Matt Damon had already achieved some measure of success by the time “The Bourne Identity” was released in 2002, but it definitely bumped him from actor to movie star. “Good Will Hunting” (1997) put him on the map. “Dogma” and “The Talented Mr. Ripley” gave him cred, and “Oceans Eleven” made him “Hollywood,” but “Bourne” […]
Bend News
Posted inCulture
Picks 8/3-8/10
Thursday 4 Rodrigo y Gabriela ACOUSTIC GUITAR—Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero met when they were 15 years old, and have been making beautiful music together ever since. Their acoustic guitar work bounces between genres effortlessly, with their love of Latin, blues, rock and even a little metal. Their live shows have to be heard to […]
Posted inOutside
The Alligator Lizard: A Creature by Many Names
This alligator lizard shown at right was serious about living up to its name as it tried to eat Caleb’s finger. They met while we were exploring the Lava Beds National Monument back in the 1980s when my wife Sue and our kids were pursuing and tagging Monarch butterflies on the northern part of the […]
Posted inOutside
Go Here 8/3-8/10
Haulin’ Aspen Twenty-six-point-two miles seem too far to run? Start off with 13.1 miles—just half the distance a the regular marathon. Thanks to the Oregon Half Marathon Series, there are plenty of opportunities afoot for both experienced and beginner runners. In fact, one of the most popular races in the series, Haulin’ Aspen, is Saturday, […]
Posted inCulture
Picks 7/27-8/3
Thursday 28 World’s Finest MUSIC—The feel-good band from Portland, World’s Finest, creates a unique sound that is best described as neo-Americana. This fun-loving band bridges the gap between bluegrass, ska, Americana and dub to create music to get up and dance to. Part of this week’s Munch & Music free concert series, the evening will […]
Posted inNews
100 (and a Half) Years of Fun and Fitness
A local centenarian can’t see the food on her plate, but she’ll rock your bod in the pool
If you head to the Bend Golf and Country Club swimming pool on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday mornings, chances are there will be a water aerobics class underway. It’s a typical thing to encounter at a fitness center, but take a closer look at this particular class and you’ll see it’s anything but ordinary. Honey […]
Posted inOutside
Quite Possibly the Creepiest Bug You’ve Ever Seen
Right here in our very own backyard —quite literally—is the strangest insect we will ever see: The Jerusalem Cricket (Stenopelmatus fuscus). However, to begin with, it’s not a cricket, and has nothing whatsoever to do with Jerusalem. (How it got that name is as baffling as how it got here.) It really belongs in a […]
Posted inNews
Side Notes 7/27-8/3
Tower Theatre Gets a Facelift Thanks to a grant from The Bend Foundation and matching donations from community businesses, the Tower Theatre in downtown Bend just got a facelift. The makeover included updates and repairs to the iconic marquee, fresh paint and wood stain inside and outside, and a thorough cleaning and resealing of the […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Hip Hops
Spoken Moto offers hipster digs, sips and rides
I’ve got a few hundred words to describe Spoken Moto to y’all, but I don’t think I need that many. Honestly, I’m pretty sure I can break it all down for you in just one simple phrase: “Hipster A-F,” as the kids today would say. I don’t mean that in a negative way, not even […]
Posted inOutside
The World Beneath Bend
Wanderlust’s cave tours packed
with science, adventure
This summer, intrepid explorers can add one more environment to their local bucket list: Bend’s underground. Wanderlust Tours is offering lava tube cave tours, taking visitors deep beneath the high desert to explore a cavernous world. Tourists can visit Skeleton Cave or Boyd Cave, two distinct caverns that exemplify the common features of lava caves. […]
