It's Legit: Validation Imperial IPA by BGB
Yeah man, we know it’s winter and we’re supposed to be all, “Oh, have you tried so-and-so’s malty winter seasonal?” Instead, we decided to take a break from the season and sample a new-ish IPA from local brewer Dean Wise, the man behind Below Grade Brewing, Wise’s one-barrel basement operation in Northwest Crossing. The Validation…
Is That You, Winter? It's Me, Gregg…: A meager offering isn't enough to save the Nordeen
Only one thing will get me up before 6 a.m. on a winter's Sunday morning…fresh snow! Considering the lack of powder days this winter, even two-four inches of white gold drags me out of bed. The previous night's low temperature and impending cloud cover warned me to wax the skis, pack the pack and make…
Bend’s Hottest Bartender? Barista? Teacher? You Decide.
Are you an impeccable judge of people’s outward appearance. Do you have a refined sense of “hotness”? Can you sense a beautiful woman coming around the corner before you see her? If so, we need your help.
Hoodoo Tele and Rando Fest: Tomorrow
Looking for something to do on Saturday? Are you so hell-bent on skiing that you’re willing to risk thrashing your new boards? You don’t have to. After you get fired-up on tonight’s film (see below on blog) check out the 10th Annual Tele Fest at Hoodoo.
Backcountry Film Fest Tonight!
Looking for a way to assuage your lack-of-snow blues? Come pray for snow with a couple hundred other powder junkies tonight during the always-epic Backcountry Film Festival. The Backcountry Film Fest hits McMenamins tonight, 9 p.
Video From Last Night’s Pickwick Show
Seattle band Pickwick stopped by McMenamin’s Father Luke’s room last night at Old St. Francis before heading up to Portland to play Doug Fir Lounge.
Adios for Now, El Sancho
I waddled down to El Sancho for lunch (which was awesome, as usual: tacos, tamales and some potato, pepper, zucchini salad business over rice with some roughage on the side) and was met with some surprising news, which I’m still split on. It seems Joel is leaving his post on 211 NW Greenwood Ave (next…
Tonight’s Music: Pickwick, Polyrhythmics
I’ll cut to the chase here: I’ve been listening to essentially one band for the past two days and that band is called Pickwick. They are a bunch of nerdy-looking Seattle indie rockers who have, seemingly impossibly, decided to play soul music.
BendFilm Announces Documentary Film Series
While the BendFilm festival remains a painful nine months in the future, BendFilm is giving Bend a much-needed shot of indie cinema in venues throughout the area this winter and spring. The series kicks off on January 26 with a screening of the documentary, Becoming Chaz, a film that documents Chaz Bono’s journey through his…
Mt. Bachelor — Bavarian style
A fun little video from Lahaina’s Beau Killett who shot this footage up at Bachelor and then added a Bavarian twist to the production. Personally, we think the soundtrack is what makes this thing work.
Picks for 1/12-1/19
Pickwick thursday 12 This show, like many this month, seemed to come in a bit under the radar, but when we cranked this Seattle band's “Hacienda Motel” in our offices, we became quick converts to the soulful quirkiness these dudes lay down. The sound is not at all what you'd expect from six Northwest white…
We Want the Funk: Brooklyn’s The Pimps of Joytime are here to turn that mutha out
Before last week, I was not familiar with the term “Janxta Funk.” After talking to Brian J, the front man of The Pimps of Joytime, however, I find it to be an aptly descriptive phrase that makes perfect sense, especially when used to describe the sound of this Brooklyn-based band. First, some background. To understand…
The Reggae Philosopher: Anthony B comes to town with a message and a dance party
Over the years, the river of reggae music that has flowed through Bend has at times been a rushing torrent, but then sometimes slowed to a mere trickle as it has over the past year. That's the way live music works in a town like this. But when good reggae comes through the city, people…
Must-See Seafood: Baltazar's Restaurant gives Mexican food a high-end twist
There are a few highly regarded restaurants in Bend that are often considered destinations due to their reputation for upscale dining and upscale prices. Among these restaurants, loyal followers book reservations in advance to save themselves a seat for an experience worth a little extra. One such restaurant is Baltazar's, which I visited for the…
Little Bites: Hole-y: Sweet and savory, The Dough Nut delivers the goods
Bacon is the new black. These days, it seems like you can find bacon on most everything. And for good reason. The underbelly of swine imparts an almost unmatched textural and flavorful punch to whatever it's paired with, whether that something is a cheeseburger or a doughnut. Which is exactly why Kirk Heppler, owner of…
Tommy, Can You Hear Me?: 2nd Street Theater Brings The Who's classic rock opera to life
With a Union Jack painted in a Day-Glo mod swagger across the floor of 2nd Street Theater and a pinball machine poised in the far corner, director Sandy Klein and musical director Stan Roach are bringing The Who's rock opera, Tommy, to town. I sat in on a rehearsal of the cast and band last…
Secrets and Lies: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is the ultimate thinking man's spy flick
“Cerebral.” That's the first word that comes to mind in describing Tinker Tailor Solider Spy. And that was the last word echoing in my brain as I left the theater. The problem with cerebral art on film as opposed to in print is that it's harder to convey the feeling of something going on in…
Crappy Inside: The Devil Inside is a terrible start to 2012
Everybody likes a good scare and, judging from the $35 million that The Devil Inside made this weekend, they like a bad one, too. I realize it's very early to say this, but if The Devil Inside doesn't turn out to be one of the worst movies of 2012, then I fear for the year…
In with the Old
I do not outwardly dislike old people. This is because when I do outwardly dislike them, they tend to shake their walkers at me, accuse me of being “ageist,” and then wander off, forgetting what they were yelling at me about in the first place. HOWEVER! I do outwardly like certain old people, such as…
When Winter is Golf Season: Bust out the long johns and toss out the rules
While snow lovers have cursed La Nina for her fickle ways and meager offerings this year, many hikers, bikers, joggers are checking the forecast each week to see how many more days of running and riding they can fit in. If you've been hibernating since November, here's how warm it is. I saw a couple…
Hibernation Information: Why not sleep through winter?
The longer I live, the more I wish scientists would succeed with induced hibernation, especially for old duffers like me. I hate winter! Well, not really…I do enjoy going out with my family getting in the winter wood, something I’ve been doing almost all my life. When I was a kid, we had a huge…
The Best We Can Do?: The anticlimactic ending to an otherwise dynamite bowl season
The extra point, meaningless at this point in the game, clanked off the upright. There was a confused hush in the stadium, the television announcers fell silent and in the room in which I was watching the All-State BCS National Championship Presented by Professor Snoozington's Boredom Tonic™, I wasn't the only individual to laugh. “That…
The Road Ahead: Bill Anthony reflects on the travails, triumphs and transformations of a Forest Service career
While most of us were busy making plans for New Year's Eve, Bill Anthony was packing boxes and making plans for the rest of his life. Or, if he followed his wife's advice, Anthony was resisting the temptation to make plans. Anthony officially retired from the U.S. Forest Service at the end of the year,…
Everything's Coming Up Roses and Straight Poop
Monday, Jan. 2 Flexing their missiles: Iran test-fires two long-range missiles, continues threatening to disrupt shipping through crucial Strait of Hormuz … Mission unaccomplished: Arab League observers admit they'd failed to stop violence in Syria, with 390 killed since they arrived three days ago … Bitter ending: Benjamin Colton Barnes, Iraq war veteran suspected of…
Going Down the Road to Conflict
conflict of interest – a situation that has the potential to undermine the impartiality of a person because of the possibility of a clash between the person’s self-interest and professional interest or public interest. Source: BusinessDictionary.com It seems like a pretty simple concept, but we felt obliged to post that definition of “conflict of interest”…
Doors of Equality Swing Both Ways
I had to respond to “What's Wrong with Siri,” (News, 1-4) since Apple’s Siri isn’t the problem. Three hours before I read, “What’s wrong with Siri,” I went to a store in town and complimented the cashier that this was the nicest “dollar” store I had ever been in.
Don't Be Fooled by Walmart's Token Giving
You have to admit there is more than a little irony in the announcement that the Walmart Foundation has contributed $30,000 to NeighborImpact’s Food Recovery Program. NeighborImpact, as the executive director notes, serves economically disadvantaged people in Central Oregon. Walmart pays lousy wages andprovides crappy benefits, helping to create economically disadvantaged people in Central Oregon.…
