President Obama inhaled and isn’t shy about it. His “evolving” stance on marijuana legalization, as outlined in a recent interview. Welcome back, Governor—here’s a subpoena! Republican NJ Gov. Chris Christie was sworn in yesterday, amid the lane-closure scandal at the George Washington Bridge. Ukrainian anti-government protests turn violent. The protests stem from President Viktor Yanukovych’s […]
James Williams
Posted inFood & Drink
High Gravity in the High Desert
Big beers (and bands) take over McMenamins
As the brewing industry matures, specialty beer festivals have become prized as a way to showcase particular and peculiar styles. This is a great trend. The inaugural Central Oregon Winter Beer Festival back in December was a huge hit and The Little Woody Barrel Aged Beer and Whiskey Festival in August is one of the […]
Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides
Ask Pete
Winter adventure, from behind the lens
You’ve probably seen Pete Alport, or his work, before (like, on this week’s cover). He rises before dawn and is out in the snow most days shooting photos and videos for Mt. Bachelor or nationally read magazines like Snowboarder and Freeskier. He’s a case-study of the modern snowboard “bum,” in the sense that he devotes […]
Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides
The 21st Century Ski Bum
Winter adventure is a state of mind
Mitch Thompson was an early adopter. The now 44-year-old Bend resident first strapped a snowboard to his feet while living in the hills of western North Carolina in 1984, at a time when snowboarding was as common (and about as welcome) on a ski hill as a warthog. Thompson remembers using wood screws to secure […]
Posted inNews
What’s next? Jet packs?
Proposed face-lift for Bend Central District seeks to change transportation habits
For pedestrians and bicycle commuters, navigating the Third Street corridor is a blood pressure and hair-raising four-lane game of Frogger. The hectic dividing line between east and west Bend is choked with cars and trucks, hardly accommodating those traveling by bike or on foot. But that may be changing. That auto-centricity is exactly what Matt […]
Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides
Ski Bums: Then vs. Now
A side-by-side comparison
The face of snow-riding has changed tremendously over the last few decades—all without really changing at all. Ditto for the definition of “ski bum.” Today, being a ski bum isn’t so much about scarfing free ketchup-saltine soup in the lodge cafeteria (though for some that may still hold true). It is about hi-tech gizmos and […]
Posted inOutside
The Big Slide
Avoid avalanches
with know-how
Last week, about 90 miles west of Denver, a massive avalanche scoured the East Vail Chutes’ steep backcountry terrain. The slide, which occurred on a beautiful day and not one deemed to be particularly hazardous, was described as a couple hundred yards wide, 10 feet deep and reportedly covered nearly 1,000 vertical feet. It buried […]
Posted inNews
TONIGHT! Backcountry Film Fest
A handful of the year’s top human-powered backcountry films are screening TONIGHT at 7pm, Volcanic Theatre Pub. Though we’ve heard the $10 event is sold out, if you get there early you may be able to capitalize on some no-shows. 2013 Winter Wildlands Alliance Back Country Film Festival Trailer from Backcountry Film Festival on Vimeo.
Posted inFood & Drink
Lasso the Moon
Silver Moon Brewing’s new menu and beer are a tasty upgrade to downtown
“Same great beer, same sh**ty location,” chimes a choir of (partially bleeped) patrons at the end of Silver Moon’s new radio ad. Oh, Silver Moon: You are too hard on yourselves. With a tap list full of award-winning standards, seasonal selections and even a barrel-aged treat or two, the beer is better than it has […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Winter Beer Face-Off
Gather friends, taste beers, vote on favorites—it’s easy!
Last weekend a few buddies and I did what we do almost every holiday season and that’s drink way too many high-alcohol winter seasonals in an effort to find the year’s best. The process is simple: a blind head-to-head taste test with multiple rounds determines the winner. Appoint a non-participant to pour beers and fill […]