As Oregon hits the 10-year mark this month for its Adult Use cannabis program, the most frustrating aspect is where within Pacific Wonderland one may legally consume cannabis. The short answer is within your home, or front/back yard, provided you have a fence or other view blocking structures. This is to prevent those under the […]
I Want My Cannabis Social Lounge!
Posted inCulture
The Extinction of Awe
I don’t think this is much of a hot take, but here we go anyway: the only good Jurassic movies are the first two, the ones directed by Spielberg. I get that “Jurassic Park III,” “Jurassic World,” “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” and “Jurassic World: Dominion” have their fans and I’m sure that if you were a […]
Posted inCulture
Formulaic One
There’s nothing really that wrong with “F1,” the new film from Joseph Kosinski, the mastermind behind “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Tron: Legacy” and a few other films without colons. As someone with less than zero interest in Formula One racing, I found myself invested in the story, while still wishing the film would paint outside the […]
Posted inNews
Annual Music on The Green Event Kicks Off Summer in Redmond
Redmond’s annual summer concert series, Music on the Green, kicked off on June 25, with several more shows on the horizon. This year, the concert series will take place at a new venue – American Legion Park – while still offering the same family-friendly, block party atmosphere. The concerts take place on alternating Wednesday evenings, […]
Posted inOutside
Bend Dirt Fest
Let’s talk dirty. The inaugural Bend Dirt Fest, organized by longtime endurance event director Mike Ripley and his company, Mudslinger Events, rolls into town on Friday, July 12, offering a mix of trail running, gravel grinding, and mountain biking fun—with a distinct local vibe. The Bend Dirt Fest is a spiritual successor to one of […]
Posted inOutside
New Downhill Mountain Bike Trails
Work is underway for a new mountain biking playground. Wanoga Downhill trails are being crafted by the Central Oregon Trail Alliance with input from some elite athletes including Carson Storch, a world-class freeride and slopestyle mountain biker as well as Dusty Wygle, a high-flying freeride mountain biker known for daring tricks. The trails are near […]
Posted inOpinion
In Shutdown of Federal Lands Sale, a Win for Public Process — But Perhaps Not Public Lands
Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah got stars in his eyes. What if all of the purported housing woes felt in places like St. George, Utah, and Bend, Oregon, could be alleviated by simply selling off millions of acres of land owned and managed by the American people? Better yet, wouldn’t it be great to […]
Posted inOutside
Talking to Trees
Camping in Central Oregon as a young being, I felt continually drawn to the trunks of Ponderosa Pines that were close to the ground, like I was, and extended infinitely upward, like I did. My little paws touched the bark and I stood in wonder at how all these puzzle pieces around the tree could […]
Posted inOutside
The 36th Annual Ochoco Butterfly Count
Sue Anderson, leader of the annual Ochoco Butterfly Count, gathers the participants into a pre-count circle and gives the ten of us volunteers, including Juba the dog (named after the Juba skipper), a morning pep talk prior to all of us heading out in the Ochoco National Forest where this count, sponsored by the Lane […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Flights Wine Bar Earns Prestigious Award
Flights Wine Bar announced it received the 2025 Wine Spectator Restaurant Award of Excellence. Owner Kelsey Daniels says it’s the first woman-led restaurant in Central Oregon to achieve the prestigious recognition and Bend’s first wine bar to receive the award. Daniels, who’s a Certified Sommelier, said in a news release, “Our wine list is a […]