John Nolan loves to entertain. That much was clear when the Victorian Café owner/executive chef, took part in our photo shoot for Best Bloody Mary — an award that Nolan’s brunch destination has won, what, nearly 20 times in a row? Chatting with Source reporters, Nolan insisted that no conversation about Bloody Marys was appropriate […]
Beer & Drink
Best Light Beer
The secret behind an award-winning beverage? Simple: “We make the kind of beer we like to drink,” says Dana Henion, co-founder and brewer at Van Henion Brewing. Indeed, Van Henion’s golden Helles Lager is crisp, drinkable and — as the votes will attest — very tasty. Helles translates to “bright” or “light” in German, and […]
Best Mocktail & Best Happy Hour
Hawkeye & Huckleberry Lounge is self-described as a modern cowboy steakhouse. The “modern” part just might be the Cool Hand mocktail — if you can imagine a cowboy under the stars next to a campfire sipping a cucumber-mint beverage. Chef Carlos Anthony Ochoa says the drink, chosen by the public as the Best Mocktail in […]
Best Brewer
It’s not hyperbole that winning the “Best Brewer” category — in beer-crazed Bend — might be one of the most illustrious “Best Of” categories there is. But tell that to now-five-time-winner Nate Doss, the co-owner and head brewer at Bevel Craft Brewing, and, humble guy he is, he’ll turn the conversation right back to the […]
Best Boba
Good grades, graduations and winning home games are reasons Loana Perez, owner of Teacupfuls, has received an abundance of business from the Bend community. Restless after Perez sold her cleaning business in 2017 and inspired by her kids’ love for boba, the wild Teacupfuls was born. Perez opened the boba business with the intention to […]
Unique Beer and Beyond
The Little Woody beer, cider and whiskey festival celebrates barrel-aged sips and all things tree inspired including whiskey-soaked, oak-aged stouts, tart, berry-infused sours. The Bend festival, which began in 2009, is described as a toast to the forests, orchards and barrels that shape the finest brews. Some of which sound like a fancy dessert. At […]
Last Call for Summer Brews!
Central Oregon and Bend in particular still rank as one of the top five regions with the most breweries per capita. Tourists coming to Bend are looking for adventure, food, beer and our year-round Après Culture. After a float on the river, a bike ride or hike along one of Bend’s many scenic trails – […]
Sippin’ on Sunshine
When happy hour rolls around, many of us mix our favorite cocktail: gin & tonic, margarita or maybe just a chilled glass of pinot grigio. But for many of us seeking alternatives to alcohol, there’s a whole new world out there for us: Cannabis cocktails. And do I have the perfect alcohol-free, cannabis-based cocktail for […]
Chill Out with Mint Juleps and Boozy Bourbon Slushies
There’s something about a cold drink in a frosty glass that makes warm weather feel a little more magical. Whether you’re lounging on a shaded porch, firing up the grill or packing a cooler for the lake, the right cocktail can set the mood. Bourbon lovers, rejoice: these two, easy-to-make drinks bring bold flavor, plenty […]
UPP to the Future
When Tonya Cornett came to Bend in 2002 to become brewmaster at Bend Brewing Company, she drew attention right away. Back then, the notice was mainly that she was a woman operating in a male-dominated industry. Twenty-plus years later, her gender is merely a footnote to the fact that Cornett has become one of the […]

