Cheep and Chic in Corvallis

Historic Trolley Tour

2009-06-01T11:44:00.000-07:00

Every summer Corvallis Tourism sponsors the Historic Homes Trolley Tour. Participants ride in a large replica of an old 1900’s trolley. The tours offer a uniqueway to see the historic sites of the city and are fun for visitors and residents alike. The tours are narrated, and people are often surprised to find out some of the original owners stories of how they contributed to the founding of Corvallis.

The trolley tour begins at the 1856 Benjamin Biddle House (believed to be the oldest home in formal Corvallis). The trolley then winds down city streets and covers architecture reflective of Queen Ann-style, Craftsman, Prairie and Colonial Revival. Small bungalows behind sycamore and oak trees dot the landscape as the narrated guide takes the participant on a romp through history. The final leg of the tour runs past 7th and 8th street and covers the 1909 Presbyterian Church and the Willamette Valley & Coast Railroad Depot.

Reservations for the tour are free can be made by calling Corvallis Tourism at 541-757-1544, spots fill up fast so it is advised to call in advance. Dates are July 11 and 25, as well as August 8, 15, 22 and 29.

Cheep and Chic weekend in the sun: A car-free Corvallis experience

2009-04-29T14:35:00.000-07:00

Photo by the fantastic Jennifer Bebensee

Spend a weekend enjoying gorgeous Corvallis weather without breaking the bank! Leave your car behind, grab your camera and water bottle and downshift into pedestrian gear to experience Corvallis in a whole new way. The great outdoors is free, and savvy visitors go where the locals know to find the best deals on the best meals.

On Friday, on your way downtown for happy hour, start at Central Park and complete the first half of the free Alley Art self-guided tour on your way to Downward Dog or Cloud9 (if you’re under 21). After enjoying happy hour specials on dinner and drinks, return via the second half of the tour – or design your own spontaneous route through downtown.

Saturday morning, remember your cloth shopping bag (if you don’t have one “Corvallis Market Bags” are available for purchase at the Corvallis Visitor’s Center) for the Farmers' Market and Artisans Market on the riverfront. Enjoy a breakfast of organic berries and a fresh pretzel, pick up a bouquet of fresh flowers, and cool your toes in the interactive fountain.

Check the sidewalk sale tables outside Peak Sports and Many Hands Trading Company for great bargains on your way to The Vibe Internet Café for a delicious vegan lunch, free WiFi, and Stumptown coffee. Don’t forget to have the barista punch your card!

Break out that bike for the afternoon and select a route. If you prefer to stick with multi-use paths, head south along the river towards Willamette Park. If you are feeling more adventurous, tackle the Peak Experience Local Loop, a self-guided tour of local attractions. No bike? No problem. The Riverfont and Willamette Park are feet-friendly.

For dinner on Saturday, relax on the roof of American Dream Pizza with fresh air, delicious pizza, and a frosty cocktail (from the downstairs Crowbar happy hour drink menu). Corvallis offers weekend nightlife with cover charges under $5; look for salsa at Platinum and karaoke at Peacock on Fridays and check out Bomb’s Away Café or FireWorks for live music on Saturdays.

Before leaving town on Sunday morning, enjoy a marionberry scone from Great Harvest Bakery, or a breakfast bagel or wrap at Sunnyside Up. Reintroduce yourself to your car keys and have a great week!

By guest blogger Michelle Marie

Avery Park Roses

2009-04-13T14:54:00.001-07:00

As early as May the colors of Corvallis come to life as the flowers begin to bloom at the Avery Park Rose Garden. The park is an AARS (American Association of Rose Suppliers) display garden, representing the best new rose varieties introduced each year. In addition to roses there is also a rhododendron garden, creating an even more brilliant display of colors that has appeared in countless pictures by Willamette Valley photographers.

Overall, the rose garden displays 1200 bushes with 250 varieties represented. The park is open during daylight hours and admission is free. The best times to visit are between May and October when the flowers are in full bloom. More information is available through Corvallis Parks and Recreation.

This peaceful and vibrant location is a great place to start or end your day. It gives new meaning to the phrase "wake up and smell the roses".

Aqua Restaurant

2009-04-13T14:54:00.000-07:00

I would not call my self a restaurant connoisseur by any means, however I have had an amazing experience at Aqua Seafood Restaurant and Bar in Corvallis. Aqua is located along the waterfront, in the historic and LEED certified Water Street Market. It provides scenic views of the Willamette River while creating a rustic, yet sophisticated dining atmosphere. The interior is lined with saltwater fish tanks and themed in a natural wood and florescent blue décor. The colors and theme are further exacerbated by a full bar that is in-line with the rest of the buildings style to create a comfortably elegant dinning experience. What makes this place cheap are the fantastic happy hour specials from 4:30-6 on Tuesday-Saturday.

The food is not only delectable, but is stunningly presented and matched with a superb wine and drink list. This can partly attributed to Chef Adam Kekahuna, a culinary expert hailing from Oahu, Hawaii, who is the executive chef of the restaurant. The rest can be seen as extension of Chef Ian Duncan, a Corvallis restaurant dreamer who has years of experience in fine dinning establishments. His success with Aqua has been coupled with Le Bistro, serving traditional French cuisine.

With the success of these two fine establishments, Corvallis residents have long awaited the opening of Terzo, an Italian restaurant located just below Aqua. The question in everyone’s mind is, “what will Ian Duncan come up with next.” Until this question can be answered we must enjoy the three fine dining facilities that are currently available, and eagerly await the next.

Alsea Falls

2009-04-06T13:15:00.000-07:00

Alsea Falls Recreation Area is next to the South Fork Alsea River, in a lush coastal forest of red cedars, maples, and Douglas firs. The recreation area has 22 picnic tables, 16 campsites, hiking trails, and an outstanding view of Alsea Falls. Throughout the spring and summer, visitors can find blooming rhododendrons, Oregon grapes, dogwoods, and other wildflowers, as well as numerous wild berries.

The falls themselves are simply breathtaking. While not the tallest or most powerful, spectators have the chance to walk right up to them….or even through them. Explorers can hike further down the waterfall by hopping boulder to boulder for roughly 2-3 miles. There are plenty of unique swimming holes that dot the river. Many of them are actually indentations cut into large rocks by the river.

Alsea Falls are only a 35 minute drive from Corvallis. This is must see if your passion is exploring the Oregon back country.

Warm Comfort Food

2009-03-09T19:43:00.000-07:00

There's nothing like a steaming cup of soup on a dreary winter day in Corvallis. The Soup Shop on Monroe is a great place to head for cheap food and a unique atmosphere. Whether you prefer Tomato Bisque or creamy Clam Chowder, the Soup Shop has a soup for everyone. In it's relaxing atmosphere, you can enjoy soup with family and friends for a very thrifty price. Not only do they offer delicious bread and salads, but they also have take-out for those of us on the go. So next time you're feeling a little under-the-weather, you know where to go!

Internationally recognized Cuban Salsa in little ol’ Corvallis?

2009-02-26T16:45:00.000-08:00

Although we may be better known for our technological and research developments, Corvallis is also on the cutting edge of a lesser-known cultural scene: Cuban Casino Rueda Salsa dancing! Developed in Cuba in the mid-1900s and now practiced all over the world, Casino has a fun, athletic, informal style that grew out of several Afro-Cuban folkloric dances. In the US, Corvallis is right up there with Miami, Atlanta, Detroit, and San Francisco as a Cuban Salsa hot spot. Although it is also a partner dance, it’s often danced in a circle by as many couples as can fit in the space! A caller announces moves, and the group follows along - to see a rueda in action, check out this clip of Corvallis' own Rumbanana Salsa Group.

Local instructors Simona and Mike, directors of Rumbanana Salsa Group, are internationally known Casino instructors and performers, but the community they’ve created in Corvallis is remarkably accessible. Lessons, practices, parties, clothes, and community are all easy to come by and won’t break the bank.

Compared to dance lessons in Portland, lessons taught by Rumbanana are a steal. At $40 for eight hours of lessons over four weeks, it’s an unbeatable deal – and the price drops to $35 if you pre-register by emailing Simona. Level one lessons are held on Tuesday nights from 6-8 pm at the Platinum Club on 4th Street (between the Vibe and Ti Amo).

After you’ve mastered the basics, you’ll want to practice! While many of us just shove the couch out of the way and crank up the timba music at home, it’s also fun to join the OSU Casino y Rueda Club for open practice at the Women’s Building on campus on Tuesday nights from 8-10 pm. It’s totally free – and you’re guaranteed to pick up ideas for new moves from other dancers.
While we expect to pay $8 and more just for the cover charge (not to mention drinks) when we travel out of town to dance, the cover for Latin Xplosion at the Platinum Club in Corvallis is just four bucks, on top of which well drinks are $1! Ask for the house special, the Rumbanana shot – we think they put rum and banana flavored something-or-other in it, but we tend not to ask too many questions when it’s that delicious. The DJ always plays the hottest Latin music from all over the Caribbean – from bachata to timba to reggaeton, there’s something for everyone. When you get tired of dancing and people watching, there’s always a good game of pool.

As for what to wear … apparently some club scenes care about the height of fashion, but the Corvallis community is way past that. Dress up if you feel like it, wear jeans and a t-shirt if you don’t, dress as your favorite sitcom character – probably no one will notice, and if they do, they won’t care. The bottom line is that getting dressed for going out to dance in Corvallis doesn’t cost a fortune. Hit the Goodwill or dig out that fun shirt or skirt that you never thought you’d have a chance to wear again, and you’re all set. Just be sure to wear comfy shoes!

It’s true that the best things in life are free, and the best thing about Cuban Salsa in Corvallis is the community. Folks who take advantage of the opportunity to meet other people in lessons soon find themselves recognizing people all over town. With about two hundred people in the extended salsa family, it’s small enough that you’ll see familiar faces at different salsa events right away, but large enough that there are always new people to meet. We are a truly diverse bunch – we’re from all over the world and span a wide range of ages, occupations, and dance backgrounds. You never know who you might run into at a salsa event, from a neighbor to your favorite mechanic.

See you on the dance floor!

By guest writer Michelle Marie

Nifty New Places on 4th St!

2009-02-18T12:45:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone!

There are always new and excited things happening in Corvallis and here are a few!
First Ti Amo Lingerie opened up two doors down from Platinum Nightclub at 116 SW 4th Street!
This place is really fun and off beat it is not your average lingerie shop! They stock Lucy B (vintage inspired) and Ed Hardy intimates footy pjs for grown-ups and lots of other fun stuff. And the best part is although you can drop a pretty penny here like I was tempted to do with some Ed Hardy loungewear you can get a cute bra and panty sets for as little as $16!

In other openings The Vibe Internet Café has opened up also right near Ti Amo at 134 SW 4^th.

Serving some fun coffee drinks including the “Johnny Cash” this place specializes in vegan eats. The Vibe has a great “Build Your Own Sandwich” menu and also offers a few salads and soups! Furnished with vintage and vintage inspired décor this place not only has a great vegan menu but also has a great vibe (that was a totally unintentional pun)!

I hope you get to try one of these new places soon!

Enjoy!

$10 Plates!!!

2009-02-13T16:34:00.000-08:00

Iovinos, a fantastic Italian restaurant downtown is currently offering special $10 dollar plates! They always have incredible food and this deal is sure to be a bargain. If you've never been to Iovinos, make sure you go; along with great food, they have neat decorating inside and out with sidewalk tables facing Corvallis' renowned riverfront. Bring a friend and make sure you don't miss out on this deal, it's no longer too expensive to go out to dinner and a glass of wine to one of Corvallis' finest restaurants!

Corvallis Birding

2009-02-05T16:16:00.000-08:00

First time visitors to Corvallis are usually very suprised to learn about the abundance of bird life in the Willamette Valley. In addition to this the mild climate of corvallis makes birding a fun year round activity. The Audubon Society has counted over 125 species of birds in a 15 mile radius around the city. Some of the places that are considered “hot spots” are Chip Ross Park, Avery Park, Bald Hill, Willamette Park, and the Jackson-Frazier Wetlands. The latter on the above list has constructed boardwalks and bridges across a beautiful marshy area that is close to town. The Audobon web site has further information about birding in and around the Corvallis area, for more information please visit www.audubon.corvallis.or.us

This Weekend is Gonna be Good!

2009-01-08T12:01:00.000-08:00

One of my fav bands
poitín & stout

will be playing at Block 15 on Saturday (1/10) at 10 PM. Which is awesomely right when Happy Hour starts! And this won't be just any show; it is their CD release party! Featuring raffle prizes and oh so good music!
Plus there is no cover! And...
Block 15 makes some amazing beers and while I'm on the topic I should tell you that they discount Growlers on Sunday to $7 per fill (provided you have a growler) for any of their beers!
Anyway; I'll see you there - Celtic music is really something and here in the PNW we are fortunate enough to have some talented people to listen to!
Cheers!

Gifts You Can Feel Good About Giving!

2008-12-19T15:52:00.000-08:00

This time of year I always feel… guilty

…joyful yes but also guilty.

For me it is hard to walk the line between being a good steward of the earth and giving gifts that my loved ones will enjoy. I hardly every buy new things for myself and I actually am so overwhelmed by the consumerism that I get the spins when I go into a Target or a WalMart; maybe that is why I live in Corvallis. Needless to say this presents a challenge when Christmas shopping. Most years I have enjoyed making Christmas gifts for everyone on my list or finding one of a kind vintage items for example antique barware for people on my list but this year that just didn’t happen.

So I began to panic and ask “what do other anti-consumer people do for the holidays?”

It was then I remembered a fair trade store I went to in Corvallis awhile ago.

They had some great stuff!

I like to give ornaments to the people in my life i dont know much about but appreciate so this angels (above) are great they are made by AIDS orphans to support their orphanage.

For the entertainer they have recycled Venetian glass (above) which YES you can eat off of and block printed tablecloths (below)!

For kids they have several educational gifts like a Morse Code kits (to the right) and some other fun stuff. For little kids they also have some great eco-friendly toys like this tea set (to the left) that is all recycled plastic and was named the number one toy in America by Parenting Magazine!

For the guys they have some awesome shirts printed with clay inks with cool images (see close up of bicycle image below)!

They also have a large variety of bracelets which makes stocking suffers easier for me with girls and really well made recycled silk scarfs and purses!

So now there is no guilt and everyone has fun presents to receive on Christmas morning!

All of these gift ideas and many more are from
Many Hands Trading on Monroe Av. in downtown Corvallis! For hours and more information call them at 541-738-0808

Corvallis has its own currency?

2008-12-04T14:05:00.000-08:00

Check out this great program Corvallis has called the hours exchange which uses a local currency to encourage a working form of the buy local movement. Click Here for more information and YES some establishments in Corvallis accept the currency - most importantly Oregon Trail Brewery and Corvallis Brewing Supply both do :) High quality beer and cheese here we come!

Sightseeing is Free and Relaxing...

2008-11-12T11:20:00.000-08:00

There are some beautiful sights to see in Corvallis...

Take a day get some coffee from one of our local coffee shops and enjoy the sights and sounds of Corvallis...

One of my favorite things to do on a lazy morning is to grab a cup of coffee and walk along the riverfront in Corvallis. It is so relaxing and the birds are singing.

Then I take a walk through downtown and enjoy some of the architecture. I love old architecture and have read about some of these buildings online. There is also a walking tour of historic downtown.

A Chic and Unique Place to Go Out III

2008-11-10T12:42:00.000-08:00

101 Eat and Drink Happy Hour!

Located on Corvallis’ historic riverfront 101 is a unique bar with a great happy hour! From 4:30-6:30 daily beers are $2.50, cocktails are $2 off and the best of all Calapooia beers are $2! And you can eat too! Because their small plates are all less then $12; many of them are $8 or below!

Enjoy!

Craving The Coast

2008-10-20T16:12:00.000-07:00

About this time of the year when the storms will be rolling in soon I start to crave the coast. Growing up just down the road in Salem I was never far from Oregon’s beautiful coastline and when I spend too much time away from the coast it gets bad…

One of the great things about Corvallis is the proximity to the coast. Newport is just and hour away. I stay in Lincoln City which is still under two hours.

I think I will get to the coast next month sometime and then I will get to visit my favorite spots like Mo’s, Rogue and Mossy Creek Pottery. I am also going to try to get to the Hatfield Marine Center because I have been wanting to do that for years!

I cant wait to hear the waves and feel the wind...

Time to Cozy Up!

2008-10-10T10:26:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week the weather was feeling a bit chilly and I noticed the leaves were turning. I had tried to avoid the recognition that fall was coming of a few weeks now. But this was the turning point – I needed to embrace it or become totally delusional. Fall is beautiful in Corvallis and it looks as though it will again this year so I opted to embrace the season.

So I curled up on my sofa with a cup of tea and began to sew. One of the great things about Corvallis is that there are so many crafty stores to choose from. Quiltwork Patches on 3^rd street has some really unique fabric and Creative Craft and Frame also has a fabric section. Thrifting fabric is also good especially at the OSU Folk Thrift Store downtown! Above is the quilt block pattern for what I am making!

It took a few hours to cut out all of my pieces but I was very happy when they were laid out all ready to sew!

I just finished the block last night and I will show you a photo soon. It was a great lazy afternoon curled up with my cat and my cup of jo! I’m sure it will be even better when it snows!

Upcoming Fun Stuff I am Looking Forward To...

2008-10-06T10:12:00.000-07:00

Yachats Village Mushroom Festival! Oct 17th - 19th in Yachats, Oregon!

Viva Hispania with the Corvallis - OSU Symphony Orchestra!

Fresh Hop Beer "Tastivals" Oct 25th in Eugene at Ninkasi Brewing.

Eugene Mushroom Festival Oct 26th!

Lincoln City Chowder Cookoff Nov 8th!

Brewery Night!

2008-10-06T09:27:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday was brewery night at Suds & Suds a great bar off of Kings Blvd. The brewery was Bridgeport and they had a keg of some great beer and drawings for prizes. The game was also on so there were alot of people there - alot of fun!
The next brewery night will be on Oct. 16th! for Double Mountain which I don't know anything about so that should be interesting - I think they are a very young brewery!

A Chic and Unique Place to Go Out II

2008-10-04T14:00:00.000-07:00

If you’re looking for a one of a kind restaurant experience, stop by the beautiful riverfront strip. Cloud 9 Restaurant offers the best in local, organic and sustainable ingredients combined to create a fabulous menu featuring dishes such as bourbon prawn pasta and Oregon berry salad. Cloud 9 offers an “off the beaten path” wine selection and a unique experience in an authentically homegrown Corvallis establishment. Attached to Cloud 9 is the newly opened Downward Dog. Technically a bar this chic establishment is laid back yet special at the same time I could see this being a really great place for a Birthday Party! Downward Dog serves comfort food with a twist like gourmet three cheese Mac and cheese and portabella quesadillas!

Visit dinecloud9.com or drinkthedog.com for more information!

P.S the Lotus Blossom drink is amazing spendy but amazing at 6.75, it is a good thing Cloud runs such great late night specials!

Septembeer Fest

2008-10-01T16:08:00.000-07:00

The Septembeer Fest was on Saturaday! Apparently it was great! 50+ breweries! Yummm. I just went to the after party at Block 15 Brewery which was awesome they have such yummy food. But the most important party was the music! I love Celtic/Irish(ish) music! I love it!

Beautiful Bicycles

2008-09-26T11:13:00.000-07:00

Incase you didn't know Corvallis is one the the top ten most bike friendly cities in the nation and we have alot of bike shops! Downtown alone there is Bike N' Hike, Corvallis Cyclery, Cyclotopia, Northwest Mulitsports and Peak Sports!
Today Peak Sports is having their used bike sale (which I think is just last years models, not actually used bike but I'm not sure). The sale will go from Friday Sept. 26th through Sunday Sept. 28th, Enjoy!
Its too bad for me that they do not have the bike that I have my heart set on... The Amsterdam by Electra. It has little pink tulips all over the yellow bike with a natural leather seat.
Someday, my love... when I have a garage to keep you in out of the Oregon rain.

Image thanks to rei.com

Want a Chic and Unique Place to Go Out?

2008-09-25T10:17:00.000-07:00

Magenta could be the answer. I had never been to Magenta when I went a month ago. I knew their atmosphere was beautiful but I was not prepared for how excellent the food would be. I had the "boneless pork loin seared in Oregon fruit & Riesling wine sauce served with caramelized onion wild rice polenta" and I could not stop eating it! Kimber (the chef and owner) was very nice and I think it is really nifty that every dish has a vegetarian option. The atmosphere was chic and lunch was $10. Magenta is great at doing what it does, flavorful culture-infused food. I am really excited to go back sometime for dinner and it will defiantly be a lunch stop when my Mom and I shop downtown! Next stop: SouthEast. a branch of Magenta that also looks very chic.

Decorating with Antique Books

2008-09-24T16:35:00.000-07:00

I love decorating with old books. Right now I am really into the heavily embossed covers of late 1800's books. I want to get a ledge shelf to display my collection and let them become an art piece in their own way. I have been collecting heavily embossed books for years; I don't seek them out, they find me. I was selling some books the other day at Browsers Books to get a guidebook for hiking and one such book found me. The vintage children's books are located right next to the door and I could not resist a look (see right) and what I found was beautiful! After I have it up and displayed I will show you but for now here is a photo of a book still available there with some nice embossing.

The book I choose was fifteen dollars but because I took in three old books to trade it only ended up costing me 50 cents what a deal!

Vintage Corvallis

2008-09-24T16:11:00.000-07:00

This week I decided to see what Corvallis had to offer in the way of vintage clothing. I felt like a new dress so I set out to see what vintage dresses there were to be found.

I found a great collection of vintage dresses at The Cats Meow thrift shop, t

he blue dress on the left is from there and is seven dollars! There was also a green dress with sleeves very similar to this and a white eyelet summer dress, very cute an

d all vintage! The floral dress is vintage inspired and is

at The Annex a brand new rerun shop on Jefferson! This cutie is fifteen dollars! If only I had a place to wear it the bodice is just beautiful! I also found some great finds at the OSU Folk thrift store and Camellia both located on Second Street, I found this all in less then an hour (on my lunch break)! It was a great little excursion but I decided that I need to look for more casual items next time because these beauties would just sit in my closet and they are too cute to do that!

Welcome!

2008-09-02T14:59:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Cheep and Chic in Corvallis. I hope that you will enjoy this blog which is my attempt at sharing chic ideas for the home, mini vacations, good meals and great fashion on a shoestring.
Enjoy!