On the Cover: Painting by Sloane Earl. "First Sight" is Earl's largest piece in her Seer series: an exploration of animals and what we think we know about their lives, how they are tapped into something we can't see. The thought is we are all made of the same magic and the creatures of this world have secret identities beneath their normal exteriors. This is a sneak peak into their true beings.
Sloane is the co-founder of Flying Horse Gallery, a family-run, fantastical art gallery in Sisters. See more of her original paintings by touring the gallery, or visiting flyinghorsegallery.com and its Instagram @flyinghorsegallery.
Call for Artists: If you're interested in being a SW featured artist, email: production@bendsource.com.
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EDITOR’S NOTE:
After the shocking closure of 900 Wall, we reached out to other restaurants in downtown Bend to take their pulse. Julianna LaFollette reports on the battle for business when customers are pinching their pennies.
Days after the houseless were forced out of the forest along China Hat, Deschutes County Commissioners gave their stamp of approval to people living in RVs on private property outside the city limits.
Amazon makes a big announcement in Redmond. What a local distribution center means for jobs and package deliveries in Central Oregon.
Anyone who walks along the river trail through the Old Mill on a regular basis may have seen Yogi the llama. It’s an unusual sight, especially when he rides the elevator up to the backpack section of REI! The Source took a stroll with Yogi and his handler to learn why they do it and how people are reacting. Plus, in this week’s Screen, you can find a review of three new movies featuring Nicolas Cage, Naomi Watts and Josh Hartnett.
—Nic Moye, Managing Editor
LIGHTMETER:
PRESENTED BY HARVEST MOON WOODWORKS
Sunday’s dramatic skies and cool temperatures provided the perfect backdrop for a Mother’s Day hike along the Crooked River. Thank you, moms, for bringing us outside and showing us the world. We want to share your photo! Tag @sourceweekly on Instagram for a chance to be featured.
@Maddie Franz
Letters
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT'S STANCE ON COOPERATION WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
I think it would be interesting to hear from the leaders of our local, county and state law enforcement agencies regarding their opinions of the overreach by the current president and his administration. Especially with regard to honoring sanctuary status, or cooperating with the federal government's attempts to enforce ICE policies and highly aggressive attacks on immigrants in our communities, and other citizens who may be affected by the government's actions.
How do they feel about punitive measures taken by the federal government against Oregon and other states, such as withholding of Congressionally approved funds in an attempt to pressure states into compromising their moral stance to yield to the will of Mr. Trump and his morally and ideologically corrupt cavalcade of clowns and grifters?
I feel that we need to know where law enforcement stands. Are there any social institutions left that can protect us from our federal government? Is it time to get the heck out of here, or do we still have some level of protection in our communities?
—Evan Ehrlich
NO PHONE ZONE
There should be a strict no cell phone policy in all schools. Additionally, Bend La Pine Schools (BLPS) implemented iPads as a primary learning tool without thoroughly evaluating the potential risks to students. These devices were deployed with minimal safety controls. I witnessed this firsthand when my daughter, then in 3rd grade, was exposed to pornography during a supposedly safe search on her school-issued iPad. Incidents like this are unacceptable and
HAVE 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!
demonstrate that iPads should not serve as primary educational tools in schools. There is now a growing movement to remove these devices from classrooms and hold both Apple, educational technology companies and school districts accountable. For more information, connect with Emily Cherkin at The Screen Time Consultant and subscribe to her newsletter. She is a wealth of information and helps parents and educators navigate the tech world. You may also reach out to Julie Liddell at Ed Tech Law, Julie.Liddell@edtech.law, whose firm is actively working to ensure student safety and institutional accountability.
—Nicole Perullo
LIBRARY RAISE FOR HIGHEST PAID EMPLOYEE, AGAIN
Once staff at Deschutes Public Library reach the top of the pay scale the only raises they receive, potentially for decades, is a cost of living allowance (COLA). The library’s highest paid employee, by far, longtime Director Todd Dunkelberg, last year received a nearly 20% self-proposed raise and this year proposed for himself another 3%, waiting for rubber stamping from the Library Board. This is in addition to the COLA awarded to all employees at the top of their pay scale. During these two years, staff members at the top of their pay scale only received a COLA, no self-proposed 20% raise followed by another self-proposed 3% raise.
Think this is unfair? Unfortunately, there is no way to contact the Library Board, an elected board that evaluates Director Todd Dunkelberg’s job performance and whom should hear directly from taxpayers. Instead, the email address listed on the Library’s website, board@dpls.lib.or.us, goes directly to Director Todd Dunkelberg. Director
Todd Dunkelberg is able to decide what comments and feedback the elected Library Board is made aware of, and in what context. No public input to elected officials, no outside viewpoints of the devastation Director Todd Dunkelberg has caused staff and the community. Is this an organization that promotes equity and has elected officials that engaged with the community on how taxpayer dollars are spent?
—Jade & Alex Sharpe
BRING BACK HOOPLA
I was very disappointed to hear Deschutes County Library is discontinuing its partnership with Hoopla, a digital platform that provides instant access to thousands of books, audiobooks, movies and magazines. I understand Hoopla takes up a large portion of the library’s budget compared to the costs of maintaining brick and mortar locations staffed with highly-educated and fairly compensated employees. But, discontinuing a digital resource because it is expensive compared with the cost of maintaining buildings filled with paper seems like a step backwards in time. This community is investing many millions of dollars in shiny new library locations throughout Central Oregon, and I fully support the idea of having non-commercialized “third spaces” in our communities to gather, to discover, to learn, or simply come in from the cold. But more and more of us are accessing nearly
everything digitally now and that will only continue to grow exponentially in the years ahead when it comes to books. I’m a high-volume library user getting my PhD in a town where the primary focus is on outdoor activities. Besides inspiring views and sunshine, there’s not much this town has to offer us nerds. Hoopla has been an absolute godsend. I’ve found it truly uncanny to discover the vast collection of arcane, academic books it houses just a click away. The intelligentsia may be a barely-discernable minority here in Bend, but pumping a bunch of money into extravagant, resource-sucking structures out in the middle of nowhere—instead of making books more widely accessible—seems like some pretty serious mission creep.
—Laurel Brauns
Letter of the Week:
Laurel, hopefully you can get used to the Libby app for your digital book and magazine needs. The Kanopy app will allow you to watch movies. Thanks for your letter! You can stop by our office at NW Georgia & Bond for a gift card to Palate coffee.
—Nic Moye, Managing Editor
Federal Cuts Take a Whack at Local Art Program
Scalehouse Art Gallery is the latest victim of federal budget cuts. Executive Director Marley Weedman Lorish shared a letter about the withdrawal of a $20,000 grant from the National Endowment of the Arts.
She says, “On Friday evening, as I got home from my day of work, I checked my email one last time and, like many Arts Organizations across the country, received the following message: Scalehouse’s National Endowment for the Arts Grant has been withdrawn by the agency. Our project does not “reflect the nation's rich artistic heritage and creativity as prioritized by the president.” The letter continues: “funding is being allocated in a new direction in furtherance of the administration's agenda.”
Weedman Lorish says while the news is devastating, it would be worse if Scalehouse aligned with the President’s priorities. Scalehouse is a nonprofit hosting a diverse range of artists and their work. Its exhibition committee is dedicated to featuring artists who identify as Queer, BIPOC or are from underrepresented communities in at least 50% of its annual gallery shows.
—Nic Moye
7,500
—The number of properties eligible for the RV dwelling program, from “Deschutes County Approves Program for RV Housing.”
Leash Your Doggo — Fur Real Bend
Police, BPRD remind owners to leash dogs in parks
fine, potential 30-day park ban
By Peter Madsen
Will you please leash your dog?”
It’s a simple request. Yet, depending on a person's sensitivity level, it comes off as either a neighborly reminder of Bend's leash ordinance, or a micro-aggression worthy of a shouting match.
From Monday, May 12 to Friday, May 16, this directive will come from Bend Park and Recreation District stewards and Bend Police Department community service officers. Staffers from the two organizations will heighten their patrols of city parks and trails to remind dog parents to tether their pups outside designated off-leash dog areas, of which Bend has nine.
Authorities are seeking voluntary compliance during this five-day window. Thereafter, repeat offenders may be issued $250 tickets and 30-day bans from park district property. Owners of off-leash dogs that damage property or injure other people, dogs or wildlife can also be held responsible in civil or criminal cases.
Think of this friendly engagement campaign as behavioral training for dog owners. Yet, as evinced by the number of people letting their dogs off-leash every day in Bend parks, some dog owners seem to think: My dog’s fine off leash; who cares?
“Some people visiting a park aren’t expecting to be approached by an unknown, unleashed dog,” says Joel Lee, the BPRD park stewardship manager. He encourages dog lovers to think holistically about how they and their pups interact with city parks, trails and all the people who use them.
Lee encourages folks to remember that some people inherently fear dogs, have been attacked by them, or simply don’t care for them. These non-dog people are entitled to enjoy our parks just like anyone else, he said. And even some dog lovers don’t want to meet your unleashed dog, including owners of reactive dogs.
“He’s a llama doodle.”
—Jeff
Wagner responding to questions about his walking companion in “Llama Love: Spreading Joy.”
The safety of park wildlife, from deer to squirrels and geese, is also a priority for BPRD.
The BPRD park steward team, which Lee oversees, consists of two full-time staffers and two seasonal workers. They keep tabs on dogs in parks, just as they do, say, vandalism.
“We have different categories for all these different aspects of our job,” Lee said. “Dogs are definitely one of our largest entries.”
—
or face a $250
So far this year, the department has received 42 complaints regarding dog incidents on park properties. That’s on track to supersede the 95 dog incidents reported in 2024. In 2023, 123 dog complaints were made. In 2022, there were 97.
In 2024, his team observed 11,015 instances of dogs on leash and 2,746 dogs off leash — a compliance rate of about 75%.
Bend Police maintains a database that details police service calls in public parks. So far this year, the department has received 42 complaints regarding dog incidents on park properties. That’s on track to supersede the 95 dog incidents reported in 2024. In 2023, 123 dog complaints were made. In 2022, there were 97. The summer months typically see the most complaints, according to the database.
Dog leash rules also apply while walking to a dog park from the greater park entrance or a parking lot. The authorities said that loose dogs leaping from parked vehicles can create safety concerns for the dog as well as for others, especially in busy parks such as Ponderosa, Big Sky and Pine Nursery Parks.
Donnie Dias, a certified dog trainer who owns City Strut, a dog training service in Bend, said she’s conflicted about leash laws.
“Dogs can’t be leashed all the time, just like children can’t sit at a desk all day,” she said.
While the law is the law, Dias added, she wonders why, amid heightened leash enforcement, more off-leash dog areas aren’t added to high traffic parks, such as Drake Park.
Asked why, Joel Lee, the BPRD park stewardship manager, said a lot of factors go into deciding where offleash dog parks are installed. While such planning is beyond his purview, Lee points out that parking capacity is a concern, since off-leash dog areas become destinations for dog owners. And grass that grows in off-leash areas experience far more wear and tear than turf outside the confines.
—This story is powered by the Lay It Out Foundation, the nonprofit with a mission of promoting deep reporting and investigative journalism in Central Oregon. Learn more and be part of this important work by visiting layitoutfoundation.org.
To leash or not to leash when it's required — that is the $250 question. Just don't ask these three freedom lovers.
Deschutes County Approves Program for RV Housing
Commissioners unanimously approved a program allowing RVs as rental housing
By Julianna LaFollette
On May 7, Deschutes County Commissioners voted to allow RVs as rental dwellings, authorizing property owners to let someone in an RV live on their land and pay rent. The program, aimed at providing low-income housing opportunities, is set to go into effect immediately.
The County’s initial interest in this program came after the passage of Senate Bill 1013, which authorized counties to allow an owner of a lot or parcel of land in a rural area to site one recreational vehicle, used for residential purposes, on the property.
Wednesday’s decision followed over a year of deliberations regarding the rules and regulations that would apply to this program, if approved. The Board of County Commissioners, which was asked to consider emergency adoption of the program, unanimously voted in favor of the ordinance.
County Commissioner Tony DeBone cited a need for this type of housing, mentioning a recent forest closure near China Hat Rd., an area where residents were camping on public lands and forced to relocate for a planned forest restoration project.
“Hopefully we can help as a community, plugging folks in where it's appropriate, [to] make those relationships and have housing options for people that have been desperately looking for it,” he said at the May 7 meeting.
The approved program will allow those living in areas zoned as “Rural Residential” to legally offer housing options, given they meet a series of parameters. Many of the rules County staff members developed are in line with those required for Additional Dwelling Units on County property.
Those interested in renting out an RV on their property must have a single-family dwelling that’s occupied as their primary residence, and an RV cannot be used as a short-term rental.
Additional parameters include minimum lot sizes, defensible space standards and electrical, water and sewage hookups.
According to a May 9 press release, property owners looking to establish an RV rental dwelling, or correct code violations for an illegally established RV dwelling, must submit an application demonstrating compliance with newly adopted rules.
According to Tanya Saltzman, Deschutes County senior planner, about 7,500 properties would be eligible for this program, given certain criteria. The costs for property owners also mirror the County’s ADU program; a one-time fee of about $900.
In 2024, the Deschutes County Planning Commission advised against the adoption of the ordinance, citing issues such as increased threat of wildfire and difficulties with the enforcement of code violations.
Despite that decision, the Board laid out its support on May 7 for the program and felt it was the right time for implementation.
“During all of our process for this, to get to this point, there were many people who expressed concerns about unauthorized RV rental dwellings in their neighborhoods right now,” said County Commissioner Phil Chang.
“I hope that people can see this as an opportunity to remediate that situation, to provide legal opportunities that take care of neighbors and take care of groundwater quality and things like that, but also make that housing available in our community.”
New Roundabout to Close Intersection on Skyliners Road
Construction on a new roundabout is scheduled to last from June through
August
By Julianna LaFollette
The City of Bend announced on May 12 that a new roundabout will be built at the intersection of Skyliners Road and Skyline Ranch Road, causing a full closure of the intersection for about two months, during construction. According to a press release, the completed roundabout will “facilitate more efficient traffic movement at this very busy intersection.”
Construction is set to start June 16 and continue through August, to lessen the impact on nearby schools. The roundabout will be funded and built by the developer of Discovery West neighborhood, a planned neighborhood consisting of 245 acres, located west of Northwest Crossing. When finished, there will be nearly 800 homes. The developer of Discovery West is the same team that developed the Northwest Crossing neighborhood.
The roundabout construction will help facilitate the completion of Skyline Ranch Road, north of Shevlin Park Road, over the next couple of years.
During the summer intersection closure, traffic on Skyliners Road will be detoured via Mt. Washington Drive to NW Crossing Drive to Skyliners Road. Traffic heading north on Skyline Ranch Road, from Tetherow, will need to use Metolius to get to Mt. Washington Drive, then follow posted detour routes.
As of May 13, Bend had 50 roundabouts under the City's jurisdiction, according to Jacob Larsen, the City of Bend’s community relations manager. There are a handful of other roundabouts that are under ODOT’s jurisdiction.
The new roundabout will be Bend's 51st one.
The County's new RV program can provide low-income housing opportunities in rural Deschutes County.
Courtesy discoverywestbend
Nic Moye
Pexels
Pexels
Prime Time: Amazon Launches New Delivery Hub in Redmond
Amazon purchased a site in east Redmond to help improve deliveries in Central Oregon
By Julianna LaFollette
An Amazon delivery center is coming to Redmond in a push to accelerate deliveries for customers in Central Oregon. On May 13, Amazon announced it had closed on land in northeast Redmond, along East Antler Avenue, as part of its “continued investment in rural communities.”
According to a press release, the purchase aims to support Amazon’s mission to bring faster and more reliable delivery to small towns, while creating jobs for locals. Amazon’s “last-mile delivery network,” designed to improve services in more remote areas, aims to cut delivery times by as much as 50% in rural communities.
“We appreciate the investment Amazon is making in Redmond and the confidence they have in our future growth,” said Redmond Mayor Ed Fitch in a press release. “Their announcement acknowledges Redmond as a great place to do business and illustrates the importance of the working partnership between the city, Redmond Economic Development Inc., and private developers.”
The delivery center is set to boost the local economy, with each Amazon delivery site creating an average of 170 jobs, in addition to local driving opportunities. Since 2010, Amazon has invested over $37 billion in Oregon, creating 12,000 direct jobs.
According to ZipRecruiter, a job searching site, the average
hourly pay for an Amazon Fulfillment Center employee in Oregon is about $24.50, as of May 5. The majority of those wages range from $16.25 to $29.47.
“Amazon’s plans in Redmond reflect our ongoing commitment to investing in communities and creating good jobs. We’re excited to be part of Redmond’s future and contribute to a region that values innovation, partnership, and opportunity,” said Easton Craft, Manager of Economic Development Policy at Amazon.
As of May 13, the timeline of the project is unknown.
Amazon says in the past 15 years it's invested more than $37 billion
"We’re excited to be part of Redmond’s future and contribute to a region that values innovation, partnership, and opportunity."
—Amazon's Easton Craft
in Oregon, creating 12,000 jobs and contributing $22 billion to the state’s gross domestic product. The company says more than 5,500 Oregon-based businesses rely on Amazon. The Redmond project is part of a larger national initiative to expand its rural delivery network. When complete, Amazon’s network will span more than 13,000 zip codes.
Fridays May-August 3pm-7pm
*No Market Aug 1st Kids Yoga May-July
ROOTS OF STRENGTH
A JOURNEY THROUGH BLACK HISTORY IN CENTRAL OREGON
The Fathers Group, COCC Afrocentric Program, WBR and Central Oregon Earthseeds invite the community to a free, family friendly, interactive and educational celebration of the 100 year anniversary of Bend's Colored Men’s Business Club. Thu., May 15, 4pm at Redmond Public Library. 827 SW Deschutes Ave., Redmond. $15.
REDMOND COMMUNITY CHOIR SPRING CONCERT
CELEBRATING THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK
The 75-member Redmond Community Choir will sing classics from George Gershwin, Cole Porter and others. The evening will also include songs accompanied by Richard Tuttobene on piano and a stellar rhythm section. Sun., May 18, 4pm at Redmond High School. 675 SW Rimrock Way, Redmond. Free.
Downtown Bend has traditionally been known as the heart of the city; a charming, pedestrian-friendly area that invites both locals and tourists to walk the streets and indulge in shopping, dining and nightlife. About 40 restaurants occupy the downtown area, offering a wide variety of options for those looking to dine in or grab a quick bite.
But what’s meant to be a bustling and vibrant area of Bend is seeing a lower number of locals and tourists, according to some business owners. Several downtown eateries are reporting a dropoff in customers in recent months, causing concern for the future success of their businesses.
On May 5, long-standing downtown restaurant 900 Wall closed its doors, citing a significant decrease in customers. Owner Cliff Eslinger attributed the issue to more competition and the fact that people aren’t spending like they used to.
“Every night I walk around downtown before I get on my bike and go home, or ride a lap, and every business is a third full at 7 o’clock, 8 o’clock. … There’s a lot of people really hurting right now,” Eslinger told the Source on May 6, the day after the restaurant’s closure announcement.
Following that news, a community outpouring ensued on social media, leading many locals to wonder why the seemingly successful business had made the abrupt decision.
While downtown Bend remains a prime location in the city, business owners worry about a possible economic downturn, and local decisions that some say are deterring people from the area.
“After 900 Wall, that was kind of a real eye opener…we're all kind of wondering who's next,” said Laura Bliss, owner of The Jackalope Grill, a farm-totable restaurant on Lava Road.
With rising costs and continued traffic impacts on nearby streets, downtown Bend business owners see a drop in foot traffic
By Julianna LaFollette
A Perfect Storm
Bliss purchased The Jackalope Grill, formerly Tim Garling's Jackalope Grill, in 2022. While the restaurant has seen success, Bliss noted a significant difference in recent months.
When driving or walking around, Bliss said, she’s seeing fewer people downtown than ever before. Another downtown business, the family-run Thai restaurant Wild Rose, is seeing similar changes in the area. Managing member of Wild Rose, May Rattanaphaibuncharoen, said people simply aren’t spending time downtown like they used to.
“When business is slow, I often take a walk to check out other local spots, and they seem to be struggling too — even the brewery just a block away. Downtown doesn’t feel as lively or engaging for tourists or pedestrians,” she said.
At The Jackalope Grill, Bliss said they’ve seen a 30% decrease just in this first quarter, from Jan. 1 to April 30.
“We ran the numbers over the last five years and historically speaking… this is the lowest we've seen in the last five years,” Bliss told the Source. “I've been in the restaurant industry for 25 years, and I've never seen anything like this. Even the recession was better than this. COVID was better than this.”
Bliss believes their decrease in sales is likely a result of rising costs.
According to Jason Brandt, President and CEO of the Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association, current costs associated with dining out are resulting in fewer overall customers.
“Whether you're talking about tariffs, the impacts of inflation, the margins, restaurants are so razor thin to begin with. It's nearly impossible for restaurant owners to stay in business if they don't pass on those costs to their
customer,” Brandt said.
According to Brandt, these economic pressures are happening on a larger scale, with restaurants across the nation likely suffering due to the current economic environment.
Bend Chamber CEO Katy Brooks agrees.
“It's a lot of things happening at the same time, it's the cumulative impacts… the chickens are coming home to roost on that,” Brooks told the Source.
“I've been in the restaurant industry for 25 years, and i've never seen anything like this. even the recession was better than this. covid was better than this.”
—jackalope grill owner, laura bliss
Tourism also plays a big role, having a direct impact on businesses. According to Brandt, all seven tourism regions across Oregon are still trying to get back to pre-pandemic occupancy levels. Winter is typically the slow season for tourists, which can lead to a dip in restaurant visits. According to the most recent data available from Visit Bend, Bend's lodging occupancy rates went from a high of 79% in July 2023 to a low of 40.3% in January 2024, demonstrating a steep decline from summer to winter. While Bliss of Jackalope Grill assumes other areas of Bend are struggling, she assumes there’s a higher impact downtown, due to
nearby ongoing construction.
Steven Draheim, the owner of Bar Rio, is noticing the shift in customers, but feels the main issues are at the City of Bend level, stating that increased traffic concerns are a major roadblock for people who were previously spending more time in the area.
On Feb. 5, the City of Bend closed the intersection of Olney Avenue and Wall Street for construction, causing lengthy traffic delays along detour routes like Newport and Greenwood Avenues.
The intersection is set to reopen sometime this fall.
A main detour route, Greenwood Avenue, a primary road into the downtown area, was the subject of scrutiny last summer, when the City completed a project that added protected crosswalks and buffered bike lanes and reduced travel lanes.
In hopes of improving traffic, the City of Bend developed a map to help identify alternate east-west routes that drivers can utilize. Still, business owners feel the impacts the changes are having on locals, who they think could be avoiding the area altogether.
“If people can't get downtown, or can't get downtown timely enough, there's just too many other options for people to go to,” Draheim told the Source. “This idea that downtown is this gem where no one can fail is fool's gold.”
While Draheim said he isn’t sounding any alarms quite yet, he’s unhappy with decisions being made at the City level regarding some of these big construction projects.
He said business owners should feel more supported by the City, and that leaders should have considered these impacts by not doing so much construction all at once.
Aside from construction, downtown
businesses have also cited parking as a barrier for customers.
In the fall, the City of Bend proposed a plan that would implement low-car districts, or “people streets,” exploring downtown streets like Oregon and Minnesota Avenues as potential areas for limiting car use. While the idea generated excitement from some in the community, downtown business owners almost unanimously opposed the idea, with concerns about the elimination of needed downtown parking.
“I'm all for growth and all that. But let's be a little more strategic about the impacts of people being able to get around,” said Draheim.
While Draheim is worried about the impacts of both the economy and nearby road projects, he said, he’s not in as bad of a place, financially, due to his other business offerings throughout the city. Draheim also owns the Bodega Market on Wall Street, the Barrio food truck in east Bend and restaurant Shimshon at The Grove in Northwest Crossing.
“It is pretty understandable, considering the economic uncertainty everyone is facing, coupled with the insane traffic situation on greenwood and franklin.”
—Commons owner, Dan Baumann
These other, quicker dining options offer a different model that often sees more success during challenging times.
According to Brandt with ORLA, customers are dining out in different ways.
Changing Landscape
At The Commons, the cafe and taproom on Brooks Street in downtown Bend, Owner Dan Baumann has heard various concerns from his neighbors and agrees that a number of issues are impacting businesses across the area.
“It is pretty understandable, considering the economic uncertainty everyone is facing, coupled with the insane traffic situation on Greenwood and Franklin. I dare say nobody wants to travel downtown around dinner time unless they absolutely have to, with the east and west traffic backups going on right now,” he said. However, because of a difference in clientele compared to other more traditional, sit-down eateries, The Commons is not dealing with some of these same concerns, he said. According to Baumann, this is likely because of its lower price point and more casual atmosphere.
According to Brooks with the Bend Chamber, most of the restaurants struggling in Bend are sit-down eateries, those that have waitstaff and offer a more traditional dining experience.
“It's a tough business to be in and it's highly sensitive to pricing and inflation and labor costs, in particular. In addition to that, there are tariffs and inflation that's still impacting cost of food,” said Brooks. “The higher-end, the higher quality, and the more service-oriented, I would imagine that's probably where they're feeling the most impacts.”
According to Brandt with ORLA, the impacts are causing business owners to make hard decisions regarding costs, and looking at whether their business model is still viable.
With peak tourism season approaching, some local restaurants are optimistic about the potential for more customers, but still grapple with the realities of how and where customers are dining.
“You keep hearing in the public that the landscape of dining is changing, and I think a lot of us restaurant owners are trying to figure out what that landscape looks like, and how we can accommodate, because none of us want to go down,” said Bliss. “We're doing everything we can, barely sleeping at night, trying to figure out how to stay open.”
Some people in the industry are looking for other changes that could help revamp the current landscape.
May with Wild Rose suggested a more focused approach, claiming downtown could use more events or ongoing attractions to draw people in and keep downtown vibrant and inviting. Brandt said other ideas are surfacing, like a more coordinated effort to engage tourists and locals.
According to Brandt, the tourism industry should be more vigilant at coordination – making sure restaurants have the opportunity to tweak their hours and stay open later when they know a big concert or event is happening, to take advantage of moments where they could have significant sales coming in.
“There is opportunity, I think, for ongoing communication and coordination across the events, festivals, parades, the different things that are attracting the visitors, and making sure the restaurants are fully in the know about when it's going to be the busiest, so they don't lose the opportunity to accommodate those guests,” Brandt told the Source. “I've gotten the impression that there could be some improvement in that space, and that's just anecdotal.”
Baumann with The Commons hopes that, in the coming months, tourism remains on trend and people are spending enough to bring a spark back to downtown. In the meantime, however, he expects more places to adjust hours, to make up for staffing issues, and offer more happy hours or deals to get people in the doors.
“I don't want to see any more businesses suffer downtown and hope as the seasons change it takes a turn for the better, and soon when I ask any fellow business owners how they are doing, I get a big smile and an ‘Awesome!’ as a response,” he said.
by
Photos
Julianna LaFollette
SOURCE PICKS
BEND FARMERS MARKET
THE HEART OF CENTRAL OREGON’S FOOD SCENE
Running weekly through Oct. 8, the Bend Farmers Market is your open-air grocery store—no crafts, just high-quality, locally produced food. Wed., May 14, 11am-3pm along Brooks Alley in Downtown Bend. Free.
NEAL FRANCIS
VINTAGE VIBES, MODERN GROOVE
Performing as part of Parallel 44 Spring Fest, Neal Franics graces the stage as a soulful, piano-driven throwback to the ’70s with the swagger of Peter Frampton and the flair of Billy Joel. Analog sound, sharp style, all soul. Thu., May 15, 7:30pm at Volcanic Theater Pub. 70 SW Century Dr., Bend. $25.
CHIGGI MOMO & MARIA JACKSON
LADIES NIGHT AT SILVER MOON
Local musician and promoter Marianna Wilson curates a monthly night of women-led artists. This week dreamy indie act Chiggi Momo shares the stage with vocal powerhouse Maria Jackson. Fri., May 16, 7pm at Silver Moon Brewing. 24 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend. $15.
SATURDAY 5/17
MOONLIGHT MARKET
HIGHLIGHTING LOCAL CREATIVES
Bendites of all ages are welcome at this nocturnal celebration. Expect a wide variety of vendors, food, tattoos and music. Sat., May 17, 4-11pm at Silver Moon Brewing. 24 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend. Free.
SALMON BAKE
A TRADITIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN FEAST
A celebration now in its 25th year, the Salmon Bake at Central Oregon Community College will include a salmon lunch, a powwow drum and dance and a silent auction—proceeds will go to the First Nations Student Union scholarship fund. Sat., May 17, 11am-3pm at the COCC Track. 2600 NW College Way, Bend. Free.
SATURDAY 5/17
JAPANESE AMERICAN CULTURE CELEBRATION
HOSTED BY THE JAPANESE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CENTRAL OREGON
Featuring a performance by award-winning artist SORA Shodo, Ikebana workshops with Rachel Alm and paper crane making, this event will provide an opportunity to reflect and provide good wishes for the future. Sat., May 17, 1-3pm at The High Desert Museum. 59800 S. Highway 97, Bend. $17.
WILDLIFE BABY SHOWER
RAISE FUNDS TO CARE FOR INJURED AND ORPHANED NATIVE WILDLIFE
A fundraiser for Think Wild’s wildlife hospital, the event will include live music, lawn games, booths, food, drink, a donation drive and a silent auction. Sun., May 18, 11am-3pm at The Commons Café & Taproom. 875 NW Brooks St., Bend. Free.
TEA DANCE
QUEER JOY AND CELEBRATION
Tea dances originated in the early 20th century but took on special meaning for the LGBTQ+ community starting in the mid-1900s, eventually evolving into a cherished queer tradition. Symbolizing both resistance and revelry, they remain an iconic part of LGBTQ+ culture. Head to Podski Sunday to carry on this joyful ritual with music by DJ Mana, drink deals and a glitter and hair tinsel station. Sun., May 18, 4-7pm at The Podski. 536 NW Arizona Ave., Bend. Free.
MONDAY 5/19
JAMES TAYLOR AND HIS ALL-STAR BAND
NOT DOWN IN MEXICO, RIGHT HERE IN BEND Hayden Homes concerts are back, and kicking off the summer series is none other than the legendary James Taylor. With his warm vocals, masterful guitar work, and a tight all-star band, expect an evening filled with timeless classics and heartfelt nostalgia. Mon., May 19, 7pm at Hayden Homes Amphitheater. 344 SW Shevlin Hixon Dr., Bend. $70-$190.
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S SOUND Sonic Journeys, Evolving Sounds Khruangbin is coming to Bend May 28
By Dave Gil de Rubio
Khruangbin (pronounced KRUNG-BIN) in Thai means airplane. It’s also the name of the mostly instrumental trio that has been making major waves ever since releasing its 2015 debut, “The Universe Smiles Upon You.”
Made up of bassist Laura Lee, drummer Donald “DJ” Johnson and guitarist Mark Speer, the threesome’s ethereal sound has wide-reaching influences ranging from Thai rock/funk, storied jazz-soul composer Roy Ayers and French crooner Serge Gainsbourg to Iranian pop star Googoosh and legendary reggae/ jazz guitarist Ernest Ranglin.
The vibes Khruangbin achieves are a surreal mishmash of airy surf rock and dreamy dub with a dash of noir-like nuance thrown in for good measure. And while the band’s recent efforts like its breakthrough album, 2020’s “Mordechai,” and the 2022 follow-up, “Ali,” found the band incorporating more sonic effects on the former and collaborating with Vieux Farka Touré (son of renowned Malian multi-instrumentalist Ali Farka Touré) on the latter, Khruangbin’s latest effort, last year’s “A La Sala,” finds the trio going back to basics. It was a welcome pivot for Speer.
“My favorite part of recording “A La Sala” was scaling it back to the simplicity of how we did our first two records,” Speer said. “Personally, I was starting to use lots more electronic doo-dads on the guitar to make it sound different and change things up as we go. On this one, I don’t think I changed the settings on the pedals and the amp for the entire recording. I just changed what was on the guitar. Maybe move the pick-up to this one or changed the tone knob and that was kind of it. I didn’t do a whole lot of electronic gadgetry. It’s all music. And being able to work with my best friends on this thing, that was a really fun part of it. It was kind of digging into the vaults.”
Recorded over three weeks in 2023 at Terminal C in Houston, Texas, these dozen songs on “A La Sala” are a delightful collection of fun-size soundscapes. Highlights range from the Afro-pop dance shuffle “Pon Pón,” accented by Lee’s whispered Spanish count-off and the chugging psychedelic funk of “Hold Me Up (Thank You),” punctuated by Congolese-flavored guitar lines and “May Ninth,” a floating slice of surreal pop gently pushed along by Lee’s airy vocals. Elsewhere, “Ada Jean” uses sinewy guitar riffs and a sensuous bass line to convey a vibe that sounds like Portishead scoring a Jamaican murder mystery.
The musical mix can all be traced back to a smorgasbord of ideas Speer said he and his bandmates are constantly accumulating while keeping that original Khruangbin sound going.
“You get into the sterile environment of a studio and it’s kind of like, ‘Write something good,’” he recalled. “You’re on the spot if you’re in a recording session to make something creative. So, me and the rest of my band members tend to have a little grab bag of bibs and bobs that we’ve recorded when we’re inspired. It could be sitting on the couch playing guitar or whistling something as you’re walking through a city or whatever. Maybe it’s something we did at a soundcheck, and we made sure to record it on one of our phones so you can revisit it later.”
He added, “We had a lot of little things that had
inspired us and bits of music we were going to start putting together. And a lot of that stuff didn’t even make it on this record. It’s something we continue doing and it’s something I always try to continue doing.”
That same approach applies to when Khruangbin hits the stage. Despite not even being in their second decade of playing together, the threesome has done 18 tours and shared bills with everyone from Trey Anastasio and Leon Bridges to Big Daddy Kane and Father John Misty. In addition, they’ve played myriad festivals including Coachella, South By Southwest and Bonnaroo. Suffice it to say, Khruangbin will seek to create a dynamic show that connects with audiences each night on the current tour. The group will be at the Hayden Homes Amphitheater on May 28.
“We’ve been playing this new record in its entirety the first half of the show,” Speer said. “What I really like about that is how we’ve been playing it every night. We play it in order as what the record is. Through playing it, the songs tell you what they want. How we played the record the first night (of the current tour) versus the first time we played it, which was way back in Australia — it’s different and changes. It’s an organic beast that continues to change because we’re not playing to a click track. There are no specific cues aside from the music that happens. Little mistakes will be made, and it might be something that’s really cool that we’ll want to do again. Songs start to change ever so slightly. Dynamics start to change, time shifts, and it just really makes the music speak.”
Speer’s own musical journey found him starting out as a bass player in the ‘90s trying to break into the Houston gospel/R&B/hip-hop scene before switching to guitar as a means of staying employed (“I was trying to pay rent and there were a whole bunch of bass players who were way better than me, so I decided to play this other thing so I could get work.”) And while
his early guitar influences included classical guitarists Julian Bream and Heitor Villa-Lobos, it was Ranglin who sent him down the World Music rabbit hole that would play a large part in shaping Khruangbin’s future sound.
“Through him and his amazing guitar work with loads of different artists, I was immersed in the world of Jamaican music and subsequently the music of the rest of the Caribbean,” Speer said. “Through him I discovered Lee Perry, Tubby, Monty Alexander, Sugar Minott, King Sporty and many more. He was my gateway.”
That musical inquisitiveness and open-minded outlook continue to shape and evolve Khruangbin’s surreal sound. It’s a point of pride for Speer, Lee and Johnson -- both in the studio and on stage.
“When you go see some classical performances they’re interpreting the written music,” Speer explained. “The written music doesn’t change, just the performer. That’s kind of what we’re trying to do night after night -- let the music be hopefully new every night. It is the same songs. We’re just trying to play them in a different way, not necessarily like jamming, but changing how we say these things. We still try to build the show to an ecstatic release, much like a DJ would slowly creep the tempos up through the night and by the end, you’re covered in sweat and it’s all out there on the dancefloor.”
Khruangbin
May 28, 7pm
Hayden Homes Amphitheater 344 SW Shevlin Hixon Dr., Bend bendconcerts.com/events/event/khruangbin $78.75+
David Black
Playing off a plethora of influences, this jammy trio creates a soundscape of groovy vibes.
CALENDAR
14 Wednesday
The Astro Lounge Karaoke Show up at 8pm and get your sign-up in! Drink specials every night. 9pm-2am. Free.
Bend Cider Co. Covenhoven Covenhoven is internationally recognized indie artist Joel Van Horne. The singer/songwriter blends rich harmonies, reedy baritone and commanding falsetto. 6-8pm. Free.
Bevel Craft Brewing Live Music: Conner Bennett Join us for free live music every Wednesday May–Sept., 6-8pm at Bevel! This week features Conner Bennett, a talented songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose sound blends nature-inspired melodies with funky jam vibes. Grab a pint, kick back and enjoy the tunes on our sunny outdoor patio! 6-8pm. Free.
The Capitol The Capitol Karaoke Music Weekly Karaoke at its finest! Central Oregon’s premiere karaoke experience has just moved locations! Now at the Capitol! Drink specials! Air guitars! Come see for yourself. 8pm-1am. Free.
The Cellar Live Music with Danger Gently Head down to The Cellar every Wednesday to enjoy live music from Danger Gently, a talented rotating cast of characters playing old-timey jams! 6-8pm. Free.
The Commonwealth Pub Double Jump Double Jump is a local indie-pop band. Our music strives to extend to all audiences with high-velocity vocals and stunning saxophone sounds. 7:30-9:30pm. Free.
Crosscut Warming Hut No 5 Ghost of Brian Craig Relax with a pint and enjoy great local music from Ghost of Brian Craig. 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.
Hanai Steve Miller Band Music, Somatics and Soundbath Immerse yourself in the uplifiting tunes of Steve Miller Band, combined with the therapeutic benefits of somatic movement and a relaxing sound bath. Let the music move you. 6-7:30pm. $35.
M&J Tavern Open Mic Night Downtown living room welcomes musicians to bring their acoustic set or turn it up to 11 with the whole band. Bring your own instruments. Goes to last call or last musician, whichever comes first. 21+. 6:30pm. Free.
Market of Choice Bend Scrabble Club at Market of Choice We meet upstairs. We use the 7th edition of the Scabble Players Dictionary. New Scrabble players are welcome. If you have a Scrabble set, please bring it as a backup. 6-8:30pm. Free.
McMenamins Old St. Francis School Shine Acoustic goodness and soaring harmonies. 7-10pm. Free.
Northside Bar & Grill Mellow Wednesday Acoustic Open Mic and Jam hosted by Derek Michael Marc Sign-up sheet is available at 6:30pm. 7-9pm. Free.
Pinky G’s Pizzeria MUSIC BINGO Join music Bingo (think Bingo and Name that Tune). Great food, cold drinks and good times. Free to play and prizes for each round winner. 6-8pm. Free. Ponch’s Place Bingo Wednesdays at Ponch’s Place Enjoy Bingo at Ponch’s Place on Wednesdays. 5:30-7pm. Free.
River’s Place Cribbage Tournament Half the pot goes to Think Wild, the rest is awarded to 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place winners. Please arrive early so we can get set up and start on time. 5:30-8pm. $20.
15 Thursday
The Ale Apothecary Tasting Room
Community Pint & Game Night Join us every Thursday in May at Ale Apothecary for a fun card game and pint night supporting CASA of Central Oregon! Each week features a new game to learn. Meet new people and raise funds for children in foster care. Every pint sold supports CASA! 4-7pm. Free.
The Astro Lounge Karaoke Show up at 8pm and get your sign-up in! Drink specials every night. 9pm-2am. 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.
The Belfry The Crazy Happy Silly Funny Nerdy Show Crazy, silly, happy, funny and nerdy are more than just adjectives, they’re attributes we’re putting on stage in this “comedy-focused” variety show.“
Bridge 99 Brewery Trivia Thursday at Bridge 99 Brewery Trivia Thursdays at 6:30pm at Bridge 99 Brewery with Useless Knowledge Bowl. It’s no ordinary trivia night, Team up to win house gift cards! Great brews, cocktails, and more. In-house menu and food truck options available! It’s free to play. Indoor and outdoor seating available. 63063 Layton Ave, Bend. 6:308:30pm. Free.
Bunk+Brew Karaoke Thursdays Sing your heart out at Bunk + Brew’s Karaoke Night! Whether you’re a pro or just love the spotlight, all voices are welcome. Food carts available all evening! Located in the Historic Lucas House Living Room for winter. 7-10pm. Free.
Bunk+Brew Backyard Karaoke Thursdays! Lights. Mic. Action! Belt your heart out, cheer on new friends and keep the party alive with food carts and beer flowing. 7-10pm. Free.
The Cellar Live Irish Trad Music with The Ballybogs! Join us for a night of live music featuring Bend’s Irish Trad band, The Ballybogs! Every Thursday at The Cellar. Seats fill up, so get there early if you can! 6-8pm. Free.
The Commonwealth Pub Big Treble Big Treble came together after playing music at the home of a friend who was throwing a small party. Regan, Cliff and Scott has so much fun playing and singing, 7:30pm. Free.
Crave Bend COMEDY OPEN MIC NIGHT
Comedy Open Mic Night on the SW side of Bend! Adults only encouraged. Intimate, smaller venue, healthier food and beverages, and an interactive night of comedy every Thursday! Hosted By Hopper. 7-9pm. Free.
The Dez Lounge Open Mic Join Joyful Lane at open mic night! Enjoy NA cocktails, charcuterie and dessert while listening to local talent! 6-9pm. Free.
LIVE MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE
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Dogwood At The Pine Shed Let’s Have a Kiki A weekly 2SLGBTQIA+ night hosted by Cliché, with a new featured resident DJ each month. Kicking off the series in May with DJ Lunallday. Let’s have a kiki! 7-10pm. Free.
Elements Public House Trivia Night at Elements Public House with QuizHead Games Come be all you can be with Trivia Night every Thursday from 6-8pm! Featuring QuizHead. games. Located at the north end of Redmond. Full bar and great food! 6-8pm. Free.
Faith, Hope & Charity Vineyards Kurt Silva Back at the vineyard for a solo performance is Central Oregon’s own Kurt Silva playing guitar and singing. 5-8pm. $15.
The Lot Rick Smith Rick Smith has performed live for over 30 years with Steppin Out, The Untouchables and The Coupe de Ville Band, opening up for The Average White Band, Elvin Bishop and Curtis Salgado, to name a few. Rick is now a single entertainer playing country/rock, blues and funk. 6-8pm. Free.
Pangaea Guild Hall Intro to D&D Workshop Calling all adventurers! Have you wanted to play Dungeons and Dragons but have no idea where to start? Pangaea Guild Hall presents an “Intro to D&D” workshop series hosted by yours truly, Guildmaster Chris! Learn to build and play your own D&D character. Call or email to reserve your spot! 6-9pm. $10.
Ponch’s Place Trivia Thursdays at Ponch’s Place Trivia Thursdays at Ponch’s Place with QuizHead Games. 6-8pm. Free.
River’s Place Eric Leadbetter Vintage rock sounds sprinkled with tasteful jam sections. 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.
Stihl Whiskey Bar The Brandon Campbell Trio Live Gypsy Swing with The Brandon Campbell Trio at Stihl Whiskey Bar! 7-9pm. Free.
Volcanic Theatre Pub Neal Francis w/ Color Green We’re thrilled to welcome singer/ songwriter/keyboardist Neal Francis and his incredible band to the stage. Known for delivering soulful, deeply funky tunes that are as emotionally resonant as they are danceable, Neal Francis promises a performance you won’t want to miss. Opening the night is California-based psych-pop sensations, Color Green. 7:30pm. $25.
16 Friday
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.
Bend Cider Co. Toothpick Shaker Come on out to Bend Cider’s Friday Night Concert series featuring the classic rock, pop & alternative sounds of Toothpick Shaker! Light appetizers available, outside food welcome. Kid and dog friendly. 6-8pm. Free.
The Commonwealth Pub The Cutmen The Cutmen is an eight piece instrumental funk and soul jazz band with a horn section. The band has been performing in the Oregon area for the last 10 years. 7pm. Free.
The Commonwealth Pub Dance Party with TRUNORTH Join TRUNORTH as he makes his way down from the 49th parallel, spinning the latest and greatest, raising the bar on this year’s playoff season. Join him Friday and Saturday nights at The Commonwealth Pub and cheer on the beats from soul, to funk, to today’s hits. Party on, eh! 9pm-Midnight. Free.
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.
M&J Tavern Billy & The Box Kid with JackRat Billy and the Box Kid returns to its old stomping grounds before heading out on tour, inviting JackRat to rally as friends and family collide in a night of good old-fashioned Bend-foolery. 9pm. Free.
Denver’s Banshee Tree blurs the line between jazz, indie, psych and electro-swing. Catch its upbeat live show Fri., May 16, 7:30pm at Volcanic Theater Pub.
Courtesy Banshee Tree
Hayden Homes Amphitheater
James Taylor And His All-Star Band James Taylor & His All-Star Band head to Bend next week. Taylor has touched people with his warm baritone voice and distinctive style of guitar-playing for more than 50 years. 7pm. $69.50-$189.50.
Immersion Brewing Open Mic at Immersion Brewing - Bend Comedy - Open Mic at 7pmSign-up at 6:30pm - All performance types are welcome! - All ages are welcome to attend and perform! - All acts are eligible to audition to perform in a future Bend Comedy show! - five minutes spoken or two songs of stage time! 7-9pm. Free.
JC’s Bar & Grill Karaoke Karaoke kicks off at 8pm with our awesome host Van! Come early to get a prime seat. Happy hour lasts all day and our pool tables are free Mondays. 2 & 8pm. Free.
JC’s Bar & Grill Karaoke Karaoke kicks off at 8pm with our awesome host Van! Come early to get a prime seat. Happy hour lasts all day and our pool tables are free Mondays. 2 & 8pm. 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 Voted #1 Open Mic and Locals Night, Beertown Comedy’s Open Mic happens every Monday at Silver Moon Brewing. Free to watch and perform! Sign-ups at 6:30pm, show at 7pm. With 20 spots available, bring your best jokes and get noticed for paid gigs. Laughter guaranteed! 6:30-9pm. Free.
20 Tuesday
The Astro Lounge Karaoke Show up at 8pm and get your sign-up in! Drink specials every night. 9pm-2am. Free.
Bunk+Brew Trivia Tuesdays Test your knowledge every Tuesday from 7-9pm at Bunk + Brew! New exciting themes every week. Bring your friends for a night of fun and prizes. Food carts will be open, so grab a bite or brew while you play. Located in the Historic Lucas House Dining Room. 7-9pm. Free.
Bunk+Brew Backyard Trivia Tuesdays! Big brains, cold beers, bragging rights! Battle it out under the stars with rotating trivia themes and epic prizes. Grab food from the food carts and drinks from the beer truck. Think you’ve got what it takes? 7-9pm. Free.
The Capitol The Capitol Karaoke Music Weekly Karaoke at its finest! Central Oregon’s premiere karaoke experience has just moved locations! Now at the Capitol! Drink specials! Air guitars! Come see for yourself. 8pm-1am. Free.
The Cellar Open Mic Open mic at The Cellar hosted by Mari! 6-8pm and all are welcome! 6-8pm. Free.
The Commons Cafe & Taproom Open Mic StoryTellers open mic nights are full of music, laughs and community. Mason James is the host. 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. If you wish to perform sign-ups start at 5pm in the cafe. 6pm. Free.
The Commonwealth Pub Haute Melange With an intricate blend of masterful technique and rich artistry, Haute Melange seamlessly weaves classic jazz traditions with modern flair. 7-9pm. Free.
M&J Tavern Karaoke Sing your heart out in downtown’s living room. 8pm-Midnight. Free.
Mountain Burger Trivia Tuesday at Mountain Burger Come to Trivia Tuesday at Mountain Burger! Fun and prizes await! 7:30-9pm. Free.
Northside Bar & Grill Karaoke with DJ Chris Ossig Karaoke with DJ Chris. 7-9pm. Free.
Pinky G’s Pizzeria TRIVIA NIGHT Test your knowledge in a casual/laid-back atmosphere. Pizza, beer and trivia. Free to play and prizes for 1st and 2nd place. 6-8pm. Free.
River’s Place Bingo! Have fun, win $$ and support a local nonprofit organization. Cards $1-$5. 6-8pm. Free.
Sisters Depot Bingo Night You asked, and we delivered—bingo is happening! Grab your cards and get ready for a fun-filled night with exciting prizes up for grabs. $1 per card or $5 for 6 cards. 6pm. Free.
MUSIC
COCC 2025 Salmon Bake A traditional Native American feast and celebration now in its 25th year, the Salmon Bake at Central Oregon Community College is put on by the college’s Native American program and FNSU club. May 17, 11am-3pm. Central Oregon Community College track, 2600 NW College Way, Bend. Contact: 541-318-3782. jrector@cocc.edu. Free.
Redmond Community Choir
Spring Concert The 75-member choir will celebrate the Great American Songbook, singing timeless classics from George Gershwin, Cole Porter and others. They will also be performing Bob Chilcott’s “A Little Jazz Mass,” accompanied by a stellar rhythm section featuring Central Oregon musicians and guest artist Richard Tuttobene on piano. May 18, 4pm. Redmond High School, 675 SW Rimrock Way, Redmond. Free.
DANCE
Adult Jazz Dance Community Class Join nonprofit Bend Dance Project for intermediate level adult jazz drop-in dance classes, Fridays 12:15 - 1:45pm. Styles include Broadway, street, lyrical with teachers rotating monthly. Friendly supportive atmosphere. Get your dance on! Fridays, 12:15-1:45pm. Acadamie De Ballet Classique, 1900 NE 3rd St #104, Bend. Contact: 408-857-6773. jcliff@gmail.com. $10 donation.
FILM EVENTS
Blend: On Being Black in Bend—Film Screening Join us for a free screening of Blend: On Being Black in Bend, followed by a Q&A with Dr. Dalton Miller-Jones. We’re raising funds to support "My Friend Dalton", a new documentary telling Dalton’s life story through the voices of those who know him best. Sat, May 17, 5-7:30pm and Thu, May 22, 6-8pm. Bend Church, 680 NW Bond Street, Bend. Contact: 541-9489334. info@liberationendured.com. Free.
ARTS + CRAFTS
Bloom & Thread: Ukrainian Storytelling in Petals Join Ukrainian-born floral artist Tatiana Chelekhova for a hands-on cultural workshop honoring the ancient tradition of the Vinok—the floral crown worn by Ukrainian women. Using fresh blooms, textiles and wild plants foraged from Central Oregon’s desert, participants will create their own living wreath while learning the rich meanings behind each flower and ribbon. May 18, 3pm. The Workhouse, 50 SE Scott St., Suite 6, Bend. Contact: 202-7169602. milashelehoff@gmail.com. Free.
PRESENTATIONS + EXHIBITS
Japanese American Culture Celebration Join us for a celebration of Japanese American cultures. Featuring a performance by award-winning artist SORA Shodo , Ikebana workshops with Rachel Alm, and paper crane making, this event will provide an opportunity to reflect and provide good wishes for the future. Hosted in partnership with the Japanese American Society May 17, 1-3pm. High Desert Museum, 59800 S. Highway 97, Bend. Contact: 541-382-4754. info@highdesertmuseum.org. Free with paid Museum admission.
Roots of Strength: A Journey Through Black History in Central Oregon The Fathers Group, COCC Afrocentric Program, WBR and Central Oregon Earthseeds invite the community to a free, family friendly, interactive and educational celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the Bend Colored Men’s Business. May 15, 4-6:30pm. Redmond Public Library, 827 SW Deschutes Ave., Redmond. Free.
THEATER
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland The new adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s 1865 literary classic “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” an ensemble production that theatrically brings Alice’s quest in Wonderland to life. Ten actors play Alice both individually and as a chorus as she strives to make sense of her dreamlike new reality. Fri, May 16, 5-9pm, Sat, May 17, 12-4 and 5-9pm and Sun, May 18, Noon-4pm. Summit High School, 2855 NW Clearwater Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-419-5558. admin@beatchildrenstheatre.org. $15-$20.
WORDS
How to Write, Publish and Market Your Children’s Book Registration is required. Children’s books are vital to how kids learn, plus they facilitate relationships with peers, caregivers, teachers and the larger world. This class is designed as an overview for those who wish to write for children. May 14, 6-7:30pm. Downtown Bend Public Library - Brooks Room, 601 NW Wall St., Bend. Contact: 541-312-1063. beccar@dpls.lib.or.us. Free.
VOLUNTEER
WWOLF Volunteer Work Party Willing Workers on Local Farms (WWOLF) is a community program of Central Oregon Locavore with the goal of lending a hand to local farmers and ranchers while educating participants about the true nature of local food. We will give DD Ranch a hand as they plant pumpkins for their pumpkin patch! We hope that you can join us and lend a helping hand! May 17, 9am-3pm. DD Ranch, 3836 NE Smith Rock Way, Terrebonne. Contact: leighana@centraloregonlocavore.org. Free.
GROUPS + MEETUPS
5th Annual Wildlife Baby Shower
Join Think Wild at The Commons Cafe and Taproom between 11am and 3pm to help your local wildlife hospital raise funds & supplies to care for injured and orphaned native wildlife in need this baby season! This event is free to attend and family-friendly. RSVP is not required but appreciated! May 18, 11am-3pm. The Commons Cafe & Taproom, 875 NW Brooks St., Bend. Contact: molly@thinkwildco.org. Free.
Edible and Medicinal Plants of Central Oregon with Sarah Olson Local herbalist Sarah Olson will explore proper identification, edibility and medicinal properties as well as ethical harvesting techniques for sustainable foraging. May 15, 6:30-8pm. Brooks Hall at Trinity Episcopal Church, 469 Wall St., Bend. Contact: info@centraloregonmushroomclub.com. Free.
FUNDRAISING
19th Annual Community Baby Shower Through the entire month of May, Soroptimist International of Bend is holding the 19th Annual “Community Baby Shower” donation event. The club is asking for community donations of new or gently used baby items—clothing, blankets (crocheted or knitted, baby quilts), crocheted sweaters, hats, booties, baby socks, crib sheets. Sizes from newborn up to at least 12 months of age are appreciated. Seven drop-off locations throughout Bend, listed at https://sibend.org/ events/community-baby-shower. Hopscotch Kids, 1303 NW Galveston Ave., Bend. Free.
EVENTS + MARKETS
Bend Farmers Market The Bend Farmers Market is a true farmers market dedicated to supporting the viability of local farmers, ranchers and food producers who offer fresh local produce, protein and farm products to the people of Central Oregon. Wednesdays, 11am3pm. Through Oct. 9. Brooks Alley, downtown Bend, Bend. Contact: bendfarmersmarket@ gmail.com. Free.
Redmond Farmers Market Discover the heart of our community at the Redmond Farmers Market! Fun for the whole family. Here, local farmers and artisans come together to share their passion for fresh produce, handmade goods and unique crafts. Fridays, 3-7pm. Through Aug. 29. Centennial Park, Evergreen, Between 7th and 8th St., Redmond. Contact: 541-570-8946. Harvesthouseevents.rdm@gmail.com. Free.
Kicking off a tour of the West, Aage Birch and friends will play new songs at Silver Moon Brewing. Sun., May 18, 6:30pm.
Courtesy Aage Birch FB
CHOW C Dogwood Curates Food Carts for All
The food cart lot at the newly relocated Dogwood at the Pine Shed offers a wide variety of tasty cuisines
By Julianna LaFollette
ON A WING & A CRÊPE
The newly revamped and relocated Dogwood at the Pine Shed just opened its doors in February, offering tasty cocktails and a wide variety of tasty food options for any palate. The carefully curated food carts include Mexican, Vietnamese and Dominican cuisines, along with unique sandwiches, pizza, wings and crepes. With warmer weather ahead, the tasty offerings invite hungry (and thirsty) crowds to the growing area along Second Street in Bend's Makers District.
‘Wich Doctor Sandwich Co.
This sandwich shop packs a punch for those looking for an elevated spin on a classic. With over 40 combined years in the restaurant business, owners Brenda and Cody Gimbel decided to start a food cart last May.
The two formed their menu after their favorite flavors and tastes, while making as much as they can from scratch, smoking their own meats and sourcing ingredients from local farms when they can.
While the cart has about four staple sandwiches that stay on the menu, they have a rotating seasonal sandwich and sides.
“We just want to do good food, but a little more affordable and available to everybody,” said Cody. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
On a Wing & a Crêpe
Stephan Lavigne opened his food cart in August and just moved to the lot at Dogwood a few weeks ago. Previously, Lavigne was at the lot at Ponch’s Place on the east side of Bend. With his first venture into the food industry, he wanted to combine two culinary delights – wings and crepes.
The wings are served with a wide variety of sauces, from sticky gochujang and Jamaican Jerk to chipotle honey. Lavigne said he makes the wings extra crispy and adds lots of sauce. The authentic French crepes come savory, with options like ham and swiss, or sweet, like the Nutella and Strawberries. Closed Mondays.
Dinky Dau
This unique food cart keeps it simple with Banh Mi, rice bowls and other Asian-inspired items. The Bahn Mi, a traditional Vietnamese sandwich, is a popular street food that’s usually served with savory meats and pickled vegetables.
Customers simply pick their protein then choose whether they want a sandwich or a rice bowl with unique toppings. Closed Mondays.
The Dominican Food Truck
The first food truck offering Dominican cuisine in Bend has a blend of authentic Dominican dishes as well as American favorites with a tropical twist. Customers can enjoy traditional dishes, including empanadas and chicharron, and other favorites, like burgers, sandwiches and sides such as tostones, fries, yuca, rice or beans. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Sopa
The Sopa Mexican food truck opened in 2019 and serves up authentic Mexican cuisine. The cart has fresh and handmade organic tortillas, as well as burritos, and fresh salads and bowls. While its specialty is the Jalisco-style beef birria, the menu has something for everyone, with a range of beef, fish and veggie options. Closed Mondays.
Stone Pine Pizza
This pizza place operates from Tuesday through Sunday and serves its food up till 10pm, offering a tasty snack for those enjoying evening cocktails at Dogwood’s indoor bar. Closed Mondays.
DINKY DAU
SOPA 'WICH DOCTOR
Photos by Julianna LaFollette
LITTLE BITES
By Nic Moye
BBQ & Line Dancing for a Good Cause Central Oregon Locavore fundraiser
Central Oregon Locavore is serving up a BBQ and hoedown! It’s the first time the local nonprofit has done a fundraiser like this. The event will be at Cross-Eyed Cricket Watering Hole in Bend on May 24. Hattie’s BBQ will provide locally sourced pork from Well Rooted Farms. The meat will be smoked slowly overnight. There will be plenty of side dishes including smokey-sweet pit beans, brisket chili, smoked mac n cheese and smoked cauliflower. Prices will vary.
After dinner, guests will dust off their cowboy boots to two-step and heel-toe the night away! Cocktails will be offered from Crater Lake Spirits, Tito’s and Curious Elixirs. All drink proceeds will benefit Central Oregon Locavore’s local food producer resiliency fund.
“We've never done something quite like this before and so we're really looking forward to it. We hope to raise about $5,000 from the event,” Events Coordinator Leighana Martindale told the Source Weekly. No tickets are needed, but registration is required.
Central Oregon Locavore supports local food, farmers and sustainable
practices through its indoor farmers market, educational programs and community events. It’s currently seeking volunteers to work on various farms to help local farmers and ranchers, which is part of its WWOLF (Willing Workers on Local Farms) program.
Locavore Fundraiser: BBQ & Line Dancing Sat., May 24, 6pm
The Cross-Eyed Cricket Watering Hole 20565 NE Brinson Blvd., Bend eventbrite.com/e/hatties-bbqlocavore-benefit-dinner-tickets-1320411960719 Free registration
Fire Destroys a Tumalo Food Truck Sandos & Smash owners say they’ll be back.
Afire destroyed a food truck at The Bite food cart lot in the 19000 block of 7th Avenue in Tumalo. Bend Fire & Rescue and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office responded about 1am on Monday, May 12, and extinguished flames coming through the roof of the food truck. Sandos & Smash posted a note on its Facebook page reading “Our food truck dream had a little hiccup last night. Sandos & Smash burned down. We are heartbroken and figuring out the next steps and the cause of the fire. Rest assured we will be back and better than ever in no time! We appreciate your support.”
Fire officials say the cause appears to be accidental, but an investigation is underway. No one was in the food truck at the time. The fire caused an extensive amount of damage. The truck and its contents are considered to be a total loss.
Courtesy Central Oregon Locavore
Photos courtesy Bend Fire& Rescue
SC SCREEN May theatrical roundup Planes, Cage and a Really Good Boy
By Jared Rasic
Cinema is robust enough to feel almost limitless as an art form. Although movies are nearly 130 years old, a few filmmakers continue to push the medium forward every year, finding innovative and groundbreaking new ways to tell stories. While it’s rare to come across a film that feels wholly singular, I still find joy in spending half a day at a movie theater, attempting to fit as many disparate and opposing movies into my head as possible. By running the gamut of emotions across a few hours, I find it stretches the muscles of my empathy in a way nothing else achieves.
This last weekend, I caught three movies that were so completely different from each other, it reminded me how versatile film can be. That’s not to say that all the movies I saw were prime examples of the form or will even remotely set the world on fire, but watching them over such a short time was a comforting way to remind myself that I’ll never run out of things to write about.
First was “The Friend,” a heartwarming dog movie starring Naomi Watts and Bill Murray. When Murray’s character passes, he leaves his giant Great Dane, Apollo, to his best friend, played by a wonderfully warm and authentic Naomi Watts, who most decidedly doesn’t really care for dogs, nor can she properly care for one in her rent-controlled NYC apartment.
What we have here is a bittersweet examination of the five stages of grief, embodied not just by Watts, who’s profoundly distraught by the loss of Murray, but also by Apollo. While still a very good boy, Apollo is depressed, acting out and doesn’t know why Murray isn’t
coming home. Watching Watts and Apollo slowly grow to trust each other is genuinely moving and, even though the film feels a bit stiff and writerly in moments, “The Friend” is cozy comfort cinema, achieving nothing more or nothing less. Dog people will adore this regardless.
Next was “Fight or Flight,” a ridiculously and proudly stupid (yet equally entertaining) hyper-violent action movie starring Josh Hartnett, who seems to be having the time of his life during his recent career renaissance. He plays an ex-secret service agent on board a 16-hour flight filled with assassins who are all trying to kill him and the mysterious hacker he has to protect. That’s it. The entire film is Hartnett murdering bad guys on a plane in increasingly bonkers ways while proving he could easily be a massive action star if that’s the career path he wants to take.
What makes this infinitely better than the recent string of goofball action movies like the dire “Love Hurts” and the forgettable “Bullet Train” is that the action is genuinely well crafted and viscerally exciting to watch. Action movies don’t really need to be well written or acted as long as they’re fun and “Fight or Flight” knows that to its core. The violence is so gleefully over the top that the film feels like a live-action Looney Tune, but with Josh Hartnett swinging a chainsaw around a packed airplane. In no world can I say this movie is good, but holy hell did I have a good time watching it.
I ended this homemade trilogy with the new Nic Cage freak-out, “The Surfer,” and that was definitely a choice. He plays a yuppie snob trying to recapture his youth by buying his childhood home on the Australian coast. When he tries to take his teenage son surfing and the locals tell them to get lost, Cage, whose manhood has just been impugned in front of his boy, goes on a downward spiral that Job would think is a bit extreme.
Directed with reverence for 70’s Ozploitation classics like “Wake in Fright” and “Picnic at Hanging Rock” by Lorcan Finnegan, “The Surfer” excels at sunbleached paranoia vibes, but when it tries to unpack
new things to say about toxic masculinity and mental illness, it gets lost in the weeds. Cage doesn’t go nearly as batshit as I expected and somehow finds subtlety in a story bereft of any, but I still wouldn’t have minded watching him channel his inner German Expressionist and crank things up to eleven. There are a few moments where we get Maximum Cage, but nothing nearly as marvelous as “Mandy” or “Face Off.” As it stands, “The Surfer” is a mind-bending trip for most of its runtime, but eventually abandons all its twitchy intensity and metaphorical metaphysical shenanigans for something far too mundane and literal.
“The Friend”
Dir. Scott McGhee & David Siegel Grade: B
Now Playing at Tin Pan Theater
“Fight or Flight”
Dir. James Madigan Grade: B Now Playing at Regal Old Mill
“The Surfer”
Dir. Locan Finnegan Grade: C+
Now Playing at Regal Old Mill, Sisters Movie House coming soon to Tin Pan Theater
In spite of his rage, he’s still just Nicolas Cage.
Sometimes all we need from a movie is Naomi Watts and a really good boy.
Bleecker Street
Roadside Attractions
Curly Cuts - Wavy Cuts Men’s, Women’s & Kids Cuts Per ms and More!
By Damian Fagan NW
Dam(n) Busy as Beavers Beaver Works Oregon engages in building beaver habitat
Beaver Works Oregon has been busy as the proverbial beaver to restore beaver habitat in LaPine and Collier Memorial State Parks. Along with Oregon State Park staff and other partners, Beaver Works has been planting willow, dogwood, and black cottonwood cuttings along stream and river banks, then installing wire fencing to allow the cuttings to sprout and become established. They also installed Chronolog stations that allow for the public to contribute photographs and document the project’s growth.
In two focal areas of work at the state parks, Beaver Works Oregon and others made an assessment of potential beaver habitat in the summer of 2023 and indicated it was suitable to sustain beavers but not in the current condition.
In the spring of 2024, crews planted several enclosures worth of willow and dogwood poles near the Dead Slough, an old oxbow along the Deschutes River, upstream from the Big Pine Tree in LaPine State Park. Over 1,100 willow and red-osier dogwood sticks were planted in several enclosures. The enclosures are to protect the young poles as they sprout and begin to grow. The area had seen beaver activity in the past with chewed trunks but nothing recent.
In 2023 and 2024, volunteers and staff planted over 2,600 willow and black cottonwood poles along the Williamson River and Spring Creek tributary in Collier Memorial State Park to replace some of the trees and shrubs lost to the 2020 Two Four Two fire. Though park staff were seeing beaver activity post-fire, the lost habitat was not sufficient to keep the beavers around.
In addition to the plantings, several photo monitoring stations were installed, called Chronolog posts, so that the public could also participate in the project.
“We monitor the enclosed plots for three years at each site and track things like soil temperature, pH, survival, and growth by species and point of origin,” said Maureen Thompson, Beaver Works program manager. “But after less than a year, the storytelling I can think of is about the positive relationship we have with the park, collaborating with Trout Unlimited, and finding funding from the Oregon Wildlife Foundation and Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation District to make it happen. We have a volunteer recording trail camera footage of wildlife at LaPine, and my favorite trail camera of all is the one at Collier Memorial Park along Spring Creek.”
The Chronolog posts include a notched post where a user can place their cellphone to take photographs of an enclosure to document the growth of the plants. Images collected by users will create a timeline of habitat restoration and wildlife activity in the area. The photos can then be uploaded to an online database at chronolog.io.
“Possibly the most accessible planting right now at LaPine is near the Fall River Tubes fishing area,” added Thompson. “In October, we planted a variety of wetland and upland plants along an unsanctioned spider trail and erosive hillslope near a beaver den. If everything is going well, this spot will be hard to find since we worked with Trout Unlimited to disguise and visually deter people from cutting their own path toward the beaver den.”
For those interested in volunteering with Beaver Works, contact Maureen Thompson through the website at beaverworksoregon.org.
Beaver Works Oregon Beaverworksoregon.org
A Chronolog station in LaPine State Park.
Damian Fagan
ALEX GIENTKE, AGNP
JOSH SEIBEL, PA-C
DR. MARK E. GONSKY, DO
ASTROLOGY
By Rob Brezsny
CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF SERVING
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TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The most successful people aren't those who merely follow their passion, but those who follow their curiosity. Honoring the guidance of our passions motivates us, but it can also narrow our focus. Heeding the call of our curiosity emboldens our adaptability, exploration, and maximum openness to new possibilities. In that spirit, Taurus, I invite you to celebrate your yearning to know and discover. Instead of aching for total clarity about your life's mission, investigate the subtle threads of what piques your curiosity. Experiment with being an intrigued adventurer.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini author Huston Smith was a religious scholar who wrote 13 books. But he was dedicated to experiencing religions from the inside rather than simply studying them academically. Smith danced with Whirling Dervishes, practiced Zen meditation with a master, and ingested peyote with Native Americans, embodying his view that real understanding requires participation, not just observation. In the spirit of his disciplined devotion, I invite you to seek out opportunities to learn through experience as much as theory. Leave your safety zone, if necessary, to engage with unfamiliar experiences that expand your soul. Be inspired by how Smith immersed himself in wisdom that couldn’t come from books alone.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You're ready to go to the next evolutionary stage of a close alliance. Although you may not feel entirely prepared for the challenge, I believe you will be guided by your deeper wisdom to do what's necessary. One way I can help is to provide exhilarating words that boost your daring spirit. With that in mind, I offer you a passage from poet William Blake. Say them to your special friend if that feels right, or find other words appropriate to your style. Blake wrote, "You are the fierce angel that carves my soul into brightness, the eternal fire that burns away my dross. You are the golden thread spun by the hand of heaven, weaving me into the fabric of infinite delight. Your love is a furnace of stars, a vision that consumes my mortal sight, leaving me radiant and undone. In your embrace, I find the gates of paradise thrown wide."
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In ancient Egypt, mirrors were composed of polished copper. To remain properly reflective, they required continual maintenance. Let’s take that as a metaphor for one of your key tasks in the coming weeks. It’s high time to do creative upkeep on your relationships with influences that provide you with feedback on how you’re doing. Are your intended effects pretty close to your actual effects? Does your self-image match the way you are perceived by others? Are you getting the right kind of input to help you stay on course?
CANCER (June 21-July 22): More than 2,000 years ago, people living in what’s now the Peruvian desert began etching huge designs of animals and plants in the earth. The makers moved a lot of dirt! Here’s the mystery: Some of the gigantic images of birds, spiders, and other creatures are still visible today, but can only be deciphered from high above. And there were, of course, no airplanes in ancient times to aid in depicting the figures. Let’s use this as a metaphor for one of your upcoming tasks, Cancerian. I invite you to initiate or intensify work on a labor of love that will motivate you to survey your life from the vantage point of a bird or plane or mountaintop.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You now have extra power to detect previously veiled patterns and hidden agendas. That’s why I urge you to be alert for zesty revelations that may seem to arrive out of nowhere. They could even arise from situations you have assumed were thoroughly explored and understood. These are blessings, in my opinion. You should expect and welcome the full emergence of truths that have been ripening below the surface of your awareness. Even if they are initially surprising or daunting, you will ultimately be glad they have finally appeared.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Renowned Virgo author Nassim Nicholas Taleb has called for the discontinuation of the Nobel Prize in Economics. He says it rewards economists who express bad ideas that cause great damage. He also delivers ringing critiques of other economists widely regarded as top luminaries. Taleb has a lot of credibility. His book The Black Swan was named one of the most influential books since World War II. I propose we make him your inspirational role model for now, Virgo. May he incite you to question authority to the max. May he rouse you to bypass so-called experts, alleged mavens, and supposed wizards. Be your own masterful authority.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I predict that your usual mental agility will be even more robust than usual in the coming weeks. Although this could possibly lead you to overthink everything, I don’t believe that’s what will happen. Instead, I suspect your extra cognitive flexibility will be highly practical and useful. It will enable you to approach problems from multiple angles simultaneously—and come up with hybrid solutions that are quite ingenious. A possibility that initially seems improbable may become feasible when you reconfigure its elements. PS: Your natural curiosity will serve you best when directed toward making connections between seemingly unrelated people and fields.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19): Chances to initiate creative transformations will come from unexpected sources in the coming days. I guarantee it. But will you be sufficiently receptive to take maximum advantage? The purpose of this horoscope is to nudge you to shed your expectations so you will be tenderly, curiously open to surprising help and inspiration. What sweet interruptions and graceful detours will flow your way if you are willing to depart from your usual script? I predict that your leadership qualities will generate the greatest good for all concerned if you are willing to relinquish full control and be flexibly eager to entertain intuitive breakthroughs.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): For many Indigenous people of California, acorns were part of every meal. Nuts from oak trees were used to create bread, soups, dumplings, pancakes, gravy, and porridge. But making them edible required strenuous work. In their natural state, they taste bitter and require multiple soakings to leach out the astringent ingredient. Is there a metaphorical equivalent for you, Aquarius? An element that can be important, but needs a lot of work, refinement, and preparation? If so, now is a good time to develop new approaches to making it fully available.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): When Pisces-born Jane Hirshfield was a young poet, she mostly stopped writing poetry for eight years. During that time, she was a full-time student of Zen Buddhism and lived for three years at a monastery. When she resumed her craft, it was infused with what she had learned. Her meditative practice had honed her observational skills, her appreciation of the rich details of daily life, and her understanding that silence could be a form of communication. In the spirit of the wealth she gathered from stillness, calm, and discipline, I invite you to enjoy your own spiritual sabbatical, dear Pisces. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to relax into the most intriguing mysteries.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): What may appear to be slow or static is actually moving. The developing changes are imperceptible from day to day, but incrementally substantial. So please maintain your faith in the diligent, determined approach. Give yourself pep talks that renew your deeply felt motivation. Ignore the judgments and criticism of people who have no inkling of how hard you have been working. In the long run, you will prove that gradual progress can be the most enduring.
Homework: What do you want more than anything else but fear you’re not worthy of? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com
cry
34. Chinese brew
37. No. that changes in traffic
38. Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Bret
41. Long in the tooth
42. Some apples
44. Replaceable part of a 54-Down
45. Word of approval
46. Think probable
49. Constant change
51. Dangerous situation
52. Apple Intelligence system
53. TV junkies' "holy grails" that weren't archived
60. Actress Mendes
61. "Parking with a push of a button" system
62. Cousin of the wombat
63. Red button, on some apps
64. Idea
65. Falling sound
66. "Beats me," initially
67. Closed up
68. Function of geometry
Pearl’s Puzzle
By Brendan Emmett Quigley
DOWN
1. ___ des Princes (Paris Saint-Germain's home)
2. Woman's name that sounds like two letters
3. Carrier to Israel
4. Deal from the Federal Reserve
5. Kansas city
6. "God willing!"
7. Spitting sound
8. ___ und pfeffer
9. Don Juan's mother
10. Silent screen star Naldi
11. Piggies that go "whee whee whee" all the way home
12. Two-timer
13. Make a video opening a product for the first time
15. Port of Iraq
22. Kind of brown
25. Lee on The Guardian's list of 40 best directors
26. Pronoun selection
27. Scintilla
28. "Shameless" star
29. Scale name
30. Tuborg alternative
31. Hamilton historian Chernow
32. Some connections
34. Available for booking
35. Zeno's home
36. Location, for short
38. Some appliers for early admission: Abbr.
39. ___ chi chuan
40. Heart test letters
43. Post others' home addresses on the Internet
44. Hooks back up
46. Rely (upon)
47. Melber of MSNBC
48. Actuarial calculations
49. Guy from Flavortown
50. Had a crush on
51. Alternative to 34-Across
53. What a shooter shoots through
54. Woodwind instrument
55. Mex. miss
56. Follow closely
57. Salvador who said "Have no fear of perfection; you'll never reach it"
58. Fancy style
59. Overstuff
Puzzle for the week of May 12, 2025
Fill in every row, column, and 3x3 box with each of the letters
C R A G D E M O N exactly once.
The highlighted letters read left to right and top to bottom will complete the quote: “Mom, is . It was acquired in a hostile takeover by Hallmark and Disney, homogenized, and sold off piece by piece.” - Lisa Simpson
Answer for the week of May 5, 2025
ANSWER TO LAST WEEK'S PUZZLES
O R E T M U H Q S M Q H S E O R T U
E U R M T S Q O H
T O S Q H R U M E
Q H M O U E S R T
“Sooner or later we all quote our mothers.” — Bern Williams
“Sooner or later we all quote our mothers.” - Bern Williams
