Culture Features
Welcoming Week includes events aimed at fostering inclusion among immigrants, refugees and other community members
Over two years ago, the Bend City Council signed a unanimous resolution declaring Bend a Welcoming City—becoming one of about 150 communities in the U.S. to join the network aimed at fostering inclusion and understanding among immigrants and refugees and the wider community. Welcoming Week, which takes place this week, include events such as a kick-off party, trainings, a celebration of the passage of HB2015—which made driver's licenses available to all Oregonians, regardless of immigration status—and Latino Fest, a day-long celebration featuring food, music and dance, held in Madras Saturday.
By Nicole Vulcan
Sep 11, 2019
Welcoming Week Madras Latino Fest Bend Oregon State University-Cascades
Culture Features
Locals go off the edge of hotel to raise funds for United Way
It's not uncommon to witness the sight of someone top roping a rock face on Smith Rock—but even in a region known for its outdoors scene, seeing someone rappel down Bend's highest building is a rarity. It might very well be the first time anyone's seen it, in fact.
By Nicole Vulcan
Sep 4, 2019
Over the Edge KTVZ Bob Shaw Mike Allen United Way of Deschutes County Austin Reed Dave Clemens
Culture Features
Annual Descend on Bend event draws hundreds of van-dwellers to Oregon Outback this weekend
"I died and went to van heaven." That's the sentiment repeated by countless van lifers attending the annual Descend on Bend event, taking place this Labor Day weekend in the Oregon Outback.
By Magdalena Bokowa
Aug 28, 2019
Descend on Bend Oregon Outback VW Oregon Natural Desert Association van life
Culture Features
Theater in the Park returns with full-scale "La Cage aux Folles," centered around a drag queen club
Bend's Summit Express Jazz Band had to call in reinforcements to provide a complete complement for "La Cage aux Folles," an extravagant musical appearing in Bend's Drake Park Friday and Saturday. The Theater in the Park production pulls out all the stops: extravagant costumes, makeup, lights, sound and innovation to present the glamour-and-glitz-coated treatise on love, acceptance and personal authenticity.
By Elizabeth Warnimont
Aug 21, 2019
La Cage aux Folles Birdcage love acceptance pride authenticity Theater in the Park Drake Park Summit Express Jazz Band
Culture Features
The Sunriver Music Festival enters its 42nd year, with a focus on the power of love
Since 1978, the Sunriver Music Festival has been bringing an eclectic mix of music to Central Oregon, supplying many talented musicians with a platform to perform. It might seem silly, but the festival was all sparked by Ray Fabrizio—former principal flute player at the festival—telling his wife and friends that there were "pretty good acoustics in here" as they walked through Sunriver's Great Hall.
By Isaac Biehl
Aug 7, 2019
Sunriver Music Festival orchestra Westwater Arts
Culture Features
Cascades Theater offers a preview of its entire coming season
This weekend's 'Sneak Peek' season preview at the Cascades Theater is geared up to be at least as much fun as any of the full season's coming attractions. The "Bright Star" piece, for example, will feature choreographed scenes from the musical, conceived by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell.
By Elizabeth Warnimont
Jul 30, 2019
Culture Features
A toast to beers that give back in Central Oregon
Put into your mind the shaky, Irish-Catholic voice of John F. Kennedy saying something like, "And so my fellow Bendites: Ask not what beer can do for you, but what the money you spend on beer can do for the community?" Not every drinker in Central Oregon has knowledge about hops or IBUs or the finer points of preserving beer for colonial exploits across the Atlantic—but in honor of this year's Beer Issue, you can be a beer drinker with a conscience.
By K.M. Collins
Jul 24, 2019
Soroptimist International of Bend The Bethlehem Inn beer philanthropy
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