Best of Central Oregon 2016

Aug 10-17, 2016 / Vol. 20 / No. 32

“Mindful Anger” with Dr. Andrea Brandt

Amy Alkon HumanLabโ€”The Science Between Us, a weekly show with the luminaries of behavioral science. Whether you’re an anger venter or an anger withholder (or something in between), this is a show for you. My guest tonight, therapist Dr. Andrea Brandt, writes that โ€œour culture has a built-in phobia of negative emotions,โ€ which isolates usโ€ฆ

OSU Cascades Ramps Up Plans for Bikes

With 900 students converging at the new campus this fall, OSU Cascades is promoting transportation alternatives for students, staff, and faculty.  The goal is to eliminate the need for students living campus to have the need for vehicles.  This video explains the transportation alternatives available.   Related Stories

Aerial Tour: Central Oregon’s Iconic Whychus Creek

A massive six mile restoration of Central Oregon’s Whychus Creek has begun.  Led by the Deschutes Land Trust, the effort will restore the creek to its historic channels and flood plains improving fish and wildlife habitat.  A wild steelhead returned on the Whychus this past year at Camp Polk – for the first time inโ€ฆ

Climate Change Discussion Gets Heated

At last week’s City Council meeting, Mayor Jim Clinton asked his fellow council members, “Do you think city government facilities and operations should have a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?” They all said yes. Then he asked, “Do you think the community, at large, should have a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emission?” Theโ€ฆ

Best Young Athlete

At first glance, Ryder Uetrecht might seem like a typical kid who loves to ride bikes, but he’s far from the average high school freshman. In the past two years he’s placed 3rd and 10th in the USA Cycling National MTB Championship and 5th in the Cyclocross Nationals. He began riding with the Bend Enduranceโ€ฆ

Best Gluten Free

When it comes to getting the best gluten free (GF) items for breakfast and lunch, place your bets on Fearless Baking Bakery & Café, where they’ve been serving it up since 2013. Founder and owner Elise Kukulka always directs people toward the GF Rosemary English Muffins, which she makes into breakfast sandwiches and lunch sandwichesโ€ฆ

Picks 8/10-8/17

Thursday 11 – Thursday 18 Sunriver Music Festival CLASSICAL MUSIC FESTIVAL—The Sunriver Music Festival isn’t just a series of classical music performances; it’s also an educational experience. Adam del Monte will offer a workshop for intermediate and advanced guitarists and William Wolfram will teach a piano masterclass for advanced students. Not many festivals combine educationโ€ฆ

Letters 8/10-8/17

In Response: Bike Issue Letter (7/27) While I do agree with KarenLynn on many issues I would like to comment on one issue. This is the second letter printed in the Source over the last year or so regarding the issue of vehicles veering from cyclists. The previous letter pretty much stated, “Do you thinkโ€ฆ

Best Bend Exclusive

Every deck of cards looks similar, for the most part, with diamonds and 2’s and Kings with swords. But what differentiates decks is the Ace of Spades, that one card with a unique design unlike any other card. Towns are like card decks, in that there are a lot of similar landmarks and shops andโ€ฆ

Best Burger

Who is the king of burgers in Bend? You guessed it: Bend Burger Company. What makes them the best? Quality and consistency. Don’t be fooled by the fact that they have two locations (downtown and the North end of Third Street): the locally-owned and operated burger joint is not a chain. It’s not fast food,โ€ฆ

Why Count Butterflies?

Over the last couple of months, my wife, Sue—a long-time member of the North American Butterfly Association (NABA) and student of the beauty and ecology of butterflies—has conducted several butterfly counts in the region. She counts them because their numbers are vital to knowing what’s going on in our world, and she loves to teachโ€ฆ

Bend’s Growth Rate: Scary or Sustainable?

Bend feels like it is bursting at the seams this summer with crowds filling the streets, trails, restaurants and shops. A record-breaking summer tourism season is partly the cause, but the fact is that more people move here every day to make our fair city their new home. The slump that followed the Great Recessionโ€ฆ

Best Skinny Dipping Spots

When it’s as hot as it has been in Central Oregon, there are times when you’ll need to take a swim but won’t necessarily have your suit along. Not to worry – you don’t really need it… Not that this pick represents the opinion of ALL our staff…but regardless, the following spots all qualify forโ€ฆ

Best Wine Shop

Emy and Brad Sanchez have a good thing going with Sip Wine Bar: A perfect location on the corner of 14th and Galveston, a friendly and knowledgeable staff and not the faintest whiff of pretension. The atmosphere of Sip is relaxed and jovial and that sense of stuffiness that can be found in some wineโ€ฆ

Go Here 8/10-8/17

Relay for Love Wedding Chapel This popular event invites friends and families to celebrate life and joy with a fun day of running, walking and ceremonies to honor cancer victims, survivors and caregivers. This year’s participants will experience an extra dose of joy and fun with a different kind of ceremony: one that involves aโ€ฆ

Eating High on the Hog

Have you had fried rice before? Oh, you have? NO! NO! You are wrong! You have never had fried rice until you’ve eaten Pono Farm’s Fried Rice. Heck, you haven’t even lived until you have had their insanely addictive, bacon-fat-and-meat-flurried-fluffy-rice-and-what-is-that? A-shred-of-carrot? Oh-this-is-healthy! …fried-rice dish. Pono Farm & Fine Meats is a magical place where cowsโ€ฆ

Best Microcosm of Bend

Let’s say you have some friends coming through town and they only have an hour to spend before they head out. How do you show your friends the essence of Bend in 60 short minutes? Do you take them downtown? To the east side? Out to the lakes or some super sweet mountain biking trail?โ€ฆ

Best Brewer

Deschutes Brewery is typically regarded as the best craft beer in Bend, with its brewmasters regarded as kings of their profession. Now a queen has come along to add to the brewery’s winning formula. Brewmaster Veronica Vega of Deschutes Brewery has brought her creativity, experience and passion to Bend’s beer scene to become the Source'sโ€ฆ

Fire in the Sky

Throughout this month, the sky might look brighter than usual, thanks to the Perseid Meteor Shower. The annual astral event is caused by the Earth’s passage through the debris stream of the Comet Swift-Tuttle. Thanks to a little extra gravity from Jupiter pulling on the comet, this year’s meteor shower is expected to be oneโ€ฆ

Best Worst Answers

We asked you to tell us about your favorite restaurant, the best of shopping and the number ones in service. Most of you answered in a way that actually made sense, and for that, some of our great local businesses came out victorious. Then again, some answers left us scratching our heads, laughing out loudโ€ฆ

Best Seasonal Beer

One beer is a good start and a pair is even better — but everyone knows that three of a kind is the way to go. Deschutes Brewery is holding that winning hand with its seasonal offerings: Red Chair NWPA, Jubelale and Twilight Summer Ale. Packing a variety of malts with a small punch ofโ€ฆ

What Does Central Oregon Do Best?

It’s hard to open a travel, lifestyle, or outdoor magazine lately without seeing Bend on a “Best” list. This year alone, the accolades for Bend include USA Today’s list of the nation’s top 10 ski towns, Men’s Health’s suggestions for “6 Unforgettable Adventure Vacations to Take in 2016,” Travel + Leisure’s roundup of “Best Winterโ€ฆ

A Vessel Worthy of the Craft

For the past 10 years or so, the watchword for Central Oregon beer has been “expansion.” It’s a trend that continues apace, although it’s perhaps not so noticeable at the moment because not as many new breweries are opening. But our existing breweries are expanding like there’s no tomorrow. So it goes, as well, forโ€ฆ

Best Vegetarian

Most menus in Bend provide ample options for vegetarians on the hunt for a meatless meal – so in that way, the best vegetarian category has some meaty competition. Still, it’s Laughing Planet that came out, well, laughing. Their well-designed menu makes it easy to decipher which plates are veg-friendly. Meat is by no meansโ€ฆ

Best Way to Ruin Your Workout

Imagine you just finished the best workout of your life. Maybe you broke a personal record; maybe it was your best friend’s record. Doesn’t matter. What matters is that you are past the point of caring about fitness goals and are ready to indulge in everything your personal trainer would shun you for wanting. Thenโ€ฆ

Side Notes 8/10-8/17

Legal Pot Increases Home Prices? Since June of 2015, home prices in Bend-Redmond have increased 10.4 percent, tracking closely the 10.9 percent increase in home prices in Oregon over the past year. In fact, the Beaver State topped the list of states with the biggest increases in home prices, followed by Washington at 10.3 percent,โ€ฆ

Honoring History with Art

On July 30, McMenamins Old St. Francis School celebrated its recent expansion, which more than doubled its number of rooms. Through the use of distinct design elements and artistic applications, the iconic lodging and entertainment venue showed its commitment to historic preservation when it unveiled two new buildings aptly named the Education House and theโ€ฆ

Best Mexican

This year’s Best Mexican is an ace up the sleeve, for sure. If you don’t know El Rancho Grande, you should. It’s in the Cascade Village Shopping Center across from the water fountain. You can’t miss it because there’s a giant bucking bull out front. That’s Diablo, their mascot. The dining room is lined withโ€ฆ

Best Gift Store

For a small space, ju-bee-lee is a big storeโ€”not necessarily in size, but in variety, quality and heart. The little shop opened up in April of 2013 and has quickly established itself as a favorite around town. However you came to hear about it, you’re sure to find something to fawn over inside. When youโ€ฆ

Best Blog

If you’re new to town and looking to discover how things work around here, Living the Bend Life is the perfect blog. It features walkthroughs of Munch and Music, Bite of Bend, art exhibitions and tons more from the eyes of someone experiencing Bend’s local scene for the first time. LtBL creator Brenda Menzel andโ€ฆ

Best Instagram Selfie Spot

Teenage girls, Instagram celebs and Ellen DeGeneres know the rules for taking the perfect selfie: get a good amount of natural light; chin down, lips pouted; and pick a memorable location for the background. Here in Bend, there is no end of beautiful spots that make for great selfies, but Bendites at the top ofโ€ฆ

Best Home Decor

Lark: n. A merry, carefree adventure; frolic; escapade. That description was the inspiration behind owner Karen Letourneau and general manager Jessica Pollard’s decision to open a companion shop to their popular Lone Crow Bungalow store. Mimicking the carefree adventure that Bend embodies, Lark opened less than a year ago with the goal of offering homeโ€ฆ

General Excitement

In case you haven’t seen it, Buster Keaton’s “The General” is one of the greatest movies ever made. No hyperbole needed or used: the movie is the pinnacle of the silent film era, combining some of the most jaw-dropping stunts and hilarious physical comedy ever captured on celluloid. To see a screening of “The General”โ€ฆ

Best Ethnic Food

Serving Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food with a Bend twist for 10 years as of this October, Kebaba is your best bet for ethnic food. Jackpot dishes include a lamb gyro made from house roasted, all natural, hormone-free lamb leg, served on a homemade fresh-baked pita. Also noteworthy are the chicken, lamb, salmon or prawnโ€ฆ

Best Children’s Clothing Store

Hopscotch Kids’ owner Bridget Swetland has been in the children’s clothing business for a long time. She ran a children’s clothing store in Klamath Falls named Bella Bella for a decade before moving to Bend in 2012 and opening Hopscotch in 2013. The clothing at Hopscotch runs the gamut from babies to kiddos, with books,โ€ฆ

John, Paul, George and MURDER

It’s always interesting to look back on certain moments in history and wonder what you would have done. Would you kill baby Hitler? Launch Apple a few years early? Clinton Clark’s play, “The Beatles Die On Tuesday,” takes an interesting trip through history, following an alternate timeline to its logical and powerful conclusion. “The Beatlesโ€ฆ

2016 Best Of Central Oregon Winners

BEST OF BEND Best Vegetarian 1st | Laughing Planet 2nd | Salud Raw Best Lunch 1st | Spork 2nd | Jackson’s Corner Best Bagel 1st | Big O Bagels 2nd | Rockin’ Dave’s Bistro & Backstage Lounge Best Breakfast 1st | McKay Cottage 2nd | The Victorian Café Best Donut 1st | The Dough Nutโ€ฆ

Best Green Business

Sunlight Solar isn’t willing to gamble with environmental sustainability. While making solar power available to every home in Bend (and beyond) is the company leaders’ dream, their environmental stewardship also includes the company-wide use of hybrid vehicles and recycled paper products, and commuting to work by foot, bus or bike when possible. Marketing and Outreachโ€ฆ

Best Place to Understand Millennials

Townshend’s Teahouse is a perfect place for Millennial watching, as the youngsters (let’s say ages 13-23) have chosen Townshend’s as their downtown hangout spot. Young love is sparked and snuffed out, old friendships are rekindled and Pokemons are most seriously hunted. Older generations complain the Millennials are a bunch of leftist pinko softies who careโ€ฆ

Best Thai

Let’s be honest: Bend drew an Ace when Wild Rose opened downtown. Everyone loves the place because you can play this card multiple different ways. The cozy, eclectic atmosphere is inviting for any occasion. You could bring your mom, have a business meeting, or go on a Tinder date and you’d still feel right atโ€ฆ

Why Isn’t Inventory Increasing?

The housing market in Bend and nationwide is showing increased home sale volume, but low inventory levels. A recent article on national existing home sales and housing inventory showed that sales nationally have increased by about 600,000 between 2012 and 2015 while housing inventory has been flat or has decreased. Nationally, existing home sales areโ€ฆ

Best Event to Get You Inspired

Every fall, organizers of Ignite Bend can be expected to start the event with a couple of jokes about the surprising number of people who are gathered there to watch PowerPoint presentations. With a beginning like that, it’s a wonder anyone comes at allโ€”but Ignite is far more than the sum of its parts. Igniteโ€ฆ

Best Childcare Facility

When Sue Stendahl opened the Cottage in 1978, she wanted her city to have a daycare with an environment as good as its values. Now, 38 years later, that mission is strong as ever. The Cottage is a daycare for kids from two-and-a-half to eight years old, with activities and lessons designed to keep themโ€ฆ

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Turns 50

“If anyone is curious about how we’ve been a band for 50 years, come see us play,” said John McEuen, founding member of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (NGDB) found its name in Long Beach, Calif., in the summer of 1966. They are often cited as a catalyst for an entire movementโ€ฆ

Best Place to be a Tourist

Visitors to Central Oregon have endless options for outdoor activities – and even if you have aspirations to hit all the best places that this wonderland has to offer, no proper tourist can leave without experiencing the infamous float scene of the Deschutes River. Donning a tube and taking a day to bake in theโ€ฆ

Best Place for Cosmetic Enhancement

Offering a vast array of cosmetic enhancements for both face and body, the EsthetixMD team takes pride in offering something for everyone. Whether clients are looking to get back that pre-baby body, remove hyperpigmentation, or just feel good in their own skin, clients must be walking away happy, because EsthetixMD wins this category for theโ€ฆ

Making a Difference, One Note at a Time

The night before the Christmas Valley Music Festival takes over the stage at RE Flowerree Memorial Park on Aug. 13, musicians, sponsors and supporters will gather at Rocker D Ranch, the home of co-founder Earl Diment. They will visit, drink and dine like good old friends often do, and before the night is over, musicโ€ฆ

Best Bartender

Best Bartender 1st Place | CJ Hitchcock, M&J Tavern 102 NW Greenwood Ave, Bend Mon-Sun: 11:00 am – 1:30 am 2nd Place | Buck Bales, D&D Bar & Grill

Best Dessert

Serving up hand-crafted, artisan gelato and sorbets that trump all other desserts, Bontà Gelato sources its ingredients from farms and companies like Rainshadow Organics, Miracle Acre Farm, Tumalo Lavender, Jem Nut Butter, Freddy Guys Hazelnuts, Thump Espresso and Eberhard’s. Much like they have done since their start in 2011 at NorthWest Crossing Farmers Market, theโ€ฆ

Feds Back Down on Cannabis Prosecution of Warm Springs Man

Last week, Smoke Signals shared the story of Devontre Thomas, a 19-year old member of the Warm Springs Tribe. Last year, Thomas was a student at Chemawa Indian School in Salem when one of his classmates alleged that a very small amount of cannabis found in his backpack was supplied by Thomas. After hearing theโ€ฆ

Best Alternative Health Practitioner

It is no secret that the U.S. is facing a major healthcare crisis. We spend more money and receive worse results than the majority of the developed world – but the Pangea Chiropractic team is on a mission to change that through education, transparency and empowerment. Their approach is to look at individuals as livingโ€ฆ

Best Outdoor Gear Shop

Taking on the great outdoors is a serious game here in Bend. Whether it’s biking around Crater Lake or skiing down Mt. Bachelor, it’s important to have the right equipment. Luckily, Pine Mountain Sports stacks the deck with the best gear in town. Looking for mountain bikes? Pine Mountain carries the latest wheels from someโ€ฆ

Hunting For Freedom

“Hunt For the Wilderpeople” is one of those movies that you can only describe as lovely. The script, the tone and the performances all combine to make a movie that just soars by, content to be exactly what it is and nothing more. The film tells the story of Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison), an orphanedโ€ฆ

Best Place to Watch People Play Pokรฉmon GO

On July 6, people went on long walks and got in touch with their geeky sides while Nintendo’s stock went sky-high. Maybe you downloaded Pokémon Go the moment it launched, or maybe you scoffed as your co-workers boasted about where they “almost caught a Dragonite.” If you’re the latter type, you might be on theโ€ฆ

2016 Best Of Central Oregon

It’s that time of year again. Welcome to the Source Weekly’s annual Best Of Central Oregon issue. This is not only the biggest paper we print all year, it is the most anticipated by local businesses and residents. That puts a lot of pressure on our staff to make sure we do the best possibleโ€ฆ

Squad Goals

The narrative being constructed by critics and fandom right now is that of a battle between DC Comics’ Extended Cinematic Universe (DCEU) and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). While Marvel’s started back in 2008 with the first “Iron Man” film and is plotted through 2019’s “Avengers: Infinity War – Part 2,” DC is still inโ€ฆ


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