Cover Story
2017 Beer Issue
With Central Oregon blooming into spring, the weather is just screaming the mantra, “the sudsier, the better.” With a slew of craft beer selections, our 2017 Beer Issue delves deep into this yum-tastic world of all things hops, yeast and grain. We offer an in-depth brewery guide that tells you something about each of our…
This just in: Rep. Greg Walden announces a Bend town hall
Rep. Walden to hold at least six town halls in Oregon this April.
FEELING THE HEAT: Knopp & Whisnant Get Grilled at Town Hall in Bend
Accusations of stalling, supporting corporate interest and yielding to big tobacco ended today’s townhall hosted by Republicans, Sen. Tim Knopp and State Rep.Gene Whisnant.
Wyden, Blumenauer announce “Path to Marijuana Reform” legislation
Three new bills are aimed at de-scheduling the cannabis industry, allowing businesses to claim tax credits and deductions, and adding a federal excise tax.
Letters 3/22-29
Weed + Christians To Whomever, In the great words of the Lord (also the words he gave The Beatles): I am you, you are me We are one and we are all Together All we need is love… but patience helps too! And with that being said, an opinion is just that and should not…
All About Beer Around Bend
Almost no place can claim such a density of brewing activity as Bend and its surrounding county. It’s a hive of hops and barley—and with places like Boneyard and Kobold opening new taprooms in 2017, it’s still expanding. Grab a ride (could the timing have been better for Uber and Lyft to begin serving Bend?),…
Natural World: It can be tough to spot a pygmy owl, but sighting one is well worth the effort
Ken Hashagen, president of East Cascades Audubon Society of Bend, and I often get together to discuss bluebirds, kestrels, Great Gray Owls, eagles and other boring topics. “Boring!?” I should say not. After just a few minutes we’re waving our arms about and I can feel my blood pressure building up as we get into…
Canada to Cascadia
Alicia Renner started bonding with her natural surroundings almost immediately, by planting trees as a teenager in northern Alberta and British Columbia—generally known to the rest of us as the Canadian wilderness. As the trees grew, so did her dedication to creating fashion in the form of handmade clothes and accessories. Renner moved to Bend…
Landmark Disability Rights Settlement
It all stemmed from the power of protest. Jordan Ohlde, a Bend man confined to a wheelchair, is one of eight plaintiffs who, along with the Association of Oregon Centers for Independent Living (AOCIL) brought a landmark case against the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to make state street crossings safer. For Ohlde, who suffers…
Arts & Crafts
Take a good look at your beer bottle. I mean, really get up in there. Now then, what do you see? Yes, we all know about the refreshing goodness inside. So positively rewarding, in fact, that beer has become virtual religion in these parts. We love our ales, pales, wheats, lagers, stouts, bitters, darks, lights,…
April Anxiety
Ten years after the Great Depression, deep into FDR’s second term, the University of Oregon Men’s Basketball team, which ran the somewhat novel (for the times) fast-break offense, wound up in the first-ever Final Four. They would go on to win the national championship – beating Ohio State, 46-33, on March 27, 1939. This was…
Invasion of the Californians
Since well before 1971, when Gov. Tom McCall famously told tourists, “For heaven’s sake, don’t move here to live,” Oregon has engaged in the oddly addictive pastime of taking Californians’ money while blaming them for whatever malady currently affects the state. What happens, though, when the march from down south begins to creep onto Oregon’s…
A New Path Forward for Health Care
Republicans in the U.S. House and Senate dealt themselves a political blow this month when they rolled out the American Health Care Act and then killed it before it could reach a vote in the House of Representatives. There were a great many concerns about the plan: the proposed deregulation of the private health insurance…
Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail: Oregon
Last week, the author of the recently-released book, “Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail: Oregon,” Eli Boschetto, rolled into Bend for a talk at Roundabout Books. The book is one of several installments broken down by location (Oregon, Washington, etc.), with book sections further broken into “manageable sections” that people can do in a few days…
Getting that Spring in Your Step
Maybe it’s the hot neon lycra, the tiny water-bottle waistbands or the sultry sweatiness a runner exudes while hammering the trail, but there’s just something about that slender yet strong physique that makes one long to be a runner. With all that talk about that mythical “runner’s high,” there’s something to say about striving for…
Get Your Garden On
There may be the occasional flake flying, but still, the time for prepping the garden is upon us. For those with established gardens, you may even be seeing the first tendrils of life springing up from the soil. For the rest of you, there’s plenty of help out there to get your garden growing—or to…
Picks 3/30-4/5
Squirrel Butter & The Horsenecks Thursday 30 SQUARE DANCE — Featuring two folk bands in a night of string music, square dancing and fun for the whole family. Hailing from jolly good ol’ England, the Horsenecks bring high-energy roots music while Portlanders Squirrel Butter fuse traditional bluegrass & blues with a bit of Cajun thrown…
Lightning Bottles
Every single Disney movie I review seems to come to the same basic conclusion: Disney done did it again. Their new releases could play more like victory laps than anything and still make billions, yet the movies continue to be entertaining and artful almost across the board. Last year’s live-action remake of “The Jungle Book”…
Lovesong In A Minor Key
There’s something perfect about a film like this being called “Lovesong.” Every moment of the movie feels lyrical, like the beginning lines of a poem before we can see its form or understand its content. The movie will be categorized as an LGBTQ romance, but it’s also filled with sweeping moments of breathtaking sadness that…
Reppin’ Woodstock
For nearly 20 years, Marco Benevento has been a key figure in the shaping of the New York music scene. His diligence has let him amass an arsenal of fantastic music that can only come from self-made artists. Last year, Benevento released the concept album, “The Story of Fred Short,” under his own label. His…
Touting Cannabis at the State Legislature
Last week, I got up at 4:30 am, to leave at 6:30 am, to arrive in Salem by 8 am. Was I super eager to get to Salem for, uh, whatever it is Salem is so well known to offer? No, friends. I was dressed in my finery to lobby my gubbermint elected officials on…
Classical Boom
With a definite departure from only classical or bluegrass music, these guys are not your grandparents’ string players. Heck, they’re not even your parents’ string players. The duo Black Violin whips up a high-energy hybrid of classical, hip-hop, rock and other musical genres that reaches out and grabs the listener by the ears. Head-bobbing is…
Baskets of Laughs
In the world of comedy it takes a lot to stay relevant, especially if your career spans over three decades. But Louie Anderson has figured out a way to stay on the radar, transcending generations of fans with his work on the stage, screen, and in print. He’s a respected comedian, Emmy Award-winning actor, and…
Source Spotlight: Chelsea Woodmansee
“The best thing about beer is that it creates such a cool community and I don’t see that going away any time. I feel honored to be a part of it.” — Chelsea Woodmansee She is the Beer Goddess. It says so right there on her business card. Chelsea Woodmansee has earned that title, as…
Hella Big Air offers a hella big party and more
HELLA — (adverb) very; extremely BIG — (adjective) large, as in size, height or width AIR — (noun) a jump or airborne stunt The stakes high, risks consequential, speeds unnerving, airtime maximized. What is it about a big jump that brings people together? Is it for the glory, the gold or both? An 82-foot-gap jump…
The “Red Carpet” of a Home
Spring is the time of year when homeowners think about putting their homes on the market. Aside from the usual advice of decluttering and cleaning up the inside of your home, it’s important to remember that the exterior of your home is the first impression buyers get. Now that the snow has melted, it is…
GUNG HO FOR SHOWS
Book these shows now so you don’t miss out. SURVIVORMAN LES STROUD April 8 MUSICAL STORYTELLING — What do you do when you’re sitting in sub zero temps, alone in the woods, escaping bears? Why, you learn harmonica of course! Known for his “Survivorman” documentary series, which was the only internationally broadcast series entirely written,…
What to eat with that beer?
In honor of the Beer Issue, we’re turning our attention this week to beer pairings. When you’re in a well-heeled restaurant with an abundant wine list, it comes as little surprise to see a sommelier—a wine steward—approach your table to help you pair the perfect combo of food and wine. But think about it: Wine…
