In Julian Smith’s first book, Crossing The Heart of Africa, published in 2009, he (literally) followed the footsteps of Ewart Grogan, a distinguished Englishman and late 19th century adventurer who bushwacked 4,500 miles from Sudan to South Africa. And, in his most recent book, Smokejumper, released in mid-July, Smith shadows another, more contemporary adventurer, Jason […]
Section Feature
Posted inMusic
Effects Pedal Junkies Find Their Voice
Local ambient rock group Isles puts the final touches on an ambitious debut album
In August 2013, Bend rock quartet Isles turned heads with an impressive first splash as they introduced themselves with Viracocha—35 minutes of beautifully-sculpted instrumental ambient rock. Largely inspired by a series of improvised jam sessions, the songs are built on meandering song structures that give the EP an innately organic feel. Washed in layers of […]
Posted inOutside
Run, Slap, Run
Cascade Lakes Relay: The most funnest run in Oregon
Seven years ago, Carrie and Scott Douglass ran the Golden Gate Relay together, one of the burgeoning number of approximately 200-mile running races that split up the chore among a dozen or so runners. Since then, they also have run the Bourbon Chase and Reno-Tahoe Odyssey Relay, and these events have become not just a […]
Posted inCulture
Theatrical Release
The sad story of a girl named Amy
From a distance, it’s hard to tell how much celebrity suffering is actually theater. Asif Kapadia’s shattering documentary Amy certainly qualifies as theater in its own right, piecing together great amounts of archival, never-before-seen video footage of late musician Amy Winehouse with dramatic effectiveness. Much of Kapadia’s film is narrated by the star herself, inter-spliced […]
Posted inCulture
It’s Not a Schumer!
Trainwreck: Not An Actual Trainwreck
Here’s a fun drinking game to play while watching, oh, ANY romantic comedy: Take a sip whenever you see (1) a girl reporter in the big city, who, despite working in print media, you never see actually working (or, okay, crying because her freelance check is late), (2) shots of the New York City skyline […]
Posted inOutside
The Newest Water Sport: Flyboarding!
Hoverboards are so two years ago, McFly!
As October 21, 2015 approaches—the exact date Marty McFly programmed into Doc Brown’s time traveling DeLorean in Back To the Future II—there has been a certain buzz about what has and hasn’t come to fruition in the perceived future, and a certain amount of bellyaching that the hoverboard promised in that movie has yet to […]
Posted inMusic
A Love Note to Thomas Lauderdale
Pink Martini’s bandleader is indefatigable
Thomas Lauderdale is busy. He texts me from the road. Then he texts from Columbus, Ohio. “Just finishing a month-long tour,” he lets me know. I call him back, but his voicemail is full. I text and let him know that I’ll call him the next day, just after lunch so that we can talk […]
Posted inCulture
Really Good Luck
Comedienne April Richardson comes to Bend
April Richardson is damned funny. She has been bitingly funny on Chelsea Lately, matched wits with the best on @Midnight, and has the delightful podcast, Go Bayside, which focuses on her watching an episode of “Saved By The Bell” every week with comedians like Scott Aukerman, Paul F. Tompkins, the dearly departed Harris Wittels, Moshe […]
Posted inNews
Session’s Out for Summer
Rep. Knute Buehler reflects on his first legislative session
Freshman Rep. Knute Buehler (R-Bend) just wrapped up an ambitious first session in the Oregon House. He sponsored a bevy of bills, resulting in some bold, bipartisan legislation. We sat down with Buehler to talk about the issues he championed and the challenges he faced. These are some of the highlights from that interview. On […]
Posted inFood & Drink
As In Vegan Heaven . . .
So at Earth Below’s plant-based food cart
Sierrah Umhauer is all smiles when she steps out of her food cart. Wood paneled and with a small stained glass window embedded in the door, the small cart looks like something from the Enchanted Forest. Youthful, Umhauer begins talking immediately, introducing her dog that stands a few feet away, out of the sun in […]
