Night of a Thousand Stars




Saturday, November 26, 2023

The day begin like most others. We were up, walking dogs, chatting about the day, and picking up the house a bit. Eugene 5th Street Public Market was hosting the annual Night of a Thousand Stars and we wanted to be there. 

This would be our second time attending the festival. The market hosts a tree lighting ceremony and the snow fall throughout the venue. The festival concludes with The Alley Christmas lights swirling and dancing in unison with a band playing familiar yuletide tunes. 

Sounds festive. It's pretty to see lights. I like music. But not when it is 32 degrees outside! 

Shivering, we arrived and gave our family the obligatory hugs and greetings, mostly because we love them and somewhat because it's another body to warm up on. Brandon and Jess (our granddaughter and grandson-in-law) and their adorable daughter Zyrah were there, along with Kaylie Rose who was working in the market area anyway, plus we got a chance to see Kylee, our other granddaughter, and Jessee's sister. 

Mallory and Hayden, Terry's daughter and grandson, chose to go with us this year. They had never been and we wanted to let them have the experience. Especially Hayden. After all of our greetings, we stood chatting, freezing, and waiting for the tree to light up. Hayden and Mallory were freezing and since they had never been, they chose to wander off into the stores to see what they could find. Terry and I decided to go into the Alley to see how those infrared heaters were working this year. 

The venue beside the market is known as The Alley, and it has large infrared heaters above all of the outside seating. Terry and I found a table where we could feel the warmth. I took a couple of photos while we sat and talked. The restrooms were next. That included a trip into the market itself. We ventured off into the large building. 


The Fifth Street Public Market is pretty cool looking. It's four stories tall, with a glass elevator to get between those levels. Unique stores line the walkways, along with many eateries, serving various food selections. 


Fifth Street had the market decorated nicely, once again. The fountain had strands of lights dangling above. Rails were holding garlands of greenery and white lights peering out from between the branches, adding to the Christmas feel. 




After a short stop to the restrooms, we climbed aboard the glass elevator. I felt like Charlie Bucket in the book, The Glass Elevator. Looking out among the people, the decorations, and being able to see the stores on the ride down was nice. 




Hubby Mac and I walked back to where Jess and Brandon, Kylee and Kaylie stood earlier. They were still there, in front of the unlit tree. 



Kylee and Kaylie were catching up on things, since Kaylie just returned from her travels. She went to Italy with Marina and John, then took off for England and other European areas of the world. It was an awesome trip, once in a lifetime adventure, that's for sure. She said she was so exhausted and ready to come home that she slept through Thanksgiving. Tired, yes, but she will have those memories embedded in her for the rest of her life. What an experience!


The moon was beautiful! It hung high in the sky before darkness set upon the venue. I saw it sparkling bright in the mostly clear skies before we arrived in Eugene. 


Terry and I stood with our family for a while before retiring to the warmth of The Alley. We found a quick moment for a selfie, which was suggested by my husband. 


Once in The Alley again, the warmth of the heaters warmed our souls. My hands were frozen! I brought three hats in case I needed to share some, but forgot gloves. Mallory was smart and did bring gloves, although she said her hands were numb before the night was over. She didn't have a hat, so I shared one of mine with her. 

Mallory and Hayden showed up in The Alley after a few moments. We all sat and chatted for a bit, waiting on the tree lighting to begin. If you don't get to the market early enough, then you don't find parking. If you arrive too early though, you have nothing but waiting once your walk through the stores was complete. 

Last year we had walked around the stores. Mallory and Hayden did the same this year. Their adventure led them to realize just how expensive everything was in the one-of-a-kind stores and that was that. Most of the stores are expensive, but they do have those unique pieces of art, clothing, and other sundries that would be more expensive due to a lot of the artists or clothing makers create the items by hand. Some not, but some do. These are boutique style shops and definitely unique, worth shopping in, and understandable why the items are typically expensive. 

A little while later, we decided to walk back out to the tree, as there was a lot of foot traffic inside The Alley. I figured the festivities were going to start any moment and that is why visitors were rushing outward. Hayden had a smile on his face as we walked toward the large crowd in front of the tree. I love seeing the sparkling eyes and big smiles of kids during the holidays. It's heartwarming to see children happy. 

As we walked through the crowd to try and locate Jess and Brandon, Kylee and Kaylie, we saw the tree lights were already on. The snow began to fall over our heads and onto the tree, rooftops, and visitors. 





Under the street lamps and glow of the Christmas tree lights, the snow twirled and twisted its way to the rooftops and ground. It was beautiful. No, the snow isn't real. The tree is pretty, but nothing out of the ordinary. The entire festival is nothing to get overly excited about, but you could feel the Christmas spirit in those around you. Children on their parent's shoulders to see the activity high above the crowd, their eyes wide in excitement. It's not the faux snow or the tree or the fact that Santa appeared. It was the spirit in the people of Eugene. This is what Christmas is all about. It's the spirit that makes this holiday so special, so memorable. 


After watching the snow fall for a few moments, Terry and I decided to run back into The Alley to get a table under our favorite heat lamp. Once there, we thought we would grab something to eat. Mallory and Hayden had already eaten dinner before they left, so they went on another adventure through the stores. My hubby and I went into a Eugene eatery called Cafe Yumm

When Terry and I first met, we took a trip to Eugene to visit family and hang out. The most "Eugene" food experience I could come up with was to take him to Cafe Yumm, and introduce him to the Yumm bowl. The Yumm Bowl is a blend of brown rice, olives, tomatoes, cilantro, avocadoes, and a sprinkle of cheese and topped with sour cream. Then there is the Jazzy Bowl. That is a Yumm bowl with jasmine rice instead of brown rice. I had one of those. I know Terry ordered a Yumm Bowl as well and I think his was the Jazzy Bowl. 

The best thing about the Yumm Bowl is the sauce. Yumm Sauce can be purchased around some stores in Eugene and through the cafe itself. I found tiny jars of Yumm Sauce in Roseburg in the local store, but it was a fortune. We just waited for our next trip to Eugene, grabbed a large bottle and paid a much smaller amount for it. 

It's an amazing blend of canola oil, water, almonds, nutritional yeast, vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, and B12. Garbanzo beans, soy lecithin, lemon juice, soybeans, salt, garlic, and herbs complete the wonderful tasting blend. The sauce is almost addicting, the flavor is so different and good. If you're ever in Eugene, you should try the Cafe Yumm bowls. 

Cafe Yumm does serve other items as well, such as wraps with all sorts of ingredients, soups, salads, and other items. They offer the bowls in varieties as well. There is the original Yumm bowl, the Hot and Jazzy Yumm bowl, the Jazzy bowl, the Smoky Bowl, a Chilean Zucchini bowl, a Southwestern Yumm bowl, Edamame Yumm bowl, and the Baby Yumm bowl. Skewered meats in different flavors and cookies to end the meal. Always something to choose from and always a healthier way to eat. Just a great little cafe!



The yummy, beautiful Yumm Bowl from Cafe Yumm is a very popular meal in Eugene and I have never been disappointed in ordering them. 

Hubby and I finished our dinner and went outside to meet up again with Mallory and Hayden. They had selected a table in The Alley, to sit and watch the lights and listen to the band. Once Terry and I arrived at the table, we decided to load up and go home. It was now a frigid 30 degrees and it was time to get into a nice warm car. But not before we took a couple of photos. 


Inside The Alley


Mallory and Terry.


Terry and I, taken by Mallory.


Hayden did not want to be in the photos. He wasn't having it, as is pretty usual for a 10-year old boy. Well, I snapped one anyway, as he turned to look down the road. 


Fifth Street Market Station Square that sits directly across the street from the Fifth Street Market. 

Terry had on hand a musical selection of love songs we compiled when we first got together. We also compiled songs on a second CD and those were playing in the car for the ride home. We all sat in silence while the music played on. Mallory was suffering a headache, so she was probably dozing in the back or at least resting. Hayden was quiet. 

Terry concentrated on driving, as the darkness took that concentration to be as safe as possible. I played a game on my phone while relaxing. The day had been good. I love hanging out with the family, as I've mentioned in many of our posts. My heart was still. It was full of love for the life I am living in this moment. Blessings are plentiful, laughter and love in abundance. I know that I am happy in this life with those blessings. 

I looked into the sideview mirror and saw Mallory, my "new" step daughter. I smiled as I thought back on our relationship so far. Looking to the side of me is Terry, my husband of five months. My heart lit up the night skies and my mind was at peace while looking upon his face. Hayden was in the backseat, adding another grandchild to my existence. This too creates a feeling of elation. 

The ride home was silent, but so filled with love that if they could have heard my joy, the sound would have shattered the silence in that car. Overall, it was an amazing day in my life, lived in complete happiness and joy. It truly was a magical night of a thousand stars, as I was thanking the heavens and stars for these beautiful souls who are my life. 

Once again, I truly am blessed, as are we all.


Our beautiful great granddaughter, Zyrah, and her buddy, Marina's dog, Franklin the Saint Berdoodle in 2022 at the Night of a Thousand Stars Festival in Eugene, Oregon


















 











































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