As anybody who's watched recent presidential encounters knows, political debates can be a silly business. The candidates stick to the same carefully honed and well-rehearsed talking points no matter what the question is or what their opponent says.
The Artful Debate Dodgers
Posted inNews
Wednesday Night Music Preview – The Builders and The Butchers, The Autonomics and more
What in the world happened that Wednesday is now the best day for music in Central Oregon? It seems this summer our options for music have been better on Wednesdays than on most Friday and Saturday nights. Here’s a run down of the totally awesome line up in Central Oregon tonight.
Posted inCulture
Our Picks for 8/18 – 8/26: Sunriver Music Festival, Bend Brew Fest, Budofights, Ink & Metal, Mat Kearney and more
Sunriver Music Festival
thursday 19 – saturday 21
Now in it's 33rd season, the Sunriver Music Festival still presents quality classical music in a phenomenal setting. This is the second year the festival conducted concerts in Bend, but this weekend all of the concerts take place at the historic Great Hall at Sunriver Resort. Thursday features Chinese pianist Di Wu; Friday and Saturday bring Classical Concerts III and IV, and the Saturday concert features an all-Beethoven program. 7:30pm all three nights. $30-$60, 18 and under $10. Great Hall at Sunriver Resort, 1 Center Dr, Sunriver.
The Northstar Session In-Store
Performance
friday 20
Los Angeles-based band The Northstar Session plays rootsy folk-rock with a neo-country feel, so all in all it's something everyone can groove to. The band has garnered comparisons to Wilco, The Black Crowes, The Wallflowers and others, playing vintage rock and roll. The band recently released a new EP, Winter Collection. Northstar plays a 21 and over show at Silver Moon later in the night, but for the U-21 crowd they'll rock out at Ranch Records. Free, 5pm. Ranch Records, 831 NW Wall St. $5, 9pm. Silver Moon Brewing Co, 24 NW Greenwood Ave.
Posted inNews
The Cannabis Crossroads: Oregon voters will decide in November whether to bring marijuana sales to Main Street
As of July 1 of this year, 36,380 Oregonians, which is about the equivalent of the entire combined population of Crook and Jefferson counties, had been approved to possess, grow and use marijuana without fear of prosecution. They are members of the state's ever-growing medical marijuana cardholder community. As it turns out, government sanctioned pot smokers, although not all toke in the traditional sense, are one of the state's fastest growing populations. More than 23,000 Oregonians applied for a medical marijuana card in the last year and some 5,000 apps were pending as of the start of last month.
As the interest in the program soars, medical marijuana advocates are now pushing for another major relaxing of the state's laws regarding the drug. Thanks to their efforts, this November voters will decide whether to take pot out of the closet grow room and out into the world of retail storefronts through a state regulated system of “dispensaries” where card holders can shop for pot like they would a new pair of shoes.
Posted inOpinion
Crusades, Congressionals and Juggalos: Our mosque problem, farewell to Uncle Ted and Tila Tequila vs. Insane Clown Possee
The author is enjoying the majesty of Tumalo Creek and its fabulous waterfalls, reading about the $71 million water/hydro/death-laser project being “proposed” by the city.
Our Christian NationRemember when you went to Pearl Harbor and saw the shrine honoring the Kamikaze pilots of Japan who destroyed our entire fleet in World War II? Me neither.
Posted inOpinion
Only The Beginning
Matt Orr opened Pandora’s Box with his comments about chemicals. The debacle that PGE caused in the Hudson and the federal government’s slow response to the BP oil disaster will be looked on as a minor problem when we see the results of the chemical industry pumping glug into our soils and water every day.
Posted inFood & Drink
Meeting of Foodie Minds
I just met with Sydney Leonard, the Community Food Systems Coordinator for Wy'East Resource, Conservation and Development. Leonard is spearheading the September 10th Central Oregon Food Summit and had some very interesting insights into the event.
Posted inNews
Why we should hire Michael Franti to promote tourism in Bend
Many people have probably already seen this video from Michael Franti’s website, but for those of you not in the loop, you’ve got to check this out. After Franti’s show at the Les Schwab Amphitheater on August 5 he recorded this short web-isode for his FrantiV series boasting about how awesome Bend is.
Posted inNews
The Latest Bulletin from Tax Hell
Here’s another bit of evidence that Oregon’s tax climate isn’t as toxic to business as conservatives make it out to be: Bend’s G5 Search Marketing announced this week that it’s getting a $15 million infusion of venture capital and plans to more than double its workforce.
The five-year-old company, which designs software to help businesses make their websites more effective in snagging visitors and customers, plans to add 20 employees by the end of the year and as many as 100 more within two years, according to co-founder and CEO Dan Hobin.
Posted inNews
4 Peaks Jamboree Changes Venue AGAIN! Now at original festival location
OK, so I’ve written in the past few weeks about how the 4 Peaks Jamboree, featuring the music of Poor Man’s Whiskey and taking place Saturday, had moved to West Wind Ranch, and then about how that event was canceled and the show would take place at the Domino Room.
WELL, now organizers have moved once again, back to the Rockin A Ranch (19449 Tumalo Reservoir Road), where the shindig was originally to take place.