I’ll be perfectly honest with you right now. The hardest I’ve ever cried in a movie theater was at the end of “Toy Story 3.” Rewatching it to prepare for the release of “Toy Story 5,” I figured it wouldn’t wreck me as badly as it did 16 years ago. I thought I was an […]
Culture
Posted inCulture
Free Will Astrology, Week of July 2, 2026
Cancers, now is the time to give yourself a little TLC
CANCER (June 21-July 22): There are phases when the cosmic energies and I urge you to put others first—even tend to their pain before you tend to your own. But this isn’t one of those times. Right now, sacrificing yourself for the sake of others would obstruct the flow of righteous grace into your life. […]
Posted inCulture Features
Expanding the Story
The High Desert Museum takes a fresh look at the stories of the plateau region with a new facility
When the High Desert Museum opened in 1982, founder Don Kerr had a lofty vision for the destination he’d long dreamed of. The campus nestled in the forest south of Bend would create experiences to inspire awe, curiosity and wonder in visitors, which would in turn stimulate learning and stewardship about the unique high desert […]
Posted inFilm
The Great, the Terrible and the In-Between
Best (and worst) of the year…so far: 2026 Edition
Every July, I like to look back at the first half of the year to take the temperature of our current cinematic landscape. By this time last year, we already had the dizzying peaks of “Sinners” and “On Becoming a Guinea Fowl” and the subterranean lows of “Jurassic Park: Rebirth” and “Snow White.” Will 2026 […]
Posted inCulture Features
Find Your Fun Outside
Book recommendations to pair with the outdoors
It’s that time of the year again! Outrun the mosquitoes at Tumalo Falls as you hike to Happy Valley, run the Burma Road Trail, soak up some rays paddleboarding on Three Creek Lake and hike Black Butte, starting from the bottom of the trail. Those are just a few favorite activities to kick off summer! […]
Posted inColumns
Lawyers, Guns and Ganja: It’s Complicated
Cannabis consumption and gun ownership
Americans love their firearms, and I do mean love. The Pew Research Center estimates about one third of Americans – 107 million – personally own a firearm, and four in 10 live in a household with a firearm. Over 70% say they do so for protection, while about a third say it’s for hunting or […]
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Divorce Is a Rite of Passage. Why Don’t We Treat It Like One?
Understanding the identity transformation that takes place during a divorce
We know how to recognize a rite of passage. We throw baby showers for new parents. We celebrate graduations. We hold weddings. We mark retirements. Across cultures and throughout history, communities have created rituals to acknowledge life’s major transitions and to support people through them. These moments are recognized not simply because something happened, but […]
Posted inCulture
Artist Showcase Celebrates Sisters Quilt Week
A free reception over four nights highlights local art
Thousands of visitors are expected to flock to Sisters for Quilt Week July 7-10 and the annual Outdoor Quilt Show on July 11. The Sisters gallery store, Makin’ it Local which showcases paintings, photography, fine crafts, jewelry, ceramics and other artwork, is hosting four artist receptions and unveiling new artwork created especially for Quilt Week. […]
Posted inColumns
The Psychedelic Frontier
A Word on Background Checks
Q: I’m a psychedelic practitioner, and I’ve been thinking about safety in ceremony. I’m wondering about your thoughts on background checks. It feels like it goes against my value of holding space for everyone seeking transformation. How do you navigate this? A: There’s a very frank conversation we need to have about background checks in psychedelic […]
Posted inCulture
Free Will Astrology, Week of June 25
Cancers, it’s your month to set yourself free and release past angst
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Now is an auspicious time to declare a sweeping amnesty and observe a personal season of pardon. To the best of your ability, release your clenched feelings about people who have caused you pain. Banish blame! Purge any lingering resentment and regret that has curdled into self‑reproach. Celebrate atonement and absolution! […]
