Holiday hangouts that give back, where to reserve your free First Day Hikes with Oregon State Parks and the results of our “Who Did It Better” holiday song battle in this week’s podcast.
Holiday
Do Not Buy!
Holiday gift guides are so ubiquitous this time of year the last thing you need is another listicle screaming at you to spend your hard-earned cash on the latest, greatest beer gadget. With only a few shopping days left in the holiday season, I thought it would be better to provide a DO NOT BUY […]
Reducing the Yuletide Waste Stream
‘Tis the season to shop and eat. But are the holidays a carte blanche for throwing eco-consciousness to the wind? Consuming in the name of celebrating comes at a cost to the environment: According to the Environmental Protection Agency, American household waste increases by more than 25% from Thanksgiving to Christmas, adding an additional 1 […]
Santa Uncensored
Pooped on by a parrot. Straddled by strippers. Brought to tears by the blind. These are all experiences that Mani Pureheart, a mostly retired mall Santa, has under his thick black pleather belt. To Pureheart, becoming Santa over 25 years ago was far more than a seasonal job. It was about embodying the values he […]
Gift and You Shall Receive
Thu., Dec. 19 – NPT Benefit The Commons Join three of Central Oregon’s hottest musical artists for an evening of song, benefitting the High Desert Food and Farm Alliance. Bend locals Jess Ryan and Eric Leadbetter will be joined by Portland’s Patrick Connell. Live music from 7-9pm. Thu., Dec. 19 – Ugly Sweater Christmas Bingo […]
Stressed for the Holidays
For some, the holidays are a time of joy, wonderment and time-worn traditions. For most, however, the holidays are a time of financial distress, deep disappointment and dangerously heavy drinking patterns, (“just one more spiked eggnog, it’s fine”). A Healthline survey conducted in 2015 found that 62 percent of people experienced “very elevated” stress levels […]
Who Did It Better?
The fire’s burning, the presents are under the tree and the records are spinningโbut what’s playing? Everyone has a couple of favorite Christmas songs, and even as hard as those Scrooges may try to suppress the cheer, there are always a couple of tunes that come on throughout the holiday season that don’t let you […]
Cuckoo for Cocoa Nog
When the weather turns cold, we turn to hot cocoa. Like the vanishing sun, that steaming cup is a source of warmth, energy and all-around power, from sled hill to windowsill. Mix hot cocoa with coffee for more working power, with booze for more playing power and with eggnog for more holiday power. With the […]
Oregon’s Tree Dilemma
Since 2012, Oregon has been the top national supplier of Christmas trees, with over 6.4 million trees produced in that year alone, as reported by the Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Association. Currently, the state boasts 383 licensed growers producing about 4.7 million trees per year, raking in $120.6 million annually. Nowadays, though, Christmas tree farmers […]
Holiday Gift Guide Part 1
Well, well, well, Central Oregon… It’s that time of year again. Windshields are thoroughly, annoyingly iced up in the morning, asses have been bruised at least once (cuz someone(!) forgot to shovel and salt the walkway last night), and “Shorts Guy” has been spotted in his puffy, sitting outside of [insert favorite bar/pub here], pounding […]

