Bike Bonanza: Tour des Chutes, Deschutes Dash, CCC and Nats

Posted inOutside

Bike Bonanza: Tour des Chutes, Deschutes Dash, CCC and Nats

Pam Stevenson

Breaking away, Central Oregon style, at the CCC.For bike lovers, this is sensory overload season. The wildflowers are ablaze along Sector 16, there is a century ride to choose any weekend, and the Central Oregon Crit Series (www.centraloregonracing.com) is in full swing on Wednesday nights in Northwest Crossing…and it only gets worse.

TOUR DES CHUTES
The fifth-annual Tour Deschutes was a huge, hot hit on Saturday with over 1,000 people riding to raise awareness and money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the St. Charles Cancer Survivorship Program. "At the finish line, cancer survivors go through a special chute and receive a yellow rose. It was amazing to see how many people went through that chute and the community support for (event founder) Gary Bonacker and the event," said 45-mile ride participant Suzie Miller. "My Dad died of lung cancer from all the smog in Southern California and I have a picture of us riding together on my bike. Whenever the going gets tough, I ask Dad to help me kick it in."

Posted inCulture

Sally Forced: The Ugly Truth is that an uptight heroine doesn’t make a romantic comedy

Intern

Ten bucks says they fall in love, but with hilarious consequences.Twenty years ago-almost to the day-American moviegoers were introduced to Sally Albright in Rob Reiner and Nora Ephron's When Harry Met Sally. As played by Meg Ryan, she was a sunny but tightly-wound city girl who found a perfect foil in loosey-goosey misanthrope Harry Burns (Billy Crystal). Sally owed more than a little to Holly Hunter's Type-A, scheduled-crying-jag TV news producer Jane Craig in Broadcast News, but she became the standard bearer for a certain kind of romantic-comedy heroine, one we've already seen this summer in The Proposal: the sympathetic control freak.

The Ugly Truth arrives on this auspicious anniversary for the "rom-com" genre to remind us that it takes more than a list-maker with a pretty face to earn the "sympathetic" part of that character description. Katherine Heigl may be trying desperately to channel some Sally-and some Jane-into her performance, but that's not the same as giving an audience a reason to like her.
Heigl plays Abby Richter, whose occupation happens to be-watch out, Jane Craig!-a TV news producer. Overseeing a Sacramento morning show that's floundering in the ratings, she's also trying to find the perfect guy who will fit all the criteria on her checklist.

Posted inCulture

Could it Be Magic?: The Trouble with Harry Potter

Intern

Whaddaya call this sport again? Cribbage?British comedian Stewart Lee has a skit in response to the Harry Potter franchise. To quote: "People come up to me and ask, 'Oh, did you read the new Harry Potter?' And I say, 'No I haven't read it, because I'm forty f***ing years-old, no, I did not read Harry Potter And The Tree Of NOTHING.'"

But point being, there is very little point to actually reviewing the latest Harry Potter movie. The franchise is a multi-billion dollar juggernaut, and the Hogwarts tales are so beloved across the world that the creators could probably turn out a shaky cell phone-made film of the cast drunkenly slurring through a script reading around a table at the Dog In The Pond pub in rural Sussex, with Daniel Radcliffe leaving for the bathroom half-way through not coming back, and it would still be a smash.
So, considering, it's fair that this multi-billion dollar juggernaut assumes that everyone has read the books, everyone has seen the movies and so proceeds to produce material based on this assumption. It sells. Well, this reviewer has not read the series, and has completely avoided anything more than a TV preview of the movies. Hell, this reviewer thought Harry Potter and Hermione Granger were a couple.

Posted inFood & Drink

It’s, Ya Know, For the Children: The Sagebrush Classic is decadent, but not depraved

Alice Finer

Awe, Shucks. So, “decadent and depraved”-the words Hunter S. Thompson used to describe the Kentucky Derby in his landmark 1970 article-isn’t quite accurate, but the Sagebrush Classic and the Derby have a few similarities. Like Derby festivities, Sagebrush also ostensibly surrounds a sporting event, in this case a golf competition at Broken Top featuring 52 foursomes. And just as the Derby draws crowds of well-heeled spectators sipping mint juleps, Sagebrush attendees get gussied up and sip on Bend’s signature drink, handcrafted beer from the Deschutes Brewery. Granted, instead of seersucker suits and wide-brimmed hats, you’re more likely to find maxi sundresses, polo shirts, jackass shorts and loafers with black socks, and here in Central Oregon we really guzzle rather than sip, but close enough.

What the folks in Louisville don’t have that the landed gentry at Sagebrush do is a great cause to justify the decadence. In the past 21 years, the Sagebrush Classic has raised over $2 million for the Deschutes Children’s Foundation. However, that said, the ensuing debauchery, albeit in the name of philanthropy, is certainly comparable to what goes on at Churchill Downs, especially in the infield. Give a crowd of over 1,000 people a ’70s cover band, unlimited Mirror Pond and the excuse that they’re doing it all for the children, and you’ve got yourself a party.

Posted inFood & Drink

It’s, Ya Know, For the Children: The Sagebrush Classic is decadent, but not depraved

Alice Finer

Awe, Shucks. So, "decadent and depraved"-the words Hunter S. Thompson used to describe the Kentucky Derby in his landmark 1970 article-isn't quite accurate, but the Sagebrush Classic and the Derby have a few similarities. Like Derby festivities, Sagebrush also ostensibly surrounds a sporting event, in this case a golf competition at Broken Top featuring 52 foursomes. And just as the Derby draws crowds of well-heeled spectators sipping mint juleps, Sagebrush attendees get gussied up and sip on Bend's signature drink, handcrafted beer from the Deschutes Brewery. Granted, instead of seersucker suits and wide-brimmed hats, you're more likely to find maxi sundresses, polo shirts, jackass shorts and loafers with black socks, and here in Central Oregon we really guzzle rather than sip, but close enough.

What the folks in Louisville don't have that the landed gentry at Sagebrush do is a great cause to justify the decadence. In the past 21 years, the Sagebrush Classic has raised over $2 million for the Deschutes Children's Foundation. However, that said, the ensuing debauchery, albeit in the name of philanthropy, is certainly comparable to what goes on at Churchill Downs, especially in the infield. Give a crowd of over 1,000 people a '70s cover band, unlimited Mirror Pond and the excuse that they're doing it all for the children, and you've got yourself a party.

Posted inMusic

Constructing a Rock ‘n’ Roll Empire

Anne Pick

Holy Rolling Empire will build their psychedelic-rock empire from
the ground up, literally. Three of the five Tucson, Arizona emperors
worked in construction while recording their full-length debut album,
Gigantis. The other two make a living as bartenders, so you know in
their kingdom they will serve up wickedly good rock and roll cocktails.

The band, formerly known as The Crowd, signed to indie label
Burning House Records after touring up and down the West Coast in
support of their self-released six-song EP, Secret Serpents. The band
started work on their debut and what resulted is an album full of
intricate, polished songs influenced by psychedelia and the classic
rock of the '60 and '70s, but with modern pop riffs and melodies.
Their
leadoff single "Bi-Polar Bear Mania" has been described as sounding
Beatles-esque. The lyrics are all over the place, which makes sense
with the title. My favorite quip from the should-be hit: "I am not
convinced. There's a hole in the wall where the camera's rolling.
They've got film of everyone," which basically describes the mania in a
post-1984, post-Patriot Act, "Big Brother" America.
 

Posted inMusic

Fuel for the Roots

Intern

An all-star version of The Mostest rocking Bend Roots '08.Before closing out an intensely jammy set with his band, The Mostest, at the Show Us Your Spokes series at Parrilla Grill last Friday night, Mark Ransom took a moment to talk about the Bend Roots Revival, which is slated for September 25-26 at Parrilla and the Victorian Café. He was urging community members to support the festival and help them create a friendly relationship with the neighbors.

Also, he mentioned the fundraiser show on Thursday night to help raise money for the massive community music event that this year is expected to include as many as 55 total acts, in addition to workshops and other activities. Although a community event and project of KPOV, Ransom insists that every performer is paid, even if only a modest amount. With that in mind, Bend Roots - far and away the best local music event of the year - needs some cash, especially this year, when the harsh economy has prevented some contributors to cut back on donations.
"We try to get at least a little stipend to each artist. Even though it's a small amount, the artists and the [musical] community feel appreciated," says Ransom.

Posted inMusic

The Battle for July 30: Peter Frampton vs. Sugarland

Intern

On July 30, stars will align in Central Oregon for simultaneous events so rare that they can only be compared to prophecies and predictions found in The Singularity, The Cosmogenesis, the Quatrains of Nostradamus, and the I Ching. A day on the calendar so significant it immediately rivals in importance the ending of the Mayan calendar in 2012. OK, maybe none of that is true, but for the first time in about two years (remember the Shins, Matisyahu and the Gourds all playing on one night in 2007?), two major musical acts will be performing on Central Oregon stages on the same night - Peter Frampton at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds and Sugarland at the Les Schwab Amphitheater.

What is a music fan to do? Both are multiplatinum-selling artists, both are backed by bands of musicians that could tour in their own right, and both have songs that, more than likely, at least one member of your household can sing (or at least hum) along to.
The last time Sugarland was slated to play the LSA, we provided a tale of the tape, setting the pop country stars up against outlaw country hero Willie Nelson, who was also playing the LSA that week. Well, Sugarland cancelled (supposedly because of health problems and not because our write up intimidated them out of appearing) so we're bringing the fight back on for what we're calling the Battle for July 30. Here's how this arena rock legend and country music banner carrier measure up:

Posted inCulture

Our Picks for the Week 7/23-7/30

Mike Bookey

Too Short
thursday 23
No matter how you feel about this particular genre, we must reiterate the fact that a rap music legend is coming to Bend. His name, you ask? Too Short, the dude who pretty much invented the pimp image that so many other hip-hop artists have emulated over the years, including Snoop Dogg. This ain't his first rodeo in these parts either, he played here in 2004 and 2007. Also on the bill are Mistah Fab, Tha Jacka, Kenny Mack, Top Shelf, Mikey Vegaz, Double 00 & Koshir. Hosted By DJ Fatboy. All ages. 8pm. $24/adv, $29/door. Midtown Ballroom, 51 NW Greenwood Ave.
Bend Roots Fundraiser
thursday 23
Help raise money for this year's Bend Roots Revival. See the Liner Notes column for more info. 7:30pm. Tulen Center, 20 NW Greenwood Ave. $10 donation.

Posted inNews

If Not Here, Where?: Appeals continue, but talks are planned over the Shepherd’s House expansion

Mike Bookey

A sign still sits in the window, stating the shelter's intention to add beds – which wouldn't require any construction or expansion of the building.At a July 1 meeting of the Bend City Council, councilors, once again, were faced with the issue of expanding the number of beds at the Shepherd's House, a shelter and resource center for homeless men. They were asked if they'd like to hear an appeal on the subject that was filed by a collection of neighbors, business owners and spearheaded by a former Bend mayor, and quite predictably, the council, on advice of city staff, voted not to hear the appeal.

But this isn't the end - just this week, the city's decision was appealed to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) for the third time, and the fight over adding 28 beds to the shelter (without any construction on the building) will continue, just as it's been doing for two and a half years. On one side is a shelter looking to give more men a roof over their heads and a chance to participate in an intensely organized program. The opposition is an array of individuals and organizations with varying opinions of the Shepherd's House united by a belief that more beds at the shelter will hurt the makeup of their community. At times, the dispute has gotten nasty and seemingly personal, creating a climate where productive dialogue seems impossible. But now, even with the decision still up in the air and another appeal to LUBA already filed, there might be a chance for progress in a dispute that for a while looked like it had no end in sight.

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