The advent of summer is a time for joy. The sun returns with heat and calls on everyone to drop everything and run into the great outdoors. But there is the rub. How many of us can heed the sun’s call and unchain ourselves from the work a day world that keeps us indoors? When […]
Source Weekly Bend Oregon
Posted inCulture
What Just Happened?
A noob watches “Warcraft”
I have a confession to make. I have never played Warcraft. Not even 30 seconds of it. In fact, from my perspective, Real Time Strategy (RTS) games seem designed for gamers who enjoy Risk much more than I do. Furthermore, massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG) work best for people who actually enjoy playing with […]
Posted inMusic
Ben Harper Returns to Les Schwab Amphitheater
It took seven years for Ben Harper to reunite with the Innocent Criminals, and he says in making “Call It What It Is,” his new album with his long-time band, there was a fundamental change in the dynamic. More than ever, billing “Call It What It Is” as a Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals […]
Posted inCulture
Picks 6/15-6/22
Thursday 16 The Blitz RIDE OR DIE—This four-stage, Deschutes Brewery-sponsored mountain biking event features $1,000 cash prizes for the Big Air competition, Fastest on Pavement race, Hole Shot (first one through the two big boulders near Funner Trail start), and the Finish at Tetherow, which ends with a beer chug for anyone who crosses the […]
Posted inOutside
The Perfect Day
Breakdowns, books and baby eagles in the Oregon Outback
When my wife, Sue, and I start out each morning to conduct our golden eagle survey for the Oregon Eagle Foundation, we never know what the day will hold, except that it will be a wonderful adventure, and at some point we’ll end up lost in Oregon’s Great Sandy Desert, and we’ll be very happy […]
Posted inOutside
Skydiving in Central Oregon
The closest thing to flying
It’s easy to explore Central Oregon by hiking and biking its single-track trails, paddling its pristine rivers, and climbing its rugged mountains. But there is one outdoor area that is often overlooked: its big, blue skies. For the intrepid Bendite, the terrain above is now accessible. Two skydiving businesses—Skydive Awesome! and Velocity Sports Equipment—are putting […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Rock and Rolls
Rockin’ Dave’s Backstage Lounge finally opens to the public
Rockin' Dave’s Bistro and Backstage Lounge is the newest addition to Bend’s eatery options. Attached to the backside of the bagel shop, this intimate setting is equipped with a full bar, monthly specials and addictive foods. Rockin’ Dave Flier is a bit of a celebrity about town, running his Greenwood Avenue bagel shop in a […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Little Bites 6/15-6/22
Picky Bars May Fund Your Next Adventure In an effort to share the love of adventure with anyone, anywhere, Picky Bars—a Bend-based natural energy bar maker—recently launched the Lifepoints Adventure Grant campaign, offering $1,500 grants in cash, gift cards, gear, petrol, or whatever you need to fuel your adventure. To apply for Picky Bars Lifepoints […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Cider: Keepin’ It Dry
Tumalo Cider Co. is bucking the sweet cider trend. Bend, it’s fair to say, is going almost as crazy for cider as it is for beer. Although the city doesn’t yet boast a cider-only bar, it does house five local cideries, including Atlas Cider Co., the three-year-old Old Mill standby that the OLCC has officially […]
Posted inCulture
Waterston Desert Writing Prize Ceremony Honoring Literary Excellence and the Desert
On June 28, the High Desert Museum will host the Waterston Desert Writing Prize Ceremony, where the works of one winner and two finalists will be honored. The award recognizes excellence in writing as well as the role deserts play in the ecosystem and the human narrative. The Waterston Desert Writing Prize is inspired by […]