Signs of Hope

Young artist Amy Bowers spent a great deal of time over the past four years gathering discarded cardboard signs once used as a means of survival for the numerous homeless citizens of Eugene.

“I came upon my first sign by chance and was immediately intrigued by the idea of collecting a large amount of them,” reads the self-authored description of Bowers’ installment. “At first I didn’t know whether or not I’d ever find enough signs to call it a ‘collection,’ but as soon as I started keeping an eye out for them, they started piling up in my room.”

Photo by Jackson Voelkel

For Bowers, the collecting of signs has become a discovered art form. But aside from this it has also given her the opportunity to get involved with rehabilitation and improvement of the Eugene community as a whole. Her installment on Friday, June 3, was not only an art show but a fundraiser for local organization ShelterCare, which serves members of the Lane County homeless community, giving them a voice.“ They [ShelterCare] specifically work to rehabilitate those who have families and/or mental illness,” Bowers explained.

Among ShelterCare’s services are emergency shelter, one-on-one group support and assistance with basic needs such as food, clothing and supplies. It is all too fitting that Bowers’ display would sit hand in hand with such an important organization.

Many of the signs featured are more than just a source of intrigue. Indeed, on these scraps of beer boxes and old “For Rent” notices are scribbled all breeds of truth, ranging from sharp and humorous wit to desperate and heartbreaking cries for help. The collection makes visible the community that many members of our public have deemed invisible. In this, a chance at optimism is cultivated both for the homeless community and for those who wish to make a difference.

Amy Bowers’ Homeless Sign Collection is part of the Eugene Storefront Art Project. For more information about ShelterCare, go to www.sheltercare.org

EW 6/9

Alive and Kickin’ (and Tastes like Chicken)

Hot Mama’s Wings Still Serves It Up Fat

Since opening up shop in February, Hot Mama’s Wings has continued to develop into a thriving and vivacious business. Sitting down to eat for my second time since Mama’s debut night was quite a different experience; the place was less crowded, the service was quicker and the food tasted like chicken. Of course, this isn’t to say that the chicken I ordered last time didn’t taste like chicken; it’s just a figure of speech.

It was a Monday night — granted not the busiest night to eat out — and the place was full of patrons getting their snack on and awaiting the beginning of Hot Mama’s Monday night open-mic. This proved to be a highlight, in fact, as the folks responsible for overseeing the open-mic had the amplification levels so perfect that it was possible to talk and listen in unison. Thus, a foolproof atmosphere was formed, and it was time to start ordering all kinds of crazy shit.

Here’s an important disclaimer: Don’t order the “insane” or “kamikaze” sauce unless you really like your wings hot. After eating a basket of six, my friend’s face was bright red, his eyes were watering and it looked like he’d smeared on lipstick; all he had to cure his pain was a basket of onion rings and an alcohol-soaked towellette (which seeped into his lips and made the sting worse). After washing the entrée down with an entire carafe of water and a deep-fried Twinkie, he had chirped up enough to remark on how delicious the chicken had been despite the fire. Lesson learned.

He was right, too; the food was freakin’ delicious.

Photo by Jackson Voelkel

“We want to appeal to everyone,” said owner Michael Marzano, who runs the place with the help of his wife, Angie, and longtime friend Joel Poston. “A group of folks can come in with some having food,” Marzano pointed out, “while others have a beer or cocktail at our full bar.” The drink selections at Hot Mama’s, by the way, are great, with six draught beers in constant rotation and a grand selection of mixers. Not too pricey either.

“We have specials almost every night of the week” Marzano said, and this isn’t an exaggeration: On Mondays, $7.50 will get you six wings and a brew; Tuesdays feature discounted drafts at $3 a pop; Wednesday is burger and brew night — which means the duo costs $11; drop by on Thursday and 11 bucks will score you a Reuben and a beer; and Sundays feature 12 wings and a pitcher for $20. See? Yep. Awesome.

The goal now seems to be pulling in a bigger lunch crowd, though this likely will solve itself; after all, it’s only a matter of time before word spreads on a joint like this, right?

After a good four months in business, it’s not hard to tell why Hot Mama’s is becoming a local commodity, and the dinnertime crowds affirm this fact. “Each week we are a little busier than the week prior,” Marzano explained. “Word of mouth has proven most effective.”

With the nights growing more packed, it’s probably a good idea to get your hot ass down to Hot Mama’s before all the seats are occupied. Or are you too chicken to try something new?

EW Chow! 6/9

South Eugene Farmers’ Market

I love summer time and, after all, who doesn’t? If for nothing else, you gotta love it for the fruit: Strawberries, blueberries, pears, cherries (and all the rest). Yes, it’s truly one of the best times to get your healthy snack on. Speaking of which, if you’re looking for delicious produce this summer, there’s a hidden gem to be discovered at the Southtowne Shoppes courtyard in Southeast Eugene. Located on the corner of 28th and Oak streets, the South Eugene Farmers’ Market boasts a cozy assortment of vendors from all over Lane County’s local farmland.

The main attraction is Sweetwater Farm’s produce stand, which acts as a centerpiece for the weekly event. The stand itself has produce ranging from organically grown vegetables to perfectly ripe fruit, and the people are always friendly. The entire market is set back from the main road and remains fairly quiet throughout the day, but this shouldn’t be taken as a sign of inferiority — it’s simply indicative of the fact that the most frequent customers come from the neighborhood surrounding the Southtowne Shoppes complex.



The location has other benefits, too: It’s slap-bang in the center of just about everything worth visiting in the area — Barry’s Espresso and Bakery, Long’s Meat Market, Mulligan’s Pub (okay, so that one’s a matter of opinion, especially before noon) and Sushi Domo are all a stone’s throw away from the market. And if that doesn’t tickle your fancy, there’s always the produce stands to keep you occupied for as long as you please. Oh, and free samples — don’t miss the free samples.

It’s not often that a well-kept-by-accident secret such as this gets unearthed, so get out there and scope it while you can. The market starts early, and winds down a bit by the early afternoon, so it’s probably for the best if you’re an early riser on this one. After all, the best stock is to be had at the beginning of the day.

The South Eugene Farmers’ Market starts Sunday, June 12, and runs through September. Hours are 9 am-2 pm. More information at goodfoodeasy.com

EW Summer Guide 6/2