When in Rome: Slow Food conference delegates share their experiences
In October, three Central Oregonians hopped a flight to Torino, Italy. But this wasn't a vacation or a trip to the 2006 Olympics site. Instead, they met up with like-minded people from over 150 countries for Slow Food International's bi-annual conference called Terra Madre. Started in 1989 as a response to the trend of fast…
Help Senior Citizens Enjoy the Holidays
We just received word that a Senior Citizen Holiday Gift Drive is in effect from now until December 23. Donations are being collected at the Century 21 Gold Country Offices in Bend and will be distributed to local senior care facilities.
Noise: Endless chatter and bad ads during The Civil War
At the last minute, I opted out of two Civil War parties and headed instead to a local pub. That turned to be a good choice as the beers on tap were all new to me and the crowd at the bar not overly Duck or Beaver crazed.
Breakfast Nativity Scene Knows Exactly What We like
There are two things we love above all else: Christmas and pork products. It seems that we’re not the only ones.
Wandering Observations, Post-Civil War
I’m still recuperating from celebrating the Ducks’ glorious victory in the Civil War yesterday and can’t focus long enough to write more than a couple of paragraphs on any one topic, so here are a few random short takes: *** Bulletin Business Editor John Stearns has a column this morning about momentum in Bend’s tech…
Art for India Show Tonight with Empty Space Orchestra, The Autonomics and More
One of Bend’s most interesting art shows of the year, Art for India, is tonight at the Century Center. The event is a fundraiser for Rise Up International and benefits the humanitarian organization’s school in India.
All-Star Jam Tonight in Bend
A collection of veteran Central Oregon musicians, including some heavy hitters, are taking to the stage tonight at the Pine Forest Grange. The band, dubbed French Z and the Lost Call, features Tim Goodman, a former member of The Call, as well as players who’ve performed with the like of the Greg Allman Band and…
Last Comic Standing Winner Performs Tonight
Call it a victory lap of sorts, but the winner of Central Oregon’s Last Comic Standing is performing tonight at the Old Stone Church as part of No Contest, a show that gives some stage time to the top funny people from the contest, but this time with no prizes on the line. The winner,…
Drama on Bond Street
We just received a call from the folks over at the Decoy. Apparently, the Decoy is changing it’s name to Bond Street Grill, changing its menu and reopening on Monday under the same ownership.
That Weird Duck-vs.-Beaver Thing
As tension builds to almost unbearable heights before tomorrow’s Civil War, which by all accounts is even more momentous than the original 1861-1865 version, let us consider a provocative – but, I think, absolutely right-on-the-money – observation made by Jake on UtterlyBoring.com.
This New Source Staffer is Kind of a Bummer
So yeah, this guy came into the office to whip us into shape as some sort of a newspaper bootcamp charade. Yeah.
Dispassionate: Not taking sides in the Civil War
Come Saturday, I’m easily the most relaxed male football fan in Bend because I could care less who wins the Civil War. You see, I have no association, save for friends who attended them, with either of the two schools.
Central Oregon’s Email Subject Line of the Day
One of the great privileges of sitting in my chair is the opportunity to wade through hundreds of emails and press releases each week for the chance of finding just one small nugget that could possibly be of interest or relevance. It’s captivating stuff.
Win Free Tickets to Two Shows This Weekend: Larry and His Flask, Art For India
The Century Center, far and away the best new venue for live music in Central Oregon this year, is going to be active this weekend with two big shows. And Rise Up International, the organization behind both gigs is giving away free tickets.
Spork Opens Pop-Up Restaurant Dec. 9 and 10
We just got a press release from Spork – the restaurant in an airstream that travels around Bend, serving amazing street food. Well, it looks like Spork isn’t exactly closing for the winter like we thought – instead, they’re starting a series of pop-up restaurant nights.
Mr. Merkley Goes to Washington, Kicks Ass
I have to admit I wasn’t a huge fan of Jeff Merkley when he was running for election. In fact I voted for his opponent in the primary, Portland political activist Steve Novick.
The Aggrolites Added to Bend WinterFest Lineup
Just a day after I got word that Lyrics Born would be headlining Saturday Night of the 2011 edition of Bend WinterFest, I just learned that The Aggrolites will be playing on Friday night. A gritty old-school style reggae band out of Los Angeles, The Aggrolites have played frequently in Bend over the past couple…
Speed Kills? Apparently not on the way to and from Mt. Bachelor
We were driving up to ski. The driver is a guy who’s lived here and been going to and from Mount Bachelor as long as I have over three decades.
Arnold Concedes Bend City Council Seat to Ramsay
Just off the phone with council candidate Chuck Arnold who informed that he has conceded the final council seat from last month’s election to his opponent Scott Ramsay, following a hand recount that determined Ramsay edged Arnold by a razor-thin three vote margin. An upbeat Arnold said that he felt very positive about the recount…
Off The Groomed: Where to ski without groomed tracks and crowds
There's often a certain lemming-like quality to cross country skiers. They tend to go only where there are machine-groomed tracks and, as a result, crowds. There are alternatives, however, for those who enjoy solitude and happen to own a pair of general off-track touring skis. If you're in the mood for a more traditional (read:…
Slip Sliding Away: Snowy Crossaflixion offers a sneak peak at 'cross nationals
It would have been easy to blow off last Saturday's Crossaflixion cyclocross race. With snow falling heavily on race day, the appeal of a Nordic ski, or a day on the sofa with a glass of wine, was obvious. With nationals less than two weeks away, however, many local racers packed up bikes instead of…
A Thanksgiving Miracle! American Ninja Warrior vs. every other sport in the world
I gave thanks for many a sports blessing this past week, including the continuing mediocrity of the Miami Heat and the shanked Boise State field goals that once again made the world safe for big-money college football programs, but that's not what I'm most thankful for this year. Rather, I'm most thankful that there is…
The Golden Dumpster: Inside Bend's freegan movement
“In the course of a week, I've found whole pizzas, wrapped sandwiches, bags of onions, garlic, shallots, salad mix, boxes of donuts and cookies and all kinds of vegetables,” says a 20-something Bend resident who is also an on-and-off dumpster diver. He tells me his name is Mr. Nobody, and doesn't want his identity known…
Green Business: In one week, Bend gets its first full time medical marijuana clinic and private cardholder club
Although Measure 74, a proposed law to create a state-regulated medical marijuana dispensary system, was voted down last month, the medical pot movement has been increasingly active in Bend. Just this week, a medical marijuana club and a full-time medical marijuana clinic opened here in town. Central Oregon Alternative Therapy (COAT) is planning to open…
The Rock Gets Pissed Off: It's all about the revenge in Faster
You won't have to work too hard to keep up with Faster, a bullet-headed, throwaway vengeance flick that is stripped-down to the max and beefed up to the hilt from title to characters to plot. It never strives to be more, concentrating on making the most of its wild-ass look and self-imposed restrictions.
Lyrics Born to Headline Winterfest in Bend
Looking out the window, it might be difficult to believe that WinterFest is still two months away, but I just learned that the festival already has the music headliner (or at least one of them) lined up. Lyrics Born, the Bay-area jazzy/funky/world beat hip hopper is set to play the festival’s headlining slot on Saturday,…
Trying Too Hard: Love and Other Drugs may be scatterbrained, but has the heart to back it up
Here's the problem with romantic comedies: Most of them are so formulaic that you can anticipate the plot of the entire film before you even step foot inside the theater. To the contrary, the best romances are rarely comedies. Still, every couple of years we're treated to a truly entertaining romance like The Notebook or…
Hasseling the Hoff
What is UP with those Kardashian people? You know who I'm talking about, right? The stars of that inexplicably popular show called Keeping Up with the Kardashians (E!, running almost constantly)? Now, according to the internet (because I'm too angry and superior to watch the show myself) Keeping Up with the Kardashians supposedly stars Kim…
“Merde!” Picasso's “plumber,” WikiLeaks – again, plus news from the border
The author is reporting from the Slurpee Summit, slipping magic powder into our leaders' drinks so they can actually solve something. “This is an abuse of power,” declared disgraced former House Speaker Tom “The Felon” DeLay after a jury deliberated 19 hours to find him guilty of two counts of money laundering while rigging elections.…
When in Rome: Slow Food conference delegates share their experiences
In October, three Central Oregonians hopped a flight to Torino, Italy. But this wasn't a vacation or a trip to the 2006 Olympics site. Instead, they met up with like-minded people from over 150 countries for Slow Food International's bi-annual conference called Terra Madre. Started in 1989 as a response to the trend of fast…
Jingle Banjos: Bela Fleck and the Flecktones arrive in Bend with holiday cheer
More than 20 years ago, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones started playing Christmas songs on their tours during the holiday season. It began with bassist Victor Wooten playing a tune solo and soon grew into the entire band rocking out a medley of holiday favorites. Over the years, they'd continue to toss out a Christmas…
Our Picks for 12/01-12/09: The Nutcracker, The Autonomics, and more!
A Bend Christmas Celebration with Michael John thursday 2 – sunday 5 Spread the holiday spirit and engage the whole family with sing-a-long carols, music and storytelling with local music man Michael John. One hour before the performances, children are given the opportunity to make holiday artwork and decorations for the theatre with provided art…
Council Pondering Historic Water Project
After two years of study, the Bend City Council was expected to make what is essentially a final decision on the future of the city's domestic water supply. Facing a looming deadline to meet new federal drinking water requirements, councilors were expected to approve a proposed $73 million upgrade to its Bridge Creek water system.…
Another Jewel in Bend's Riverfront Crown
In 1921 a group of Bend citizens, most of them women, led a successful campaign to have the city acquire 11 acres of land along the Deschutes River and protect it from development. Those 11 acres became Drake Park, the “jewel in the crown” of the city's park system.
Home Sweet Drone
This week, tucked down at the bottom of the Bend City Council's always dry agenda is one item that caught our attention: A letter of support for drone flight testing. You read that right. The city is actually pursuing a chance to get a piece of the controversial unmanned drone strike program, the same one…
Giuseppe's Closes For Good, Black Friday, We're Number One and more!
Goodbye Goomba's, Hello Bond Street Bar and Grill The restaurant casualties continue in downtown when longtime operator Peggy Falcaro announced on Monday that she has sold Giuseppe's after a 20-plus-year run on Bond Street. Longtime locals remember Giuseppe's as one of the places to enjoy a good meal and a glass of wine before the…
Hypocrites Behind the Wheel
I had Thanksgiving dinner with a group of close friends. Two of the evening's conversations, when balanced against each other, made me sit up and think, “I need to call out my friends on this.” Let me explain. The first conversation took place early in the evening. All those around the table are athletic and…
Lucero Tonight at the Domino Room in Bend
Alt-country-rock band Lucero is in town tonight and playing the Domino Room. For those not familiar with this Memphis-based band, they dish out a gritty, punk-influenced brand of soulful country rock and have been surging in popularity over the course of the past year, thanks in part to the success of their first major label…
