Most of us already know why people move to Bend—because at one point, we did the same thing. But why does it continue to top Oregon’s “best places to live” lists, and yet not a single Oregon city appears in U.S. News‘ Top 275? Back in 2000, Bend’s population was 52,029. A decade later, it […]
Bend’s Still on Top
Posted inColumns
Savage in Bend (or Redmond)
Readers get a two for one, because this week is the Redmond issue AND Halloween! So why not answer a question about a haunting? Lynn J. asks, “Is the SCP Redmond Hotel really haunted?” This tale begins way back in 1906, when William and Fannie Wilson built the original Redmond Hotel, a wooden two-story structure […]
Posted inCulture
Building Confidence, Character and Grace
A Disney classic, “The Little Mermaid,” will be center stage in Redmond this November. Ovation Performing Arts is putting on the production. The non-profit primarily serves homeschooled families and describes itself as a Christian-based organization. Jonathan Shepherd and his wife have run OPA for the past decade, developing young actors from around Central Oregon. For […]
Posted inMusic
The Sounds of Yemen Are Coming to Bend
What began as a few friends playing music together in the Middle East turned into an international tour with a stop at Silver Moon Brewing in Bend. El Khat is a three-person minimalist band, using mostly homemade instruments. “I wasn’t planning on starting a band, I was working on some tunes that afterwards became the first […]
Posted inPodcasts
LISTEN: Grand Craft Bend: John Herman 🎧
In this episode, we meet the founder and head mead-maker, John Herman, from Lazy Z Ranch Wines in Sisters. Lazy Z’s meads, aka honey wine and “ranch wine,” aren’t just unique among Oregon meaderies for using exclusively Oregon honey, but the Lazy Z Ranch is a boon for local pollinators. What’s more, there’s no a […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Sunriver Brewing is Leaving Its Galveston Location
Sunriver Brewing Company is closing its NW Galveston Pub in Bend on Saturday, Nov. 1 after nearly a decade. Chief Executive Officer Ken Cameron says the company doesn’t like the changes that are being made to the building. “We were interested in retaining the current footprint, a relatively small indoor space and current outdoor patio […]
Posted inColumns
Finding Balance in Sacred Relationship
Q: Is it possible to develop too much of a relationship with psychedelics? How do I know if I’m using them as spiritual bypassing? A: This question touches something I feel deeply, both as someone who has walked this path for years and as a witness to countless others navigating these journeys. Your awareness in asking […]
Posted inCentral Oregon Pets
Central Oregon Pets Fall 2025
“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” —Anatole France, French poet. A study released in September found that 51% of Oregon pet owners say their dog will come when called. That means just about half, which includes my dogs, basically run the show. The percent drops to 13% for […]
Posted inLocal News
Northwest Native Nations Could Lose Hundreds of Millions in Federal Funding
A new report from Portland State University found that budget cuts under President Donald Trump’s new spending bill threaten nearly half of federal funding allocated to federally recognized Native American and Alaska Native nations last year. Roughly $530 million of the $1.19 billion allocated to Northwest tribal nations in fiscal year 2024 — used to […]
Posted inCulture
Free Will Astrology for Week of Oct. 23
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Many cultures regard obsidian as having protective powers against negative energy. This makes it popular for healing talismans. Obsidian mirrors have often been used to scry for visions and prophecies. Because obsidian is so sharp, ancient peoples incorporated it into tools used to hunt for food, like knives and arrowheads. In […]