Cover Story
After the Smoke Clears on the Fourth of July
It’s a perennial question among Central Oregonians each Fourth of July: Less if errant fireworks will spark Central Oregon’s next blaze than — how big will it be? This year’s Fourth saw numerous fires, most predictably on Pilot Butte, on top of which commissioned pyrotechnics set off the City of Bend’s firework display while firefighters stood at the ready to douse sections that inevitably catch fire. Consider as a sideshow attraction: The patch of Deschutes County Fairgrounds that also caught fire during the Redmond fireworks show. Yet…
The Mid-Year Checkup: Bend Real Estate in 2026
As the celebration of America’s 250th birthday fades into the background and more people begin floating down the Deschutes each afternoon, one thing is certain — we’ve officially reached the halfway point of 2026. That also means it’s time to see what the first six months of Bend’s real estate market have revealed. After a…
Bend into Balance: Willis Mitchell of the Loving Fungi
Willis Mitchell’s passion for mushrooms does not go unnoticed. His eyes light up as he enthusiastically explains why he has devoted his life’s work to this remarkable kingdom. During our podcast conversation, he mentioned that fungi are more closely related to humans than to plants — a statement that immediately piqued my curiosity. Rather than…
The Flame Keeps Burning
The legacy of Jerry Garcia’s 30-year music career is still going strong more than 30 years after his death. Garcia’s birthday, on Aug. 1, will be honored at several local venues in the days surrounding that date. Silver Moon Brewing is kicking off the celebration with a Jerry Garcia Band Night on July 22. Fans…
Letters to the Editor, Week of July 9
Bicycles are traffic The local problem between bicyclists and drivers is the drivers. Bicycles are traffic in Oregon. Their right-of-way is equivalent to that of motorists except that they are allowed to treat a stop sign as “yield.” None of this means that you have to freeze up when somebody on a bicycle is waiting…
Ecologist and Musician: On Stage is Where KR3TURE Thrives
KR3TURE’s (pronounced ‘creature’) first show in Bend was just last January at the Volcanic Theatre and it was sold out. Electronic and modern live music fusion that defies any sort of category is what can be expected during a KR3TURE performance. All with the goal of connection. The mountains of Santa Cruz is where KR3TURE…
How to Get in the Mood While Exhausted
Dear Dr. Jane, My husband and I have been married for 10 years and have two elementary-school-aged kids. They just got out of school, and I’m already exhausted. We love them to death, but if I’m honest, they’re a lot — our 8-year-old daughter is neurodivergent, and our 6-year-old son is a whirlwind of energy.…
Warsaw Poland Bros. Bring the Ska!
Local live music fans can get their dance on when the longtime purveyors of ska, the Warsaw Poland Bros., hit town July 15. The Bend date kicks off a six-show Oregon run, the band’s first Oregon tour in more than a decade. This tour is a milestone for founder and frontman Chris Poland, the band’s…
A Food Journey
Pie? Yes, Please! A pie shop is opening next to Hola! on NW Minnesota Avenue. Construction is currently underway to remodel the space once held by BrownBag Popcorn which moved across the street. Pie Maison describes itself as a modern bakery with European soul. According to its website, it will offer signature pies along with…
An Odyssey, a Dunesday and Everything In-Between
While the first half of the year hasn’t given us an overabundance of masterpieces, it has been a banner year for genre entertainment. From the meteoric rise of YouTube creators turning out horror blockbusters like “Obsession,” “Backrooms” and “Iron Lung,” to the deeply touching, humanistic “The Sheep Detectives,” and the jaw-dropping maximalist brilliance of “I…
Free Will Astrology, Week of July 9
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Male humpback whales in the Pacific Ocean change their songs over the years. New phrases can spread across thousands of miles as other whales take up and transform them. Researchers don’t know why, but the pattern is clear: The whales value novelty even in their ancient rituals. They create an evolving…
Worth the Wait: Bamboo Sushi Brings Sustainable Style to Bend
Bamboo Sushi has finally arrived in Bend and judging by the crowds, Central Oregon has been waiting patiently. Originally expected to open back in December, the restaurant finally welcomed its first guests during the first week of June. Since then, word has spread quickly. On my recent early evening visit, the wait for either…
Balloons Over Bend Returns July 24-26
Every year in late-July, on a clear day in Bend, you can look up in the sky and see the brilliant colors of hot air balloons floating against the crisp blueness of a summer morning dawn. The annual Balloons Over Bend returns July 24-26. The balloons launch each day just after sunrise from R.E. Jewell…
Parking Reform: The Toughest Gig in America
If we weren’t previously convinced that parking is one of the thorniest issues in America, we are now. As a June 17 story in the Source detailed, parking has been a divisive issue in Bend for decades — probably going back to when Bend became one of the first cities, in the 1940s or ‘50s,…
Bend Discusses Easing Infrastructure Requirements for Some Developments
In an effort to bring more small-scale housing projects to existing neighborhoods, the Bend City Council may ease back on what public infrastructure — like sidewalks — developers are required to build. A June 24 City Council discussion foreshadowed a slate of future changes aimed at spurring housing. Those could make it easier for planners to give leeway on infrastructure in the City’s development code, and expand a program where developers pay a fee instead of building new sidewalks. The Council also gave staff the…
Nonprofit Seeks $40 Million to Build Bend Ice Sports Complex
A group of local businesspeople and hockey enthusiasts have their sights set on building Central Oregon’s first indoor ice rink — and they’re seeking $40 million to do it. The massive nonprofit fundraising effort was announced July 1 for the Forge Community Iceplex, a year-round facility with two professional-sized ice sheets, a lounge, gym and training facility, pro shop, event spaces and room for about 1,000 spectators located in northeast Bend. Tyler Brower, a spokesperson for…
