Mosquitoes Bite: How not to get eaten alive by this summer's bad crop of bugs
On an episode of Man vs. Wild, sap from a camphor tree is used as a natural mosquito repellent while hiking in the jungle. Not all of us have access to camphor trees, or the jungle, especially while trekking around the Cascade Lakes, which are notorious for horrible mosquitoes, especially this year. Luckily, there are…
Like Scout, Be Prepared
Whether toting kids around or stocking your car, first-aid kits are always a must. But what do you put in a first-aid kit?
The Poor Man’s Lear Jet: See the High Desert from above with a powered parachute
Central Oregon has a DIY streak as strong as any that you'll find in the West. From making our own backcountry snowboards to wiring our kitchen remodels, we'd prefer to figure it out ourselves than call in an expert. But of all the do-it-yourself tasks that Central Oregonians take on, perhaps none is as brazen…
Walking the Line: Think you have good balance? Try slacklining
Looking for a backyard/campsite/park game that requires a little more athleticism than horseshoes? Try slacklining. Like horseshoes, equipment requirements are minimal and it can be enhanced by casual beer drinking. Unlike horseshoes, mishaps are much more frequent and hilarious.
Tour des Chutes: And a word with Chris Horner during the local charity ride
What makes the annual Tour des Chutes unique among local organized road bike rides is that it’s a ride with several purposes. One is to raise money for cancer research. The second is to honor those who have passed on because of the disease and, three, to honor those who have survived it. Then, there’s…
4 Peaks Music Festival Continues Today…and a Double Rainbow
I checked out the opening night of the 4 Peaks Music Festival last night out in Tumalo and despite a few rain showers, the event is shaping up nicely. Great environment, great music and incredibly family friendly.
The Traveling Camera: Sparks Lake at Sunrise
Yes, I know it’s overdone, but Sparks Lake at sunrise still rocks. This week, I camped up there to get that early morning light.
New Larry and His Flask Music Video
I just came across this new video for Larry and His Flask’s “Call it What You Will” (off their amazing new album — but it now) and figured I should share it. After all, this is the Summer of the Flask, as I’m calling it, seeing as how the band is tearing it up on…
Woody’s Road Trip: Part 3
This is Bob Woodward’s third and final installment about his great American road trip. Read the first and second parts if you need to catch up. Back in the dark ages, when I was a kid living in Colorado, my parents owned a Viewmaster. Insert a circular card with tiny images on it into the…
Region’s First Windfarm Gets Federal Nod
A proposal to build Central Oregon’s first large-scale wind farm won the approval of federal regulators on Thursday. The Department of Interior announced today that it had signed off on a plan for a developer to build 52 wind towers on a 10,000-acre, privately owned piece of land that straddles eastern Deschutes and western Crook…
4 Peaks Festival Grounds Taking Shape
In this week’s paper, I laid out the history of the 4 Peaks Music Festival, which makes a triumphant return to glory this weekend out in Tumalo. Here’s the full lineup.
When in Doubt, Glue it!
While most people consider super glue, real name cyanoacrylate, as a go-to tool for fixing broken items, they do not realize is that super glue should be included in their first-aid kit. The next time you cut yourself cooking, fall off your bike or try to do some “home improvement,” super glue could save you…
Water, Sunscreen, Earplugs: And everything else you need to survive an outdoor music festival
So, you've decided to attend a multi-day outdoor music festival. First off, unless you're a total jerk, you're going to have fun. Secondly, you should know that many of these gatherings are essentially tests of human endurance with some music playing in the background, if you don't show up prepared. Whether you're heading to this…
The Longboard: Lazy man's skateboard or extreme sports tool?
Can't ollie or kick flip or ride more than a few yards on a skateboard without endangering yourself or others? You might want to try a longboard, the skateboard's longer (duh), easier, smoother cousin. You're not going to impress anyone with tricks; this board is just for cruising and is a unexpectedly efficient mode of…
The Boswell Challenge: 3.5 pounds of burrito in 5 minutes
Last summer, on a staggeringly hot day, I sat down with four young men and attempted to eat a 3.5 pound burrito in five minutes. I failed. Miserably. But three of the other competitors surrounding me finished the massive concoction of tortilla, meats, cheese, chilies, sauce, rice, beans and who knows what else before time…
The Real Pilot Butte Challenge
It’s a pretty simple equation: Go to the Pilot Butte Drive-In (the original on Greenwood) and order their 18-ounce burger, complete with all the trimmings, large fries and a large shake. Eat all of it as fast as you can and then run to the top of Pilot Butte. It is a sure-fire way to…
The Beer Mile: Four beers, four laps and no puke
Recently, a group of friends gathered at a regulation, 400 meter oval track to find out who among them could down four beers and run four laps – one mile – the fastest, a feat known as the “beer mile.” The cadre of athletes arrived at the agreed- upon track, each man toting his chosen…
Don't Rock the Boat: Surviving your river expedition
Before boaters even have a chance to launch their raft on the lower Deschutes River near the popular section around Maupin, the Bureau of Land Management offers an eye-catching reminder of the inherent danger of whitewater. Perched next to the access road, just a quarter mile or so down from the Harpham Flat boat ramp…
Getting Extreme at the Lair: Hanging with the youth at Phil's big air zone
Reserved for kids, ex-pro downhillers and those with comprehensive health insurance, the Lair is a great place to create space between your tires and the ground. Full of tall dirt ramps and steep-bermed corners, it looks terrifying. Fourteen-year-olds make navigating the area’s three main jump lines look easy. Although the three zones are thought be…
Gimme Dingers:The Home Run Derby is like The View with more swearing
“Holy f***ing s*** I love hitting home runs.” – Babe Ruth, to a bedridden child. 1932.
The home run is, unequivocally, the most exciting thing in baseball. Well, next to some drunken college junior jumping down onto the field and eluding security for five minutes of excitement that eclipses anything baseball could ever offer. The…
Rolling on the McKenzie River: The river next door offers trips for beginners and experts alike
The McKenzie River is running higher than usual for this time of year, making it the perfect day trip for those looking for a manageable whitewater adventure that is an easy drive from Bend. The scenery is lush and green with clear aqua blue waters, and there are a number of different runs for varying…
Harrius Pottumus Disappearius!
OH, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE THIS BULL-PLOP! So as you probably know, there's this super popular kiddie movie opening this week called Harry Potter and the Howling Herpes of Hogwarts or some crap like that. What-EVER, right? I'll be spending my ten dollars on something based in REALITY – most likely booze, booze,…
Marking the Wrong Territory: Zookeeper mates badly voiced animals with kooky pratfalls
It must be nice to be Adam Sandler's pal. The funny man is known to keep it all in the family, sticking his buddies in movies that aren't original or risky, yet rake in cash. Kevin James is part of Sandler's crew and Zookeeper is basically Night at the Museum set in a zoo. It's…
Sweet Revenge: Horrible Bosses provides comic relief for the fed-up working man
We've all been there. Even if you haven't been sexually harassed, or belittled by an evil narcissist who likes the sound of his own voice, or pushed around by your boss' coked-out son, we've all had at least one boss who has made our working lives hell. Because of this, the revenge-fueled escapism of Horrible…
No Ascot Required: Why you're exactly classy enough to attend a polo match
Dan Harrison, the president of the Cascade Polo Club, knows what you're thinking when the name of his beloved sport is mentioned. Don't worry. He won't be offended if you, like me, thought polo – the kind played on horses and enormous fields – was a foreign activity reserved for royalty and private jet owners.
Quarterflash Tonight! Remember the “Harden My Heart” Video?
Appearing at the new Alive After Five concert series in the Old Mill District tonight is Quaterflash. The show kicks off at 5pm and it’s free.
Little Bites: Country Catering's Party on the Patio: They let you eat as much as you want. Seriously.
They call it the Party on the Patio, but the weekly all-you-can-eat feast at Country Catering could never be contained on a mere patio. More accurately, it's the Party on the Patio, Front Yard and Parking Lot. That's because the eastside barbecue joint's delectable Friday evening pig out has become so popular that the scores…
Fort George Brewery
In celebration of Oregon Craft Beer Month, The Abbey Pub (purveyor of delicious, hard- to-find beers) offers up – one keg only – the Sunrise Oatmeal Pale Ale from Astoria's Fort George Brewery. Oatmeal in a pale ale? Aren't oats just for stouts, like the well-known Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout? Apparently not.
Open to the Public: Pronghorn welcomes locals to taste its food and wine
My idea of visiting a country club involves visiting my wealthy aunt on the East Coast or sneaking into a certain resort hot tub after hours. Playing golf and sipping cocktails on a wrap-around patio that overlooks the entire Cascade mountain region? Not in my vocabulary. But now that Pronghorn has opened its door to…
The Evolution of a Festival: Looking back at the history of 4 Peaks before its fourth installment
This weekend, the 4 Peaks Music Festival will take place in Tumalo for the fourth time. Since its inaugural year in 2007, 4 Peaks has gained traction in Central Oregon with its roots-oriented lineup, family-friendly attitude and intimate environment. Here's how the festival came to be – then not be – and now is beginning…
Strawberry Moon Farm Rethinks Garden Starts
Not sure how to actually get your garden going now that we have some sunshine? That’s the camp I have been in. Strawberry Moon Farms offers a creative solution.
Greg Walden and the Other Dim Bulbs
We swore we were going to resist the temptation to write any light bulb jokes about this topic, but we just couldn't stop ourselves. So here goes: Q. How many votes does it take to screw the American consumer? A. Fifty-two more than the Republicans had this week. On Tuesday, the House defeated the Better…
Keeping it Reel: BendFilm charts a new course in post-boom Bend
The new office of BendFilm, in Northwest Crossing, is brightly lit by natural sunshine, bouncing off tall, clean, white walls. Orit Schwartz, the artistic director, single employee and day-to-day coordinator of the October film festival, keeps the room sparse. There’s no fancy furniture, no expensive art. Just two desks, a few chairs, a small conference…
This Week’s Number
$2,500 That's how much a small and exclusive group of Portland Republicans paid earlier this week to attend a private fundraiser with GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Roughly 70 people attended the lunch event, paying $1,000 a plate for the privilege of meeting with Romney.
This Straight Poop Compiled Without Hacking: We Guarantee It
Monday, July 4 Happy Birthday, America: Millions celebrate 235th anniversary of American independence with parades, fireworks, and large amounts of barbecued food and beer … Joey “Jaws” Chestnut wins Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest fifth time in row, scarfing 62 dogs … Lotsa luck, Americans: Obama administration ready to offer tens of billions in…
Night Ranger Mix Was a Mess
Night Ranger is a great '80s band. They deserved a better venue and sound production for their recent show for the Bend Summer Festival.
Time for Straight Talk on Pot
Marijuana and methamphetamine are both Schedule I drugs. One destroys synapses in the brain, destroys liver and kidney cells and makes people crazy much faster than whiskey.
