Ever wondered what it’s like to work as a ski lift operator? Here’s a peek into their world—and how you can make it a little better for everyone. Being a “lifty” makes collecting trash look cushy. They wake up at the crack of dawn to shovel extremely large amounts of snow. They tolerate the harshest […]
Dana Bartus
Lazy Skiers’ Delight
The colorful falling leaves and crisp bite in the night air have us all excited for one thing: Skijoring. Wait, what?! It sounds like someone with a hangover mumbling over their words, but it is an actual sport that even has worldwide competitions. Derived from the Norwegian word meaning “ski driving,” skijoring involves having a […]
How ‘Bout them Apples?
When it comes to locally-sourced beverages, cider makers have no trouble finding their main ingredient pretty close to home. With the plethora of apple varieties available, one might think a blend would go into making a hard cider. Alas, that’s not the case. At Bend’s Atlas Cider Company, it’s the Granny Smith that contains just […]
Modern Taste of Oregon
As this issue comes out, six members of the 5 Fusion team are accompanying chef Joe Kim to the James Beard House in Manhattan to prepare an exquisite five course meal for patrons of the American culinary tradition. You may wonder why a chef would travel clear across the country to cook for just one […]
Love Your Farmer
Do you know where your food comes from? Do you know your farmers practices? Do you want to? Knowing where your food is grown and processed is an important part of healthy living. Last year the Crook County Small Farm Alliance received a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant intended to promote farms that market directly […]
Little Bites: Local Food Challenge
The High Desert Food and Farm Alliance (HDFFA) is challenging Central Oregonians to a Food Duel. During the month of September you are officially dared to (re)discover the local food sources in your community by choosing more local food and sharing your local food experiences online. The ultimate goal is to support our region’s farmers […]
Wild Game and Foraged Finds
If there is any event to be excited about this fall in Bend’s culinary scene, this is it. DRAKE is hosting the fifth stop on a nationwide tour promoting James Beard Award-winning author Hank Shaw’s third cookbook, “Buck, Buck, Moose: Recipes and Techniques for Cooking Deer, Elk, Moose, Antelope and Other Antlered Things.” The comprehensive […]
Little Bites 8/24-8/31
Humm introduces Blue Wave: The Official Kombucha of the Seattle Seahawks Yes, you read that right. Kombucha went pro. It’s no surprise that super-progressive Seattle is home of the first pro team with an official kombucha. Don’t believe it? Look at the label. For the 2016-17 regular football season, Blue Wave, a brand-new Humm flavor […]
Food Cart Pod Lands in Sisters
The high-profile food scene in Bend tends to overshadow what’s cooking in Sisters. At first glance, the tight-knit community seems to be behind the times with 1880’s facades and the downtown blocks you can count on two hands—but in reality the home of the world’s biggest little rodeo is also home of some of the […]
Best Young Athlete
At first glance, Ryder Uetrecht might seem like a typical kid who loves to ride bikes, but he’s far from the average high school freshman. In the past two years he’s placed 3rd and 10th in the USA Cycling National MTB Championship and 5th in the Cyclocross Nationals. He began riding with the Bend Endurance […]

