Cover Story
2021 Best of Central Oregon
When we devised the theme for 2021’s Best of Central Oregon issue some months back, we imagined a world where the pandemic was truly starting to be behind us—where the community would be celebrating the return of a more carefree way of life. The phoenix—which we employed for this year’s theme—is, of course, a classic…
Vaccines Required
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced this week that healthcare workers and K-12 school employees need to confirm they have been fully vaccinated by Oct.18 to continue working. Previously, healthcare workers could regularly test themselves if they didn’t want to get vaccinated. The announcement came as case numbers in Oregon are reaching record highs, trending upwards…
Source Weekly Update Podcast 8/19/21
In this week’s podcast: The National Guard arrives at St. Charles Medical Center to support the battle against COVID, Redmond opts not to ban Confederate flags and a plug for our Best of Central Oregon issue. Source Weekly – Bend, Oregon · Source Weekly Update 8/19/21
Like a Phoenix, We Can Return to a Better, More Selfless Version of Ourselves
Every year, as we put out our Best of Central Oregon issue, we are reminded once again of the energy and enthusiasm that this community invests in itself. From the new business owners who have taken the leap and opened their version of the American dream, the tried-and-trues who continue to improve, and the many…
Up In Flames
Conjure a memory of Central Oregon deep summer triple-digit heat thick with hazy smoke and humidity. Now imagine you’re working a 12-hour shift in the designated outdoor COVID tent where you aren’t allowed to keep a water bottle with you and full Personal Protective Equipment is required at all times—aka sticky plastic full-body garb. This…
Letters to the Editor 8/29/21
Editor’s note: When we conceived the theme for this year’s Best of Central Oregon issue—crafted by the ever-talented graphic designer Euiijin Gray—we were hoping to be in a moment of triumph, in a time when society had beaten this virus and we could give one big thank-you to the heroes who helped us through it.…
Big Fire Fully Contained
An air quality alert from the National Weather Service expired at noon on Monday, bringing an end to a hazy weekend of unhealthy air quality in Central Oregon. Temperature drops are expected from the high 90s of the weekend into the 70s by midweek. Fire officials hope the lower temperatures and increased humidity will improve…
Noticias en Español
La gobernadora Kate Brown está enviando miembros de la Guardia Nacional a los hospitales de Oregon para ayudar a los trabajadores de cuidado médico de primera fila que asisten a los pacientes que luchan contra COVID-19. Para comenzar, la gobernadora asignará 500 miembros de la Guardia Nacional a partir del 20 de agosto, los cuales…
High-Ranking Beers
If you’ve read the rest of this issue, then you’ve likely already seen the winners that took home titles in categories such as food and drinks—which of course includes beer categories. “Down list,” however, are some other brews that got a lot of votes… just not enough to make the podium. Below is an ode…
La Niña Benedictions
As the summer engulfs Oregon like a tableside service flambé in a fine dining restaurant, rumors of our precipitous savior, La Niña, are circulating. While a good portion of modern Central Oregonians are agnostic or atheist in most facets of their life, when it comes to outdoor sports, those same heathens are happy to pray…
Chalkin’ Up the Streets
If there is one thing we all learned the past year, it’s that plans change. The creators behind a new community event are more aware of that than ever as they quickly changed their plans for an upcoming event in response to community needs. Originally scheduled for Aug. 14, this day-long chalk and art event…
Different Visions
If he wanted to, I think filmmaker David Lowery could be the next Steven Spielberg. Not in the style of their films or even the kinds of movies that they make, but in the realm of being an artist whose style becomes synonymous with their work. When you watch a Spielberg movie, the rise and…
Chicago’s Out to Blow the Roof Off
Chicago was my very first rock ‘n’ roll concert, on March 14, 1971, at the Tulsa Assembly Center, and it was cathartic. We were juniors in high school, just shy of driving privileges, so my dad drove a buddy and me down to T-Town from Independence, Kansas. Dad was a great sport, willing to hang…
Why Fight Against the Tide?
Life moves like a river—or something like that. And for those of us who live in the area, life sometimes revolves around a river, too: the mighty Deschutes. Whether you’re planning your schedule around the next paddling trip or float, admiring its beauty or using it for meditative purposes, the Deschutes is a constant in…
Solar Possibilities
Central Oregon is blessed with abundant sunshine and long sunny summer days. It’s one of the many lures that bring people here to relax on vacation and inspire many to consider relocating here. Driving around Bend and neighboring communities, it’s become observable that more residents are installing solar photovoltaic systems on their roofs, taking advantage…
Inserting Zucchini
If you’ve been here long enough, you know the routine. Winter gives way to spring, finally, which is followed gently by summer, which glides gently into the season of getting rid of zucchinis. During those tense few weeks, neighbors and even strangers are afraid to make eye contact, lest a zucchini gets tossed, like some…
Got Injured Wildlife? Think Wild
Have you ever found an injured wild animal and wondered what to do or who to call? Maybe wondered about deer-proof plants or wildlife-friendly fencing? Well, now your go-to source is the wildlife rescue and education folks at Think Wild. “We’ve come a long way in the last couple of years,” said Sally Compton, executive…
National Guard Deployed to Manage COVID surge
Gov. Kate Brown is sending National Guard troops to hospitals around Oregon to help frontline healthcare workers who are treating patients battling COVID-19. To start, the governor will deploy 500 National Guard members starting Aug. 20, who will help with logistics like handling materials and running equipment, along with helping with COVID-19 testing and other…
Redmond Won’t Ban Confederate Flags
By a split margin, the Redmond City Council this week chose not to consider a resolution that condemned symbols of hate in public parades. The issue came up after a Confederate flag was flown in the Redmond Chamber of Commerce’s Fourth of July Parade. Councilor Ed Fitch proposed a resolution, which condemned symbols of hate…
Free Will Astrology—Week of August 19
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “If we wait until we are ready, we will be waiting for the rest of our lives,” declared novelist Lemony Snicket. This is good advice for you to heed right now. I really hope you avoid the temptation to wait around for the perfect moment before you begin. In my vision…
Best Bar
San Simón didn’t get voted Bend’s best bar because we voted for them (although we did) or because they’re new and bohemian as hell (although they are); they were voted best bar because from the moment it opened, the staff carried themselves like they were. Not acting like it in a pretentious way or without earning…
Best Coffee Shop
Looney Bean is a coffee shop that seems to have it all. Seasonal flavors, solid drip coffee and a shop full of history sitting right near the Deschutes River. Looney Bean was one of the first places that Corey Getman and Sarah Jordan visited when they packed up their life and moved to Central Oregon…
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Best Medical Group ▶ [With Video]
To say that that last year and a half has been trying for medical professionals is something of an understatement. From shutting down outpatient clinics at the start of the pandemic, to managing a global shortage of PPE, to pivoting to telemedicine and working with the local hospital to help patients—with COVID or with other…
Best Locals’ Night (for discounts)
It’s easy to take Silver Moon Brewing for granted. They’ve been here for so long (since 2000!) and have become such a Bend institution that I just always assume they’ll be there and it gives me a sense of comfort. The pub by the Greenwood underpass is a staple of the entryway into downtown, and…
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Best Bartender(s) ▶ [with video]
This year’s Best Bartender was a solid tie between two solid downtown Bend bartenders. Jon Dude was the first bartender I met when I moved to Bend. My friend, the late musician Melodi Johnson, and I were exploring my new midtown neighborhood for my nearest “blizzard bar.” We happened upon the Platypus Pub, where Dude…
Best IPA
The winner for best IPA comes as no surprise for those who have seen previous editions. It’s Boneyard’s RPM IPA’s fifth consecutive year at the top of Bendites’ list for this category (along with winning it the first year the brewery was open), which Boneyard’s founder Tony Lawrence credits to the perfect mix of flavors…
Best Senior Living Facility
Offering its high desert hospitality for 40 years, Touchmark’s senior living community helps folks embrace all the possibilities available to Bendites in their golden years, seeking adventure and otherwise. With views of the Deschutes River from comfortable private and spacious cottages and apartment lodge homes, Touchmark at Mount Bachelor Village offers residents access to the…
Best New Restaurant
There are plenty of choices for places to eat in Bend, especially somewhere new that’s trying to offer something unique to the Central Oregonian palate. While it can be easy for a place to become the trendy and popular new food spot, it needs to stay consistent with its food and service in order to…
Best Lodging in Redmond
With Redmond’s explosive growth, it was only a matter of time before the Hub City got its very own Best Lodging category—and with its awesome location and vibe, it was only natural that the first hotel to grab the award in this new category would be the SCP Redmond Hotel. A historic hotel with a…
Best New Food Cart
Sicilian-style pizza may not be as well known as its Neapolitan, New York or even Chicago-style counterparts, but anyone who has visited Rush’s Squares know it’s as good as any of them. The cart got its start this year after Mike Rush, the cart’s founder, spent months making and delivering pizzas in his free time.…
Best Bar and Best Music Venue in Redmond
General Duffy’s is more than just a bar and a stage, it’s a gathering place for the community. The taphouse at the center offers a wide selection of beers and ciders, and the food trucks outside offer delicious Asian, Italian and traditional American foods. During the pandemic, General Duffy’s built a stage, adding a whole…
Best Breakfast Burrito
A new category—added at the request of readers! I always need a bonus destination when I walk somewhere. If I walk the First Street Rapids trail, I’m more likely than not going to end up at McKay Cottage for breakfast. If I walk through the Old Mill to go to a movie, I always end up…
Best Mani/Pedi
Have you been looking for the best spot to pamper yourself? The best spot to clean up those outdoor-sports dirty cuticles and nails? Look no further than Crescent Nails. Conveniently located on Simpson Avenue, stop in after you break a nail (or two) during your downhill mountain bike session at Bachelor or while you’re getting…
Best Asian Restaurant
Chi moved locations this past year, but it’s kept its number-one spot on Best Of for the fourth straight year. Chi offers a wide variety of both traditional Chinese food and sushi, made fresh every day. “We focused mostly on quality food and service, so we try to make everything as fresh as we can…
Best Plumber
Severson Plumbing & Mechanical has been serving Central Oregon since 1977. Founders and owners Dave and Elaine Severson believe their values and consistency are among the reasons they’ve been so successful. Their son, Jason, is also part of the business and developed Severson Fire Protection under the same roof. As long-term residents and business owners, the…
Best Falafel
Who would believe that a little food truck nestled on a corner of the west side of town crafts the best falafel and fries I have ever had? The secret? “Everything is made from scratch, we focus on quality and doing a few things really well,” states Sierra Phillips, the owner and culinary mastermind behind…
Best Liquor Store
In the brewery capital of the world, Bendites’ top pick for a liquor store is 3rd Street Beverage. With its wide selection of beers and wines, 3rd Street makes it easy to find what you’re looking for or try something new. The store’s layout makes it easy to quickly spot your favorite local ale, Californian…
Best Pizza
If you’re looking for a pizza shop in Bend, Pizza Mondo is the way to go. Located downtown, amid Bend’s chaos, Pizza Mondo offers excellent pies, calzones and salads. Mondo has been the winner of the Best Pizza award for 24 years in a row. The owners, Steve Koch and John Picarazzi, started the business…
Best Vintage Clothing
Arriving and finding the entrance at Revival Vintage feels like part of the fun. The tiny shop is tucked away on the second floor of the Affatati Building off of Division Street. Signs decorated with decorative handwriting and a few vintage pieces lead you to your final destination. The doorway turns and welcomes you into…
Best Alternative Health Clinic
In a time when COVID-19 keeps popping its ugly head up and down around the globe, health care practitioners of every stripe have found themselves adapting in new and different ways in order to help their patients. That’s definitely the case at Hawthorn Healing Arts Center, where a team of naturopathic physicians, acupuncturists, massage therapists,…
Best Live Music in Sisters
Coming off of a year where live music ceased being a thing completely, the nostalgia for our favorite music venues ran deep. When asked what their favorite venue in Sisters was, the people of Central Oregon spoke loudly and numerously for Hardtails Bar & Grill. And rising like a phoenix from the ashes, Hardtails is…
Shifty-Fifty & On Cloudy Nine
Shifty-Fifty A close friend and I spend a lot of time discussing her issues with her boyfriend. I’m always there for her, even late at night when she’s upset about something. However, when I bring up someone I’m interested in, she’ll cut me off or say she just can’t listen to me talk about the…
Best Bar and Best Restaurant in Sunriver
Sunriver Brewing Company is a locally owned business that’s been committed to providing the highest quality craft products since Independence Day 2012. They are a proud grassroots and community focused enterprise that maintains a great love and respect for the mountains, forests, rivers, lakes, and the foundation of their business—their staff. Why do patrons love…
Best Ski and Snowboard Shop
Since 1976—for 45 years—Powder House Ski & Snowboard has been Central Oregon’s premier ski and snow sports store. As an original ski shop in Bend, the friendly and knowledgeable staff is dedicated to providing excellent customer service. It’s their goal to assist with buying decisions by sharing local insider and athlete information and perspectives critical…
