Eugene Loan Guy

On this page, you will find reviews and happenings around Lane County. Please come back often.

Hendricks Bridge Park is located just a short distance from Thurston (Springfield) Oregon on the banks of the McKenzie River. The park is 17 acres just 9 miles from downtown Springfield. It is a great place to picnic or to wade in the water. The McKenzie is pretty cold most of the year and runs high in the spring and winter.

Entry Sign

As you can see, the park is open from dawn to dusk and there is a user fee of $3 per vehicle. It is located on Highway 126 just after crossing the McKenzie going east.

History of Hendricks Bridge

The park is located where there has been a river crossing since the days of horse drawn wagons and buggies. There is even a map of the McKenzie River showing the drainage system into the Willamette River.

Kids wading pool

There is a wading area at the park and although it was a cool afternoon during the week, there were still kids playing in the water. This weekend, the weather should be warmer and you will need to bring your own rock to stand on, it is a very popular place.

Lane County officials constantly warn about the dangers of getting into the river proper. Every year people lose their lives because they think the McKenzie is just a calm little stream. What they don’t realize is that the McKenzie is hardly ever calm. So be sure and wear the proper safety devices.

Hendricks Bridge Pavillion

There is a pavilion on site for those special occasions when you want your friends and family together for a special occasion. You can make reservations for this here.

Boat Ramp

There is also a boat ramp at the park with parking for your vehicle and trailer. This is a day use park and has a $3 per vehicle fee.

So, enjoy and be careful. There are several other county parks that I will try to highlight in future blogs.

Holiday Farm Restaurant

August 16, 2008

The Holiday Farm Restaurant is located, according to the postal address, in Vida OR. In reality, it is almost located in Blue River (the USPS thinks they are the same) but misses that by a few miles too.

So, the first thing to say is the food and the service was excellent. I will come back to that, because I want to talk about where it is first. If planning dinner at the Holiday Farm, remember that it takes longer to get there than you expect.

To get to the restaurant from Eugene/Springfield, take Highway 126 east through Vida and Blue River to milepost 46. Turn right on McKenzie River Drive and go about a quarter mile and it is located on the left. The signage on 126 could be a lot better, but if you get lost, just turn around and try again. Check out their website for directions.

Since it is so far away from the major population area, I expected a small restaurant with maybe 10-15 places and about half full. In reality, I think they can seat about 30 inside, more outside and have a new bar that can seat 17. Also, you can forget the half full too, apparently the word has gotten out about this hide away.
If you don’t want to drive all the way from Eugene and back for dinner, stay the night in one of their cabins. Spend the next day rafting the McKenzie River, go riding at King Road Stables, or try fishing in one of the many nearby lakes.

Very close are both Blue River Reservoir and Cougar Reservoir. Above Cougar is a small lake with cutthroat trout called Hidden Lake. It is a fun little lake with some rafts that people have built and left there. I would tell you how to get there, but then it wouldn’t be hidden any longer. There are also a couple of hot springs in the area. Nearby is Tokatee Golf Club, voted one of the best course you can play (public course). Photos are from their website.

Now, back to the food. Surprisingly, they have a fairly extensive menu. Steaks and chops, pasta and seafood are there as are some surprises. How about Elk Steak with a Morel Mushroom blend from New Zealand? Not quite, then how about a Porterhouse with wild Chanterelle Mushrooms. Vegetarians are also supplied items like Portabella Mushroom Ravioli. I was also surprised to find Duck on the menu along with Lamb and Wild Salmon.
On Friday they had Parmesan Encrusted Prime Rib (as a special) which was excellent and an Angus Filet with Béarnaise, which was my choice. My companion’s Prime was just right and very flavorful. My Prime was almost done to perfection. I would have liked it just a bit more on the pink side, but it didn’t hurt the flavor at all.

The sides were also excellent. They actually bake their potatoes which makes the skin so flavorful. And, on Friday, they had a home made clam chowder that was excellent. I am still trying to figure out what the spice was I tasted, but it has eluded me.
Kelly, our server, was attendant without hovering and made suggestions that assisted in our ordering. To me, the only down point of the dinner was that they opened the door to the deck dining about 8:15 and it was still too warm outside. It was an extremely hot day and I would have preferred the air conditioning to the fresh air. They also had some outstanding desert offerings, but we were too fed to partake.

Overall, it was an enjoyable dining experience and I would recommend dinner at the Holiday Farm Restaurant when you are ready for a trip out of town.

NEDCO – Help for homeowners and home owner wannabe’s

This was originally published in my Active Rain blog in August to help people that needed information about buying or saving their home. Let me know if you need more information about this community organization.

NEDCO, Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation, in Eugene and Salem is a non-profit Community Development Corporation that helps neighborhoods and families. NEDCO is a HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agency and has help hundreds of people prepare for home ownership.

The Springfield Home Ownership Program and the Eugene Homeowner Assistance Program both require counseling and training prior to receiving one of their no interest loans. I have had my clients attend the course and come away much more prepared for the huge step of purchasing a home. The program they offer is called the “ABC’s of Homebuying.” It is a one day class designed to help understand the entire home buying process.

They also offer the Threshold Homeownership Education & Counseling Program (http://www.nedcocdc.org/threshold.htm), which is an in-depth education and individualized consultation program. This is the most comprehensive program, and it has successfully prepared hundreds of families for homeownership.

In today’s market, one of their program that is coming more and more into demand is: Default and Foreclosure Prevention Counseling- A Homeownership Counselor is available to review your situation and help with identifying options, developing a strategic plan, contacting lenders, and providing information about available resources. In addition, they offer an Information and Referral Service for current homeowners. They offer assistance with getting better mortgage terms, budgeting, dealing with payment problems, or answering your questions about financing is available. We also provide information about home repairs, weatherization, and selling your home.

NEDCO is available at their Mid-Willamette Valley office: 945 Columbia Street NE, Salem, OR 97301, Phone: 503-485-8974; or the Lane County office: 783 Grant Street, Eugene, OR 97402, Phone: 541-345-7106.

There are other programs for low and moderate income clients, including Individual Development account and individual consultations. Find out more about NEDCO at their website, http://www.nedcocdc.org.

Lunch Specials in Eugene and Springfield

Since this review is about lunch places in both Eugene and Springfield, I decided to put in in Lane County. There are lots of options for lunch in Eugene and Springfield and being a big guy, I like my lunch. Let me know if you are going to be around and let’s get together for lunch. I might even let you pay.

authored by Fred Chamberlin, senior mortgage consultant, Eugene/Springfield Oregon, 541-342-7576, July 15, 2008

OK gang, I want to see lots of responses to this posting. Where do you like to get your lunch? Where do you think the best value for your money is? Who has the best tasting fare? Why???

OK, here are my choices and they are not all inclusive, there may be others. First, for the best value, no place in the area offers a better one than Costco. Where else can you get an all beef quarter pound hot dog and a soda for only $1.50. Plus you can add your own toppings, including sour kraut. So, there is value #1. I think value #2 is also at Costco. You can get a 3 pound rotisserie bar-b-que chicken for only $5.99. Add a bag of chips and you can feed 3 or 4. Or just feed yourself and use the rest to make sandwiches or Caesar salads.

Next on my list of great deals with good taste, would be Sukaru in Valley River Center. They are a Japanese Grill and everyday have one of their items on special and often times have samples out front with discount coupons. Even at full price, you can get the chicken with rice and vegetables with double meat for just over $6 and it is more than big enough to share. The dish is tasty and hot off of the grill.

Next door to there and several other places around town are Subway sandwiches. They offer several foot long subs for only $5. Again, big enough to share. I don’t care for most of the fast food places for lunch because by the time I get a burger good enough to eat, I have to pay more than I want. LOL.

However, if you are hungry, try one of our Mongolian bar-b-que restaurants. There is one located on River Rd., near the Beltline and another in the Target shopping center on West 11th. They are similar in their fare, but differ in preparation. Both allow you to choose your items and sauces, however, they have different preparation techniques. Jung’s (W11th) has a big grill that they cook about 8 at the same time and then scrape the grill after each group. Eugene’s Mongolian Grill (River Rd.) only cooks two at a time and they are moved around the grill. The danger with this is your meal may taste like what the other person’s sauces are. Jung’s has one size (all you can eat) and they give a senior discount, no doggie bag. Eugene’s has three sizes and doggie bags are allowed unless you go for all you can eat. $6-8.

I like Asian food and one of my favorites is the Fortune Inn on West 6th St. they offer anything on the menu at lunch for $6.25 which includes soup and tea. Their egg flower soup is the best in town. The hot and sour is also good but not sure it is the best. You should have pleanty left over for lunch the next day too. Try the combination chow mein with yakasoba noodles or the special with pan fried noodles. Their special fried rice is also exceptional.

For any day, another great value for lunch is the Olive Garden. You can get soup and salad and breadsticks for only $6.95. All of them are all you can eat. I recommend the Zupa, a potato-sausage-kale soup in a light cream base. Get there early and you get more goodies in your soup.

If you like something a bit different, try Chicken Bonz on Pioneer Parkway in Springfield. They offer several varieties and sizes of chicken wings. Something for everyone’s palate. And, for the especially hungry, try Hometown Buffet in the Gateway Mall. They also offer a senior discount with card purchase.

So, tell me your favorites.

Three River’s Casino and Prime Restaurant

In July, I wrote a review of Three Rivers Casino and their very classy restaurant, Prime, and a good time I had there. The reason I am doing the reviews is so visitors now where they can find interesting sites and good restaurants to visit. The increase in Native American casinos in Oregon have been a point of contention and a boon to the local economies. It will be interesting to see how they fare the current economic climate.

After breakfast with the lead singer of the Coasters, I got a picture with him and his wife.

The resturant is located in the Three Rivers Casino in Florence, OR. Just head west from Eugene and you can’t miss it.
http://www.threeriverscasino.com/a/pages/hotel.htm…
We had dinner at the Prime Resturant and I enjoyed the meal very much. Overall, I would give them about 4 stars out of 5. My lobster was outstanding, the prime with it was very good, however, my lady’s filet was not cooked enough for her. The salad course takes special note. Our server recommended the lettuce wedge with a special blue cheese dressing and it was mouth watering. It so good we got a doggie bag for the left over salad. I have never done that in the past.

The waitstaff was well trained and attentive. They took care of our needs without a lot of asking. The food was served hot (or cold if it was supposed to be.) The drawn butter was on a warmer that greatly increased the enjoyment.

The prices were as one would expect from a very nice restaurant. For two top of the line entree’s, two glasses of wine and two appetizers, the bill came to $90.

We enjoyed our time together. The dinner was unrushed but still left us plenty of time before the show. We went over to see the Coasters concert and it was a blast. The interesting thing about the concert, I am 60 and was one of the youngest in the place. LOL

Oakridge Summer Concert Series

Riverfront at the Park

(Editor’s Note: This is a post from July) Well, this weekend was the summer concert series in Oakridge at the Siuslaw amphitheater and it was a lot of fun. I was there on Sunday and enjoyed the music of Taylor’s Crossing and Amy Clawson. Taylor’s Crossing started about 2 and played until 4. Amy cam on at about 6 and went until the close at 8 p.m.

Lead Singer for Taylor's Crossing

In two weeks, they are hosting the 3rd anual Mardi Gras fundraiser for the for Musician’s Village in New Orleans featuring Kelly Thibodeaux & The E’Touffee Band. This week there was bar-b-que chicken and sausages on sale along with a beer and wine garden. The prices were excellent too, a chicken dinner was only $5 and was mouth watering good. The Mardi Gras features cajun food and the beer garden will be back.

The venue is gorgeous with the amphitheater backing up to the river. There was plenty of space for everyone, but a decent crowd showed up. You should bring your own chair or blanket. Donations are gratefully accepted.

The weather was as nice as could be and the drive uneventful from Springfield. Highway 58 is undergoing some construction near Pleasant Hill and Lowell, but overall there were no major slowdowns. I plan on going back for Mardi Gras, I hope to see you all there.