Rainn Wilson talks about Central Oregon on Letterman
Some of you may have caught this on The Late Show with David Letterman on Friday night, but if you didn't, here's Rainn Wilson (you might know him as Dwight Shrute from The Office) talking about Deschutes County, among other things. We interviewed Wilson a few weeks ago before he gave a presentation at the…
Eyeing the Bend Summer Tourism Season
The Eye wandered downtown yesterday to take in the Bend Summer Festival. There was a huge crowd - of exhibitors, that is, who seemed to outnumber the festival-goers.
Legendary Reggae Stars the Itals Cancel Bend Show
If you were getting pumped up for Wednesday's show from The Itals at the Domino room, bad news for you.
Mt. B’s Radical New Rates
If you've lived in Bend for more than a year or two, you've probably had one of those days when you head up to Bachelor hoping for 6-8 inches of untracked powder only to find that the rain in town translates to rain on the mountain. And unless you're a season pass holder, you've either…
Take That, Pious Prius Drivers!
Oregonian blogger Jeff Mapes has noticed some strange bumper stickers showing up in Portland this summer. Their message: "One Less Prius."
Michael Jackson Dance Party at the Silver Moon Tonight!
You need closure on the loss of Michael Jackson. Admit it.
When Will We Learn?
We are in one of history's worst economic disasters ever. We got here because of the way things were – the bad rules and anything-goes mentality.
Of Banana Republics and Republicans
Is Ted Kulongoski turning Oregon into a banana republic? If you believe a new Republican radio ad, he is.
A Liberal Answers
Mr. Kevin Swipies asserts, "Liberals Have No Answers.
Local Economics Deserve a Deeper Discussion
[Re: Deschutes County's Economy (Guest Comm., 7-2)] The economic commentary seemed aimed at appeasing conservative skeptics of land use regulation.
The Height of Hypocrisy
A person's sense of right and wrong is unknown, even to themselves, until the moment that person can gain something by being a low-life lying creep. At such moments, the only thing you have going for you-the only stake in your corner-is your simple and unvarnished sense that certain things are just wrong.
Freaks and Geeks (and Short Stories)
Misfits and Other Heroes By Suzanne Burns Dzanc Books First off, we'll make no effort to hide the fact that local author Suzanne Burns is a contributor to this publication. You might remember her pieces on playing Bunco, traveling to Mitchell and you'll soon read about her experiences with psychics in an upcoming issue. But…
A Literary Punch: Talking with Oregon author Katherine Dunn about boxing, writing and human nature
Katherine Dunn demonstrates that some poses are just eternally cool.
It’s been 20 years since Portland author Katherine Dunn published her quirky novel, Geek Love, a book that is still widely read and loved for its weird depiction of a family of circus freaks. Dunn’s fans also know her as one of the country’s most…
The Flies Have It: Getting to know your winged friends
One of seven species of parasitic Gymnosomid flies, this one the red-butted variety.Flies are everywhere and no matter what your station is in life, no matter where you go or what you do, you will bump into a fly doing something you don't understand or like, therefore, never, Oh, Best Beloved, take a fly for…
Requiem for a Rafter: A Tribute, Ascents and Rentals
At home on the RogueFarewell Eddy
Like so many in the local outdoor community, I was saddened when Eddy Miller lost his life two weeks ago during a hike after a day of rafting on the Middle Fork of Idaho's Salmon River. Saddening because even though I wasn't a close personal friend of his, I…
Who’s your enemy?: Depression era crime saga is heavy on the depressing
dances with the devil in the pale moonlight. Public Enemies is bound to score some real fans, but I am sure it will make its share of enemies as well. Director Michael Mann takes a true Depression-era crime story and interprets it with ultra-heavy handedness beyond any sense of realism. As an art/crime film, this…
Allen A Day’s Work: Woody comes back to form with Whatever Works
Or we could shoot hoops?Woody Allen's filmmaking career has been like one long, good conversation. He knows that sometimes he's been talking to himself, with the audience acting as psychiatrist, nodding and saying, "I see" in the right places. But Whatever Works is Woody's second wind-after losing track of the conversation to stumble about woozily,…
Classy or Trashy via Velvet
Looking for a chill, lodge-style lounge with a touch of swank? Enter 805 NW Wall and Velvet, where 40oz PBRs are chilled in a champagne bucket or served trashy in a brown bag, and an array of homemade infused drinks left me rather whoozy. A cozy duplex setup featuring “somewhat healthy” (quoting the staff) Tapas…
Cork: Chapter Two: A new era for an old favorite
Piling on the flavor with cork’s braised lamb shankWhenever a tried-and-true formula changes, there’s a good chance that the revision won’t hold up to the original. New Coke. Van Hagar. The X Files sans Duchovny. Such was the concern last spring when, after seven years at the forefront of Bend’s fine dining scene, Cork’s co-owners…
Cork: Chapter Two: A new era for an old favorite
Piling on the flavor with cork's braised lamb shankWhenever a tried-and-true formula changes, there's a good chance that the revision won't hold up to the original. New Coke. Van Hagar. The X Files sans Duchovny. Such was the concern last spring when, after seven years at the forefront of Bend's fine dining scene, Cork's co-owners…
Dancing in the Moon Shine
Poor Man’s Whiskey Dark Side of the Moonshine We love Poor Man’s Whiskey here in Bend so much, in fact, that we built an entire music festival around them in 4 Peaks…sort of. During all of these appearances in Bend, there has always been chatter surrounding the band that goes something like this: “These guys…
Blues, Beer, and Men of the Corn
Denson’s Tiny Universe in a big crowd…with beer!
Sound Check found itself over in Portland for the weekend, celebrating the long-standing tradition of inexplicably going out of town for each Independence Day weekend. While long lines of recreation vehicles and non-recreational vehicles full westsiders passed us on Mt. Hood as they headed east, thus did…
Dorm Ditties: Head for the Hills on breaking the freshman band curse
There was probably at least one band that formed in your freshman dorm, if, that is, you ever had the pleasure of living in the strangely scented and often concrete confines of a freshman dorm. And that band probably didn't make it through that first year of collegiate life. Inner-band turmoil, conflicting class schedules or…
Our Picks for the Week 7/9-7/16
Suzanne Burns/Matt Love Book Release Party thursday 9 Flip back into the culture section and check out a review of Source contributor Suzanne Burns's new short story collection, Misfits and Other Heroes. Also appearing at this reading is Matt Love, author of Super Sunday in Newport: Notes From My First Year in Town. 7pm Thursday,…
In The Toilet: Hoodoo’s day fees, revenge of the septic and more
No Harm, No Fee
Following what Forest Service staff described as complaints and confusion, the agency quietly decided this week to eliminate a new day use fee at concession run campgrounds on the Deschutes Forest, a supervisor confirmed last week in an interview with the Source. Ronda Bishop, special use coordinator for concessionaires and resorts…
Ground Down: Despite value, urban caves prove hard to protect
Perhaps only in the obscure world of cave exploration could a relatively cave rich area like Bend find its foremost expert in the form of a pizza delivery driver. But that's what seems to be the case, at least as it relates to the Horse system and local caver Matt Skeels, who has dedicated a…
Wyden’s “Health Care Reform” Turkey
For many years, the relationship between organized labor and Ron Wyden has looked like a match made in heaven. Lately, though, labor has been doing everything short of throwing the kitchen knives at Oregon's senior senator.
The reason is Wyden's health care plan, which he's calling the "Healthy Americans Act." Unions, such as the American…
Up In Smoke: Satan’s houseguests, Palin’s plans, and more celebrity deathwatch
The author has been sent on the road to discover a lost country formerly known as America. He is reporting from Black Butte, urinating on ashes, trying to make a puddle that resembles Jacko, on assignment for Or-Bust.com and The Source Weekly.
Hell Is Getting Crowded In yet another sign that Satan will have to…
Economics Versus Deschutes County’s Land-Use Planning
Except for only very few readers, here's a sentence that will prompt yawns: On Wednesday July 15, the Deschutes County Commission plans to hold a public meeting on a proposed amendment to the County's land-use code allowing commercial wedding events on parcels designated for Exclusive Farm Use. Yawns all around, perhaps, but we three economists…
