When local musician and sound engineer Mari started hosting Ladies Night open mics almost three years ago, the outdoor space at Bunk+Brew was the perfect setting for her to amplify the voices of femme artists and build community. It turns out lots of folks were hungry for connection, though, and a combination of popularity and […]
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Posted inOutside
Talking to Trees
Learning a new language in ways of communication
Camping in Central Oregon as a young being, I felt continually drawn to the trunks of Ponderosa Pines that were close to the ground, like I was, and extended infinitely upward, like I did. My little paws touched the bark and I stood in wonder at how all these puzzle pieces around the tree could […]
Posted inCulture
Understanding Intimacy
Sexual Frequency
My husband is always on me to have more sex. We’re in our 40’s and have two kids in elementary school. Right now, we do it 4 or 5 times a month – sometimes more. Is that OK? —Is That Enough? Dear Is That Enough, The question of sexual frequency is one that comes up […]
Posted inCulture
Horoscope Week of July 3, 2025
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Welcome to a special edition of “What’s My Strongest Yearning?” I’m your host, Rob Brezsny, and I’m delighted you have decided to identify the single desire that motivates you more than any other. Yes, you have many wishes and hopes and dreams, but one is more crucial than all the rest! […]
Posted inOpinion
In Shutdown of Federal Lands Sale, a Win for Public Process — But Perhaps Not Public Lands
The notion of selling off public lands in the interest of “housing” has gotten a lot of attention
Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah got stars in his eyes. What if all of the purported housing woes felt in places like St. George, Utah, and Bend, Oregon, could be alleviated by simply selling off millions of acres of land owned and managed by the American people? Better yet, wouldn’t it be great to […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Summer’s Sweetest Score: The Return of the Perfect Peach
Chasing the sweet, messy magic of peak peach season
There’s a magic to Oregon summers—the long light, the dusty trails, the rivers that never stop running. But if you ask me, one of the best parts of this short, golden season is the return of the peach. Real peaches. Not the sad, mealy kind you settle for in January. I’m talking soft, juicy, sun-ripened […]
Posted inOpinion
Letters to the Editor 07/03/2025
Display of Assault at La Pine Rodeo I’ve only attended one rodeo in my life—and I left disgusted by the blatant display and celebration of animal abuse. I didn’t think much more about it until several people close to me, driven by their deep compassion for animals, began actively speaking out on behalf of rodeo […]
Posted inOutside
New Downhill Mountain Bike Trails
Wanoga Downhill is being created by some of the best in the sport
Work is underway for a new mountain biking playground. Wanoga Downhill trails are being crafted by the Central Oregon Trail Alliance with input from some elite athletes including Carson Storch, a world-class freeride and slopestyle mountain biker as well as Dusty Wygle, a high-flying freeride mountain biker known for daring tricks. The trails are near […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Your Cooler Called — It Wants Real Food: Easy Camping Provisions for Happy Campers
Fresh eats, no freeze-dried regrets
Let’s talk about the real reason anyone tolerates sleeping in a nylon bag on the ground — the food. Not granola bars and foil pouches of mystery mush. We’re talking honest-to-goodness meals you actually want to eat. Just because you’re heading into the woods doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to beef jerky and […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Nashville Night
The Blacksteer Steakhouse & Saloon is pivoting
The Blacksteer Steakhouse & Saloon at the north end of Bend is undergoing a makeover. It’ll close on July 4th for nearly a month as the new owner, Susan Anderson-Korinzer, remodels, rebrands and relaunches with an entirely new menu in August. To kick off the reopening, Anderson-Korinzer is offering a special themed Nashville night on […]
