I Heard It In The Desert: A new book compiles the best of the late Jim Witty's literary wanderings
The well-loved local journalist Jim Witty wasn't the kind of guy to go through life with a lot of regrets, but when Jim died at age 50 of a heart attack in his home, he left behind one piece of unfinished business – a yet-to-be-completed compilation of his fine work cataloging his decade of trekking…
The Civil War: what’s in a name,song and uniform
And so we come to the annual Civil War deciding which aptly named wet-side-of-the-State football team is better. Good luck to both schools, as I have no personal attachment to either institution.
Going Deep at Mt. Bachelor-It’s a matter of inches
Time was when a lot of local focus this time of year was on when the snowpack at Mt. Bachelor would reach 100 inches.
Dweezil Zappa Plays the Frank Zappa Catalog Tonight at Bend’s Tower Theatre
Last week I had a chance to chat it up with Mr. Dweezil Zappa, who is bringing his mini-orchestra to the Tower Theatre tonight to play some well-known hits from Frank’s enormous catalog.
Goodbye, Black Friday – Hello, Cyber Monday
Black Friday 2009 has come and gone. Thankfully, there were no fatalities this year.
Hairy Upper Lip Mania! Mustache Bash for Schools at the Domino Room on Monday Night
Mustaches have been growing everywhere as of late, with some going as far as to rename the entire month, Movember. We all know mustaches are either ridiculous or awesome: Awesome if you're holding a pistol, riding a horse while smoking a hand-rolled cigarette, driving a 1975 Dodge Charger, or happen to be a middle relief…
Oregon GOP's Prize Turkey Is Back
Appropriately enough for the week of Turkey Day, political activist-cum-racketeer Bill Sizemore has announced he’s going to seek the Republican nomination for governor. In a statement released to the far-right-wing NW Republican blog, Sizemore said he was running to “break the stranglehold the public employee unions have on the state of Oregon” because “he is…
Hillstomp Returns to Bend to Help You Work Off Some of that Turkey
In keeping with what I hope to be an annual tradition, Hillstomp, the venerable Portland junkyard blues rock band, is returning to the Domino Room for another post-Thanksgiving show. Those who made it out to the show last year will remember that Hillstomp has the ability (using only a guitar and a collection of junkyard…
How to burn the turkey: And the stuffing, the mashed potatoes and the pumpkin pie
We all know by now that we won't be able to burn off the brandied yams this year by hiking up Mt. Bachelor. In order to reduce “safety concerns” associated with uphill traffic, Mt. Bachelor and the Deschutes National Foresthave designated all areas within the special use permit as closed to uphill traffic except for…
A Giant Rabbit, a Final Curtain: 2nd Street Theater closes down with a spirited take on Harvey
Brian Johnson, director of 2nd Street Theater's last official production, Harvey, rallied his cast at the beginning of a recent dress rehearsal. He joked, “You should all feel honored and dismissed,” at being the final play before the theater closes. In true “the show must go on” form, owner and artistic director Maralyn Thoma remains…
Life Lessons: School's out for star in the making Carey Mulligan in An Education
There were two movies at the theater this weekend portraying the experiences of teenage girls as they navigate the territory between girlishness and womanhood. One of these films claimed teenage girls to be the powerless victims of men's will and lust. That would be the other film reviewed on this page, the latest installment of…
Fever Pitch: Tekken 6 holds its own but holes remain
I'm not sure if it's THE flu or H1N1 that I've got, but I'm doing fine now, thank you. I rather liked the term “Swine Flu,” because right now, feeling better, I'm pigging out. Anyway, it's about as backhanded as a compliment can get, but one of the best things that I can say about…
Cheesesteaks and Cupcakes: Comfort food with a little Philly flare at Lola's
I was very concerned when the Downtowner left its Brooks Street location to combine with The Summit (Saloon and Stage), its sister operation. Not only was it a key inexpensive lunch option, but the space and environs seemed to suit its personality, and frequently my mood, so perfectly. Where else could I enjoy a beer…
Cheesesteaks and Cupcakes: Comfort food with a little Philly flare at Lola's
I was very concerned when the Downtowner left its Brooks Street location to combine with The Summit (Saloon and Stage), its sister operation. Not only was it a key inexpensive lunch option, but the space and environs seemed to suit its personality, and frequently my mood, so perfectly. Where else could I enjoy a beer…
Collateral Damage
There are few ways that you can attempt not to pay for your drinks. While the bartender has your attention, you can break your neighbor's highball so that she has to clean up ice cubes, slivers of glass, and spilled whiskey and seven. And while her head is turned, you can play Houdini and disappear.…
The Way of the Frank: Dweezil Zappa on learning, teaching and accurately dishing out his dad's face-melting tunes
Here's perhaps the most rock star attribute to be deduced from a 20-minute interview with Dweezil Zappa – the dude uses an alias when checking into hotels. You just don't hear about quintessentially rock star stuff like that these days. But even with his rock royalty lineage and '80s-'90s celebrity status, that's about where the…
Powered by Women: Chicks with Picks
A glance at Central Oregon's local music landscape might give you the impression that men dominate the scene. Well, if you think that, you're kind of sexist. Sorry, but it's true. In fact, there is plenty of female musical prowess to be found in the greater Bend area and now there's a full night of…
Beware The Oregon Civil War Scams
How hot are Civil War tickets this year for the nationally televised Oregon – Oregon State game that will likely determine which of the two teams goes to the Rose Bowl? So in demand that the Attorney General wants you to be aware of ticket scams. AG John Kroger issued a media alert this morning…
Our Picks for 11/25 – 12/3: Toys for Tots, Hillstomp, Chicks with Picks and more
Toys for Tots featuring Ruckus friday – saturday 27 & 28 Local rock band Ruckus is playing this two-night engagement at the Riverhouse to benefit the Toys for Tots program. They're asking you to bring new and unwrapped toys or canned food to the shows that you can deposit before rocking out to one of…
Poet. Friend. Killer?: Jason Centrone went from a talented artist to a homeless man accused of murder in just 18 months
It was just after Easter of 2008 when Jason Centrone left Portland. He had canceled his cell phone and e-mail account. There were no goodbyes to speak of. Not to his best friend or the members of his poetry group or the production team with whom he was working to make a film. He had…
The Bulletin Uncovers a Hidden Menace
We believe Bend's Only Daily Newspaper deserves appropriate recognition for alerting our community to an insidious threat to our children: advocacy groups using the public school classrooms to push their dangerous, radical agendas. Specifically, The Bulletin's editorial page last Friday revealed that representatives from The Environmental Center (you know, that hippie hangout on Kansas Avenue)…
Leonard's Flight Suit Moment
Most news savvy Oregonians saw the recent dramatic footage of the Marysville school fire that featured flames leaping out of the top of the school building. What most people didn't see is Portland City Commissioner Randy Leonard donning a fire suit and scrambling onto the roof of the still-burning building to “assess” the situation.
Got Us By the Sachs: Turkey with Bernie, spilt milk and Gov. Sanford's black book
The author has been sent on the road to discover a lost country formerly known as America. He is reporting from a couch in New York in a tryptophan haze, hopeful of a long nap and no more food for at least a week, on assignment for Or-Bust.com and The Source Weekly.
How's this for…
The Lethal Method
The proposal by the city of Bend is ludicrous! They propose to use the lethal method to cut down on the number of Canadian geese in the parks. Come on people of Bend, Oregon, USA, stand up and protect the geese! Nomenclature is being used to try to disguise the truth: “lethal method” equals execution,…
There Is No Choice On Gay Rights
I congratulate the Mormon Church as difficult as that is for their stance on giving gays equal rights in housing and employment, i.e.
