Business hurting after this summer’s fires? SBA announces help
If you spent anytime in Central Oregon in August and September, then you know the word that was on the tip of everyone’s tongues: Fire. Fires including the Milli Fire, the Nash Fire and many others caused hazardous air quality and shut down many events, including the Sisters Folk Festival. With people forced to stay…
Meanwhile in Canada… A Moose is on the Loose
In a news story that could only happen in the great white north—and may just be every Canadian news anchors dream— a young, 800-pound moose wreaked havoc in the busy residential streets of the suburban town of Markham, just on the outskirts of Toronto, Ontario. For more than eight-hours, Toronto Police, animal control, drones and…
Elephant Lessons: Expert coming to Sisters to share work on the troubled animal
On Nov. 28, the Belfry in Sisters will be echoing with the sounds of elephants trumpeting and stamping their feet in greeting. Don Miller, a wondrous photographer and lecturer—and also an outstanding humanitarian—will be there to tell us about his travels around the world, his help for people with medical issues and his work with…
Justice Fatigue
I believe I’ve watched every single superhero/comic book movie ever made. I even looked it up. Even the unreleased “Fantastic Four” movie produced by Roger Corman and the terrible late-’70s “Captain America” took a spin through my VCR. After dozens (if not hundreds) of these movies, “Justice League” was the first one to give me…
Life Lessons
I’m thankful for movies. I know it’s a pretty silly thing to say when there are so many things that are much more important in the grand scheme of things. Sure, I’m also grateful for my friends and family and health, but cinema has the capacity to change how I view the world and exist…
Behind the Music
Earlier this year, we profiled several of Bend’s live music promoters. This week, we step even deeper into the musical ether, looking at the recording culture in Bend. These are just two of the recording studios making musical magic in Bend. The Firing Room You may recognize Dayne Wood as the drummer for local rock…
An Alt CBD
CBD is great. A cannabinoid that doesn’t get you high (and actually levels off or reduces THC’s effects when introduced together), but has all sorts of awesome benefits like treating epilepsy, pain, nausea, inflammation, insomnia and even cancer. I’m pro-CBD. Unlike cannabis, I have yet to meet a single CBD prohibitionist, waving “CBDon’t!” signs at…
Spring Olson
“It’s really important to slow things down, learn how to get outside and enjoy your surroundings. You are walking around things all the time that are food.” Gazing at the ingredients list on a Sakari Botanicals product, you’ll typically find just three things—whether it’s a lip balm, a salve or a culinary salt. Founder Spring…
True Sentiment
Country music generally isn’t my forte. My experience with it centers on Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson, two of my dad’s favorite artists. In speaking with country crooner Corey Smith, it became apparent that country music wasn’t his first love either—but with time came a growing affection. “When I was starting out, I never thought…
Time to Winterize Your Home
Like it or not, winter is coming early as usual, with Mt Bachelor already open and more snow in the forecast. Last winter is a strong memory to many local minds in terms of the damage that occurred to residential and commercial buildings. The extreme weather meant you couldn’t find the things you needed to…
Advice Goddess: Wedding Duress
I’ve been living with my high-school sweetheart (from 20 years ago) for two blissful years. However, he’s still married to his ex (though they’ve been separated for 10 years). Every dollar he has goes into the business he’s building or child support, so I’m paying all the bills. I want to get married and start…
Free Will Astrology: Your Horoscope for the Week of Nov 23
Your weekly horoscope for 11/23-11/29
Local Culture Rides Kraut Trend
It’s been said here before: sauerkraut is the new kimchi, and Local Culture is proof this trend is still hot. The company launched in June, selling out of sauerkraut at their very first farmers market. Pretty incredible results for Sarah Frost-McKee and Paul Trendler, both full-time school teachers. Frost-McKee and Trendler (doesn’t that sound like…
Letters to the Editor: Readers Give Thanks
In Response to, “From Homeless to Housed: Transitional housing project offers shelter, transformation and most importantly: Hope.” (11/15) Related Gene Gammond is an amazing person. I was coming back to Central Oregon from my fourth prison stay and he fed me my first real meal in several years, helped get me into clean and sober…
The Holidays Are a Comin: Upcoming Artist Sales in Central Oregon
Like Santa’s little elves, Bend artists are busy in their studios, making special, unique gifts sure to spread some sweet love and cheer. Here’s a quick guide to some of the upcoming, local art sales where you can find some of your favorite local artists and their special wares. Sat. Nov. 25 – Shop Small…
Little Bites: Bye Bye, Thai Thai; Greetings Nam Tok Kitchen
Thai Thai is gone, but don’t worry—you can still order Thai food from that same location on Bend’s Mt. Washington Drive. Now in the space is Nam Tok Kitchen, focusing on Northern Thai and Lao cuisine. Expect Thai favorites such as pad thai, a sweet, sour and nutty rice noodle dish, and tom kha gai,…
Use Your Words
As soon as humans learned how to draw in caves, we were making pictures of the great hunt we just went on, or of the gods we hoped had our best interests at heart. These days, even those of us with deeply ingrained fears of public speaking know the joys of having someone wrapped around…
Little Bites: Women in Craft Distilling Increases with Freeland Spirits
Fewer than 1 percent of distilleries in the U.S. are owned by women, but Freeland Spirits is aiming to change that ratio with a new craft distillery in Portland. What does that have to do with Bend? Distiller Molly Troupe used to be the lead distiller at Oregon Spirit Distillers. Now Troupe, with Jill Kuehler…
Picks of the Week: Nov 23-29
Thursday 11/23 FootZone’s I Like Pie Run/Walk FUN RUN Do you love pie? This year, the I Like Pie and Thanksgiving Classic are merging for a timed 5K & 10K and a family-friendly fun run/walk. Bring a pie, eat pie and have fun! All proceeds benefit Girls on the Run and NeighborImpact. Bring 5 pounds…
Irish Death from Above
Beer from the Pacific Northwest has a certain reputation, and that reputation involves hops. The plants are grown in droves in Oregon’s Willamette Valley and Washington’s Yakima Valley, their flowers used copiously in ales brewed across the entire region. There’s not just one fresh-hop beer festival, but several across the whole of the state. IPA…
The Dirt on the Bird
To those tuned into the happenings on the great sagebrush sea, certain words warrant no further explanation. For them, “the bird” isn’t referring to the Thanksgiving turkey; instead it’s referring to the Greater sage-grouse. Similarly, “a listing” isn’t referring to some vapid Top 10 meme; instead it’s a reference to the threat of the bird being…
Shopping Cyber Monday?
Thanksgiving is still on the horizon, yet the Black Friday deals have already rolled out for some retailers. What used to be a singular day of door busters has expanded into a week of bargains. Cyber Monday, following Black Friday weekend, is the day for online deals and doesn’t require camping outside a store in…
Five in the Race
Five Oregon Democrats are vying for the chance to unseat Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) in Oregon’s District 2. With Walden facing wrath for helping craft the attempted repeal of the Affordable Care Act, Dems are hoping to ride the wave to victory—convincing moderate Republicans, those non-affiliated and Independents to cross over. Still, voters chose…
Let Mirror Pond dredging stay dead in the water
On Nov. 28, Bend Park and Recreation District will host an open house-style meeting to present the proposed design for Mirror Pond. But don’t get your hopes up, anti-dredgers and pro-dredgers, because that design is not going to touch the topic of silt removal—not even with a mucky 10-foot pole. The Nov. 28 meeting is…
Active, Indoors or Out
Twenty years ago, a group of locals with a love of skiing and the outdoors had the idea to start an adaptive ski program for people with limited mobility. Jack Alexander, Kendall Cook and Colleen Dougherty may not have imagined that the seed they planted back then would grow into the program that exists today.…
Shop Local: The Legends of the Game
Back when Pac-Man graced every pizza parlor, and Zelda was just starting her rise as legend, some of these local businesses were just getting their start. But unlike the dot-matrix printer and the giant-pixel computer, these legends of Bend business are still in the game. In honor of Shop Small Saturday, meet some of the…
Shop Local: The New Players in the Game
Call them the upstarts, the noobs, the gamers who only recently picked up the paddle. However, you title them., these local businesses are the ones who have been in business five(ish) years or less, and are already making waves in the local scene. As we get set for Shop Small Saturday, here are the stories from…
