All too often, the typical auto repair shop experience is anything but “happy.” For Bend drivers, that’s not the case at Happy Danes, a shop owned by Kaj and Michelle Larsen who are—you guessed it—a couple of happy danes. Kaj (pronounced “K-eye”) has been working on cars since he was 16 years old, when he […]
2014 Best of Central Oregon
Posted inBest Of Central Oregon
Best Radio Personality
Kris Arnold, 92/9
Although not old enough to attend concerts during Detroit’s musical heyday—from Motown’s catchy R&B to the proto-punk of The Stooges—Kris Arnold’s hometown still has left its mark on her music sensibilities. With long, spiky blond hair, Arnold strongly resembles '70s punk diva Debbie Harry, and she admits, she likes her music “Down and dirty gritty.” […]
Posted inBest Of Central Oregon
Best Lunch (Sunriver)
Sunriver Brewing Company
Sunriver Brewing Company reflects the style and sensibility of the city it calls home—easygoing, approachable and fun. Serving as much of a centering point for the town as anywhere else, the brewpub has recently expanded its production facilities, a measure that says a lot about its popularity and aspirations. Its beers are fun and dedicated […]
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Best Brother/Sister Writers
Benjamin and Jennifer Percy
Growing up in Central Oregon offers plenty of material for creative writers. Just ask Benjamin Percy and his little sister Jennifer, both of whom have made names for themselves among American Literati. Ben, who describes himself as a “side-burned, growly voiced author,” has set much of his fiction in and around Bend — including his […]
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Best Fine Dining (Sisters)
Jen’s Garden
Like many businesses in Sisters, the quality and sophistication at Jen’s Garden far outpaces what is commonly expected in a small town. One of the finest and best-thought-out restaurants in Central Oregon, if not the state, Jen’s Garden nestles cozily into two rooms of a French country house—and, of course, spills over into a comfortable […]
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Best Butte
Luna Butte
If you like buttes, then you live in the right place. Bend is surrounded by hundreds of them. Between Pilot Butte and Newberry Crater 22 miles to the south, there are more than 70 cinder cones that rise 100 feet in height or more. One of my favorites is Luna Butte, located 15.5 miles south […]
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2014 Best of Central Oregon
As voted by Source Weekly readers
Even if only a myth, the first known concept of a pageant was a toe-to-toe competition between Athena and Aphrodite. According to Greek mythology, Zeus sent a minion to judge the “fairest of them all,” a judgment (in Aphrodite’s favor) that set in motion a chain reaction resulting with the all-out Trojan War. All told, […]
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Best Beer Named After a Person
No Quit Wit
A decade ago, Gary Bonacker, Sunnyside Sports co-owner and mountain bike pioneer who spent the '70s and '80s bombing around Mt. Bachelor on a clunky bike, hit perhaps his hardest obstacle yet: He was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. But Bonacker, now 60, went through chemotherapy and survived with his wit, charm and dedication […]
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Best Chef
Chef Andres Fernandez
While he’s not the namesake of the Westside upscale eatery Ariana—that would be his lovely wife and co-chef—Chef Andres Fernandez is certainly one-half of the inspiration behind the meals at one of Bend’s finest dining establishments, and one outta two ain’t bad. After meeting in culinary school at COCC a decade ago, Ariana and Andres […]
Posted inBest Of Central Oregon
Best Bartender
Cori Hamilton
A bartender for nearly 20 years, Cori Hamilton first started at Monet’s Garden, a popular bar that she launched in the ’90s. “It was originally a way to pay my way through school,” she explains. “Then I realized the schedule, co-workers, creating cocktails and friends that I make in this business are exactly what I […]
