Spending by international travelers to Oregon this summer has dropped sharply, down 21% this July compared with July 2024, according to an analysis of Visa card spending prepared for Travel Oregon. The Oregon Coast took the biggest hit—international travelers’ spending in July, the most recent month for which figures were available, plummeted to half of […]
Canadians and Other International Tourists Shun Oregon This Summer
Posted inCulture
The Long Walk and Other Tales
Reading your first Stephen King book has always seemed like a rite of passage as one transitions from reading young adult and children’s books to novels for grown-ups. The first book aimed at adults I can ever remember cracking open was King’s 1983 “Pet Semetary,” which not only scared the sweet, innocent hell out of […]
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Your First Home Awaits
There’s nothing quite like the moment when keys to your first home are placed in your hand — it’s pure magic! While the journey of buying your first home can feel overwhelming, working with the right team makes all the difference. Build Your Dream Team First Start with a Lender Before you fall in love with […]
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The Show Must Go On… Somewhere Else
Despite Central Oregon’s expanding cultural landscape, local artists and arts organizations report being constrained by Bend’s shortage of dedicated performance and rehearsal venues. “One of the challenges we’ve consistently heard from members of our artistic communities involves the limited availability of performance and rehearsal spaces,” says Taylor Dusick, marketing and communications manager for the Central […]
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The Wild Styles of the Kook Cruise
Maybe it’s just me, but has anyone noticed that clothing styles in Bend have gotten a little bit …hipper? And, to that end, dirtier? I moved back to Bend from Portland in April. In the years I’ve been gone, a lot’s changed — not least of which are the varieties of styles cyclists are rocking […]
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High Desert Chamber Music Entering 18th Season
High Desert Chamber Music is on the cusp of its 18th season bringing professional chamber music groups to Central Oregon. Founder and Executive Director Isabelle LaForêt Senger is a virtuosic violinist in her own right and a member of the esteemed Crown City String Quartet. She had a successful career in Southern California, playing with […]
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Make your space colorful, cozy and cohesive
Color. Coziness. Cohesion. If you’re pondering an update to your living space and wondering how to incorporate current trends, those are the key elements to embrace, say local design experts. “I think the biggest trend right now is people are bringing a lot of color into their space and prints are coming back in, too, […]
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Poop, Pee and Carbon Dating
For a number of years, I’ve led an autumn nature writing workshop at different locations in the high desert. They’ve been held at ranches in Crook County, including the Rafter Q, where I used to live and ranch, and at the historic GI Ranch next door, where the springs that create the headwaters of the […]
Posted inCulture
Designing A Better Future for All
“What can design do in the next five years to increase outcomes for everyone?” This is the question Marley Weedman Lorish, Bend Design’s organizer and executive director of Scalehouse Collaborative for The Arts, poses to the remarkable creatives speaking at this year’s conference. This year marks the 10th anniversary of Bend Design, put on by […]
Posted inCulture
Art on the Rise
Wander around Bend on a sunny fall afternoon and it’s clear that the Central Oregon art scene is thriving. Nearly a dozen art galleries do business in Central Oregon, with lively art events popping up on the calendar on constant rotation. Plenty of other shops sell art by local artists or those from far away […]