Skip to main content
Each week our culture scientists rank their 10 favorite things in the universe. The resulting list is infallible. The list is perfect. If you don't agree with the list, you are wrong. Some items may stay atop the list for weeks, others may only make a brief appearance. Some items are Portland-centric, but only because Portland is at the center of the universe. Please do not write to us, asking for the metrics behind the list. We will not provide source material. We will not be swayed. Bow down to the list. Love the list, as the list loves all things. Let the list move through you. (And, you know, if you have suggestions for the list, stick them in the comments section below.)
1. Hucking the Fuskies
It's that time of the year again: Washington vs. Oregon. This rivalry has it all: a bitter border war, a history of rampant cheating, backstabbing Rose Bowl votes, fans tackling players on what should have been the game-winning play, and unconfirmed reports of fans throwing dog shit at each other. It's also been remarkably one sided of late. Huskies fans used to joke that the Ducks would have to win every game until 2028 to even up the series. Well, they're on pace to do just that. Oregon looks to make it nine consecutive blowout victories against Ted Bundy's alma mater this Saturday.
It's that time of the year again: Washington vs. Oregon. This rivalry has it all: a bitter border war, a history of rampant cheating, backstabbing Rose Bowl votes, fans tackling players on what should have been the game-winning play, and unconfirmed reports of fans throwing dog shit at each other. It's also been remarkably one sided of late. Huskies fans used to joke that the Ducks would have to win every game until 2028 to even up the series. Well, they're on pace to do just that. Oregon looks to make it nine consecutive blowout victories against Ted Bundy's alma mater this Saturday.
2. The bus to Seattle
3. Not knowing what "Gangnam Style" is
is
World of Warcraft
4. Jacksonville's Brit Pavilion
5. Barley Brown's Citra Hot Blonde
Perhaps the best chili beer ever, making the list for a second week (down 1 place from #4) because it's still on tap at Apex. The brewer says there's a little lemongrass in it. Apex bought the only kegs of Barley Brown brought over from Baker City this year, so look for it there.
6. Sherlock
The BBC's excellent, excellent modern-day Sherlock Holmes adaptation makes a shock return to the list after eight months because the CBS's woeful new modern-day Sherlock Holmes adaptation, Elementary, reminded us how amazing it is in comparison.
Perhaps the best chili beer ever, making the list for a second week (down 1 place from #4) because it's still on tap at Apex. The brewer says there's a little lemongrass in it. Apex bought the only kegs of Barley Brown brought over from Baker City this year, so look for it there.
6. Sherlock
The BBC's excellent, excellent modern-day Sherlock Holmes adaptation makes a shock return to the list after eight months because the CBS's woeful new modern-day Sherlock Holmes adaptation, Elementary, reminded us how amazing it is in comparison.
7. Moon Patrol
We played this for waaaay too long at the Portland Retro Gaming Expo on the weekend, which has now grown to fill a whole exhibition room at the Convention Center.
8. That Geico commercial with Eddie Money
It makes us sad to see the '80s superstar croaking through a bug-eyed, a capella rendition of "Two Tickets to Paradise," which is odd, because we didn't think we had the capacity to feel any sort of emotion toward Eddie Money at all. And isn't that, ultimately, the point of all commercials: to make us depressed over things we didn't know we could feel depressed about?
9. WW's President of Beers finally ending
Turns out 50 straight days of beer reviews is rather a lot of work. We'll be revealing the final 10 in this week's paper. We promise the results will be controversial.
Turns out 50 straight days of beer reviews is rather a lot of work. We'll be revealing the final 10 in this week's paper. We promise the results will be controversial.
10. Breaking Calvin
Breaking Bad meets Calvin and Hobbes. That is all.
Breaking Bad meets Calvin and Hobbes. That is all.
WWeek 2015