This year don’t worry about parking, long lines, and supply chains. The Hult staff is here to help this holiday. We’ve put together a list of our favorite shows and gift ideas from local Eugene businesses that are sure to be a holiday hit.
Jen Cumberworth – Education Coordinator
Show: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in Concert – Being a big Harry Potter fan (and even having a tattoo to prove it), I have to recommend Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in Concert. The movies are always a delight to watch and the music is so fun, lively, and adventurous. Getting to see and hear the score live is a really special treat and a fantastic gift idea. This will be a fun show to enjoy with friends, a date, or your family!
Local Business: The Clothes Horse – I love thrifting and vintage fashion, and the Clothes Horse always has so many fashionable hits! Located on 5th Avenue across from the 5th Street Market, The Clothes Horse features an amazing selection of women’s resale clothing. You can even see their current amazing outfits on their Instagram. This is a great place to find something unique, or even purchase a gift card, for that stylish person in your life.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in Concert
Chelsea Handler: Vaccinated and Horny Tour
Abbey Aronica – Marketing Coordinator
Show – Chelsea Handler: Vaccinated & Horny Tour on February 5 – I accidentally stumbled upon Chelsea Handler’s first TV show, The Chelsea Handler Show, when I was 11 years old (I know, little too young) and made my mom watch it with me. Now, as a 25-year-old, I have really enjoyed watching her evolve as a comic and tackle difficult topics while acting as an advocate for marginalized communities. Lately, she also started a new podcast where she offers people advice along with her personal assistant, Brandon. If you want to spend an evening laughing, I think this show is going to be incredible and I’m personally counting down the days for this show!
Local Business – Cozy in Downtown Eugene: As an avid crafter & crocheter, I am always on the hunt for yarn to make gifts for friends and family, so naturally, one of my favorite shops in Eugene is Cozy! They have tons of beautiful colors available and a lot of their yarns are local / can’t be found at other craft stores. They also take suggestions on brands that should be carried there. Pre – COVID times they used to have some awesome classes for crafters of all skill levels, and I can’t wait until those come back. So if you know someone that loves to crochet or knit, a gift card to Cozy would be the perfect gift.
Dan Olbrych – Content and Design Coordinator
Show: My son is really into drumming. Whether it’s punk or Taiko, so for me this is a no-brainer. The acclaimed Japanese group Drum Tao will be performing for one night only this March. Featuring a thunderous collection of Wadaiko-drums, Japanese flutes, and harps, Drum Tao promises to be a memorable experience for you and the drummer in your life.
Local Business: And for the local explorer, why not treat them to an E-Bike rental from Electric Avenue Sports. Just $20 bucks will get you an hour on the super rad Super 73 Z1. Cruise around town at a speedy 20 mph without breaking a sweat. Don’t forget to bring your helmet!
Drum Tao
10x10: Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio
Vicki Infinito – Director of Programming
Show: It’s so hard to pick just one show! We have a lot of really good ones coming up and yes, I am a bit biased since I booked them. I am going to say the 10×10 Series as a whole and what better way to share the love of music with someone than buying tix to all of the upcoming shows. They are only $10 a ticket and are all such wonderful Artists.
Local Business: What better way to spend an evening than with some food and then attending a live show, like the aforementioned 10×10 Series shows. My perfect evening would be some good food and drink and then a show and we have some great food trucks and drink establishments within walking distance to the Hult Center. One of my favorites is the Da Nang food truck at Oregon Wine Lab and gift certificates are always a great gift or plan an evening for your special someone this winter with some Da Nang Pho and drinks at the Oregon Wine Lab.
Hannah Bulkley – Programming and Booking Coordinator
Show: Jeff (my husband) is a fan of the MST3K TV series. He introduced me to it when we started dating. I’ll admit, it wasn’t an immediate hit for me. Fast forward to January of 2020, I got us tickets to go to the live stage show Mystery Science Theater 3000 LIVE: Time Bubble Tour here at the Hult, knowing he would have a great time. Surprise surprise, the thrill of the live experience in this show hooked me! It was a great night that was full of laughs and some really good knee slaps that may have left a mark. One pandemic later, I’m looking forward to going to this tour and creating a whole new batch of memories!
Local Business: The Clothes Horse is one of my favorite stores in town. If you’re not a fan of second-hand clothes, this store will change your mind. The owner is very particular about what she buys and a good percentage of her merchandise is brand new with tags still attached. Every time I go to The Clothes Horse, it’s like embarking on a new hunt for hidden treasure! I am now to the point where I have very little to sell her because so much of my wardrobe is from her store. Plus, it’s a women-owned business and she does a fantastic job of giving back to her community and raising funds for other organizations, such as the local NAACP.
Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live
Rich Hobby – Director of Marketing
Show: MST3K – Time Bubble Tour on Jan. 3: Nothing brings joy like the act of laughter, and there is no better source of side-splitting giggles than the crew of MST3K and their delightful riffing on terrible sci-fi and schlocky films of yesteryears. While tickets to this would be a surefire hit for any pop culture fanatic, I think it makes for an amazing time out for any fan of comedy, as well as family-friendly audiences, and a great way to wrap up the holiday season with a hilarious night out.
Local Business: Books with Pictures: Clearly I lean towards the pop culture side, but just want to call out my love for Eugene’s newest comic shop located just a few blocks from the Hult on Olive and Broadway. This shop has an incredible bounty of all things comics, graphic novels, manga, and more. I did a good amount of my gift-shopping here last year and the staff are incredibly helpful resources and I highly encourage asking for new recommendations as well as watching along online as they announce the newest goodies coming in each week.