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Good morning. It's Tuesday, May 12. The sun is flirting, your calendar is judging, and your town is quietly doing impressive things. From community-powered culture to a very satisfying chance to part ways with bulky junk, this week is shaping up nicely. Alright, here's today's edition of your Eugene Lowdown:
Tsunami Books Launches Building Buyout
Tsunami Books has hosted more than 5,000 readings, concerts, workshops, and revues, and now it is aiming for its biggest project yet: ownership. The shelves and stage were built from recycled lumber, including wood from about 35 school bleachers. The plan includes a covenant to keep the property focused on books, music, and arts.
Big Junk, Meet Your Match
Got a pile of old stuff and a clean-house dream? Spring Cleanup is Saturday, May 16th, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at EcoSort, 3425 E 17th Ave in Glenwood. The free event helps Springfield residents recycle bulky or tricky materials, including electronics, appliances, and scrap metal. Sanipac is supporting the effort to keep neighborhoods tidier.
Performing Arts
Brava 2026
Raise a glass, grab your drink tokens, and cheer as artists and business leaders collect well-earned kudos, all between live performances and a silent film brought to life with a brand-new score.Tuesday
Karaoke
Karaoke Cabaret
Belt out your favorite songs while acrobats, burlesque stars, and fire spinners turn every chorus into a full-blown spectacle. Your shower has nothing on this stage.Tuesday
Mountain Biking
Active
Ride and Tacos
Climb, grin, and drop into those berms, then celebrate your hero moves with cheap tacos and tall trail tales. Midweek legs may burn, but the salsa and stoke make it all worthwhile.Tuesday
Lecture
Willamette Valley Hardy Plant Group Educational Speaker Program
Swap your screen time for tree time as Dave Hedberg uncovers Oregon's most storied trunks, complete with a short film, snacks, and plenty of leafy conversation with fellow plant nerds.Tuesday
Performing Arts
UO Teuph Ensemble
Let the tubas and euphoniums shake the room while you relax, spend nothing, and enjoy everything from tender tunes to a thunderous 1812 without risking stray cannon fire.Tuesday
Charity
Food & Drink
Eugene Fundraiser Pint Night for Oregon's Future Farmers
Swap your usual Tuesday scroll-a-thon for pints, prizes, and the rare joy of knowing your beverage habit is helping launch real-life future farmers, not just your caffeine buzz.Tuesday
Contemp Folk
Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket
Bring a friend, bring your feelings, and maybe bring tissues as thoughtful lyrics, laid-back humor, and decades of songwriting collide in one cozy night of music that hits both heartstrings and nostalgia buttons.Wednesday
Karaoke
Karaoke All Ages
Warm up those vocal cords and questionable song choices for a night where the only thing higher than the notes are the cheers from the crowd. All ages, zero judgment, maximum fun.Wednesday
Performing Arts
Traditional Folk
Chico Schwall: Thunder and Lies
Expect fewer lightning bolts and more goosebumps as centuries-old ballads spin yarns of heroes, ghosts, and bad decisions, all wrapped in acoustic strings, rich harmonies, and a healthy respect for folk tradition.Wednesday
Comedy Show
Another Round: Open Mic Comedy
Laughs are on tap as comics test new material and chase big laughs in tight five-minute sets. Sign up, sit back, or do both, and let the midweek chaos turn into punchlines.Wednesday
Dance
Wednesday Tango: 50/50 Alternative and Traditional with DJ Kella
Step away from the couch and into a tango where beginners, music nerds, and seasoned dancers share the floor, swap partners, and occasionally pretend that missed steps were totally part of the choreography.Wednesday
Trivia Night
Get in the Game Show
Bring your best poker face and your worst dance moves to a game night where the only real skill required is knowing how to laugh at yourself.Wednesday
Biz Networking
Picture Perfect Happy Hour
Still rocking that ancient profile photo? Mingle over drinks, laugh with new friends, and let a pro photographer capture a headshot that says "I actually know what I am doing."Wednesday
Ecology
Outdoors
Bee Survey
Swap screen time for bee time as you net, peek at, and release fuzzy pollinators, all while pretending you totally knew the difference between a bumblebee and a honey bee the whole time.Wednesday
Traditional Folk
Shanna in a Dress in Concert
Expect razor-sharp lyrics, big laughs, and maybe a few happy tears as a nationally touring songwriter turns a quiet Eugene living room into the funniest, folkiest room in town.Thursday
Creative Writing
Performing Arts
Word: Open Mic for Writers
Bring your best words, your half-finished drafts, or just your listening ears, and enjoy a night where page fright turns into applause and inspiration is basically guaranteed.Thursday
Biz Networking
Startup Coffee Meetups
Fuel up with coffee and big ideas as you swap stories with entrepreneurs, students, and mentors who actually enjoy talking about MVPs before lunch.Thursday
Line Dancing
Country
Country Night
Dust off those boots for line dance lessons, twangy hits, and enough two-stepping to count as cardio. The only thing serious here is how fun the dance floor gets.Thursday
Americana
Artistic Encounters with Burt & Sloan
Turn your lunch break into a banjo break as two seasoned pickers serve up twangy bluegrass and folk under the open sky. Zero cover charge, maximum toe-tapping risk.Thursday
Charity
Golf
Game Changers Series: Putt for a Cause
Warm up that short game, because every $5 putt could win big prizes and some serious bragging rights, all while you casually rub shoulders with Ducks royalty for a great cause.Thursday
Coffee Event
Afternoon Coffee Chat for Over 40
Skip the awkward small talk and let the caffeine do the heavy lifting as you swap stories, share laughs, and maybe discover your new favorite friend right next to your new favorite pastry.Thursday
 | This week in 1905Eugene's first movie theater, the Bijou Theatre, opened on May 8, 1905, showing moving pictures on Willamette Street. |
Thanks for reading this edition of the Eugene Lowdown. If you know someone who loves local bookstores, local cleanups, or just the thrill of a well-timed community win, forward this their way. We'll be back with more reasons to get out and about. Until then, be kind and be curious!
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