Feeling the pressure to buy stuff this season, even when your loved ones don’t need anything? This year consider giving to the nonprofits working to make Central Oregon a better place. There is no shortage of great organizations in the area, but check out our Give Guide for a more complete list. To get you […]
Bend News
Posted inOpinion
Letters 12/14-12/21
Pedestrian “Traffic” The recent uptick in car vs. pedestrian accidents is inevitable. Bend has fostered or at least ignored the basic rules and laws involving pedestrians, bicyclists and motor vehicle traffic. The basic applicable laws state that pedestrians have the right of way, in a crosswalk, whether it is a “regulated” crosswalk or not. That’s […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Little Bites: Ariana, Bethlyn’s Global Fusion & Root Cellar
Ariana selected for OpenTable “Best Restaurant” category With a fine attention to detail, a rotating seasonal menu and the use of high-quality, locally-grown ingredients, Ariana Restaurant is no stranger to big praise by critics and writers who’ve dined there. This year, Ariana has been awarded, for the second year in a row, the OpenTable 100 […]
Posted inFood & Drink
The Other Beer City USA
On a tour of U.S. beer, Grand Rapids stakes a claim
Many, many towns and municipalities across the US call themselves “Beer City” these days. During my travels around beer country, I still say Bend, of course, is the best one. (That statement’s in print, so it must be true.) The western Michigan city of Grand Rapids is the only one actively promoting “Beer City” as […]
Posted inOutside
Natural World: Why Coyotes like it in Town
(Hint: There are cats there)
A recent television report about coyotes living in Bend surprised some people. It shouldn’t, since there are coyotes living all over North America today, eating mule deer fawns, chickens and cats—thanks to the actions of the government trappers that started killing coyotes over 100 years ago. They thought they could kill coyotes as easily as […]
Posted inNews
Lessons from the Ghost Ship Fire
Safety in public spaces is a priority for local officials—but artists say the deadly Oakland fire is a testament to the financial squeeze put on creatives
Earlier this month, 36 people died in the fire inside the Ghost Ship, a multipurpose artist’s space and sometimes-venue in Oakland, Calif. According to reports from survivors, escaping the second-floor gathering space required navigating through a confusing maze of smoke and turning staircases. Officials in Oakland have ruled out arson, according to Oakland’s “East Bay […]
Posted inCulture
Picks 12/14-12/21
Thursday 15 – Friday 16 “The Night Before the Night Before Christmas” CHRISTMAS SHOW—This show puts the “fun” back in dysfunctional as we follow an older man on his mission to cancel Christmas. From local playwright Cricket Daniel, “The Night Before the Night Before Christmas” is a reprise of the run that sold out 2nd […]
Posted inCulture
Deck the Hall with Booze and Cocaine
“Office Christmas Party” brings the laughs
Writing reviews of comedies is always a fickle mistress, because it basically comes down to describing very relative crap that makes you laugh. Another interesting aspect to think about is whether to hold comedies to the same standard as other movies in more serious genres. If a comedy succeeds in making you laugh then hasn’t […]
Posted inOpinion
What’s Next, Legislature?
Governor’s budget works to protect seniors and students, but it can only go so far
Early this month, Gov. Kate Brown released her recommended budget for the 2017-19 biennium. The budget’s title: “Strategic Investments for Challenging Times.” “Sustaining hard fought gains is nearly impossible with a tax system that is unstable, inadequate to meet our essential needs, and fundamentally out of balance,” said Gov. Brown. In November, voters approved Measure […]
Posted inCulture
Should You or Shouldn’t You?
Tips for pulling off the re-gifting thing
It’s Christmas morning. Your entire extended family—including your parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, and even cousins whose names you can’t remember— have traveled great distances to come together and celebrate. You have prepared yourself in advance by perfecting the appearance of the natural looking smile and rehearsing the ever-enthusiastic “Thank you!” The room is […]
