Cutting Their Loses: As sales plunge, some shop owners opt to pack it in

One unfortunate side effect of alcohol is that normally calm and often times bland people will become uncharacteristically headstrong, violent, and/or maniacal. This weekend seemed to bring out the most unusual in people. On Saturday, two guys dropped by in good spirits, laughing and smiling as they both ordered a beer. About twenty minutes later we found one guy with the other one guy's hands around his neck. They were just standing there perfectly calm, not talking in raised voices, not trying to punch or fight one another. When we asked if everything was o.k. the guy being strangled cordially replied no, as if we had asked him if he liked his coffee with cream and sugar.

One unfortunate side effect of alcohol is that normally calm and often times bland people will become uncharacteristically headstrong, violent, and/or maniacal. This weekend seemed to bring out the most unusual in people. On Saturday, two guys dropped by in good spirits, laughing and smiling as they both ordered a beer. About twenty minutes later we found one guy with the other one guy’s hands around his neck. They were just standing there perfectly calm, not talking in raised voices, not trying to punch or fight one another. When we asked if everything was o.k. the guy being strangled cordially replied no, as if we had asked him if he liked his coffee with cream and sugar.

Art on the plate: Staccato's Seafood Risotto Among Bend's fine-dining elite, Staccato lives comfortably in the upper
stratum. But a few things set it apart from its neighbors. First, it's
an upscale restaurant that cannot be classified as New American,
Pacific Northwest or, my favorite, "eclectic." Most dishes have a
contemporary twist, but Staccato's roots are firmly planted in northern
Italian flavors and preparations. Nor does it have that pristine New
American feel. Just as the menu blends the old with the new, so does
the space. Housed in the 100-year-old fire hall downtown, the
4,500-square-foot building has been converted into four dining areas
that have retained much of the old brick-and-stone detail, but have
been doused in a distinctly modern wash and dotted with rustic Italian
accoutrements and racks of Italian and regional wines (Staccato's list
includes over 250 bottles). You could probably apply that description
to nine out of 10 dishes on the menu: equally influenced by local
ingredients, contemporary flair and traditional Italian recipes.

Art on the plate: Staccato’s Seafood Risotto Among Bend’s fine-dining elite, Staccato lives comfortably in the upper
stratum. But a few things set it apart from its neighbors. First, it’s
an upscale restaurant that cannot be classified as New American,
Pacific Northwest or, my favorite, “eclectic.” Most dishes have a
contemporary twist, but Staccato’s roots are firmly planted in northern
Italian flavors and preparations. Nor does it have that pristine New
American feel. Just as the menu blends the old with the new, so does
the space. Housed in the 100-year-old fire hall downtown, the
4,500-square-foot building has been converted into four dining areas
that have retained much of the old brick-and-stone detail, but have
been doused in a distinctly modern wash and dotted with rustic Italian
accoutrements and racks of Italian and regional wines (Staccato’s list
includes over 250 bottles). You could probably apply that description
to nine out of 10 dishes on the menu: equally influenced by local
ingredients, contemporary flair and traditional Italian recipes.