Last month’s Media Salon on bikes was packed—it nearly took a crow bar to remove guests afterwards who wanted to stay and discuss. Tonight, the Source presents its third Media Salon, an informal but engaging and informative Oprah-styled Q&A. Hosted by Editor Phil Busse, this month addresses “smart growth.” With the economy returning, Bend again needs to consider how it will grow over the next five years.

Guests include, oh yeah!, the MAYOR, Jim Clinton; Community Development Director Mel Oberst; and Marcia Hilber with Allison James Estates and Homes to provide thoughts and insights about what the return of the housing market can mean to Bend’s future.

Join us for a few beers and a lot of enlightening discussion.

Here's a dose of Thursday afternoon energy. Listen to the Lafa Taylor album below and then dance your face off tonight at Liquid Lounge. Free. 9 p.m.

• Crazy hair? We're in.

Lafa Taylor is a singer/emcee/producer from Oakland, CA who creates bass-heavy, multi-temp electronica.

Tonight's lineup is as follows:

8:30-10-Critical Hit
10-11-Over Cover
11-12-Prajekt
12-1:15-Lafa Taylor
1:15-Close-NIX

Read more about Bend's growing EDM (that's electronic dance music for newbs) in music editor Ethan Maffey's feature from this week. On stands now, or click here to read the full piece.

Pure Kitchen, a small plate and tapas restaurant ( in the old Bo Bar at 550 Franklin Ave next to Connecting Point) is now open!

• Via Facebook.

Happy hour prices will apply all night long for the grand opening. Drinks include six different Mojitos for $6 a pop. Yum.

Be the first to test out their menu. Check Pure Kitchen's facebook for more info.

Totally lucky Bendite Tim Neville, who routinely goes on assignment and reports back to the New York Times, Outside and other excellent publications, will give a presentation tonight at The Environmental Center about his recent trek into the alps of Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo.

These beautiful mountains and valleys there were the the backdrop to horrific acts during fighting there twenty years ago. The area has been captivating for Neville who, in typical fashion, will provide insight into this place with humor and tact.

We are totally going. You should, too.

Thank God it's first Friday! We suggest you check out the following events to ensure a fantastic start to your February.

Friday Feb. 1

First Friday Downtown
Read our First Friday blog to find out what's happening downtown tonight.

• Mmmm...crab and beer.

Deschutes Brewery Crab Fest
Friday is the opening night of Deschutes Brewery's Crab Fest weekend. For $80, you can go wild on Deschutes beer and seasonal seafood served in creative preparations like a crab corn dog, oyster po-boy served on crab roll, crab eouffee, and a vanilla bean crab infused crème brulee.
$80. 6 p.m. Deschutes Brewery & Mountain Room, 901 SW Simpson Ave.

Another night of art and music downtown, here is what's going on for First Friday, tonight, Feb. 1.

• The newest issue of Shoe & Tail.

Zine Premiere Exhibit
Local Zine artist, Rachel Lee-Carman, premieres the newest addition of Shoe & Tail, previously Show and Tell. Read more about Lee-Carmen and the zine making community in Bend here.
6-9 p.m. Tin Pan Theater 869 NW Tin Pan Alley

Flash Mob Pillow Fight
Bring your own pillow.
7 p.m. 869 Wall St. in front of Bellatazza

Another weekend in Bend! Joy to the Patagonia puffy coats! Here are some fun events going on around town.

Friday 25

• Slightly Stoopid at MIdtown TONIGHT!

Slightly Stoopid
Do you like Sublime? You'll like this. Check out the SOUND feature for more info on the reggae, hip-hop crew. All ages. $26. 8 p.m. Midtown Ballroom 51 NW Greenwood Ave.

If you love '90s college radio and men in cardigans with beards, you are going to loose it for Red Wanting Blue.

Formed in Athens, OH in 1996, front-man Scott Terry is the underground Hootie (of Blowfish fame). Unsigned until 2010, RWB are the true definition of independent artists. RWB has experienced moderate success in their two-decade career, but never quite hit it big with any of their five studio albums, despite all of the albums kicking serious folk-pop ass.