Save Our Snow: Of slow starts, La Nina and global warming

Posted inOutside

Save Our Snow: Of slow starts, La Nina and global warming

Mike Bookey

The future of backcountry skiing.By Nov. 30, I had not yet made one alpine turn. I scratched and scraped
around on nordic skis in November, but I was holding out before
subjecting my freshly stone ground skis to the light dusting of snow
covering the Central Oregon lava rock. Finally, I could no longer hold
back. Jonas phoned and reported thin, but good skiing from the summit
of Bachelor. Chris and I set out from the parking lot and were treated
to another stellar Central Oregon sunrise. A clear, cold cell separated
low lying clouds in the valley from higher, wispy clouds capping the
peaks. There's nothing like hiking up a mountain while catching the
first rays of the day. The skiing was better than expected, with 8
inches of fresh over the top of a base ranging from 0 to 14 inches. The
turns were sweet and well worth the minor rock hits taken by my
perfectly tuned edges and bases.

We are in the middle of La Niña
and, as expected, had a slower than average start to the ski season. La
Niña, preceded by the 2006-07 El Niño season, results from a 0.50C
lower than average sea surface temperature in the Pacific Ocean. La
Niña pushes the polar jet stream further south, causing below average
temperatures and above average precipitation in the northwestern and
midwestern states from December through March. All very important
things to consider and understand for Central Oregon powder lovers.

Posted inCulture

Bringing Funny Back: Randy Liedtke is a man on a comedic mission

The Source Staff

Nothing enhances comedy like a little multitasking.Randy Liedtke wants us - "us" being Central Oregon - to laugh. And
seeing as how the one place known to host comedy shows in town has been
the butt of jokes, rather than the purveyor of jokes, it seems like
we're in need of whatever Liedtke's got.
Liedtke, who has made some
waves in the Northwest comedy scene in less than a year on stage,
brings funny back to Bend with a series of comedy shows at the Summit
Saloon and Stage with a host of other Northwest comics.

Posted inMusic

Return of the Guitar God: Back Door Slam can’t drink, but they can shred

The Source Staff

The blues never looked so young.It's morning here in Bend, but "tea time" on the Isle of Man, a small
self-governing kingdom in the Irish Sea that Davy Knowles calls home,
and he's talking about his age, and why it seems to be the only thing
anyone wants to discuss about the emerging blues guitar prodigy and his
band, Back Door Slam.
"We want to be seen as good musicians full stop
and not because of our age. I understand the sentiment, but it's kind
of a back-handed compliment when somebody says, 'you're really good for
your age,'" Knowles says in a delightfully articulate accent.

Posted inOutside

By The Numbers: A mathematical retrospective

Mike Ficher

Typically, at this time of year, writers seek the shelter and comfort of Top 10 lists or the best of the year or some such low hanging literary fruit. Well, Left Field will not, dear readers, stoop so low to insult your good intelligence with such prosaic drivel!
We're stronger than the temptation. We're mightier than the outstretched fruit. We're…well, you get the point.
Instead, we will succumb to the cosmic lure of cipher contentment.
Ah, yes, we do have a weakness. You see, by day, Left Field crunches numbers, devouring spreadsheets and databases with the glee of Jim Valvano winning an NCAA men's basketball championship. We are a sucker for digitalia. And here's what the numbers tell us about 2007.

Posted inCulture

Now Hear This!

Eric Flowers

While coming out of a recent film I commented to my viewing partner how much I had enjoyed the film's score. She had a classic comment, "I never notice background music." Although we may not register a movie score as something we want on CD, it can make or break the atmosphere of a film as much as cinematography or acting. Below is a little ode to the unsung heroes of movie scores with their best works as recommended views.

Posted inCulture

Claws Out: Nothing Hurts You Like Family

Jason Blair

Among the best films of 2005 was The Squid and the Whale, a dark drama that happens to be wickedly funny. If it leans a little heavily on Wes Anderson (Rushmore), it at least gives fans of Anderson a director to lionize in Noah Baumbach. Produced by Anderson, with whom Baumbach wrote The Life Aquatic, The Squid and the Whale is the story of Baumbach's parents' divorce, a bitter breakup told from the children's point of view. From the perspective of two awkward, bemused teenage boys, the arrogance and stubbornness of their parents - rival writers - feels unexpectedly light and whimsical. The script earned Baumbach an Oscar nomination and a number of passionate supporters. Now his follow-up, Margot at the Wedding, arrives with little fanfare but great expectations.

Posted inCulture

Huey, Dewey and Luey: Latest Apatow Inc. isn’t their best

Robert Grimm

The Judd Apatow comedy machine has been a most reliable laugh factory as of late. This year saw the one-two punch of Knocked Up (which he directed) and Superbad (which he produced). With the arrival of Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story starring the great John C. Reilly, I was figuring Apatow (producing here) would have a 2007 hat trick.
Not quite.
The film isn't a disaster by any means. It has a quick, funny start, followed by an intermittently hilarious middle. But the air goes out of the movie as it progresses, and it eventually goes flat. Too bad, because Reilly is an actor who deserves top billing, and he puts everything into the part.

Posted inFood & Drink

Making Its Mark: Brand 33 at Aspen Lakes

Eric Flowers

The Cyrus family is trying to do something a little bit different with its resort restaurant. This Central Oregon ranching family has taken some of its land and created a first-class golf community and, more recently, a fine dining establishment. Located outside Sisters, Aspen Lakes is a golf-centric, high-end housing development that has recently completed a majestic lodge with a formal dining room, bar and café.
The architecture is reminiscent of Mount Hood’s Timberline Lodge, but with modern touches. Huge timbers and floor-to-ceiling windows framing the Cascades give this large-scale lodge a homey, country feel. There are spots for private parties, a conference room as well as a sport shop. But it’s the menu at “Brand 33” that sets Aspen Lakes apart from other golf resorts.

Posted inFood & Drink

Making Its Mark: Brand 33 at Aspen Lakes

Eric Flowers

The Cyrus family is trying to do something a little bit different with its resort restaurant. This Central Oregon ranching family has taken some of its land and created a first-class golf community and, more recently, a fine dining establishment. Located outside Sisters, Aspen Lakes is a golf-centric, high-end housing development that has recently completed a majestic lodge with a formal dining room, bar and café.
The architecture is reminiscent of Mount Hood's Timberline Lodge, but with modern touches. Huge timbers and floor-to-ceiling windows framing the Cascades give this large-scale lodge a homey, country feel. There are spots for private parties, a conference room as well as a sport shop. But it's the menu at "Brand 33" that sets Aspen Lakes apart from other golf resorts.

Posted inNews

Home Sweet Home: After the dust has settled mobile home owners wonder if they are better off

The Source Staff

Hoby Herron's neighborhood consists of tightly clustered homes and single car garages nestled up to narrow asphalt streets that evoke some of the intimacy of Bend's older Mill-era neighborhoods.
Cascade Village, as the neighborhood is identified by the sign outside the entrance, is one the surviving manufactured home parks in Bend following a wave of redevelopment projects that have, so far, eliminated half a dozen parks totaling 380 spaces in the past five years.

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