Cover Story
Midtown Rising ▶ [With Video]
Some call it The Moat. Others, The Tracks. Others have less-flattering names for the act of moving from west Bend to east, doing so via only the handful of arterials that cross the city, over or under its railroad bridges, and under the Bend Parkway. Whatever you call it, the reasons to cross that moat…
Listen: Source Weekly Update 3/4 🎧
In this week’s podcast, technical employees at St. Charles Medical Center plan to strike on March 4 in hopes of resolving a contract dispute with their employer, and deputies with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office choose body cams to begin wearing in early May. Source Weekly – Bend, Oregon · Source Weekly Update 3/4
Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Selects Body Cams
Deputies with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office will begin wearing body cams starting in early May, after several months of testing various options for the technology. DCSO began testing body-worn and in-car camera systems in November, with each deputy testing the two brands of camera systems for 30 days at a time, the department stated…
Cutting the Clutter, with Joy
Melissa Jean, of Tidy + Flourish, is the first certified KonMari Consultant in Oregon. She coaches people through the KonMari Method™ to tidy their home and live their ideal life with intention and gratitude. As we roll out our issue focused on the neighborhoods and the homes of Central Oregon, we sat down with her.…
Hit the Trail Running with Bend Trail Race Series
It’s no secret that Central Oregon is packed with outdoor adventure and activities. From downhill freestyle skiing, bouldering at Smith Rock and hiking some of the most impressive mountains around, locals and visitors alike are sure to get their heart racing. For those looking to loosen up while keeping it moving, the Bend Trail Race…
Source Material
This week, Daft Punk announced its split/retirement in a short film where one of the famed robots-in-disguise blows up in a desert. I question if their retirement is real or even permanent, but only time can answer that. If it is a forever split, then the duo will surely be missed and the imprint they…
Home Improvements and Rate of Return
The easiest way to receive top dollar for your home is to make it shine in the buyer’s eyes and appear as flawless as possible. Renovating a home with the intention of selling requires a different perspective than remodeling to meet the current homeowner’s needs and wants. In order to receive the maximum sales price,…
The Lonesome, Crowded West
There’s so much Oscar hype surrounding Chloé Zhao and Frances McDormand’s new film “Nomadland” that I’m curious whether the film’s quiet and contemplative simplicity will wow audiences trained to think hyperbolic over-reliance on big emotion is what makes modern movies “dramatic.” “Nomadland” is the antithesis of movies like “Green Book” and “Crash,” which seem offended…
Old Is The New Black
Old Is The New Black What are your thoughts on women who are involved with much younger men? A friend who’s my age, 58, is dating a 23-year-old guy. She started seeing him when he was 18 and refers to him as her “husband.” I went on a day trip with the two of them,…
Free Will Astrology—Week of February 25
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Piscean author Anais Nin was a maestro of metamorphosis, a virtuoso of variation, an adept at alteration. She regarded her ceaseless evolution as a privilege and luxury, not an oppressive inconvenience. “I take pleasure in my transformations,” she wrote. “I look quiet and consistent, but few know how many women there…
Monarch butterflies need your green thumb
As spring draws nearer by the day, many people in Central Oregon start to get eager for the resumption of warm weather and springtime habits. For some, gardening tops that list, and they jump the season by starting garden seeds indoors. Tomatoes and other vegetables are the usual suspects, but this year, why not add…
The Neighborhoods of Central Oregon
With so many people setting their sights on Bend and Central Oregon these days, there’s plenty to learn about this awesome place where we live, work and play. Part of our ongoing “If You’re New Here” coverage, our “Neighborhoods” feature offers info and some of that special Source Weekly flavor about the various neighborhoods of…
Neighborhoods: East Side Promenade
From my front door on NE Lotus Drive, adjacent to Pilot Butte, there’s a paved bikeable foot path that tracks all the way to Reed Market Road, straight through the heart of the Larkspur neighborhood—no stop lights and very few street crossings. Its two variations are known as Larkspur and Coyner Trails, however, I informally…
Neighborhoods: Southwest Bend and Southern Crossing
Howdy, Neighbor! If I was to define the Southwest Bend neighborhood, I’d have to say that it’s a friendly place to be. Why? Bounded by the Deschutes River, Highway 97, Deschutes River Woods and the Old Mill District, Southwest Bend is known for its beautiful homes, quiet nature and plethora of parks. Predominantly a residential…
Neighborhoods: Boyd Acres: Great Views and an Easy Lifestyle
While some others squabble over coveted west-side neighborhoods, we’ll let you in on a little secret: Some of the best views in all of Bend aren’t found on the west side—they’re found in Boyd Acres, the northeast-most neighborhood in the city. Largely consisting of homes built within the past 20 years, many homes’ builders attempt…
Neighborhoods: Bend’s Highlight Reel—Old Bend and River West
The neighborhoods of Old Bend and River West contain a highlight reel of sorts of what people who don’t live in Bend come to the city to do—floating the river, cruising the Old Mill, sipping beer at the OG breweries and grabbing an Ocean Roll from the OG Sparrow Bakery. Comprised largely of historic homes,…
Neighborhoods: Borderlands—Adventures Between Orchard & Mountain View
On the boundary flanking two east side Bend neighborhoods lies a myriad of all-ages playgrounds—and more importantly, post activity food. With a mix of mid-century homes circling Pilot Butte and newer construction stretching out east, the two neighborhoods still offer some of the most affordable homes in the city. Here’s a rundown of my favorite…
Neighborhoods: Sisters—Great Views, Awesome People
For those looking for a quieter life than Bend affords, Sisters’ small-town charm combined with its cultural wealth make it an amazing place to live. Home to the Sisters Folk Fest and the Sisters Quilt Show, the town attracts creatives, retirees, cowpokes and those looking to escape city life for something far more serene. An…
Neighborhoods: Summit and Century West—Navigating the Way, West Side
Summit West—filled with high-end homes, many of “comfortable” size—is the fastest-growing zone on Bend’s west side, or as some reference it, The Way Westside. Even though the blank spots are filling in with new homes and businesses, the area once considered the “west side wilderness” has many great features to explore. Bend is a bike…
Neighborhoods: The Allure of Awbrey Butte
Awbrey Butte evokes images of stunning sunsets, panoramic mountain views, twinkling city lights, colorful sunrises, towering ponderosas and roaming deer, to name a few. Living there feels more about the environment and the surroundings rather than the actual house. Nature surrounds you, creating a sense of peace and allowing one some solitude if needed. It…
Climate Change Takes a Toll on Oregon
Download the hi-res Climate Change Infographic pdf here:
Letters to the Editor 2/25/21
Editor’s note: Last year, just days after Oregon got its first reported cases of COVID-19, I put an offer on a house in the Orchard District. As a first-time homebuyer, it felt crazy to do so at that time—and people tried to talk me out of it—but as we’ve seen over this past year, 2020…
Noticias en Español
Nota del editor: Esta semana, nos estamos enfocando menos en las noticias de última hora y más en las cosas que hacen que la zona centro de Oregon sea maravillosa. Al decir esto, aquí esta un está un elemento útil para ayudar a los polinizadores de la naturaleza a prosperar. A medida que se acerca…
In Pandemic Response, Embrace the Gray
With cases falling sharply across the country and our own county having moved from the most extreme risk category into a lower one that allows for more interaction among people, it’s obvious that we’re moving into a “middle territory” as it pertains to the pandemic. While public health experts warn that it’s too soon to…
