Before I lived in Bend, I was living in New York. The Big Apple gave me an appreciation for many things: street art, the perfect music venue (Bowery Ballroom, the Mercury Lounge), well-run subway systems. But perhaps most importantly, New York instilled in me a love of kosher delis. Not just the perfectly sliced, flavorful meats and cheeses and fresh-baked rye bread and onion rolls. Jewish delis have personality that can't be contained in their often small, nondescript digs. Walk one of these delis, and see if you don't hear at least one dude behind the counter shout “Hey there!” with a huge smile on his face while the patriarch mastermind whips up head-sized sandwiches behind the counter.
Big, Big Sandwiches: A real live kosher deli in Bend with Letzer's!
Posted inOutside
Knocking Down the Dust
Hooray for rain! The much-needed moisture falling from the sky over the past couple of days has helped quell the dusty conditions somewhat. It's amazing how much rain it really takes to bring back the tacky firm soil conditions we know and love.
Posted inOutside
River Time: A mere mortal's guide to North Umpqua Trail
For years, the McKenzie River Trail was Oregon's premier running and hiking trail. But as time went by and the trail's popularity grew, so too did the crowds and trail damage. Both situations led many active outdoor people to seek a trail that, despite some extra drive time, has turned out to be a wonderful alternative.
Posted inOpinion
Befouled Anniversaries and Real Ghosts
The author reporting from Morehead, Kentucky, deep in research while on the road.
A woman asked if we can impeach President “Take Credit?” Obama somewhere in Utah, on another AM radio show almost as fair and balanced as NPR. And, as the host fumbled for a response, something about impeachment enraging and maybe motivating Democrat voters so close to the midterms, that's when the station faded. Then Christ spoke to me, a voice deep yet gentle, filling the Midwest with prayers and peace. And venom and toxic fear, homophobia so deep that only an early-teen experience could explain.
Posted inCulture
Bargains Ahoy!: Garage Sale-ing through the neighborhoods of Bend
There are telephone polls in the westside neighborhood in which I reside that are wrapped almost completely in neon-colored paper. The colors change and sometimes when I ride by there's less paper than usual, but there's always at least one sizeable chunk of Day-Glo green (or pink or yellow or orange) poster board emphatically declaring a “massive” or “huge” or “multi-family” garage sale. Or estate sale. Or moving sale. Or yard sale.
Posted inCulture
I’ll Have What They’re Having: Going the Distance mostly finds what works in a 20-year-old romantic comedy formula
It's been more than 20 years since a tale of enemies who become friends who become lovers became the gold standard for the contemporary romantic comedy. But Going the Distance helps us understand why every exploration of what works or doesn't work in the genre circles back to When Harry Met Sally.
Posted inCulture
Linda Blair Witch Project: Exciting and fresh at first, The Last Exorcism then drops the ball
The Last Exorcism is a pain in the ass. A lot of movies tick me off, but this one takes the cake. Movies with either “Exorcism” or “Haunting” in the title have a high rate of sucking, but with The Last Exorcism I thought I'd found something completely different. I was once again duped and mistaken because this flick had me entertained with its initial direction, but in the last ten minutes defeated its entire purpose with an utterly stupid ending. The super creepily shocking previews are beyond misleading. I mean, I counted five bone cracks in the previews and there was merely one in this flick (not that more would have redeemed it).
Posted inCulture
Hey, Oldie! You're OLD!
[Hey Guys! I'm on vacation this week, so enjoy this old-timey episode of I Love Television™ designed to make you – and myself – feel old. Mission accomplished! – Humpy]
Ever get the feeling the years are flying by? Well, get ready for a coronary, grandpa, because MTV's The Real World is finishing its 16th season [As of next week, it's finishing it's 24th season! ACK! – Humpy]. Did'ja hear that, you old bag of undigested Metamucil? SIXTEEN YEARS! That means you are now officially OLD! In fact, you're SO old, this is how old you are…
Posted inMusic
Loud Love: The Thermals get along just fine, and they've also got a killer new album
Westin Glass is the drummer for the Thermals and last week when he checked in from North Carolina where he was visiting family, he wanted to talk about friendships. More specifically, he wanted to talk about his relationship with his two band mates.
Posted inMusic
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Soundtrack
It's a soundtrack for a movie about being a teenager. In love. And beating the shit out of the world and shoving it in his pocket. At least, that's what I gleaned from the trailer – and even more so, the soundtrack. The Twilight franchise
shocked everyone with its (admittedly) amazing soundtracks, and Scott Pilgrim's tunes follow suit here. Beck happily throws himself back to his bizarre Midnite Vultures phase as the fictional band Sex Bob-omb for four super-fuzzed, video-blippy garage rock tracks.