Ryan James was working at the Starbucks downtown when he saw his first Freedom Ride. “Leading up to the event, there was a lot of buzz,” he said. “I remember during the morning, we had a line out the door, and then we were completely dead for two hours during the Freedom Ride.” James and […]
Russ Axon
Posted inOutside
No Snow, No Problem
Mountainboards help riders conquer the summer slopes
If there’s one drawback to summertime in Bend, it’s the lack of snow on the mountains. Skiing and snowboarding down Mt. Bachelor and the other wintertime slopes is an exhilarating experience that isn’t easily replicated. But just because the snow has melted, doesn’t mean those mountains are useless. Mountainboarding is an alternative extreme sport that […]
Posted inOutside
Go Here 6/22-6/29
Cascade Lake Kayak Tour For explorers looking to rest their feet, taking to the water offers a unique way to discover Central Oregon’s natural wonders. Paddle into the High Cascade Lakes for a spectacular and relaxing session of kayaking with Wanderlust Tours. A naturalist guide will give a crash course on paddling before leading kayakers […]
Posted inOutside
Skydiving in Central Oregon
The closest thing to flying
It’s easy to explore Central Oregon by hiking and biking its single-track trails, paddling its pristine rivers, and climbing its rugged mountains. But there is one outdoor area that is often overlooked: its big, blue skies. For the intrepid Bendite, the terrain above is now accessible. Two skydiving businesses—Skydive Awesome! and Velocity Sports Equipment—are putting […]
Posted inCulture
Growing Wild
Wildflower show highlights native and floral diversity
Hikers hitting the trails this summer can expect to see tons of beautiful scenery, especially when it comes to wildflowers. Central Oregon is full of them—blue ones, pink ones, tall ones, short ones—full of them. However, describing these flowers beyond simple color and size adjectives can be intimidating. “The problem that people often come across […]
Posted inOutside
Go Here
Pine Tree Mill Hike Though reading about the past is fun, it’s always more exciting to discover it in nature. The Pine Tree Mill Hike offers hikers an evening of exploration, combining beautiful trails with fascinating history. Hosted by the Deschutes Land Trust, this hike will explore the Skyline Forest to discuss Bend’s early logging […]
Posted inNews
Free Comic Book Day is Coming 5/7
Comics for the Masses: The best books to grab on Free Comic Book Day This Saturday is Free Comic Book Day, an annual event where comic shops around the country share the joy of comics by offering special issues for free. Though this may sound like one of those too-good-to-be-true situations, it’s not. It is too good, and it […]
Posted inOutside
Starlight Canoeing
Peaceful sounds of the lake come to life
Central Oregon turns into a different environment in the summer. The sunshine reveals beautiful works of nature that are typically hidden beneath the winter snow. Pathways and activities that were impossible to weather in the cold are now on every Bendite’s to-do-list thanks to the warm, pleasant air. Take the Cascade Lakes, for example—these gorgeous […]
Posted inCulture
Art Watch 2/17-2/24
Letters of Survival
On Feb. 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066. This order forced over 120,000 persons of Japanese descent, a majority of them American citizens, into internment camps for almost three years. The order was not officially rescinded until almost 30 years later. In 1979, Oregon was one of the first states to […]
Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides
The Unconditional Love of Family
Learning to love my family, from my family
When we were kids, I hated my brother. I’m told that’s a normal sentiment between siblings. But I really, really hated him. My brother is only one year and 18 days younger than me, so we were destined to clash. He had a mean temper, I was overly sensitive, and we learned very quickly what […]