Best of Central Oregon 2023

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

EDITOR’S NOTE:

It’s here, folks — our much-anticipated, often-imitated but never-duplicated Best of Central Oregon issue! Inside, find the winners in hundreds of categories, voted upon by you, the readers of this publication. When someone has one of those “Best Of” stickers or certifcates in their business, you know it’s legit; it’s a guarantee that they’re well-supported and well-loved by the people who take the time to nominate and vote for them.

Congrats to all the winners!

This issue represents the largest issue the Source Weekly has put out, ever, and I’m darn proud of the team who created it. Thanks to our crew of talented designers, writers, editors, photographers and sales staff who put in countless hours to pull off this monumental task. It’s so monumental that the entire theme for this issue follows suit – a national park/national monument type of theme, for a monumental issue, if you will. Enjoy the issue and thanks as always for reading and supporting your locally owned, locally produced and locally supported newspaper!

LIGHTMETER:

PRESENTED BY HARVEST MOON WOODWORKS

Courtesy @vitalityinfocus

EDITOR

Nicole Vulcan - editor@bendsource.com

REPORTER

Jack Harvel- reporter@bendsource.com

REPORTER / CALENDAR EDITOR

Julianna LaFollette - calendar@bendsource.com

COPY EDITOR

Richard Sitts

FREELANCERS

Donna Britt, Doone Lupine Williams, Jared Rasic, Jessica Sanchez-Millar, Joshua Savage, Damian Fagan, Jennifer Baires, Allan Sculley, Roberta Stopler, Joshua Phillips, Tiffany Neptune, Joshua Savage.

SYNDICATED CONTENT

Amy Alkon, Rob Brezsney, Brendan Emmett Quigley, Jen Sorensen, Pearl Stark, Tom Tomorrow, Matt Wuerker

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Katie Hughes - design@bendsource.com

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DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Sean Switzer

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Angela Switzer - angela@bendsource.com

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WILD CARD

Paul Butler

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of Belknap Crater, west of Sisters. Don’t forget to share your photos with us and tag @sourceweekly for a chance to be featured as Instagram of the week and in print as our Lightmeter. Winners receive a free print from @highdesertframeworks.

HARVESTMOONWOODWORKS.COM

CUSTOM. CABINE TS

Thanks to @vitalityinfocus for tagging us in this scenic view of Mt. Jefferson and Mt Washington. The photo was taken along the 7.5-mile hike

OPINION

In the Matter of the People vs. Knopp, More Political

For some Republicans (and one Independent) in the Oregon State Senate, the writing is on the wall: Voters wanted them at work. When they didn’t show up 10 times this past legislative session, they were deemed ineligible to run again. There’s a good chance if current legislation holds, they’re out of a job.

For legislators like Sen. Tim Knopp (R-Bend), the senate minority leader and the longtime senator for Bend, this is bad news. He’s been hired by Bend voters to be its senator since all the way back in 2012, and served in the Oregon House before that, but Bend’s demographics have changed and so has its voting patterns. There’s a very strong chance that if he’s off the ballot in 2024, voters will forget him should he choose to run again. Even if he were not currently ineligible to run, he would have had a tough re-election ahead of him.

We’ve opined on the ramifications of Measure 113 a few times this year. After all, it’s not every day that you have a cadre of minority-party legislators who take the nuclear option and shut down the business of a legislative chamber for the better part of a session. What’s changed this week is that the Oregon Secretary of State, who is tasked with following the letter and the spirit of the law, issued an administrative rule that clarified what legislators can and can’t do when they walk out more than 10 times.

Knopp and the other legislators who had more than 10 unexcused absences are attempting to claim that the language of the bill was too confusing, and that due to the way it was worded, they actually are eligible to run in 2024, just not in 2028.

Measure 113 stated that having 10 unexcused absences “shall disqualify the member from holding office as a Senator or Representative for the term following the election after the

member’s current term is completed.”

With the assistance of the Oregon Department of Justice, Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade looked at the language of the bill and the language in the voters’ pamphlet and assessed the “intent” of voters, drawing the conclusion that voters wanted legislators out quickly if they walk. This past week, Griffin-Valade directed the Oregon Elections Division to enact an administrative rule that clarifies and provides guidance on who can run and when, under the language of Measure 113.

You gotta hand it to Knopp and the others who are now desperate to challenge the bill. They are hoping to convince a judge that the language of the bill that voters approved with a 68% majority in 2022 wasn’t clear enough, and that they’re still eligible to run in 2024, but not 2028. On the one hand they want to argue that the bill is valid enough to let them run one more time. On the other, they’re setting their sights on appeals and Constitutional challenges to try to get the whole bill thrown out.

Both arguments are fascinating legal and political attempts at subverting the will of the voters. It is easy, in all of the back and forth, to forget that we already had this debate in 2022 when Measure 113 went on the ballot. After seeing Republicans walk out in 2019, 2020 and 2022, Oregonians were pretty clear they wanted better governance going forward. No more running for the Idaho border when you disagree with the majority of representatives in your governing body. The solution to this problem is easy: Republicans need to convince more voters that their candidate should serve and thereby secure a majority so they can enact more legislation. That’s how democracy works.

This is minority politics at its worst, and unfortunately, it’s very likely headed to the courts to decide.

ADAIR FLIP-FLOPPED AGAIN; IT'S TIME FOR A RECALL

On Thursday, Deschutes County Commissioner Patti Adair “flipflopped” on her July 26th vote to stop new destination resorts in Deschutes County. This isn’t her 1st flip-flop; she also changed her view on a city-approved managed campsite for the south end of Bend.

Regarding the managed campsite, during the February 27th meeting; Commissioner DeBone asked Adair, “So Commissioner Adair, you’re supportive of contracting for the operation of this site?” Adair responded, “I am.” On March 9th Commissioner Adair voted no on the campsite. Adair’s reasoning on changing her view “I cannot tell you how many people I have heard from, they are like, ‘Oh my gosh. Thank you so much for listening to our voice.” She apparently listened to constituents about a campsite, that’s not the case regarding resorts.

At the July 12th public hearing regarding destination resorts I reminded Commissioner Adair that she stated, “Per our emails, and per my phone calls, most people are saying we’re beyond any more destination resorts.” I asked her to align with her constituents to stop new destination resorts, which she did and then she flip-flopped.

Commissioner Adair also voted with Thornburgh Resort agreeing with studies provided by the resort and ignoring government water studies and the public regarding the water impact of the resort.

It is time for the public to act and recall Commissioner Adair and elect someone that aligns with constituents and not big business.

—Joe Craig

HAVE

RE: WHAT WE LOSE WHEN WE LEAVE FEATURE, 8/10

Our city and county never held developers accountable for deed-restricted housing and true affordable housing while growing Bend. Developers say they are building affordable housing within their developments but they are truly not affordable. In addition the city should require within a development that there are townhouses, duplexes, tri and quadplexes and affordable apartments to keep our communities diverse and not gentrified. Lastly, because we were considered a tourist destination the city allowed way too many Short Term Rental permits. This makes the house more expensive, provides less inventory for affordable housing and drives up rents. Airbnb is notorious for ruining affordability in communities.

—Nicole Perullo via bendsource.com

FAIR-UNWELL FESTIVAL

A few weeks back, I attended the FairWell festival at the Deschutes County fairgrounds. The lineup was excellent, the tickets fairly priced and the location close to home. Unfortunately, those positives were vastly overshadowed by some of the missteps of the organizers. Unlike other music festivals in the region, FairWell fest stood out due to the near complete lack of camping and safe transportation options. Most music festivals include camping for free, at FairWell if you were wealthy enough to have a camper and pay $600, you had the option to camp. There were no public shuttles to and from the festival, and car parking was free, thereby encouraging folks to drive (on top of this, bike parking was relegated to a gravel lot furthest away from the grounds). When

this was paired with the strong alcohol-forward atmosphere (nine huge bar tents encircling the grounds, multiple corporate alcohol sponsors), and a complete disaster of traffic control when leaving the festival (many people waited two or three hours to leave each night and opted to tailgate in the meantime), the result was an incredibly irresponsible festival. FairWell sold 35,000 tickets and blindsided many festival goers by not offering a public shuttle or reasonable camping. How many hundreds or thousands of intoxicated drivers did they unleash on Central Oregon for those three nights? I’ve been to many music festivals in the region over the years and this was definitely the poorest execution. If the festival happens again next year, I urge everyone reading this to take a hard look at the ethics of what you are paying for before attending (see Pickathon for a positive counterpoint: free shuttle and bike parking, free camping, paid car parking, zero waste, no corporate alcohol sponsors…).

—Andy Neary

RE: FRANKLIN MURALS GONE, OR GRAFFITIED NEWS, 8/3

A lovely mural, to me, no matter how "persistently graffitied" (is that City of Bend newspeak?) carries far more aesthetic value than the tagged length of gray wall that replaced it.

For a brief time we had an utterly delightful work of art both lovely and

evocative — in that it contained symbology that referenced the artist's own knowledge that her life was soon to end.

Unfortunately, the City of Bend could not find within itself the grace to allow the life of the mural to go on much longer than its creator's.

—Foster Fell via bendsource.com

RE: SCAMMER FOILED AT MANZANITA NEWS, 8/10

Great food cart and people, glad to see they didnt get scammed!! PS- you gotta try their shrimp tacos.

—Glenn Millar via bendsource.com

Letter of the Week:

They are pretty great, Glenn! Thanks for your commentary. You get letter of the week.

—Nicole Vulcan

SOMETHING TO SAY? Send your thoughts to editor@bendsource.com. Letters must be received by noon Friday for inclusion in the following week’s paper. Please limit letters to 250 words. Submission does not guarantee publication. Opinions printed here do not constitute an editorial endorsement of said opinions. Letter of the week receives $5 to Palate!

Drought Ongoing, New Water Laws Incoming

Central Oregon’s drought conditions are improving, but it’ll take years of plenty and structural intent before water capacity rebounds

By Jack Harvel

At the end of May, no part of Deschutes County faced extreme or exceptional drought — the first time that’s been the case since June 2020. Drought reached its peak in mid-December 2021, when 56% of the county was deemed to be in exceptional drought. That designation is reserved for areas that are 98% drier than they are historically. As of April, there was no exceptional drought in Deschutes County, but Central Oregon isn’t out of the woods yet. The latest report from the U.S. Drought Monitor found about 40% of Deschutes County remains in severe drought, and the other 60% is in a moderate drought. Irrigation districts responded with smaller allocations for their patrons.

It will take several seasons of above-average snowpack and precipitation before Deschutes County is back to its average water supply. The U.S. Geological Survey reports that 43% less water is flowing through Bend than average.

A handful of bills passed this year attempted to address Oregon’s diminished supply of water. Locally, Deschutes River Conservancy lobbied for House Bill 4971, which allowed lands zoned for farming to lease their water back instream. But lands zoned for Exclusive Farm Use get reduced property taxes to engage in agriculture, and allowing water back instream could jeopardize that tax status.

“It was just another barrier to landowners participating, if they had any fear that they would lose that EFU tax deferral status, because when you do lose that you have to pay up to 10 years and deferred back taxes. So, it was a pretty serious financial burden, if that were to happen,” said Kate Fitzpatrick, executive director of DRC.

HB 4971 removes that barrier, which could be significant with the high demand for agricultural water. About 85% of the state’s water demand goes to agriculture, according to Zach Freed, the sustainable water program director at The Nature Conservancy in Bend.

“This is like kind of a natural place to look for solutions to find the find strategies that benefit both farmers and fish,” Freed said. “Eighty-five percent of water demand is diverted from streams and rivers and pumped out of aquifers for agriculture.”

Another method to divert some would-be agricultural water back to streams and rivers is split-season instream leasing. Irrigators who apply for the program could use water for the first couple months of irrigation season and lease the water back in-stream later in the year. The concept lines up well with forage crops like hay and alfalfa, which are usually used as animal feed and are by far the county’s most common plant products. Throughout the summer, forage crops become less and less productive as animal feed.

“As the hot summer season goes on, you get less and less productivity for the amount of water that you're using. So, the

term that's used is ‘crop per drop.’ At a certain point, you're putting a lot of water onto a cold-season plant that has basically maxed out on its productivity for the growing season,” said Caylin Barter, senior manager of the Oregon Water Police Program at the Wild Salmon Center.

The Oregon State Legislative Assembly authorized split-season leasing in 2001 as part of a pilot program, but House Bill 3164 made the program permanent earlier this year. Without the program, irrigators had to take an allor-nothing approach, where they could lease in-stream throughout the agricultural season or use their water right on their land. Barter said the legislation addresses the two biggest barriers for farmers wanting to join the program: making it permanent and allowing farmers to do split-season leasing indefinitely. Under the pilot, irrigators were only allowed to take part in the program for a maximum of 10 seasons.

“If you are not diverting water out of a stream to grow forage, then that water is staying in the river and its supporting fish, it's supporting aquatic vegetation, it's keeping that water deeper and cooler. That's a huge environmental benefit, especially during these hot, dry

summers that are becoming the norm in Oregon,” Barter said.

DRC’s Fitzpatrick said most of the water leasing in Central Oregon is for the whole season. Deschutes River Conservancy works with local irrigation districts to allow people to lease their water back into the river, and pays individuals based on the volume of water. DRC leases about 4,000 acres of water each year, which accounts for about a quarter of the flow in the middle Deschutes River south of Bend.

Measuring what water is used and what’s put back instream is typical for irrigation districts and utilities, but rare for water rights as a whole. Freed said only one in six water rights in the state are required to measure the amount of water they use. Allocation for most individual water uses is on the honor system, where an individual is assumed to not exceed their allocations. And even when water uses are required to measure their usage, the state has been toothless when it comes to getting people to report it to them. House Bill 2010, an omnibus bill supporting several initiatives regarding water scarcity that Gov. Tina Kotek signed into law on Aug. 4, gives the Oregon Water Resource Department the power to require irrigators to measure their water usage and report it to the state.

“Now the state can tell them that they must submit that data — they must report the data that they collect. And this is particularly helpful for the Oregon Water Resource Department, who’s the authority that's requiring this measurement. Because you can't manage what you don't measure,” Freed said. “That seems like such a common sense, simple, and maybe even humble, change. But it's actually pretty foundational to how we can manage water in Oregon.”

Wickiup Reservoir, the largest reservoir in the Deschutes Basin, is storing more water than last year but is still well below what it usually stores.

Courtesy of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

New Law Used Against Fentanyl

The sentences are higher and the thresholds to meet commercial quantity are lower for fentanyl possession under new law

By Jack Harvel

On Aug. 7 the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team arrested a man suspected of trafficking fentanyl to homeless encampments along China Hat Road. Three days later CODE arrested a La Pine woman who is accused of distributing fentanyl around Deschutes and Klamath counties. In both cases, press releases about the arrests included information about House Bill 2646, a law that increases sentencing for fentanyl-related crimes and lowers the amount defining a “commercial quantity” of fentanyl.

The bill defines a commercial quantity as 5 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl or 25 or more “user units,” such as pills. Previously, the possession of fentanyl was a Class E violation until someone had more than 50 grams of fentanyl. Violations are the most minor offenses in the criminal system and have no threat of jail time. Measure 110 decriminalized small quantities of all drugs, leaving people to either pay a $100 fine or enter a drug rehabilitation program.

“Most importantly, on the backside of it, when someone goes to court, it offers some accountability, and the courts will then be able to impose mandatory drug counseling. Whereas with Measure 110,

there's nothing mandatory about anything, Measure 110 was completely voluntary,” said Kent van der Kamp, a sergeant at CODE. “So, now we're able to send people to rehab or hold them accountable or put them under supervision to see how they're progressing and their sobriety.”

Fentanyl, a relatively new drug in the black market, didn’t have a statute in Oregon law like heroine, meth or cocaine. In 2018 the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area only recorded the seizure of 27 seizures

Return of the Resorts

them, or up to 7, 8, and we've even seen some with 11 milligrams of fentanyl in it,” van der Kamp said. “That's what's turned this into a modern-day version of Russian Roulette is because people who eat these pills or smoke them, they just don't know what they're using anymore.”

of fentanyl. In 2022 it recorded over 1,000 seizures, that included over 30 million doses of the drug. The Oregon Health Authority said the spike in overdose deaths are largely driven by misuse of fentanyl, though methamphetamine overdoses still make up a considerable and steady portion of Oregon’s overdose deaths. The inclusion of user-units also makes it simpler to charge for the crime of possession, since fentanyl is often sold as pressed pills.

“The pills that we're capturing are coming to us either with no fentanyl in

In medical situations an average adult would be administered just a couple of micrograms of fentanyl, rather than the milligrams found in illicitly manufactured pills. The supply chain of fentanyl usually starts in China and is then sent to Latin American cartels to be manufactured into pills. Its fast rise is attributed to the cheap cost of production and the ease with which it can be smuggled compared to traditional opiates. That translates to a cheaper street product and changing consumer preferences.

“It's supply and demand. Really the market changed,” van der Kamp said. “Three years ago, I can tell you heroin was very popular. It was easy to find working on the streets. It was very rare that we didn't see it with an opioid user and then fentanyl really came in hard. And now, heroin is very rare. In fact, I think we saw our first heroin on a trafficking case just maybe two months ago now, and we hadn't seen heroin in a long time.”

The County reversed its position on destination resorts after it initially decided to ban them in most of the county

By Jack Harvel

Deschutes County Commissioner Patti Adair reversed a decision to amend the county’s code to ban new destination resorts in most of Deschutes County. Central Oregon LandWatch presented the code changes to the county, which would opt the county into a state statute that bars the development of resorts that include residential housing within 24 miles of cities with a population exceeding 100,000.

The proposed code change would have banned traditional destination resorts in most of the county, save about 30 acres in the southwest. Destination resorts that didn’t offer permanent housing would’ve still been allowed anywhere resorts can be zoned now.

On Aug. 2, Adair voted with Deschutes County Commissioner Phil Chang, who argued that resorts were intended to revitalize distressed rural economies, and that Deschutes County no longer fits that description. Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone voted against the code, citing potential impacts to development, and saying that the board could conduct due diligence on any proposed resort in the future. At the Board of County Commissioners meeting on Aug. 9, Adair reconsidered her position.

“After spending a considerable amount of time re-reviewing the extensive record including over 570 public comments, and upon further reflection, I wish to make a motion to reconsider the motion and the vote that was previously taken,” Adair said.

COLW, which proposed the code change, has fought in court against developing resorts in Deschutes County. Earlier this year it appealed the county’s approval of Thornburgh Resort’s Fish and Wildlife Mitigation in the latest legal challenge for the much-debated resort. The code changes don’t work retroactively and wouldn’t have impacted Thornburgh or the eight other destination resorts in the county — the highest number in the state, according to LandWatch.

“This reversal disregards the prevailing opinion of Deschutes County residents that further development of this kind is not compatible with a sustainable future for our region. The BOCC’s failure to follow through on their initial decision endangers wildlife, water, and agricultural livelihoods on rural lands,” Alex Hardison, communications manager at Central Oregon LandWatch, said in a statement.

How many resorts are too many? This map details Bend and the surrounding area.

Courtesy of Central Oregon Landwatch

Courtesy of the Oregon-Idaho High Intesnisty Drug Trafficking Area Report

WALL

Dr. Cochran • Dr. Westbrook • Dr. Kinnear Dr. Cuthbert • Dr. Nicol

Por / By Jack Harvel

El 7 de agosto, la agencia de Control de Drogas de Oregon Central (CODE por sus siglas en inglés), arrestó a un hombre sospechoso de traficar fentanilo en los acampamentos para personas sin hogar, localizados sobre la calle China Hat. Tres días después, CODE arrestó a una mujer de La Pine acusada por distribuir fentanilo en los condados de Deschutes y Klamath. En ambos casos, los comunicados de prensa sobre los arrestos incluían información sobre el Proyecto de Ley 2646 (House Bill 2646) de la Cámara de Representantes, una ley que aumenta las sentencias por los crímenes relacionados con el fentanilo y disminuye la cantidad que determina una “cantidad comercial” de fentanilo.

El Proyecto de Ley define como una cantidad comercial 5 gramos o más de una mezcla o sustancia que contiene una cantidad detectable de fentanilo o de 25 o más “unidades de usuario”, como las píldoras. Anteriormente, la posesión de fentanilo era una violación de Clase E hasta que alguien poseiera más de 50 gramos de fentanilo. Las violaciones son

delitos más leves en el sistema penal y no tienen amenaza de cárcel. La Medida 110, despenalizó la posesión de pequeñas cantidades de todo tipo de drogas, dejando a la gente pagar una multa de $100 o de entrar a un programa para la rehabilitación de drogas.

“Aún más importante, al contrario de esto, cuando alguien va a la corte, ofrece rendición de cuentas y los tribunales podrán entonces imponer consejería obligatoria sobre las drogas. Mientras que con la Medida 110, no hay nada obligatorio que hacer, la Medida 110 fue completamente voluntaria,” dijo Kent van der Kamp, un sargento de CODE. “Así que, ahora podemos enviar personas a rehabilitación o responsabilizarlas o tenerlas bajo supervisión para ver cómo están avanzando y para evaluar su sobriedad.

El fentanilo, una droga relativamente nueva en el mercado negro, no tenía un estatuto en la ley de Oregon como la heroína, la metanfetamina o la cocaína. En 2018, el Sector de Tráfico de Drogas de Alta Intensidad de Oregon-Idaho,

solamente registro la confiscación de 27 incautaciones de fentanilo. En 2022 registró más de 1,000 confiscaciones, que incluyeron más de 30 millones de dosis de la droga. La Secretaría de Salud de Oregon dijo que el incremento en muertes por sobredosis se debe en gran medidad al uso indebido de fentanilo, aunque las sobredosis de metanfetaminas aún siguen siendo una parte considerable y constante de las muertes por sobredosis en Oregon. La integración de unidades de usuario también simplifica los cargos por el delito de posesión, ya que el fentanilo a menudo se vende en forma de píldoras compactas.

“Las píldoras que capturamos nos llegan sin contener fentanilo o con hasta 7, 8 miligramos, o incluso hemos visto algunas con un contenido de 11 miligramos de fentanilo,” comentó van der Kamp. “Eso lo ha convertido en la versión moderna de la ruleta rusa porque la gente que come estás píldoras o que las fuma ya no saben lo que están usando.”

En situaciones médicas, a un adulto promedio se le administraría solo un

par de microgramos de fentanilo, en vez de los miligramos que se encuentran en las píldoras fabricadas ilegalmente. La cadena de suministro de fentanilo generalmente comienza en China y luego se envía a los cárteles latinoamericanos para ser fabricados en píldoras. Su rápido aumento se atribuye al bajo costo de producción y a la facilidad con la que se puede traficar comparado con los opioides comunes. Eso lo convierte en un producto callejero más barato y a las preferencias de los consumidores.

“Es oferta y demanda. En verdad el mercado cambió,” comentó van der Kamp. “Hace tres años, puedo decir que la heroína era muy popular. Era fácil de encontrarla en las calles. Era muy raro que no viéramos que una persona usara opioides y luego el fentanilo de verdad que llegó con fuerza. Y ahora, la heroína es muy poco común. De hecho, creo que vimos el primer caso de tráfico de heroína hace apenas dos meses atras y no habíamos visto la presencia de heroína en mucho tiempo.”

Nueva ley contra el fentanilo

Las sentencias son más estrictas y los límites para cumplir con la cantidad comercial son más bajos para el dominio de fentanilo bajo la nueva ley

Not a Book

All the "things" you can borrow from the Deschutes Public Library’s Library of Things

By Jennifer Baires

On a recent smoky Saturday, desperate to get my young, squabbling kids out of the house, my family and I headed to the Downtown Bend Library. Instead of going straight to the children’s area where they could burn off some energy and refresh their books, we went upstairs to explore a collection I’d just learned about: the Library of Things.

There, amongst tens of thousands of books, is an inconspicuous metal shelving unit dotted with large plastic bins and signage describing the contents of each crate: a bike repair kit, a baking kit complete with stand-up mixer, a light therapy lamp kit and (bingo!) a Cricut kit that could be used to make your own stickers and cards. Grateful to find something that could work as inside entertainment for the weekend, I grabbed the bin and proceeded to lug it around the children’s section while my kids chose books to check out, too.

Over the last decade, libraries across the country have steadily become more than books. There are tool libraries where people can check out power tools and other specialty tools to complete home projects, science libraries with pocket microscopes and 3-D printers and kid-focused libraries with toys for all ages.

In Deschutes County, Emily O’Neal, the library’s technical services manager, has spearheaded the movement of "things," and with library expansions underway, it’s primed for growth.

A Library of Things

In 2018, O’Neal helped launch the Library of Things pilot program at Deschutes Public Library. The Library of Things is an eclectic collection of, well, things, that the public can check out for three weeks at a time using a library card. Whether it’s an air fryer to try a

new recipe, a kit to help you launch into YouTube stardom, or you just want to float the river and need a couple of tubes, the Library of Things can help.

“We are a place where people learn, and people learn in a variety of different ways,” O’Neal said. “And so, it seems like a great fit for an institution that's dedicated to information to provide information through different ways of learning. And the other thing is that we're the only place in modern society where you have equal access to things at no cost.”

Each kit, or bin, is crafted to include everything needed to fully immerse yourself in the experience. One example is the popular Bike Repair Kit which comes in a portable on-the-road version and a larger at-home one. The kits, created in collaboration with Bend Bikes — a local nonprofit group focused on bike safety in the city — contain a repair case (with pump, patches and other essentials), a bike manual, torque wrench, mountain biking maps of Bend and Central Oregon and instructional books and manuals. O’Neal said Bend Bikes approached DPL for the collaboration, but most everything else in the collection is purchased directly by the library.

Currently there are over 70 “things” in the collection, spread among the county’s six libraries. The collection started much smaller, however, with only a handful of items available at the Sisters branch. Narrowing down what to carry and where to focus was the first task because, as O’Neal pointed out, “a library of things can literally be anything.”

The pilot program focused on five areas: music, cooking, electronics, physical activities, and arts and crafts. (This remains the collection’s guiding framework.) There was a ukulele, an Instant Pot (the hot kitchen appliance of the day), a GoPro, a bird watching

kit and a knitting kit. At one point during the pilot O’Neal procured a large roof rake to pull snow off homes during a particularly snowy winter. Chuckling at the memory, O’Neal said that purchase helped her realize that for practical reasons like storage and transportation, items in the collection needed to be smaller.

To keep things fresh today, O’Neal and the collection’s curator, Le Button, try to ensure each library carries “things” that are most popular in its area. Because the kits cannot be transported between branches like books – it’s just not feasible, given the space constraints of DPL’s courier system – the duo monitor check-out rates and make changes as needed. A trekking kit that isn’t being used in Sunriver may end up in Redmond where it’ll be checked out more often, for example.

This means that for the public, getting to check out the items takes a combination of planning and luck. The entire collection and each “thing’s” availability is viewable online but not reservable. It’s a first come, first served system and one of the library’s most popular.

“Our Library of Things is between 70 to 100% checked out most of the time,” O’Neal said. “They're not often on the shelves, because people are loving them.”

Carrie Shorthouse, a Bend resident, says that for her family, borrowing kits has meant more dynamic and entertaining family fun nights. Their first foray into the collection was a karaoke kit.

“My 9-year-old old really wanted it and ran upstairs and couldn’t believe it was in stock,” she said. “It was so much fun. All four of us got into it. We sang, we danced, we had party lights. It was just a party in a box.”

Photos courtesy Deschutes

Since then, they’ve borrowed a Dungeons and Dragons bin, checked out some of the board and card games also offered through the library and plan on trying a baking kit and yard games bin (there are Spikeball kits, pickleball kits and badminton bins, among others).

“We are all about finding creative ways to have family fun,” Shorthouse said, “especially without spending any money.”

Ashley Knight, a Bend resident, borrowed a bread maker at the beginning of the year. It was a nostalgic move, she said, born of wanting to recapture a piece of her childhood when her parents would make bread in a bread machine.

“I thought maybe I should buy one and then decided to try it out first,” she said. “I ate a lot of bread for a couple weeks and decided maybe I don’t need a bread maker,” she added, laughing.

“Borrow before you buy,” is a slogan the library uses to promote the program. For Knight, at least, it worked. “I’d borrow something again,” she said, “but I don’t need a loaf of bread every night.”

Given the popularity of the collection however, finding “things” you want to borrow can be a struggle; popular items like the karaoke kit or projectors are snapped up fast.

“That’s something we are very aware of,” Button said of the feedback he’s received from people who’d like to borrow items and can’t. “For popular items we purchase multiples, but we do know even with that, if it’s not available at the day you show up to the library, that’s kind of a bummer.”

Upcoming Branch Remodels and Expansions

Opportunities for growth

For fans of the program there is hope that as DPL’s system grows there will be more of the most-loved items available and new ones to explore as well.

“It's still in a lot of ways in its infancy,” O’Neal said. “And so, it's not at the size that we want it to be, and we'll continue to expand it especially with our new building remodels.”

The remodels and expansion of DPL branches are already underway following voter approval in 2020 of a $195 million bond measure. The measure passed with the promise to build a new central library, double the square footage of Redmond’s library, and expand or update all but one of the existing libraries in the county. These larger libraries also mean more space for the Library of Things collection to grow.

In September and October, as the Sisters and La Pine branches reopen, there will be entirely new collections of “things” for check-out. “One of the branches will get a telescope, which we’re really excited about,” Button said, adding that they will also be including snowshoes and a record player complete with a selection of records.

In addition, the library’s youngest patrons may soon be able to borrow “things” on their cards, too. Library staff are already in talks about launching a kid’s version of the Library of Things early next year. (Right now, “things” can only be checked out with an adult library card.) Staff members are looking to Hillsboro, Oregon’s library as inspiration for the new collection. Among Hillsboro’s many offerings are light-up tracing kits, clay sculpting kits, robots, building blocks, wooden train sets, astronomy kits and other educational toys.

Back at home following our excursion to the Downtown Bend branch, I carefully opened the Cricut bin we borrowed and unpacked its assortment of items. There was a Cricut Joy machine, card mat, tool set, pen set, insert cards and a few rolls of vinyl to make stickers.

Two hours, three snacks and a handful of how-to videos later the kids and I had successfully printed three stickers. It definitely filled our afternoon, but the novelty quickly wore off with my littles and the decision to not buy a Cricut of our own was unanimous.

We just picked up an ice cream and waffle cone maker. Hopefully that goes smoother.

Downtown Bend: Expected to close for remodel January 2026, after the new Stevens Ranch is open.

La Pine: Set to reopen late September following a 7-month-long remodel.

Redmond: New build expected to open late 2024.

Sisters: Anticipated to reopen in October following a remodel.

Stevens Ranch: New flagship branch expected to be completed in early 2026.

Sunriver: Expected to close in October for a six-to-eight-month long remodel.

Highlights from Library of Things

1.

Nintendo Classic Kit

2.

3.

River Float Kit

Orion StarMax 90mm Tabletop Telescope Kit

Projector Kit

Sushi Making Kit

Old School Nintendo

Electronic Drum Kit

YouTube Kit

Bird Watching Kit

Machine

Kids love "things" and can find them at the local library.

Courtesy Deschutes Public Library

Jennifer Baires

Adobe Stock

SOURCE PICKS

WEDNESDAY 8/16

BEST IN THE NORTHWEST: IMPROV COMEDY NIGHT

IMPROV TROUPE

August is comedy month! Every Wednesday this August, Volcanic Theatre Pub is hosting a fun night of unscripted and interactive comedy from the Bend local improv troupe, Out of Thin Air Improv Theatre Company. Wed., Aug. 16, 8-11:59pm. Volcanic Theatre Pub. 70 SW Century Dr., Bend. $15

THURSDAY 8/17

SUNRIVER MUSIC FESTIVAL CLASSICAL CONCERT IV

CONCERTO

Andrew Von Oeyen has been named one of the most captivating pianists of his generation. Performing with the orchestra at the Sunriver Music Festival, Oeyen is playing Beethoven’s “Emperor” and Hayden’s “London” symphony, among others. Thu., Aug. 17, 7:30-9:30pm. Sunriver Resort Great Hall. 1 Great Hall Loop, Sunriver. $25-74.

FRIDAY 8/18

THEATER IN THE PARK: RENT

OUTDOOR THEATER

Theater in the Park is presenting RENT, held at Drake Park, with showings both Friday and Saturday. Guests with VIP tickets can enjoy included appetizers and a beverage of their choice. Fri., Aug. 18, Sat., Aug. 19, 6-9pm. Drake Park, Bend. $35-$80.

FRIDAY 8/18

GREENSKY BLUEGRASS

FUNKY BLUEGRASS

Greensky Bluegrass is a five-piece Americana band that plays bluegrass jams. Its high-energy live show is full of dancing and fun, featuring a cool light show. Sat., Aug. 18, 6pm. Hayden Homes Amphitheater, 344 NW Shevlin Hixon Dr., Bend.

SATURDAY 8/19

QUILT SHOW IN THE PARK

CRAFTED GOODS

Celebrate the Mt. Bachelor Quilters Guild’s 40-year anniversary with its annual Quilt Show in the Park. Walk around and shop over 100 quilts in this outdoor setting and even enter in the quilt raffle drawing. Sat., Aug. 19, 10am-3:30pm. Pioneer Park. Corner of Wall St. and Portland, Bend. Free.

SATURDAY 8/19

RAINBOW GIRLS

GIRL GANG

Northern-California based trio, Rainbow Girls, brings its soul-touching harmonies and textured instrumentals to Central Oregon. Get out and enjoy this talented all-female lineup as they rock out. Sat., Aug. 19, 7-9pm. Sisters Art Works. 204 West Adams, Sisters. $25.

SUNDAY 8/20

BLACKSTRAP BLUEGRASS

BANJOS AND BASSES

Local four-piece group, Blackstrap Bluegrass, is an acoustic band that offers hard-driving bluegrass, playing cover and originals rooted in classic bluegrass style. Sun., Aug. 20, 6-8pm. River’s Place. 787 NE Purcell Blvd., Bend. Free.

MONDAY 8/21

LIVE MUSIC WITH OLIVIA HARMS

RHINESTONE COWGIRL

Oregon-based singer/songwriter, Olivia Harms, is a country girl through and through. Aiming to bring back “honky-tonks,” the Western-inspired artist knows how to get the crowd stomping with her traditional country lyrics and steel guitar. Mon., Aug. 21, 6-8pm. Cascade Lakes Brewpub. 1441 SW Chandler Ave., #100, Bend. Free.

TUESDAY 8/22

WEEZER

INDIE-ROCK

Formed in 1992 in Los Angeles, American rock band, Weezer, is still going strong. The ‘90s band has had several big hits over the years, landing them a spot in the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame. Tue., Aug. 22, 6pm. Hayden Homes Amphitheater. 344 SW Shevlin Hixon Dr., Bend. $65.

Courtesy Weezer Instagram

Courtesy Rainbow Girls Facebook

Courtesy Blackstrap Bluegrass Instagram

Courtesy Greensky Bluegrass

Courtesy Oliva Harms Facebook

HAYDEN HOMES Thank You For Voting Us Best Local Homebuilder

7 Consecutive Years

Virginia Watson, co-founder of Hayden Homes, taught us the importance of loving what we do, and valuing our customers, co-workers and community. It keeps us grateful, and always looking for ways to make our company better and our community stronger. We call it Give As You Go™, and it’s our way of staying true to what she taught us. Receiving this award—for building in the Central Oregon community we love—is an honor, and proof that she was right. Thank you, Virginia.

Bluebird Days

By Alan Sculley

Jordan Davis was well aware that he’d have a lot at stake when he turned his attention to making his second album.

“I don’t know how true it is, but I believed it,” Davis said in a mid-May phone interview. “The first album is kind of where you showed up to the party and then the second album is going to decide whether or not you get a chance to stay.”

And Davis had not only shown up at the party with his debut outing, “Home State,” he’d made himself a VIP by scoring a pair of No. 1 hits on “Billboard” magazine’s country airplay chart (“Singles You Up” and “Slow Dance in a Parking Lot”) and a third single, “Take It From Me,” which topped out at No. 2.

So not only did Davis’ second album need to earn him a more lasting reservation at the table of country music, it came with expectations that the music would once again make a real impression.

The 34-year-old Louisiana native decided the key to the album that became his recent 17-song release, “Bluebird Days,” was to open up as a songwriter, and like songwriters he admired, be more honest and vulnerable in his songs.

Honesty has indeed been a good policy in Davis’ music. “Bluebird Days” so far has given him two more No. 1 singles, “Buy Dirt” and “What My World Spins Around.” A third single, “Next Thing You Know” has recently reached No 2 on “Billboard’s” country airplay chart.

And Davis is getting to play his songs, first as direct support on Dierks Bentley’s summer tour -- with some headlining shows between Bentley dates – and then on a fall headlining tour on which he’ll bring out his most elaborate show to date.

“This is definitely our biggest production package we’ve ever brought out,” Davis said of his headlining shows. “But I think the main thing I’m most excited about is now we have this catalog of music that I’m just really, really proud of. I don’t feel like I’m going out any more and playing songs that I hope people like. I know my fans react to these songs. I know they connect with them. And they’re not always the radio songs.”

“Bluebird Days” retains the basic musical style Davis established on “Home State” – a mix of rootsy country with a good bit of pop textures and some groove, particularly in songs like the full-bodied ballad “Money Isn’t Real,” the song, “You’ve Got My Number” and the poppy album-opener, “Damn Good Time.” But the album is decidedly deeper and more personal lyrically, with good examples being “What My World Spins Around,” which is about his wife Kristen; “Fishing Spot,” which captures Davis’ relationship with his late grandfather; and the title track, which is about his parents’ divorce and the impact it’s made on how he approaches his own life and marriage.

And the success of the second album has made Davis one of the hottest artists in country music today. Ironically, a decade or so ago, Davis wasn’t sure about pursuing a career in country music on any level.

That wasn’t because Davis wasn’t a country music

fan. In fact, he grew up in a musical family. His father wrote and sang songs around the house and so did his brother Jason, who is a country act in his own right, while his uncle, Stan Paul Davis, was making his mark in Nashville as a songwriter. Davis himself began writing songs of his own as a teenager.

Despite that, Davis got a degree in environmental science and spent a year working in that field before the pull of songwriting made him decide to move to Nashville to see if he could join his uncle in making a go of things as a songwriter.

The notion of being a solo artist still hadn’t occurred to Davis.

“It never even crossed my mind,” he said. “It took having a conversation with a friend of mine who said ‘Hey, man, there are some people who are interested in you as an artist and looking at you to sign a record deal. You need to go home and think about if that’s something you want to do.’ At the time, I was tired of bartending. I was struggling getting a job as a songwriter. So I was kind of ready to jump at the first person who gave me a job that wasn’t pouring drinks and running food out.”

Now a decade or so into his music career, Davis feels good about where he is with his career, his music and his comfort with being authentic on album and on stage.

“I don’t know if I’ve become a better writer. I would like to feel like the more songs you write, the better you become at it,” Davis said. “I think the big thing is being confident enough to put them (songs) out into the world and kind of show that side of yourself. I hope that’s the takeaway that I have from just being in town for 10 years and writing songs for 10 years.”

Dierks Bentley with Jordan Davis and Kameron Marlowe

Thu., Aug 24 & Fri., Aug. 25. Doors 5:30pm Hayden Homes Amphitheater 344 NW Shevlin Hixon Dr., Bend $60+ bendconcerts.com

Jordan Davis’ latest album has given the country singer two number-one singles and another that’s close to the top. Listeners can hear some of that album live at his pair of upcoming amphitheater shows with Dierks Bentley

Writing hit country songs has become habit for Jordon Davis.

Harper Smith

Rewind: Shows We’ve Seen This Month

Willie and Billy and Beck, oh my!

By Doone Lupine Williams

From classic country to French pop rock to ‘90s grunge adjacent American rock — Bend’s got quite the plethora of big names in the industry coming to town, and it feels like it’s safe to say a summer in Central Oregon is becoming an ongoing music festival. Like, who are we? We’re pretty lucky, folks! The Source Weekly staff has been in the pit, on the lawn and singing loud from the crowd at some certainly special shows. Here are a few we caught, and our general gist…

The Smashing Pumpkins

Billy Corgan was in full Goth (semi Julia Fox) eye makeup on Aug. 6, wearing a Nosferatu-esque cloak and studded black boots while serenading classics like “Tonight Tonight,” “Cherub Rock,” “Zero,” “Adore,” and a rather weird Talking Heads cover of “Once In A Lifetime.” He even gave a shoutout to Smith Rock Records stating, “You guys got a really great record shop.”

CAKE

“A Night With Cake” on Aug. 4 consisted of a start time at a snoozy 8pm with an intermission in between. John McCrea, was the show a stand-up comedy set or headlining performance? Despite the time spent talking to the crowd versus the blasting trumpet, that giant disco ball was pretty cool.

Stone Temple Pilots

I've got to say, STP really brought the heat. Opening for The Smashing Pumpkins, original members since 1989, Eric Kretz (drums) and the DeLeo brothers, Dean and Robert (bass and guitar) and current lead singer Jeff Gutt amped up the energy early in the set with “Big Bang Baby” and “Vasoline” and continued with tracks off of its 1994 breakthrough record “Purple” — like “Big Empty” and “Interstate Love Song.”

Phoenix

If Thomas Mars’ crowd surfing on Aug. 3, ahead of the Beck performance, didn’t go viral, then for those of you who may have missed it — it may have been the most epic performance of their smashing hit, “1901” — which was playing on every indie-alt. radio in 2009. The band’s double-decker stage and double screened neon visuals made its indie-pop sound pop off for the eyes and ears of the crowd. Lots of jumping and dancing.

Beck

Holy wow. Mr. Beck, David Hansen, really brought it. Not to mention, he gave a shout out to the kayakers listening from the river. That was pretty rad. He opened his Aug. 3 show with “Devil’s Haircut” (one of my personal favorites) and gifted the Hay Ho crowd with classics including “Loser,” “Think I’m In Love” and “Dreams.” He flashed some disco moves, and even dropped his hiphop vibe with “Wow,” — off of his 2017 record “Colors.” The visuals were off the chain and you could really tell he was feeling the lyrics and the crowd. Also, did anyone see on Beck’s Instagram story that Krist Novoselic (co-founder of Nirvana) was behind the stage? Wild.

Willie Nelson, Band of Horses, Mt. Joy, Yola and so much more at FairWell Festival

FairWell Festival on July 21-23 at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds was a buffet of amazing artists – everyone from Willie Nelson and Zach Bryan to Sheryl Crow and Band of Horses. While most people stuck around to see Willie Nelson close out the festival on Sunday night, the party got started early, on Friday, with so many fun moments. Some of our favorites throughout the weekend: Nathaniel Rateliff’s seemingly effortless talent, Yola’s guitar playing and overall incredible stage presence (and that voice!), Mt. Joy’s inclusion of a fitness trainer doing burpees, and energetic Charley Crockett singing honky tonk with that deep, velvet voice, Band of Horses belting out its popular tunes, and of course, Willie Nelson playing alongside his son, Micah Nelson. What a ride!

Phoenix's Thomas Mars in the crowd.

Charley Crockett.

Willie Nelson and Family.

Nathaniel Rateliff.

Beck singing.

Yola.

Doone Lupine Williams

Nicole Vulcan

Nicole Vulcan

Nicole Vulcan

Courtesy FairWell Festival Instagram

Nicole Vulcan

16 Wednesday

The Barn in Sisters Megan Alder Hailing from the Columbia River Gorge, Megan Alder is a vocal powerhouse performing upbeat swing and Americana music. She delivers her original songs with raw grit and soul. Influenced by artists like Billie Holiday and Bonnie Raitt, Alder performs with live loops and kazoo flair. 6-8pm. Free.

Bevel Craft Brewing The Flood Grab a beer and meet out on the Bevel patio every Wednesday for free local live music from May-September! 6-8pm. Free.

Cabin 22 Trivia Wednesdays Useless Knowledge Bowl Live Trivia Game Show! It’s not your average quiz night. Team up to win gift cards. It’s fun and free to play, with Locals’ Day featuring Crater Lake and local craft beer specials. Get here this week! 6:30-8:30pm. Free.

Corey’s Bar & Grill Karaoke Sing your heart out at Corey’s! Grab friends and drinks for some Coreyoke. 9pm-Midnight. Free.

Craft Kitchen and Brewery Comedy Open Mic Sign-up 7:30pm. If you’ve ever wanted to try stand-up comedy, this is where you start! 8-10pm. Free.

Crosscut Warming Hut No 5 Ghost of Brian Craig An evening with Ghost of Brian Craig, solo acoustic musician with a unique and captivating rock sound. The music is infused with the rich combination of the American southwest sounds with the cultural influences of the Pacific Northwest. 6-8pm. Free.

Deschutes Brewery Public House Head

Games Trivia Night Eat. Drink. Think. Win! Head Games multi-media trivia is at Deschutes Bend Public House every Wednesday. Win prizes. Teams up to six. 6:30-8:30pm. Free.

Deschutes Historical Museum Source

Weekly Best Of Central Oregon Party Celebrate the Best Of Central Oregon winners from the Source Weekly reader poll! Enjoy live music from Skillethead, food, drinks and free swag. This party is open to the public, so make sure to join the fun! 6:30-8pm. Free.

Hayden Homes Amphitheater My Morning Jacket My Morning Jacket’s distinct and recognizable sound is deeply inspired by rock and country and includes psychedelic and experimental sounds rooted in their southern origin of Louisville, Kentucky. 6:30pm. $45.

High Desert Music Hall Haunted Like Human Nashville duo, Haunted Like Human, delves into inspired songwriting, sparse arrangements and frisson-inducing harmonies that mark their music. With a background in poetry and prose, Dale Chapman’s granular focus on language is simpatico with Cody Clark’s background in classical guitar, where each note carries its own weight. 6:30-7:30pm. Free.

JC’s Bar & Grill Trivia Nite with Trivia Girl Compete with your peers and test your knowledge of current events, music and other random categories while enjoying 75 cent wings! Also, JC’s trivia separates themselves from the rest with a physical challenge! 7-9:30pm. Free.

Kobold Brewing / The Vault Taphouse Trivia Night Trivia Night at The Vault! Come test your knowledge and drink top notch local beer! 6:30-8pm. Free.

Kobold Brewing The Lair Trivia Come join for trivia night and enjoy quality craft beer and food! 7-8:30pm. Free.

M&J Tavern Open Mic Night Downtown living room welcomes musicians to bring their acoustic set or turn it up to eleven with the whole band. Bring your own instruments. Goes to last call or last musician, whichever comes first. 21+. 6:30pm. Free.

McMenamins Old St. Francis School Superball at McMenamins Superball is back again at McMenamins for its bell bottom rock. Never know what you will hear as setlists constantly changes. 6-9pm. Free.

Northside Bar & Grill Accoustic Open Mic with Derek Michael Marc Head down to the Northside Bar and Grill Wednesdays to catch local artists perform live. 7-9pm. Free.

Seven Nightclub & Restaurant The CO Show The CO Show is a free comedy showcase! Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8pm! Central Oregon Comedy Scene and Karaokaine productions have teamed up to bring this show to you! It’s co-hosted with multiple hosts, co-produced for Central Oregon! 8pm. Free.

Silver Moon Brewing Night Channels and Kevin J Dills Kevin J Dill brings an eclectic vibe of poppy-instrumental mathrock sounds to the Central Oregon music scene. Hailing from Central Oregon, Night Channels delivers an eclectic blend of jazz and blues inspired rock with powerful hooks and soothing melodies. 7-10pm.

Volcanic Theatre Pub Best In The Northwest: Improv Comedy Night Join every Wednesday in August for a fun night of interactive, unscripted comedy and creativity from one of Bend’s own incredibly talented improv troupes, Out Of Thin Air Improv Theater Company! 8-11:59pm. $15.

Worthy Beers & Burgers Game Night at Worthy Beers & Burgers Join every Wednesday for Mario Kart, Amazon Luna games, card games and board games (feel free to BYO games). Grab your friends, grab a drink and let’s play! 6-9pm. Free.

Worthy Brewing Leadbetter Band Join for live music from Leadbetter Band! 7-9pm. Free.

17 Thursday

The Cellar The Ballybogs and Friends Grab a pint, relax and enjoy live music by an amazing group of artists that brings the best Irish trad music in Central Oregon. Every Thursday at The Cellar. 6-8pm. Free.

Austin Mercantile Live Music Every Thursday Join at Austin Mercantile for live music every Thursday. Offering a light happy hour menu — daily flatbread, chili, charcuterie, soft pretzels and more! 4:30-6:30pm. Free.

AVID Cider Co. Taproom Last Call Feud Night Another fun weekly game night at Avid! Wrangle your teammates and join the host and other groups as everyone competes to name the most popular answers to survey questions. No abstract trivia knowledge needed for this game! Lots of prizes and laughs to be had. 6:30-8:30pm. Free.

Bend Cider Co. Lilli Warona and Mike

Biggers Worona is a violinist, vocalist and has performed in a number of local bands in Central Oregon, For over 20 years, Mike has performed in various rock, blues and country bands. Proud Thai Cuisine will be serving. 6-8pm. Free.

Bend Elks Lodge #1371 Bingo Bingo at the Elk’s Lodge. Win cash prizes. 6-9pm. $23.

Bridge 99 Brewery Trivia Thursdays UKB’s live trivia game show is like no other. Team up to compete for gift card prizes! Brews, ciders, mixed drinks, pizzas and food truck options. Indoor and outdoor seating. 6-8pm. Free.

Corey’s Bar & Grill Karaoke Sing your heart out at Corey’s! Grab friends and drinks for some Coreyoke. 9pm-Midnight. Free.

Crux Fermentation Project Mitch Lies

Mitch Lies is a veteran of the mid-Willamette valley music scene in Oregon. 5-7pm. Free.

Northside Bar & Grill Eric Leadbetter Classic and alternative rock covers and originals. 7-9pm. Free.

Northside Bar & Grill Eric Leadbetter Local solo artist playing classic rock and alternative covers and originals. 8-10pm. Free.

Oregon Spirit Distillers Live Music on the Patio: Erin Cole-Baker Enjoy summer evenings on the patio with live music and tasty cocktails. Oregon Spirit Distillers is excited to have Erin Cole-Baker join in this series for live music on the patio. Erin is known for her singing voice “reminiscent of greats such as Patty Griffin, and early Joni Mitchell.” 6-8pm. Free.

River’s Place Amargoso Inspired by some of your favorite rock, indie, metal and funk bands. 6-8pm. Free.

Silver Moon Brewing Trivia on the Moon Come down to Silver Moon Brewing for a night of trivia! Teams are welcome to show up in groups up to 8 people. Silver Moon also offers seating reservations for $20 donations that all go to F*Cancer! If you would like to reserve a table please contact the Trivia on the Moon Facebook page. 7pm. Free.

Sunriver Brewing Eastside Pub Sunriver Brewing Eastside Pub Music Series: Mari Enjoy live music from Mari with award-winning beer and great food at Sunriver Brewing’s Eastside Pub. 6-8pm. Free.

The Capitol 3rd Thursday Latin Night! 3rd Thursday Latin Night at The Capitol brings the hottest Latin spice to Bend! Beginning Salsa lesson at 7:30pm w/ Victoria of Bend Dance, then Salsa and Bachata hits from 8-10pm. Total newbies welcome! At 10pm DJ Cruz takes over with Reggaetón, Merengue, Cumbia and Banda! Bring your sexiness! Third Thursday of every month, 7:30pm-2am. $5.

The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse Suttle Lodge’s Thursday House Band Sisters-based musician Benji Nagel showcases his talented friends every Thursday all summer long! Pull up a chair on the Big Lawn, grab some dinner and soft-serve from the Boathouse, and enjoy some of Central Oregon’s favorite musicians. 6-8pm. Free.

Worthy Beers & Burgers Karaoke Night

Sing your heart out at Karaoke Night Downtown at Worthy Beers and Burgers every Thursday! 7-10pm. Free.

18 Friday

AVID Cider Co. Taproom Music on the Patio: Spencer Marlyn Summer cider sipping time at Avid Cider Co. with the annual summer Music on the Patio series. Enjoy cider, seltzer, slushees, beer and non-alcoholic beverages and the new small bites menu while enjoying the sounds of local musicians. All ages are welcome. See you on the patio! 6:30-8:30pm. Free.

Bend Poker Room Friday Night Poker Tournament Come on in for the Friday night poker tournament! $80 entry with unlimited rebuys for the first hour and an optional add-on for $40 at the first break. Patrons pay a $10 entrance fee. No money bet in any game is collected by the Bend Poker Room. 6-11pm. $80.

Eurosports Sisters Food Cart Garden

JuJu Eyeball Juju is back in Sisters for some Fab Beatle music. Always a fun time, so come sing along and enjoy Bend’s Beatle band! 5-7pm. Free.

General Duffy’s Waterhole High Street Band Headlining national festivals for the PGA tour and more — in all 50 States as well as Cruise Lines in the Caribbean — The High Street Party Band is one of the top-rated wedding, corporate event and festival bands on the West Coast! 7-10pm. $20.

Iconic funk-laced jam band, Dave Matthews Band, electrifies fans of mid-‘90s pop. See them live at Hayden Homes Amphitheater on Tue., Aug. 29, 7 pm.

Courtesy Dave Matthews Band Facebook

Hardtails Bar & Grill Stage 28 Karaoke

Come out for a night of Stage 28 Karaoke with your host Miss Min! What’s your go-to karaoke tune? Come to Hardtails for a fun Friday night and sing your heart out! 8pm-Midnight. Free.

Hayden Homes Amphitheater

Greensky Bluegrass For two decades now, Greensky Bluegrass has been building an empire, brick by brick. They are widely known for their dazzling live performances and relentless touring schedule, but that is only the tip of the complex tale of the five musicians that make up Greensky Bluegrass. 6pm. $42.50.

Big E’s Sports Bar Karaoke Night Central Oregon’s most fun karaoke venue! Karaoke is hosted by A Fine Note Karaoke Too and DJ Jackie J. Delicious food and drink and a friendly staff. Come join the show where you are the star! 8pm. Free.

Silver Moon Brewing Danny Attack, Mari and Guests Hailing originally from Southern California and now residing in Jacksonville, FL, Danny Attack is an emerging singer songwriter who captures the sensibility of Americana roots and blends it with a punk rock mentality. Danny Attack writes from personal experience and the bittersweet emotions that come along with them. 8pm. $10.

Silver Moon Brewing Hasbens and Whalien A night of excellent jam music! 8-11pm.

$10.

The Capitol Comedy Roast Battle Join the best comics from all over Central Oregon for an epic and ruthless roast battle, featuring local celebrity guests as your judges for the night. Join for a night of pure fire and hilarity. You won’t want to miss this rare and missed event 7-9pm.

$15.

Thump Coffee - NW Crossing Thump Music Series Join Fridays for live music, amazing pizza and a variety of drinks at our York Cafe location (549 NW York Dr.). Pizza and drinks start at 6pm. Music starts at 7pm. Check social channels for more information on who is playing. 6pm. Free.

Worthy Brewing HWY 97 Join for live music from HWY 97! 7-9pm. Free.

19 Saturday

Bridge 99 Brewery Stage 28 Karaoke Come out for a night of all ages Stage 28 Karaoke with your host Miss Min! What’s your go-to karaoke tune? 6pm. Free.

Craft Kitchen and Brewery Comedy at Craft with Mark Masters Mark Masters is Colorado’s second cleanest comedian, a comedy club headliner and a lovable goof who is not above an open mic with a sticky floor. 18+. 8-9:30pm.

Hardtails Bar & Grill “Gold Dust”

World's Best Tribute to Fleetwood Mac Gold Dust is a tribute band that honors and celebrates the music of Fleetwood Mac. Started by lead singer, Windy Wahlke, the band has worked with dedication, love and passion. 8-10pm. $20 (plus fees).

Hayden Homes Amphitheater Noah Kahan: The Stick Season Tour As Noah Kahan changes, he casts those experiences onto songs like light through a film projector. At the core of the music’s upbeat energy and unfiltered lyrics, you’ll hear who he was before and who he became—almost in real-time. The Vermont singer still pens songs straight from the heart and still cracks jokes with his signature, self-deprecating sense of humor; he’s just changed in all of the right ways (and chronicled them via his songwriting). 7pm. $40.50-$70.50.

High Desert Music Hall Ryan O’flanagan

Comedy at High Desert Music Hall Join for a night of comedy at High Desert Music Hall. With special guest comic, Ryan O’Flanagan. Ryan is a Los Angeles-based comedian who has appeared on New Girl and voiced for American Dad. 7pm. $25.

LOGE Bend Summerjams “Dead Night” with Call Down Thunder and The Hasbens Cascade Equinox Festival, Kraftbar and LOGE Camps presents “Dead Night” featuring Call Down Thunder and The Hasbens for a night of Grateful Jams. Enjoy food trucks, craft vendors, live art, kids activities, a cocktail bar and beer! 4-9pm. Free.

Maragas Winery Maragas Winery Live Blues

& Jazz Live blues and jazz on Saturdays. Seating inside winery and outside on the patio and lawn. Visit the website for more details. 1-4pm. $20.

Northside Bar & Grill Dad Bods Fun, upbeat local group playing pop and classic hits from the ‘80s through today. 8-11pm. Free.

On Tap Live Music with Something Dirty Something Dirty returns to the outdoor stage at On Tap bringing their alt-rock sound! 6-8pm. Free.

Over the Edge Taphouse Superball at Over The Edge Taphouse Superball will hit Crooked River with its bell bottom rock. 6-8pm. Free.

River’s Place Saturday Jazz Sessions Jazz standards from the Great American Songbook. Expect to hear the smooth tones from Duke Ellington to Miles Davis and everyone in between! 6-8pm. Free.

Sisters Art Works Rainbow Girls Get ready to have a gang of sweet angels punch you in the heart. The dynamic trio, Rainbow Girls, seamlessly combine soul-touching harmonies, textured instrumentals and poignant, lyrical content into a beautiful sonic tapestry. 7-9pm. $25.

Waypoint 90’s DANCE PARTY Join the best dance party of the summer. Prizes and gift cards for the best dressed, best dance moves and whoever truly embodies the 90’s! 7-10pm. Free.

Worthy Brewing Bim Jeam and The Sadness

Join for free live music from Bim Jeam and The Sadness! 7-9pm. Free.

20 Sunday

The Astro Lounge Local Artist Spotlight

Sundays This is a chance to listen to Central Oregon’s newest and upcoming local artists. They have earned their spot to perform a two-hour show, changing weekly, every Sunday. Support local top notch talent! 7-9pm. Free.

Cascade Lakes Pub on Reed Market

Sunday Spins with DJ Briantology Get your chill on at The Brew Deck atop the new east side location of Cascade Lakes Pub on Reed Market. Local talent, DJ Briantology will spin some of the freshest tracks while you sip a drink, mingle with friends and groove into the sunset with Cascade Lakes Brewing. 6:30-8:30pm. Free.

Corey’s Bar & Grill Karaoke Sing your heart out at Corey’s! Grab friends and drinks for some Coreyoke. 9pm-Midnight. Free.

Maragas Winery Maragas Winery Live Jazz

Live Jazz on Sundays. Seating inside winery and outside on the patio and lawn. Visit the website for more details. 1-4pm. Free.

River’s Place Trivia Sundays at Noon Trivia Sundays at Noon, with UKB Trivia, at River’s Place. This is no ordinary contest, this is a live trivia game show. Bring your bunch and win gift card prizes for top teams! Indoor and outdoor seating available. Great food and drink options available. Noon-2pm. Free.

River’s Place Blackstrap Bluegrass

Hard-driving bluegrass with catchy originals that give a nod to the roots. 6-8pm. Free.

Silver Moon Brewing Not’Cho Grandma’s Bingo Silver Moon is partnering with the YOUNI Movement to guarantee the best bingo experience in all of Central Oregon! Not’Cho Grandma’s Bingo is the OG of bingo, high energy bingo that promises to entertain from start to finish! 10am. Free/GA, $10/early entry.

Silver Moon Brewing Open Mic at the Moon Get a taste of the big time! Sign-up is at 4pm! Come check out the biggest and baddest open mic night in Bend! 5-8pm. Free.

Sisters Community Church JuJu Eyeball at Sisters Community Church JuJu is excited to play at Sisters Community Church and rock some Fab Beatle music! 6-8:30pm. Free.

Sisters Saloon & Ranch Grill Summer Sunday Nights at the Saloon Join us for Summer Sunday Nights at The Saloon on the patio! Free every week, and all ages are welcome. 6-8pm. Free.

21 Monday

The Astro Lounge Musician’s Open Mic Designed for musicians that create and make music, originals or covers. Pros to first-timers all welcome. Very supportive hosts and great listening audience. Guitars can be provided. Hosted by the Harris Blake Band. Nancy Blake and Danny guitar Harris. 8-11:45pm. Free.

Bridge 99 Brewery Trivia Mondays UKB’s live trivia game show is like no other. Team up to compete for gift card prizes! Brews, ciders, mixed drinks, pizzas and food truck options. Indoor and outdoor seating. 6-8pm. Free.

The Yard at Bunk + Brew Bunk and Brew

Open Mic Monday Please join on Monday evenings from 6-8pm for Open Mic Monday in the Yard at Bunk and Brew. Guaranteed 3 songs/15 minutes. Covers or originals. Minors welcome. Food and beverage on site. Sign-up at 5:30pm. As the evenings warm up we will go till 10pm. 6pm. Free.

Cascade Lakes Brewpub Live Music with Olivia Harms Come to the Bend Brewpub for a free live performance from Olivia Harms. Open to all ages, enjoy this performance on the patio with a cold one in hand. 6-8pm. Free.

High Desert Music Hall Trivia Night:

Rotating Mondays Gather your team and join for a fun night of Trivia, every other Monday. Prizes awarded to the top teams. All ages. Every other Monday, 7pm. Free.

McMenamins Old St. Francis School

Karaoke Night It’s a magical, mystical and musical night at McMenamins in downtown Bend every Monday night this summer. A Fine Note Music and DJ Jackie J present Karaoke Night in Father Luke’s Room. It doesn’t matter if you’re a shower singer or a seasoned professional! 6-10pm. Free.

On Tap Locals’ Day Plus Live Music Cheaper drinks all day and live music at night, get down to On Tap. 11am-9pm. Free.

Silver Moon Brewing Beertown Comedy

Open Mic Enjoy Beertown Comedy Open Mic every Monday Night at Silver Moon Brewing! Sign-up starts at 6:30pm and closes at 7pm, when the show starts. They have 15, five minute spots available. 6:30-8:30pm. Free.

Lead singer and ‘70s enthusiast, Windy Wahlke, works with dedication and love to revive and honor the greatest hits from Fleetwood Mac. Witness the revival live at Hardtails Bar & Grill on Sat., Aug. 19, 8-10 pm.

Courtesy Gold Dust

EVENTS

Silver Moon Brewing Comedy Open Mic

Comedy open mic every Monday at Silver Moon Brewing in the Green Room. Sign-ups at 6:30pm.

Presented by Tease Bang Boom Productions. 7-8:30pm. Free.

The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse Suttle

Lodge’s Big Lawn Concert Series: Karyn Ann

Described as a “combination of Patty Griffin grit and Amy Winehouse grace,” Portland-based soul/Americana singer-songwriter Karyn Ann has been charming audiences across the U.S. with her powerful vocals and emotive lyricism. Grab a beer at the Boathouse, bring a chair and enjoy the music on the lawn! 6-8pm. Free.

Worthy Brewing Head Games Trivia Night

Eat. Drink. Think. Win! Head Games multi-media trivia is at Worthy Brewing Co. in Bend every Monday. Win prizes. Teams up to six. 7-9pm. Free.

22 Tuesday

The Cellar Music Night at The Cellar, Featuring Central Oregon Music & Musicians Grab a pint, sit back, relax and enjoy live music by Central Oregon musicians! Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month, from 6-8pm at The Cellar! Fourth Tuesday of every month, 6-8pm. Free.

AVID Cider Co. Taproom Last Call Trivia

Get ready to stretch your mind with Last Call Trivia! Grab your team (or come join one), and head to Avid Cider for an array of categories and themes, while sipping on your favorite beverage. Free to play and prizes to win! 6:30-8:30pm. Free.

Bend Boarding Babes Launch Bend

Boarding Babes Summer Concert Paddle Series

Bend Boarding Babes Summer Concert Paddle Series! Make friends, paddle and listen to tunes on the Deschutes! All levels welcome! Be sure to join the group for all Bend Boarding Babes events and details: www.facebook.com/groups/bendboardingbabes. 5:30pm. Free.

The Cellar-A Porter Brewing Company Shine Your Light (Open Mic) Every 2nd & 4th Tuesday at The Cellar. Sign-ups at 5:30pm. Hosted By: Zac. What better way to spend a Tuesday evening than to check out Bend’s local artist working on their passion or be one of those artist. All art welcome! Fourth Tuesday of every month, 6-8pm. Free.

The Commons Cafe & Taproom Storytellers Open Mic StoryTellers open mic nights are full of music, laughs and community. Ky Burt is the host. Sign-ups start at 5pm sharp in the cafe, and spots go quick. Poetry, comedy and spoken word are welcome, but this is mainly a musical open mic. Performance slots are a quick 10 minutes each, so being warmed up and ready is ideal. 6pm. Free.

General Duffy’s Annex Tuesday Night Trivia in Redmond Genuine UKB Trivia is no average quiz night, it’s a live trivia game show! Meet up with your pals and team up this week! Win stuff! 6-8pm. Free.

Hayden Homes Amphitheater

Weezer: Indie Rock Road Trip Weezer is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1992, currently consisting of Rivers Cuomo (lead vocals, lead guitar), Patrick Wilson (drums), Brian Bell (rhythm guitar, backing vocals, keyboards) and Scott Shriner (bass, backing vocals). Weezer has sold 10 million albums in the U.S., and over 35 million records worldwide. 6pm. $65.

River’s Place Bingo! Have fun, win money and support a local non-profit organization. Cards are $1-$5. 6-8pm. $1-$5.

Worthy Beers & Burgers Head Games Trivia

Night Join for live multi-media trivia every Tuesday night. Win prizes. Teams up to 6 players. 7-9pm. Free.

23 Wednesday

Bend Brewing Company Ghost of Brian Craig An evening with Ghost of Brian Craig, solo acoustic musician with a unique and captivating rock sound. The music is infused with the rich combination of the American southwest sounds with the cultural influences of the Pacific Northwest. 5-7pm. free.

The Yard at Bunk + Brew Jongleur Gems

An evening of song swapping and storytelling from some of Bend’s favorite musicians. Please join from in the “Yard” for a great night featuring David Liabraaten and “Fluffalove” comprised of Jongleurs Kye Kennedy and Nancy Terzian. 7-9pm. Free.

Cabin 22 Trivia Wednesdays Useless Knowledge Bowl Live Trivia Game Show! It’s not your average quiz night. Team up to win gift cards. It’s fun and free to play, with Locals’ Day featuring Crater Lake and local craft beer specials. Get here this week! 6:30-8:30pm. Free.

Corey’s Bar & Grill Karaoke Sing your heart out at Corey’s! Grab friends and drinks for some Coreyoke. 9pm-Midnight. Free.

Craft Kitchen and Brewery Comedy Open Mic Sign-up 7:30pm. If you’ve ever wanted to try stand-up comedy, this is where you start! 8-10pm. Free.

Crosscut Warming Hut No 5 Eric Leadbetter Relax with a pint and enjoy great local music! 6-8pm. Free.

Deschutes Brewery Public House Head

Games Trivia Night Eat. Drink. Think. Win! Head Games multi-media trivia is at Deschutes Bend Public House every Wednesday. Win prizes. Teams up to six. 6:30-8:30pm. Free.

Compete with your peers and test your knowledge of current events, music and other random categories while enjoying 75 cent wings! Also, JC’s trivia separates themselves from the rest with a physical challenge! 7-9:30pm. Free.

Kobold Brewing / The Vault Taphouse Trivia Night Trivia Night at The Vault! Come test your knowledge and drink top notch local beer! 6:30-8pm. Free.

Kobold Brewing The Lair Trivia Come join for trivia night and enjoy quality craft beer and food! 7-8:30pm. Free.

M&J Tavern Open Mic Night Downtown living room welcomes musicians to bring their acoustic set or turn it up to eleven with the whole band. Bring your own instruments. Goes to last call or last musician, which ever comes first. 21+. 6:30pm. Free.

Northside Bar & Grill Accoustic Open Mic with Derek Michael Marc Head down to the Northside Bar and Grill Wednesdays to catch local artists perform live. 7-9pm. Free.

Seven Nightclub & Restaurant The CO Show The CO Show is a free comedy showcase! Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8pm! Central Oregon Comedy Scene and Karaokaine productions have teamed up to bring this show to you! It’s co-hosted with multiple hosts, co-produced for Central Oregon! 8pm. Free.

Worthy Beers & Burgers Game Night at Worthy Beers & Burgers Join every Wednesday for Mario Kart, Amazon Luna games, card games and board games (feel free to BYO games). Grab your friends, grab a drink and let’s play! 6-9pm. Free.

Worthy Brewing Andy and Renee Join for live music from Andy and Renee! 7-9pm. Free.

MUSIC

Localized Thursday Kick off the weekend with localized on the back patio of Immersion! A local vendor, local beer and a local musician playing every Thursday all summer long. Stay connected on Instagram: @immersionbrewing. Thursdays, 5-10pm. Through Sept. 7. Immersion Brewing, 550 SW Industrial Way, Bend. Free.

Songs and Stories with Cuban Master Drummer Miguel Bernal Listen to songs and stories by drumming master Miguel Bernal. Bernal is a world-renowned percussionist who plays with the Portland, Oregon-based, Pink Martini. Aug. 22, 6-7:30pm. Downtown Bend Library, 601 Northwest Wall Street, Bend. Contact: 541-312-1032. lizg@dpls.lib.or.us. Free.

Staci Dread and Mystic

This week, they welcome the duo of Staci Dread and Mystic. A blend of soulful powerhouse vocals, passionately inspired melodies, acoustic guitars, drums, bamboo flutes, freestyle raps, folk, reggae, rock and a lot of love! Aug. 23, 6-8pm. Bevel Craft Brewing, 911 SE Armour St., Bend. Contact: 541972-3835. holla@bevelbeer.com. Free.

Sunday Brunch and Karaoke Wake up right with brunch and karaoke! Sundays, 10am3pm. General Duffy’s Waterhole, 404 SW Forest Avenue, Redmond. Free.

Sunriver Music Festival ClassicalConcert IV Following his solo piano concert, Andrew von Oeyen returns to the Great Hall with the Sunriver Music Festival Orchestra for Beethoven’s epic “Emperor” Piano Concerto. Also on this concert is Haydn’s landmark “London” Symphony. Aug. 17, 7:30-9:30pm. Sunriver Resort Great Hall, 1 Great Hall Loop, Sunriver. Contact: 541-593-9310. tickets@sunrivermusic. org. $45-$87, $25/25 and under.

Delaware native, Jimmie Allen is a Grammy-nominated country artist. See him live at Century Center on Thu., Aug. 24, 7-10 pm.

Courtesy Jimmie Allen

CALENDAR EVENTS

DANCE

Dance Party! In this high energy, high movement camp-style class your dancers will learn anything from ballet to hip-hop. Begins with a fun warmup and moves on to full on dancing, add in a snack and small craft break and ending with a mini performance at the end of each session. Mondays, 3:30-5:30pm and Mondays, 3:30-5:30pm. Through Aug. 28. Academie de Ballet Classique, 162 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-382-4055. dance@abcbend.com. $10/registration fee, $161/session.

Free Community Square Dance Party

A great opportunity for your introduction to square dancing. No dance experience or partner needed. Their square dance pros will teach all the moves needed to get you dancing right away. 60 minutes of dancing to rock ‘n’ roll and modern country tunes. Come casual and comfortable. Aug. 19, 6-7pm. Pine Forest Grange Hall, 63214 Boyd Acres Rd., Bend. Contact: 541-382-7014. kaybithell@centurylink.net. Free.

Line and Swing Dancing Lessons Line and swing dance lessons every Thursday night at The Cross-Eyed Cricket! Thursdays, 7-9pm. Cross-Eyed Cricket, 20565 NE Brinson Blvd., Bend. Free.

ARTS + CRAFTS

9th Street Village Makers Market Join for the 9th Street Village Makers Market hosted by Bevel Craft Brewing, Cultivate Farms and DIYcave featuring five rotating local artisans each week, alongside demos by DIYcave, nonprofits, food carts and craft beer. Every Sunday. Rain or shine. Family friendly! Sundays, Noon-4pm. Through Sept. 24. Bevel Craft Brewing, 911 SE Armour St., Bend. Contact: 541-972-3835. holla@bevelbeer.com. Free.

Art Viewing Visit Sagebrushers Art Society in beautiful Bend to see lovely work, paintings and greeting cards by local artists. New exhibit every 8 weeks. Visit Sagebrushersartofbend.com for information on current shows. Wednesdays, 1-4pm, Fridays, 1-4pm and Saturdays, 1-4pm. Sagebrushers Art Society, 117 SW Roosevelt Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-617-0900. Free.

Dry Canyon Arts Association “Lend Me Your Walls” Visit the “Lend Me Your Walls” exhibit at Feast Food Co. with five displayed artists. May 30-Aug. 19. Feast Food Co, 546 NW 7th St, Redmond. Free.

Quilt Show in the Park Mount Bachelor Quilters Guild is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year with its annual Quilt Show in the Park, culminating with the quilt raffle drawing at 3:30. Over 100 quilts in a beautiful outdoor setting. Aug. 19, 10am-3:30pm. Pioneer Park, corner of Wall Street and Portland, Bend. Contact: 541668-1468. bmyersfortman@gmail.com. Free.

Sisters Farmers Market Join for opening day of the Sisters Farmers Market in the heart of downtown Sisters! Shop from over 35 local farmers, ranchers, artisan food producers, and makers. Live music with Sugar Sweet String Band at 11:30am! Sisters Farmers Market is presented by the nonprofit Seed to Table. Sundays, 10am2pm. Through Sept. 24. Fir Street Park, Sisters, Sisters. Contact: 541-904-0134. sistersfarmersmarket@gmail.com. Free.

Third Thursday at The Grove Art, Music and Community. Every third Thursday, 5-8pm. Through Dec. 21. Waypoint, 921 NW Mt Washington Drive, Bend. Contact: 458-206-0826. Waypointbbc@gmail.com. Free.

THEATER

Thoroughly Modern Productions

Presents Finding Nemo The Thoroughly Modern Productions Summer Intensive returns with Disney’s Finding Nemo JR. A 60-minute musical adaptation of the beloved 2003 Pixar movie Finding Nemo. Thu, Aug. 17, 7-9pm, Fri, Aug. 18, 3-5 and 7-9pm and Sat, Aug. 19, 3-5 and 7-9pm. Open Space Event Studios, 220 NE Lafayette Ave, Bend. Contact: 541-410-5866. $30.

WORDS

Mystery Book Club Join them for a mystery book club. They will be discussing "Book of Cold Cases" by Simone St. James Aug. 16, 6-7pm. Please join in-store or on zoom for Mystery Book Club. The group will discuss The Ladies of the Secret Circus by Constance Sayers. Join zoom link here: https://us02web.zoom. us/j/87648931984?pwd=eHN4VjRIOVkyck5DL092OE9Nakd2QT09. Wednesdays, 10:30am. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541-306-6564. julie@ roundaboutbookshop.com. Free.

Third Thursday Spoken Word Night

Spoken word open mic night for all poets, writers, storytellers and songwriters. All writers, readers and word-lovers are invited to attend and read. Readers are invited to arrive early to sign up. Aug. 17, 6-8pm. The Commons Cafe & Taproom, 875 NW Brooks St., Bend. Contact: 541-312-1032. lizg@deschuteslibrary.org. Free.

Writers Writing: Quiet Writing Time

Enjoy the focus of a quiet space with the benefit of others’ company. This is an in-person program. Masks are recommended at all in-person library events. Bring personal work, read a book or answer emails. Come when you can, leave when you want. Free, open network WiFi available. Tuesdays, 1:30-4:30pm. Deschutes Public Library-Downtown, 601 NW Wall Street, Bend. Contact: 541-312-1063. paigef@deschuteslibrary.org. Free.

ETC.

Bingo and Dog Adoption Event Come play some bingo at Midtown Yacht Club benefiting Street Dog Hero! A night of high energy bingo that promises to entertain from start to finish! There will be food trucks, cold drinks and some pups looking for their forever homes. Wed, Feb. 15, 6-8pm, Wed, April 12, 6-8pm, Wed, June 7, 6-8pm and Wed, Aug. 16, 6-8pm. Midtown Yacht Club, 1661 Northeast 4th Street, Bend. Free. Learn to Weld This hands-on class is perfect for beginners or anyone needing a refresher class in cutting and welding. You’ll cut steel with a plasma cutter and weld those pieces back together. You’ll get to try your hand at MIG welding. No welding experience needed! Wed, Aug. 9, 6-8pm, Sun, Aug. 20, 4-6pm, Sun, Sept. 10, 4-6pm, Wed, Oct. 4, 6-8pm and Mon, Oct. 9, 6-8pm. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-388-2283. makeit@diycave. com. $129.

OUTDOOR EVENTS

Bend Adult Volleyball Bend Hoops adult open gym volleyball sessions offer players a chance to get together and enjoy some competition. To sign up, go to meetup.com and RSVP. Bring exact change. Sundays, 7-9pm and Saturdays, 7:30pm. Bend Hoops, 1307 NE 1st St, Bend. $10.

Community Birdwatching Trip Join Think

Wild staff for a family-friendly bird identification walk at Hatfield Ponds. Learn to identify native Central Oregon birds by sight and sound. Binoculars and field guides are provided. Aug. 19, 9-11am. Hatfield Lake, 22395 McGrath Rd, Bend. Contact: 541-241-8680. sadie@thinkwildco.org. Free.

Float Party with Lifestyle Wake Join

Lifestyle Wake for its biannual float party at Lake Billy Chinook. Keep an eye on its social media for the exact location on the lake. They’ll have a party barge and will be hosting boat, foil and board demos. Social media: @lifestylewake Aug. 20, 11am-4pm. Lake Billy Chinook Cove Palisades Resort & Marina, 5700 SW Marina Dr., Culver., Culver. Contact: 541-640-8097. sales@ lifestylewake.com. Free.

Outdoor Movie Screening Screening of “White Wolves, A Cry In The Wild 2.” Kick back and relax, grab some popcorn and a local beer while watching a fun ‘90s retro movie filmed in Central Oregon. All are welcome to camp out Friday night after the movie. Aug. 18, 6pm. To Be Announced, Bend. Contact: 503-888-3674. wildlandguidingcompany@gmail.com. Free, reservation required.

VOLUNTEER

Volunteer with Salvation Army The Salvation Army has a wide variety of volunteer opportunities for almost every age. Salvation Army has an emergency food pantry, the groups visit residents of assisted living centers and make up gifts for veterans and the homeless. Ongoing. Contact: 541-389-8888.

Volunteer, Feed the Masses! At Family Kitchen, the mission is to serve anyone who needs nutritious meals in a safe and caring environment. They have tons of volunteer needs - servers, cooks, shoppers, and more. Groups and teams wanted! Monthly or quarterly opportunities! Visit familykitchen.org/volunteer to fill out a volunteer interest form. Mondays-Sundays. Family Kitchen, 231 NW Idaho, Bend. Contact: tori@familykitchen.org. Free.

Jobe Fortner is a Georgia born singer/songwriter who comes from a background of church hymns and Southern-influenced rock. See the artist live at the John Gray Amphitheater at SHARC on Sat., Aug. 26, 6-9 pm.

Courtesy Jobe Fortner Instagram

Volunteering in Oregon’s High Desert with ONDA Oregon Natural Desert Association is a nonprofit dedicated to protecting, defending and restoring Oregon’s high desert for current and future generations. ONDA opened registration for its spring 2023 stewardship trips. For more info, visit its website. Ongoing.

GROUPS + MEETUPS

Biz and Bevs Join the Bend business community for its “Biz & Bevs” event at N The Zone Ink and Threads. Small bites will be available. The featured nonprofit is the Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA) . Aug. 17, 4:30-6pm. N the Zone Ink, 62958 Layton Ave. Suite 4, Bend. Contact: https:// bendchamber.org/bend-event/biz-and-bevs-nthe-zone-ink-aug-17/. colleen@bendchamber. org. Free/members, $10/non-members.

Happy Hour with Advocates for the West Join for Happy Hour! Advocates for the West is a public interest, nonprofit environmental law firm that protects the West’s public lands, water, fish and wildlife. Learn about about the work in Central Oregon and across the West. Please RSVP to Aimee Moran at amoran@advocateswest.org or 208-342-7024 x 205. Aug. 22, 5:30-7:30pm. Worthy Brewing, 495 NE Bellevue Dr., Bend. Contact: 208342-7024. contact@advocateswest.org. Free.

Wild Women Book Club Come join other women in community as participants dive deep into the untamed feminine psyche. This is set up in a way that you can jump in at any time with or without reading the “required” pages. Join in the discussion or just come for a cup of tea and listen! Fourth Wednesday of every month, 6-8pm. The Peoples Apothecary, 19570 Amber Meadow Dr, Bend. Contact: 541-728-2368. classes@thepeoplesapothecary.net. $9/online, $10/door.

EVENTS + MARKETS

Bend Farmers Market A vibrant downtown outdoor market with amazing, local, fresh products from Central Oregon. Wednesdays, 11am3pm. Through Oct. 11. Brooks Alley, downtown Bend, Bend. Contact: bendfarmersmarket@ gmail.com. Free.

Bend Night Market Take a dive into curated vintage, jewelry, arts, food trucks, cocktails, local brews, live music with Amargosa and DJ Greg Garretson spinning tunes. Cornhole and mocktails too! Fridays, 5pm. Through Aug. 25. Deschutes Historical Museum, 129 NW Idaho Ave., Bend. Free.

Third Thursday in Northwest Crossing! Third Thursdays in Northwest Crossing anchored at The Grove Market Hall! Art, music and community! Every month, Third Thursday. Third Thursday of every month, 5-8pm. The Grove, 921 NW Mt. Washington Drive, Bend. Free.

FAMILY + KIDS

Family Fun Bingo Every Child Central Oregon is partnering with The YOUNI Movement to bring a fun family experience to Bingo! Kids play bingo for free for a chance to win toys, adults may purchase bingo cards for a chance to win cash. 5 games played, kid and adult winner each round. Aug. 18, 6:30-8:30pm. High Desert Music Hall, 818 SW Forest Ave, Redmond. Contact: 541610-9455. m.williams@everychildcentraloregon. org. $10.

Family Fun Summer Bingo Bring the whole family for Summer Bingo at High Desert Music Hall. Everyone is invited and welcome to wear whatever they want! You’ll be dancing the night away, while playing bingo! Aug. 18, 7pm. High Desert Music Hall, 818 SW Forest Ave, Redmond. Contact: 541-527-1387. highdesertmusichall@gmail.com. $10

FOOD + DRINK

2023 Crawfish Boil Join in bringing together the community for the second annual, southern style crawfish boil. Two opportunities to join in on the fun (July 24 and Aug. 22). Reservations are required, please call the pub to secure your spot. Mon, July 24, 6-8pm and Tue, Aug. 22, 6-8pm. Cascade Lakes Brewpub, 1441 SW Chandler Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-388-4998. alex@ cascadelakes.com. $50+.

Adult Class-Macarons and Madeleines Have you always wanted to learn to make beautiful, delicate Parisian macarons and madeleines? Now is your chance. Join in this hands-on class to learn how. Wine will be served. Aug. 18, 5:30-9pm. Kindred Creative Kitchen, 2525 NE Twin Knolls Drive, Bend. Contact: 541-640-0350. kindredcreativekitchen@ gmail.com. $95.

BEER + DRINK

Cross Cut Warming Hut: Locals’ Day!

Tuesdays are Locals’ Day. Every Tuesday enjoy $1 off regular size draft beverages. Come by the Warming Hut and hang out by the fire. See you soon, Bend! Tuesdays. Crosscut Warming Hut No 5, 566 SW Mill View Way, Bend.

Growler Discount Night! Enjoy $2 off growler fills every Wednesday at Bevel! Wednesdays. Bevel Craft Brewing, 911 SE Armour St., Bend. Contact: 831-245-1922. holla@bevelbeer. com. Free.

Locals’ Day Come on down to Bevel Craft Brewing for $4 beers and cider and $1 off wine all day. There are also food specials from the food carts located out back at The Patio! Tuesdays. Bevel Craft Brewing, 911 SE Armour St., Bend. Contact: holla@bevelbeer.com. Free.

Suttle Lodge’s Wine on

the

Deck Series: Ribbon Ridge Join every Tuesday this summer for wine made in the Pacific Northwest, poured by some of the best local winemakers and paired with seasonal small plates from their Skip Kitchen. This week, they welcome Ribbon Ridge Winery. The Peterson-Nedry family purchased the first vineyard on Ribbon Ridge in 1980, on the far West side of the Willamette Valley. Aug. 22, 3-6pm. The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse, 13300 Hwy 20, Sisters. Contact: 541-323-0964.

Whiskey Tuesdays The Cross-eyed Cricket Watering Hole is offering exclusive access to a library of top shelf whiskeys every Tue. Oneounce pours for reasonable prices. Come by and try something new, or sip on your favorites! Tuesdays, 11am-11pm. Cross-Eyed Cricket, 20565 NE Brinson Blvd., Bend. Free.

HEALTH + WELLNESS

All Levels Yoga Vinyasa Class This all levels Vinyasa class is for everybody at all levels of their yoga journey. Attendees will flow through sequences to heal, restore and awaken the body! Bring your own mat and water. Event is free but donations are welcome! Mon, July 3, 9-10am, Mon, July 10, 9-10am, Mon, July 31, 9-10am, Mon, Aug. 7, 9-10am, Mon, Aug. 14, 9-10am, Mon, Aug. 21, 9-10am and Mon, Aug. 28, 9-10am. Compass Park, 2500 NW Crossing Dr., Bend. Contact: 541316-9213. missie@romingyogabend.com. Free.

Mom + Baby Yoga Classes Flow from pose to pose toning, stretching and strengthening your body while releasing tension. Plus, the group will work to properly strengthen abdominal and back muscles to reduce postpartum back pain, while including movements and songs with babies. Moms and babies age 6 week - pre crawlers. Thursdays, 10:45am-Noon Through Aug. 17. Free Spirit Yoga + Fitness + Play, 320 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-241-3919. info@freespiritbend.com. $120.

Outdoor Yoga Classes Join outside in the fresh air for this all levels adult Vinyasa Flow Yoga Class built around sun salutations and creative sequencing to build heat, endurance, flexibility and strength. You will be guided safely through smooth pose-to-pose transitions as you move with your breath. Check website for prices! Mondays-Tuesdays-Fridays-Saturdays, 9:15-10:15am. Through Sept. 19. Free Spirit Yoga + Fitness + Play, 320 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541241-3919. info@freespiritbend.com. $20.

Silent Disco Outdoor Yoga Take your yoga practice outside this summer! This hour-long vinyasa practice will have a fun playlist being streamed through the headphones provided to you for the class. Tune out your day, move your body and get outside on your mat! Thursdays, 5:15-6:15pm and Sat, July 29, 8:30-9:30am. Through Aug. 31. Ponderosa Park, 225 SE 15th St., Bend. Contact: 775-339-8813. info@stillwateryoga.org. $20.

Sunday on the Green Community members volunteer their esoteric services including tarot, intuitive art, astrology, reiki and more in the spirit of community healing and spiritual connection. Please bring cans of food to donate to Neighbor Impact and enjoy services free of charge under the trees at Cosmic Depot! Sundays, 10am-2pm. The Cosmic Depot, 342 NE Clay Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-385-7478. cosmicdepot@msn.com. Accepting canned food for Neighbor Impact.

Support Local: Outdoor Yoga Classes

This summer, they are partnering with local farms to host outdoor yoga classes in support of local businesses. They will lead a one-hour outdoor yoga class at Rainshadow Organics, followed by a tour of the property. Come practice in community, in nature and support local! Reserve on the website. Aug. 19, 9-11am. Rainshadow Organics, 71290 Holmes Rd, Sisters. Contact: 503-888-3674. wildlandguidingcompany@gmail. com. Donations accepted.

Rebelution is a reggae-inspired rock band from the southern California. See the band live at Hayden Homes Amphitheater on Sat., Aug. 26, 5 pm.

Courtesy Rebelution Facebook

GUNG HO

By Julianna LaFollette

Indigo De Souza Coming to Bend

Indie artist finds comfort in touring through connection and emotion

Being a popular indie musician, Indigo De Souza is quiet compared to most.

De Souza loves sharing her intimate music with others while touring. However, she doesn’t know how long she’ll be able to do it.

“If the show didn’t help people emotionally get through things, or if it didn’t mean something to them emotionally, then I definitely wouldn’t do it.”

De Souza’s music is ever-shifting in genre, possessing a unique sound and meaningful lyrics. Her passion started at a very young age. She was singing, learning to play the guitar and writing lyrics at just nine years old. “I kind of used music as my personal journal and space to express my emotions,” she said.

Growing up, De Souza told the Source Weekly that she was bullied and often felt lonely. Music was the ideal outlet for her thoughts and feelings, and it certainly paid off. “Music is the only thing that has allowed my life to make sense,” said De Souza.

Starting out, she played intimate shows in her hometown of Asheville, North Carolina. She released her first album in 2018 and, after starting to tour, was shocked to see people outside of Appalachia singing along to her deep, thoughtful lyrics.

Once she saw the connection people felt to her lyrics and the impact her music had on others, she knew she wanted to keep going. “Eventually I performed in front of people, songs that I had written, and saw how it brought people together and made them emotional, and kind of brought them into a shared awareness,” said De Souza. “So I became really addicted to that and wanted to follow that path.”

De Souza is soft-spoken but passionate about her music and its impact. While touring takes a mental and emotional toll on her, connecting with others through music makes everything worth it. “I’ve had people crying in my arms many times or have had people write to me about how much it means for them to able to see the songs live.”

Her current tour has kept her busy, visiting new places and playing exciting outdoor concerts. For the first time, De Souza is performing in Bend with electronic pop duo, Sylvan Esso, on Aug., 27 at Hayden Homes Amphitheater.

Sylvan Esso and Indigo De Souza

Sun., Aug. 27, 7pm

Hayden Homes Amphitheater

344 SW Shevlin Hixon Dr., Bend bendconcerts.com

$39.50

Angella Choe

Flowers by Eryn is a boutique flower studio, specializing in unique, seasonal flower arrangements that add delight to your every day.

Now in our new location: The Bungalow at 635 NW Colorado Ave (just around the corne r from the Box Factory).

— Deb Haaland, the first Indigenous U.S. Secretary of the Interior, in a conversation about national parks

If anyone lives by the slogan of “leaving a place better than they found it,” it would be the people highlighted inside this issue. This year’s Best of Central Oregon issue, featuring a national parks theme, showcases readers’ favorites in everything from food and drink to the best places to work or get your teeth cleaned.

Read on to learn a little about some of the many places and people who make Central Oregon a great place to live, work and play!

Some things to know:

The Best of Central Oregon — the original, biggest and most popular readers’ poll in Central Oregon — is driven by the people who live here. This year, we had more voters than ever, with thousands of people entering their favorites in over 200 categories. Readers nominate their favorites, and then we count the votes and determine who readers supported the most. We don’t choose the candidates; you do! That way, if you see a business with a “Best Of” sticker or plaque, you know it’s truly something that’s loved by the community.

We’re having a party for both winners and the wider public!

The Source Weekly loves a chance to party – and there’s no better time than 5pm on Wednesday, Aug. 16 at the Deschutes Historical Museum, when the winners named in this issue are invited to join us in honor of their wins – and starting at 6:30pm, everyone is invited for live music and libations. Come say hi and meet our team!

Enjoy the print edition here, or find our Best of Central Oregon 2023 winners anytime at bendsource.com.

“ Nothing says you care more than leaving a place better than you found it. ”

Best

Voted Bend’s Best Mediterranean 2 Years in a Row!

Open Daily 11-8

20520 Robal Ln Suite 120

Online ordering available at Kefifresh.com

Come in or order online at Kefifresh.com and see what made us a winner!

We also deliver ... order through our website!!

Best Asian

1st CHI Chinese and Sushi Bar

2nd Five Fusion Modern Japanese Bar & Restaurant

Best Bagel

1st Big O Bagels

2nd Rockin' Dave's

Best bakery

1st Sparrow Bakery

2nd Nancy P's Cafe and Bakery

Best bbq

1st Baldy's BBQ

2nd Bigfoot BBQ Co.

Best breakfast

1st McKay Cottage Restaurant

2nd The Lemon Tree

Best breakfast burrito

1st Burrito Sunrise

2nd Bend Breakfast Burrito

Best breakfast sandwich

1st Sparrow Bakery

2nd Rockin' Dave's

Best burrito

1st Super Burrito

2nd Los Jalapeños

Best caterer

1st Bleu Bite Catering

2nd Cody's Country Catering

Best dessert

1st Bontà

2nd Elly's Ice Cream

Best dinner

1st Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails

2nd Bosa

Best doughnut

1st Richard's Donuts and Pastries

2nd The Dough Nut

Best eggs benedict

1st The Victorian Cafe

2nd McKay Cottage Restaurant

Best Bowl & Best Vegetarian Active Culture

By Nicole Vulcan

With all of the hiking, biking, floating, paddling and concert-going that happens around here, Central Oregonians have plenty of reasons to need a hearty and nutritious meal. When it comes to something hearty that’s also vegetarian, there’s almost nothing that fits the bill more than a bowl. At Active Culture Cafe, bowls are some of the main attractions, with bowls for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

“We have so many different options for everybody’s needs and wants, but for me, personally, I like the Wholesome Bowl,” said Aidan Ingebo, assistant manager at Active Culture. “That is going to be rice, beans, a very special sauce, it’s got tons of veggies on there — everything you need to take you through your day.”

The cafe serves a total of seven savory bowls for lunch and dinner – all vegetarian and fulfilling – as well as two savory breakfast bowls and a host of acai bowls featuring Sambazon Acaí and granola, with a variety of fruits. The menu also includes salads, bagels, smoothies and shakes — all either vegetarian or vegan.

Located on Riverside Boulevard, the cafe’s outdoor play area and seating make this a popular spot for people to stretch out and relax – something that goes well with a hearty bowl after a busy day of playing in Central Oregon.

Kitchen manager Guillermo Martinez and assistant manager Aidan Ingebo with the Wholesome Bowl and the Velvet Bowl.

The first smash burger I ever had was at Blue Eyes Burgers and Fries, and I’m not sure I’ve had a better one since. There’s something special about your first smash burger that sticks with you, and Blue Eyes Manager Mekenzie Stearns tries to help me understand.

“A smash burger is an alchemy of beef, salt and fat; it is the perfect combination of flavor,” says Stearns. “We aren't looking for a specific temperature, but rather the Maillard reaction on the beef. We want the thin, crispy lace edges to create a contrast in flavor and texture, while the thinly shaved onions smashed into the nod to the tradition of an Oklahoma-style smash burger. Smashed patties are an enjoyable no-fuss burger that pack a punch of flavor in a short amount of time.”

But what makes a perfect burger? Everyone has their own opinion, but I like Stearns’ take: “Simplicity is key, and sourcing quality ingredients is a crucial part of making a burger great,” she said. “When we think of a burger, the beef and bun are the shining star, with the rest of

Best Burger

Blue Eyes Burgers & Fries

By Jared Rasic

the ingredients being a supporting act. At Blue Eyes, our burgers feature local 100% grass-fed beef from Pitchfork T Ranch (or house made veggie patty), a fresh baked bun from Jackson’s Corner and toppings highlighting local farms whenever possible. We truly believe you are getting a taste of place when dining with us, although nothing we are doing is new; these are age-old techniques that have withstood the test of time, and we strive to represent our version of the classic cheeseburger to the best of our ability.”

With a million burgers to choose from locally, the care that Stearns and Blue Eyes take with each patty is why Central Oregon has voted them the best.

Blue

Boss

Second place: Bend Burger Co.

Photos by Jennifer Galler

Blue Eyes Burger & Fries features satisfying smash burgers, onion rings, milkshakes and classic dipped ice cream!

NeighborImpact helps people.

Chances are we helped someone you know.

With food or rent or a utility bill

Or a home repair or a well or a roof

With buying their first home or paying their mortgage

Or giving their young child the benefit of a “Head Start.”

For 39 years, NeighborImpact has been here to help. People know this. That’s why we were voted one of the top three Best Non-profits.

People know that we do a lot of good. But we don’t do it alone. You can be part of every good thing we do.

Donate here: Neighborimpact.org

For 39 has

People were three

Best Vegan” is a new category in Best of Central Oregon this year, and it’s no surprise that Toasty is taking home the top honors. The cart is honored in first place for Best Food Cart and Best Vegan, but also earned second place in the Best Vegetarian category.

It all started with a random idea and now, four years and many, many crunchwraps later, the Toasty truck at The Podski in Bend has become quite famous for its plant-based food magic. Especially the Nacho Crunchwrap.

“We ran the crunchwrap as a special and it pretty much went viral around town,” explains Toasty founder Brooke Preim-Tobias, who runs the truck with her husband, sister, brother and several other employees. Her original idea was to open an avocado toast food cart but once open (six months before the pandemic hit), she realized that people were really

Best Food Cart and Best Vegan Toasty

By Donna Britt @donnabrittcooks

wanting something craveable, juicy and savory. So the menu expanded to include vegan burritos, wraps, bowls, tacos, salads and other comfort foods. You can still get avocado toast, of course, including the Veggie Avo, Scramble on Toast and the Chili Lime.

Toasty’s menu is fully vegan, 100% plant-based and includes plant-based meats, cheeses and sauces that taste familiar and delicious without causing any unnecessary suffering toward our animal friends. Toasty’s ultimate mission, according to Preim-Tobias, is to promote community compassion for all living beings, doing as little harm as possible to the animals, the environment and each other.

She says she couldn’t believe the news that Toasty was voted Best Cart and Best Vegan Cart but is thrilled about it. “We’re so appreciative, ecstatic actually! And we’re super thankful for our customers and feel so very grateful.”

The famous Nacho Crunchwrap at Toasty made with Beyond beef, cashew queso, avocado and other delicious vegan ingredients.

Toasty food truck founder Brooke Preim-Tobias with her partner/husband Zach who helps her run the family business.

Toasty's Rainbow Bowl.

The golf experience at Widgi Creek can’t be beat and we’re proud to have been voted BEND’S BEST GOLF COURSE

21 times by readers of The Source.

Best Mac'N Cheese

Brother Jon’s Alehouse

By Jared Rasic

We live in a time where macaroni and cheese has become elevated, and I’m here for it. The dish has become a pub food staple, with each kitchen trying its own unique spin on the classic meal. That’s among the reasons there’s now an entire category for mac and cheese in this Best of Central Oregon readers’ poll.

Brother Jon’s Alehouse has long since perfected its take on mac and cheese and it’s easy to tell why theirs has been voted Bend’s favorite in this inaugural year for the category.

BroJo’s has three very different styles of mac and cheese, which they graciously served me as a flight so I could try them all. Two things: 1) I submit that there is nothing more Bend than ordering a flight of mac and cheese from an alehouse and 2) This is something they should have on the menu every single day.

The thing that really blew me away by all three mac and cheeses (cheesi?) was how light they were. None of them included an over-richness of cheese or a heaviness in the pasta. First, the Creamy Mac and Cheese was just simple and delightful. The spiral pasta is delicious, with the cheese adding a balance both simple and complex that I wasn’t expecting. When I imagine old fashioned, homemade mac and cheese, this is what I’m picturing.

The Spicy Grilled Chicken Mac (aka the Buffalo Mac) has been legendary for over a decade for a reason. The mouth-wateringly tender chicken, the smoky bacon and the blend of bleu cheese and Frank’s combine to make a mac worth the status. This is a perfect mac and cheese.

The final dish of my flight, the Grilled

Chicken Pesto Mac, was a big surprise. The blend of baby tomatoes, parmesan, chicken, bacon and a thick, creamy pesto was effortlessly delicious. I’ve never had mac like this before and I think this might be love.

Which one of the three was “best” of this “Best Of” trio? All of the above.

Brother Jon’s Alehouse 1051 NW Bond St., Bend 541-728-0102

brotherjonsalehouse.com

Open daily 11am-10pm

Second place: Junior’s Grill

No, you're not dreaming. This is a flight of mac'n cheese!

Jared Rasic

Nome Italiano bills itself as “a red sauce joint,” and according to Justin Hyde, director of operations for SixTop Restaurant Group, the inspiration comes from those classic red sauce joints in New York, Chicago and other American cities. While paying homage to those original, authentic Italian restaurants, many started by Italian immigrants, the emphasis at Nome is modern – more modern cuisine and a more modern atmosphere.

“We pride ourselves on trying to elevate Italian food and dining, but it’s a humble cuisine meant to be made from scratch and we want to make sure what you eat at Nome reminds you of dinner at grandma’s or takes you back to a fond food memory from your youth or something like that,” Hyde says.

The most popular menu item at Nome is the woodfired pizza. There are a handful to choose from, all made from 48-hour fermented pizza dough which crisps up nicely in Nome’s authentic woodfired pizza oven. Nome’s ragu, often featuring

Best Italian Nome Italiano

By Donna Britt @donnabrittcooks

wild boar, is another popular choice along with other pastas, antipasti, salads and desserts.

“Our tiramisu has taken on a life of its own,” Hyde beams. “It’s definitely something people look forward to and will probably never leave the menu.” The desserts, along with all the pastas, sauces and pizzas are all made in-house, “the way it’s supposed to be done,” Hyde explains.

With a shoutout to Bend’s other fine Italian restaurants, especially to Trattoria Sbandati (which opened in 2009), Hyde says his group is humbled by being voted Best Italian Restaurant by Source Weekly readers. “It’s awesome and humbling to have the community vote and say you’re the best. We know how hard everyone works; it’s not an easy industry. So it feels good.”

Nome Italiano

1465 SW Knoll Ave., Bend 541-241-2556

nomeitaliano.com

Open for lunch: Thu-Mon 11:30am–2:30pm

Open for dinner daily 5pm-9pm

Second place: Bosa

Woodfired pizzas, pastas and Italian wines are Nome specialties. Nome bills itself as a “red sauce joint,” offering a modern twist to pastas and other Italian classics.

The Nome team.

Rancher Butcher Chef, commonly known as RBC, defines itself as a modern steakhouse and butcher counter. What that means, according to co-owner Renee Gorham, is that the menu is more eclectic than your typical steakhouse. It also means a festive atmosphere with family-style service. That family-style service is intentional, with the idea that passing plates and sharing dishes brings people together and gives guests the opportunity to try things they might not otherwise try.

In addition to earning first place for Best New Restauarant, RBC also got second in the Best Steak category.

Gorham and her husband/partner, head chef John Gorham, are also passionate about sustainability, seeking to reinvigorate how the community shops for and prepares beef. They support and partner with ranching communities that produce the food they serve. RBC’s home ranch is 7-Mile Creek Ranch in Ft. Klamath, Oregon, part of the Country Natural Beef Cooperative of family ranches. That co-op is part of a global community that prioritizes

Best New Restaurant Rancher Butcher Chef

By Donna Britt @donnabrittcooks

animal welfare, along with responsible and natural grazing practices.

While the RBC menu is chock full of things you would expect from a steakhouse – ribeye, porterhouse, T-bone and New York steaks, for example – there are also plenty of creative plates, salads and sides along with seasonal dishes to enjoy.

Veracruz Octopus Cocktail, Spaghetti Western Carbonara and Creamed Cabbage are just a few examples of the variety of dishes offered.

The Gorhams aspire to throw a party every night where everyone is welcome, creating a space for everyone. “We’re just all about exceptional hospitality. We love what we do and are so happy to be here in Bend doing it,” Gorham says.

RBC 2838 NW Crossing Dr., Bend 541-797-7900

rbcbend.com

Dining room open daily: 4:30pm-9:30pm

Butcher Shop open Mon-Thu: 3pm–9:30pm, Fri-Sat Noon-9:30pm

Second place: Dear Mom Cafe

RBC’s home ranch is 7-Mile Creek Ranch in Ft. Klamath, part of the Country Natural Beef Cooperative. The RBC Butcher Shop, adjacent to the dining room, is open daily.

The RBC dining room is located at The Grove in NW Crossing. Tyler Valzania

Best Seafood Sebastian’s Seafood & Specialty Market

By Donna Britt @donnabrittcooks

Sebastian’s Seafood & Specialty Market opened at The Grove in Northwest Crossing in 2021 and in two short years has made a name for itself for being the local place for all things seafood. The specialty market features a full-service seafood and meat case, high-quality imported goods and specialty products and plenty of deli and grab & go items — we’re talking everything from King Crab legs to Kurobuta Pork chops to poke to Japanese cucumber salad. The selection at the market is impressive and varies seasonally, of course. Ahi poke, seafood salads, ceviche, fresh dips and sauces are freshly prepared in-house and ready for takeout daily.

Adjacent to the market is Sebastian’s Café, with an emphasis on seafood dishes. There are daily specials along with regular menu items such as Fish & Chips (cod or halibut), lobster rolls, the new Dungeness crab roll, a Teriyaki Smoked Salmon bowl, clam chowder, lobster bisque and even a wagyu beef burger.

Founder/Owner Sebastian Galletti grew up in the seafood industry. His family has over 50 years of experience in fresh seafood. After 11 years working in the family’s multigenerational seafood distribution business, he went out on his own and opened Sebastian’s. He’s thrilled that his venture is being welcomed by the community. “Thank you Central Oregon for voting us best seafood.”

Sebastian’s Seafood & Specialty Market 921 Mount Washington Dr., Bend 541-728-0696

sebastiansseafoodbend.com

Market open Mon-Sat 9am-7:30pm, Sun 9am-6:30pm

Café open Mon-Sat 11am-8pm, Sun 11am-7pm

Second place: Anthony’s in the Old Mill District

Photos by Robb McDonough

Fish & Chips, one of the signature dishes at Sebastian’s Café in The Grove in NW Crossing.

Sebastian’s Seafood & Specialty Market founder Sebastiano Galletti and his partner Athena Haden.

Best Smoothie/Juice Bar

Mother’s Westside Juice Cafe

By Jared Rasic

Best pizza

1st Pizza Mondo

2nd Rush's Squares

Best sandwich/deli

1st Valentine's Deli

2nd Cheba Hut

Best steak

1st Bos Taurus

2nd Rancher Butcher Chef

Best sushi

1st Five Fusion Modern Japanese Bar & Restaurant

2nd CHI Chinese and Sushi Bar

Best tacos

1st El Sancho

2nd Hablo Tacos

Best takeout

1st Wild Rose

2nd Spork

Best thai

1st Wild Rose

2nd Noi Thai Cuisine

Not all smoothies are created equal; that’s why Mother’s Westside Juice Cafe has been a Central Oregon staple since 1999. What’s the secret to that level of longevity? The answer is “Great ingredients, consistency & love,” according to Executive Chef Renee Raymond. That makes sense since as long as I’ve been going to Mother’s, I could always taste the love.

“Mother’s has had longevity in Bend because we are part of the community we love to serve,” says Raymond. “We staff our restaurants with people who are hard-working, consistent, and believe in our product as much as I do!”

The Pink Lady has been my favorite local smoothie since I moved here in 1999, finding a perfect balance between freshly squeezed OJ, strawberry, peach, banana and mango sorbet. It’s a great treat for the end of a bike ride or a walk, giving me a delicious reason to exercise and be healthy. Sometimes it’s easy to order a smoothie from somewhere that might taste decent, but sits quite heavily on the stomach, something I’ve never experienced from Mother’s.

“I hope people leave our restaurants feeling fulfilled and refreshed, not weighed down and tired,” says Raymond.

I also asked Raymond if there was a specific fruit that she feels people are sleeping on “Medjool Dates! They are known as the fruit of the gods and have so many wonderful applications when it comes to food.” Raymond says, “We are incredibly grateful to the community of Bend for showing us so much love and support over the years!”

Our pleasure, Renee.

Mother’s Westside Juice Cafe 1255 NW Galveston Ave, Bend 541-318-0989 Mothersjuicecafe.com

Second place: Emerald City Smoothie

Photos by Nicole Vulcan

The smoothie masters at Mother's raise a toast to their tasty win.

When it comes to Mother's smoothies, three is not a crowd.

Best cbd beverage

1st Ablis CBD

2nd Boneyard Elixir

Best cider

1st Avid Cider Company

2nd Bend Cider

Best bloody mary

1st The Victorian Cafe

2nd Washington Dining & Cocktails

Best brewery

1st Deschutes Brewery

2nd Boneyard Beer

Best dark beer

1st Black Butte Porter -Deschutes Brewery

2nd Black Ace - Bevel Brewing

Best drive thru coffee

1st Dutch Bros

2nd Backporch Coffee Roasters

Best happy hour

1st 900 Wall

2nd Pine Tavern Restaurant

Best kombucha

1st Humm Kombucha

2nd Compassion Kombucha

Best local coffee

1st Thump Coffee

2nd Backporch Coffee Roasters

Best seasonal beer

1st Jubelale - Deschutes Brewery

2nd Red Chair - Deschutes Brewery

Best sour beer

1st Ching Ching - Bend Brewing Company

2nd TIE - Ale Apothecary (Sahalie) and Funky Fauna

Artisan Ales

Best sports bar

1st Sidelines Sports Bar & Grill

2nd The Hideaway Tavern

Best wine bar

1st Portello Wine Cafe

2nd Flights Wine Bar

Best Bar San Simón

By Nicole Vulcan

You might have seen the t-shirts: “San Simón is a bar,” (you’re welcome, San Simón, for the Source Weekly Restaurant Guide quote used on that shirt) but the readers of Central Oregon would likely add a few more adjectives to that description. Perhaps they’d call the spot in Bend’s Tin Pan Alley “hip,” or “eclectic,” or “moody,” or “full of great specialty liquors and well-made drinks” — but however else you describe it, they’d certainly call it “best,” since it’s once again won the top spot as Best Bar in our annual readers’ poll.

San Simón has won Best Bar before, but this year, Co-owner Brian Trottier told the Source Weekly he thought that wouldn’t be the case, because of The Flaming Room – the plant-filled, “vaguely Equatorial” bar in the Century Center that he and his team opened in 2022. There was concern about a split vote among fans of both bars. Turns out, there was room for both places on the podium, because readers also voted The Flamingo Room second place for Best Bar this year.

The heart of San Simón is the hard-partying saint that the bar is named after – a namesake that the managers of both San Simón and The Flamingo Room asked to be photographed with for this story. We had a little trouble keeping his ubiquitous cigarette in his mouth and his legs may or may not be duct-taped together, but I think it worked out all right. Find San Simón the saint in his usual spot, on an elaborate altar along the wall of San Simón the bar, from 2pm to late, seven nights a week.

Second place: The Flamingo Room

Photos by Nicole Vulcan

Partying with the saint, from left, are Taylor Daniels, Benjamin Gad Keeling, Zoe Medearis and Kayla Millo.

The Boss' Office at San Simon.

Best Specialty Cocktail The Botanist, Five Fusion

By Brian Yaeger

There are probably some people who don’t like the word verdant, but it’s an apt descriptor for this cocktail. Not only is it a joyous shade of green, dare I say chartreuse, but it smacks of many a garden’s delights, or at least well-stocked bar’s garnish station. Gin, already the most botanical of all spirits, melds Hendricks’ medley of juniper (natch) along with a heavy hit of cucumber plus berries, roses and dried citrus. The Botanist is then further enlivened by tangy lime juice and a house syrup comprised of spicy serrano, tingly ginger and herbal cilantro. All the better to pair with sushi and other modern Japanese cuisine crafted by Chef Sascha Lyon.

The drink’s creator, Zack Ottesen, who has mixologized across L.A. and Seattle, designed this to enhance the food (and the cocktail menu, on the whole), even knowing some cocktail enthusiasts who think they have an aversion to gin. “This one took a bit to put together. It’s all about having the correct balance,” states Ottesen, who likens it to “an elevated gimlet.” If this is what he came up with out of the gates, imagine what Ottesen will concoct for next year’s Best of Central Oregon consideration.

Five Fusion Modern Japanese Bar & Restaurant 821 NW Wall St. #100, Bend 541-323-2328

5fusion.com

Open daily 4-9pm

Second place: Sassy Local, Drake

The Botanist, Five Fusion's speciality cocktail, consists of gin, cucumber, berries, roses, lime, serrano, ginger and cilantro.

Zack Ottesen offers his winning creation, The Botanist.

Best Light Beer Sweet As Pacific Ale, GoodLife Brewing

By Brian Yaeger

Best coffee shop

1st Backporch Coffee Roasters

2nd Thump Coffee

Best cold brew coffee

1st Backporch Coffee Roasters

2nd Thump Coffee

Best hazy

1st Fresh Haze - Deschutes Brewery 2nd Sippy Cup - GoodLife Brewing Company

Best ipa

1st RPM - Boneyard Beer

2nd First Run - Bevel Brewing

When GoodLife’s Sweet As won “People’s Choice” at the Bend Brewfest — in the brewery’s first year out of the gate, no less — it showed that this brewery knew it was onto something from the drop. A dozen years later, Sweet As is still undeniably and indelibly a Bend favorite. “We’re making classic, clean beers,” says owner Ty Barnett. “Not overly aggressive. Not too hoppy or strong.” Born of Australian hops (the moniker is Aussie for “awesome”) Sweet As has beguiled beer drinkers with its “soft and juicy” profile since before hazy, wheaty hop-bursted beers re-wrote the rules of the craft beer industry a few years back. So much so that even though it has all the hallmarks of an American pale ale and refers to itself as a Pacific Ale, once GoodLife embraced the fact that the quotient of wheat in its grain bill qualifies it as an American wheat beer, it has earned three medals — two golds and a silver — at the Great American Beer Festival. But we don’t need those fancy beer judges in Colorado telling us what we’ve got in Bend. Remember, it’s been our blue-ribbon beer from the drop.

Goodlife Brewing

70 SW Century Dr. #100-464, Bend

Open daily Noon-9pm 541-728-0749

goodlifebrewing.com

Second place: King Crispy, Deschutes Brewery

Photos by Nicole Vulcan

Cheers to the GoodLife in Central Oregon. It's Sweet As!

Best Solar Company Sunlight Solar

By Richard Sitts

Sunlight Solar is the original grid-tied solar company in Central Oregon, according to president/ founder Paul Israel. (Grid-tied means a solar energy setup that maintains a connection to the electricity grid.)

Sunlight Solar sells, designs and installs everything in-house, with its 17 employees. The company must be doing something right, as Source Weekly readers voted it the Best Solar Company in this year’s Best Of Central Oregon readers’ poll.

Imagine that instead of paying for your electricity, the power company pays you for the extra energy that you generate through solar panels on the roof of your home. After the initial investment, which can be reduced through federal and state incentive programs, homeowners can save tens of thousands of dollars on energy bills over the life of their systems. That solar power can also be used to charge the electric vehicle parked in the garage.

Israel says the company’s clients run about 70% residential and 30% commercial, including a lot of the new construction projects going on around Bend.

For its clients, the company’s goal is “to spin their utility meter backwards,” says Israel. For anyone considering investing in a solar system, he says, “It’s time to get off the fence. It’s an amazing, evolving technology that has become very reliable,” he adds.

Israel credits the company’s success to its employees and its customers, “who are everything,” he says.

Sunlight Solar

150 NE Hawthorne Ave., Bend 541-322-1910 sunlightsolar.com

Second place: Purelight Power of Bend

A drone's-eye view of rooftop solar at Korazon, Rooted Homes' (formerly Kor) development on the east side.

The Sunlight Solar crew is ready to outfit your home or business.

Best Landscaping Service

HD Landscape LLC

By Julianna LaFollette

HD Landscape is known to many as the one-stop shop for all outdoor needs.

Established in 2007, the local landscaping business has been highly regarded for its customer service, its willingness, punctuality and effectiveness.

The services the business offers are endless. It does seasonal cleanup, including gutter cleanout and leaf and debris removal, as well as winterization and snow removal. It offers every landscape maintenance service you could think of and completes installs of pavers, decks, plants, water features and more.

According to its website, “H.D.,” stands for the three qualities that it feels are most important to the brand and to the trade; “heavy duty, high definition, (in the) High Desert.” The company prides itself on its willingness to deliver; “whatever it takes, no matter the size.” The passionate, local team aims for precision, always making sure its customers are happy with the work.

The HD Landscape website features a portfolio, showcasing examples of the work that the company does, including eye-catching, rock water features, detailed landscape installations and yard maintenance. Customers rave about the employees’ friendly attitudes and quick service. The team at HD Landscaping loves what they do, and with over 12 years of experience helping Central Oregonians with their outdoor needs, you know you can trust it.

From pavers to plants, HD Landscaping has people's property covered.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Best barber

1st Tim Simpson - Highball Barber Shop

2nd Tracy - L&K Barbershop

Best bartender

1st Buck Bales - D&D Bar & Grill

2nd Ben Keeling - The Flamingo Room

Best brewer

1st Nate Doss - Bevel Brewing

2nd Tyler West - Goodlife Brewing Company

Best budtender

1st Lexxie - Oregrown Industries

2nd Gareth - Oregrown Industries

Best chef

1st Ariana & Andre Fernadez - Ariana Restaurant

2nd Nate King & Bill Docker - Bosa

Best insurance agent

1st Fabian Clark - COUNTRY Financial Advisor

2nd Ryan Walker - State Farm

Best Mortgage broker

1st Andy Zook - A2Z Home Loans

2nd Brandon Roberts - Nations Lending

Best realtor

1st Stormy Clark

2nd Tiffany Clark

Best tv personality

1st Bob Shaw

2nd Emily Kirk

Best Local Radio Personality

Dave Clemens, KQAK

By Richard Sitts

Central Oregon’s favorite radio personality, Dave Clemens, says he wanted to be a radio broadcaster since he was 12 years old, when he started making tapes and sending them to friends and family. He got his first radio job a year or two after high school, in 1990, landing at KRCO in Prineville, and has been in a love affair with radio ever since.

Currently, the Dave Clemens Experience can be heard from 6-10am, Monday - Saturday on KQAK, 105.7 FM. He also hosts an adult country show, Dave Clemens and The Ride Home, from 3-7pm, on The Ranch, 95.7 FM. As if that isn’t enough, he also serves as operations manager for Horizon Broadcasting Group, overseeing five radio stations.

Each day, he says he tries to pass on to lis teners “a little info, hopefully some enter tainment, some laughs and just a little ridiculousness.” Clemens says he also works with charities and non profits to help them get their messages out. “The give back has become a focus for me.”

Clemens says he’d like to thank his listeners, whom he affectionately calls “weirdos,” for their support over the years, and for having his back when things go wrong. He also wants to thank his boss, Keith Shipman, for taking a chance on him nearly 20 years ago. “Thanks to all my peeps and weirdos! I get to do this because of you, and I keep that in mind every day.”

Clemens says he’s a classic rock guy, but also loves coun try and “music in general.” He and his wife, Jennifer, reside in Bend with their children.

Second place: Kris, 92/9 Local. Independent.

Dave Clemons is an excitable guy...

...who can also mellow out!

Photos by Jennifer Galler

Best Florist Donner Flower Shop

By Richard Sitts

Donner Flower Shop is the perennial winner of Best Florist in the Source Weekly’s annual readers’ poll, but no one, especially owner Tanja Rodgers, takes that for granted. During a recent midweek visit to the bustling shop, workers were intently focused on their individual flowery tasks, pausing only long enough to look up with a friendly smile.

“I’m so proud of the team we have here, from design to customer service and everything else,” Rodgers says. “It’s great to be part of a wonderful community. Flowers make people happy and we love to deliver happiness on the daily. We’re proud to be one of the oldest businesses in Bend.”

Donner Flower Shop (no relation to the infamous “Party”) has been plying Bend with flowers since 1911, when it was founded by Grace Donner. With a desire to keep it in the family, Rodgers took over the business about three years ago from her mother, Doris Dilday, who ran it for about 40 years.

Rodgers says she and her team of about a dozen pride themselves on “solid delivery daily throughout Central Oregon.” Besides a steady flow of walk-in customers, the shop handles floral subscriptions to local businesses and residents, making 20 to 30 deliveries a day. A few extra employees join in during Valentine’s Day, Mothers Day and the month of December.

After several locations downtown on Wall Street, the shop has been in its current location for about 12 years, where the basement once housed a speakeasy during Prohibition.

Rodgers’ floral philosophy: “Stop and smell the flowers!”

Donner Flower Shop

Mon-Fri 8am to 5pm, Sat 9am-3pm 605 NW Newport Ave., Bend 541-382-3791 donnerflower.com

Second place: Flowers by Eryn

Flowers bring smiles. Just ask Tanja Rodgers!

Richard Sitts

Courtesy Donner Flower Shop

Bethlehem Inn started as a group of pastors opening up their churches as winter warming shelters all the way back in 1999. Now, it has two campuses of its own, where it helps both families and individual adults navigate out of homelessness.

“We're going into our 25th year. And I think it's too wrong to say we're celebrating that, really we're honoring our mission of being able to help people in crisis, find a transition to something better than where they are when they come to us,” said Gwenn Wysling, executive director of Bethlehem Inn.

Wysling said an average of one in three graduates of their program, which typically stay for around a month, leave for long-term housing. At its Redmond shelter, over 50% of people leave for permanent housing. Families often are more fortunate when gaining housing, but Bethlehem Inn also has case managers that can help with employment, health and other factors that could contribute to homelessness.

“The housing statistic is a very significant number. But they're also scoring higher in employment and

Best Nonprofit Serving Basic Needs

Bethlehem Inn

By Jack Harvel

income and the other vital conditions that we measure. Housing is an important one. But there also are many other ways in which we help people move forward,” Wysling said.

Bethlehem Inn has always been a volunteer-driven endeavor. For the first several years, the nonprofit didn’t even have a kitchen and relied on the community to provide meals for its clients. And though the organization has grown, it still needs the community’s help to organize donations, make sack lunches, work reception and more.

“Summertime is when we really have a higher need for volunteers because a lot of people are on vacation, so we do weekly orientations. You can go to our website and learn more about our mission and ways to get involved. And find out why the Source and Central Oregon thinks we're one of the best nonprofits,” Wysling said.

Bethlehem Inn

3705 N. Hwy 97, Bend 517 N. Birch Ave., Redmond Bethleheminn.org

Second place: NeighborImpact

Local volunteers are happy to serve at Bethlehem Inn.

The Bethlehem Inn relishes its mission of helping people transition into permanent housing.

Best place to work (under 50 employees)

1st Bend Veterinary Clinic

2nd Tumalo Animal Hospital

Best radio station

1st KPOV

2nd 92/9 Local. Independent.

Best senior living facility

1st Touchmark at Pilot Butte

2nd Touchmark at Mount Bachelor Village

Best spot for a night out with the crew

1st McMenamins - Old St. Francis

2nd Cascade West Grub & Alehouse

Best staycation destination

1st Sunriver Resort

2nd Brasada Ranch

Best Wedding Venue

Faith Hope and Charity Vineyards

By Julianna LaFollette

Faith, Hope and Charity isn’t known for being a wedding venue, but when it is, it’s really special. The vineyard was planted in 2010, but the business had its first wedding in 2008. The number of yearly weddings at the vineyard varies, but this year, there are only five. With an attention to detail and great views, one can see why this venue is desirable.

Being a vineyard, Faith, Hope and Charity is always in charge of the beverages. However, when it comes to food, the venue is a lot more flexible. According to Cindy Grossman, the owner, people have a choice of bringing their own vendor, or leaving it up to the vineyard to make the food or make arrangements for them. If someone wants a special menu, Grossman said, they can create it, bringing in special chefs to make any meal imaginable.

The bride and groom are invited to choose any part of the 30 acres provided to them. The event can take place in the vineyard or by

the pond. “They can do almost anything they want,” said Grossman. Another notable detail about this venue is that weddings are completely private. Guests will have the whole site to themselves.

Grossman believes that the wine is the number one thing that makes the vineyard a top venue. “We are the premier winery in Central Oregon.” Aside from the tasty beverages, Grossman said that the vineyard staff goes above and beyond when it comes to making an event feel special.

Faith Hope and Charity Vineyards 70450 Lower Valley Dr., Terrebonne 541-526-5075 faithhopeandcharityevents.com

Second place: Aspen Hall

Getting their "best" on, from left, are Lydia Urhausen, Makala Capon and Cindy Grossman.

Photos by Julianna LaFollette

Bend

Best Antique store

1st Iron Horse Antiques

2nd Gathered Wares

Best beauty boutique

1st Wren & Wild

2nd Melted Brow Bar & Skincare

Best bike shop

1st Hutch's Bicycle

2nd Pine Mountain Sports

Best car dealership

1st Subaru of Bend

2nd Kendall Toyota

Best cbd company

1st Ablis CBD

2nd Mission Farms CBD

Best children's clothing

1st Hopscotch Kids

2nd Stone Soup Kids

Best dispensary

1st Tokyo Starfish

2nd Oregrown Industries

Best gift store

2nd Clementine Urban Mercantile

Best grocery store

1st Newport Avenue Market

2nd Market of Choice

Best indoor plant store

1st Somewhere That's Green

2nd Desert Rose Cactus Lounge

Best jewelry store

2nd Saxon's Fine Jewelers

Best liquor store

1st 3rd Street Beverage

2nd Trailhead Liquor

Best men's clothing

2nd Vanilla Clothing Co.

Best Home Décor

Lark Mountain Modern

By Julianna LaFollette

Karrie Trowbridge, the owner of Lark Mountain Modern, had already owned a home décor shop when she decided to open Lark.

Trowbridge opened the retail store in January of 2020 and soon after that, was forced to shut down due to the pandemic. She decided to weather the storm by turning to online operations, creating a business that offered in-store pickup. As soon as the online store went live, customers went crazy, said store manager Liz Odell.

Lark carries specialty home décor as well as furniture, soft goods like table linens and napkins, jewelry and gifts. According to Odell, the retail store attempts to source as many local and women-owned goods as they can.

In addition to the variety of items in the store, Odell mentioned that the prices range greatly as well. Shoppers can find décor and gifts for under $10.

“Anybody can come in and get something,” Odell said. The selection of upscale and carefully picked décor is something that Odell believes makes the store stand out. The location isn’t so bad either; on NW Wall Street in Bend. The downtown building that home décor shop sits in has housed several businesses before them. It was a men’s clothing store, a home goods store and, right before Lark, a record store.

Odell and Trowbridge have been Bend locals for many years and believe the “mountain modern” décor fits Bend perfectly. “We know what Bend is. . . we love our customers and we love talking to them,” said Odell. The staff hopes that Lark is a place where people come in and feel a sense of happiness and beauty. Lark

Second place: Haven Home Style

From left: Lori White, Joann Wolpert and Liz Odell.

Photos by Julianna LaFollette

Shoppers can find a variety of goods at Lark.

“Happy Dog Camp!”

We are honored you’ve chosen Bend Unleashed to provide the care, love & affection to you pups.

We specialize in overnight boarding, but also offer:

• Daystays

• Private leash walks

• Grooming

• Training

• Specialized Dog Retail

All dogs are always supervised by trained, dog-loving staff.

We have play yards for every dog whether they are in group play or prefer to be by themselves.

Every area of our facility was designed to be sanitized to help prevent the spread of germs. Play yards are made of K9 Grass, artificial turf made just for dogs.

Best outdoor clothing store

1st Mountain Supply

2nd The Gear Fix

Best outdoor gear shop

1st The Gear Fix 2nd Mountain Supply

Best pet store

1st Bend Pet Express 2nd Mud Bay

Best place to buy art 1st The Workhouse 2nd Tumalo Art Co.

Best place to buy produce 1st Paradise Produce Stand 2nd The Vegetable Man Produce

Best smoking accessories

1st Hempies

Oregrown Industries

Best thrift store

1st The Humane Society of Central Oregon 2nd Goodwill

Best toy store 1st Leapin' Lizards Toy Co. 2nd Learning Express Toys

Best vintage clothing

1st Revival Vintage

2nd Old Boy Vintage

Best women's clothing

1st Vanilla Clothing Co. 2nd Hempies

Best Clothing Consignment Cosa Cura

By Nicole Vulcan

Cosa Cura began its life in 2006, under the name Rescue Collective, the brainchild of artist Angela Dietrich and a group of friends. The space took on its current name in 2016, and in 2018, found its current home along the bustling NW Crossing Drive on Bend’s west side. The shop buys and sells consigned items that run the gamut of styles and designers; as Dietrich puts it, “everything from Forever 21 to Chanel.” In addition, local designers have the chance to sell their work at Cosa Cura, too.

Like Bend itself, Cosa Cura has seen growth and change over its many years in business. While the shop’s buyers still aim to stock items in a range of styles and price points, the arrival of more and more newcomers from other cities and regions has brought more designer brands to the shop – adding a touch of fun, cosmopolitan flair to the scene.

Dietrich and her team have big things planned for the coming months, with the upcoming addition of a second Bend location in the Brookswood Plaza. In addition to the usual complement of curated consignment items, Dietrich says with its larger size, the new store will also include an elaborate setup for shoes, along with a men’s section. Since Cosa Cura is once again taking home honors as Best Clothing Consignment in Central Oregon, there’s a pretty good bet that those looking for men’s styles are gonna like this place, too.

Cosa Cura 2735 NW Crossing Dr., Suite 101, Bend cosacura.com 541-312-2279

Open Tue-Fri 11am-4pm, Sat-Sun 10am-3pm; consignment by appointment only

Second place: Truffle Pig Trading Co.

The Cosa Cura team, from left, Ann Schnabel, Founder Angela Dietrich and daughter Coco Dietrich, and Dianna Baca.

Nicole Vulcan

Courtesy Cosa Cura

Best Nursery/Garden Center

Moonfire and Sun Garden Center

By Julianna LaFollette

With close to 40 years in business, Moonfire and Sun Nursery has certainly stood the test of time. The nursery is open year-round and has an extensive selection and variety of both indoor and outdoor plants, including a wide range of natives that keep customers keep coming back.

In the summer months, the nursery sells edibles, landscape shrubs and matured trees, oftentimes grown to over 15 feet. Carrie Leahy, the manager of Moonfire and Sun, said that in the colder months, the nursery more than quadruples its houseplant supply, holding most of them in its vast greenhouse.

The nursery holds fall and winter events such as pumpkin carving, wreath making and terrarium building in the greenhouse, which Leahy considers the perfect oasis for relieving the winter blues.

The predominantly female-operated business attributes its success to its staff, their knowledge and the plant quality.

“I’ve been extremely fortunate in bringing in like-minded people and we all really gel,” said Leahy. The team works hard every day to ensure that plants are healthy and beautiful.

The nursery staff loves adding new and exciting plants to its selection, giving customers another reason to keep returning. “We are constantly making sure that we’ve experienced how a plant is going to hold up,” said Leahy. “So when we tell you it’s gonna be good in your yard, we are confident in that.” Moonfire

Second place: Eastside Gardens

Photos by Julianna LaFollette

Plants, plants and more plants!

These smiling faces are ready to fulfill your botanical needs at Moonfire and Sun.

Best Adult Dental Group

Best Alternative Health Clinic

1st Inspired Health: Integrative + Functional Medicine

2nd Center for Integrative Medicine

Best Dermatologist/Group

2nd Dermatology Health Specialists

Best Health and Recreation Facility

1st Juniper Swim & Fitness Center

2nd Larkspur Community Center

Best Massage/Day Spa

Best Medical Group

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Best Pediatric Dental Group

1st Deschutes Pediatric Dentistry

2nd Pediatric Dental Associates

Best Place for Medical/Cosmetic

Best Ski/Snowboard Shop

1st Powder House Ski & Patio

2nd Brookswood Animal Clinic

Ryan Clark founded Clark’s University of Martial Arts a decade ago after about 20 years training in different martial arts. Like other modern martial arts gyms, it focuses on proven disciplines like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a form of grappling that emphasizes positioning and leverage to apply chokes, holds and joint manipulation, and Muay Thai, “the art of eight limbs,” where combatants trade punches, elbows, kicks and knees. The space also has several programs for kids, including the Little Ninjas, Samurais and Black Belt Clubs.

“In the past few years, we've really focused a lot more on character development, for kids, and providing a place for kids to come and work out, learn something new, learn how to defend themselves, but also just learn some things that we feel aren't really taught anymore and are hard to come by. We call them martial art characteristics. So, learning the idea of discipline and responsibility and enthusiasm, these types of things,” Clark said.

Though Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are foundational for mixed-martial arts training, Clark

Best Fitness Studio Clark’s University of Martial Arts

By Jack Harvel

said his gym isn’t geared toward MMA-style cage fighting. Modern martial arts have moved away from the more metaphysical teachings common in traditional martial arts like Tae Kwon Do and Karate, and Clark said the trajectory of his gym has moved more in that direction over the past few years.

“I want you to learn how to defend yourself and know how to do the martial arts, but it's got to be something bigger than that. In the past few years, I kind of have changed the trajectory of the gym into something more, where it's a fulfillment center, it's like learning something, be part of a community. It's not about fighting, it's about you and what you're capable of doing,” Clark said. “Those things are undertones in martial arts, for sure. But I think at our place, I kind of push that more at the forefront.”

Clark’s University of Martial Arts

62971 Plateau Dr #300, Bend 541-232-6300

clarksuniversity.com

Runner Up: Altius Pole Studio

Ryan Clark is at peace, having earned a "Best Of" for his fitness studio.

Clark's University students learn a lot more than just fitness.

Schoolhouse Produce and Provisions doesn’t just provide organic produce, meats and all kinds of thoughtfully sourced grocery items, but with the Lunchbox, Schoolhouse’s in-house deli, it also provides Redmond’s Best Lunch.

Owner Heidi Cook explains: "We are hoping that our customers think of us as a bit more than a produce store. We’d love to fill a niche as a Redmond’s local neighborhood market, where you can just pop in, grab some fresh Central Oregon vegetables, a locally baked loaf of Unity bread, select a local cheese from Windy Acres or a cut of Big Summit beef, add a Farmhouse Pie or some scoops of Bonta Gelato and call it dinner!”

With a menu featuring fresh salads, smoothies, sandwiches, avocado toast and much more, it would be easy to go back daily without trying the same thing twice. “Our main goal at Schoolhouse is that our sandwiches nourish your day,” says Cook. “We want you to feel that you put some good food in

Best Lunch in Redmond Schoolhouse Produce & Provisions

By Jared Rasic

your body and that’s going to fuel you through the afternoon. We craft our sandwiches on generous slices of local sourdough bread, then we pack on the organic veggies, house-pickled onions and our special Schoolhouse-made dill mustard sauce.”

In just a brief conversation with Cook, it’s easy to tell how passionate she is about supporting local farms, sourcing fresh foods and feeding the community she cares about. “It’s my hope that our customers feel at home in our store, that they feel comfortable, seen and taken care of,” says Cook. “Our daily soup sign always says, ‘Made with Sweet Love,’ and that’s really an unofficial motto of Schoolhouse. We really love making customers happy through food.”

Schoolhouse Produce & Provisions

1430 SW Highland Ave., Redmond 541-504-7112

schoolhouseproduce.com

Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 10am-4pm

Second place: One Street Down Cafe

Cheers to the Best Lunch in Redmond!

Just a few of the healthful, delicious offerings at Schoolhouse Produce.

Photos courtesy of SchoolhouseProduce

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ManyworkingfamiliesinBendandRedmondcannotaffordahome–eithertorentor tobuy!Firstresponders,healthcareproviders,teachers,smallbusinessownersand otherworkingfamiliesdeserveapathtohomeownership.OurHumanityinAction Campaignhelpsusbuildmorehomestofillthisneed.Forquestionsor tobepartofourHumanityinActioncampaigncontact:DarrionCotroneo: dcotroneo@brhabitat.org(541)526-8186

Homeownership is within reach.

Partnering with Habitat, hardworking individuals and families make homeownership a reality.

Every shopper, donor & volunteer helps fulfill Habitat's mission.

Best New Restaurant in Redmond

Feast Food Company

By Nicole Vulcan

The story of Feast Food Company sounds like the emerging, classic tale of young up-and-comers of Central Oregon: Two longtime service-industry people live and work in Bend, get priced out of Bend, buy a house in Redmond and decide to invest in their new community, so they open a food cart business that goes so well that it fairly quickly turns into a brick-and-mortar restaurant.

Perhaps the toughest part of this process, for those who are fans of Feast’s food, is that there was something of a wait between the closure of the cart and the opening of the restaurant, now located along 7th Street, in a former house with a sprawling and inviting outdoor courtyard. Now that it’s open, though, readers have quite obviously responded with pleasure – as this Best New Restaurant award demonstrates. Feast opened as a cart in 2021 and then opened its restaurant late last year.

“The food cart was kind of like the base, jump-off point to make sure that the community was going to approach our food the way that we wanted,” said Co-owner Chris Leyden, who opened Feast with wife Emma Leyden. “That way we were able to meet a lot of people around, get really in touch with all the farms and really jumpstart what we wanted to do.”

A focus on local farms is the heart of Feast’s mission – bringing seasonal ingredients that are so local that the farms and purveyors tend to be sourced hyper-locally –mostly from around Redmond.

“We want to focus on the people who live here,” Emma Leyden said. “We worked in downtown Bend forever – it’s a very different vibe there, very touristy in the summer and then all of a sudden, you focus on your locals. But here, it’s just all locals, all the time. It’s really cool to have those moments where you’re familiar with people and they’re familiar with you.”

House-made pastas, pork chop, pork belly and fried mushrooms are some of the most popular items on the menu, the couple said – though with its focus on seasonality, there’s always something new to discover.

Feast Food Company 546 NW 7th St., Redmond

541-923-0170

feastfoodco.com

Open Thu & Mon 11am-8pm, Fri-Sat 11am-9pm, Sun 10am-8pm

Nicole Vulcan

Chris and Emma Leyden love serving Redmond locals and anyone else looking for locally sourced food.

Feast offers a seasonal menu with Pork Belly Mac and Cheese, and delicious speciality cocktails.

Courtesy Feast food Co

Courtesy Feast food Co

Best Lunch in Sisters

Sisters Meat and Smokehouse

By Jack Harvel

Sisters’ best lunch is also one of its great specialty markets, offering an array of smoked products — beef dogs, bratwursts, and jerky, as well as fresh meats including specialty items like lamb and elk. But, the sandwiches are why Sisters Smokehouse is the returning champion of our annual Best Of poll.

“We make our own sandwich meats, if you're talking about the lunch, which is the reason that we are so good is because we make such good meat and we make it out of quality products,” said Kay Johnson, owner of Sisters Meat and Smokehouse. “We have a Tri Tip sandwich, that's our most popular item. That's a hot sandwich. And then we have our turkey sandwich, cold sandwich, which is awesome. And our French dip and our Reuben. Those are probably our top four sandwiches.”

The Sisters Meat and Smokehouse meat cutter and smokehouse expert both come from a long line of food professionals. The local, family-owned business is also expanding to new territory. In April Sisters meat and Smokehouse opened a second shop in Redmond, bringing its signature high quality meat, charcuterie and, of course, their sandwiches.

Sisters Meat and Smokehouse

110 S. Spruce St., Sisters

541-719-1186

sistersmeat.com

Open daily 9am-6pm, food served ‘til 5:30pm

Second place: Sno Cap Drive In

The sandwiches are supreme, but there's also plenty of chips, cheeses and other condiments and sides.

Photos courtesy Sisters Meat and Smokehouse

Look for the big red barn for delicious meats and sandwiches in Sisters.

Best bar/brewpub

1st Sunriver Brewing Company

2nd The Mountain Jug

Best boutique

1st The Lazy Daisy

2nd West of the Moon

Best breakfast

1st Cafe Sintra

2nd Lodge Kitchen

Best coffee shop

1st Brewed Awakenings

2nd T&S EspressO Awakening

Best food cart

1st The Peak Food Truck

Best happy hour

1st Owl's Nest

2nd Sunriver Brewing Company

Best lodging

1st Sunriver Resort

2nd Bennington Properties

Best place for live music

1st SHARC - Sunriver Homeowners Aquatic & Recreation Center

2nd Sunriver Resort

Best restaurant

1st Marcello's Cucina Italiana 2nd Sunriver Brewing Company

Best Lunch in Sunriver Cafe Sintra Sunriver

By Jack Harvel

Café Sintra in Sunriver has won several categories in our Best Of poll for years. Stop by in the morning for one of its eggs benedict dishes, egg scrambles, omelets or breakfast pastries, or during lunch to grab one of the sandwiches, stews or salads. The owners of Cafe Sintra in Bend started the restaurant 25 years ago, but for the last 17 years Tracie Peterson has owned and operated the business after years in the food service business.

“I started when I was 14 on this corner at Treehouse Pizza and then Marcello’s and then came over here, and then I haven't really left. I guess it's just in my DNA, restaurants and foods,” Peterson said. “Working all these years, you just make a connection with the regulars, vacation homeowners and you see their kids and then their kids are grown and they have kids... It just feels good to see everyone still come into Sunriver and recognize you.”

The restaurant is named for a town in Portugal. Portuguese food is influenced by both French and Mediterranean cuisine, as well as the spice trade that flowed through

the country. There’s also more traditional American fare like pancakes, turkey club sandwiches and steak and eggs. Sintra’s staff takes pride in its food, and says the key to its success is making their food fresh with high-quality ingredients.

“Our popular items are the Linguica scramble. We have a Sintra Skillet with all the trios of meats and a Veggie Hash. Our sandwiches are the Portuguesa, Chicken Lisboa. We have the Portuguese Chicken Stew and all of our salads... there's so many yummy items on the menu,” Tracie said. “We make our own bread, our own pastries, just like they do in Europe. Everything's freshly made and I think it just makes a world of difference.”

Café Sintra Sunriver

At the Village at Sunriver

57031 Ponderosa Rd, Sunriver 541-593-1222

cafesintrasunriver.com

Open daily 7am-3pm

Second place: Josie K’s Deli and Kitchen

Jack Harvel

Courtesy Cafe Sintra Courtesy Cafe Sintra

Cafe Sintra offers a wide variety of delicious menu items.

Best Asian

1st CHI Chinese and Sushi Bar

2nd Five Fusion Modern Japanese Bar & Restaurant

Best Bagel

1st Big O Bagels

2nd Rockin' Dave's

Best bakery

1st Sparrow Bakery

2nd Nancy P's Cafe and Bakery

Best bbq

1st Baldy's BBQ

2nd Bigfoot BBQ Co.

Best bowl

1st Active Culture

2nd Cafe Yumm!

Best breakfast

1st McKay Cottage Restaurant

2nd The Lemon Tree

Best breakfast burrito

1st Burrito Sunrise

2nd Bend Breakfast Burrito

Best breakfast sandwhich

1st Sparrow Bakery

2nd Rockin' Daves

Best burger

1st Blue Eyes Burgers & Fries

2nd Bend Burger Co.

Best burrito

1st Super Burrito

2nd Los Jalapeños

Best caterer

1st Bleu Bite Catering

2nd Cody's Country Catering

Best dessert

1st Bontà

2nd Elly's Ice Cream

Best dinner

1st Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails

2nd Bosa

Best doughnut

1st Richard's Donuts and Pastries

2nd The Dough Nut

Best eggs benedict

1st The Victorian Cafe

2nd McKay Cottage Restaurant

Best falafel

1st Bo's Falafel

2nd Shimshon

Best family dining

1st Jackson's Corner

2nd Okawa Steakhouse & Sushi

Best fine dining

1st Ariana Restaurant

2nd Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails

Best food cart

1st Toasty

2nd The Americana Truck

Best food cart lot

1st On Tap

2nd Midtown Yacht Club

Best fried chicken

1st The Tin Pig

2nd Cascade West Grub & Alehouse

Best international/ fusion cuisine

1st Spork

2nd CHI Chinese and Sushi Bar

Best lunch

1st Jackson's Corner

2nd Valentine's Deli

Best mac'n cheese

1st Brother Jon's Alehouse

2nd Junior's Grill

Best mediterranean

1st Kefi Fast Fresh Mediterranean

2nd Shimshon

Best mexican

1st El Sancho

2nd La Rosa ︱ Modern Mexican Kitchen

Best milkshake

1st Dandy's Drive-In

2nd Goody's Chocolate & Ice Cream

Best new food cartopen 1 year or less

1st WillieBurger

2nd Mother Shuckers

Best new restaurantopen 1 year or less

1st Rancher Butcher Chef

2nd Dear Mom Cafe

Best italian

1st Nome Italiano

2nd Bosa

Best patio dining

1st Pine Tavern Restaurant

2nd Washington Dining & Cocktails

Best pizza

1st Pizza Mondo

2nd Rush's Squares

Best sandwich/deli

1st Valentine's Deli

2nd Cheba Hut

Best seafood

1st Sebastian's Seafood & Specialty Market

2nd Anthony's at the Old Mill District

Best smoothie/juice bar

1st Mother's Westside Juice Café

2nd Emerald City Smoothie

Best steak

1st Bos Taurus

2nd Rancher Butcher Chef

Best sushi

1st Five Fusion Modern Japanese Bar & Restaurant

2nd CHI Chinese and Sushi Bar

Best tacos

1st El Sancho

2nd Hablo Tacos

Best takeout

1st Wild Rose

2nd Spork

Best thai

1st Wild Rose

2nd Noi Thai Cuisine

Best vegan

1st Toasty

2nd A Broken Angel

Best vegetarian

1st Active Culture

2nd Toasty

Best bar

1st San Simon

2nd The Flamingo Room

Best cbd beverage

1st Albis CBD

2nd Boneyard Elixir

Best cider

1st Avid Cider Company

2nd Bend Cider

Best bloody mary

1st The Victorian Cafe

2nd Washington Dining & Cocktails

Best brewery

1st Deschutes Brewery

2nd Boneyard Beer

Best cold brew coffee

1st Backporch Coffee Roasters

2nd Thump Coffee

Best coffee shop

1st Backporch Coffee Roasters

2nd Thump Coffee

Best dark beer

1st Black Butte Porter -Deschutes

Brewery

2nd Black Ace - Bevel Brewing

Best drive thru coffee

1st Dutch Bros

2nd Backporch Coffee Roasters

Best happy hour

1st 900 Wall

2nd Pine Tavern Restaurant

Best hazy beer

1st Fresh Haze - Deschutes Brewery

2nd Sippy Cup - GoodLife Brewing

Best ipa

1st RPM - Boneyard Beer

2nd First Run - Bevel Brewing

Best kombucha

1st Humm Kombucha

2nd Compassion Kombucha

Best light beer

1st Sweet As - Goodlife Brewing Company

2nd King Crispy - Deschutes Brewery

Best local coffee

1st Thump Coffee 2nd Backporch Coffee Roasters

Best seasonal beer

1st Jubelale - Deschutes Brewery

2nd Red Chair - Deschutes Brewery

Best sour beer

1st Ching Ching - Bend Brewing Company

2nd TIE - Ale Apothecary (Sahalie) and Funky Fauna Artisan Ales

Best specialty cocktail

1st The Botanist - Five Fusion

Modern Japanese Bar & Restaurant

2nd Sassy Local - Drake

Best sports bar 1st Sidelines Sports Bar & Grill 2nd The Hideaway Tavern

Best wine bar 1st Portello Wine Cafe

Flights Wine Bar

Best beauty studio

1st Penny Lash

2nd Lemon Drop Salon

Best day care/ preschool

1st Toddles Preschool

2nd The Cottage

Best hair salon

1st Lemon Drop Salon

2nd Blue Star Salon

Best green business

1st Central Oregon Locavore

2nd The Gear Fix

Best house cleaner 1st Cleaner Living NW

2nd Pine Country Cleaning

Best landscape service 1st HD Landscape LLC

2nd Land Effects Inc.

Best law firm 1st High Desert Law

2nd Best Best and Krieger

Best local fundraiser 1st Tuxes & Tails, Humane Society of Central Oregon

2nd Cork & Barrel, KIDS Center

Best local home builder

1st Hayden Homes 2nd Pahlisch Homes

Best mani/pedi 1st Crescent Nails

2nd Freshly Filed

Best painting service

1st Webfoot Painting Co.

2nd Townhouse Painters Bend

Best pest control 1st Pointe Pest Control 2nd Terminix

Best pet grooming 1st Dirty Dog Grooming

Muddy Paws Bathhouse

Best pet resort 1st Bend Unleashed

Bend Pet Resort

Best Auto repair 1st Import Performance Auto Repair 2nd Happy Danes Auto Repair

Best bank branch

OnPoint Community Credit Union 2nd U.S. Bancorp

Best place to get a tattoo 1st Monolith Tattoo Studio

Best property management

1st Lava Ridge Property Management

2nd A Superior Property Management Company

Best real estate company

1st Compass Commercial Real Estate Services

2nd Bend Premier Real Estate

Best solar company

1st Sunlight Solar Energy

2nd Purelight Power of Bend

Best barber

1st Tim Simpson - Highball Barber Shop

2nd Tracy - L&K Barbershop

Best bartender

1st Buck Bales - D&D Bar & Grill

2nd Ben Keeling - The Flamingo Room

Best brewer

1st Nate Doss - Bevel Brewing

2nd Tyler West - Goodlife Brewing Company

Best budtender

1st Lexxie - Oregrown Industries

2nd Gareth - Oregrown Industries

Best chef

1st Ariana & Andre FernadezAriana Restaurant

2nd Nate King & Bill Docker - Bosa

Best florist

1st Donner Flower Shop

2nd Flowers by Eryn

Best insurance agent

1st Fabian Clark - COUNTRY

Financial Advisor

2nd Ryan Walker - State Farm

Best Mortgage broker

1st Andy Zook - A2Z Home Loans

2nd Brandon Roberts - Nations

Lending

Best local radio personality

1st Dave Clemens - KQAK

2nd Kris - 92/9 Local. Independent.

Best realtor

1st Stormy Clark

2nd Tiffany Clark

Best tv personality

1st Bob Shaw

2nd Emily Kirk

Best place to work (over 50 employees)

1st Central Oregon Community College

2nd Deschutes Brewery

Best place to work (under 50 employees)

1st Bend Veterinary Clinic

2nd Tumalo Animal Hospital

Best indoor music venue

1st Volcanic Theatre Pub

2nd Silver Moon Brewing

Best instagram account

1st Memes of Bend

2nd Loot the Deschutes

Best locals hangout

1st Bevel Brewing

2nd On Tap

Best locals night

1st Silver Moon Brewing

2nd Bevel Brewing

Best lodging

1st Oxford Hotel Bend

2nd Campfire Hotel

Best nonprofit serving animal welfare

1st The Humane Society of Central Oregon

2nd Street Dog Hero

Best nonprofit serving arts & culture

1st BendFilm

2nd Cascade Theatrical Company

Best nonprofit serving basic needs

1st Bethlehem Inn

2nd NeighborImpact

Best nonprofit serving education, families & children

1st Boys & Girls Club of Bend

2nd KIDS Center

Best nonprofit serving health and environment

1st The Environmental Center

2nd Central Oregon Locavore

Best open mic

1st Silver Moon Brewing

2nd Craft Kitchen & Brewery

Best place to pick up a copy of the source weekly

1st Newport Avenue Market

2nd Deschutes Public Library

Best radio station

1st KPOV

2nd 92/9 Local. Independent. Best senior living facility

1st Touchmark at Pilot Butte

2nd Touchmark at Mount Bachelor Village

Best spot for a night out with the crew

1st McMenamins - Old St. Francis

2nd Cascade West Grub & Alehouse

Best staycation destination

1st Sunriver Resort

2nd Brasada Ranch

Best wedding venue

1st Faith Hope and Charity

Vineyards

2nd Aspen Hall

Best clothing consignment

1st Cosa Cura

2nd Truffle Pig Trading Co.

Best dispensary

1st Tokyo Starfish

2nd Oregrown Industries

Best gift store

1st ju-bee-lee

2nd Clementine Urban Mercantile

Best grocery store

1st Newport Avenue Market

2nd Market of Choice

Best Home Decor

1st Lark Mountain Modern

2nd Haven Home Style

Best indoor plant store

1st Somewhere That's Green

2nd Desert Rose Cactus Lounge

Best jewelry store

1st Silverado

2nd Saxon's Fine Jewelers

Best liquor store

1st 3rd Street Beverage

2nd Trailhead Liquor

Best men's clothing

1st Revolvr

2nd Vanilla Clothing Co.

Best Nursery/garden center

1st Moonfire & Sun Garden Center

2nd Eastside Gardens

Best outdoor clothing store

Best Antique store

1st Iron Horse Antiques 2nd Gathered Wares

Best beauty boutique

1st Wren & Wild 2nd Melted Brow Bar & Skincare

Best bike shop

1st Hutch's Bicycle 2nd Pine Mountain Sports

Best car dealership 1st Subaru of Bend 2nd Kendall Toyota

Best cbd company 1st Ablis CBD 2nd Mission Farms CBD Best children's clothing

1st Hopscotch Kids

2nd Stone Soup Kids

1st Mountain Supply

2nd The Gear Fix

Best outdoor gear shop

1st The Gear Fix

2nd Mountain Supply

Best pet store

1st Bend Pet Express

2nd Mud Bay

Best place to buy art

1st The Workhouse

2nd Tumalo Art Co.

Best place to buy produce

1st Paradise Produce Stand

2nd The Vegetable Man Produce

Best smoking accessories

1st Hempies

2nd Oregrown Industries

Best thrift store

1st The Humane Society of Central Oregon

2nd Goodwill

Best toy store

1st Leapin' Lizards Toy Co.

2nd Learning Express Toys

Best vintage clothing

1st Revival Vintage

2nd Old Boy Vintage

Best women's clothing

1st Vanilla Clothing Co.

2nd Hempies

Best Pediatric Dental Group

1st Deschutes Pediatric Dentistry

2nd Pediatric Dental Associates

Best Ski/Snowboard Shop

1st Powder House Ski & Patio

2nd Skjersaa's

Best Veterinarian

1st Bend Veterinary Clinic

2nd Brookswood Animal Clinic

Best Yoga Studio

1st Namaspa

2nd Groove Yoga

Best Adult Dental Group

1st Bend Family Dentistry

2nd Drew Family Dentistry

Best Alternative Health Clinic

1st Inspired Health: Integrative + Functional Medicine Center

2nd Center for Integrative Medicine

Best Dermatologist/ Group

1st Bend Dermatology

2nd Dermatology Health Specialists

Best fitness studio

1st Clark's University of Martial Arts

2nd Altius Pole Studio

Best Golf Course

1st Widgi Creek Golf Club

2nd Thetherow Golf Resort

Best Health and Recreation Facility

1st Juniper Swim & Fitness Center

2nd Larkspur Community Center

Best Massage/Day Spa

1st Spa W

2nd Anjou Spa

Best Place for Medical/Cosmetic Enhancement

1st EsthetixMD

2nd Elite Medi Spa

Best Medical Group

1st Praxis Health

2nd Summit Health

Best bar

1st Blacksmith Public House

2nd Wayfarer Club

best boutique

1st Forever Sunshine

2nd Desert Prairie Boutique

best breakfast

1st One Street Down Cafe

2nd Mo's Egg House

best brewery/brewpub

1st Wild Ride Brewing

2nd Initiative Brewing

best burger

1st Redmond Burger Co.

2nd Bogey's Burgers

best coffee Shop

1st Tite Knot Craft Coffee

2nd Junction Roastery

best fitness studio

1st Love Bird Yoga

2nd Redmond Athletic Club

best food cart

1st Westside Taco Co.

2nd Wild Catch English Style Fish and Chips

best gift shop

1st Welcome Home

2nd Two Gifty Girls

best happy hour

1st Feast Food Co.

2nd E BarGrill

best lodging

1st SCP Redmond Hotel

2nd Eagle Crest Resort

best lunch

1st Schoolhouse Produce & Provisions

2nd One Street Down Cafe

best mexican restaurant

1st Carnaval Mexican Grill

2nd Diego's Spirited Kitchen

best new restaurant

1st Feast Food Co.

2nd Brand 44 North

best pizza

1st Grace and Hammer

2nd Jersey Boys Pizzeria

best place to watch

live music

1st General Duffy's Waterhole

2nd High Desert Music Hall

best restaurant

1st Brickhouse

2nd Carnaval Mexican Grill

best new restaurant/ bar - open 1 year or less

1st High Camp Taphouse

2nd Zeke's Takeout

best place for live music

1st The Belfry

2nd The Barn in Sisters

best restaurant

1st The Open Door

2nd The Barn in Sisters

best gift shop

1st Bedouin

2nd The Hen's Tooth

Best bar/brewpub

1st Sunriver Brewing Company

2nd The Mountain Jug

Best boutique

1st The Lazy Daisy

2nd West of the Moon

best bar/brewpub

1st Three Creeks Brewing

2nd Ski Inn Taphouse and Hotel

best boutique

1st Bedouin

2nd Wander + NW

best breakfast

1st Sisters Bakery

2nd Angeline's Bakery & Cafe

Best coffee shop

1st Sisters Coffee Company

2nd Fika Sisters Coffeehouse

best food cart

1st Boone Dog Pizza

2nd Rootbound

best happy hour

1st Ski Inn Taphouse and Hotel

2nd Sister's Saloon & Ranch Grill

best lodging

1st FivePine Lodge

2nd Left Coast Lodge

best lunch

1st Sisters Meat and Smokehouse

2nd Sno Cap Drive In

Best breakfast

1st Cafe Sintra

2nd Lodge Kitchen

Best coffee shop

1st Brewed Awakenings

2nd T&S EspressO Awakening

Best food cart

1st The Peak Food Truck

Best happy hour

1st Owl's Nest

2nd Sunriver Brewing Company

Best lodging

1st Sunriver Resort

2nd Bennington Properties

Best LUNCH

1st Cafe Sintra

2nd Josie K's Deli and Kitchen

Best place for live music

1st SHARC - Sunriver

Homeowners Aquatic & Recreation

2nd Sunriver Resort

Best restaurant

1st Marcello's Cucina Italiana

2nd Sunriver Brewing Company

Mexican rice, sometimes called Spanish rice or red rice, is typically made with long grain white rice, tomato, onion, garlic and seasonings. It’s usually a side dish with chicken, tacos, fish or other meats or soups. It’s simple to prepare and features toasted rice, which is a great technique for preventing rice from being too sticky. Toasting rice also brings out a rich, nutty flavor.

Cooking rice in general used to intimidate me but not so much anymore. I finally figured out that it’s a simple 2:1 ratio, liquid to rice. So 1 cup of rice to 2 cups of water. Two cups of rice to 4 cups of water and so on. Also, a long time ago I happened upon an old hippie vegetarian cookbook (sorry I can’t recall the name of the book) which suggested it was totally OK to check the rice while it was simmering, so no more stressing about lifting the lid before the rice was done. That same recipe also advised stirring in seasonings after the rice was cooked. That technique has made for many pots of nicely seasoned, fluffy rice at my house.

In this first recipe, we’re doing it a little differently, however, as we’re actually simmering with the lid off and we’re toasting the rice with the seasonings before we add the liquid and bring it all to a boil. For this particular version of Mexican rice I use what I have on hand, which in this instance is fresh cherry tomatoes from the backyard garden, some leftover minced onion and celery from another recipe and a jar of quick pickled jalapeños my son recently made.

The great thing about this Mexican rice dish is you can ad lib and substitute liberally. For example, you can add chopped bell pepper to the veggie mix. You can delete the celery or jalapeño if you prefer. You can use any kind of broth for liquid. You can double the recipe. It’s flexible, for sure. Remember to taste before serving and adjust seasonings to suit your own tastebuds.

Two Flavorful Ways to Cook Rice

Take your pick between Mexican or coconut rice for tonight's easy dinner

By Donna Britt

Mexican Rice with Cherry Tomatoes

4 servings

• Several swirls of olive oil

• ½ yellow or white onion, minced

• 1 celery stalk, minced

• Handful of cherry tomatoes, halved

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1-2 tablespoons pickled jalapeño, chopped

• 1 cup long grain white rice, rinsed and drained

• Kosher salt, as desired

• Black pepper, as desired

• 2 teaspoons cumin

• 2 teaspoons crushed oregano or ground oregano

• 2 cups water

• 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon

• 1 teaspoon tomato bouillon (you can substitute chicken bouillon)

• Chopped cilantro, for garnish

• Chopped jalapeño, for garnish

Coconut Rice

8 servings

• 2 cups long grain white rice, rinsed

• Several swirls of olive oil

• Pinch of Kosher salt

• Zest of 1 lime

• 2 tablespoons grated or minced ginger

• Juice from 1 lime

• 1 cup water

• 1 ½ cups coconut milk

• 1 cup broth, veggie or chicken

• 2 green onions, thinly sliced + more for garnish

• Handful of cilantro, chopped + more for garnish

Heat olive oil on medium-high heat in a large saucepan or deep skillet. Add onion, celery, tomatoes, garlic and jalapeño and sauté for a couple of minutes until onion is softened.

Add rice. Cook and stir until golden and fragrant, a couple of minutes. Stir in salt, pepper, cumin and oregano.

In a small bowl, stir bouillon into water. Add water to rice and veggies. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to simmer. Cook gently until rice is tender and all liquid is absorbed.

Garnish with cilantro and jalapeño as desired.

This next recipe is my version of a coconut rice. It’s a similar technique to the Mexican rice in that you stir the rice into the hot oil and toast it a bit before adding the liquid. It’s a great side with tacos and is excellent in burritos.

The recipe as written makes a lot of rice, at least 4 cups. Cut it in half if you want or save the extra for a stirfry later in the week.

Rinse rice and set aside. Heat a swirl of two of olive oil in a large, heavy saucepan or deep skillet on medium-high heat. Stir in rice, add salt, zest and ginger. Cook for a few minutes.

Add lime juice, water, coconut milk, broth, green onions and cilantro. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Simmer gently for 15-20 minutes with lid on or off, until rice is absorbed. Turn off heat. Cover rice and let it sit for a bit before stirring and garnishing with more green onions and cilantro.

Keep leftover rice in refrigerator for up to a week.

Mexican rice features toasted rice simmered with a few veggies, broth and seasonings.

LITTLE BITES

By Nicole Vulcan

A Chicken Shanty for Bend

Oregon-based chain opens in Cascade Village Shopping Center

What started with the purchase of a $300 food cart bought from Craigslist just a few years ago has turned into a full-fledged Northwest chicken chain that now includes a location in Bend. Chicken Shantry began with a single drive-thru cart in southern Oregon, and has sinceexpanded to 14 locations, including the newest one that just opening in the Cascade Village Shopping Center. The fast-casual restaurant took over the space most recently occupied by Jamba Juice.

Chicken Shanty offers a range of options, including fried chicken and chicken sandwiches anad wraps, along with 12 house-made sauces that include a house Southern sauce, peanut sauce, Ranch, BBQ, Buffalo, Voo Doo Hot, Chipotle, Honey Mustard, Nashville, Sweet Chili Siracha, Bougie

and Dragon Fruit. The chicken is free rance, antiboitoc free and raised in teh Northwest, according to Chicken Shanty.

Ashland Juice Bar Opens Location in Bend

Northwest Raw offers organic, plant-based juices, smoothies and meals on Century Drive

The Westside Yard in Bend, a relatively new apartment and business complex along Century Drive, has some new tenants who are bringing more culinary adventures to the area. This month saw the opening of Northwest Raw, the second juice bar for founders Web and Karen Staunton, who originally opened a first location along Main Street in Ashland, Oregon, according to the business’ website. Northwest Raw offers smoothies and smoothie bowls, wellness shots and a host of salads, bowls and nut milk mixes. The entire menu is gluten free and plant-based, made with organic ingredients. The business also aims to cut down on waste by bottling its juices in glass and allowing customers to bring the bottles back for reuse. The business originally announced on its Instagram channel an opening for 2021, but just opened its doors this month.

Also on the horizon for Westside Yard: The opening of the Hook and Plow, a restaurant concept that also started life in another locale before opening a location in Bend. The first

location opened in Hermosa Beach, California, 10 years ago, featuring fresh, local and chef-driven fare. The Bend location is expected to open in September.

Built in 2020, Westside Yard is the commercial space on the ground floor of the high-end apartment complex known as The Hixon.

Northwest Raw Bend

210 SW Century Dr., Bend nwraw.com

Open Tue-Sat 9am-3pm

Cooking high quality meats in our hand tended pit over seasoned white oak is our formula for bringing you, what we believe to be the most authentic barbecue experience in Central Oregon.

Thank you for recognizing us!

Courtesy Chicken Shanty Bend facebook

Courtesy NW Raw Instagram

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With over 20 years of experience, we offer custom IV therapy to fit your health goals including overall wellness, sports performance, support for acute and chronic disease and integrative oncology treatments.

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We are also the only integrative clinic in the region with 2 hard shell hyperbaric oxygen chambers. These chambers reach pressures up to 3.0 ATA which far

CULTURE

I’m a theater kid — have been since I played Joseph for a Christmas play in Catholic school in the second grade. One thing any theater kid will tell you is that no matter how many musicals they love, there is one that stands above the rest… one where the first time you hear the music or see it performed life in front of you, lives, ahem, rent free in your mind for the rest of your life. For me that play is “Rent” and it always will be.

Loosely based on Puccini’s “La bohème,” the plot of “Rent” follows a group of starving artists (and a couple of their more successful friends) as they navigate life, love and music in the East Village of the 1980s under the shadow of HIV/AIDS, homelessness and poverty. Writer Jonathan Larson created something so lasting and important that even as we get further away from the time period the musical is set in, the impact on young artists remains just as potent.

In a perfect confluence of artist, production and location, “Rent” comes to Bend for Theater in the Park. Director, choreographer, prop mistress and costumer Michelle Mejaski returns to Drake Park for the fifth time. After producing “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “La Cage au Folles,” “Into the Woods” and “Spamalot,” when this one is done she’s taking a break from theater.

“I will be stepping back from theater for a bit, but not out!,” says Mejaski. “My life is taking a few different twists and turns that I would like to pursue. As a psychic and evidential medium, I would like to focus my full-time attention to my readings. I have been reading part-time for the past two years under the name RedBird Readings and I feel that it is now time to follow that path fully. I don't think I will ever want to give up dancing altogether, so.... I'll still be around! Even though I am not directing Theater in the Park 2024, I will be its choreographer!”

Mejaski is connected to “Rent,” just as I am, where it’s something we both feel in our bones as an important cultural artifact. So many things in life are ephemeral, but “Rent” is forever. “I still remember the first

No Day But Today Theater in the Park presents “Rent”

By Jared Rasic

Thematically, so much of “Rent” is connected to the ‘80s HIV/AIDS crisis that watching the show after the COVID pandemic makes the characters’ struggles feel more relevant than ever. “I was a teenager in the middle of the AIDS epidemic and honestly did not have an understanding of the disease,” says Mejaski. “There was so much misinformation and denial. Fast forward to spring of 2020 and COVID. Again: misinformation, denial and division. Like many, I experienced fear and isolation. Both pandemics have instilled fear, mistrust and anxiety in our communities and population.” What is it they say about not learning from the mistakes of our past?

connection I felt with these characters, these amazing people,” said Mejaski. “Artists, friends, lovers, people struggling to be seen, to find themselves. I cried so hard during the show and also rejoiced. I had the privilege to choreograph Rent in 2017 under the direction of Brad Ruder and Michael Nowak for CTC's [Cascade Theatrical Company’s] production of Rent.”

“Rent” is topical in 2023 for profoundly different reasons than it has ever been before. For one, it’s extremely difficult for the artistic class to pay for their rent in Bend right now. The median home price here is now $800,000, so starving artists are literally starving with rent reaching an all-time high and workers in the service industry moving to outlying areas just to stay in Central Oregon.

Every character in “Rent” was so expertly crafted by Larson that they simultaneously exist as three dimensionally specific characters as well as broadly drawn archetypes representing different aspects of humanity. Mark is the everyman. Roger is the tragic rock star. Angel is the drag queen with the heart of gold. Maureen is the flighty heartbreaker. Benny is the privileged yuppie. Tom is the intellectual anarchist. Joanne is the political firebrand. Mimi is the broken angel. “They are lovers and fighters,” says Mejaski. “We see and share their hopes, regrets, struggles, failures and triumphs. I don’t like to say ‘character’ when referring to the roles our actors are playing. They aren't ‘characters,’ they are people. Each role is human, filled with perfect imperfections.”

Whether “Rent” is part of your life already or if you’ve never experienced the joy and heartbreak the show has to offer, Mejaski’s vision for this musical is not to be missed.

“Rent”

Fri., Aug. 18 & Sat., Aug. 19 Drake Park, Bend Doors at 6pm, show at 7pm Tickets at theaterbend.com

Michelle Mejaskit

Seasons of love carry everybody in “Rent.”

SC Dracula and Other Monsters

SCREEN

Iwent to the movies this weekend specifically to watch and review, “The Last Voyage of the Demeter,” a new vampire flick based on “The Captain’s Log” chapter from Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.” The film is solid, if unremarkable, with a few good scares and a pretty disturbing design for Dracula himself, but there isn’t much more to say about the movie than that. So, instead of focusing on a fairly mid vampire movie, how about I spend this time talking about some of the best vampire movies ever made that not enough people know about? Sound like a plan? Cool, because that’s what I did!

“Near Dark” (1987): Not only is “Near Dark” one of the truly great unsung vampire movies of all time, it’s also a Neo-western that helped reinvent how modern filmmakers kinetically use sound, editing and compositions to create mood and tone. Director Katheryn (“Point Break”) Bigelow took the doomed romance of Terrence Malick’s “Badlands” and gave it a hillbilly vampire twist that has been imitated but never equaled for decades.

“Thirst” (2009): From legendary South Korean filmmaker Park Chanwook comes this bloody morality tale about a priest who is unwillingly turned into a vampire and becomes ruled by his desires for the first time. The balance this film walks between sexy, violent and hilarious is stunning, leading to one of the most operatic and visually breathtaking finales the genre has ever given us.

Having a bloody good time with vampires

By Jared Rasic

ways, choosing to spend much of the runtime focused on the loneliness of being undead. While this wouldn’t really scare modern audiences too badly, Klaus Kinski’s Count Dracula is one of the greatest vampires put to film and, along with Gary Oldman, Bela Lugosi, Max Schreck and Christopher Lee, a truly immortal performance.

“The Transfiguration” (2016): A slow-paced character study focused on a teenage boy who slowly gains a taste for drinking blood. Set in a rough part of Brooklyn where drug deals, violence and sexual abuse are commonplace, the film asks interesting questions about how society builds sociopaths. For fans of the slow burn.

“Cronos” (1992): The first film from visionary monster maker Guillermo del Toro, “Chronos” is a re-tweaking of the vampire mythos with a wink in its eye. Featuring an early career performance from Ron Perlman, the film is such a wildly assured directorial debut that it manages to dance between operatic drama, spooky creature feature and a touching grandfather/granddaughter

“Rabid” (1977): David Cronenberg began his fascination with the deconstruction of the human body here, with this wholly original take on vampirism that mashes it together with body horror and zombies for good measure. After a beautiful woman gets into a motorcycle accident and goes through some horrific surgeries, she (among other things) gets a phallic stinger implanted in her armpit that allows her to drink blood. Look, I’m not saying you’re going to like this movie, but I promise you’ll never forget it.

“Nosferatu the Vampyre” (1979): F.W. Murnau’s 1922 vampire classic “Nosferatu” is inarguably one of the top two or three vampire movies ever made, but the 1979 remake from Werner Herzog is brilliant in completely different

“Shadow of the Vampire” (2000): Speaking of Max Schreck, this horror satire presupposes that Schreck, star of the 1922 “Nosferatu,” was actually a vampire and had the bad habit of eating people on set. Bolstered by two incredible performances by John Malkovich as director F.W. Murnau and Willem Dafoe as Schreck, “Shadow” should be widely considered as not just a hilarious satire of Hollywood method acting, but also a deliciously creepy vampire movie.

“Vampire’s Kiss” (1988): Nicolas Cage goes all the way to a thousand in this horror comedy featuring the mega-acting thespian eating a live cockroach among other things. A huge flop on its release, “Vampire’s Kiss” probably would be completely forgotten if it wasn’t for the genuinely strange script by Joseph Minion and the legendary performance from Cage.

Some other unsung, yet notable vampire classics: “Ganja & Hess (1973), “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night” (2014), “Lake of Dracula” (1971), “Fright Night” (1985), “Only Lovers Left Alive” (2013) and “Let the Right One In” (2008).

Max Schreck on the set of “Nosferatu” in 1922.

The transition has hit. As of this summer I officially have two teenagers living at home. As my daughters become young adults, the thought of hiking or biking any significant distance immediately elicits resistance and strong complaints from both of them. One would assume that growing up in Bend would automatically instill an appreciation and love for all things nature. Isn’t this a requirement for living here?

Instead, they prefer to get dropped off at the Old Mill for a couple of hours to buy overpriced coffee or boba tea and inundate themselves with the strong scents of Bath and Body Works. Recently, they went to see “Barbie” and explained to me how it wasn’t a kid’s film, but rather a portrayal of female empowerment.

Do I know these kids?

As the father of two daughters, I’m all about girl power. I’m beyond delighted to see them developing their own interests and becoming independent, intelligent young ladies. Still, though barely in the rear-view mirror, I already miss our hikes when building fairy houses and scavenger hunts on the trails were the norm.

Can anyone relate?

Of course, they can! In fact, I have seen more than a few posts from frustrated parents this summer on my Facebook group, 100 Things to Do in Bend, begging questions like,

“Where can my 13-year-old volunteer?” “Where can my 14-year-old get a job?” And literally, “My kid needs activities but doesn’t like hiking. Recommendations, please!”

For many of us, summer seems to be a mad struggle to keep our kids busy and away from screens. Truthfully, it’s not our responsibility to always keep them occupied. Boredom can be a good thing, but at their age, without a license and still dependent on parents, we often have to give them a push and adjust our expectations.

What in the World to Do with a Teenager?

In an outdoor-adventure wonderland such as Bend, some tips for getting teens on board

By Joshua Savage

Luckily, Central Oregon has no shortage of outdoor alternatives to those “strenuous activities” that our kids bemoan. We are surrounded with so much to do — most of it completely free if we know where to look.

I find two key things to be the biggest incentives. Simplicity and bringing a friend. A trip to one of the many parks around Bend is about as easy as it gets. Each one has its own vibe with different activities — basketball, tennis, skateparks, disc golf, dog parks for furry friends and the list goes on. The newest park, Alpenglow, boasts climbing walls. Farewell Bend, with its small beach, and Riverbend Park are two very popular spots for teens. Lots of open space, and it’s common to see kids their age hanging out, reading, playing Frisbee or relaxing on the lush green grass.

Speaking of a beach, swimming areas at Shevlin or Tumalo State Park are ideal for a quick dip on a hot day. They are usually less crowded, as are La Pine State Park or at the Slough Day Use Area, perfect spots for paddleboarding, kayaking, or a family picnic. In fact, there are countless spots to throw down a blanket and soak up some sun. Best to find some shade during the warmer days.

Do you have nightmares of being surrounded by orange rafts and obnoxious drunks every time your child mentions a float through the Old Mill? Try a more relaxed, scenic, and longer float near Sunriver. The put-in is located on South Century Drive, with an exit at Harper Bridge. Shh.

Peterson’s Rock Garden in Redmond recently reopened to the public. A fascinating location for all ages, my daughters were intrigued with the peacocks roaming the site. Collecting stones wherever he went, Rasmus Peterson used them to create replicas of the Statue of Liberty, the Capitol Building, bridges over lily-padded ponds and other meticulously designed structures in his garden. A must-visit in my opinion;

afterward, I always have grand ideas of creating something similar at home.

Finally, I mentioned how my daughters like to shop. Simply meandering through local markets at Northwest Crossing or downtown appeases their craving. They don’t need to spend a fortune and are usually satisfied with frozen treats from Rawmona’s Kitchen or Bonta Gelato. Plus, they are outside taking in some vitamin D, getting their steps in, noticing which veggies are in season and admiring creative work by local artists.

Sure, I hope my daughters will come back around in the future (the sooner, the better) and be hyped for those long treks. Parents of older teens and young adults assure me they will. Maybe they won’t be using those big imaginations to build fairy houses with sticks and such, but instead our family will be overnighting or thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. In the meantime, I’ll encourage their interests and do what I can to get them (and myself) outside as much as possible.

A teen visitor entices the company of Peterson's Rock Garden peacock.

Joshua Savage

Central Oregon is host to a slew of dog-friendly adventures, but there’s one that stands out: boatpacking. It's like backpacking, but on a boat, and SUPs and kayaks are perfect personal transports! Local lakes including Sparks Lake and Waldo Lake make for great boatpacking trips complete with glorious evening stargazing shows.

Last summer, I loaded up my inflatable kayak with my three dogs along with a large dry bag packed with lightweight camping gear and food and paddled across Sparks Lake for the night with a friend and their dog. It’s one of my favorite Central Oregon adventure memories and my dogs and I look forward to it again before summer’s end. This local, micro adventure checks all the boxes!

Not just a trip for humans and their favorite furry companions, boatpacking is a family friendly venture for nature lovers alike. A family of six loaded up their kayaks at the end of July at the Sparks Lake boat ramp, camping gear strapped down to their six individual kayaks and paddled to the far southern shore of the lake to camp together, an alternative adventure from their usual Willamette River family camping vacation.

Just a short drive from Bend, both Sparks Lake and Waldo Lake allow for overnight parking. Free, dispersed camping is permitted around their shores in existing primitive, boat-in camping spots. Recreation passes are required for parking at both lakes, easily purchased as a Northwest Forest Pass or Interagency Annual Pass.

Preparation is key for any camping experience, especially when transporting gear by personal boat, and even more so when dogs are aboard. Compact, lightweight camping essentials for each human and their pooch are strategically packed into a large dry bag that gets strapped to the boat, including a small, lightweight water filtration system to make safe drinking water for humans from the lake. Another perk of camping waterside with dogs is not needing to pack or filter extra drinking water for them; they’ll drink straight from the lake, no filtering necessary! Soft kibble carrier bags easily store dry dog food on the go and pack well inside the large dry bag for transport. Smaller items like snacks, sunscreen and dog treats are carried in a dry bag backpack for ease of accessibility.

The scenic paddle is only the beginning of this unique camping trip. Central Oregon lakes hold a beauty unmatched. From their crystal-clear waters and tree lined shores, the views from a boat are spectacular. Once on the water, the

Boatpacking With Dogs: A How-To

A summer lakeside camping experience for water lovers and their favorite furry companions

By Tiffany Neptune

scouting process is part of the fun, eyeing the shore for a suitable camping area where dogs can run and romp in the water. Most camp spots have soft sand and gradual beach entrances, making a good swim even more accessible. An abundance of trees make for a great shady haven and are ideal for hanging hammocks for a summer afternoon rest.

Felled trees are usually already placed near an existing rock fire ring, creating bench seating as well as a place to dry wet towels and bathing suits.

There’s a picturesque charm to these primitive, lakeside camp spots with no crowds and neighbors not too close. Solitude, quiet and the sounds of nature

create background music while playing cards or cooking meals. Views of nearby mountain peaks, birds flying overhead and gorgeous sunsets reflecting off the lake make for eye candy like no other.

After a filling dinner for the humans and pups, and an evening swim or paddle to round out the day, the stars prove themselves worthy late-night attractions while dogs snore on the shore until bedtime. Patient, late-night onlookers can even catch shooting stars on a clear, dark evening.

A full day’s adventure packed with sunbathing and swimming are primers for a cozy night’s sleep. Even the most adventurous of pups are usually ready to plop

down inside the tent for their evening snooze on their own dog-sized sleeping pad next to their favorite human.

The brisk morning air is a delightful treat to wake up to: fresh scents of the lake and pines wafting through camp, and eager dogs jetting from the tent for their morning sniffs and zoomies. A nourishing breakfast of oatmeal, nuts, some fruit and even tea or coffee fuel the day ahead, just like any good camping trip.

Whether they stay for one night or a few, pooches and their human companions have the time of their lives enjoying all the lakeside camping fun right in Bend’s backyard.

Top, a boatpacker paddles across Sparks Lake with their three dogs and camping gear. Bottom, dogs love a boat-in dispersed camping spot on the shore of Sparks Lake with mountain views.

Photos by Robert Jenson

Seventh Mountain ReSoRt

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A Case of Mistaken Nesting

Osprey nestling safely returned to new nest site after an incident involving a power pole

By Damian Fagan

Recent construction on the roads around Bend led to an incident that required some help from the local wildlife rescue, Think Wild.

Ospreys are fish-eating birds of prey that build a sizeable stick-nest atop a large tree or snag, on a bridge span or on an artificial platform. In Central Oregon, several of these nests are visible along Highway 97 in Bend and Redmond or along Highway 20 heading east from Bend. But, if a stick or bird wing or excrement contacts two wires simultaneously, or touches a wire and a piece of equipment, such as a transformer, the electrical current may result in electrocution or combustion. Then ignited material falling to the ground may then spark a wildfire.

After years of population crashes due to DDT, which was banned in the U.S. in 1972, osprey populations have increased. An estimated nine out of 10 nests are built on artificial structures — power poles being a favorite nesting site.

To minimize danger to nesting birds, power companies install nesting platforms or perching posts on power poles. The companies don’t want dead birds, nor do they want fires to start.

Recently, Pacific Power removed a nest platform along Highway 20 near the new Hamby and Ward roundabout in Bend to reduce fire danger. However, the crew did not know that there was a young bird in the nest.

“What they did not realize was that there was a young osprey who was either frightened out of the nest when it was

approached or knocked down during nest removal,” said Molly Honea, Think Wild development and communications coordinator. The wildlife rescue organization received a call to the Wildlife Hotline from a concerned citizen who noticed the missing nest and found the nestling on the ground when investigating the debris pile.

The young bird was in good condition and transported to Think Wild, a wildlife hospital and conservation center.

Pacific Power had plans to erect a new nest platform at the spot to provide next year’s mating pair a better alternative than nesting on the power pole. “We asked them to expedite that project because the osprey in our care was in stable condition and the parents were spotted hanging around the nest site,” said Honea. “We wanted to reunite the almost-fledgling with the parents as soon as possible.”

Pacific Power crews returned to the area and erected a new nest platform. The company contacted Think Wild and Honea helped the crew reconstruct a new nest out of the old materials. When that was done, she placed the near-fledgling in the nest and left some fish for the youngster to feed on. Throughout the process, the nesting adults remained in the area.

A Pacific Power environmental specialist stayed to monitor the nest for the next several hours. He observed both parents visiting the nest checking on their nestling, so chances of a successful nesting got several helping hands.

An osprey nest was rebuilt along Highway 20 where adult ospreys are able to test new nest platforms.

“What they did not realize was that there was a young osprey who was either frightened out of the nest when it was approached or knocked down during nest removal."

—Molly Honea

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t h r o u g h o u t C e n t r a l O r e g o n a n d b e y o n d .

" A g r e a t p a t i e n t c a r e e x p e r i e n c e i s n o t o n l y d e p e n d e n t u p o n m e e t i n g t h e m e d i c a l n e e d s o f p a t i e n t s , b u t o n t h e q u a l i t y o f p e r s o n a l i n t e r a c t i o n s . T h e v a l u e o f g e n u i n e ,

f a c e - t o - f a c e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s h o u l d n o t b e d i s c o u n t e d , a n d

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A Tale of Two Badgers

Think Wild successfully releases two orphaned cubs from two separate incidents

By Damian Fagan

Wildlife rescue takes many forms for Think Wild, Bend’s wildlife hospital and conservation center. Sometimes it’s medical care for injured or abandoned creatures; sometimes it’s a Wildlife Hotline conversation answering wildlife-related questions with the caller. Some situations call for unique solutions, as in the recent rescue and release of two orphaned badger cubs.

This tale of two badgers begins because of different circumstances, covers some tricky rehabilitation territory and ends up with a common denominator – a release back into the wild.

The story starts with a young, fiveweek-old female badger, who gets transported to Think Wild from the Malheur Field Station near Crane, Oregon. This young badger was in good physical condition but after repeated attempts failed to reunite the cub with its mother, the youngster was brought to Think Wild.

But raising a baby badger with the goal of returning it to the wild posed some unique challenges. What type of enclosure does a badger need? How to make sure the baby does not imprint on its caregivers? What to feed her?

After consulting with rehabilitation centers in the U.S. and Europe, Think Wild developed a unique badger-specific enclosure and established handling and testing protocols to minimize contact and measure the badger’s hunting success. This included trail cameras to monitor the activity, wearing ghillie suits with face masks and shields and wearing rain boots to mask human scent.

As that was taking place, Think Wild received a second baby badger from Wildlife Images Rehabilitation and Education, a wildlife rehabilitation center located in Grants Pass, Oregon.

This second badger, a young male, was orphaned when his mother got hit by a vehicle. So, the idea became to raise the two badgers together.

Initially, the pair were fed a raw-food carnivorous diet of lamb, pork, chicken, beef green tripe and poultry liver donated by Inter Mountain Raw, a small family-run pet food distribution company located in Willamina, Oregon.

“We worked with their veterinarian to provide diet offerings from our inventory that would nourish the growing badger cubs in the best possible way,” said Brea McQuoid, co-owner of Inter Mountain Raw. “We were thrilled to have played a supportive role in the development and rehabilitation of the two badger cubs recently released back into our native Oregon land.”

“We switched the badgers to live prey a little at a time, starting with cockroaches and superworms, basically giant,

biting mealworms,” said Molly Honea, development, and communications coordinator. “We then moved to mice, then quail and then rabbits.” It took the badgers a little trial and error before they sharpened their hunting skills. “Eventually, both were seen on our trail cameras catching, caching and eating all of their different live prey,” added Honea.

After consulting with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the team at Think Wild made the decision to release the two young badgers out in eastern Oregon after three months at Think Wild.

“Two of our volunteers drove out to Steens a couple hours before the arrival of the badgers to identify a remote, suitable area near water,” said Sally Compton, Think Wild executive director. At the location, the volunteers dug a hole for the badgers to use.

“When we arrived and transported the badgers to the release site, they were angry and snarling,” said Compton. “But upon opening the crate doors, they scampered out and promptly began sniffing, digging, rolling in the dirt, and to our excitement, burrowing down into the hole we’d started for them.” Badgers doing what badgers do.

“We were excited to see these two juvenile badgers exhibiting normal badger behaviors including digging, burrowing, growling, being fearful of humans and catching live prey, and are optimistic that they are well-prepared for a successful life in the wild,” says Pauline Hice, Think Wild director of wildlife rehabilitation.

Truly, a wild release!

Think Wild thinkwildco.org

Top, the female badger is shown at the release site. Middle, the same badger was captured earlier near Crane, Oregon. Bottom, a badger gets a teeth exam.

“We were excited to see these two juvenile badgers exhibiting normal badger behaviors including digging, burrowing, growling, being fearful of humans, and catching live prey, and are optimistic that they are well-prepared for a successful life in the wild.”

—Pauline Hice

GO HERE

By Julianna LaFollette

Weed Warriors Protects Native Plants

Outdoor lovers can help restore and protect local lands with a series of volunteering events

There are many ways to get rid of pesky weeds. Local nonprofit, Deschutes Land Trust, hosts volunteering events every year, inviting people to get their hands dirty and help pull invasive weeds at protected lands in Central Oregon. It has several upcoming opportunities for people to become “weed warriors.”

The Weed Warrior events will continue every few weeks until October, bringing volunteers to different areas that can highly benefit from the eradication of weeds. When choosing a piece of land, the nonprofit looks for areas that are in major need of native plant restoration.

The quest to battle weeds or invasive plants is lengthy but necessary. Weeds grow rapidly, taking over areas and crowding out native vegetation. Pulling them helps restore native plant communities, which are critical to our environment.

“They are made to be in this environment, and so having these native plant communities is really beneficial; the wildlife has evolved alongside these plants,” said Jana Hemphill, the community engagement manager at Deschutes Land Trust. “It gives them food sources and hiding places for them to sleep and raise their young. So when these invasive plants come in, they just alter the landscape.”

According to Hemphill, pulling weeds by hand is the safest elimination method because it helps prevent the spread. Each Weed Warriors event has anywhere from five to 15 volunteers pulling up to eight hefty trash bags full of weeds. The events allow volunteers to mingle with and meet like-minded people while doing some good for the community.

“You can visually see the amount of work you did and what you’ve accomplished together, which I think is a really satisfying volunteer opportunity,” said Hemphill. “So that’s the thing I really love is that you can visually be like, ‘look at everything we got rid of in these three hours.’”

The Deschutes Land Trust was founded in 1995 in an effort to conserve and care for the beautiful lands and waters of Central Oregon and to connect the community to those protected areas. It works to restore native plant communities, streams, meadows and forests.

As an organization, it has protected over 18,000 acres of land. Deschutes Land Trust is passionate about connecting the community to the outdoors by offering free guided walks and hikes, education blog posts and a variety of volunteer opportunities.

Volunteers at a Weed Warrior event hold bags of weeds they pulled.

Courtesy Deschutes Land Trust

CRAFT 10 Barrel, Widmer Being Sold to Cannabis Company

By Crystal Ligori, OPB

Some of Oregon’s most iconic breweries are changing hands once again and going to a perhaps unlikely owner: an international cannabis and lifestyle company.

St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch struck a deal this week to sell Bend’s 10 Barrel Brewing Co. and Portland’s Widmer Brothers Brewing and Square Mile Cider Co. as part of an eight-brand acquisition by Tilray Brands.

Erik Siemers, editor of the St. Louis Business Journal, joined OPB’s “All Things Considered” host Crystal Ligori to discuss the acquisition. An edited version of their conversation is below.

Crystal Ligori: Can we start by getting a little background on the acquisition that happened this week?

Erik Siemers: So Tilray, a company based out of New York, owns a lot of cannabis brands, cannabis dispensaries and product companies rooted largely in Canada. They have acquired from Anheuser-Busch, eight beverage brands, most notably [the] really popular Portland brewery Widmer Brothers and 10 Barrel out of Bend, as well as Square Mile Cider, which is based in Portland. (The deal) also includes Shock Top out of Colorado, Breckenridge Brewery out of Colorado, Red Hook Brewery out of Seattle, Blue Point Brewing Company out of New York and Highball Energy, an energy drink company with its roots in San Francisco.

CL: Why do you think it was these brands that were chosen for the acquisition?

ES: It’s hard to say specifically brand by brand, but Anheuser-Busch went on an acquisition spree in the early 2000s, buying up what they saw as growing craft beer brands — or in the case of Widmer Brothers, beloved established brands. Rather than letting the craft beer industry take market shares with them, it was sort of, “If you can’t beat them, join them” kind of strategy. Some of the brands that Anheuser-Busch acquired became part of their widely distributed portfolio of products. A good example of that is Kona Brewing, which has become one of Anheuser-Busch’s most widely distributed craft beer brands. You can get it pretty much anywhere in the country. The brands that they seem to have shed this week to Tilray have largely been regional brands, and they’ve kept them as regional brands throughout their ownership.

CL: Why would a cannabis company want to start buying craft beer brands?

ES: Tilray has already dipped its toe in the water, so to speak, with craft

breweries. They own Sweet Water out of Atlanta, which is another widely distributed craft beer brand. They bought the assets of Green Flash Brewing, which a lot of Portland drinkers might remember from a decade ago when they were a very popular up-and-coming San Diego Brewery that really expanded so fast and kind of collapsed upon themselves. They bought those brand assets out. They do have enough craft beer holdings that it made them the ninth-largest owner of craft beer in the country. With this deal, it would make them number five. It really indicates that Tilray is a company that feels like, while craft beer as a whole might be struggling, it’s something that they feel they can gain some ground on. They see a lot of growth opportunities still in the market.

CL: You recently wrote about the pretty significant drop in net profit for Anheuser-Busch that happened in the last quarter. Do you think it’s part of a larger trend of “zero proof” and non-alcoholic beer and spirits that are starting to gain traction in the market?

ES: I think, more broadly speaking, two things are happening with Anheuser-Busch. One is their net profits and particularly their revenue in North America have diminished considerably, which many people and analysts attribute to the decline in Bud Light after a boycott over the partnership with a transgender social influencer put them into the political landscape in ways they did not expect. It’s had a pretty detrimental effect on their U.S. sales. This last quarter alone, U.S. sales fell by almost 11% from a year ago. Sales to wholesalers declined by 15% and retailers by 14% almost primarily due to a decline in Bud Light sales.

At the same time, the craft beer market [has] sort of slowed under the weight of increased competition from every other beverage category. Whether that be non-alcoholic, zero-proof liquor or hard seltzers that emerged in the past few years. More and more breweries don’t feel like they could compete solely on beer anymore. So they’ve branched into distilling, they do hard seltzers, they’re dipping their toe in every beverage category because consumers’ tastes are shifting toward more than just beer. Those two things combined make a lot of sense for them to want to shed these assets.

—Reprinted under a content sharing agreement with Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Crossword “The Strokes”

By Brendan Emmett Quigley

THE REC ROOM

Pearl’s Puzzle

Puzzle for the week of August 14, 2023

Difficulty Level

We’re Local!

Questions, comments or suggestions for our local puzzle guru?

ACROSS

1.  Mini split meas.

4.  Restaurant that serves shareable plates

11.  Aware of the latest social justice problems

15.  Vivek and Donald's competitor

16.  Do

17.  Logan's brother on "Succession"

18.  Gary's st.

19.  Add Altoids?

21.  Just made it, with "by"

23.  Boxer who said "you lose nothing when fighting for a cause"

24.  To the point

25.  Actress Mia spotted on the street?

29.  Indie rocker Dupuis

30.  "Wish Tree" conceptual artist

34.  Was familiar with

36.  Dandy dude

38.  One with tastes outside the mainstream

39.  LQTM, only much bigger

40.  Shuffle around the extras?

44.  Fun run freebie

45.  Bitly shrinks them

47.  Filipino American History Mo.

48.  Very much so

50.  Unnamed man

53.  Ecological community

54.  Person no longer into being a hawk?

59.  Knighted conductor George

61.  Words that come with a certain ring?

62.  Actor LaBeouf

63.  Idiots age?

67.  Shocked internet initialism

68.  Enjoy a staycation

69.  "Unh-unh, it's bad"

70.  Grazing ground

71.  Untaken

72.  Welsh port city where Dylan Thomas was born

73.  They get their stories straight: Abbr.

DOWN

1.  Succinct

2.  Big name in trucks

3.  Doesn't make the case enough

4.  Arm band?

5.  German cry

6.  "Wheel" category

7.  Fish burrito topping

8.  Cover with fake locks

9.  Flying pref.

10.  Have, as a tenant

11.  Stranger folks

12.  Has on hand

13.  Children's author DiCamillo

14.  Middle parts of a sonnet

20.  Lamb-like

22.  No-win situation

26.  Ex-Laker Lamar

27.  iPhone setting

28.  Sharps box insertion

31.  More or less

32.  Holiday when people sing "Douce Nuit"

33.  Follow the rules

34.  Poser Heidi

35.  Sushi wrap

36.  Broadcast regulator

37.  Table scrap piece

41.  Mash note sign off

42.  Indiana Jones prop

43.  Fashionable Christian

46.  Fruity German bread

49.  Frankenfoods: Abbr.

51.  Tinnitus docs

52.  Sits on the throne

53.  "Friends In Low Places" singer

55.  Stringed instrument

56.  Astronomer Hubble

57.  Pointed (toward)

58.  Sitar songs

59.  It's sold in cakes

60.  Flow like sludge

63.  Rapper ___ Milli

64.  Have a stroke?, or what has been added to this puzzle's theme answers

65.  Spike in film production

66.  "___ know what I'm sayin'?

Difficulty Level: ●●○○

Email Pearl Stark at pearl@bendsource.com

© Pearl Stark mathpuzzlesgames.com/quodoku

Fill in every row, column, and 3x3 box with each of the letters exactly once. WORMY FATE

Fill in every row, column, and 3x3 box with each of the letters

T E exactly once.

Fill in every row, column, and 3x3 box with each of the letters W O R M Y F A T E exactly once.

The highlighted letters read left to right and top to bottom will complete the quote:

The highlighted letters read left to right and top to bottom will complete the quote: “Never put off till tomorrow what may be done d_________ just as well.”

Mark Twain

—

“Never put off till tomorrow what may be done d_________ just as well.”

- Mark Twain

ANSWER TO LAST WEEK'S PUZZLES

The highlighted letters read left to right and top to bottom will “Never put off till tomorrow what may be done d_________ just

Answer for the week of August 7, 2023

- Mark Twain

Answer for the week of August 7, 2023

“The grass in the back field was almost waist high, and now there was goldenrod, that late-summer gossip which comes to tattle on autumn every year. But there was no autumn in the air today; the sun was still all August, although calendar August was almost two weeks gone.”

“The grass in the back field was almost waist high, and now there was goldenrod, that late-summer gossip which comes to tattle on autumn every year. But there was no autumn in the air today; the sun was still all August, although calendar August was almost two weeks gone.”

- Stephen King, Pet Sematary

— Stephen King, Pet Sematary

© Pearl Stark www.mathpuzzlesgames.com/quodoku

“The grass in the back field was almost waist high, and now there late-summer gossip which comes to tattle on autumn every year. autumn in the air today; the sun was still all August, although calendar almost two weeks gone.”

- Stephen King, Pet Sematary

© Pearl Stark

www.mathpuzzlesgames.com/quodoku

ASTROLOGY

By Rob Brezsny

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Unless you are French, chances are you have never heard of Saint-John Perse (1887–1975). He was a renowned diplomat for the French government and a poet who won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Now he’s virtually unknown outside of his home country. Can we draw useful lessons for your use, Leo? Well, I suspect that in the coming months, you may very well come into greater prominence and wield more clout. But it’s crucial for the long-term health of your soul that during this building time, you are in service to nurturing your soul as much as your ego. The worldly power and pride you achieve will ultimately fade like Perse’s. But the spiritual growth you accomplish will endure forever.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): "Life is not so bad if you have plenty of luck, a good physique, and not too much imagination." Virgo author Christopher Isherwood said that. I'm offering his thought because I believe life will be spectacularly not bad for you in the coming weeks—whether or not you have a good physique. In fact, I'm guessing life will be downright enjoyable, creative, and fruitful. In part, that’s because you will be the beneficiary of a stream of luck. And in part, your gentle triumphs and graceful productiveness will unfold because you will be exceptionally imaginative.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): "You know how crazy love can make you," write Mary D. Esselman and Elizabeth Ash Vélez in their book Love Poems for Real Life. "On any given day, you’re insanely happy, maniacally miserable, kooky with contentment, or bonkers with boredom—and that’s in a good relationship." They add, "You have to be a little nuts to commit yourself, body and soul, to one other person—one wonderful, goofy, fallible person—in the hope that happily-ever-after really does exist." The authors make good points, but their view of togetherness will be less than fully applicable to you in the coming months. I suspect life will bring you boons as you focus your intelligence on creating well-grounded, nourishing, non-melodramatic bonds with trustworthy allies.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): "I don’t adopt anyone’s ideas—I have my own." So proclaimed Scorpio author Ivan Turgenev (1818–1883). Really, Ivan? Were you never influenced by someone else's concepts, principles, art, or opinions? The fact is that all of us live in a world created and shaped by the ideas of others. We should celebrate that wondrous privilege! We should be pleased we don't have to produce everything from scratch under our own power. As for you Scorpios reading this oracle, I urge you to be the anti-Turgenev in the coming weeks. Rejoice at how interconnected you are—and take full advantage of it. Treasure the teachings that have made you who you are. Sing your gratitude for those who have forged the world you love to live in. You now have the power to be an extraordinary networker.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The Tibetan term lenchak is often translated as “karmic debt.” It refers to the unconscious conditioning and bad old habits that attract us to people we would be better off not engaging. I will be bold and declare that sometime soon, you will have fully paid off a lenchak that has caused you relationship problems. Congrats! You are almost free of a long-running delusion. You don’t actually need an influence you thought you needed.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): If you’re like many of us, you have a set bathing routine. In the shower or bath, you start your cleansing process with one particular action, like washing your face, and go on to other tasks in the same sequence every time. Some people live most of their lives this way: following well-established patterns in all they do. I’m not criticizing that approach, though it doesn’t work for me. I need more unpredictability and variety. Anyway, Capricorn, I suspect that in the coming weeks, you will benefit from trying my practice. Have fun creating variations on your

standard patterns. Enjoy being a novelty freak with the daily details.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In July 1812, composer Ludwig van Beethoven wrote a 10-page love letter to a woman he called "My Angel" and "Immortal Beloved." He never sent it, and scholars are still unsure of the addressee's identity. The message included lines like "you — my everything, my happiness . . . my solace — my everything" and "forever thine, forever mine, forever us." I hope you will soon have sound reasons for composing your own version of an "Immortal Beloved" letter. According to my astrological analysis, it's time for your tender passion to fully bloom. If there's not a specific person who warrants such a message, write it to an imaginary lover.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): At age 32, artist Peter Milton realized the colors he thought he used in his paintings were different from what his viewers saw. He got his eyes tested and discovered he had color blindness. For example, what he regarded as gray with a hint of yellow, others perceived as green. Shocked, he launched an unexpected adjustment. For the next 40 years, all his paintings were black and white only. They made him famous and have been exhibited in major museums. I love how he capitalized on an apparent disability and made it his strength. I invite you to consider a comparable move in the coming months.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): The Lincoln Calibration Sphere 1 is a hollow globe of aluminum launched into Earth orbit in 1965. Fifty-eight years later, it continues to circle the planet—and is still doing the job it was designed to do. It enables ground-based radar devices to perform necessary calibrations. I propose we celebrate and honor the faithfulness of this magic sphere. May it serve as an inspiring symbol for you in the coming months. More than ever before, you have the potential to do what you were made to do—and with exceptional steadiness and potency. I hope you will be a pillar of inspiring stability for those you care about.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): "Live as though you're living a second time and as though the first time you lived, you did it wrong, and now you're trying to do things right." Holocaust survivor and author Viktor Frankl offered this advice. I wouldn't want to adhere to such a demanding practice every day of my life. But I think it can be an especially worthwhile exercise for you in the coming weeks. You will have a substantial capacity to learn from your past; to prevent mediocre histories from repeating themselves; to escape the ruts of your habit mind and instigate fresh trends.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini author Jamie Zafron wrote an article titled "To Anyone Who Thinks They’re Falling Behind in Life." She says, "Sometimes you need two more years of life experience before you can make your masterpiece into something that will feel real and true and raw. Sometimes you’re not falling in love because whatever you need to know about yourself is only knowable through solitude. Sometimes you haven’t met your next collaborator. Sometimes your sadness encircles you because, one day, it will be the opus upon which you build your life." This is excellent advice for you in the coming months, dear Gemini. You’ll be in a phase of incubation, preparing the way for your Next Big Thing. Honor the gritty, unspectacular work you have ahead! It will pay off.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You’re entering a phase when you will generate maximum luck if you favor what’s short and sweet instead of what’s long and complicated. You will attract the resources you need if you identify what they are with crisp precision and do not indulge in fuzzy indecision. The world will conspire in your favor to the degree that you avoid equivocating. So please say precisely what you mean! Be a beacon of clear, relaxed focus!

Homework: Make up a story about a time in the future when you will be excitedly content. Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

THE MEDICINE CABINET WITHIN

Food Sensitivities and Your Health

Delayed reactions to food can include a host of symptoms

By Joshua Phillips, ND

When most think of reactions to food that can compromise health, the classic peanut or shellfish allergy typically come to mind. These can cause serious and potentially life-threatening reactions, sometimes within minutes of eating that food. This type of reac tion, called an immediate hypersensitivity reaction, can result in a sudden onset of hives, itching skin and at its worst an anaphylactic reaction that can be lifethreatening. What many don’t realize is that there exists another type of reactivity to foods that is much more common, can be trickier to identify and can be a smoldering contributor to ongoing health issues.

A delayed reaction to foods in the diet is one that can take hours or even days to create a meaningful immune system response and can present with a much broader set of symptoms. While these symptoms are often less severe, they can still be significant and can fur ther complicate already existing health issues. Because of the delayed nature of this reaction to foods, and the very broad range of symptoms that can result, it can be difficult to pinpoint which food or foods are the culprit.

This delayed reaction to foods is mediated by an antibody called the IgG antibody, and once activated, it can stick around for a while — up to two weeks. This activated antibody response lends to a cascade of bio chemistry causing a smoldering level of inflammation in the body. As noted, this inflammatory response can con tribute to a plethora of issues in the body, both in kids and in adults.

Upper and lower respiratory issues that are not infectious in nature or the result of environmental allergens persisting for a long time should be suspicious for a food sensitivity con tribution. Issues like chronic sinusitis, recurring ear infections, persistently swollen tonsils and asthma should all be thoroughly worked up to rule out the possibility of a delayed hypersensi tivity reaction to food.

Issues with skin inflammation and itchiness, like eczema and other types of dermatitis, can either be caused or exacerbated by an inflammatory response to foods. In many cases the symptoms of a delayed reaction to foods can be vague, to include brain

fog, low energy, anxiety or depression, headaches, migraines or insomnia. Obviously direct effects to the digestive tract are common, including bloating and indigestion, a sluggish or irritable bowel, and all these issues will in and of themselves increase inflammation, affecting other areas of the body. Joint inflammation and arthritis are another, and many patients with chronic osteoarthritis will report that their joint pain calms down after identifying and address ing foods that their body is reacting to.

While the immune system can decide it is intolerant of nearly any food, there are some more common offenders that tend to raise an eye brow (and come back positive on testing). Some of the more common

theaterbend.com

“F GET G T, LIFE Y RS M S.”

The Importance of Emotional Stability A guest column from a local psychotherapist

By Roberta Stopler

Understanding your feelings is key to making a difference in your life.

Knowing the source of your debilitating feelings and understanding its purpose can provide an opportunity to learn self-control and in doing so provide greater opportunity for personal satisfaction.

Everyone wants what he or she wants. We learn to be demanding in early childhood when our coping skills are limited and our tolerance for frustration is short. During maturation, as our lives become more complicated, our coping skills and our ability to tol erate greater frustration also need to undergo growth.

Unfortunately for many that is not the case and when we do not get what we want, most people get upset and show their feelings negative ly. We mistakenly identify the source of our upset as being external: situations or other people. By identifying the source of our negative emotions as being outside of ourselves, we place ourselves in a position of great vulnerability. We feel powerless, victimized and inferior.

We benefit when we address our need for re-education. We benefit when we can learn the difference between wants and needs, acceptance and agreement and can’t and won’t.

Needs are essential: air, water, food, clothing and shelter. Without these, we could not survive. They are necessary. Everything else is merely a preference – what we want. Think about it. You do not need to have what you want. You create the need by your belief. Think about how you express your wants and needs and learn to be clearer, more rational.

Acceptance and agreement are words and concepts that are frequently used interchangeably, even though the meanings are significantly different. Not accepting reality leads to emotional vulnerability. Agreement is about preferences being met.

Anger is a feeling generated by an attitude or belief. Anger is a secondary emotion, meaning it covers another emotion. What anger frequently covers is fear. We are fear-based animals

and therefore feeling afraid may be an appropriate reaction. Anger also frequently covers hurt, though it is rarely acknowledged. It gets back to what was mentioned earlier, “wanting what we want,” and not knowing what to do with our strong feelings of frustration and of disappointment at not getting it. What most people do with less-than-desired outcomes is to personalize their feelings. So, rather than rationally recognizing that life is a random experience in which things happen and need to be accepted, we see the outcome as an extension of ourselves. It becomes about us. What is it about us that make the outcome so painful? This is what is meant by personalization. You could be thinking, “I’m no good,” or “I’m stupid.” You fill in the blanks with your own self-judgment.

The notions of can’t and won’t are also illogically interchanged. Recognize that can’t means we are unable to complete something, while won’t means we are unwilling to do something.

Although physical pain may be caused by external sources (people or events), emotional pain is self-generated. It is caused by beliefs that we hold about ourselves, others, life. It is what we tell ourselves about other people and situations that cause our emotional reactions. People and things do not upset us. Rather, we upset ourselves by believing that they can “upset us.”

The process for change involves a willingness to invest time and energy into looking at how you think and finding alternative ways of seeing situations and yourself in them.

You have a great deal of control over you and limited control over others and over situations. Put your time and energy where they can make the biggest difference. Make a commitment to yourself that you assume more responsibility for the care of you and develop the skills you need to accomplish the goal.

Roberta Stopler, LMFT is a psychotherapist specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy. She can be reached at rstopler@aol.com

The process for change involves a willingness to invest time and energy into looking at how you think and finding alternative ways of seeing situations and yourself in them.

WESTSIDE SANCTUARY 1519 NW KINGSTON AVE

Welcome to this charming 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom home situated in a quiet, peaceful neighborhood surrounded by old-growth ponderosas. The great room floor plan

54664 DIANA LN, BEND 97707 • $479,995

PRICE REDUCED

Single level Ranch style home situated on spacious 1.09 acre corner lot, nestled between the pines, minutes away from Sunriver. This 3 bedroom 2 recently painted and updated home features oversized living area with plenty of windows. Updated kitchen counters and backsplash, large dining area. Primary Suite includes update stone shower. Large mudroom/ laundry room. Fully fenced yard with additional detached two garage door shop w/ mechanic pit, perfect for storing toys. Three gateway entries to property Blocks away from snowmobile and 4x4 trails. Close to skiing, lakes, rivers and all that Central Oregon has to offer.

1116 NW PORTLAND AVE, BEND 97701 • $1,200,000

Perfect 3 unit investment property in the heart of everything Bend. Close to downtown, the Deschutes river, grocery shopping, retail shopping and all of the best Pubs and restaurants that Bend has to offer. Unit 1 is 2 bed 1 bath on the ground level and has been updated throughout the years. Unit 2 upstairs is 2 bed 1 bath and has been beautifully updated. Also has a great porch with amazing city views. Unit 3 is a detached ADU and is a studio with 1 bath. Great rental history on all of the units and you can’t beat the location. Also potential space for adding additional units. Great opportunity to invest in Bend.

PRICE REDUCED PRICE REDUCED

MODERN CRAFTSMAN IN DISCOVERY WEST 3178 NW CELILO LN

Abundant light and vaulted ceilings welcome you to this new construction home in Discovery West. Main level primary bedroom and office, as well as two additional guest bedrooms upstairs, and a generous flex/bonus space. Massive 2+ car garage with a third bay to accommodate toys or a compact vehicle.

OFFERED AT $1,895,000

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT INSPIRED HOME 3170 NW CELILO LANE

Stunning Discovery West home built by the award-winning collaboration of Greg Welch Construction & Muddy River Designs. Single level home with great separation between the primary bedroom and the guest bedrooms.

OFFERED AT $1,495,000

Skjersaa Group | Duke Warner Realty

1 033 NW Newpor t Ave Bend, OR 97703

www SkjersaaGroup com 5 41.3 83 14 26

Beautiful recently updated Chalet home on Bend’s Westside. This 3 bedroom 3 bath features a HUGE primary bedroom with walk-in tile shower and soaking tub. Open floor plan is great for entertaining which boasts 24’ vaulted ceiling, exposed wood beams, and large bay windows. Other primary features are a home theater, loft, sauna, hot tub, and partially finished basement! The home sits on just about half an acre with room for potential ADU, Deschutes river access within half a mile, minutes from Mt. Bachelor, Cascade lakes, & hiking trails.

16561 SW CHINOOK DR, TERREBONNE 97760 • $999,000

Unique 3bedroom 3.5bath luxury home on 7.05 acres, boasts beautiful panoramic canyon views, as well as the Cascade, and smith rocks. New flooring throughout, fully remodeled both downstairs bathrooms. This equestrian property features horse barn with 4 12x12’ stalls, insulated & heated tack room w/hot and cold water, 2 6’ sliding doors and 2 overhead doors(rollup door for hay).

2 large pasture pens with heated water stations. Newly built 40x48’ RV shop with pull-through RV access, along with two other shop/garage buildings for storage and more. New well pump installed 2022. The perfect fit for Horse-Owners, Business Owners, & golfers!

PRICE REDUCED

19460 SW CENTURY DRIVE, BEND 97702 • $949,000

TAKE ME HOME By

Debbie Martorano

What’s Best of Bend? Everything!

Top reasons we love living in Bend

Nestled in the heart of Central Oregon, Bend is a captivating blend of natural beauty and community spirit. With stunning Cascade Mountains, winding rivers and a thriving arts scene, our town offers a life of adventure, culture and belonging. This city's commitment to sustainability and yearround recreation makes Bend an exceptional and wonderful place to live.

Refined dining and casual food carts

Bend’s growing food scene caters to diverse tastes with a broad spectrum, from fine dining to casual food carts. Upscale restaurants feature local ingredients and innovative flavors, perfect for special occasions. Meanwhile, the city's food cart scene offers a laid-back culinary adventure with global street food flavors, appealing to both locals and visitors.

Local beer

It’s no secret: Bend is a beer lover's paradise with a vibrant collection of award-winning breweries. Nestled in picturesque surroundings, this "Beer Town, USA" boasts a diverse range of craft breweries, each crafting unique flavors that draw from local ingredients and a passionate brewing community. From traditional classics to innovative blends, Bend's beer scene offers a dynamic and captivating experience that showcases the artistry and craftsmanship of brewing.

Trails, rivers, lakes, outdoor life

This is a haven for outdoor lovers, offering a plethora of trails, rivers, lakes and activities. With an extensive network of trails for hiking and biking, the picturesque Deschutes River for water activities and serene lakes for relaxation, Bend is an adventurer's paradise. From skiing in the Cascades to exploring lush forests, the area’s natural beauty invites year-round outdoor exploration for all.

Great, diverse neighborhoods

The neighborhoods in Bend are well-planned and cater to diverse preferences. From the historic downtown and Old Mill District to the artsy west side, each area offers a unique vibe. Downtown bustles with shops and entertainment, Northwest Crossing is modern and community-oriented and the Old Farm District provides a treelined nook just a stone’s throw from downtown. You’ll also find several new neighborhoods providing walkability to an array of amenities on the east side.

Dog-friendly

In Bend, we like to embrace our reputation as a dog-friendly town. With parks, trails and businesses catering to furry companions, dogs are not just welcome but cherished. From off-leash areas to pet-friendly spots, Bend's inclusive atmosphere makes it a joyful destination for both humans and their canine friends.

Easy to get to and from the airport

Getting from Bend to major airport hubs across the country is hassle-free. With efficient transportation options and a strategic location, residents and visitors can easily access a wide range of destinations, making travel convenient and accessible.

Our community cares and we give back

Possibly the best thing about living in Bend is our community. We thrive because of our close-knit community that values giving back and building connections. Through volunteering, supporting local businesses and fostering relationships, residents create a strong and caring network. This spirit of community engagement is at the core of Bend's vibrant culture, uniting people in their shared commitment to making a positive difference.