adds some tang, which is perfectly balanced by the sour cream and cheese. Give the whole bowl a mix and experience the most heart-warming bowl of food you have ever tasted! Cozy, fall, good music, dump meal, sit-n-simmer or 30 min meal, one pot, week meal prep or roommate dinner
You’ve never lived like this. Walk or bike to class
Amenities for a fit and healthy lifestyle
Private bedrooms and bathrooms available
Academically oriented environments
Fully furnished apartments
Swimming pools with sun decks
Hardwood-style flooring
Individual liability leases and roommate matching available
Washer and dryer included
APPLY TODAY AT AMERICANCAMPUS.COM/EUGENE
Rates/installments, caps, deadlines/dates, fees and amenities are subject to change. Limited time only. See office for details.
Where Can We Find You On Halloween? Written By, Samantha Sobel | Designed and Illustrated by, Griffin Forti
Upon asking students about their plans for Halloween, I was met with several blank faces and anxious responses. Between picking a costume and figuring out where your friends are going, there’s a lot of stress in planning the perfect night. To help make that decision a little easier, I’ve compiled a list of places for college students to go on Halloween, along with a couple of activities to make the night more memorable.
Graveyard Ghost Hunting (respectfully of course)-
Rumor has it, there have been several ghost sightings at the Eugene Pioneer Cemetery located next to McArthur Court. Students have reportedly seen a woman wearing a white dress, floating in fog and a man playing the bagpipes that disappears behind trees. If you happen to pass the graveyard around 10 p.m. when the church bells ring, look twice- you may not believe what you see.
Bring Back Trick-or-Treating-
Who says college students are too old to trick or treat on Halloween? We all have memories running from house to house begging strangers for candy we didn't ever eat. Let’s change the narrative and make it more socially acceptable for young adults to dress up and go on the hunt for candy. On the 31st, venture over to 5th Street Public Market or The Valley River Center and go store-to-store unleashing your inner child in your best Halloween get-up. There’s more strength in numbers so make sure to rally all your friends before you go.
Spencer Butte Hike-
If you’re looking for a less spooky activity to brighten up your Halloween, Spencer Butte is the best cozy hiking trail to adventure with your friends. Autumn completely transforms the trees, covering the lush in shades of orange, red, and yellow. With about a one and a half mile loop and its summit at 2,058 feet, this hike is guaranteed to get you sweating. Make sure to bring plenty of water and snacks, so you can maintain your energy to get to the very top. After about an hour and a half of hiking, you’ll be able to see all of Eugene and celebrate how far you’ve come with your friends.
Halloween Parade-
Celebrate Halloween a few days early on October 28th with the alluring, Saturday Market in Downtown Eugene. Wear your costume and be a part of the community as we all come together to honor Fall. With costumed entertainment, a live DJ, a photo booth, a pet parade, and flash mobs, you won't want to miss all the fun. This free, family-friendly event starts at noon and goes until 5 p.m., so it’s a quick activity to start your Halloween off on the right foot.
Don’t give up on celebrating Halloween because you think you’re too old or don’t have enough friends. If you let something stop you from putting on your costume, you’re gonna regret it later. Halloween is the only day you can dress up and act completely out of character, so break free of your comfort zone, and make some memories you can’t wait to look back on!
Decorating on a Budget
Written by, Lizzy Lee | Designed and Illustrated by, Lindsay Rogers It’s exciting living on your own. You have full control over your life: what you wear, what you eat, and how you spend your money. Even how you decorate your room depends on you. The only limit to your interior design is money. That is why you need to utilize your budget wisely, and I’ll let you in on a few tips to do so.
Plants One way to spruce up your dorm or apartment is by getting plants. Plants incorporate a splash of color in the room and freshens up the air. A local favorite plant shop is at Down To Earth in downtown Eugene. The Saturday Market also holds a few plant and flower booths. Don’t worry, non-green thumbs. I’m horrible with living plants. It would just be a waste of money and time to buy plants only for them to die in a few weeks. If that is the case for you, then fake plants are your best friends. There are so many stores where you can buy fake plants from, and with good care, they’ll last forever. They can range in price from just a couple of dollars to hundreds of dollars depending on the quality and size of the fake plants.
Thrifting I am a firm believer in used items or “pre-loved” items. I love thrifting, not just for clothes but also for other things like furniture and books. Thrift stores may be the places to check out for room decor and furniture at a discounted price. I personally find thrifting good for finding little trinkets and organizers. A great place to thrift is Facebook Marketplace. When I moved into my first unfurnished apartment, I scoured through Facebook Marketplace and was able to find some quality pieces of furniture for a very affordable price. Just be wary online and make sure you don’t get scammed. Check out the furniture in person and make sure it is up to your standards.
Organizers and Storage Out of sight, out of mind might work for old relationships and forgotten homework, but utilizing storage is vital to keeping your room looking nice. As mentioned above, you can find nice, affordable baskets and organizers at thrift stores or online. Especially for dorms, you need to use every last bit of space you have. This might look like using bed risers to add under the bed storage or keeping out of season clothes on top of your closet. I like using storage baskets and trays to neatly store my clothes and miscellaneous items in an aesthetically pleasing way. My messy items are out of sight, but still accessible.
Decorating your room is a form of self-expression. Everyone has their own tastes and preferences. Many people in college only live in their college towns during the school year, and it may be hard to justify spending money on room decorations. There are ways to spruce up your living space without breaking the bank. Having a comfortable room that you enjoy being in can potentially increase your productivity and your quality of relaxation.
YOUR “GO-TO” FOR CAMPUS HOUSING
Choose Bell EstateWHEN When CHOOSE BELL Real REAL ESTATE LOOKING FOR CAMPUS HOUSING! Looking for CampuS Housing!
630 River Rd. Eugene
541.688.2060 Bell-Realty.com 541.688.2060 BELL-REALTY.COM
CAMPUS HOUSING LISTINGS AVAILABLE STARTING FRIDAY, JANUARY 29TH, 2021. CHECK BACK
NOW LEASING FOR FALL 2024 Learn more and apply online at
AmericanCampus.com/Eugene
Rates/installments, caps, deadlines/dates, fees and amenities are subject to change. Limited time only. See office for details.