Most Overrated Thing in or About the Valley

It’s only natural that people get sick of hearing about the same things over and over (and over) again. That doesn’t mean they aren’t great, and it certainly doesn’t mean they haven’t had a positive influence. Sometimes, we just get sick of the hype. This year, voters are simply over it when it comes to Bon Iver. Yeah, their music is good, and there’s that downtown mural … but come on, Eau Claire is more than just the birthplace of a cool band. Same goes for the Eaux Claires Music and Arts Festival. The annual fest has been put on hold for 2019 to regroup and come back even bigger and better —  a decision which has had all sorts of mixed responses. Lastly comes that giant, illuminated building on the river: The Pablo Center at the Confluence. Apparently hosting big names like Trampled by Turtles and Chris Kroeze just isn’t enough for some people. — Samantha Kobs