Culture Features
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In the Five O'Clock Shadow of Man: A dispatch from this year's Beard Team USA national championships

The second annual Beard Team USA National Beard and Moustache Championships in Lancaster Penn.
Source Weekly

Editor's note:
Last year's inaugural Beard Team USA National Beard and Moustache Championships took place at Bend's own Les Schwab Amphitheater, and as many of you recall, it sent Bend into a facial hair frenzy for a good month or so. It also gave birth to Whisker Wars, a reality television show about the world of competitive facial hair. With this in mind, and the fact that the second annual event, although taking place in Lancaster, Penn., was produced by our sister company Lay it Out Events, we figured we'd tap intrepid beard fan Sam Beckelhymer to cover the contest.
I've become increasingly aware of the culture of competitive bearding over the last few years, and, as a committed beardsman of nearly a decade, this is a development in the field of non-athletic sports that I fully support. Nevertheless, when beard zealot and hierophant Mike Bookey asked me to cover the National Beard and Moustache Championships in Lancaster, Penn., I figured my approach would need to be more “respectful outsider” than “active participant.”

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Our Picks for 11/9-11/17

Events picks for the upcoming week.
Source Weekly

Collie Buddz
wednesday 9
This reggae/hip-hop innovator from Bermuda is often called a “singjay” for his ability to not just spit rhymes, but to do so melodically and awesomely. This full-fledged party of a neo-reggae will be a good chance to see one of the biggest up and comers in the genre in a cozy yet festive setting at the Domino Room.

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A Collector of Stories: The Nature of Words brings Augusten Burroughs to share his memoir-writing skills

Running With Scissors author to share insights at Bend’s Nature of Words festival.
Mike Bookey

Augusten Burroughs isn't a professor of English. And he doesn't have a master's in creative writing, or even a bachelor's degree. In fact, his formal education ended in grade school. Still, the 46-year-old author of one of the most acclaimed memoirs in recent memory, Running With Scissors, is a hell of a writing teacher, even if he did teach himself the craft.
And that's what he'll be doing this week in Bend at The Nature of Words literary festival where he's leading two workshops and also giving the keynote address at the event's author dinner. He's excited for the workshops, but doesn't seem to care too much for the standard author presentation speech, opting rather to inspire aspiring writers with a Q and A approach to most of his appearances.
“The last thing I want to do is stand up there and talk about myself. A lot of people, whether they're writers or whether they dream about being a writer, they might find themselves intimidated by writing. They try to write with a big fat capital W. I try to make it a lower case W,” says Burroughs.

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Our Picks for 11/2-11/9

The Source Weekly’s picks for the upcoming week.
Source Weekly

The Nature of Words
wednesday 2 – sunday 6
If you flip to the Culture section of the paper this week, you can read our interview with famed memoirist, Augusten Burroughs, who is appearing at The Nature of Words this week to teach a workshop (sorry, it's sold out) and also deliver the key note address on Saturday night (not sold out as of press time). Also appearing at the festival are Heidi Durrow, Keith Scribner, Buddy Wakefield, William Kittredge and a bevy of other impressive writers. See a complete schedule and buy tickets at thenatureofwords.org.
Gardens, Rural Demons
thursday 3
A few things about Gardens: 1) They sound nothing like their botanical band name, 2) They are from Detroit, 3) They play a perfectly garage-y blend of throwback punk and a surf guitar, oh and 4) This stuff gets pretty trippy on occasion. Add those four things together and you've got a good reason to be over at the Horned Hand on Thursday night for this show. And 5) Local Americana rebels Rural Demons open the show. $2-5 suggested donation. 8pm. The Horned Hand, 507 NW Colorado Ave.

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Need a Timely Costume?: Four free last-minute, conversation-starting Halloween ideas

A ghoulish guide for the upcoming holiday.
Mike Bookey

A One-Percenter
Remember when the point of Halloween was to dress up as something scary? People don't do that anymore, opting more for a humorous and/or slutty approach to their costuming. But you can dress as the ultimate boogeyman this year by gearing up as one of these “one percenters” we keep hearing about. You'll need a top hat, a tuxedo (or evening gown for the women) and a monocle. It would be good to have a few hundred-dollar bills (fake cash is fine, if you must) poking out of your pockets and a nametag that says, “We are the one percent.” A cigar or one of those fancy long cigarette things would also be a nice touch. If you want to get really in-your-face, accessorize with a pig nose. Just hope you don't run into an actual one percenter during your evening out. (Chances of that happening are, statistically speaking, one in one hundred).
Gus Fring aka the bad guy on Breaking Bad
A couple weeks ago, our television columnist, Wm.™ Steven Humphrey, posted on the Bent blog about a company that was selling masks of Breaking Bad drug lord Gustavo Fring that feature half of the dude's face blown off. If you can secure one of these masks, you'll quickly meet all the people at the party who enjoy this amazing television show. For those who don't get it, just say you're the Terminator. So, it's kind of two costumes in one.

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Our Picks for 10/27-11/2: Miles Davis, The Nature of Words, Halloween

The Source Weekly staff gives its picks through November 2.
Source Weekly

Stephanie Schneiderman
thursday 27
You might know her as a member of the band Dirty Martini, but Stephanie Schneiderman is also an amazing solo performer. This free show will showcase the gorgeous songstress at her best. Go check it out. Free. All ages. 7pm. McMenamins Old St. Francis School, 700 NW Bond St.
Miles Davis Experience
thursday 27
We have a story this week about the Oxford's jazz series, so if you want to get in the jazzy spirit before those shows begin, take some time to hear the music of one of the genre's greatest performers, Miles Davis. This multi-media performance features the music of Ambrose Akinmusire, who leads a presentation that includes photos, film clips, beat poetry and live performances by trumpet phenomenon Ambrose Akinmusire. Go ahead and check out videos of this performance. It looks incredible. $30 at towertheatre.org. 7:30pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St.

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On Farewell Bend and Forgiveness

A final farewell from Charles Finn.
Source Weekly

It was three years, three damn good years, and I don't think it's the sandpapering nature of memory saying that. I remember arriving in Bend, pulling up alongside all this good weather and better beer, passing Badlands and bad golf swings on my way to making great new friends – thank you great new friends. It wasn't love at first sight, but this place sure is a head turner – thank you Cascade Range, Deschutes River, High Desert of Oregon – ultimately I fell in love with you. Granted, it took time, a few years to feel like I belonged, but it happened – thank you Dudley's, High Desert Journal, the Source, The Nature of Words, KPOV, you precious ones at OSU; quality is the word that describes you. How ironic, then, that just as I feel I've arrived, I look up to see you in my rearview mirror. Dammit. Dammit all to hell.
What happened? I still don't know. Except it's a leaving that needn't, shouldn't be, and yet calm-voiced Prudence prevails, counsels me, and I listen – thank you Prudence, and damn you. On top of everything I discovered shame, because never in my life have I felt more ill-will toward a person. Let me repeat: I am ashamed. I'm ashamed I feel this way, act this way, show myself to be the small person I am. Where is my forgiveness? A long time ago I learned the story of a woman who'd been infected with HIV. Her husband had hidden from her the fact that he was gay and eventually he'd passed the disease onto her. The woman was able to forgive him. In South Africa, when Nelson Mandela was freed, he instigated a program of reconciliation where murderers and rapists came before their victims and victims' families and confessed their crimes – and they were forgiven. So why can't I?

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Our Picks for 10/21-10/27

Top happenings around town chosen by the Source staff.
Source Weekly

SPL with Harry Champagne and DJ Swett
friday 21
Who is Central Oregon's most world-renown musician? The Dirtball or perhaps the men of Larry and His Flask? Close, but we're going to say that Bend's own SPL (real name: Sam Pool) is likely the most known entity out there, thanks to the DJ's contributions to the dub step and dub hop genres. In fact, he recently got a little shout out in Spin for his efforts! Now, he's coming to town, along with Harry Champagne and DJ Swett to remind us how to party. 21 and over. $5 at brownpapertickets.com/event or $7 at the door. 10pm. Astro Lounge, 939 NW Bond St.
Violin vs. Vinyl with Jay Tablet
friday 21
This crafty Canadian outfit combines the violin work of master player Kytami and the turntable techniques of The Phonograff with the hip-hop verses of Mista Chatman to create one of the most unique party acts you're likely to see. This show also features local MC and producer Jay Tablet, who will be hosting this sure-to-be-raging show. 18 and over. 9pm. Innovation Theatre Works, 1155 SW Division St.

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Our Picks for 10/13-10-20

Mike Bookey

Emma Hill
thursday 13
Whether she's with her band, The Gentlemen Callers, or playing with only pedal steel guitar accompaniment, as she is at this free show, Emma Hill never seems to disappoint us here in Bend. Originally from Alaska, but now living in Portland, Hill sews together emotionally charged Americana tunes that go excellently with her silky voice. 7pm. McMenamins Old St. Francis School, 700 NW Bond St.

Posted inCulture

Itchy and Scratchy: Local Production of Bug lets it all hang out

Morgan P Salvo

Just in time for Halloween and reviving 2nd Street Theater's Evil Dead spirit comes Bug, a play that lays out a true psychological vision of warped and squeamish dimensions. Once again, it's nice to see something this bold and wacky in Bend.
You've got to hand it to this talented production team: they are not afraid to take risks. I was lucky enough to attend the “week before” opening and even though there are some minor bugs to work out, this is a solid production fully intent on remaining creepy-crawly from the inside out.

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