It's tough not to have high expectations for a venture that combines an old favorite – in this case, Marz Bistro – with a prominent chef and restaurateur, Gavin McMichael of The Blacksmith and Bourbon Street. Marz, the 2008 Source Weekly Restaurant of the Year, recently sold to McMichael and re-opened under the same name.
Back to Earth: The new Marz Bistro struggles to find its footing
Posted inMusic
As Loud as They Want to Be: The Ascetic Junkies prove that they can rock
Ascetic Junkies guitarist and co-vocalist Matt Harmon was riding a bike near his southeast Portland home when he noticed a piece of paper hanging from a tree. He couldn't quite read what was written on the page, but being the sort of curious individual who stops when he sees out-of-place items in trees, Harmon turned around and grabbed the paper. On it he found a crayon drawing featuring a bird flying out of the bottom of a cage. Then, there were the words “this cage has no bottom,” accompanied by an arrow pointing up at the tree.
Posted inMusic
The Return of Talib Kweli
For the most part, when a band or performer comes to Bend, there's talk of the show maybe for a few days, but then the chatter dies down and you don't hear anything about that act until they come back to town. But on occasion, there are shows that reverberate through the local music scene long after the band's tour bus has rumbled out of town.
Posted inCulture
Our Picks for 11/17-11/25: GWAR! Talib Kweli, and much more!
11th Annual Powder Hound
wednesday 17
The yearly photography and filmmaking show returns to the Tower this year to display shots of your neighbors having fun in the snow. There are also plenty of giveaways to be had, including $2,500 worth of raffle items from Pine Mountain Sports and other free schwag. $12/adv at Pine Mt. Sports, $14/door. 7pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St.
Posted inNews
Internet Famous! Allie Brosh has made Hyperbole and a Half into one of the Web's most read and hilarious blogs
Allie Brosh is sipping an IPA and taking the occasional bite of a cheeseburger as she gives a detailed treatise as to why she'll never be a real, actual adult, even though she's 25 years old. She says the pressures of real-world responsibilities like grocery shopping and replying to e-mail eventually give her reason to rebel, setting aside important tasks in favor of Internet surfing for days at a time. But if you read Brosh's outrageously popular blog, Hyperbole and a Half, you probably already knew this because she outlined it in one of her posts, complete with a diagram and the purposely goofy paintbrush illustrations that have become the hallmark of her style.
Posted inNews
Forest Service Wants Off-Leash Input: Proposal would expand winter access for dogs
Bend dog owners who want more access to groomed ski trails will have a chance to share their perspective with the Forest Service and other winter trail users this week at an open house aimed at airing some of the access issues. While there are no official proposals on the table, off-leash proponents lead by Bend-based DogPAC have been pushing the Forest Service to ease restrictions north of the Cascade Lakes Highway in an area that has been off limit to dogs, unless by special permit, since the 1980s and is presently reserved for Nordic skiers.
Posted inOpinion
The Silly No-Sitting-On-the-Sidewalk Law
“The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets and to steal bread,” the novelist Anatole France wrote in 1894.
The law the City of Bend is contemplating to deal with the (supposed) problem of loitering on downtown streets would, we assume, forbid the rich as well as the poor to sit or lie down on the sidewalks. Just the same, it would be an inherently inequitable ordinance – and an unnecessary one.
Posted inOpinion
This Weeks Number
8
That's the number of votes that separates City Council candidates Chuck Arnold and Scott Ramsay as they head into a state-mandated recount.
Posted inOpinion
Dirty Dancing, More Loko, A Population Push and Persistent Poachers
Dirty Dancing Too Much For Portland Teachers
Students were getting a little too close for comfort at a Portland High School, causing teachers to cancel the school's winter formal. Cleveland High School in Southeast Portland has cancelled the dance due to the new style of dance known as “grinding.” Obviously a little movie from 1987 known as Dirty Dancing hasn't been in the TBS heavy rotation lately.
Posted inOpinion
Don't Hate on Spam
As a fairly recent newcomer to Bend, I gratefully turn to the Source when seeking to dine out. Last week I read a mouth-watering re-cap of a review for the Bend Fish Co., “Hawaiian Grindz,” when I had cause to pause and ponder. What’s up with all the Spam bashing?