Wally Hofmann, Author at The Source

Hunger Action Month Shines a Light on Food Insecurity in Central Oregon

September focuses on taking action to end hunger

by Wally Hofmann August 31, 2026September 2, 2026

As food costs continue to rise, hunger cannot be solved by any single person or organization acting alone. Many families face difficult choices each month: paying for groceries or filling a prescription; repairing a vehicle or covering utility bills; buying food or paying rent. September is Hunger Action Month, a nationwide campaign raising awareness about […]

Music

High Desert Metal Festival Brings International Thrash and Local Talent to Bend

First-ever Central Oregon metal fest set to rock at Silver Moon

by Wally Hofmann August 27, 2026August 28, 2026

On Saturday, Sept. 26, Silver Moon Brewing will trade its usual taproom atmosphere for a day of thunderous riffs, soaring vocals, and pounding drums as the inaugural High Desert Metal Festival arrives in Bend. Presented by ThrashSquatch Productions in partnership with DNA Entertainment, TOUR DE THRASH Productions and additional supporters, the event is designed to […]

Culture Features

Chasing Dark Skies

Learning to photograph the moon, meteors and Milky Way in Central Oregon

by Wally Hofmann August 7, 2026August 6, 2026

When Christian Heeb first turned his lens to the night sky, it wasn’t a dramatic career pivot so much as a natural next chapter. A longtime travel and nature photographer, Heeb says night work simply completes the story of a place. “If you travel in nature for photography, you capture all aspects — sunrise, canyon […]

Food & Drink

A Conversation with Three Creeks Brewmaster Ryan McVay

The man behind Sisters’ most celebrated pints talks German monasteries, mountain science, and why craft beer is more blue-collar than you think

by Wally Hofmann July 29, 2026July 23, 2026

Ryan McVay has been making beer longer than most people realize. The brewmaster for Three Creeks Brewing Company in Sisters got his start homebrewing with his mom at age 16, studied fermentation in Germany, worked in a Bavarian monastery brewery, and has spent the last several years quietly stacking awards in one of Central Oregon’s […]

Food & Drink

Dip into Bend-Style, Beer-Infused Cuisine

How local chefs are turning tasty pint brews into a pantry staple

by Wally Hofmann July 29, 2026July 23, 2026

I’ve always understood pairing a bold red wine with a rich beef bourguignon — classic culinary logic drilled into home cooks and sommeliers alike. But beer as a cooking ingredient? That idea had never crossed my mind. Turns out, I’m behind the curve, and I doubt I’m the only one. Beer-infused cooking has quietly become […]

Food & Drink

Base Camp: Bend’s West Side Is Getting a Food Truck Destination Unlike Any Other

A family-designed gathering spot promises 10 food trucks, 36 taps, and a few fun surprises — including an 18-foot projector screen

by Wally Hofmann July 1, 2026June 24, 2026

By mid-July, a corner of Bend’s west side near Powder House Ski & Patio is going to look a lot different. Where a narrow lot once sat largely underused, a 7,000-square-foot building has risen — barn wood walls, 40-foot ceilings, a 50-foot belly bar and a rooftop garden perched atop repurposed shipping containers. Welcome to […]

Outside Features

Spring Birding Takes Flight in Redmond

Spring migrations and the city wastewater project transform Central Oregon into one of the region’s liveliest birdwatching stages for local birders

by Wally Hofmann May 7, 2026May 7, 2026

Spring has arrived in Central Oregon and with it comes one of the region’s most vibrant natural spectacles: bird migration. From waterfowl and shorebirds to raptors and songbirds, the Redmond area becomes a seasonal haven for both birds and birders. May and June, in particular, offer near-constant activity as species move along the Pacific Flyway. […]

Food & Drink

Sweet Starts and Small Joys: Pacific Roots Donuts Lands in Bend

Making life a little tastier, one small donut at a time

by Wally Hofmann May 4, 2026April 29, 2026

Some mornings need a little something extra. Maybe it’s a hot cup of coffee, maybe it’s awarm donut—or, if you’re lucky, both at once. That’s exactly what Kyle and Breanna Uptegrove had in mind when they launched Pacific Roots Donuts and Coffee, a mini-donut cart now serving up freshly made treats here in Bend. What […]

Culture

Three Comedians with Bend Ties Reunite for a Night of Snappy Wit, Shared History & a Bit of Family Drama

The Tower Theatre Foundation presents Helen Keaney with Shanan Kelley and special guest Chelsea Woodmansee

by Wally Hofmann May 1, 2026April 29, 2026

Central Oregon audiences will get a three-for-one comedy lineup May 16 when Helen Keaney, Shanan Kelley and special guest Chelsea Woodmansee take the stage at the Tower Theatre. Expect laughter, a little unpredictability and a few jokes that hit suspiciously close to home — possibly while someone’s in-law sits in the front row, taking mental […]

Music

Mastersingers Mark 20 Years with Landmark Concert at Tower Theatre

Anniversary performance blends reunion, reflection, and a forward-looking vision for Central Oregon’s choral scene

by Wally Hofmann April 10, 2026April 10, 2026

The Central Oregon Mastersingers will celebrate two decades of music, collaboration, and community with a special anniversary concert, “We Are the Music Makers,” on Saturday, April 25, at 7PM. at Bend’s Tower Theatre. The performance, under the direction of Artistic Director and Conductor Christian Clark, closes the ensemble’s 20th season with a program designed not […]

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