There is this running narrative in Disney films that seems to say that adventure in life is OK, but only for a bit. Then you have to cut your hair, go to school and stop wearing a loincloth all day and get prepared for student loans, mortgages and death. “Pete’s Dragon” isn’t necessarily trying to […]
Bend News
Posted inOpinion
Letters 8/17-8/24
CORRECTIONS: In the Aug. 11 issue, writer Danielle Meyers’ name was spelled incorrectly. In the Aug. 11 edition of Little Bites, the owners of Palmer’s Cafe were misidentified. The current owners—who are now selling Palmer’s Cafe—are Karen McCormack and Harold Johnson. Smoke Signals Nineteen-year-old Thomas is facing federal charges for allegedly supplying 1 gram of […]
Posted inCulture
A Lavash and a Bagel Walk Into a Bar
“Sausage Party” leaves a lot to chew on (sorry)
I can picture it now. Seth Rogen is in a pitch meeting with Sony and Columbia Pictures and he’s got one hell of an idea. A hard R-rated animated comedy—in the vein of Pixar and Dreamworks animated films—about anthropomorphized food people coming to terms with their grisly fate. “Deadpool” proved that a “fun” movie can […]
Posted inNews
Beavers on Bikes & Buses
Locals worry about increased traffic with the opening of OSU Cascades. The school’s solution? Skip the car all together.
The Century Drive roundabout next to the new Oregon State University Cascades campus is one of the most-used in the city of Bend—and with the fall opening of the school, that means even more traffic in the area. As the student population grows to between 3,000 and 5,000 by 2025, there will likely be even […]
Posted inBest Of Central Oregon
Best Event to Get You Inspired
Ignite Bend
Every fall, organizers of Ignite Bend can be expected to start the event with a couple of jokes about the surprising number of people who are gathered there to watch PowerPoint presentations. With a beginning like that, it’s a wonder anyone comes at all—but Ignite is far more than the sum of its parts. Ignite […]
Posted inBest Of Central Oregon
Best Childcare Facility
1st place | Cottage Day Care
When Sue Stendahl opened the Cottage in 1978, she wanted her city to have a daycare with an environment as good as its values. Now, 38 years later, that mission is strong as ever. The Cottage is a daycare for kids from two-and-a-half to eight years old, with activities and lessons designed to keep them […]
Posted inMusic
Making a Difference, One Note at a Time
Annual music festival helps feed the kids
The night before the Christmas Valley Music Festival takes over the stage at RE Flowerree Memorial Park on Aug. 13, musicians, sponsors and supporters will gather at Rocker D Ranch, the home of co-founder Earl Diment. They will visit, drink and dine like good old friends often do, and before the night is over, music […]
Posted inBest Of Central Oregon
Best Place to be a Tourist
Bend Whitewater Park
Visitors to Central Oregon have endless options for outdoor activities – and even if you have aspirations to hit all the best places that this wonderland has to offer, no proper tourist can leave without experiencing the infamous float scene of the Deschutes River. Donning a tube and taking a day to bake in the […]
Posted inBest Of Central Oregon
Best Place for Cosmetic Enhancement
1st place | EsthetixMD | Exhale Spa & Laser Center
Offering a vast array of cosmetic enhancements for both face and body, the EsthetixMD team takes pride in offering something for everyone. Whether clients are looking to get back that pre-baby body, remove hyperpigmentation, or just feel good in their own skin, clients must be walking away happy, because EsthetixMD wins this category for the […]
Posted inNews
Feds Back Down on Cannabis Prosecution of Warm Springs Man
Last week, Smoke Signals shared the story of Devontre Thomas, a 19-year old member of the Warm Springs Tribe. Last year, Thomas was a student at Chemawa Indian School in Salem when one of his classmates alleged that a very small amount of cannabis found in his backpack was supplied by Thomas. After hearing the […]
