Aug 14-21, 2019
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Cover Story
Let the Good Times Roar
Will the 2020s roar as much as the 1920s did? We aren’t waiting for next year to find out… It was an iconic era in modern history—noteworthy enough to be the only decade with its own nickname: the Roaring ‘20s. With the 18th Amendment, Prohibition speakeasies and black-market booze were all the rage. Women won…
Best Sports Bar
1st Place: Sidelines Sports Bar & Grill 1020 NW Wall St., Bend 541-385-8898 2nd Place: The Hideaway Tavern 939 SE Second St., Bend 541-312-9898
Best Coffee
1st Place: Backporch Coffee Roasters – Newport Ave. 1052 NW Newport Ave., Bend 541-617-3984 Backporch Coffee Roasters – Downtown 55 NW Franklin Ave., Bend 541-797-6647 Backporch Coffee Roasters – Greenwood Ave. 706 NE Greenwood Ave., Bend 541-678-5458 2nd Place: Thump Coffee – Downtown 25 NW Minnesota Ave., Bend 541-388-0226 Thump Coffee – York 549 NW…
Best Car Dealership
1st Place: Subaru of Bend 2060 NE Hwy 20, Bend (541) 389-3031 2nd Place: Kendall Toyota of Bend 61430 S Hwy 97, Bend tressashuttleworth@kendalluto.com
Best Chef
1st Place: Joe Kim Five – Modern Japanese Bar & Retaurant 821 NW Wall St., Bend 541-323-2328 2nd Place: Chef Andres Fernandez Ariana Restaurant 1304 NW Galveston Ave., Bend 541-330-5539
Best Bloody Mary
Every year more of Bend’s classic eateries close their doors. For every chain like McGrath’s or Applebee’s that shut down, there’s a local staple like Cheerleaders or Palmer’s that quietly says goodbye, as well. The Victorian Café is one of those local staples that it’s hard to imagine the Bend brunch scene without, and luckily,…
Helping Wildlife Get By
On a Saturday and Sunday afternoon in July, the brand-new wildlife rehabilitation facility, Think Wild, east of Bend, created a traffic jam with its open house. A lot of people from Bend, Tumalo, LaPine, Sisters and Redmond came out to check out what Think Wild was all about. So, here’s the skinny. The facility once…
Best Exercise Studio
1st Place: barre3 barre3 Studio 805 SW Industrial Way #7, Bend 2nd Place: Orangetheory Fitness Orangetheory Fitness 320 SW Powerhouse Drive #170, Bend 541-904-5123
Best Medical Group
1st Place: High Lakes Health Care 2175 NW Shevlin Park Road, Bend 541-389-7741 2nd Place: Summit Medical Group Various Locations, Central Oregon 541-382-2811
Best Local Home Builder
1st Place: Hayden Homes 2464 SW Glacier Place #110, Redmond 1-800-923-6607 2nd Place: Steve Bennett Builders 611 SE Business Way, Bend 541-383-5833
Best Wedding Venue
1st Place: Aspen Hall Aspen Hall 18920 Northwest Shevlin Park Rd., Bend 541-389-7275 2nd Place: Brasada Ranch Brasada Ranch 16986 SW Brasada Ranch Rd, Powell Butte 5415265670
Best Green Business
1st Place: The Broomsmen 2115 NE Division St., Bend 2nd Place: The Gear Fix 550 Industrial Way Suite 183, Bend (541) 617-0022
Letters to the Editor
Guest Opinion: In Response to: Deschutes River Alliance The July 24 Source Weekly contained a guest column by Greg McMillan, president of the Deschutes River Alliance, that needs a response. It is absolutely true that attempts to reintroduce salmon and steelhead into the upper Deschutes basin above Lake Billy Chinook have been extremely disappointing. It is important…
Best Bartender
1st Place: Buck Bales – D & D Bar & Grill D&D Bar & Grill 927 NW Bond St., Bend 541-382-4592 2nd Place: Cameron Springstun – Stihl Whiskey Bar Stihl Whiskey Bar 550 NW Franklin Ave., Bend 541-383-8182
Best Steak
1st Place: Bos Taurus Steakhouse 163 NW Minnesota Ave., Bend 541-241-2735 2nd Place: The Blacksmith Restaurant 211 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend 541-318-0588
Best Women’s Clothing
1st Place: Vanilla Urban Threads 661 SW Powerhouse Dr, Bend 2nd Place: Hot Box Betty 930 NW Wall Street, Bend 541.383.0050
Best Dessert
1st Place: Bonta – Downtown 920 NW Bond St., Bend 541-306-6606 2nd Place:
Best Local Brewer
News flash: People in Central Oregon love beer. Breweries and brewers in the area are aware of the stakes that come with producing in such a hot spot, so when you get recognized by the public for your skills behind the beer scene, it’s basically the equivalent of winning a local Oscar. You’ve probably tasted…
Best Day Spa
1st Place: Anjou Spa 1835 NW Pence Lane #120, Bend 541-241-8454 2nd Place: Jinsei Spa 118 NW Newport Ave., Bend 541-383-8282
May the Source Be with You
Look, I realize it’s incredibly impersonal to talk about the weather…especially with you. We’re closer than that. I’d rather find out how your summer has been and whether you’ve been properly hydrating—but I know you have. You’re responsible; I just worry because it’s so hot outside. If you need something to do while cooling down…
Best Alternative Health Clinic
1st Place: Pangea Chiropractic 409 NE Greenwood Ave., Suite 120, Bend 541-204-0450 2nd Place: Hawthorn Healing Arts Center 39 NW Louisiana Ave., Bend
Best Barber Shop
1st Place: Bishops Barbershop 130 NW Oregon Avenue, Bend 541.647.2703 2nd Place: Bond Street Barber Shop 841 NW Bond St., Bend 541-312-2121
Best Toy Store
1st Place: Leapin’ Lizards 953 NW Wall St., Bend 2nd Place: Learning Express Toys 61334 S Hwy 97 #320, Bend 541-389-2447
Best Place to Buy Produce
1st Place: Newport Avenue Market 1121 NW Newport Ave., Bend 2nd Place: Bend Farmers Market Brooks Alley, between Oregon & Franklin, Bend
Best Lunch
1st Place: Sunriver Brewing Co -Sunriver Pub 57100 Beaver Dr., Sunriver 541-593-3007 2nd Place: Cafe Sintra – Sunriver 57031 Ponderosa Rd., Sunriver 541-593-1222
Best Happy Hour
1st Place: 900 Wall 900 NW Wall St., Bend 541-323-6295 2nd Place: Pine Tavern 967 NW Brooks St., Bend 541-382-5581
Best Drive-thru Coffee
1st Place: Dutch Bros – NE Third St. 1143 NE Third St., Bend (541) 955-4700 Dutch Bros – S Hwy 97 61223 S Hwy 97, Bend 541-955-4700 2nd Place: Backporch Coffee Roasters – Drive-Up 1075 SE 15th St., Bend 541-382-0005
Best Way to Commute in the Winter
Most can agree that getting around after a heavy snowfall in Bend isn’t fun or ideal—despite how much we like to tout how good we are at driving on snow and ice-covered streets compared to newbies from California. Plows have trouble keeping the streets clear, sidewalks quickly become unusable (or they’re non-existent)—and some of us…
Best Caterer
1st Place: Bleu Bite Catering 63060 Nels Anderson Rd, Bend 541-388-1104 2nd Place: Tate & Tate – Bend 1205 SW Indian Ave., Redmond 541-548-2512
Best Breakfast
This year marks McKay Cottage’s 10th in a row winning the best breakfast award and owner Pam Morgan credits her workers. “It just comes down to really having a great staff,” Morgan said. Morgan noted employees who have remained with the restaurant for several years, both in the kitchen and in the front of the…
Empire Work Continues
Road construction on Bend’s east side continues in an effort to relieve congestion at key intersections, improve safety and help drivers cross the city more easily. Early this month, the city officially opened a new roundabout at Empire Avenue and Purcell Boulevard, capping the first phase of the Empire Corridor Improvements project that started in…
Best Yoga Studio
1st Place: Namaspa Yoga Studio 1135 NW Galveston Ave., Bend 2nd Place: Groove Yoga 1740 NW Pence Ln, Bend 5417069288
Best Bang for Your Buck
1st Place: Lucy’s Taco Shop Lucy’s Taco Shop 916 NE Third St., Bend 541-317-5917 2nd Place: Cascade Lakes – Pub at 7th Street 855 SW Seventh St., Redmond 541-923-1795
Best Radio Station
1st Place: 92/9 FM 345 SW Cyber Drive #101, Bend 541-388-3300 2nd Place: KPOV 501 NW Bond St., Bend 541-322-0863
Best Bang for Your Buck
1st Place: Sno Cap Drive -In – Sisters 380 W Cascade Ave., Sisters 541-549-6151 2nd Place: Takoda’s Restaurant & Lounge 425 W Hwy 20, Sisters 541-549-8620
Assertiveness Draining & Hunk Bonds
Assertiveness Draining I met a guy, and he was very enthusiastic, calling and texting multiple times every day, almost obsessively. Soon after, I was having a really bad week: too much work, health issues with my parent…just really vulnerable. He said stuff like “I’d never leave you,” “I’ll never run away.” Well, a couple of…
Best Specialty Cocktail
1st Place: Poco Loco at The Dogwood Cocktail Cabin Dogwood At The Pine Shed 821 NE Second St., Bend 541-706-9949 2nd Place: Motavation at Kanpai Kanpai 990 NW Newport Ave., Bend 541-388-4636
Best Salad
1st Place: Croutons 335 SW Century Dr., Bend 541-330-1133 Croutons 564 NE Greenwood Ave., Bend 541-728-0825 2nd Place: Jackson’s Corner – Delaware Ave. 845 NW Delaware Ave., Bend 541-647-2198
Best Children’s Clothing
1st Place: Hopscotch Kids 1303 NW Galveston Ave., Bend 541-213-2245 2nd Place: Stone Soup Kids 1740 NW Pence Lane #4, Bend
Best Hangover Spot
1st Place: D&D Bar & Grill 927 NW Bond St., Bend 541-382-4592 2nd Place: Sidelines Sports Bar & Grill 1020 NW Wall St., Bend 541-385-8898
Best Paleo
I know, right? “Best Paleo” and “Best Vegan/Vegetarian” would seem to be miles apart in terms of the types of establishments that would shine in either category. Yet, Laughing Planet does both exceptionally well. When you break down the paleo diet — dubbed the “caveman diet” because of its emphasis on eating a heavy amount of…
Best Realtor
1st Place: Lana Duran, Cascade Sotheby’s International Realty Cascade Sotheby’s International Realty 821 NW Wall St., Bend 2nd Place: Kelly Johnson, Bend Premier Real Estate Bend Premier Real Estate 550 NW Franklin Ave #108, Bend 541-323-2779
Best Gym
1st Place: Planet Fitness 725 NE Greenwood Ave., Bend 541-306-6084 2nd Place: Athletic Club of Bend 61615 Athletic Club Dr, Bend
Best Dental Group
1st Place: East Bend Dental 2250 NE Professional Court, Bend 541-388-1434 2nd Place: Dr. Dondo Dental Excellence 1725 SW Chandler Ave., Suite 100, Bend 541-241-1299
Best Manicure/Pedicure
1st Place: Freshly Filed 1860 NE 4th St., Suite 200, Bend 541-699-8026 2nd Place: Crescent Nails and Spa 1288 SW Simpson Ave., Bend 541-382-0559
Best Coffee Shop
1st Place: Sisters Coffee Company – Sisters 273 W Hood St., Sisters 541-549-0527 2nd Place: Fika Sisters Coffeehouse 201 E Sun Ranch Dr., Sisters 541-588-0311
Closing Reception for Bend Art Center
On Aug. 17, Bend Art Center will host a closing reception for its final show, “A Sense of Order.” Curated by Julie Winter, the exhibition features artists Sarah Helen More, Shin Yeon Jeon and Susan Porteous. While each artist works in a different medium, bringing individual sensibilities to the theme, the show is also cohesive,…
Best Dinner
1st Place: Sunriver Brewing Co -Sunriver Pub 57100 Beaver Dr., Sunriver 541-593-3007 2nd Place: Mountain Jug 56805 Venture Ln., Sunriver 541-390-0214
Best Brewery
1st Place: 2nd Place: Crux Fermentation Project 50 SW Division St., Bend 541-385-3333
Best Local Tea
1st Place: Brew Dr. Teahouse 835 NW Bond St., Bend 541-312-2001 2nd Place: Metolius Artisan Tea
Best Shoe Store
1st Place: FootZone 842 NW Wall St., Bend 541-317-3568 2nd Place: North Soles Footwear 800 Wall St., Bend
Best Food Cart
1st Place: El Sancho – Taco Shack 50 SW Division St., Bend 2nd Place: Bend Izakaya Ronin 70 SW Century Dr., #120, Bend 541-797-4325
Best Food Cart Lot
With all of the food cart lots popping up lately, it was time to add a new category to our Best of Central Oregon readers’ poll. The winner of the brand spankin’ new category “Best Food Cart Lot” is not only a favorite lot of locals — it’s THE Lot — the one and only!…
Regional Roundup
OSU-Cascades Grows in Bend Oregon State University-Cascades is breaking ground on an expansion of its Bend campus. A new academic building will sit on land redeveloped from former waste and mining sites. Builders plan to move soil from an old landfill to fill a pumice mine adjacent to the university’s existing footprint. The filled-in mine will provide…
Opt Out Afoot
In making a decision during their Aug. 8 Deschutes County Board meeting to “opt out” of allowing further marijuana business applications, commissioners have ensured that the country mouse/city mouse fight over cannabis farms will go through the 2020 election. And perhaps beyond. If you haven’t been closely following the county’s marijuana soap opera, here’s a…
Best Local Radio Personality
1st Place: Dave Clemens, KQAK 2nd Place: Megan Sinclair, 107.7
Best Dessert
1st Place: La Frontera 2330 S Hwy 97, Redmond 541-504-0708 2nd Place: Red Martini Wine Bar & Grill 509 SW Sixth St., Redmond 541-504-6424
New Wing Spot in Bend
Fans of chicken wings have a new spot to please their palates. Northwest Wing Shop opened earlier this summer on Colorado Avenue, close to The Podski food cart lot. The menu includes “Southern style wings with a Northwest frame of mind” and 10 different wing sauces, as well as fried okra, crispy cauliflower, fried chicken…
Best Liquor Store
1st Place: 3rd Street Beverage 740 NE 3rd St. Suite 5, Bend 541-797-0028 2nd Place: Trailhead Liquor 20516 Robal Road #130, Bend 541-306-3747
Best Dessert
1st Place: Goody’s Chocolate 57100 Beaver Dr., Sunriver 541-593-2155 2nd Place: Cafe Sintra – Sunriver 57031 Ponderosa Rd., Sunriver 541-593-1222
Best Light Beer
1st Place: Sweet As – GoodLife Brewing GoodLife Brewing 70 SW Century Dr., Bend 541-728-0749 2nd Place: Pilz – Crux Ferm Project Crux Fermentation Project 50 SW Division St., Bend 541-385-3333
Best Sandwich/Deli
1st Place: Planker Sandwiches 824 NW Wall St., Bend 541-317-5717 2nd Place: [location-2]
Best Clothing Consignment
1st Place: Cosa Cura 2735 NW Crossing Dr #101, Bend 541-312-2279 2nd Place: Bag Ladies of Union Street 1319 NW Union St., Bend 541-388-4422
Best Ongoing Public Debate
What’s all that sludge in the shallow water that is Mirror Pond? Who should clean up that stuff? Who’s gonna pay for that shizz? What about making the pond into a free-flowing river instead? Who even owns the pond, anyway? If these questions sound to you like a Bend-y version of Groundhog Day, you’re not…
Best Smoothie/Juice Bar
If you’re a juicer, you’re more than likely already familiar with Mother’s Juice Café on Galveston and the two other convenient locations, including a kitchen in downtown Bend and a location on the east side. The downtown location boasts the largest selection of entrees and a full bar. But as delicious as the breakfast items…
Best Local’s Night (place offering discounts for locals)
1st Place: Bend Brewing Company 1019 NW Brooks St., Bend 541-383-1599 2nd Place:
Best Ski and Board Shop
1st Place: Powder House Ski & Snowboard 311 SW Century Dr, Bend 541-389-6234 2nd Place: Skjersaa’s 345 SW Century Dr., Bend
Best Coffee Shop
1st Place: Proust Coffee 235 SW 6th St., Redmond 303-834-2850 2nd Place: Green Plow Coffee Roasters 436 SW Sixth St., Redmond 541-516-1128
Best Bar / Brewpub
1st Place: Wild Ride Brewing 332 SW Fifth St., Redmond 541-516-8544 2nd Place: Cascade Lakes – Pub at 7th Street 855 SW Seventh St., Redmond 541-923-1795
Best Breakfast
1st Place: Angeline’s Bakery 121 W Main St., Sisters 541-549-9122 2nd Place: Sisters Bakery 251 E Cascade Ave., Sisters 541-549-0361
Best Smoking Accessories
1st Place: Hempies 2570 NE Twin Knolls Drive, Bend 541-977-1710 2nd Place: Piece of Mind 806 NW Brooks St., Bend 458-206-4766
Best Bar / Brewpub
1st Place: Sunriver Brewing Co -Sunriver Pub 57100 Beaver Dr., Sunriver 541-593-3007 2nd Place: Mountain Jug 56805 Venture Ln., Sunriver 541-390-0214
Best Dark Beer
1st Place: Black Butte Porter – Deschutes Brewery 2nd Place: Sinister – 10 Barrel Brewing Company 10 Barrel Brewing Co. Pub & Brewing Facility 62950 NE 18th St., Bend 541-241-7733
Best Burger
1st Place: Bend Burger Company 1939 NE Third St., Bend 541-382-1914 2nd Place: Dandy’s Drive-in 1334 NE Third St., Bend 541-382-6141
Best Local Band
For what really was their first year on the Central Oregon scene, alternative rockers the Night Channels have utilized creative outlets to the fullest. From countless shows at The Capitol, The Domino Room and the not-to-be-forgotten Di’s Pizza in Redmond, the young group has fully immersed itself into the music scene, determined to leave a…
Best Fine Dining
1st Place: Ariana Restaurant 1304 NW Galveston Ave., Bend 541-330-5539 2nd Place: Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails 919 NW Bond St., Bend 541-312-2899
Best Bike Shop
In an outdoors community awash in a sea of bike shops, gear stores and big-box options, what compels readers to vote one particular place Best Bike Shop, year after year? This particular bike shop’s wins in Best of Central Oregon go back as long as the Source has been doing the contest, taking second just…
Best Student Hangout
1st Place: Brew Dr. Teahouse 835 NW Bond St., Bend 541-312-2001 2nd Place: Dudley’s Bookshop Cafe 135 NW Minnesota Ave., Bend 541-749-2010
Best Health and Rec Facility
1st Place: Juniper Swim & Fitness Center 800 NE Sixth St., Bend 2nd Place: Athletic Club of Bend 61615 Athletic Club Dr, Bend
Best Breakfast
1st Place: One Street Down Cafe 124 SW Seventh St., Redmond 541-647-2341 2nd Place: Christie’s Kitchen 614 NW Cedar Ave., Redmond 541-923-8878
Best Beauty Studio (nails, lashes, waxing, etc.)
1st Place: Penny Lash 1303 NW Galveston Ave., Bend 541-941-7757 2nd Place: Bend Skin Company 1208 NE 4th St. Suite B, Bend 541-390-3338
Best Lunch
1st Place: Depot Cafe 250 W Cascade Ave., Sisters 541-549-2572 2nd Place: Sno Cap Drive -In – Sisters 380 W Cascade Ave., Sisters 541-549-6151
Bend Gets Vegan-Friendlier
As an open-minded omnivore, perusing a menu means simply selecting whatever meal sounds appetizing. Throw in a dietary restriction, such as not eating animal products, and dining at a traditional restaurant typically whittles that menu down to three options: maybe a salad (omit the cheese, please), a veggie burger and a pasta or risotto with…
Best Boutique
1st Place: The Lazy Daisy 57100 Beaver Drive, Sunriver 541-593-4654 2nd Place: West of the Moon 57185 Abbot Drive, Sunriver 541-593-8819
Best IPA
1st Place: RPM – Boneyard Beer Boneyard Pub 1955 NE Division St., Bend 541-241-7184 2nd Place: Descender – GoodLife Brewing GoodLife Brewing 70 SW Century Dr., Bend 541-728-0749
Best Burrito
1st Place: Parrilla Grill 635 NW 14th St., Bend 541-617-9600 Parrilla Grill – Midtown 706 NE Greenwood Ave., Bend 541-617-9600 2nd Place: Super Burrito – Downtown 1133 NW Wall St., Bend 541-312-2009 El Super Burrito 3 425 NE Windy Knolls Dr., Bend 541-388-0166
Best Jewelry Store
1st Place: Silverado 1001 NW Wall St, #101., Bend 2nd Place: Saxon’s Fine Jeweler 360 SW Powerhouse Dr #110, Bend
Best Casual Dining
1st Place: 10 Barrel Brewing Co. 1135 NW Galveston Ave., Bend 541-678-5228 10 Barrel Brewing Co. Pub & Brewing Facility 62950 NE 18th St., Bend 541-241-7733 2nd Place: Jackson’s Corner – Delaware Ave. 845 NW Delaware Ave., Bend 541-647-2198
Best Dinner
Red Martini’s dinner menu reads like a treasure trove of all the things people love about America: King salmon, Maine lobster, beef tenderloin, Dungeness crab…. And with a handful of items with a French flair, including the French Cassoulet and a French Pot Roast, it’s safe to say this restaurant and cocktail bar has both…
Best Nonprofit
1st Place: Humane Society of Central Oregon 61170 SE 27th St., Bend 541-382-3537 2nd Place: Bethlehem Inn 3705 N Hwy 97, Bend 541-322-8768
Best Outdoor Gear Shop
1st Place: Pine Mountain Sports 255 SW Century Dr., Bend 2nd Place: Mountain Supply 834 NW Colorado Ave, Bend
Best Veterinarian
1st Place: Bend Veterinary Clinic 360 NE Quimby Ave., Bend 541-382-0741 2nd Place: Brookswood Animal Clinic 19550 Amber Meadow Drive, Bend 541-306-6991
Best Boutique
1st Place: Willow Wild 321 SW Sixth St., Redmond 541-527-4320 2nd Place: Welcome Home 229 SW Sixth St., Redmond 541-617-1259
Best Garden Store
1st Place: Eastside Gardens 61780 SE 27th St., Bend 541-383-3722 2nd Place: Galveston Gardens 1515 NW Galveston Ave., Bend 541-382-6317
Best Bang for Your Buck
1st Place: Sunriver Brewing Co -Sunriver Pub 57100 Beaver Dr., Sunriver 541-593-3007 2nd Place: Mountain Jug 56805 Venture Ln., Sunriver 541-390-0214
Best Local Attraction
1st Place: SHARC 57250 Overlook Rd., Sunriver 541-585-5000 2nd Place: Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory 57245 River Rd., Sunriver, Sunriver
Best Seafood
1st Place: Anthony’s at the Old Mill 475 SW Powerhouse Dr., Bend 541-389-8998 2nd Place:
Best Bowl
1st Place: Café Yumm! – Old Mill District 325 SW Powerhouse Dr., Bend 541-318-9866 Café Yumm! – Neff Place 1500 NE Cushing Dr., Bend 541-322-9866 2nd Place: Poke Row 2735 NW Crossing Dr., Bend 541-306-6796
Best Bang for Your Buck
1st Place: El Sancho – Taco Shack 50 SW Division St., Bend El Sancho Taco Shop – Eastside 335 NE Dekalb Ave., Bend 458-206-5973 2nd Place: Taste of Thailand 696 NE Greenwood Ave., Bend (541) 815-0180
Best Asian (excl. Thai)
1st Place: Chi Chinese & Sushi Bar 3118 North Hwy 97, Bend 541-323-3931 2nd Place: Pho Viet & Cafe 1326 NE Third St., Bend 541-382-2929
Best Hair Salon
The cover of this fine issue is a strong indication of the passion and talent found at Lush Salon. It didn’t take long to get two of the salon’s stylists, Haley Shaw and Diala Villavicenzio, to jump on board and serve as the cover models for our Roaring ’20s-themed shoot. Suffice to say they’re the…
If Residents Want an Opt-Out on Marijuana, Let Residents Put It on the Ballot Themselves
Ahead of the November 2018 election, then-candidate Patti Adair ran for Deschutes County Commissioner on two key platforms: Fiscal conservativism and being anti-marijuana. Since winning that election—by a narrow margin—and serving on the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners, she’s held true to being against marijuana growing in the county. On being a fiscal conservative, however,…
Banding Together
There’s an abundance of good music coming out of Central Oregon. You might not always find it if you don’t know where to look (our calendar helps)—but that’s part of the reason local bands are taking matters into their own hands with a new festival hosted at the Volcanic Theatre Pub. Appropriately titled the High…
Best Local Instagram Account to Follow
1st Place: Memes of Bend @memesofbend 2nd Place: Backyard Bend @backyardbend
Best Beauty Boutique (makeup, skincare, etc.)
1st Place: Wren & Wild 112 Northwest Minnesota Avenue, Bend (541) 480-3252 2nd Place: Bend Skin Company 1208 NE 4th St. Suite B, Bend 541-390-3338
Best Dinner
1st Place: The Open Door 303 W Hood St., Sisters 541-549-6076 2nd Place: Chops Bistro 370 E Cascade Ave., Sisters 541-549-6015
Best Seasonal Beer
1st Place: Red Chair – Deschutes Brewery 2nd Place: Jubelale – Deschutes Brewery
Best Bakery
1st Place: The Sparrow Bakery 50 SE Scott St., Bend 541-330-6321 The Sparrow Cafe & Bakery 2748 NW Crossing Dr., Bend 541-647-2323 2nd Place: Foxtail Bakeshop & Kitchen 555 NW Arizona Ave., Bend 541-213-2275
Best Open Mic
After a brief closure of its musical festivities, the M&J Tavern is back and showcasing all of the local talent we have in the area– and they clearly haven’t lost a step. When an open mic is like going to a billed concert, you know it’s something special. The energy at M&J’s open mic is…
Best Family Dining
1st Place: Jackson’s Corner – Delaware Ave. 845 NW Delaware Ave., Bend 541-647-2198 2nd Place: Worthy Brewing – Main Pub and Brewery 495 NE Bellevue Dr., Bend 541-241-6310
Best Place to Get a Tattoo
I don’t have any tattoos but I want all of them. That’s the problem. I bounce between wanting slasher movie\Little Prince\Jhonen Vasquez\comic book tattoos so much that I’m paralyzed in my decision-making process. Monolith Tattoo Studio is the first studio I’ve seen where I would gladly go in and let any of their artists put whatever…
Best Local Fundraiser
1st Place: Fur Ball, Bend Spay & Neuter Project Bend Spay & Neuter Project 910 SE Wilson, Suite A1, Bend 541-617-1010 2nd Place: Tuxes & Tails, Humane Society of Central Oregon Humane Society of Central Oregon 61170 SE 27th St., Bend 541-382-3537
Best Outdoor Clothing Store
1st Place: The Gear Fix 550 Industrial Way Suite 183, Bend (541) 617-0022 2nd Place: Mountain Supply 834 NW Colorado Ave, Bend
Best Lunch
1st Place: Croutons 974 SW Veterans Way, Redmond 541-316-1500 2nd Place: One Street Down Cafe 124 SW Seventh St., Redmond 541-647-2341
Best Thrift Store
1st Place: Humane Society Thrift Shop 61220 S. Highway 97, Bend 2nd Place: Habitat for Humanity ReStore 224 NE Thurston Ave., Bend 5413126709
Best Dessert
1st Place: Sisters Bakery 251 E Cascade Ave., Sisters 541-549-0361 2nd Place: Sno Cap Drive -In – Sisters 380 W Cascade Ave., Sisters 541-549-6151
Best Coffee Shop
1st Place: Brewed Awakenings Coffee Roasters 57100 Beaver Drive, Sunriver 541-678-5288 2nd Place: Wild Wood Coffee House 56870 Venture Lane Suite #106, Sunriver 541-593-4043
Best Sushi
1st Place: Five – Modern Japanese Bar & Retaurant 821 NW Wall St., Bend 541-323-2328 2nd Place: Kanpai 990 NW Newport Ave., Bend 541-388-4636
Best Bagel
1st Place: Rockin’ Daves Bistro & Backstage Lounge 661 NE Greenwood Ave., Bend 541-318-8177 2nd Place: Big O Bagels – Westside 1032 NW Galveston Ave., Bend 541-383-2446 Big O Bagels – Eastside 2625 NE Butler Market Rd., Bend 541-306-4096 Big O Bagels – South 97 61419 S Hwy 97, Bend 541-317-3924
Best Place to Throw Your Dog Poop
Most people who’ve spent any time hiking trails around Bend, or taking their kids to school, or just walking down the sidewalk have seen them: black plastic bags filled with dog excrement left lying about like a nightmarish version of an Easter egg hunt. Maybe the bags are left around because people forget them. You’re…
Best Thai
1st Place: [location-1] 2nd Place: [location-2] Related Stories
Best Dispensary
It must feel good to be the best. For the last five years, Oregrown has been Bend’s highest-profile dispensary—sponsoring events, creating on-point swag and following their own guidelines for what a mellow weed shop can be. Bend is packed to the gills with dispensaries, but year after year, Oregrown takes the Best Of crown with…
Best Local Event
1st Place: Bend Brewfest 2nd Place: Pole Pedal Paddle
Best Lodging
1st Place: 2nd Place: LOGE Entrada 19221 SW Century Drive, Bend
Best Day Care / Preschool
1st Place: Cottage Day Care Contact for address, Bend 541-389-7380 2nd Place: Bloom Children’s Center Contact for address, Bend 541-306-4592
Best Local Attraction
1st Place: Smith Rock State Park Smith Rock State Park 9241 Wallenberg Rd., Terrebonne 2nd Place: Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center 3800 SW Airport Way, Redmond, Redmond
Best Bar / Brewpub
1st Place: Three Creeks Brewing Co. 721 S Desperado Ct., Sisters 541-549-1963 2nd Place: Sisters Saloon 190 E. Cascade Ave., Sisters
Best Breakfast
1st Place: Cafe Sintra – Sunriver 57031 Ponderosa Rd., Sunriver 541-593-1222 2nd Place: Lodge Kitchen at Sunriver Resort 17600 Center Dr., Sunriver 541-593-3740
Best International Cuisine
1st Place: Kebaba 1004 NW Newport Ave., Bend 541-318-6224 2nd Place: Spork 937 NW Newport Ave., Bend 541-390-0946
Best Doughnut
1st Place: Richard’s Donuts & Pastries 61419 S Hwy 97, Bend 541-385-3310 2nd Place: Sweetheart Donuts
Best Patio Dining
1st Place: Worthy Brewing – Main Pub and Brewery 495 NE Bellevue Dr., Bend 541-241-6310 2nd Place: Pine Tavern 967 NW Brooks St., Bend 541-382-5581
Best Republican PR Stunt
If Oregon Senate Republicans’ goal this year was to position themselves as righteous outlaws, out there to rabble rouse anything that remotely whiffs of “climate change legislation,” then call “The Base” placated. In one epic public relations stunt, Senate Republicans appeared to have a grand time fleeing the state to oppose HB 2020, the proposed…
Best Budtender
Everyone smokes or dabs or vapes or shatters for different reasons: maybe to calm anxiety, help with pain relief or just to get good and stoned. Whatever the reason, they all know what a bad budtender is like. You ask the budtender for a solid recommendation and get some strangely named strain you’ve never heard…
A Healthy Self
Instead of meeting regularly in a medical office, the clinical team at New Vision Wilderness takes things outside, facilitating group and individual therapy for young people and families year-round. Gear and food are part of the cost of attending the programs that transport patients to various field locations throughout Central Oregon, including sites in the…
“The Scene is what You Make It”
One of the main players behind the High Desert Underground Music Fest is the Roof Rabbits’ Johnny Bourbon. You can catch this trio of rockers performing on night two of the festival, for what is sure to be a high-octane affair. I chatted with Bourbon, guitarist and vocalist, about the band’s beginnings and the current…
Best Indoor Music Venue
1st Place: Volcanic Theatre Pub 70 SW Century Dr., Bend 2nd Place: Tower Theatre 835 NW Wall St., Bend
Best Place for Medical-Cosmetic Enhancement (augmentation, re-shaping, reconstruction, lifting, etc.)
1st Place: Esthetix MD Medical Spa & Laser Center 115 SW Allen Rd., Bend 2nd Place: DermaSpa – Westside 2855 NW Crossing Drive #104, Bend 541-330-9139 DermaSpa – Eastside 2705 NE Conners Drive, Bend 541-330-9139
Best Gift Store
1st Place: ju-bee-lee 903 NW Wall St., Bend 541-678-5651 2nd Place: Pomegranate Home and Garden 120 NE River Mall Ave., Bend
Unofficial, Definitive Bend Brewfest Preview
Brewfest veterans know the drill, but for those attending Bend Brewfest this weekend for the first time, I’ve created the definitive, unofficial preview of the 2019 Bend Brewfest. Every August, 70 breweries and cideries from all over the West Coast bring two different beers to pour on the banks of the Deschutes River over…
Best Cider
1st Place: Blackberry Cider – AVID Cider AVID Cider Co. Taproom 550 SW Industrial Way, Bend 541-706-9240 2nd Place: Prickly Passion – Tumalo Cider Co. Tumalo Cider Co 64654 Cook Ave., Tumalo 541-797-0308
Best Art Gallery
Mockingbird Gallery’s big front windows overlook the living art of downtown Bend’s arguably busiest pedestrian spot. But the space inside stretches back into a quiet oasis. Statues, sculptures and paintings of fish, birds, moose, horses, mountain lions and butterflies—along with landscapes and scenes of lone barns and rain-streaked city streets—fill the gallery that represents about…
Best Lunch
1st Place: Spork 937 NW Newport Ave., Bend 541-390-0946 2nd Place: Wild Rose 150 NW Oregon Ave., Bend 541-382-0441
Best Mexican
1st Place: El Sancho Taco Shop – Eastside 335 NE Dekalb Ave., Bend 458-206-5973 El Sancho – Taco Shack 50 SW Division St., Bend 2nd Place: La Rosa 19570 Amber Meadow Drive, Bend 541-318-7210 La Rosa NW Crossing 2763 NW Crossing Dr., Bend 541-647-1624
Best Men’s Clothing
A teacher used to tell us that if “you look good, you’ll feel good.” To be honest, it’s a pretty solid mantra to live by, because when you’re stylin,’ you’re smilin.’ Guys, I know it can be tough to find a place with the right variety of clothing or one that offers the options to help…
Best Place to Work (less than 50 employees)
1st Place: Bend Veterinary Clinic 360 NE Quimby Ave., Bend 541-382-0741 2nd Place: Oregrown 1199 NW Wall St., Bend 844-673-4769
Best Golf Course
1st Place: Tetherow 61240 Skyline Ranch Rd., Bend 2nd Place: Widgi Creek Golf Club 18707 SW Century Dr, Bend
Best Auto Repair
1st Place: Team Kia Bend 611 NE Purcell Blvd., Bend 1-888-738-3148 2nd Place: Happy Danes Auto Repair 233 SE 2nd St., Bend 541-382-8555
Best Massage
1st Place: Jinsei Spa 118 NW Newport Ave., Bend 541-383-8282 2nd Place: Anjou Spa 1835 NW Pence Lane #120, Bend 541-241-8454
Best Local Attraction
1st Place: Sisters Rodeo 2nd Place: Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show
‘Newsies’ kicks up some musical fun
“Extra! Extra! Newsies win game-changing battle with big media!” Thoroughly Modern Productions brings the high drama and hijinks of turn-of-the-century, history-making paper boys—and girls—to the stage in “Newsies,” a Disney musical based on real events following the Spanish-American War of 1898. The audience can follow the fun and fury as bottom-tier newspaper employees struggle to…
Best Boutique
Bedouin has been a mainstay in Sisters since 1986, the year Janet Brockway opened the doors. Way back when, as a teenager, Harmony Thomas worked in the boutique—so when Brockway decided to retire, Thomas was a natural fit to take over, buying the business from that original owner last year. Since then, Thomas has been…
Best Pasta
1st Place: Pastini Pastaria 375 SW Powerhouse Dr., Bend 541-749-1060 2nd Place: Trattoria Sbandati 1444 NW College Way, Bend 541-306-6825
Best TV Personality
Lots of people have a love for recreational vehicles—especially in the summer in Central Oregon—but were it not for the good ol’ RV, Central Oregonians might not be able to boast a local treasure in Bob Shaw, chief meteorologist and community affairs director at KTVZ. Shaw came to this area for a job with Beaver…
Best Food Service
1st Place: Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails 919 NW Bond St., Bend 541-312-2899 2nd Place: Ariana Restaurant 1304 NW Galveston Ave., Bend 541-330-5539
Best BBQ
1st Place: Baldy’s Barbeque – Westside 235 SW Century Dr., Bend 541-385-7427 Baldy’s Barbeque – Eastside 2670 NE Hwy 20, Bend 541-388-4227 Baldy’s Barbeque – Redmond 343 NW Sixth St., Redmond 541-923-2271 2nd Place: Curb B Q 1424 Cushing Rd., Bend 541-647-0692
Best Antiques
A walk through Iron Horse Second Hand Store proves that they don’t just offer antiques. They also offer hospitality. “People come here from out of state,” says Suzanne Brock, who works at Iron Horse. “They make this part of their Bend visit.” It’s easy to see why. The little store, located just south of Drake Park,…
Best Place to Work (more than 50 employees)
1st Place: Hayden Homes 2464 SW Glacier Place #110, Redmond 1-800-923-6607 2nd Place:
Artist Fact Sheet: Trevor Hall
With a certain affinity for the deeper meanings and connections in life, Trevor Hall has been making music for others in that same boat since he was 16. Reading through many of his interviews, Hall makes it clear he doesn’t consider his music a career, or doesn’t look at music as work; it’s something Hall…
Best Outdoor Music Venue
1st Place: Hayden Homes Amphitheater 344 SW Shevlin Hixon Dr., Bend 2nd Place: Athletic Club of Bend 61615 Athletic Club Dr, Bend
Best Tour Company
1st Place: Wanderlust Tours 61535 S Hwy 97, Bend 541-389-8359 2nd Place: The Bend Tour Company 550 SW Industrial Way, Bend (541) 480-8477
Best Pet Store
1st Place: Bend Pet Express Westside 133 SW Century Drive, Bend 541-389-4620 Bend Pet Express Eastside 420 NE Windy Knolls Drive, Bend 541-385-5298 2nd Place: Mud Bay North 20520 Robal Lane, Suite 100, Bend 541-306-2330 Mud Bay Colorado Crossing 110 NW Sisemore St., Suite 130, Bend 541-306-2660
Battle Buddies
Not all heroes wear capes—in fact, in the real world, they often don’t. Often incognito without their uniform, veterans can struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder, isolation and other challenges after returning home from service in the military. That’s where heroes with four paws come in. Battle Buddies of Central Oregon is a local nonprofit dedicated…
Best Staycation Destination
If Sunriver is the land that time forgot in Central Oregon, then Sunriver Resort’s 3,300 acres is the paradise at the center. It’s the kind of place that reminds locals and tourists alike how special Central Oregon is in the first place, and that the majesty of its outdoors is what brought people here in…
Best Kombucha
1st Place: Hopped Grapefruit – Humm Kombucha Humm Kombucha Taproom 1125 NE Second St., Bend 541-213-2247 2nd Place: Ruby Basil – Caboost Kombucha
Best Locals’ Hangout
Tourists are everywhere in Bend. During the summer, it can be hard for even the most longtime locals to find a sanctuary of peace. While Crux Fermentation Project definitely welcomes tourists to its fine establishment, locals love it, too. Whether at Crux’s inside bar or in the giant outdoor space—featuring cornhole, music and more—you can…
Best Place to Catch a Free Show
There’s no shortage of places to catch a show in Central Oregon — we’re teeming with local talent, and traveling acts come through every summer. While there are plenty of solid venues in town to catch a free, local show (and free is relative, support the local bands you love, folks), I’d have to say that…
Best Wine List
Portello Winecafe’s owner, staff and customers share a love of wine that has powered the restaurant for more than a decade. “We’ve just built this great little community around our restaurant,” said Courtney Toci, who has owned Portello Winecafe for about a year after managing it for about five. Portello prides itself on offering wine…
Learn to Say Goodbye
I’m not sure what I expected from “The Farewell”—maybe something slightly schmaltzy, with multiple moments of unearned conflict and manipulative attempts to get the audience to reach for their hankies. That sounds harsh, but I don’t trust tearjerkers. They try so desperately to cash in on my emotional dollars that most of them feel like…
A Community Thread: Christy Walker
Joshua Langlais is a local photographer and the creator of A Community Thread, a project for which he interviews folks on the subject of community, its importance, and how we function as individuals within it. This is an excerpt from his interview with Christy Walker in July. Walker describes herself as a Latinx, cis-gendered, able-bodied…
Best Bank Branch
1st Place: OnPoint Community Credit Union 950 NW Bond St., Bend 2nd Place: SELCO Community Credit Union – West Bend Branch 137 SW Century Drive, Bend 541-312-1890
Best Home Décor
1st Place: ABODE 1326 NW Galveston Ave., Bend 541-668-6913 2nd Place: Lark Mountain Modern Lark Mountain Modern 831 NW Wall St., Bend 541-797-2099
Best Grocery Store
1st Place: Newport Avenue Market 1121 NW Newport Ave., Bend 2nd Place: Market of Choice 115 NW Sisemore St., Bend (541) 382-5828
Forest Service Streamlining Prompts Questions
The U.S. Forest Service wants to change the way it evaluates the environmental effects from certain projects on federal land, a move that environmental leaders warn would violate both the letter and the spirit of the law—and put everyone involved in court. The federal agency has proposed changing its own rules that it uses to…
Best Bar
1st Place: Dogwood At The Pine Shed 821 NE Second St., Bend 541-706-9949 2nd Place:[location-2]
Best Pizza
1st Place: Pizza Mondo 811 NW Wall St., Bend 541-330-9093 2nd Place: Cibelli’s Pizza – Southside 61249 S Hwy 97, Bend 541-749-1099 Cibelli’s Pizza – Westside 738 NW Columbia St., Bend 541-318-2800 Cibelli’s Pizza – Eastside 2095 NE Hwy 20, Bend 541-385-8646 Cibelli’s – Redmond 885 SW Rimrock Way, Redmond 541-923-7388
Best Spot for a Night Out with the Crew
The Capitol is a nightly ritual designed to give you a good time—winning in this new category. Open daily from 5 pm to midnight, (2am on Wednesdays and Thursdays), the underground restaurant and nightclub is there to do just that. What was originally a musical theater through the early to mid-20th century had been re-opened…
Best Dinner
1st Place: Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails 919 NW Bond St., Bend 541-312-2899 2nd Place: Wild Rose 150 NW Oregon Ave., Bend 541-382-0441
Best Cold Brew Coffee
Know any good riffs? The crew at Riff Cold Brewed does — they’re riffin’ on coffee-centric ideas day in, day out. Riff opened the world’s first cold-brew taproom in December, featuring over 10 finely crafted cold-brewed coffees on tap at any given time, in addition to beer and kombucha on their custom-made 30-tap tower—a beautiful…
Brickhouse Gets a Nod from Wine Spectator
The Brickhouse steak house in downtown Bend got a nod this year from Wine Spectator magazine. The restaurant was one of over 30 Oregon locations earning recognition in Wine Spectator’s 2019 Restaurant Awards—awards that name the locations with the best wine lists around the world. According to the magazine, Brickhouse earned the award for its…
Best Teacher
1st Place: Angela Valerga 2nd Place: Stacey Purtzer
Net Zero, the Energy Saving Hero
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, buildings in the residential and commercial sectors account for 40% of the total energy consumption in the U.S. Green homes and buildings are helping immensely with reducing energy requirements, but homeowners can do even more to help offset dependence on fossil fuels. The solution is to build or…
Best Florist
1st Place: Donner Flower Shop 605 NW Newport Ave., Bend 541-382-3791 2nd Place: Wildflowers of Oregon 920 NW Bond St. #103, Bend 541-389-3442
Best Furniture Store
1st Place: furnish. 761 NW Arizona Ave., Bend 2nd Place: Haven Home Style 856 NW Bond St., Bend
Best Health Food Store
1st Place: Market of Choice 115 NW Sisemore St., Bend (541) 382-5828 2nd Place: Whole Foods Market 2610 Hwy 20, Bend 541-389-0151
Free Will Astrology—Week of August 15
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Moray eels have two sets of jaws. The front set does their chewing. The second set, normally located behind the first, can be launched forward to snag prey they want to eat. In invoking this aggressive strategy to serve as a metaphor for you in the coming weeks, I want to…
