Steve Prefontaine lookalike-contest Showcases Eugene During Oregon22 - The Register-Guard
Source: THE REGISTER-GUARD
The head of Thinking Tree Spirits and others are “really excited…that people from all over the globe are coming here” and want to showcase the city.
By Megan Banta
Nothing says Eugene like Steve Prefontaine and dressing up, Julie Johansen said.
Julie, JJ and Tripp Johansen all dressed up as the celebrated American long-distance runner for a lookalike contest and dance party at Thinking Tree Spirits during the World Athletics Championships Oregon22.
Julie Johansen found out about the contest a handful of days before the event and started pulling together costumes, using shorts from old Creswell track and field uniforms, cutting up t-shirts and crafting with felt to create mustaches and sideburns.
Prefontaine, a Coos Bay native, attended the University of Oregon and later ran for the Oregon Track Club. He broke numerous records and competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics. He was preparing to run in the 1976 Summer Olympics but in 1975 was killed in a one-car crash in Eugene. He was 24.
Prefontaine's charisma and tenacity made him a celebrity, and he's still considered one of the most influential runners in history.
The Johansens found the event appealing because it was a fun and free family activity, and they ended up sweeping the three awards in the lookalike contest.
Emily Jensen said the Pre lookalike contest is part of an effort to showcase Eugene as tens of thousands of people visit the city during the 10-day international track and field event.
The distillery, located in the Whiteaker Neighborhood, is looking to draw people into the historic part of Eugene through a pop-up dinner series and other events, including the Pre lookalike contest and dance party Saturday night, said Jensen, who founded and heads Thinking Tree.
Jensen and others are "really excited about the fact that people from all over the globe are coming here," she said, and they want to take the opportunity to show what Eugene has to offer.
"Eugene is a really special community that is unlike any other," Jensen said. "It’s not just the best running track in the world."
The Whiteaker in particular is a special area, she said.
A Pre lookalike contest and dance party just seemed like a fun thing to do, Jensen added, and about three weeks ago, another opportunity came up when New York-based chef and Olympic distance runner Michael Stember reached out.
Thinking Tree and others worked with Stember to secure a restaurant space and put together a pop-up dinner series known as Family Mean '22. The dinner runs every night through July 24 and features a three-tier Omakaseserved family-style for group reservations and a select walk-in menu with seafood andbeef. Thinking Tree Spirits is exclusively providing cocktails for the pop-up.
Large groups can make reservations by emailing michael@michaelstember.com, and walk-ins are welcome from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. at 298 Blair Blvd.
“As an Olympic runner and a chef, I’m excited to serve fans traveling from all over the globe to experience theWorld Championships on American soil for the first time,” Stember said in a statement. “Family Meal isan open invitation to fans who love a variety of global flavors and want to gather after the day’s events.”
In addition to the pop-up dinners and the Pre lookalike contest, Thinking Tree has extended hours, has put a blow-up curling zone and other games in its parking lot and will host live music each night, Jensen said.
Jensen's biggest wish is that the community is "able to warmly open our smile and our arms and our hearts to many, many nations and many, many languages" to show people why Eugene is such a special place.
"Enjoy yourselves and welcome to Eugene," Jensen said. "We hope you love it and that you come back."